Chapter 57: Great Wealth

"The origin of the card, it's not very convenient to reveal."

Xia De said cautiously. Mr. Mark also showed an apologetic expression. The middle-aged man was very good at using smiles to eliminate embarrassment:

"It doesn't matter, after all, this is also your secret."

This was naturally not Xia De's secret; his secrets, although many, did not include this. It was just that Xia De also did not know where Detective Sparrow Hamilton had obtained this card.

He only roughly understood why, in the last ten minutes before the detective died, he had specifically instructed Xia De to keep this card safe. Detective Sparrow was a true Tarot card enthusiast.

"A private detective who likes Tarot cards and novels, has very good taste in black tea, possesses secrets, and is good at investigating extramarital affairs... What kind of person was Sparrow Hamilton?"

Xia De thought to himself.

It took a full two hours for the three appraisers to reach a preliminary conclusion:

"This 【Founding · Silver Moon】 'Sun 3' is probably real."

The three old men looked like they had gone through a long-distance run and were quite tired, but they were very confident in their conclusion.

Therefore, the Tobesk City Association was willing to give Xia De an appraisal certificate to prove that the card in his hand was genuine. And in those formal Tarot card tournaments with organizations, such as the "Great City Player" this autumn, every special Tarot card must hold an official certificate issued by the association to participate in the competition, in order to maintain the fairness of the competition.

It was just that the appraisal did not end there. Mr. Mark told Xia De very apologetically. Although the Tobesk City branch believed that this card was the genuine founding series Silver Moon that had disappeared for a hundred years, according to the association's regulations, the appraisal of such special series cards issued a hundred years ago still required the 【Prophet Association】 headquarters to send professional appraisers from Karsenrik in the south for further appraisal.

That is to say, Xia De could hold the appraisal certificate for the time being, but he must come here again in about a week for appraisal to completely determine that this card was genuine.

"This is of course no problem."

Xia De accepted this arrangement. He had already taken back his card, his heart filled with excitement. The slight resentment he had toward Sparrow Hamilton for not leaving behind a wallet had all been let go.

"Of course, Mr. Hamilton, we must remind you that the value of this card... is immeasurable. If not necessary, you had better not use it in unofficial Tarot card tournaments, after all... you understand."

Mr. Mark gave a well-intentioned reminder, and Xia De also nodded:

"Actually, I don't intend to participate in any Tarot card tournaments at all."

He had always hated gambling; he didn't gamble in his hometown, and after coming to this dangerous and strange steam age, he wouldn't gamble either.

Even if the card in his hand could be called an official Tarot card cheat, he had no intention of using it to gamble for money:

"I don't know if the association is willing to acquire it, I mean after the appraisal in a week."

He shook the card in his hand at Mr. Mark, whose eyes involuntarily followed the movement of the card. Because of the Ring Ringed Ringed Shushi study issue, Xia De now urgently needed gold pounds. He knew how valuable the thing in his hand was, but he did not intend to hold it for a long time.

Perhaps possessing a hand of special Tarot cards, defeating opponents in various card games, and traveling around collecting Tarot card decks in this mysterious steam age would be very interesting, but Xia De preferred mysterious power.

"You want to sell it? Sell founding series cards?"

Mr. Mark seemed to have heard something unbelievable. He leaned forward slightly and explained:

"Sorry, because collectors who once possessed founding series cards in the past, those fanatical guys wouldn't let go even if they died... Okay, I understand. But sorry, the association never acquires Tarot cards."

"Why?"

Vice President Mark explained regretfully:

"To explain it in the words of gamblers, the association is the dealer and cannot easily intervene in the circulation of Tarot cards. Otherwise, even if it meant bankruptcy, I would be willing to acquire it in my personal name."

"Then is the association willing to act as a broker and introduce buyers for me?"

Xia De asked again. Actually, the museum mentioned by Detective Sparrow before he died was probably also a sales channel. But compared to an unknown museum, Xia De trusted such an official organization more.

"Of course, this is also one of the association's businesses. But you must understand that for such a card, it is impossible to easily find a buyer who can afford the money. Of course, all this must be discussed after the appraisal in a week. You can think of a psychological price within this week. By the way, this is the association's fee standard for introducing buyers... You are probably not a member of the association yet, but it doesn't matter, you are now, no membership fee for ten years."

Mr. Mark took out a silver badge from his pocket and handed it to Xia De. This was the sign of a member of the Prophet Association. But the badge did not have the Ouroboros logo, but a pattern of a Tarot card. The Ouroboros logo was limited to internal members of the association.

The middle-aged man took out his small notebook again, hurriedly wrote down a number, tore off the page with a rip, and handed it to Xia De:

"If it is this founding Silver Moon, this is the fee standard enjoyed by association members. Of course, we will only collect the fee after the transaction is completed, you can rest assured about this."

Xia De looked at that terrible flowery number written in pencil and couldn't help but gasp. After calculating how many orange cats Mia this was worth, he found that this unit of measurement was too small, so he calculated again that just the commission for this broker was enough for him to study for how many times the first year of Ring Ringed Ringed Shushi...

The woman in his heart chuckled.

"Pah pah, how can I think of such unlucky things?"

So he nodded gently:

"I understand, this commission is very reasonable."

"Then see you in a week, Mr. Hamilton. Please be sure to be careful, do not use this card easily... you probably understand what I mean."

Vice President Mark urged again.

"Yes, thank you, of course I understand."

With the satisfaction filling his heart, Xia De tucked the appraisal certificate and the card into the diary and was sent to the stairs on the third floor of the association by Mr. Mark.

Since coming to this world, almost everything had not gone smoothly, and even the residence he had finally obtained might contain dangers. But this Tarot card was like a ray of light in the fog, letting Xia De see the hope of a beautiful life.

He returned to the first floor of the association with this feeling of relief. Since there was nothing else, he planned to leave directly and planned to take Mia to a restaurant for a good meal at noon.

But in the lobby on the first floor, he met Mr. Lavender, who had played cards together just now, again. He seemed to be waiting for Xia De. Seeing Xia De walk down from upstairs, he greeted him enthusiastically:

"Oh, Detective Hamilton, do you mind if I take up some of your time? I have a commission I want to give you."

The middle-aged gentleman said, holding that gold-inlaid cane, looking at Xia De with expectation. Xia De subconsciously tightened his grip on his notebook and thought:

"Of course, the detective agency is always open. Do you want to talk at my place?"

No. 6 St. Deran Plaza was not far from here. Even if the card in his hand was valuable, he couldn't have no other income.

"Oh, I think it's not necessary. Please come this way, I have already rented a reception room on the second floor of the association, we can talk here."

Mr. Lavender led the way in front, and Xia De followed him back to the stairs. Because he was carrying something too valuable, he couldn't help but ask in his heart:

"Does this person have a problem? Are there traces of elements nearby? Does he have any relics on him?"

【Get closer... it's an ordinary person. Sometimes you are really too cautious.】

"Aha! How do you know the other party is an ordinary person? Ring Warlocks don't show their abilities, so they can't be easily identified by each other!"

Xia De asked immediately, and the whispering voice replied in his ear:

【Your soul is sensitive, I have already said this point.】

"Being cautious is always right. After all, you also know that I am an outsider and have been here for less than a week (Note), and I have encountered enough strange things."

He replied in his heart, but all he got was the woman's laughter. ===== CHAPTER 58 =====