The Old Duke said, testing the strength of the Detective's grip and finding it no less than his own, he then released the hand with satisfaction:
"I've heard about last Sunday's ga at Lakeside Manor, that was splendid, such a pity I missed it. But even from their descriptions alone, I knew that Tobesk had once again found a master of Roder Cards."
Though he was advanced in age, he spoke with a vitality that was unmistakable, and Shard could clearly sense the military bearing about the man, more pronounced than even that of Captain Lades.
"Good, very good! Playing Roder Cards, it's most interesting when done with young people like you."
The genuinely heartfelt smile that spread across the Duke's face was unmistakable, as different as a feigned smile from the genuine smile one might have when sneakily reading a Knight's tale during class and stumbling upon an exciting part. Shard now had a general understanding of what type of person he was dealing with—an incorrigible lover of Roder Cards.
Without much idle talk, salons, wine parties, and socializing would follow after the ga ended. Since both participants were present, the ga was ready to begin.
Most people here were drawn by the Roder Cards, with only a few aware of the ga's role in Naval personnel movents, which made for a lively atmosphere.
The Old Duke took the chair on the left side of the long table, a servant pulling it out for him. Shard sat in the chair on the right side, his chair pulled out by a dark-haired Miss Maid.
The guests who had co to watch the ga gathered around, but unlike the discourteous gamblers, they did not crowd directly around the table, instead standing in small groups at a respectful distance yet close enough to see the cards clearly.
The room quieted down as Vice-President Mark of the Prophet's Society approached the table and coughed. His role as moderator was a perfect fit for a ga convened by two Dukes:
"I won't waste ti with unnecessary words. The participants in this ga are Duke Lucas—"
Vice-President Mark nodded towards the Old Duke, then turned and nodded to Shard:
"and the Hamilton Detective, representing Miss Galina."
Shard also nodded slightly toward Mr. Mark.
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Miss Galina had decided not to appear before everyone, but according to the young dark-haired maid behind him, she was on this floor, awaiting the outco of the ga.
"Is this what they call social anxiety? No, could it be a 'dislike of n' to this extent?"
Shard thought to himself but imdiately worried that a High Ring Sorcerer might be able to read minds through several walls and refrained from letting his mind wander.
"This ga will be played with a best of three rounds format. In each round, the first to achieve three victories wins the round. If both players keep busting, the first to exhaust their deck loses the round."
Shard noticed a voluptuous lady not far from his side eying him; his peripheral vision swept over her, noting she was probably over forty.
"Before the ga begins, we invite three gentlen to carry out the final inspection of the Duke's and the Detective's card decks."
This was the rule in informal high-stakes gas, a safeguard against the possibility of the Prophet's Society being compromised. Of course, only in these aristocratic gas would things be made so complicated that the ti Vice-President Mark spent speaking was enough to finish half a ga.
The ones to inspect the decks were Baron Scaven with his pretty mustache, Baron Hurl with boots that seed to be nailed with horseshoes, and Viscount Ford, nearly sixty with greying hair, all dressed in similar black formal attire.
They first picked up Duke Lucas's deck, nodding as they inspected and occasionally uttering exclamations of surprise, which filled Shard's opponent with particular pride.
After spending a few minutes on what was largely a formality, they greeted the Detective and took his deck from his left side.
Shard's main deck consisted of the cards he had found on the rooftop of the pet boarding center while chasing after Mia. Though sowhat worn, older decks simply showed signs of frequent handling.
He had placed those five cards with special rules in the center and the gentlen reviewing the deck quickly ca upon the first card, "Ancient Fairy Tale: Matchstick Girl."
Shard heard Baron Hurl mutter the na "Baron Lavende," clearly an acquaintance. Then ca the second card, Primal Steam Engine: Mark IX, followed by the third card, Eastern Old Continent Scenery: Tis Lake. The trio smiled as they observed, noting these were quite rare cards indeed.
Upon glimpsing Northern City: Coldwater Harbor, they couldn't help but share a few words, as this card seed well-known; it was a mystery where Professor Manning had acquired it from.
Then, Baron Hurl, holding the deck, was the first to see Genesis: Silver Moon.
He blinked at the card in his hand, then craned his neck, drawing in closer to scrutinize the object in his clutches:
"Uh~"
A strange noise escaped his throat, and his body jolted as if struck by a bullet, his hands trembling at a rate visible to the naked eye. His eyes widened as if they were about to pop out, his mouth slightly open— he looked like a patient struck by dentia.
"What's the matter? Does the Detective's deck contain so rare card?"
The other two gentlen asked in hushed tones, as if to chastise him for the dramatic reaction. Standing to either side of Baron Hurl, they too leaned in to see the card.
"Uh~"
Baron Scaven made a similarly odd noise as he clutched his mouth with his wide hand adorned with gemstone rings, but his bulging eyes resembled those of Baron Hurl strikingly.
It was the older Viscount Ford who showed more maturity, as he turned and asked Vice-President Mark of the Prophet's Society, trembling:
"Is this authentic?"
"Yes."
The latter nodded, and then the room erupted in commotion, for people noticed that the elderly Viscount Ford suddenly contorted his face and clutched at his heart.
Panicked servants wanted to help him, but he waved them off:
"No need~"
He squeezed these words through clenched teeth:
"I can't afford to faint before this ga is over."
Then, he forcefully removed his hand from his chest, and his initially red face gradually returned to normal:
"I must watch this ga through."
He snatched Shard's deck from the still-shocked Baron Hurl's hands quite roughly. He glared intensely at Genesis: Silver Moon for several seconds before returning the deck to the Detective.
This caused Baron Scaven, who had co to his senses but realized he had lost the chance to personally touch that card, considerable frustration.
"What did you see? A rare card? Which series? Why such an exaggerated reaction? If I hadn't known you all for so long, I might think you were hired by Galina to act, to disrupt my focus before the match."
Old Duke Lucas curiously inquired from across the table, his head raised, but the three gentlen shook their heads in remarkably synchronized fashion:
"Saw nothing, we wish you victory."
As their voices overlapped, it gave the mont an almost codic quality.
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