Chapter 130: Impermanence of All Things

The currency currently used in the world, in addition to the gold pounds of Northern Delarian, also includes the crowns of the Southern Carsonrick United Kingdom. But the United Kingdom was pieced together from several kingdoms in the past. Although a unified kingdom had been formed in the contemporary era of 1853, there were still several different currencies called "crowns" internally.

The Carsonrick crown was a large-denomination currency used in official transactions. According to the current exchange rate, about 11 to 12 gold pounds were equivalent to 1 Carsonrick crown.

"If it's gold pounds, then it's about this number."

Vice President Mark, a local, wrote another note with the number "33" on it. Although this money was not as much as Miss Galina's commission fee yesterday, Xia De only needed to participate in the competition to get the money, which was simply like picking it up.

The annual income of the accountant Franklin who once commissioned Xia De was only about 70 pounds, and his income was barely on the edge of the middle class.

Now Xia De only needed to nod to get half a year's income for the pillar of a middle-class family. He had no reason to refuse:

"I think I need a copy of the competition rules."

Mr. Rimo nodded:

"If you need it, we can get the competition rules in a while. But don't worry, you only need to participate; there is no requirement to win. Here is an agreement."

Mr. Rimo reached behind him, and the private secretary standing by the wall immediately walked over and handed over a dark brown kraft paper bag. As for the reward, Xia De would only get it after the tournament opened and he sat at the card table.

Nothing unexpected happened during the trip to the Prophet Association. Xia De signed the participation contract for the "Big City Player" in September this year, and at the same time, his Genesis · Silver Moon card was naturally appraised as genuine.

Vice President Cynthia Mark was even more excited than Mr. Rimo from the headquarters. He enthusiastically invited Xia De to have a drink to celebrate today's events. But Xia De refused on the grounds that his personal affairs were busy and there were things to deal with at the office.

But they would still be able to see each other during the Luo De card game on Sunday night, so Mr. Mark didn't care.

After leaving the Prophet Association, he went straight home. After waiting at home for no more than half an hour, Miss Annette arrived as estimated.

After the detective opened the door of No. 6 St. Deran Square, the fortune teller with purple eyes walked in without saying a word. She was stunned when she saw the first floor was sealed, but she still didn't say anything and followed the detective to Room 1 on the second floor.

"Something is very wrong here."

When sitting down, Miss Annette said. She had just seen the situation on the first, second, and third floors:

"It's just like a haunted house in rumors. Even if I don't fortune-tell, I can know that something is wrong here."

"It is a haunted house. I told the doctor and the others about this. You happened to be away from Tobesk at the time. I will probably talk to Priest Ao Gu Si tomorrow to let the Church of Dawn send someone to do a final inspection. I want to make full use of the house."

Xia De said, bringing a teacup for Miss Annette, while he sat opposite the fortune teller.

He asked very seriously:

"Before our conversation officially begins, I want to ask a question. Miss Annette, will you go to watch that Luo De card game on the weekend night?"

This question was very important to him.

"Why would I go? I have an appointment with Louisa to watch an opera that day, and my work at the association has nothing to do with Luo De cards."

Miss Annette said in surprise.

Xia De nodded with satisfaction and cut into the formal topic:

"I was really surprised to see you at the Prophet Association just now. Aren't you a fortune teller at the Prophet Association? How did you become a secretary this time?"

"The occasion today was special, and I happened to be curious about 【Genesis · Silver Moon】, so I specially applied to come and help. Detective, I am really surprised. How could Genesis · Silver Moon be in your hands? This... shouldn't be."

Miss Annette frowned, but soon raised her eyebrows because of the black tea. This was the second private meeting between the two since the carriage chat on Monday night.

"You haven't talked to me about 【Genesis · Silver Moon】 before."

She said in a low voice while tasting the black tea.

"Isn't this an ordinary item? That's why I didn't say anything."

Xia De asked in surprise, taking out the card and placing it on the table. Seeing that Xia De neither wore gloves nor showed any cherishing of 【Genesis · Silver Moon】, Miss Annette, who came from the Prophet Association, had a headache.

"Yes, Luo De cards are indeed ordinary items, but... how should I put it? I also heard some news from the high-level association by chance."

"The first thirteen Luo De cards were actually not manufactured by the Prophet Association. On the contrary, it should be said that Luo De cards were manufactured based on these thirteen cards. The association accidentally obtained two of them hundreds of years ago and discovered the information left by the ancient fortune tellers in the early Fifth Era about the thirteen cards, which is the card face and gameplay. Although they didn't find that they had any power, the Luo De cards made according to their appearance were unexpectedly successful. This brought amazing wealth to the association."

"Are the Genesis series Luo De cards 【Artifacts】?"

【Of course not. I didn't feel any whisper elements.】

"Of course not. Luo De cards are just ordinary items... but the Genesis series cards are very special. These cards may come from the Fifth Era, or even more distant Fourth Era, or even the Third Era."

Miss Annette said.

"You said these are antiques from thousands of years ago. Although they are paper products, they can still be well preserved?"

Xia De shook 【Genesis · Silver Moon】, and Miss Annette shrugged:

"At least the news I know is like this. According to the association's cognition, the thirteen cards of the Genesis series do not have any power, but they cannot be destroyed. Any attempt to destroy them will suffer the curse of bad luck. There is a saying that the holders of the Genesis thirteen cards will be very lucky when engaging in activities related to cards, dice, etc."

"Cards that can bring luck to the user?"

Xia De looked at 【Genesis · Silver Moon】 on the table. If this was true, then Miss Galina's weekend game seemed to have a greater chance of winning.

Miss Annette nodded:

"The Genesis thirteen Luo De cards will choose their own owners. No one can forcibly possess them. Only those who should possess them can possess them... I hope you can understand what I mean. Because of this, very few people can find their traces in the long river of history. Even the Orthodox Church and the Academy may not necessarily know that these cards have special characteristics.

The association is also studying what these cards can specifically do, and believes that this is related to the secret of the fall of the original ancient gods."

"Choose their own holders? What exactly is this?"

Xia De felt more and more strange as he listened, and Miss Annette shook her head:

"This is not an ordinary alchemical item, nor is it an 【Artifact】. According to the information left by ancient fortune tellers discovered by the association, these cards must be related to the thirteen ancient gods. Do you know about ancient gods? Oh, it's good that you know. There were indeed people in the past who discovered their peculiarity and believed that these cards were keys and weapons. From older documents, the association discovered their names."

"Special cards related to ancient gods that don't have power... what names?"

Xia De was quite curious.

Miss Annette hesitated:

"The thirteen cards represent the gods born with the world at the beginning, representing the impermanent world, so they are called—Impermanence of All Things."