Chapter 502: Multiplayer Card Game

Since Xia De was required to defeat his opponents in the card game, he couldn't waste time playing cards one by one. After the Divination Society staff consulted for opinions, this time they adopted a multiplayer card game. And this kind of card game generally only appeared in very formal Tarot card tournaments.

Xia De returned to the second floor a step early to let the Divination Society people check his deck. He naturally saw Luvia among them; Dorothy had already met up with her.

And the eager Hou Jue Glassley stated that no one would go easy on Xia De in the upcoming card game:

"This is 【Founding: Darkness】!"

The Hou Jue, with his hair combed sleekly, raised his eyebrows. He was really very excited, and the smile on his face couldn't be controlled:

"If Duke Lucas knew about this, he wouldn't have missed the banquet because of the flu, no matter what. Ha, he might have carried regret until he entered the coffin. Although even if we win against you, we can't get this card. But since we want to obtain the Founding series cards, Knight Hamilton (Sir Hamilton), you must experience the test!"

He probably regarded 【Founding: Darkness】 as a treasure, and Xia De as the knight seeking the treasure.

"Of course, but how exactly is this card game played? I have never played a multiplayer card game."

What Xia De was worried about was actually this.

"It doesn't matter, it's very simple."

The Hou Jue smiled and wrapped his arm around Xia De's shoulder:

"You will enjoy the upcoming card game."

After the Divination Society arranged the card game rules and selected four other people to participate in the card game with Xia De, the servants went upstairs to invite Wang Hou Diana down.

Such an interesting thing happened at the Wang Hou's birthday banquet, and the reporters who came to the banquet were even more excited and thrilled than the people who were going to participate in the card game in a while.

After the Wang Hou arrived to watch, Xia De sat down with his opponents, Hou Jue Glassley, Count Talancan, Viscount Forderman, and Mr. Spears, and the surrounding crowd began to predict the outcome of the match. The flashing flashbulbs were almost brighter than when Wang Hou Diana first appeared just now.

Around the card table were a knight, a marquis, a count, and a viscount. Mr. Spears, who had no noble title, was the First Permanent Secretary of the King's Council. According to regulations, a person holding this position could immediately obtain a non-hereditary baron status upon retirement or death in office.

"Everyone, please pay attention. This card game is refereed by me, and the dealer is Mr. Siconi of the Society."

The voice of Vice President Cynthia Mark attracted everyone's attention. He led the team to Yodel Palace tonight:

"There are five card players today. After our discussion, we adopted the following rules: each person has ten gold stars!"

The Divination Society staff distributed fifty pure gold five-pointed star buttons provided by Wang Hou Diana to the five people at the card table in brass boxes. Beside Xia De was Luvia.

"Mr. Hamilton, please keep them well."

She pretended not to know Xia De and whispered in Xia De's ear while putting down the box.

"After obtaining the first hidden card in each round, you can choose to use gold stars for betting.

After each person stops drawing cards, except for the last person to stop, everyone can choose to use gold stars for additional betting. After each round ends, the winner takes back 2 times the number of their own first bet in gold stars and 1.5 times the second bet, rounding up. If there is a remainder in the bet for the round, it is kept by the referee; if the bet for the round is insufficient, it is obtained from the referee; if both the table bet and the referee's bet are insufficient, only the entire table bet can be obtained."

Mr. Mark said, asking the five people in turn if they understood the rules, and only announced after everyone nodded:

"Losing all gold stars means automatic withdrawal. When only the last person is left at the table, the final winner wins the card game. If someone holds 25 or more gold stars during the match, they also automatically become the winner."

There were quite a few Tarot card lovers among the guests who came to the banquet. Hearing these rules, they discussed with each other, and some even asked if this was the final of this year's "Big City Player."

Xia De calculated that according to this way of playing, if everyone could remain rational and only bet one gold star per round, then even if someone could win consecutively, they would need to win at least 10 rounds to win. And in the case where no one wins consecutively and everyone chooses to bet one gold star per round, this card game would be even longer.

"But it is indeed interesting."

Xia De thought to himself, picked up a star from the box at his side, and prepared to toss it toward the center of the round table. For the first round, it was better to observe the situation first.

There was only one dealer, but everyone had their own deck, so Mr. Siconi of the Divination Society had to use five decks to deal cards. Although this was a bit of a waste of time, it also gave others time to think.

Xia De added all the special cards in his hand to the deck, but none of the nine special cards appeared in the first card. The first card was Moon 6.

Throwing a star toward the center of the card table, similar to Xia De's idea, except for Count Talancan, his other three opponents also threw down a star as a trial without prior agreement.

Count Talancan was the youngest person at the card table besides Xia De, looking only about thirty years old. He pretended to look at the expressions of others, hesitated for a moment, and actually threw out two stars.

"Did you draw a King or a Wang Hou?"

Hou Jue Glassley asked.

"Hou Jue, why can't it be that I'm confident that I can win the first round?"

"Forget it, you played cards with me at the Lucky Club before you were even an adult. I know you're not the kind of person who bets on luck."

Hou Jue Glassley said, stroking his chin, and then looked at the dealer:

"After drawing a King or Wang Hou, you can't continue to draw cards, so will you let this dealer continue to deal?"

"I can honestly say that what I drew wasn't a Wang Hou, but I still won't continue to draw cards, and of course, I won't raise the bet."

Count Talancan said with a smile, and then asked the other four:

"How about you?"

If the hidden card in his hand was really a Wang Hou, then not continuing to draw cards was to comply with the rules. And if it wasn't, under the assumption that the other four thought it was, they would definitely try to hit 21 points. Once the other four all busted, and the Count's hidden card wasn't a Wang Hou, he, the only one who didn't bust, would be the winner of the first round.

"I don't believe your luck is that good."

Viscount Forderman laughed:

"I'll continue to draw."

"Me too."

Mr. Spears also said. This First Permanent Secretary of the Council, 43 years old, with sunken eyes and thinning hair, was the kind of person who looked smart.

"I won't draw, and I won't raise."

Hou Jue Glassley said, becoming the second player to stop drawing. But he also didn't reveal his hidden card for display; after all, giving up drawing cards didn't mean admitting defeat.

"I'll continue to draw."

Xia De said, observing the expressions of his opponents, listening to the discussions of the bystanders beside him, and thinking under the crystal chandelier:

"In this kind of multiplayer card game, one must not only consider the opponents who continue to draw cards but also consider the points of those who stop drawing, to prevent others from winning while both sides fight. In this situation, if one had the ability to read minds, one would definitely be invincible."

【Then would you specifically learn mind-reading because of Tarot cards?】

The voice in his ear whispered.

"What kind of person do you think I am?"

Xia De asked back.

【Someone who swaps other people's hidden cards and makes opponents cheat.】

She whispered in his ear, with a smile in her tone.

For the second card, Xia De got a Flower 6, totaling 12 points. Just as he was considering whether to stop drawing, Mr. Spears first announced stopping drawing without raising, while Viscount Forderman continued to draw.

Xia De thought for a moment, looked at the Count who was suspected of drawing a "Wang Hou," and the latter smiled at him, unable to tell if he was nervous.

"I'll continue to draw."

Xia De said.

So only Viscount Forderman and Xia De got the third card.

"I stop."

The Viscount looked at his third card and then revealed his hidden card;

"8+2+9, 19 points. Talancan, I don't believe you're a Wang Hou! Raise one gold star."

Seeing someone finally reveal their hidden card, Hou Jue Glassley and Mr. Spears, who had already stopped drawing, also revealed their hidden cards, because they couldn't possibly win. The former had 13 points, which was why he stopped in the first round, and the latter had 17 points.

"Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter."

Count Talancan said, just refusing to reveal his hidden card, and instead asked Xia De:

"Then, Knight, do you want to continue drawing the fourth card?"

Each card thrown was thrown face down, but except for the first card, they needed to be shown before other opponents and oneself chose whether to continue drawing. Because there were no other opponents drawing cards, Xia De's third card hadn't been shown yet.

"I... Count Talancan, no matter what your hidden card is, you've already lost."

He said hesitantly.

"Oh? Did you draw a King?"

The Count was very surprised, but Xia De shook his head:

"Count, I guess your hidden card is a Wang Hou, and my third card is Flower 8, 【Eastern Scenery of the Old Continent: Tis Lake】."

Seeing the Count stunned there, Xia De explained:

"After drawing this card, guess the number of one of the opponent's unrevealed cards. If correct, you can choose whether to force the opponent's card number to increase by one after the opponent reveals the card. If the opponent reveals the card first, there is no effect. Now your hidden card is unknown; I guess it's a Wang Hou."

He revealed his hidden card:

"6+6+8, I'm 20 points. Count, reveal your card."

The card table was silent for a moment, then Hou Jue Glassley couldn't help but laugh out loud, and the other two gentlemen also tried hard to control their laughter:

"Haha, Talancan, you'd better not be a Wang Hou. Although both are losses, if you are a Wang Hou, you'll be mocked by us for months with this card face."

"A very wonderful card game."

Wang Hou Diana, who was watching from behind Xia De, also understood and said with a smile, and the guests watching also revealed smiles.

If the Count, who only had one card, wasn't a Wang Hou, then Xia De won; if he was, according to the special card rules, the Wang Hou plus one would be a bust.

Count Talancan's face turned red, and he looked at Xia De while panting, only saying after a long time:

"After playing Tarot cards for so many years, this kind of annoying situation is still the first time I've encountered it. Oh, it's indeed annoying. I heard someone won a 【King's Order】 in the Lower City last week, Mr. Hamilton. It seems that wasn't luck."

He revealed his hidden card; it was indeed a Wang Hou.

Polite laughter came from the crowd watching. The Count pressed his right hand to his forehead and shook his head constantly. Hou Jue Glassley tried hard to control his laughter, his whole body shaking in his seat:

"This is the charm of Tarot cards." ===== CHAPTER 503 =====