"Mr. Hamilton's fourth founding series Rhodes card has finally appeared!"
Baron Lavender's face flushed with excitement, and he almost stood up to look at the card in Shad's hand. Although he had seen this card in the Prophet's Association before, he still couldn't suppress his emotions:
"If the total points of this card are over 21, select a card from the used cards and exchange it with this card. The special effects of the selected card are invalid."
He explained the effect of this card, and Shade nodded and revealed the bottom card:
"My bottom card is Sun 2, so my first three cards are 18 points. Then, I swapped the Sun 6 from the first hand with the Flower 3 from the first hand, and now it's 21 points."
"Wonderful!"
Baron Rwanda behind Baron Lavender clapped his hands and said, and the noisy sound had almost conveyed the appearance of Founding Death to the ears of everyone present. After Shade obtained Founding Death, he certainly would not publish the card in the newspaper to show off this card to everyone, so this was the first time that this card officially appeared in front of people.
The founding series of Rhodes cards is the origin of all Rhodes cards in people's cognition. The significance it represents is priceless to Rhodes players. The appearance of Founding Death is more important than the Rhodes game in Lakeview Manor. Shade is very sure that by this time tomorrow, every Rhodes player in the city will probably know that he has another founding series card in his hand.
"I'm lucky. I found this in an old book some time ago."
Shade explained softly, his voice completely drowned out by the noise. In this lively atmosphere, Viscount Glenn stared at the cards in Shade's hand with his eyes wide open, his eyeballs popping out in surprise, but his complexion soon returned to normal:
"Mr. Hamilton, you really live up to your reputation."
"So what are your points?"
"My fourth card is Star 3, and the next three cards are 16 points."
He arranged the three cards together and then pressed his finger on his hole card.
"Have you changed the cards?"
Xia De asked in his heart.
Yes, when you pick up Impermanence and Death and show them to people.
Shade's expression remained unchanged, and he looked at "Miss Witt". He had gone to great lengths to draw the Founding Death just now, just to create a brief moment of people's attention, so that Viscount Glenn, who cheated in the first game, would have time to cheat again.
He knew that the Sixth Ring Sorceress must have seen through the other party's tactics, and was quite certain that with the character that "Miss Pavo" had displayed on the rooftop on Saturday night, it would be impossible for her not to do something.
It turned out that Shad's guess was right. Before Viscount Glenn turned over his cards, the sorceress tapped her fingers on the table a few times.
The subtle traces of magic affected the tabletop. Shade still smiled and said nothing. Then he saw Viscount Glenn turn over his trump card:
"What a coincidence! My score is 5, and the total is 21. Knight, although the Founding Death is amazing, we are tied."
He picked up the uncovered card and put it next to his face. He licked his lips which were a little dry due to nervousness and said to Shade with a smile.
But Viscount Glenn was startled again, and looked at the cards in his hand again, with an incredible expression on his face:
"Sun 5?!"
"Sun 5?"
Lord Lavender frowned:
"Are there two Sun 5s in the same deck?"
Viscount Glenn had already drawn a Sun 5 in the first game.
The crowd, which was originally very noisy, gradually lowered their voices. Cheating in the Rhodes card game was a very serious matter. If you were really judged as cheating by the Prophet Association, being banned from participating in any official competitions for ten years was a small matter. The most important thing was that your face and reputation would be gone forever.
"I am not..."
Before the Viscount could argue, the card in his hand was snatched away by the referee, Mr. Justin from the Prophet Association. The latter found another "Sun 5" from the cards that Viscount Glenn had already used on the table and asked in a stern tone:
"Viscount, you need to explain yourself."
"No, not me!"
The middle-aged man slammed the table and stood up. He was not panicked, but showed an angry look:
"Who is it? Who is wronging me?"
The one he was supposed to replace was Moon 5.
Xia De immediately tried to smooth things over:
"Viscount, don't be so excited. We are willing to believe that you did not cheat on your own initiative."
Hearing the words "actively cheating", Tifa suppressed her smile and continued to watch the scene.
"How about this, let me say something fair. We can't wrongly accuse any upright gentleman. Ladies and gentlemen, please keep your voices down."
Shade raised his voice, and his identity as the "Big City Players 1853 Champion" was indeed very appealing. People stopped discussing and looked at Shade who stood up:
"I heard that the cheating method is just to hide the replacement cards in the soles of shoes or hats. Why don't we check if Viscount Glenn has replacement Rhodes cards on him?"
“That’s a great idea.”
"Miss Witt," who was also a card player, immediately said softly, and the last person at the table, Baron Lavender, asked:
"What should I check, Mr. Hamilton?"
"We are all respectable people, so there is no need to check shoes and hats."
Shade said, looking at Viscount Glenn standing in the light:
"How about you take off your coat, Viscount, and hand it to me?"
Viscount Glenn's expression changed drastically:
"It's really disgraceful to play cards with you. Yes, you are insulting me!"
He turned to leave, but the crowd blocked his way, and Shade had already reached out and grabbed him:
"Where do you want to go, Viscount?"
"My reputation has been insulted. I'd rather not participate in this kind of competition!"
He tried to break free, but Xia De still pulled his sleeve and kindly advised:
"If you leave now, your reputation will be truly insulted."
"Knight, I command you to let me go!"
The middle-aged man shouted loudly, trying to use his voice to cover up the panic in his heart. He wanted to forcefully break free from Xia De's hand, but he felt that the force holding him was more solid than a mountain.
"Lord Glenn, take off your coat and the matter will be settled."
Shade said again, and Baron Lavender beside him also stood up and tried to stop him. The onlookers saw that something was wrong at this time, and formed a human wall to completely block Viscount Glenn's way out.
The middle-aged man was shocked and panicked. He tried to pry open Xia De's right hand with his empty left hand, but he couldn't.
"oh!"
In a hurry, Viscount Glenn suddenly punched at Shade's chest. Amid the exclamations of the people, Shade's left hand accurately grasped his fist. As Shade turned his wrist, Viscount Glenn let out a startling cry:
"My wrist is about to break, let go."
"Have you forgotten, Viscount, that my chief occupation is a detective? Do you think you are the first person to cheat at cards before me?"
Shade said in a serious tone, and Viscount Glenn looked at him in horror while taking a breath. The onlookers did not feel that Shade did anything wrong. Although this was a civilized era, Shade's skillful self-defense still won him applause.
Shade continued to ask:
"Viscount, guess how I saw people in underground casinos deal with cheaters when I was there?"
Viscount Glenn seemed to squeeze out a scream from his throat:
"Don't cut off my fingers!"
Shade didn't know where Viscount Glenn had heard this, so he shook his head and loosened Viscount Glenn's fist and hand. The Viscount wanted to slip away, but the human wall still blocked his way.
Shade took off his coat and threw it to Tifa, then hooked his finger at Viscount Glenn:
"Everyone can see that you want to attack me. How about this? I'll punch you too, and then you can leave. According to the rules, the cheater's deck must be handed over to his opponent. As long as you agree, I can give up your special card."
"I have no objection!"
Lord Lavender said.
"That's fine with me."
"Miss Witte" also said.
Viscount Glenn tried to remain calm:
"I will not do such a barbaric thing."
There were boos from all around, and people consciously stepped back to make room for the two men under the grape trellis. Although Rhodes cards were fun, it was equally fun to watch two men boxing under the grape trellis.
"Glenn, you've already lost your honor once, don't lose it a second time!"
Some people even started to make noises, and the Viscount refused verbally, but he was obviously reluctant to part with his deck. He raised his arms and made a very professional blocking posture, which was obviously practiced.
"Please pay attention."
Shade reminded him, tiptoeing forward with both feet. Viscount Glenn also hunched his neck and tiptoed forward to stretch his body, his leather shoes stomping out a rhythm on the ground.
Both of them have well-proportioned bodies. Although Viscount Glenn is older, he does not look old at all. Instead, he has the vitality of a young man.
Under the grape arbor, the two men circled each other in the light of the gas lamp. As Shad suddenly stretched his head forward, Viscount Glenn immediately swung his right fist at his chest.
Xia De was waiting for this opportunity. He blocked with his left arm and took advantage of the gap in the opponent's defense to punch out. His right fist hit Viscount Glenn's left eye steadily and accurately. Of course, he held back.
"oh!"
Viscount Glenn stumbled backwards, but fortunately he was supported by someone so that he did not fall down. He screamed and covered his left eye, and when he took his hand away, there was a very obvious dark circle under his eye.
"Viscount, you can find some ice to cool down."
Xia De kindly reminded them, and people finally made way for him. Viscount Glenn's face turned red, and he left without saying a word. It was obvious that he would not appear again tonight.
He didn't even collect his own deck, so a gentleman who was familiar with Viscount Glenn helped him collect the deck.
"What do we do now?"
The noise ended, and Shad smiled and took his coat from Tifa and sat down again. He flexed his wrist and asked the referee, and Mr. Justin shrugged:
"I will report Viscount Glenn's matter to the association. As for the card game, he is automatically eliminated. Miss Witt, Baron Lavender, please show your points in the second game."
Miss Witt still had 20 points, and Baron Lavender had 17 points. But people were no longer paying attention to the game itself. Someone had openly cheated under the referee of the Prophet's Association, and even beat him up after being exposed. This was already big news. And Shad Hamilton's victory in the boxing match was even more surprising than winning the card game.
It was common for Xia De to win at cards, but it was only a few times a year that two men would fight in a fistfight at an aristocratic banquet.
Although violence is wrong, it is indeed an attractive topic. In order to prove himself, Shade will do many things tonight that he was too lazy to do before. After all, for the sake of divinity, all this is worth it.
He glanced at "Miss Witte" secretly. The conflict with the Baron just now was also to inform the other party that he and the Baron were opponents of the same level, so that the sorceress would not doubt him. Counting on showing his own strength, this is truly killing two birds with one stone.
Sande, don’t you really want to punish that cheating guy
"She" really understands Xia De.