Chapter 577: The Finals

Because the Astronomy Academy of St. Byrons was going to announce the activity regulations for this year's autumn astrology activities to all students participating in the activities on Wednesday night, Luweiya could not accompany Xia De to participate in the "City Player" finals on Wednesday night.

However, she divined for Xia De and believed that the possibility of Xia De losing the championship of this competition was lower than the possibility of Mia suddenly turning into a human tonight.

"What kind of metaphor is this?"

Xia De asked curiously while stroking the soft cat. The purple-eyed girl shook her head with a smile, probably teasing Xia De.

Not only Luweiya, but Dorothea also had no free time tonight. So after thinking about it, Xia De sent a letter to Miss Jia Lin Na, thinking that perhaps this witch would be interested.

But on Wednesday afternoon, when Xia De was picking clothes for the card game tonight in front of the wardrobe, the person who knocked on the door downstairs was not Miss Jia Lin Na, but Tifa.

She had changed out of the black and white maid skirt she usually wore and changed into a red dress that was also different from the one she wore when she acted as a detective's assistant last time. Not everyone was suitable for wearing a long dress of such a bright color, but the black-haired girl happened to be the kind who was very suitable.

The City Player finals were held on Wednesday evening. After deciding the final winner, the Prophet Association would hold a banquet inside the Association to celebrate the end of the competition. Because they had to attend the banquet, they naturally had to wear formal dress. The Duchess seemed to have determined that Xia De didn't intend to tidy up his clothes at all, so she had Tifa come to St. Deran Square at noon, which was also to help Xia De tidy up his clothes.

The Duchess seemed to have determined that Xia De didn't intend to tidy up his clothes at all.

Organizing clothes, talking about interesting things in the City Player, an afternoon passed quickly. But before the two set off for the Prophet Association, which was only a street away, an unexpected guest knocked on the door downstairs.

It was his superior, Director Director Anluosi.

"Oh, Miss Servet, you look beautiful."

This agent head with a plain appearance went upstairs and first praised Tifa's dress, then hurriedly pulled Xia De into the study to talk about things.

"Xia De, the monitoring of Cameron Servel has reached the end. If there is no error in the information, then I am determined that the person who meets him will appear tonight."

Director Director Anluosi stood by the study window, sticking to the wall as if peeking at the St. Deran Square outside. The sunset sunlight shone on his face, making one side of his face illuminated by light and the other side in the shadow.

Xia De sat at the desk and glanced at the three novels placed on the desk that could serve as codebooks:

"It seems tonight is the key to catching the other party."

"Yes, my people cannot enter the competition venue. But it doesn't matter. I have already obtained the list of invitation letters, and agents of the Military Intelligence Agency will also monitor at the street corner of Silver Cross Avenue to count the suspicious people entering the Prophet Association tonight. Xia De, the things inside the competition venue..."

"Leave it to me."

Xia De said very confidently. He heard the sound of Mia scratching the door and then being held by the maid, the cat probably thought Xia De was stealing something delicious in the study:

"I can guarantee that as long as I still have my eyes open, no one can secretly meet with Virgil Cameron. I will keep a close eye on him tonight."

Director Director Anluosi showed a smile:

"That's good. Don't be too nervous either. Just do what you should do. Tonight is indeed very important. The news we received even claimed that the one who would meet with Cameron during the City Player was the legendary agent 'Gray-Headed Eagle'."

Xia De looked up at Director Director Anluosi by the window. The latter's face was half light and half shadow, while Xia De in front of the desk was completely in the shadow of the sunset:

"I heard... that is a very powerful person."

"Yes, even if it is our opponent, I admit that the other party is very powerful. Good at disguise, good at hiding. Sometimes I even suspect that Gray-Headed Eagle is not one person, but a group of people."

The middle-aged man picked up his hat from the windowsill and prepared to leave:

"The other party must be hiding very well. I think there is probably no chance to see him tonight, but even a small clue counts as our victory."

Then he looked at Xia De and nodded at him:

"Although there might be no chance to see Gray-Headed Eagle, tonight at ten o'clock, my carriage will be at your door waiting for your news. I wish you a smooth card game and have a good time tonight."

The Director of the Military Intelligence Agency left the home of Gray-Headed Eagle. And Tifa was very curious about the strange expression on Xia De's face after he sent Director Director Anluosi away:

"Shall we set off too?"

He didn't explain, but adjusted his mood and said to the maid. The latter hesitated for a moment, approached Xia De, and kissed him on the face:

"A lucky kiss."

The black-haired girl said with a smile.

The Prophet Association today still maintained the appearance of being decorated with lanterns and colored streamers as if it were a festival. When Xia De and Tifa walked side by side to the entrance of the Association covered with a red carpet, the two also saw a glass sign taller than Xia De standing on the side of the main entrance. The shape of the glass sign was the abbreviation of "Prophet Association," and inside were segmented, lit kerosene lamps.

This was really a big deal. Although the craftsmanship of glass making had been continuously improved and perfected in recent years, this specification and level of detail of kerosene lamps were still not cheap goods.

Vice President Mark had already arranged for someone to wait for Xia De at the entrance of the Association. Seeing him come, he immediately led him to the third floor.

Before the final finals began, Vice President Mark informed Xia De of the process of receiving the award after the competition ended. It was not that the Association thought Xia De would definitely win, but Mr. Cameron on the other side would also receive similar information to avoid accidents during the award-receiving process.

"Xia De, do you have confidence?"

Vice President Mark asked Xia De in his office. Tifa had already gone to the auditorium on the third floor at this time. Tonight's competition and banquet were both held there.

"Of course I have confidence."

Xia De straightened his bow tie and stood by the window looking at the Silver Cross Avenue outside the window:

"I must win."

His tone was very firm.

"For that beautiful female companion?"

Vice President Mark joked, but Xia De shook his head.

He was naturally for the gold pounds he bet not to go to waste.

At 5:50 in the evening, seeing that the time was almost up, Mr. Mark set off, leading Xia De toward the competition venue.

Just as he walked down the stairs, he heard the noisy sound coming from the auditorium. When walking along the red carpet toward the auditorium door that was already open, he could already hear President Stan giving the final rule explanation.

The other Vice President of the Association, at this time, led Mr. Cameron from the other side of the corridor. Xia De nodded slightly to this foreign middle-aged man, which counted as a greeting. And the other party looked at Xia De with burning eyes, still not giving up the idea of wanting to talk to Xia De.

"Then please have the final players enter! Virgil Cameron and... Xia De Hamilton!"

Amidst applause and cheers, Xia De and Mr. Cameron walked into the auditorium from both sides of the main door along the red carpet. And inside the door, the two ladies who had been waiting for a long time followed them toward the square card table covered with a green tablecloth in the center of the auditorium.

Coming from the slightly dim corridor to the brightly lit Association auditorium, Xia De narrowed his eyes slightly. He saw the shiny floor, the magnificent crystal chandeliers, the kerosene lamps in the shape of ouroboros on the walls, the long table filled with food, and the guests wearing formal dress whose expressions were even more excited than the players.

"1853 City Player Finals..."

The flashing lights that sounded *click-clack* disrupted Xia De's thoughts. Even as an outlander who claimed to have seen many big scenes, it was inevitable that he would be a bit excited and nervous at this moment.

He and Mr. Cameron, who wanted to say something but stopped, walked to the card table. It was a solid wood rectangular four-legged table, and the table legs were quite exquisitely made in the style of long snakes coiling and entangling.

President Stan of the local Association and Vice President Rick from the general association stood by the table:

"Please shake hands."

Xia De turned around and shook hands with Mr. Cameron. But while shaking hands, he felt that the other party was actually hiding a note in his palm.

His arm-shaking movement paused, but this time he chose to take the note. Mr. Cameron nodded slightly to Xia De, looking somewhat nervous.

After the two hands separated, Vice President Rick announced:

After the two men separated their hands, Vice Dean Rick announced:

"Please present your decks for inspection."

Thereupon, Xia De and Mr. Cameron each handed their respective decks to the appraisers from the Divination Society standing to the side for a final verification.

"Please display your personal items. After the card game begins, any items not displayed are not permitted to appear on the card table."

Xia De took out the very well-behaved Mia from his shoulder, along with the house keys and wallet from his pockets, and placed them on the table. As for that pile of small toys, they were currently being kept by Miss Difa.

Mr. Cameron also knew the rules about inspecting personal items in advance, so he didn't have many things on him either. Matches, a cigarette case, two commemorative coins, a wallet, and keys.

When the two men simultaneously raised their arms to let the staff wearing white gloves perform the final check, Xia De's eyes swept over the two commemorative coins.

【Outsider, you have come into contact with a whisper.】

"What?"

His eyes widened slightly.

【That smaller silver coin is a relic, but its properties have not been triggered.】

"A special coin? Do I actually have this kind of luck tonight?"

Xia De maintained a calm expression on his face and, after the inspection, sat in the seat on the east side of the card table. Miss Difa stood behind him, and after a moment of hesitation, the young lady maid leaned over slightly and whispered into his ear:

"Do not be nervous; you will certainly be victorious."

She was encouraging Xia De.

Xia De turned to look back, their faces very close:

"I'm actually not nervous at all."

Turning his head back, one hand pressed onto the tabletop, beneath which was the note the other party had just handed him. The fingers of his other hand continuously curled and straightened, as if he were exercising his palm. He squinted slightly and looked at Mr. Virgil Cameron across the table; the clearly distracted middle-aged man managed to force a smile at him.

"I was just thinking that I have finally figured out whether I should take the initiative to contact the other party."

The light from the crystal chandelier made Mr. Cameron's pomaded hair shine. Xia De rubbed his neck and turned his head, then smiled and said to the dealer at the side:

"Deal."