Sunday, the 15th day of the Month of Harvest, was also the last day of the 1853 Big City Player semifinal stage. That morning, Shard went to the University District in Tobesk to participate in his last multiplayer card ga.
Thus, after six card gas over five days, Shard secured victories with 25, 25, 19, 25, 23, and 24 copper coins, respectively. Winning six gas in a row gave him a total of 91 copper coins. (Note)
Shard wasn't sure if he could rank first, but he was certain that this was enough for him to enter the final competition.
Therefore, after receiving his copper coin tally at the Prophet's Society at noon that day, he did not wait for the final results announcent like other card players but went to Coldwater Port to check on his commission to acquire special blood.
There was no news from Mr. Edmund, but in the Seven Brooms Tavern, there indeed were people interested in Shard's purchase, leaving relevant information. However, Shard did not believe that the blood of mythical creatures like the "Silver Blood Toad" or "Three-headed Seahorse" would et the requirents of the Vampire God.
In the Sixth Era, these creatures had beco very rare, although they were common in the Fifth Era.
It was after returning to Tobesk from Coldwater Port that Miss Galina sent a letter through soone, informing him that she had found suitable blood, provided by Miss Hevy Aurora. Specifically, it was found by the deep-sea rmaids affiliated with the Aphrola Family.
It was the blood of a creature called the "Abyssal Dragon Squid," which lived in the deepest part of the seabed between the Old Continent and the New World. Its na indicated it had dragon lineage, but it was uncertain with which creatures the pureblood great dragons had bred to produce such terrifying and dreadful offspring; the contemporary Circle Sorcerer community had no definitive answer.
The rmaids believed it was a spawn between pureblood great dragons and so kind of tentacled evil object from Subspace.
Regardless, the blood of such a terrifying creature was undoubtedly precious from any perspective. Moreover, although the blood contained toxin, it wouldn't directly kill a person. Drinking the blood of a dragon squid would connect one to the deep-sea abyss in dreams, allowing them to peep at the terrifying scenes of the abyss.
This was sowhat similar to the effect of the rmaid's Curse. As long as one was ntally strong, despite sleep being affected for a few weeks, there was no need to worry about life safety.
"How much does Miss Aphrola want?"
Shard was very satisfied with this blood.
"She says she doesn't want your money, but I feel she is up to no good. So, I copied a short section about marine life populations from Miss Feliana's notes for her, considering it as paynt in your stead."
Miss Galina said.
The Shard Family did not have the conditions to store such precious blood, so the blood was kept with Miss Aphrola for the ti being. When needed, it would be retrieved through the Witch Council by Miss Galina.
With this, Shard only needed to find one more type of blood, which was equally challenging.
"Precious blood, not necessarily powerful, but must be rare, or carry a story... I have helped you look, but you know it's not easy. However, are you looking for blood or wine?"
At Old John's Pawnshop, after having dinner, Old John was visited by Shard.
"I do know a story related to 'blood and wine,' but I need blood, not stories or wine."
Shard was quite troubled.
Old Man John behind the counter took a glance at him and handed a newspaper to Shard:
"Forgot to congratulate you."
The Tobesk Evening Newspaper, still faintly slling of ink, published the "Big City Player" finals list. To cater to the participants' honor and vanity, the list provided by the Prophet's Society prominently emphasized that the ranking was based on "semifinal results."
The na Shard Suren Hamilton was listed first, and among the people Shard knew, Baron Rwanda had bad luck and stopped at the preliminary round, while Baron Lavende and Mrs. Sangmi from the Three Cats Inn did not make it to the finals. On the other hand, Mr. Vigil Caron, the lover of Grand Duke Seth, had successfully entered the final.
This also ant that the surveillance task given to Shard by Director Anlos had to be carried out.
"Not surprising, I had anticipated making it to the finals."
Shard set the newspaper aside and continued discussing blood:
"Old Man John, I know you have extensive contacts. Can you really not help
make inquiries again?"
"I've asked around in the Tobesk area, but if I were to inquire further, I would have to write to friends in other regions, and that would take ti."
The wait to activate the key would end tonight. Without the two types of blood, Shard, even if he could go back to the past again, couldn't attend the social gathering.
"Would one week be enough? I can accept a price under 4000 pounds."
"Are you including your Big City Player prize money in this?"
Old John asked, slightly surprised, but he nodded:
"Since you're willing to pay so much, one week will definitely be enough. Even if my old friends in distant places don't have it, I can reach out to friends in the New World. However, storing the blood is a big problem; I will charge you for transportation... If you indeed win the championship of Big City Player, I can waive the transportation fee."
"Since when have you been so generous, Old Man John?"
Shard asked suspiciously, then as if he rembered sothing:
"You didn't place a bet too, did you?"
"Don't talk nonsense, I'm not soone who goes to underground casinos to place bets."
The old man picked up the newspaper again, hiding his eyes behind it. But before Shard left, he couldn't help but ask one more question:
"How high do you think your chances of winning the championship are?"
He definitely placed a bet.
"Looking at the odds, I'm the one with the highest chance of winning."
That was a relatively objective statent.
"I know about the odds...cough cough, I an how do you feel about it personally?"
"Above sixty percent I'd say. I haven't seen the groupings yet, and it's possible that my opponent's special card just happens to counter the effect of the special card I hold."
Shard was still rather conservative.
"Sixty percent... That's high enough."
The eight card players entering the 1853 Big City Player Roder Card Tournant were Knight Shard Hamilton (Draleon), Baron Shepard (Draleon), Tobesk's chanical engineer Mr. Dirac (Draleon), businessman Mr. Kubrick (Carsonrick), mathematician Professor Wilder (Carsonrick), the foreign noble Baron Cooper (Duchy of Lagerson), noble advisor Mr. Vigil Caron (Duchy of Seth), and Captain Butler who held dual nationality and frequently sailed between the New World and the Old Continent.
The nas of the eight were not only featured in the evening newspaper on Sunday evening but also published in the morning paper early on Monday. Although the front page headline was "His Majesty the King's Important Instructions on Autumn Harvest Work," the attention drawn by the Big City Players made this autumn in Tobesk City even livelier than usual.
The groupings were announced early on Monday. Shard's first opponent was mathematician Professor Wilder from Carsonrick, who according to the rumors Shard heard from the Prophet's Society, joined this year's Big City Player using the opportunity of a eting from the school in Draleon and placed just after Shard in the semifinals.
The final stages of the Big City Player were held at the Prophet's Society. In addition to those with special invitations, each contestant could invite a companion to watch the ga.
Shard initially wanted to ask Director Anlos to send soone with him, so he wouldn't have to keep an eye on that Mr. Vigil Caron. However, Director Anlos clearly thought that doing so might connect Shard with the agents of MI6, thereby refusing Shard's request.
However, Director Anlos did ntion that Mr. Caron's activities in Tobesk were normal and so far, no one of a dubious identity had contacted him. Seeing as the Big City Player was reaching the final stage, and that Mr. Caron even purchased a train ticket to return to the Duchy of Seth, MI6 started doubting the intelligence they had received.
"Greyhawk" was dead; if a contact appeared, that would indeed surprise Shard.
On Monday, Shard invited Dorothy to accompany him to the duel with Professor Wilder. As it happened, the female writer was free and agreed to co along, witnessing Shard swiftly defeat the professor in two rounds.
After the day's competition, Mr. Vigil Caron sent a note, wishing to speak with Shard alone, but Shard, having made dinner plans with Dorothy, declined. During dinner, Shard didn't forget to bring along the bottle of high-grade red wine from Russell Winery that he had retrieved from God's Gift Box this week, which greatly reduced the cost of the al.
On Tuesday, Dorothy went to Steam Bird Daily's offices to proofread her novel manuscript. Consequently, Shard invited Luviya as his female companion to join him against Captain Butler. Although Luviya was an employee of the Prophet's Society, not all staff could enter the venue.
Tuesday's duel took place in the afternoon, with Shard still bringing his cat. Whether it was Luviya's good fortune or Mia's, though Captain Butler narrowly won the first round, Shard erged victorious in the next two rounds.
anwhile, in another venue, Tobesk's chanical engineer Mr. Dirac and the noble advisor from the Duchy of Seth, Mr. Vigil Caron, also concluded their duel, with Mr. Caron winning.
Mr. Caron loosened his neck to relax the stiffness caused by excessive focus. Tilting his head to look across the room, he locked eyes with Shard.
Shard smiled and nodded courteously, but Mr. Caron's face bore a tense expression. The latter looked away, and Shard was not surprised. Caron was probably wondering why Shard, holding Genesis: Silver Moon, continually refused to et with him.
"This kind of life is truly comfortable. I don't have to think about being 'The Chosen One,' and it allows , an Outlander, to enjoy the atmosphere of the Steam Age."
Shard stretched lazily, then stood up with Luviya and walked outside.
Outside the window, the green leaves on the branches turned yellow and with the cold wind, fell behind the running paperboys, lying crushed on the gray, elongated stone bricks.
The Month of Harvest was entering its late stages, the sumr had completely ended.
The paperboy in patched-up overalls, with his grubby flat cap and accompanied by stray cats, raced through the misty streets. The newspaper he waved around, slling of ink, featured on the front page the silhouette of the Prophet's Society and two Roder Cards sliced together.
"The champion of the 1853 Big City Players will be determined between our city's Knight Shard Hamilton and Mr. Vigil Caron from the Duchy of Seth."
That young but loud voice seed to spread through every street and alley of Tobesk, accompanying the sounds of four-wheeled horse-drawn carriages rolling over stones, soles scraping against the pavent and the spreading fog, reaching every household.
Far away, smokestacks pierced the sky with black smoke, and Silver Cross Avenue bustled with people crossing the traffic. The lights just began to glow, and Little Princess Angelina at the Yordle Palace window saw the figures of Shard and Luviya passing by on the street.
The wind and the Steam Train would carry the news even further.
"Big City Player 1853" was probably the most exciting event this fall in Tobesk City.
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