All contestants were required to check their decks before the match. Because Shade had been delayed for a while with the Witch, everyone else had already arrived by the time he reached the back garden.
The sixteen tables for the first round were scattered across various corners beneath the grape trellises, each surrounded by large crowds of spectators. Consequently, Shade had no opportunity to learn who the other contestants were.
After reviewing [Life Ritual: Wedding], he bid a temporary farewell to Baron Lavender and Baron Rwanda and found the pre-arranged long table in the center of the garden path on the west side of the trellises. Sitting at the other end of the table was Colonel Lisbon, aged 42. He didn't possess much of a military air—though that might have been due to his glasses.
The two didn't say much. Once Shade took his seat, under the glow of the gas lamps, Mr. Sikh of the Seer Association immediately announced the start of the match.
"Mr. Hamilton, I have heard much of your fame."
Colonel Lisbon had a brown beard and wore a naval uniform for the banquet, complete with military boots. A standing gas lamp stood beside them; these were the lighting fixtures of the garden, similar in general design to the streetlamps on Silver Cross Avenue, only shorter.
The warm yellow light illuminated them. Tifa stood behind Shade, holding Mia, while the Colonel, knowing Shade's identity, greeted him politely. They both drew their first cards. The surrounding crowd lowered their voices slightly, anticipating the gameplay of the champion of the Big City players.
It had to be admitted that playing cards in a scenic aristocratic manor under a starry sky was indeed very pleasant.
"Colonel Lisbon, I heard you've just returned from the New World?"
Shade asked, drawing a second card along with the Colonel.
"Yes, I landed at Coldwater Harbor and took the steam train back. After all, the investiture season is approaching at the end of the year."
The Colonel smiled. Like Carsonrick, Delarion held national investiture ceremonies every year-end, strictly adhering to the rule of a minor title every four years and a major one every ten. This was somewhat similar to the concept of a "year-end bonus" that existed even in this era, and akin to how the Church of the Five Gods distributed gifts to core believers at the end of the year.
Of course, the bottom-tier laborers in the steam factories could only receive blessings from the factory owners; middle-class citizens could receive some cash from their employers; wealthy merchants and factory owners rewarded themselves with their own money; and those who could participate in the year-end investiture received true status and honor.
"Investiture season? Yes, in the blink of an eye, 1853 is coming to an end," Shade agreed, then announced he was staying, though he did not immediately flip his hole card. According to the rules, staying did not require an immediate reveal. His friend, Captain Radis, had also written a letter recently saying he would return to Tobesk in winter to receive a reward for his merits during the Battle of Midhill Castle; Shade just wondered if Captain Radis would be able to advance further.
The Colonel hesitated, looking at the 17 points held in his two cards, and also chose to stay. He then saw that Shade had the Star 10 and Star 8.
"This year has been truly exhausting. I hope every day can be peaceful," Shade said, drawing the first card of the second round, then flipping it over with a smile
"The Empress, [History of New World Exploration: Wind of Pioneering]. I can randomly draw one more card; if it is of the Sun suit, the Empress is treated as a King. But I will not activate the effect. Colonel, I don't believe you can draw a King or hit 21. Would you like to try?"
"Alright, I concede."
The Colonel stood up with regret and shook hands with Shade, who had also risen.
"I hope we can play again next time. What a pity I didn't get to see those Founder series cards."
The venue for Shade's second match was beside a small white stone fountain on the south side of the grape trellises. The fountain featured an image of a cherub holding a water jar, looking exceptionally elegant.
Under the gas lamp, Tifa pulled out a chair for Shade. Shade's opponent arrived belatedly only after Shade had sat down.
Wearing a red coat, white balloon pants, and a hat adorned with a feather, it was Viscount Chekhov, a local noble of Tobesk. The Viscount possessed considerable wealth, but his primary vocation was that of a moderately famous poet.
Like Colonel Lisbon before him, Viscount Chekhov first expressed his admiration for Shade before they began to play. He recognized the maid standing behind Shade as Duchess Galina's personal maid; thus, after receiving his first card, he began to praise Shade as a handsome gentleman, whether intentionally or not.
However, such praise did not help him win the match. In the first round, the Viscount continued to draw with 16 points and unfortunately busted; in the second round, he cautiously stayed at 16, only to be defeated by Shade's 18.
The spectating guests laughed, pointing out that the Viscount had fallen twice in the same spot, just in different postures. The Viscount was not angry; instead, he rose with great poise to shake Shade's hand.
"I knew it. Defeating the champion of the Big City players is not that easy."
"I arrived a bit late. May I ask if there are any interesting players in this tournament?" Shade asked with a smile, while Tifa helped him organize his deck.
Viscount Chekhov thought for a moment.
"It seems a lady is participating in the card game, which is quite rare. However, I don't know that lady, who seems to be from Carsonrick."
"A lady playing cards?" Shade frowned.
The third match took place at the edge of the garden maze on the west side of the trellises. By this time, as the number of remaining players had decreased, the number of spectators around each table had increased. Of course, to avoid suspicion, no one was allowed to stand behind the players except for their own servants.
This time, Shade's opponent was Mr. Lovatz Bellson. This gentleman in his thirties was not a noble himself, but he had married Baroness Liana Pompey. It was worth mentioning that the noble lady was forty-five years old this year.
Mr. Bellson similarly admired Shade's fame. After they sat down, he even wanted an autographed photo of Shade, but Shade politely declined with a smile.
The gameplay between the two was equally devoid of suspense. However, during the second round, the special rule card Mr. Bellson drew, [The Brave's Game: Wilde-style Wrestling], piqued people's interest.
The rule of this card, naturally, did not require the players to actually wrestle. Instead, it required the cardholder and one of the players at the table to roll a 20-sided die. If the numbers on the two dice matched, this Moon 9 card could have its value adjusted within the range of 7 to 11.
One must realize that among all the Rod cards Shade had seen so far that could adjust numbers, only his [Founder: Silver Moon] could span five numbers. Although the activation condition for [The Brave's Game: Wilde-style Wrestling] was extremely strict, a five-number adjustment rule meant that if luck truly struck, this card would play a decisive role.
Shade rolled a 1, and Mr. Bellson rolled a 13. The card's rule did not activate, prompting sighs of regret from the spectators. When the game ended and the two shook hands, Shade revealed his desire to purchase the card.
"No, no, Mr. Hamilton, I will not sell this card."
Mr. Bellson shook his head, his tone firm.
"I intend to keep it in my possession until the day I die, and then let my children open my diary, take out this card, and tell them that this is the most precious gift I have left for them."
These words drew laughter from the surrounding people, and Shade also smiled. He suddenly thought of Detective Spyro; the former detective had left [Founder: Silver Moon] in his diary before his death for Shade to inherit.
PS: Last year's Children's Day, the story had just developed to "The Spear of Kindness," and it also happened to be playing cards under the grape trellises of Lakeview Manor. A year later, the story has returned to the grape trellises of Lakeview Manor. How sentimental.
Happy Children's Day. May [The Creator of Innocence] protect all those who keep a childlike heart.
(End of Chapter)