Whispering Verse

Shade, who was very interested in Anthem Square, walked around the square and looked around. He even found a man setting up a stall to bet on Rhodes cards in the square. The opponent sat on the floor and claimed that if anyone could beat him three out of five games, he would get a Rhodes card with special rules from him, but he would have to pay a fee of 5 pence for each challenge.

Many people gathered around to watch them play cards, and that special card also had an appraisal certificate, which meant that the card itself was real.

However, Xia De heard from nearby onlookers that this man had only lost once in the eight years he had set up a stall here. He did not know what means he used to maintain victory.

The other party was definitely cheating, but Shade had no interest in exposing it. After all, most people who spend 5p to play cards should know that there is a problem here. Whether they want to enjoy playing cards with strangers, or whether they really think they can get that special card, it's hard to tell.

Shade has not forgotten the purpose of coming here. According to the information provided by Iluna, the middle-aged man wearing a turban and selling spices often appears in the south of Chant Square, and he will wear a pair of rain boots no matter what the weather. And put up a triangular wooden sign in front of his stall.

These features were obvious enough that Shade saw him while wandering around the square.

The other party had a cart with bottles and cans on it. To his left was a vendor selling herbs that he claimed could cure any injury or illness. The vendor wore a floor-length robe, and the weird patterns on his body were like the style of the primitive tribes in the southern forests of Kasenlik. He looked very professional. On the right is a grocer who sells everything. There is a cart next to him. The floor is covered with waterproof canvas and there are all kinds of sundries on it.

Because the herbal medicine merchant on the left was a bit insulting to people's intelligence, Shade pretended to be interested in the grocer's products and stood in front of the grocer's cart to check out the products. The distance was close enough, and the voice in my head gave the answer:

[The turbaned man on your right is a ring warlock, middle ring. The specific level needs to be confirmed after further contact. 】

It seems that the third thing Iluna picked finally has some value.

"Sir, what do you want to buy?"

Shade stood in front of the grocer for too long, so the small businessman, who had no customers for the time being, took the initiative to talk to Shade.

Shade didn't panic and continued naturally:

"I have a cat at home, and I want to get some safer toys for the cat. As you know, cats always like to swallow all kinds of unclean things."

Some thin businessmen looked at Shade, as if guessing his identity and the thickness of his wallet:

"Then why not buy this..."

The businessman picked up a colorful feather:

"This only costs a shilling."

"Sorry, you don't have anything that interests me."

Shade immediately shook his head. He would not pay so much for a dyed chicken feather.

After thinking about it, Shade reached out and picked up a deck of Rhodes cards:

"I'm going to buy this. I have a deck of Rhodes cards myself but want to get a spare pair."

In fact, with the [Collection of Objects], individual cards may be damaged when used as weapons, so they need to be replenished frequently.

"Here are the old cards, give you five pence. Do you need anything else? Well, since you are a Rhodes player, would you be interested in participating in a non-public for-profit private Rhodes game?"

The businessman asked very familiarly, his eyes were bright and there was a smile on his face.

"Private private for-profit" is basically equivalent to an underground illegal casino, similar to the one at Lucky Southern Cross Club at night. The grocer who hangs out in Xiacheng District actually has the task of promoting business for the casino.

"No, no, my wallet won't allow me to do that for the time being."

Shade said.

So the merchant whispered again:

"So are you interested in trading special Rhodes cards?"

"You still have this?"

Shade asked in surprise. Rhodes cards with special card faces depend on the number and year of issue. Generally, they start at 1 pound, while Rhodes cards with special rules cost at least 40 pounds each. The small businessman in front of me probably said the former.

"Yes, they are definitely genuine. Grocers like me usually hoard some valuable little things that are easy to store, waiting for generous customers to sell them... to make a fortune, like Rhodes. A good product. Some Rhodes card enthusiasts will go to the small merchants in the city to look for those cards every time they go to a city, until the entire deck of cards is replaced with a special card surface."

The businessman introduced him familiarly, and Shade imagined the mission of collecting cards, and felt that that kind of person must be very rich.

"Of course, some high-end stores will even sell Rhodes brand with special rules, but the price may not be acceptable to ordinary people."

The merchant had no customers here for the time being, so he chatted a little more with Shade. Shade also took the opportunity to inquire about the square, focusing on the situation of the ring warlock selling spices next to his stall.

The other party was talking to the guests and didn't notice that the guy with ulterior motives was standing nearby.

"Oh, by the way, since you sell groceries here, do you accept groceries?"

Shade thought for a moment and asked.

"Of course, but I only accept valuable things here."

The businessman answered, and then saw Shade handing over the three books he was holding. The merchant raised his eyebrows and wanted to refuse, but Shade winked at him and motioned for him to take a look at the contents.

The grocer nodded in surprise and carefully opened one of the books. His eyes that were originally narrowed immediately widened:

"This...this is really good stuff."

Licking his lips, he hurriedly flipped through the other two books as he spoke, with a sincere smile on his face:

"This is really good. How about these three... half a pound?"

The price is quite appropriate. After all, the quality of these three albums is very high, and it is not easy to buy them even if you have money. Shade knew that a grocer like this, who introduced business to casinos, would definitely sell such illegal publications, so he nodded:

"Of course you can, but you can't take my money for that pair of Rhodes cards."

Shade was certainly not selling these magazines to make a fortune, but to create an excuse to chat here for a while. Just as he thought, after the payment was settled, the grocer's attitude towards him was obviously better.

Shade also knew from this that the spice merchant next to the grocer had only started selling goods here half a month ago. Moreover, the other party would definitely not come on Sundays. He usually showed up on time at nine in the morning and would leave after working until five in the afternoon. He was lazier than most of the businessmen in Anthem Square.

After obtaining the basic information, Shade planned to formally contact the spice merchant to confirm what the other party was doing. The other person must be a human being, not a relic, so he didn't intend to conduct an in-depth investigation. He just didn't want to delay Iluna's mission.

But just as Sha De arrived at the spice merchant, a familiar figure actually appeared in the square.

Dr. Bill Schneider came from the crowd carrying a suitcase. He paused to let the wild dog chasing the big white goose run past. The blue-eyed doctor waved and greeted the turbaned spice merchant:

"Good afternoon, Madison."

"Good afternoon, Schneider."

The two shook hands, and then the doctor noticed Shade beside him. Shade was dressed differently than usual when he went out today, so he couldn't catch a glimpse of him:

"Oh, Shade, why are you here?"

The doctor asked with a smile, greeted Shade warmly, and then said to Mr. Madison, who was selling spices:

"This is what I said last time, our new guy Hamilton. Shade, this is Mr. Alan Madison, a student at Sussex Higher School of Medicine."

The Higher School of Medicine in Serkses is a thaumaturgy school as famous as St. Byrons and Zalas, and is proficient in alchemy and potions.

Mr. Madison, who had a turban on his head, looked at Shade in surprise, and whispered to the doctor in disbelief:

"Schneider, are you saying that this man who is addicted to Rhodes gambling and sells pornographic magazines here is a new member of your group? I just noticed him."

It seems that he just noticed the movement on Shade's side.

"Um?"

The doctor looked at Sha De in surprise, and out of trust in Sha De's character, explained to him:

"He... is probably doing some commission. He is a detective... Let's go somewhere else to talk. It's not safe here."

Shade was a little embarrassed, but also extremely lucky that the doctor did not continue the conversation on this topic.

There is a hotel next to Anthem Square, the "Three Cats Hotel". The wooden signboard is vividly carved with three lying cats. The hotel has four floors in total and covers a large area. The first and second floors are open restaurants and pubs, but there is no floor in the center of the second floor but a patio, which makes the view from the first floor wider, while the usable area on the second floor becomes a little smaller.

The third and fourth floors are rooms with separate compartments. This is considered a better hotel in the lower town of Tobesk.

Dr. Schneider, Mr. Madison and Shade found seats in the corner on the second floor of the hotel.

No one mentioned what Shade had just done, and Shade also learned from the conversation that the turbaned Mr. Madison was a six-ring warlock, the leader of the correspondence student group, and an old friend of the doctor for many years. .

Mr. Alan Madison lives nearby and is familiar with the place. When a maid came over with her breast buttons open and her collar set low, Mr. Madison could still call her by name and greet her.

"Do you know? At night, um, after about seven o'clock, there will be some nice girls sitting in the corner. If you have money, you can..."

Shade and Doctor Schneider looked at him in surprise at the same time.

"Don't look at me like this. I also heard what others said. I am a clean person."

Mr. Madison waved his hand in defense, and then the three of them got down to business.

The doctor came to Mr. Madison, who, through Dr. Schneider's relationship, ordered a batch of relatively sensitive metal powder on the local black market, from which Dr. Schneider was able to get a commission.

When talking about the reason why Shade appeared here, Shade mentioned the church:

"The Righteous God Church has noticed the special spices you are selling here, but it has not attracted attention yet, so it just gave the task to its subordinate team of ring warlocks. I have a friend in the church, and he entrusted me to come and see the situation."

"Actually, I just wanted to ask, Madison, are you so short of money that you need to set up a stall outside?"

Dr. Schneider also asked curiously, and Mr. Madison shook his head helplessly:

"Of course it's not for making money. How much do you think you can earn from this kind of work? I got a special thaumaturgy some time ago. The learning requirement for thaumaturgy is a ritual. I sell spices in Anthem Square, which is part of the ritual."

"You actually have such strange study requirements?"

Shade asked curiously, and the doctor nodded:

"The learning conditions for those thaumaturgy techniques that can only be used by middle and high-level people are of course very complicated. For example, the mysterious lock used by the 13th-level magician Summoner of Gods some time ago. The learning conditions for this kind of thaumaturgy are even enough to be written into a book. Judging from the thaumaturgy that Zhonghuan can use, Madison’s is indeed too complicated. Are you sure you haven’t been deceived?”