Whispering Verse

The document the doctor handed to Shade was a very formal explanation of the charging standards of colleges and universities. The same printed version even has a sunburst pattern added to the upper right corner, and three combined gears are drawn in the lower left corner as page decoration. Even if ordinary people see this, they won't feel strange.

Compared with the knowledge provided, the first-year correspondence course for the Ring Warlock is very cheap, only 50 pounds. You know, according to Shade's preliminary understanding, in this world, even for a boy from a middle-class family, the tuition fee for a secondary boarding school is about 100 to 150 pounds per year.

He still looked embarrassed. It was impossible for him not to be able to get out even 5 pounds in cash, let alone 50 pounds.

But there are still many relics belonging to the detective in the house. If they are all sold, they will be worth 50 pounds. Besides, there are still several commissions that will be completed soon, so Shade actually still has a way.

"Do you need cash immediately?"

This is the most difficult thing.

"The college requires cash in gold pounds, but it can also be in other currencies, but you have to ask about the exchange rate. Of course, if you can't get it temporarily, the college also has a loan program, but the interest may make you suffer."

Dr. Schneider introduced that Miss Louisa put her hands on her knees and said kindly:

"However, my opinion is that the group can lend it to you. We have the funds. After all, except for rich people like doctors, no one can come up with so much cash at one time."

The blue-eyed doctor touched his nose and looked a little embarrassed.

"I was like that at the beginning. It's normal, but you have to consider whether you can afford the loan."

The blond lady reminded kindly.

"There is no interest on this loan for tuition fees, but starting from the date of borrowing, you need to repay 10 pounds in the first month, and 20 pounds per month for the next two months."

The doctor also added:

"There's no need for collateral. I'll be your guarantee within the group. Anyway, I know your identity, so you can't leave."

The doctor knew that Shad had just recovered from "blindness and stupidity" and understood his situation well.

Shade let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that he was really lucky. Of course, he didn't forget to say thank you. He really met a very nice person:

"I will repay the money as soon as possible, Mr. Schneider, Miss Louisa, please allow me to thank you again."

Speaking of this, I suddenly remembered something. Because of this interest-free loan, I decided to put more trust in Dr. Schneider and the writer lady in the same group, so I took out the notebook I carried with me.

Carefully peel off the leather cover of the notebook and take out a card from the gap.

On the front of the card, there is a picture of a woman sitting sideways holding up a silver moon. This is the most precious relic of the former detective, a Rhodes card with the color "Sun 3". Xia De saw that his door lock could be easily split with an axe, so he took it with him:

"Excuse me, is this valuable?"

"A special series of Rhodes cards?"

Before Shade handed over the card, Miss Louisa recognized it at a glance, but she shook her head and motioned for Shade to hand it to the doctor:

"I don't play cards often, so I don't know the value of this kind of thing. Let the doctor take a look?"

"It is indeed a Rhodes card. Not only does it have a special pattern, it even has special effects. Is this the real thing?"

The doctor took it curiously and examined it under the warm yellow light of the gas lamp on the wall. He had no intention of revealing Shad's identity and background to Miss Louisa, so he spread common sense to Shad in his words:

"Although I am not a collector, I know some nobles and enthusiasts who are crazy about pursuing these special Rhodes cards. The special patterns themselves are very precious. If there are special rules... that kind of fanatical collecting hobby is even more valuable than Men have a stronger desire for beautiful ladies. I can't understand that kind of behavior. I heard that last year, the Bifford auction house not far from Saint Teresa Square where you live had... Huh? This is Silver Moon from the inaugural series?”

the doctor suddenly asked in surprise.

"What?"

Shade didn't understand, but the blond lady got up and looked at the card with great interest.

The doctor placed the playing cards on the coffee table between the three of them, and introduced the two people who didn't know Rhodes cards:

"Look, there is a vertical line in the upper center of the front of this card. This means that this is the founding series of cards originally issued by Rhodes. It is said that the founding series of cards were only issued 300 years ago, with 13 Each card has a different pattern and must have special rules. [Silver Moon] is one of them, so it is called the Founding Silver Moon. And under the rule system of Rhodes cards, each card in the founding series has Cards all have extraordinary effects..."

"Although I don't play cards, I think the rules above are indeed extraordinary."

Dorothy Louisa, who had read the effect one step ahead, said that the doctor also lowered his head and read the effect on this card. Although he was not a gambler or a Rhodes fanatic, he also knew that there were situations like "21". Under the "point" rule, a card that can adjust the number from "1" to "5" would be so terrifying.

"Is this authentic? It should be valuable, right?"

The blonde girl asked, and Shade was also looking forward to it, but the doctor shook his head decisively:

"Impossible, absolutely impossible to be authentic. Each card in the Founding Series is equivalent to the entire street of houses around Saint Teresa Square, or even more, far more. This cannot be authentic. The Founding Series is three Those issued a hundred years ago have either been damaged, or are in the tombs of great nobles or family collection rooms, and cannot easily appear."

He knew Shade's background, so he made this judgment.

“Isn’t it still valuable if it’s not genuine?”

Shade also agreed with Dr. Schneider's words, but still asked. He also didn't believe it was authentic. After all, it was an antique from 300 years ago.

"It's not worth a penny. People only support genuine cards. Especially those special series of Rhodes cards. Using pirated Rhodes cards will be boycotted by all fans, so the imitations are not valuable... .But this imitation is really good.”

The doctor also handed the card to Shade with some regret:

"Let me lend you the money first... However, you might be able to appraise this original [Silver Moon] and try your luck."

"Where can I go for identification?"

Shade also became interested.

"I know this, [Prophet Association], they specialize in this."

The writer Miss Louisa said, and the doctor nodded. He introduced in more detail, because he understood that Shade must not know:

"The issuance of Rhodes cards has always been the responsibility of the [Prophet Association] organization, so they also provide identification services for special cards. The identification fee is 5 pence per card, which is quite cheap. If it is genuine, the Prophet Association will issue it A certificate of identification, if people want to participate in a regular Rhodes competition and mix special cards in the deck, they must issue a certificate of identification.”

The popularity of Rhodes in this world is higher than Shade thought, but it doesn't surprise him. After all, it's just a card game. In the steam age, when productivity was relatively liberated compared to hundreds of years ago, some special entertainment was normal.

The doctor continued:

"The [Prophet Association] is actually an organization of magicians, but it is not very formal. It cooperates with colleges and churches, is recognized by us, and is even somewhat related to our group. Their original business was divination, and in about the Sixth Age Around the 15th century, after a special series of Rhodes cards were launched to facilitate the promotion of divination business, the main business became Rhodes cards.”

The doctor pursed his lips, not knowing what he was expressing:

"The association has made a fortune by organizing various Rhodes card competitions. Printing playing cards is like making gold pounds... Ahem, I am not envious of this business. Of course, the [Prophet Association] still provides Divination services, but also involved in book publishing and newspaper distribution business, the more famous local "Three Penny Newspaper" is run by them."

The name of this newspaper is really concise.

"The Prophet's Association has many branches and institutions in big cities like Tobesk. There is one near Saint Teresa Square, which is more formal. Gee, it's really good to live in the city center. Even in an extremely small city With probability, your card is really the legendary founding series Silver Moon card, so you don’t have to worry about the news being leaked, this is a very formal organization.”

the doctor joked.

"If this card is authentic, remember to tell us. Maybe it will be a good subject for a novel."

Miss Louisa also made a joke. Her attitude towards the stranger Shade was also quite good, and she presumably welcomed the group to meet the five-person limit.