We took a carriage from the Prophet's Association and headed to Dawn Square in the snow. Even in snowy weather, Dawn Square was still crowded with people. The heavy snow overnight had covered the ground. The young priests of the church were clearing the snow at the door with the believers who volunteered to help. As a result, two large snow piles more than one meter high were piled up on the left and right sides of the church's majestic steps.
The children who came to the church with their parents, wearing hats and scarves, happily grabbed snow and threw it at each other beside the snow pile. When Shad got off the carriage, he saw that Mia was very interested in the snow pile, so he gently put the cat on the snow pile.
Of course, since it was unclear whether the cat would "sink" into the snowdrift, Shad didn't let it go completely.
When the curious cat's paws touched the cold snow, it immediately meowed and asked Shade to pick it up. It wasn't that the cat was scared, it just felt its paws were cold.
"Sir, what breed of cat is this?"
Xia De smiled and put Mia on his shoulders. Among the children playing in the snow, a bold boy came over and asked politely. From their attire, it was clear that they all came from relatively wealthy middle-class families. The children of poor believers would not waste their time making money during the day.
"It's Tobesk Cat."
"Will you let him play with us for a while? Oh, sir, we promise not to let him get lost."
"That won't do. This cat is very timid."
Xia De immediately shook his head. Although the children were disappointed, they soon started playing around the snow pile again. Xia De also grabbed a handful of snow and clenched his palms to feel the cold temperature.
Are you reminiscing about your childhood
she asked softly in Shade's ear, quieter than the sound of snow falling to the ground.
"Of course not."
Feeling that his hands were cold enough, Xia De shook off the snow and water, then pressed his cold hands on Mia's body:
"Meow~"
As "she" laughed, little Mia's claws almost destroyed Shad's coat.
On the surface, this compensation negotiation was between the Prophet Association and Shade, but in reality, it was the Prophet Association negotiating with Shade on behalf of the Church.
The negotiation site was chosen at the Dawn Church, ostensibly to prevent the Prophet Association from "using force to pressure others", so the Dawn Church took the initiative to take on this matter, which was also considered as the church's special care for its core believers. But in fact, it was to prevent the Wise Man's Pyroxene from leaking out, and the church's protective measures were much stronger than those of the Prophet Association.
The meeting was held in an office on the east side of the church. President Stan of the Tobesk branch of the Prophet Association attended with his secretary and Vice President Mr. Judit, while Father Andre represented the Dawn Church.
It is worth mentioning that Father Andre is a nine-ring sorcerer. Unlike the field team, this sturdy old man in a white robe is only responsible for the safety of the church and generally does not move around in the city.
It was a simple matter to compensate Shad for the mental loss caused by the "gas leak", and Shad had never thought of "blackmailing" the Prophet Association. Therefore, the two sides only discussed for more than ten minutes and decided that the association would pay Shad a one-time payment of 60 pounds in cash in exchange for Shad's promise not to talk about the matter in any occasion.
Of course, the issue of compensation was just a reason to get Shade involved in the negotiations, but it was not the main point. Otherwise, the church and the association would not have sent high-level warlocks to participate.
After the compensation plan was agreed upon, the real topic was officially introduced.
"Well, Mr. Hamilton, we heard that you have a blue teardrop-shaped crystal in your hand?"
Mr. Judit, the vice president of the Prophet Association, asked while putting away his pen after Shade signed the document. This vice president with a bit of Mediterranean alopecia is different from Shade's friend, Vice President Mark, who is just an ordinary person. He is a three-ring warlock.
"Oh? How did you know? Miss Carina gave it to me last night."
Shad asked in surprise, and Mr. Judit nodded cautiously, glancing at President Stan and Father Andre. On the surface, the priest appeared for Shad's benefit, but in fact, everyone here was acting together to make the "ordinary man" Shad Hamilton voluntarily give up the wise man's pyroxene.
"We knew that the gem was in the possession of Duchess Carina, but she refused to sell it to us."
Mr. Judith smiled sheepishly:
"This morning when the Duke was in the city, he told the Countess of Orleans that the gem was given to you, and we learned the news. In fact, the gem is a special mineral. It is dangerous and needs to be stored in a special lead box. This gem has some origins with us. It is a relic left by a president around the 400th year of the Common Calendar. It can play a great role in the ancient method of mineral divination, and it also has a very important commemorative significance to the association.
Excuse me, would you like to sell it to us?"
Miss Carina told Shade the above words last night, so before the negotiation began, everyone present actually knew these lines.
Xia De rolled up the two copies of the contract and put them in his pocket. He touched his cat and said with some embarrassment:
"Mr. Judith, I have always had a favorable impression of the Prophet Association. Vice President Mark once teased me that I had to go to the association eight times a week. Since this is an important item that the association once lost, I am also willing to return it to you, but..."
Mr. Judith nodded in understanding and continued:
"Then please make an offer."
Shade shook his head:
"But this really makes it difficult for me. I really want to help the association, but it is a gift from Duchess Carina Cavendish after all. I can't sell it easily. This is disrespectful to the Duke."
Although Shad wanted to put forward his conditions immediately, he still had to maintain his character setting as "Miss Carina's lover".
"I'm not short of money, but even if I was, I wouldn't do such a thing. A knight selling a lady's gift for money, what kind of person would do such a thing? Sorry, this is a matter of honor."
Shade emphasized, carefully observing Mr. Judith's expression. The latter glanced at the old priest sitting next to Shade, and then looked at President Stan.
The best fortune teller in the Tobesk region coughed:
"Mr. Hamilton, you are right. I understand your thoughts and appreciate your virtues.
How about this, you tell me a number, I have a bearer bill here, it can be cashed at the King's Bank of Delarion two streets away. Moreover, we can sponsor you to go on a summer trip to the capital of the Principality of Lagsen, Laien, where the headquarters is located next summer. We pay for two people, and you can invite a female companion to go with you. I heard from Anat that you have always been interested in the scenery of the South. "
Xia De showed an interested expression, and shook his head quickly amid the laughter beside his ears:
"No, no, I'm serious. This is a gift from Miss Carina. I can't sell it."
His expression was serious. President Stan nodded slightly. After a simple test, he decided to throw out the real weight:
"Mr. Hamilton, I remember you said some time ago that you wanted to buy two of the founding series of Rhodes cards from the association."
Xia De was originally trying to control his expression, but after hearing this he finally couldn't help but look up and revealed a look of surprise.
The thirteen Vientiane cards do not have any extraordinary abilities, and people will assume that they are ordinary items. For the Prophet Association, Founding Knowledge and Founding Destiny are indeed quite precious symbols and souvenirs of the Association, but they are not completely untradable.
It was not the Prophet Association that wanted to get the Wise Pyroxene in Shade's hand, but the Five Gods Church. The Church only asked the Prophet Association to buy it from Shade, and the Church would naturally compensate the purchase price. In addition, Yin Luna mentioned to Miss Green that Shade was eager for the founding series of divination cards, so President Stan put forward this condition at this time.
"You want to exchange two cards for this gem? Is it so valuable?"
Xia De pretended to be surprised and asked. President Stan immediately shook his head:
"No, no, it's just a card. You can choose one of the two founding cards in the association's collection."
"Exchange it with this teardrop-shaped crystal?"
President Stan once again shook his head regretfully:
"It's not an exchange. Pick a founding card, and it will be yours until you die. But you can't use it as a bet, mortgage, or trade it to others in any other way. After you die, we will buy it back from your heirs. You must promise that we are the only ones who can reclaim this card."
This is equivalent to the permanent ownership of the wise man Pyroxene in exchange for the "ordinary man" Shad Hamilton holding a certain Rhodes card for his entire life.
President Stan looked at Shade seriously:
"Mr. Hamilton, although this means you can't keep that card as an heirloom, you are still a legend among Rhodes players. Silver Moon, Balance, Darkness, Death, and the fifth card that will be arriving soon. Since the release of Rhodes cards, you are the first legendary player to hold all five founding series cards at the same time."
Xia De made a cautious and thoughtful expression, and nodded slightly after a long while:
"Gold pounds are not important, but 'Legendary Players' are important."
Father Andre, who had been silent all this time, smiled and suggested:
"Mr. Hamilton, although this is a deal between you and the Prophet Association, since we are discussing it in the church, why don't I sign a contract for you. I will permanently transfer the blue teardrop crystal in exchange for the ownership of the Rhodes card before death. In addition, I think the Prophet Association can give you some other compensation. People know that prophets are quite wealthy."
It seemed like he was helping Xia De to gain other bargaining chips, but in fact, he was tacitly acknowledging that Xia De had agreed to the deal. This not only gave Xia De a push, but also gave Xia De a way out, so that Xia De could say that he did not actively agree to it.