Whispering Verse

Sunday, the 15th day of the Harvest Moon, is also the last day of the 1853 Ayutthaya players’ semi-finals. On this morning, Shade went to the university district of Tobesk to participate in his last multiplayer card game.

Therefore, after six card games lasting five days, Shade secured the victory with 25, 25, 19, 25, 23, and 24 copper coins respectively. Winning six games in a row gave him a total of 91 copper coins in his hand. (Note)

Shade wasn't sure he would be ranked first, but he was sure it would be enough to make it to the finals.

So, after receiving the copper coin statistics at the Prophet's Association at noon that day, he did not wait for the final statistical results to be announced in the association like other players. Instead, he went to Coldwater Port to check his commission to purchase special blood.

There was no news from Mr. Edmund, but someone in the Seven Broomsticks Tavern was indeed interested in Shade's acquisition and left relevant information. However, Shade did not think that the blood of magical animals such as the so-called "silver-blooded toad, three-headed seahorse" would meet the requirements of the blood-sucking god.

In the Sixth Age, these creatures were already very rare, but in the Fifth Age, they were common creatures.

However, after returning to Tobesk from Coldwater Port, Miss Carina asked someone to send a letter, saying that she had found suitable blood and it was provided by Miss Sivi Avora. Specifically, it was found by the deep-sea mermaids attached to the Aurora family.

It was the blood of a creature called the "Abyss-Eyed Dragon Squid". This creature lived in the deepest seabed abyss in the sea between the Old World and the New World. From the name, you can tell that they have dragon blood. But what exactly is the pure-blood dragon and what kind of creature produced such a terrifying and terrible descendant? The contemporary group of ring magicians does not have a definite answer.

The mermaids believe that they were born from pure-blood dragons and some kind of evil creature with tentacles living in the subspace.

But no matter what, the blood of this terrible creature is absolutely precious no matter from any angle. Moreover, although this kind of blood contains toxins, it will not directly poison people to death. Drinking the blood of dragon squid will connect you to the abyss in your sleep, and you will peek into the terrifying abyss scene in your dream.

This is somewhat similar to the effect of the mermaid curse. As long as the spirit is strong enough, although sleep will be affected within a few weeks, there is no need to worry about life safety.

"How much does Miss Aurora cost?"

Shade was very satisfied with this blood.

"She said she didn't want your money, but I felt like she was up to something bad. So, I copied a short piece of knowledge about marine life species from Miss Feliana's notes to her, and I paid the bill on your behalf. .”

Miss Carina said.

Shade's family did not have the conditions to store this kind of precious blood, so the blood was first placed with Miss Aurora, and when needed, Miss Carina was asked to get the blood through the [Witch Council].

In this way, Shade only needs to find one kind of blood, but this is not easy either.

"Precious blood does not necessarily have great power, but it must be rare, or there may be a story. I have helped you find it, but you also know that it is not easy. However, are you looking for blood or wine?"

Old John's pawn shop, Old John who had just had dinner welcomed Shade who came to visit.

"I do know a story related to 'Blood and Wine', but what I need is blood, not a story or wine."

Shade was quite troubled.

Father John behind the counter glanced at him and handed the newspaper in his hand to Shade:

"I forgot to congratulate you."

The "Torbesk Evening News" evening paper, which still smelled slightly of ink, published the final list of "Big City Players". Because honor and vanity are involved, the header of the list provided by the Prophet Association also specifically emphasizes that this is a ranking based on "rematch results."

Shade Suellen Hamilton's name was ranked first, and among the people Shade knew, Baron Rwanda was unlucky enough to stop in the preliminary round, and Baron Lavender and Mrs. Sammy from the Three Cats Inn both failed. entering the finals. However, Mr. Virgil Cameron, the lover of Archduke Seth, successfully entered the finals.

This also means that he must carry out the surveillance mission assigned to Shade by Director Anlos.

"It's not surprising. I had expected that I would reach the finals."

Shade put the newspaper aside and continued talking about blood:

"Dad John, I know you have a lot of connections. Is there really nothing you can do to help me?"

"I have asked all my acquaintances in the areas around Tobesk. If I inquire again, I can only write to old friends in other places, but this takes time."

The waiting time for the key will end tonight. But without two kinds of blood, even if Shade enters the past again, he will not be able to attend the cocktail party.

"Is it okay for a week? I can accept any price below 4,000 pounds."

"Are you including the winnings from players in the big city?"

Old John asked in surprise, but still nodded:

"Since you are willing to spend so much money, one week is definitely enough. Even if my old friends in other places don't have the goods, I can still ask my friends in the New World. However, the storage of blood is a big problem. I want Calculate your transportation fee. If you really win the Big City Player Championship, I can erase the transportation fee for you."

"Dad John, since when have you been so generous?"

Xia Dehu asked, and then seemed to remember something:

"Aren't you going to bet too?"

"Don't talk nonsense, I'm not someone who goes to underground casinos to bet."

The old man picked up the newspaper again and hid his eyes behind it. But before Shade left, he couldn't help but ask:

"How likely do you think you are to win?"

He must have bet too.

"Judging from the odds, I am the one with the highest probability of winning."

This is a more objective statement.

"I know Chongpian Keke, I'm asking you about your own feelings."

"The probability is more than 60%. I haven't looked at the grouping situation yet. Maybe the opponent's special card just restrains the effect of the special card in my hand."

Shade is still relatively conservative.

"Sixty percent is high enough."

The eight players who entered the 1853 Big City Players' Rhodes Tournament were Knight Shade Hamilton (Delarion), Baron Shepard (Delarion), and Mr. Dirac, a mechanical engineer from Tobesk (Germany). Larion), businessman Mr. Kubrick (Carsonrick), mathematician Professor Wilde (Carsonrick), foreign nobleman Baron Cooper (Duchy of Ragson), aristocratic consultant Mr. Virgil Cameron (Principality of Seth), and Captain Butler, who has two nationalities and sails between the New World and the Old World all year round.

The names of the eight people not only appeared in the evening paper on Sunday evening, but also in the morning paper on Monday morning. Although the headline on the front page was the public speech of "His Majesty the King's Important Instructions on Autumn Harvest Work," the attention attracted by the big city players still made Tobesk this autumn more lively than in previous years.

The grouping status was announced early on Monday morning. Shade's first opponent was Professor Wilde, a mathematician from Carsonlik. According to the gossip Shade heard from the Prophets Association, the other party took the opportunity to come to Delrayon for a meeting from school and participated in this year's competition. Ayutthaya players ranked second only to Shade in the semi-finals.

The finals of the Ayutthaya players are all held at the Prophet Association. In addition to having a special invitation letter, each contestant can invite a companion to watch the game.

Shade had wanted Director Anlos to send someone to appear with him so that he wouldn't have to keep an eye on Mr. Virgil Cameron. However, Director Anlos obviously believed that doing so might lead to the connection between Shade and the identity of MI6 agents, so he rejected Shade's request.

However, Director Anlos mentioned that Mr. Cameron's trip in Tobesk was normal, and so far no suspicious person has contacted him. Seeing that the Ayutthaya players have reached the final stage, Mr. Cameron even bought a train ticket to leave the local area and return to the Principality of Set. Therefore, the Sixth Bureau is suspecting that there is something wrong with the intelligence they received.

"Grey-Headed Eagle" is dead. If someone appears, that would be something that would make Shade feel strange.

On Monday, Shade invited Dorothy to accompany him to a duel with Professor Wilde. It happened that the female writer was fine, so she agreed and witnessed Shade's two quick kills of Professor Wilde.

After the game that day, Mr. Virgil Cameron asked someone to pass a note and wanted to talk to Shade alone, but Shade declined because he had an appointment with Dorothy for dinner. During dinner, Shade did not forget to bring the bottle of high-end red wine from Chateau Russell that he took out from the [God's Gift Box] this week, which greatly reduced the cost of this meal.

On Tuesday, Dorothy was going to the "Steambird Daily" newspaper office to proofread the manuscript of the novel, so Shade invited Luvia as a female companion to accompany her in the duel with Captain Butler. Although Luvia is a staff member of the Prophet Association, not all staff members can enter the venue.

Tuesday's showdown took place in the afternoon, and Shade still had the cat with him. I don’t know whether it was the luck brought by Luvia or little Mia. In short, although Captain Butler narrowly won the first game, Shade won the remaining two games.

At the same time, Mr. Dirac, a mechanical engineer from Tobesk, and Mr. Virgil Cameron, an aristocratic advisor from the Principality of Set, competed in a duel on the other side of the venue. Mr. Cameron won.

Mr. Cameron twisted his neck to relax it that was stiff due to too much concentration. He tilted his head and looked to the other side of the venue, and happened to meet Shade's eyes.

Shade smiled and nodded at him politely, but Mr. Cameron had a nervous expression on his face. The latter looked away, and Shade was not surprised by this. He was probably wondering why he, holding the [Founder Silver Moon] in his hand, had refused to meet him.

"This kind of life is really comfortable. I don't have to think about the chosen one. It allows me, a foreigner, to enjoy the style of the steam age."

Shade stretched, then stood up and walked outside with Luvia.

Outside the window, the green leaves on the branches gradually turned yellow. With the cold wind, the leaves fell behind the running newsboy, lying on the long gray stone bricks and being crushed by the wheels.

The Harvest Moon is about to enter its second half, and summer is completely over.

Newsboys in patched overalls and dirty flat hats run along the foggy streets with wild cats. The newspaper that smelled of ink was waving in his hand, and the front page headline showed the silhouette of the Prophets Association and two Rhodes cards cut together.

"The champion of the 1853 Great City Players will be between the city's Knight Shad Hamilton and Mr. Virgil Cameron of the Principality of Set."

That childish but loud voice seemed to spread throughout the streets and alleys of Tobesk. Along with the sound of the four-wheeled taxi grinding the stones and the soles of the shoes scraping the road, and the spreading mist, it spread throughout thousands of homes. household.

Towering chimneys spewed black smoke into the sky in the distance, and people crisscrossed the busy Silver Cross Avenue. At the beginning of the night, the little princess Agelina saw the figures of Shade and Luvia passing by the street from the window of Yodel Palace.

Wind and steam trains will carry this news further afield.

"Big City Players 1853" is probably the most exciting event in Tobesk City this autumn.