Chapter 578

The final match was conducted in a fairly traditional best-of-three format, and within each game, a win was worth 2 points, a draw 1 point each, and a loss 0 points; the first to accumulate 10 points won the game.

Furthermore, after each game ended, there would be a ten-minute rest period. However, during the rest period, the players could not leave the floor to prevent cheating by other means.

The first game went very quickly; not only Xia De, but even Miss Difa could see that Mr. Virgil Cameron was clearly distracted. The most obvious sign of this was that in the third round of the first game, after Mr. Cameron's second card resulted in a Queen, he still requested another card. After being reminded, although he apologized embarrassedly, it still caused the onlookers to whisper and discuss.

"If I didn't know I was innocent, I would suspect that I had drugged him."

Xia De whispered in his heart, but he was actually very clear that the other party was likely preoccupied with meeting up with the "Grey-Headed Eagle."

"I didn't meet with him beforehand, which caused him to be distracted while playing cards; I don't know if this counts as a form of cheating outside the game."

With Mr. Cameron distracted, Xia De easily won the first round 10 to 4, and this method of victory did not give him much satisfaction.

Mr. Cameron seemed completely indifferent to winning or losing. As President Stan, acting as the referee, announced the end of the first game and a temporary ten-minute break, he immediately stood up, then explained to his female companion behind him in a suitably audible voice that he was going to the washroom, and hurried out of the competition hall.

Before leaving, he clearly glanced at Xia De, the meaning of which was undoubtedly for Xia De to follow him.

Xia De's initial thought was that he did not want to get involved in the Grey-Headed Eagle's affairs, but upon seeing that special coin, he had already made up his mind. And although he did not move, the young lady maid behind him seemed to be able to read minds, seeing that Xia De wanted to follow.

She leaned over again and whispered in Xia De's ear:

"I must remind you that Mr. Cameron is mixed up with the Grand Duke of the contemporary Duchy of Stan."

"I know... hmm? Oh, don't worry, I only like women..."

Xia De said casually, glanced at Miss Difa, and then suddenly said jokingly:

"Especially young ladies with your figure."

Miss Difa was not shy; instead, she revealed a smile:

"Then I am relieved. Although the Young Lady likes the same sex herself, she would absolutely not allow you to do such a thing. Then, do you and that Mr. Cameron have any other relationship?"

"Yes, I want to get a coin from him... Miss Difa, do you think it's worth risking getting involved in trouble for the sake of a coin that can be of great use?"

The black-haired young lady thought for a moment and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear:

"Does the 'trouble' you speak of also involve people like us?"

After all, this was a public occasion, so even when whispering, the two were avoiding sensitive words.

"No, ordinary people's business."

"Then it is completely worth it."

Miss Difa said.

Xia De nodded and stood up, also speaking in a suitable volume:

"I'm going to the washroom and will be right back; please look after Mia for me."

"Very well."

The orange cat Mia was not used to such a crowded place and had been lying by Xia De's hand just now. Now that Xia De had stood up, it also wanted to follow, but was picked up by Xia De and handed to Miss Difa.

Although this cat was not very familiar with the young lady maid, perhaps because being held by her was comfortable, it only meowed aggrievedly at Xia De and did not struggle to follow him.

Subsequently, Xia De walked out of the third-floor hall very naturally. After politely asking the staff at the door, he headed to the public washroom located at the corner of this floor.

Of course, Mr. Virgil Cameron was not the only person in the washroom. When Xia De entered, Mr. Cameron was in front of the sink, drying his hands with the hot air sprayed from the steam pipe.

Seeing Xia De enter, he deliberately took out his cigarette case to show Xia De, and Xia De nodded slightly to indicate he understood.

In the washroom, he checked the note, which read—【Is it you?】

Clearly, the other party was a bit confused by Xia De's constant failure to make contact.

Xia De used the washroom normally. After leaving, he did not immediately return to the main hall but instead walked toward the smoking room on this floor. Like other formal clubs, the Divination Society prohibited smoking inside, but they had prepared a dedicated smoking room for smoking guests.

And at the entrance of the smoking room, Xia De saw Mr. Cameron.

After the two shook hands, Mr. Cameron asked in a low voice once again:

"Is it you?"

"I think we need to hurry."

Xia De said with a serious expression. Mr. Cameron's eyes widened, and he gasped for air as if he were suffocating; he was likely truly under immense pressure:

"Is it you?"

He asked again.

"Do not inquire about my identity."

Xia De said with a cold face:

"You only need to do what you are supposed to do."

He reached out his hand, and Mr. Cameron nodded quickly while wiping his sweat:

"Yes, you really are professional. I was about to be nervous to death, yet you actually seem like you're just here to play cards. However, did you foresee that we would both make it to the finals? I tried to talk to you alone a few days ago, but I was always avoided by you."

"Do not inquire so much; this is also for your safety."

Xia De issued another warning, and Mr. Cameron nodded deeply in agreement:

"I understand, I understand. I've seen it in novels; you might be one of them, but you might also be one of us, and you might not even know who you are yourself. The you I see is not necessarily you, and the you I think of is definitely not you. However, you are truly amazing. The lady behind you is Grand Duke Galina's personal maid, right?"

As he spoke, he reached for his belt and took out a slender steel pen from the side of his waist. Xia De closed his eyes and took it.

It had a brass luster and was about as long as Xia De's middle finger, but no thicker than a third of one:

"The information is inside the pen, but do not open it casually. There are very thin metal wires inside; once they are snapped, they cannot be restored."

Mr. Cameron warned; this was likely to prevent leaks during information transmission.

"I know."

Xia De replied with a cold face.

"Remember, according to our agreement, you cannot reveal my identity to anyone."

Mr. Cameron said the words Xia De wanted to say. Then, he sighed with relief, patted Xia De on the shoulder, and wanted to leave.

"Wait a moment."

Xia De called him back, his eyes sharp as he said:

"We have stayed here alone for so long; to avoid suspicion, we need an excuse."

"What excuse?"

Mr. Cameron asked, and Xia De pretended to think:

"I want to buy the two commemorative coins you have."

"Hmm? Oh, okay, that's a great excuse."

He reached out and handed the two coins from his pocket to Xia De. Just as he was about to leave with a light step, Xia De called him back again:

"I haven't paid yet. Our wallets were both checked earlier; if we are really investigated later and the number of coins doesn't match, we will be suspected. How much are these two coins worth?"

"Truly professional... these coins aren't worth much. A few days ago, I suspected I was being secretly watched, so I wandered around the city, and I bought them at a second-hand shop on the street."

It seems this was another relic that had somehow fallen into the hands of an ordinary person.

Xia De then took out two one-shilling coins and handed them to the other party. Mr. Cameron took them with a smile:

"Thank you."

Virgil Cameron put the two shillings into his wallet.

"You're welcome."

Xia De Hamilton stuffed the coins, which were worth at least double-digit pounds as relics, into his pocket along with the real commemorative coin.

"Please let me express my respect and gratitude to you once again."

Mr. Cameron shook Xia De's hand gently again before leaving with a light step. If it weren't for the fact that this was a public occasion, he might have even hummed a little tune.

Xia De stood still, watching his back disappear, and then looked down at the steel pen in his hand.