Whispering Verse

No surprise, Shade's second card game in the rematch between the big city players still ended with him having 10 copper coins when he played, and a total of 25 copper coins. This time he did not draw the [Original] series in the card game, but unexpectedly drew the Demon card.

Although the four gentlemen who lost to him regretted it, they all said in the end that Shade played well. Mr. Virgil Cameron, who was involved with Kasenrik, showed full interest in Shad. Not only did he want to ask him to play cards together some time, he even wanted to have sex with him after the card game was over. Talk alone.

Of course, Shade politely refused.

He could see that Mr. Cameron wanted to be alone with him, and he also understood that there was a high probability that the other person had seen [Original Silver Moon] and thought he was the "Grey-Headed Eagle". But even if Shade wanted to complete the task for money, it was impossible to talk to the other party in such a sensitive place.

Moreover, he planned to wait until there was news about the blood purchase and the specific price before deciding whether to complete the task worth 2,000 pounds.

After the card game ended, Baron Lavender stayed in Hall 3 to watch others play cards. Shade went out for the day and just wanted to take Mia home to have a rest.

But before he left Hall 3, a maid dressed as an opera house servant, with the permission of the staff of the Prophet Association, hurriedly walked into the side hall where the card game was being played, and then as expected, stopped at In front of Shade:

"Mr. Hamilton, Miss Cavendish would like you to come up."

"Which Miss Cavendish?"

This sentence blurted out, and then Xia De noticed the strange expressions of the people around him.

"You'll find out when you get up there."

The servant said carefully, and Shade, who felt embarrassed because he said the wrong thing, quickly left here with Mia in his arms. Then in the box on the third floor, which had the best view of the stage in the main auditorium of the Opera House, I met Princess Agelina Cavendish.

"Knight, who do you think it could be? My great-aunt Carina? Or sister Lesia?"

The little princess smiled happily and invited Shade to watch the opera with her, as a way of thanking Shade for saving her last time.

The life of a princess who does not need to participate in government affairs and only needs to worry about her marriage is really comfortable.

Everything went according to plan, and on Thursday Shade went to the Shades Cotton Textile Factory in the west of the city to participate in the third card game. The Prophet's Association did not really arrange card games in the open space inside the factory, but rearranged the factory into a venue like a steam textile machine exhibition. Among the rusty or brand-new and bright machinery, Players are invited to come and play cards.

This environment is very interesting, and Shade didn't meet anyone he knew in the card game today. But when I was eating nearby after playing cards in the morning, I met the Blackstone Security Company, which was performing tasks in the west of the city, that is, the ring warlock team of the Church of the Sun.

Iluna was very happy to meet Shade. Her captain also knew that Shade and her were friends, so he specially let Iluna and Shade chat for a few words before leaving.

Later, Xia Decai heard from Luvia that the team of Blackstone Security Company encountered a rare humanoid relic in the west of the city that afternoon. Although the mission was completed, the encounter still caused nearly half of the entire team to undergo at least a week of mental and psychological counseling and evaluation after treatment before returning to work.

But Iluna was obviously fine.

On Friday, after playing cards in the east, west and south of the city, Shade headed to the Three Cats Inn in the north. He was already very familiar with this place, so he thought that during this visit, he would not have to be teased by the hotel owner, Mrs. Sangmei, for "bringing a new beautiful girl."

This time he brought the cat.

Mrs. Sangmei also participated in the Dacheng Players. Although she entered the semi-finals, during chatting, she learned that she lost all the copper coins in her hand yesterday.

While Shade was waiting for the other four to start the game, Mia the cat actually started fighting with the hotel's mouse-catching cat.

The cats in the Three Cats Hotel are almost free-range stray cats, and they are very good at fighting with their own kind or catching mice. Those three cats were all bigger than little Mia in her kitten state, but little Mia still defeated them. This should have nothing to do with Mia having absorbed divine power. After all, when this cat was found by Detective Sparrow and fostered in a pet store, its "evil reputation" had already begun to show.

Today's game still ended with Xia De's victory. Before leaving, the hotel owner Mrs. Sangmei smiled and wished Xia De the championship of the big city players:

"Instead of giving the discount to a stranger, it's better to give it to the detective. At least you are a very well-behaved customer."

On Saturday, before going to Dr. Schneider's psychological clinic for a meeting, Shade first went to the Prophet's Association to finish the fifth card game in the core city.

This Rhodes tournament involves many people in the city. Even doctors who don't play cards very much are very concerned about the final result of the game. When Luvia and Dorothy entered the reception room of the psychological clinic together, they heard Shad discussing the odds of underground casinos with the doctor.

Although Dr. Schneider does not play Rhodes, he has heard about "big city players" for a long time. Today I heard Shade's detailed introduction and heard him talk about how he wanted to bet some money but was troubled by not having a suitable and reliable channel. , then tentatively said:

"It's an underground casino that bets on the championship. I think I can run it, but Shade, how sure are you of winning the championship?"

"More than 60%."

Shade said cautiously.

"So conservative?"

Luvia, who happened to come in, asked with a smile, and Dorothy, who was following her, also joked:

"Shad, I heard that you have never lost when playing Rhodes."

Shade glanced at Mia. Mia had no reaction to Dorothy, indicating that she was not a princess.

"So you are so powerful, how much capital can you put out?"

The doctor squinted his eyes and thought for a moment before asking. Considering that his savings were only over two thousand pounds, and this kind of "investment" was very risky, Shade gave a very conservative answer:

"1,200 pounds."

He could barely bear the loss.

"Okay, then I will add 800 pounds. After today's meeting, I will place a bet. It is already the final stage of the rematch. I think your odds are probably lower than 1.5, but there is still money to be made."

The doctor said that his local connections were much wider than those from outsiders, and as a single, middle-class psychiatrist, his savings were also very substantial, and it would not be a problem to spend 800 pounds.

"Then doctor, count my five hundred pounds."

Dorothy sat on the single sofa on the east side and said.

"Where did you get so much money?"

Luvia was very surprised.

"The royalties. The first volume of "Hamilton's Detective Stories" will be printed after the serialization ends this month. This is the deposit."

Dorothy was very proud.

"I can't afford that much money, but 200 pounds is still no problem."

Luvia shrugged and sat on the single sofa opposite Dorothy, then sighed and looked at the empty seat next to Shade. Normally during a meeting, the two ladies sit on a single sofa, the doctor himself sits on the couch, while Shade and Priest August sit on the couch opposite the doctor:

"Fortunately, Priest August is not here."

If the priest Augustus were here, he would definitely criticize them. He has always hated gambling.

"But don't think that I will definitely win."

Seeing that everyone wanted to participate, Shade reminded cautiously.

"It doesn't matter, I can still afford to lose 800 pounds."

The doctor said nonchalantly:

"But my luck is not particularly good. If you carry out such activities with me, don't dislike me for bringing you down."

"I trust Shade's luck."

Dorothy did not comment on the doctor's words.

"I also believe in Shade's luck, especially the luck of Rhodes."

Luvia echoed, winking at Shade.

"No, no, no, luck is hard to say."

Shade thought about the fate of those who manipulated luck, and how he was shot and almost died on the street.

"Then let's try our luck."

The purple-eyed fortune teller said, then took out a six-sided dice from his pocket and handed it to Shade:

"Try it, dice three times. Add a small bet. If the three numbers add up to more than or equal to 30 points, I will give you a small gift; if it is less than 30 points, your cat will come home with me tonight."

"Meow?"

Mia looked up at her.

"That's not fair."

Although Shade objected, he patted the cat's outstretched paw first, and then took the dice that seemed to be made of ivory.

The first time is six, the second time is six, and the third time is five.

“Should I chip in a little more money?”

The doctor was lost in thought, while Luvia stood up under Dorothy's surprised eyes, and then naturally kissed the side of Shade's face.

This is probably that little gift.

At last week's study meeting, Shade asked the college for his "Second Ring" spiritual rune recommendation. After a week of consideration, the college combined some of the information about himself provided by Shade and finally recommended Shade's next one. The target is [Thunder].

Most of the spiritual runes recommended by the academy to low-level warlocks are based on natural elements, because they are less difficult and practical. As for choosing [Thunder], on the one hand, it is because in occultism, the phenomenon of thunder and lightning breaking through the sky is often combined with abnormal space-time phenomena. On the other hand, it is also because the academy believes that Shade currently has too few lethal thaumaturgy and too many auxiliary thaumaturgy, so it recommended this spiritual rune that can be associated with a variety of powerful attack thaumaturgy.

The book given by the academy is "The Book of Crazy Thunder", an obscure Fifth Age language that describes prophecies about thunder and lightning. Unlike the confusing and difficult-to-understand story of "Crazy Light Chaser", all the prophecies in "Book of Crazy Thunder" can be understood with normal logic.

It's just that the horror and weirdness of those ancient prophecies are mostly more terrifying than the "Sea Return" ceremony that Shade personally experienced. The academy advises Shade to interpret prophecies one by one and not to read too much at once. But for Shade, this kind of book has not yet had an impact on him.