Chapter 2012: Spider Hotel

"I really didn't expect to meet you again. This is as pleasantly surprising as when you suddenly appeared at the White River Valley Vineyard early last winter."

The Spider Hotel is very small, and the interior is quite simple. Because the lighting is not good, even during the day, oil lamps are lit. The wooden walls have a sense of age and antiquity. After entering the door, the narrow interior has four tables. Walking forward, you can go to the second floor, and you can enter the first-floor "hall" with seven or eight tables through the door on the front right. The counter is also on this side.

Viscount Bernhardt said while sitting down at the table against the wall inside with Xia De. Xia De noticed the two men playing Luo De cards at a table not far away, both wearing police uniforms, so he knew why no one was guarding this morgue.

"I am also surprised. You went to Willendale City to recuperate last winter. I thought I would have to wait until the grape harvest season in autumn to meet you in Huntington City again. Oh, I received your year-end festival greeting card and gift, thank you very much."

"The manor steward also sent me your year-end festival gift, which is also very good."

The waiter brought over two ales; friends reunited after a long time have much to talk about.

"Speaking of grape harvest, it's very difficult this year."

Talking about this topic, the viscount who has his own winery shook his head quite distressedly. Xia De knew he was talking about the weather:

"There is no other way. I think the White River Valley Vineyard should be the same. A few days ago, that Highness also wrote to me, telling me that this autumn, I probably won't be able to drink high-quality red wine produced by the White River Valley Vineyard."

After the Pantanal incident, the White River Valley Vineyard, which had a hidden passage in the wine cellar, actually fell into Xia De's hands. But because he is a foreigner, the nominal control is in Margaret's hands.

Viscount Bernhardt said with a smile:

"You don't have to worry about this. If that Highness wants to send you red wine, there are plenty of ways to get it. Besides, the wine you brew yourself is better than any other goods."

The two then raised their wooden wine glasses and clinked them. Xia De also explained his intention:

"I came here this time to find a relic."

He gestured with the number "0," and Viscount Bernhardt showed an expression of awe:

"You are always doing such dangerous things. Speaking of which, in the past few months, you haven't been active in the Green Lake region, right?"

Xia De nodded, and the expression on the latter's face became more and more awe-struck:

"I don't have such exciting and dangerous adventures. I will probably stay here for a month or two this time. I have cooperated with friends in Willendale to do some business with the New Continent, and there are some chores that need me to handle in Moon Bay. If you need help, just tell me. Our friendship has continued since Miderhill..."

After speaking, he looked around twice, and then asked the young man across the table in a low voice:

"Speaking of which, in Moon Bay, there shouldn't be any sealed ancient evil things, great Old Ones planning to descend, or traitors from the Fortune Teller Association, right?"

After asking, he looked at Xia De with worry and anxiety. Xia De recalled... actually, he just arrived:

"No, at least I haven't found it for the time being."

Xia De answered honestly. He remembered that Laplace Howard's book seemed to mention that the Moon Bay region had a history of divine descent. Although he didn't expect to get divinity because of this, since he is in the local area, it is necessary to investigate:

"However, I found traces of dragons active in the Moon Bay region in the Fifth Era."

"Dragons? Compared to other things, this is a small matter."

Viscount Bernhardt nodded cautiously.

The two then chatted about the interesting things they had seen and heard since they parted half a year ago. Viscount Bernhardt already knew that "John Watson" was "Xia De Hamilton" during his time in Miderhill, so he didn't forget to congratulate Xia De on winning the 1854 Tobesk Ring City Equestrian Championship.

He talked about what he saw and heard while recuperating in Willendale City, described the city to Xia De as detailed as possible, and thanked Princess Margaret for the convenience provided to his family business.

Xia De showed the viscount the "Genesis · Knowledge," "Genesis · Earth," and "Genesis · Space" he had just obtained. When a total of seven "Genesis" series cards, plus "Genesis · Silver Moon," "Genesis · Balance," "Genesis · Darkness," and "Genesis · Death," were taken out by Xia De, the viscount put on his gloves quite respectfully, and then took them from Xia De's hand:

"It's a sin to appreciate these cards in such a broken place. They are really beautiful... The Dacheng Player is held every three years. Now, one year has passed since the 1853 session. If you can collect the whole set of 'Genesis' to participate in the competition two years later in 1856, then that competition will definitely be more exciting."

He returned the deck to Xia De, leaned one arm on the table, and asked Xia De with a smile if he was interested in this:

"Do you know, the 1850 champion of Dacheng Player lives in Moon Bay. Viscount Bell Gra, he is also a celebrity among local Luo De card players. I have been in Moon Bay for two weeks, and I often hear his name mentioned when playing cards with friends in the club. He has a lot of special rule cards and welcomes others to take out other special rule cards to gamble with him, but everyone can only gamble with him once."

The vampire viscount used his eyes to ask Xia De if he was interested in this. He was really looking forward to the confrontation between the two Dacheng Player champions.

Xia De thought for a while and asked with a smile:

"Does he have Genesis series cards in his hand?"

"He shouldn't have."

"Then I'd better finish my business first. You also know that the thing I'm looking for won't appear easily."

"That's a pity... If you want to play cards with that viscount, I can help you introduce him. He really has a lot of good cards."

By the time the coroner, Mr. Ptolemy Albert, came to the tavern to find the two, Xia De was playing cards with Viscount Bernhardt using a normal deck, and the topic had shifted to Miss Sylvia's business.

Nominally, that business was Margaret's industry, and Miss Sylvia was just managing it on behalf of the princess as her math teacher and personal doctor.

And the brand-new fabric had already appeared in the hands of noble ladies in Willendale before it was officially released, before Viscount Bernhardt left Willendale, and thus triggered a frenzy. Counting the time, the fabric should be officially available in stores recently. The Moon Bay City, thousands of miles away, should also appear such goods soon, and the Tobesk City in the north should be even later.

But in any case, Viscount Bernhardt, who had seen that kind of fabric in the club in Willendale, believed that the business would definitely be a huge success. Although the fabric on the ladies' legs is not a topic that can be discussed loudly in public, Princess Margaret has really dug a gold mine this time:

"Mr. Watson, if you have the opportunity, you must see that kind of fabric. Men and women will not refuse such beautiful and close-fitting goods. Even if you are well-informed, you can't imagine what it looks like when it is worn on the girls' legs. I have a few magazines there, you can take a look first... Don't misunderstand, that was sent by a friend. I give up playing cards. Listen to me, this gold mine of Princess Margaret can probably be called the most memorable thing in 1854."

"What gold mine? Are you talking about that gold mine in the southeast forest of Moon Bay? Because of the discovery of the gold mine in Randall Valley, it has changed from the sixth largest reserve in Kassenrik to the seventh."

The coroner sat beside Viscount Bernhardt and greeted the waiter to bring him a glass of wine. He seems to be a regular here and is very familiar with the hotel owner and waiters.

And at this time, with Viscount Bernhardt's guarantee, after confirming that Xia De was not a bad person, this Mr. Albert was also willing to provide information to Xia De.

The location and entry method of the local black market naturally don't need to be mentioned. The most critical thing is the reclusive fortune teller Xia De is looking for. Although Mr. Albert has lived locally for many years, he has only moved to the apartment near Herring Street in the last six months. He thought about it carefully and didn't think of a candidate who met Xia De's requirements.

However, mentioning "fortune teller," this gentleman provided other clues to Xia De while watching the two friends play cards:

"There is a very capable fortune teller in the Moon Bay region, and she should not be a member of the Fortune Teller Association."

He described to Xia De and Viscount Bernhardt:

"That is a lady, and her level is very high. She only occasionally sends people to the black market, letting some people with special destinies follow her servants to other places, and she will fortune tell for those people. Although it sounds strange, her fortune telling skills are very powerful, and she is a very professional fortune teller."

"Then how do you know that the other party is not a fortune teller of the Fortune Teller Association?"

Viscount Bernhardt asked curiously while shuffling cards, and the coroner explained:

"That lady calls herself 'Lady Amethyst,' and every time she fortune tells for others, she will mock the Fortune Teller Association, thinking that the fortune tellers of the association are... not very useful people."

"Colleagues are the biggest enemies, this is easy to understand. Maybe that lady had conflicts with the Fortune Teller Association before."

Xia De guessed, and the coroner Mr. Albert also nodded. Although "coroner" is not a very decent job, this gentleman has a unique scholarly temperament, which is very magical:

"Most people think so, so Mr. Watson, if you can't find that fortune teller in the lower city area, why not try your luck with 'Lady Amethyst' and see if that female fortune teller is willing to fortune tell for you. Even if she can't fortune tell the person you are looking for, at least she has many connections in this city, and maybe she can help you through her connections." ===== CHAPTER 2013 =====