Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Having confirmed Shard's identity, Mr. Walker spoke to him cordially but was rudely interrupted by Miss Luisa:

"Stop right there, Walker, Shard has no reason to help you. Besides, he may have the title of knight, but he's not capable of helping you smuggle out a whole train carriage of prohibited goods. We won't be a part of your bootlegging business. Now, let's get back to business, can you lower the price or not?"

Miss Luisa's delay here was not only due to the recent arrival of the police but also because, upon receiving the goods, she had just found out from Mr. Walker that the price of the parchment made from the hides of wild Triangular Antelopes she ordered had suddenly increased.

It wasn't that Mr. Walker wanted to fleece Miss Luisa; rather, because of an unexpected event on Thursday night, the cost of transporting these rare materials into Tobesk had significantly changed:

"Originally, a 20-inch piece of parchment sold for 12 pounds and 3 shillings, now I've merely increased it to 17 pounds, which isn't much."

"But the price increase happened after Miss Luisa placed her order, which is an unexpected event; this is disrespectful to the spirit of the contract."

Shard chimed in his support, but the middle-aged man just shrugged:

"I greatly respect the spirit of the contract, but I also need money to spend. Nobody's gold pounds fall from the sky; I can't afford to be at a loss."

"Oh, Walker, don't think I don't know that you're getting the goods for no more than 11 pounds and 7 shillings from abroad. Listen, I can give you at most 13 pounds, otherwise forget about this deal."

Miss Luisa said, frowning as she made to turn around and leave with Shard:

"15 pounds, that's the lowest price,"

said the middle-aged man shaking his head, evidently not intending to stop Miss Luisa:

"Recently, due to those damned madmen, the price of all materials in the Tobesk Region will rise. I know it's wrong to inform you of the price increase at the time of delivery, but I also need money to provide for my family."

"What family does a bachelor have to provide for? I reckon you're just looking to play Roder cards at the club."

The golden-haired lady said, mercilessly mocking:

"I know your group leader too; he's told me all about your unworthy hobbies."

"Playing Roder cards is as important to me as eating,"

Mr. Walker replied with a smile. Shard, who was beside them, suddenly raised an eyebrow; an idea had struck him:

"Do you want to play Roder cards?"

Miss Luisa looked at him in surprise, but Mr. Walker laughed, showing a very interested expression. Shard was very familiar with that look—the man was definitely a Roder card player.

"Mr. Hamilton, what do you mean?"

"We play a game of cards. If I win, Miss Luisa gets the parchment for 13 pounds. If you win, we'll buy your goods for 15 pounds."

"Do you have a special card? I don't play with players who use ordinary decks."

Mr. Walker narrowed his eyes, and Shard too smiled.

He took out his deck of cards from his suit pocket, and under Miss Luisa's "why do you carry that thing with you" expression, he shuffled it slightly and put away two cards from the Genesis Series. Then, he drew "Ancient Fairy Tale: Match Girl," "Northern City: Coldwater Harbor," "Eastern Old Continent Scenery: Tis Lake," "Primal Steam Engine: Mark IX," and "Southern Carsonrick Folklore: Moon Dance Festival" for the other to inspect.

Although he carried his deck with him, it was impossible to carry verification documents at all times.

Mr. Walker's eyes widened upon seeing the five cards, apparently not expecting the young detective to possess such treasures. Shard watched his reaction closely; the middle-aged man seemed to miss the special feature on the Moon Dance Festival card.

"Well? Do you want to play a game with me?"

Shard asked again, confident that the man would agree. But this time, he was wrong. With some reluctance, Mr. Walker handed the cards back to Shard, then shook his head:

"With so many special cards, you're clearly an experienced player. You're also the one who initiated the game, so the odds of you winning are very high. Under these circumstances, why would I have any reason to play with you?"

Shard had never before encountered someone refusing to play Roder cards. He signaled to the golden-haired lady to remain silent for the moment, then asked softly:

"Are you not confident in your Roder card skills?"

This simple provocation would certainly not work, so Shard added:

"As a Roder card player, can you really call yourself a true card player if you refuse a match when it's offered?"

The middle-aged man's face tensed with hesitation. Listening to the distant sounds of opera, he pondered for a while before speaking:

"I'll wager with you, but it won't just be on Roder cards. We'll bet three times, best of three. The last game will be Roder cards, and for the first two games, each person suggests something to bet on. I'll go first."

Shard glanced at Miss Luisa and, seeing her nod, he replied:

"Alright, then what do you want to bet on first? Drawing cards to see who gets the higher value? Dice points?"

"Of course not, we're going to race. Without attracting attention from the common folk, we'll move 30 feet (about 9m) from our current position, the faster one wins."

"Oh, that's not fair!"

Exclaimed Miss Luisa, tugging on Shard's arm and frowning. She knew about Shard's "Lagre's Leap":

"I know about your Arcane Technique; Shard can't beat you."

"There's nothing unfair about it, it's best two out of three after all."

Mr. Walker said with a confident smile, then snapped his fingers, and a faint crackling sound appeared in the air. He surged forward suddenly, transforming into a bolt of lightning and appearing 30 feet away in an instant. He smiled and looked back at Shard, indicating that it was his turn.

Shard looked at Miss Luisa and, under her barely concealed amusement, dabbed some Extract on the tip of his tongue, then told Mr. Walker:

"Don't blink."

He took a step forward, and with the next, he appeared right beside Mr. Walker, who opened his mouth in surprise:

"Space ability? Luisa, when did your team get a Circle Sorcerer who has mastered such a skill?"

"Walker, don't pry into others' secrets."

Miss Luisa said with a smile:

"We won the first round, Shard. What shall we play for the second?"

"I want to bet..."

Shard was about to suggest drawing a 4—first one to draw wins. However, Mr. Walker immediately interrupted him; under the current circumstances, he couldn't let Shard set the stage:

"Let's bet on Roder Cards for the second round!"

"The third round is Roder Cards."

Shard wouldn't do anything pointless. If there was an easy victory to be had, he wouldn't bother playing cards.

The middle-aged man knew he was unreasonable, so he suggested other terms, waving his hands:

"You and Luisa really fooled me just now, but don't be too quick to refuse. Let's forget about the race just now and stick to your original suggestion — deciding the winner with Roder Cards. If I win, I'll still sell you those parchments for 15 Gold Pounds. If you win, not only will I sell you the materials at a low price, but I'll also give you a piece of information."

He looked at Shard, his expression serious.

"What information?"

Shard asked. After all, there was no harm in agreeing.

Seeing Shard's question, Mr. Walker smiled, knowing Shard was tempted:

"Do you know about the Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer who was originally stationed here, Mr. Sari Pilot, known as the 'Iron Right Hand', who has been absent from the city for two months now?"

"I even know he led a team to a rural town to deal with an Angel-Level (1st Level) Relic going out of control," Shard said. This was something Miss Beyas had told him (Chapter 177), when they had discussed the return of the Prophet's Society president.

"You know? Right, but do you know the specifics of that Angel-Level Relic?"

Mr. Walker asked again. Shard shook his head, and the man in the black suit began to smile:

"The additional information is about that Angel-Level Relic. Mind you, the True God Church nearly wiped out the 'Blood of Mercury', but they did not find the Sage-Level Relic 'God's Gift Box' in the underground ruins. Now, information about that Relic is worth 100 Gold Pounds on the black market. An Angel-Level would be worth even more, so you wouldn't be losing out on this bet. Oh, you have to agree, otherwise, you're not a true Roder Card Player."

He used Shard's own argument from earlier.

"No problem, I'll play cards with you."

Shard feigned hesitation before softly agreeing. The blonde girl glanced at him, knowing Shard's level of skill at Roder Cards:

"Shard, you really don't need to take this kind of risk."

Her tone was one of great concern.

"Luisa, Mr. Hamilton has already agreed, and he can't go back on his word!"

Mr. Walker hastily said, then drew his deck for Shard to inspect. The gentleman had two Special Cards, and the deck looked a bit old, clearly that of a frequent player.

"By the way, when I was a merchant in Carsonrick, I had the title of 'Sicarl Mountain Gambling King'."

Sicarl Mountain is situated in the central east coast of the continent and serves as an important dividing line between Carsonrick and Draleon. The Rising Wind Trail frontline, where Captain Lades won the 'Spear of Kindness', is at the northern slope of Sicarl Mountain.

By stating this, Mr. Walker was engaging in the important "tough talk" stage before strangers play Roder Cards. It was to show he was an experienced player and to intimidate the opponent, aiming to overwhelm them in terms of momentum.

Shard chuckled:

"I'm not trying to boast, but since I started playing Roder Cards, I haven't lost a single round. Yes, I can swear to Mr. Dawn, what I, Shard Suren Hamilton, just said is absolutely true."

Mr. Walker was taken aback:

"Never lost a game? Oh no, you can't scare me, Knight. Tonight is the time you will face defeat. This way."

The three walked to the end of the corridor by the window, outside was the night view of Tobesk. Beneath the warm yellow gaslight, Shard and Mr. Walker shuffled their decks and then placed them on the windowsill:

"One round to decide the winner."

Shard suggested:

"I do have an opera I'm still looking forward to, after all."

"No problem."

Mr. Walker nodded, squinting at his own deck.
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But no one suggested that the observing Miss Luisa act as the dealer, following the unwritten rule of Roder Cards that the dealer can only be male.

Both players drew their first card, which by convention was the hidden card to be revealed last. Shard's card was clubs 13, while Mr. Walker glanced at his own hidden card, paused, and then turned it over with a smile:

"Look, I'm in luck tonight."

[Modern Girl: Florist], suit of moons 7.