Chapter 54: Prophet Association

Little Mia was left at home to watch the house. Around 8:30, Xia De set off directly for the "Tobesk Branch of the Prophet Association" located in the city center.

The Tobesk City Prophet Association was an important branch of the Prophet Association of the entire continent. Aside from the headquarters located in the capital of the Ragson Principality in the central part of the Karsenrik United Kingdom in the south, the Tobesk City Association was the most important institution in the entire association and also managed all other branches of the association located in the Northern Kingdom.

It was located on Silver Cross Avenue in Tobesk City together with the Yodel Palace, and together with the building complex towering in the city center, it constituted the most prosperous street scene of Tobesk City, the "Steam Capital" of the misty Northern Kingdom Deraerion.

There were many pedestrians and carriages on Silver Cross Avenue. Although it was still early, newspaper boys, coachmen, nobles, merchants, clerks, and police, various pedestrians filled the street, and the association had already opened.

Standing on the street surface in the early morning, dodging the flow of people in the hazy morning fog, looking up at the three-story building where the association was located, the walls had been recently painted, and steam pipes and gas pipes were crawling all over the outer walls.

Even though it was only 8:30, there were still crowds of people entering and leaving the association's main entrance. Most of them were dressed decently; if one said this was a club for nobles, probably no one would not believe it.

So, Xia De specially tidied his clothes before walking toward the interior of the association. Fortunately, no one would block the entry of guests because of their attire.

Entering the lobby, looking up, he saw a circle of Tarot card oil paintings hanging on the wall, decorated alternately with brass gas lamps. One of the oil paintings was impressively the 【Founding · Silver Moon】 card face of the side-holding silver moon, which gave Xia De a fright in his heart.

Checking the nameplate, he understood that these thirteen oil paintings were the appearance of the first issued founding series Tarot cards. The association hung these oil paintings up as a memorial.

And because of the knowledge of the "thirteen Old Gods" last night, Xia De suspected that there was some connection between the Old Gods and the thirteen founding Tarot cards, so he carefully noted down the card faces of the thirteen oil paintings, having more guesses about the 【Prophet Association】 in his heart.

Brushing shoulders with an old gentleman counting the cards in his hand, he almost bumped into a young man wearing boots and a brown vest with a worried face. Turning to look at the bulletin board on the inside of the entrance, there were various notices posted there, most of which were posted privately, attempting to acquire certain special cards. The largest and most central notice used flowery handwriting to explain the "Great City Player" Tarot card tournament to be held in this city this autumn, when Tarot card players and enthusiasts from the entire Old Continent would gather here.

"Only when civilization progresses to the steam age can so many idlers have time to engage in these entertainment activities."

Xia De stood in the bustling crowd at the entrance, saying in a low voice in his heart, finally seeing the popularity of Tarot cards in this world.

The lobby at the entrance extended curved corridors to both sides. A row of counters facing the lobby was used for the association's consultation and guidance, and next to the counter was a staircase leading to higher floors, with metal handrail railings decorated with the four suits of Tarot cards in turn.

But relative to the liveliness of the first floor, there was no one going up or down the stairs.

Xia De held the former detective's diary, with some nervous and excited emotions, and came to the counter. The young lady with brown long hair wearing a brown-red uniform immediately greeted him with a business-like smile.

"Appraise Tarot cards."

Saying this, he placed down the five copper coins he had almost squeezed water out of in his palm, which were five one-penny coins stacked together.

"No problem, sir. Are you a member of the association? The appraisal fee for members is lower."

This kind of sales talk vaguely made Xia De feel like he had returned to his own world. He raised an eyebrow:

"The registration fee for members..."

"1 pound per year."

"Appraise first."

Xia De said, looked around the counter to see there was no one else, and then opened the diary, showing the founding series Silver Moon card with the suit "Sun 3" clamped inside.

Even Dr. Doctor Doctor Shi Nai De, who was not an enthusiast, could recognize what this was at a glance just by the card face, and the young lady receptionist who was a member of the association naturally could too.

She only took one look, then reminded Xia De with a smile:

"Sir, do you know that once appraised by the association as a fake Tarot card, the counterfeit must be destroyed on the spot."

"Hmm?"

Xia De did not know this point. Dr. Doctor Doctor Shi Nai De and Miss Louisa probably were not intentionally not reminding him, but also did not know. The association's practice was similar to a bank destroying counterfeit money, which could be understood.

If he hadn't heard the divination last night, Xia De would probably be quite hesitant. But he trusted the divination level of the Dean of the Department of Astronomy at St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy; the other party should be considered the most powerful diviner in St. Byrons:

"Yes, if it is a fake Tarot card, it must naturally be destroyed, but I am willing to have it appraised."

Although he said so, he was still a bit nervous in his heart. Xia De thought this was very normal; no matter who took a "grand prize ticket" they picked up to redeem, they would have such a feeling.

Probably because she had seen such scenes too many times, the receptionist lady handled it very skillfully, and the amplitude of the smile on her face did not change. She was probably not a local of Tobesk City; that kind of southern outsider accent made people willing to believe her professionalism.

Xia De saw the brass-colored logo on her chest, which was an Ouroboros, the logo of the Prophet Association:

"Then sir, please come this way, wait in Waiting Room 13 on the first floor, there are not many guests ahead of you."

The appraisal of Tarot cards naturally could not leave the owner's sight, otherwise, once appraised as a fake, it would be difficult to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. But it was also impossible to appraise it right here, so the association had a specialized appraisal room.

Xia De went to the room in the east corridor on the first floor with the numbered card. After opening the door, he found that the room was not a separate reception room, but a crowded reception room filled with tea tables and sofas, and there was not even tea provided.

Aside from the door connecting to the corridor, there was also a door on the side wall leading to the next room. Xia De, like everyone else here, received a hard paper card with a number written on it, and the appraisal room next door called people over every few minutes. The Tobesk City branch was the largest Prophet Association branch in the north of the Old Continent, so there were quite a few appraisal personnel here, so Xia De would wait at most half an hour before it would be his number 29.

Even though it was early morning, there were still quite a few people who came to appraise and wait in the reception room. The men holding number cards gathered together in groups of three or five, chatting about Tarot cards and current political topics, and occasionally talked about the anecdotes of the royal family and nobles.

A few others unfolded newspapers, as if they were leisurely in a private club. For the strange young man who walked in, no one paid too much attention. ===== CHAPTER 55 =====