Chapter 54: The Prophets' Association

Miya stayed home to look after the house, and around eight-thirty, Shade set off directly for the "Tobesk Branch of the Seers' Association" located in the city center.

The Tobesk City Seers' Association was an important branch of the Seers' Association across the entire continent. Aside from the headquarters established in Lomari, the capital of the southern Kingdom of Lagson, the Tobesk City branch was the most significant institution within the entire association, managing all other branches located in the Northern Kingdoms.

It sat alongside the Yodel Palace on Silver Cross Avenue in Tobesk City. Together with the towering clusters of buildings in the city center, it formed the most prosperous streetscape of Tobesk, the "Steam Capital" of the misty Northern Kingdom of Delarion.

Silver Cross Avenue was crowded with pedestrians and carriages. Although it was still early, the streets were filled with various passersby—newsboys, coachmen, nobles, merchants, clerks, and police—and the Association had already opened its doors.

Standing on the morning street, dodging the flow of people amidst the hazy morning mist, Shade looked up at the three-story building housing the Association. The walls had been freshly painted recently, and steam and gas pipes crawled across the exterior.

Even though it was only eight-thirty, crowds were already flowing in and out of the Association's main entrance. Most of them were well-dressed; if one were to say this was a club for nobles, few would doubt it.

Thus, Shade took care to straighten his clothes before heading inside the Association. Fortunately, no one would bar a guest's entry based on their attire.

Entering the foyer, he looked up to see a circle of Rode cards oil paintings hanging on the walls, alternating with brass gas lamps as decoration. One painting, in particular, caught Shade's eye and gave him a start: it was the card art for [Founder · Silver Moon], depicting a figure holding the silver moon to the side.

Checking the nameplate, he realized that these thirteen oil paintings were the original designs of the "Genesis Series" Rode cards, hung by the Association as a memorial.

Because of the knowledge regarding the "Thirteen Ancient Gods" from the previous night, Shade suspected a connection between the Ancient Gods and the thirteen Founder Rode cards. Consequently, he carefully memorized the card art of each of the thirteen paintings, forming more conjectures about the [Seers' Association] in his mind.

He brushed past an elderly gentleman who was looking down while counting cards in his hand, and nearly collided with a melancholy-looking young man wearing boots and a brown vest. Turning to look at the bulletin board inside the entrance, he saw various notices posted there. Most were private postings attempting to acquire certain special cards, while the largest and most central notice, written in handwriting, explained the "Great City Player" Rode card tournament to be held in this city this autumn, which would gather Rode card players and enthusiasts from across the entire Old Continent.

"Only when civilization has progressed to the Steam Age can so many idle people have the time for such recreational activities," Shade whispered to himself while standing amidst the bustling crowd at the entrance, finally witnessing firsthand just how popular Rode cards were in this world.

From the entrance hall, curved corridors extended to both sides. Directly facing the hall was a row of counters used for the Association's inquiries and guidance. Beside the counters were stairs leading to the higher floors, with metal handrails decorated sequentially with the four suits of Rode cards.

However, in contrast to the bustle on the first floor, there was no one ascending or descending the stairs.

Clutching the diary of the former detective, Shade approached the counter with a mix of nervousness and excitement. A young woman with brown hair, wearing a reddish-brown uniform, immediately greeted him with a professional, business-like smile.

"Rode card appraisal."

As he spoke, he placed a stack of five copper coins—five pennies—on the counter, his palms so sweaty they were nearly damp.

"No problem, sir. Are you an Association member? Appraisal fees are lower for members."

This kind of sales pitch made Shade feel vaguely as if he had returned to his own world. He raised an eyebrow.

"The registration fee for members is..."

"One pound per year."

"Appraisal first," Shade said. After checking that there was no one else around the counter, he flipped open the diary and revealed the Genesis Series Silver Moon card, with the suit "Sun 3," tucked inside.

Even Dr. Schneider, who was not a hobbyist, could recognize what it was at a glance just by the card art; naturally, the young woman working the reception desk could as well.

She merely took one look and reminded Shade with a smile

"Sir, are you aware that once a Rode card is appraised by the Association as a forgery, the counterfeit item will be destroyed on the spot?"

"Hmm?"

This was something Shade did not know. Dr. Schneider and Miss Louisa likely hadn't intentionally withheld the information, but simply didn't know it themselves. The Association's practice was similar to a bank destroying counterfeit banknotes, which was understandable.

Had he not heard the divination last night, Shade would likely have been quite hesitant. But he trusted the divination skills of the Dean of the Academy's Astronomical Institute; the man was arguably the most powerful diviner in St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy.

"Yes, if it is a forged Rode card, it should certainly be destroyed, but I am willing to proceed with the appraisal."

Despite saying this, he couldn't help but feel nervous. Shade thought this was normal; anyone holding a "winning lottery ticket" they had found would feel the same way.

Perhaps because she had seen such scenes too many times, the receptionist handled the situation skillfully, her smile never wavering in intensity. She was likely not a local of Tobesk City, as her southern outsider accent made her professionalism quite believable.

Shade noticed the brass emblem on her chest—the Ouroboros, the symbol of the Seers' Association.

"In that case, sir, please follow me. Please wait in Waiting Room No. 13 on the first floor; there aren't many guests ahead of you."

Rode card appraisals, of course, could not be conducted away from the owner's sight; otherwise, if it were deemed a forgery, it would inevitably lead to unnecessary misunderstandings. However, it was impossible to perform the appraisal right there, so the Association had dedicated appraisal rooms.

Shade took the card with the number written on it and headed toward a room in the east corridor of the first floor. Upon opening the door, he found that the room was not a private parlor, but a crowded reception room filled with coffee tables and sofas, and it didn't even provide tea.

Aside from the door connecting to the corridor, there was another door on the side wall leading to the adjacent room. Like the others here, Shade had been given a stiff paper card with a number. Every few minutes, someone would be called into the adjacent appraisal room. The Tobesk City branch was the largest Seers' Association branch in the northern part of the Old Continent, and there were many appraisers here; thus, after waiting at most half an hour, it would be his turn, number 29.

Even though it was early in the morning, there were still many people waiting in the reception room for appraisals. Men holding numbered cards gathered in small groups, chatting about Rode cards and current affairs, occasionally discussing anecdotes about the royal family and the nobility.

A few people unfolded newspapers, enjoying a leisure that felt like being in a private club. No one paid much attention to the strange young man who had just walked in.