Chapter 69: Abnormal Good Luck |
When Dr. Schneider and Shad locked eyes, both of them widened their gaze in shock. Shad even caught a trace of “What are you doing here?” in Dr. Schneider’s expression.
Shad had indeed mentioned to the doctor that he needed to attend a formal dinner due to a recent detective agency assignment, but he hadn’t specified that it was the Lakeview Manor banquet. Likewise, the doctor hadn’t asked for details, probably assuming that Shad wouldn’t show up at such an event.
Shad wanted to leave the card table to approach the doctor, but Dr. Schneider gave him a subtle shake of his head, all the while maintaining his conversation about the differences between silver and gold utensils with a companion.
They passed by the grape trellis and greeted some mutual acquaintances at the card tables without directly addressing each other. Instead, the doctor discreetly gestured a complex sequence of hand signals. Only after ensuring Shad had seen and understood them did he rejoin his companions and leave.
“What on earth did those gestures mean?” Shad wondered as he stared at the grapes hanging overhead.
Although he had seen the gestures clearly, he couldn’t decipher them at all. He didn’t understand sign language or secret signals, so even the most deliberate hand signs from Dr. Schneider were lost on him.
Now, with Madame Lassoia of Blood of Mercury, a Ring Warlock team from a True God Church, the mysterious high-level Ring Warlock known only as "That Lady," and Dr. Schneider all present at Lakeview Manor, Shad couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
“What exactly is going to happen here...?” he pondered. “I’ll finish this card game first and then try to find the doctor. Could Miss Louisa or Father August be here too?”
The second game of Rhodes Cards between Sir Solar, the horticultural artist, and Mr. Sick, the flour mill owner, was evidently more thrilling than the first between the two barons. The pair alternated wins, battling fiercely until both men were visibly sweating.
“This round is mine,” Sir Solar declared, flipping over his face-down card with the triumphant revelation of “Sun 9.” Across the table, Mr. Sick sighed deeply as he turned over his own face-down card—a “Queen.”
Shad couldn’t help but sympathize. According to Rhodes Cards' competitive rules, drawing a “Queen” or “King” forced a player to stop drawing cards. The opposing player could continue but would lose unless they hit exactly 21. If both drew royals, the higher-ranking card prevailed, with the King surpassing the Queen. Holding both the King and Queen simultaneously was an automatic victory but could only occur during the initial deal.
Thus, Mr. Sick's "Queen" had no chance against Sir Solar's perfect 21. The game was thrilling enough to become a topic of conversation for months.
Baron Lavender, brimming with excitement, slapped Sir Solar on the shoulder so enthusiastically that the toothpick in Sir Solar’s mouth almost fell out.
With the second game over and each side having claimed a win, the final round’s importance loomed large. Baron Rwanda, appearing quite astute, decided to take the reins again for his side. After some thought, Baron Lavender handed out cards for his “friends” to draw one each, inexplicably resulting in Shad drawing a King and securing his spot as the final competitor.
Even Shad couldn’t help but mutter, “This luck is starting to feel strange.”
Baron Rwanda, short in stature compared to his companions, sat early, making him look even more like a glowing potato. He frowned as he spoke to Baron Lavender, “Lavender, we agreed to a fair match with friends as competitors, not hired Rhodes Card experts. Otherwise, this would be meaningless.”
While he didn’t explicitly accuse Shad of foul play, his tone clearly implied suspicion toward this unfamiliar face.
“Yes, this young detective is my friend. We had a great chat earlier,” Baron Lavender replied with a poker face. Shad took the opportunity to hand the skeptical Baron Rwanda one of his dwindling business cards. The address, “6 St. Derain Square,” visibly surprised the baron, who carefully tucked it away.
“You see,” Shad added earnestly, “I’m a Tobesk local, not a professional Rhodes Card player from out of town. If I were an expert, surely you’d have heard of me by now. Oh, Baron, if you doubt me, I can swear to the True Gods—I am absolutely not a Rhodes Card master.”
Baron Rwanda continued to regard him with suspicion but ultimately nodded his approval for the game to proceed. Yet, just as the dealer, Mr. Candela from the Prophets’ Association, began shuffling, the baron addressed Baron Lavender again.
“Since Detective Hamilton is your friend, how about gifting him my wager if he wins? I’ll add 20 pounds as an extra bet.”
Smiling broadly, he added, “Surely that won’t be a problem, right? No need to raise the stakes further.”
Although 20 pounds was a significant sum, it paled compared to the wager—a Special Rule Card titled Ancient Fairy Tale: Matchstick Girl. Shad knew the card's market value, which, with the right buyer, wouldn’t be less than 50 pounds. It was a true collector’s treasure.
Baron Lavender naturally wanted to refuse but, with everyone watching, was compelled by pride to agree. “Of course, Detective Hamilton is my friend. If he wins, the wager is his... your 20 pounds can go to Sir Solar,” he declared, slapping Shad’s shoulder firmly as he sat.
Shad understood that Baron Lavender would likely reclaim the card later and compensate him with some money instead.
“I have no objections,” Shad replied, while Sir Solar, spectating nearby, nonchalantly nodded his agreement.
Thus, the third game officially began. The deck, still belonging to the two barons, was shuffled and dealt. Shad’s right eye, faintly glowing red, allowed him to discern the bloodstains on the cards—a trace left by his spell, Blood Echo. Though he couldn’t memorize all 54 cards, his enhanced perception and memory for the marks gave him a rough idea of the first few cards.
“The opponent’s first two cards are Flower 10 and Flower 9. They’ll likely stand,” Shad deduced, glancing at his own revealed card, Sun 1, and his face-down card, Star 9. He gestured for Mr. Candela to deal him another card.
When the new card flipped over to reveal Moon 11, Shad couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
“No, this luck is definitely off. What’s happening here?”
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