Chapter 581: Priest's Last Words

Thus, on this autumn night, after experiencing a brilliant card game, the Outsider truly earned the title of "King of Rod Cards of 1853 Dacheng Player."

After the game ended, the official award ceremony was held according to the process. Looking back later, Xia De couldn't quite remember how many people he had shaken hands with. He only remembered people cheering and applauding for him, holding the golden trophy inscribed with "King of Rod Cards of 1853 Dacheng Player," shaking hands with the Vice President of the Prophet Society headquarters, and then receiving a 3000-pound draft, as well as that special rule Rod Card, Star 12 【Dacheng Player · 1853 Tobeisike Champion】.

For other rewards sponsored by local clubs and shops, Xia De needed to go to the society within a week to sign some documents to collect them. As for that trophy, Xia De planned to put it in his living room so that every guest and client who came to visit could see it.

As for that special card, the rules for all "Dacheng Player Champion" series cards were the same: when drawing this card, one had the right to view one of the opponent's unrevealed hole cards. This rule was jokingly called "the Champion's Power" by card players.

Although it couldn't compare to the 【Founding】 series, compared to the various other strange rules Xia De had seen, the rules of the "Dacheng Player Champion" were truly quite simple and useful.

Moreover, the significance of this card lay not only in its value but also in its honor. And if Xia De were willing to sell this card, the selling price would definitely be greater than the prize money.

After all, every Rod Card in the 【Dacheng Player Champion】 series was, in the true sense, a Rod Card that would absolutely never be reprinted.

The only accident during the award process was that the society, according to convention, wanted to take a solo photo of Xia De to hang in a separate room at the Prophet Society headquarters, together with other past champions. Although Xia De didn't want his appearance to be displayed too much to strangers, upon hearing that the photo would be placed in a separate room and not open to all visitors, he agreed.

This was, after all, a sense of ritual, and could be considered the most profound mark the Outsider had left in this world so far.

The competition ended, and Xia De, feeling relieved, took the cat and the maid to attend the subsequent banquet.

Although Difa often accompanied Miss Miss Jia Lin Na to various banquets, most of the time she appeared as a maid. Opportunities like this, to attend a banquet as a participant, were not many at all.

Both of them enjoyed the banquet, and they only left together after dancing the last dance.

Miss Miss Jia Lin Na had arranged a carriage to stop at Saint Deran Square to pick up Difa, so they walked together toward Saint Deran Square in the night.

But just as they entered the square, they saw two carriages parked at Xia De's door. The smoking coachmen were standing together chatting, while Xia De's superior, Director Anluosi, was looking up at the lighting situation of the buildings around Saint Deran Square.

"Xia De!"

He waved at Xia De, and after the two walked closer, he greeted Difa cautiously:

"Miss Serwite, it's a pleasure to see you here."

"Good evening, Sir Anluosi."

Difa responded politely, returning Xia De's coat that was draped over her shoulders. She blinked and kissed the young detective on the side of his face:

"Tonight was truly pleasant. Goodbye, Xia De, have a good dream."

"Have a good dream!"

Xia De waved goodbye to Difa. Difa even reached out to stroke Xiao Miya on Xia De's shoulder, but was blocked by Xiao Miya's little paw.

The maid got into the carriage, and after saying goodbye to Xia De again from the carriage window, the carriage drove her away from Saint Deran Square. During this time, Director Anluosi stood quietly behind Xia De, without making any comments.

"I remember, your neighbor here is Mr. Smith?"

After Difa left, the first sentence this gentleman said was like casual chatting.

"Yes, I remember he used to be a secretary in the Kingdom's finance department."

Xia De said, taking out his key to open the door, but was stopped by Director Anluosi:

"I won't go up. Congratulations, Xia De, the card game was brilliant."

He clearly hadn't gone to the Prophet Society, yet he seemed to know everything.

"Thank you."

"Then, did Virgil Cameron have any unusual movements? He bought a train ticket for tomorrow morning and will return to the Sete Principality tomorrow. If there is no abnormality tonight, I'm afraid there will be no chance."

Even though it was a critical question, Director Anluosi could still mention it in a very calm tone.

The two stood between the carriage and the door, the shadow of the carriage blocking them. Xia De was very cautious:

"Except for me, Virgil Cameron had no contact with anyone during the competition. Of course, this is just my opinion; perhaps the other party has some special means."

He spoke the truth, then added:

"If the Grey Hawk truly appeared, then the other party must have passed information to Cameron when I closed my eyes."

"Closing my eyes" here was a metaphor, meaning when Xia De wasn't paying attention.

"As expected, the other party is a top-tier spy after all."

Director Anluosi said softly.

"However, it was not without any gains."

Xia De pretended to hesitate for a moment before saying:

"During the card game, I had contact with Virgil Cameron. When chatting about Midehillburg, he showed some abnormalities..."

Thus, Xia De told the fabricated story, which was Mr. Cameron's abnormal performance when hearing "Midehillburg."

Director Anluosi frowned while listening, and finally nodded, squinting his eyes:

"Midehillburg? That city is very close to the Sete Principality... I understand, this is very useful."

He didn't tell Xia De the attitude of the Sixth Bureau toward this information:

"But don't take such risks in the future. If something happens to you, I won't be able to explain it to Miss Miss Jia Lin Na."

"Since I am a member of the Military Intelligence Sixth Bureau, I naturally have to do things for the Sixth Bureau."

Xia De said seriously, and these words made Director Anluosi smile:

"If everyone under my command were like you, that would be great."

"Like me..."

Although Xia De's expression didn't change, the woman beside his ear had already chuckled.

"Alright then, Xia De, I should go too. Remember, this matter has nothing to do with you, don't get involved."

Director Anluosi patted Xia De on the shoulder:

"Regarding your salary increase, someone will notify you in a few days. Very good, champion of the 1853 Dacheng Player."

He nodded with a smile, and then left Saint Deran Square by carriage.

Xia De, with his hands behind his back and the cat on his shoulder, watched Director Anluosi's carriage disappear from the square street corner under the street lamp at his door.

He didn't go home immediately, but squinted and looked up at the moon overhead:

"Is my identity becoming more and more complicated?"

【Outsider, as you walk through this world and witness these stories, the direction of fate is your own choice.】

"Yes."

Xia De sniffed and noticed the cat on his shoulder patting his collar with its paw. Xia De reached out in surprise and actually pulled a long black hair from the collar. The only black-haired girl Xia De knew was one, so this hair must be Difa's.

He hesitated and sniffed it; it indeed had the scent of that special perfume, the "Witch's Scent."

"This action makes me look like a pervert... but it is indeed an interesting souvenir."

He shook his head and reached out to open the door.

The hair and the 3000-pound draft were stuffed into the study drawer by Xia De, the trophy was placed on the living room cabinet, the special coin "bought" from Mr. Cameron was first put into the gift box in the basement, and the fountain pen with information would be delivered tomorrow.

After tidying everything up, Xia De stood in the living room and let out a long breath. He planned to give himself a break tonight, not reading until the early hours, but going to bed early to rest. When the sun rose from the east again, he would plan the schedule for the next half of the week.

He had quite a lot to do. The key to 3014 had been delayed for three days, and counting, Priest Ao Gu Si should have arrived in Midehillburg, and he was still waiting for the postcard from the priest.

"Today, nothing will disturb my good mood anymore."

While brushing his teeth in front of the mirror in the bathroom in his pajamas, Xia De thought to himself, and he was in a very good mood.

【Is that so?】

She sighed softly in his ear:

【Do you feel like a similar conversation has happened before?】

Xia De, with a toothbrush in his mouth, looked at the mirror in front of him. In the mirror, there was no one behind him:

"Of course I remember. Before the second coming of the 【Luo De of Blood Feast】, we had a similar conversation. But it's impossible for an Evil God to appear tonight, there's no sign at all. So, even if I have a nightmare like 'Xia De dies in a fight with Xiao Miya' after falling asleep for a while, it won't affect my mood."

He thought happily.

After washing up, he checked the doors and windows of the house, extinguished the gas lamp in the bedroom, pulled the curtains tight, and climbed onto the soft bed. Xiao Miya had already jumped onto the bed, walking back and forth beside the pillow, as if looking for the softest spot.

Xia De sat on the bed and waved at the bedroom desk. A stack of 54 Rod Cards on the corner of the table flew over one by one and lined up in four rows in front of Xia De. Each row had 13 cards, and the King and Queen floated to the side.

Xiao Miya, standing beside the pillow, looked up at the floating cards. Xia De's hand tapped each special card in turn:

"Really nice."

Waving his hand, the cards flew to the bedside table one by one and stacked into a pile on the cabinet. Xia De crawled into the quilt, smiled, and stroked Xiao Miya beside the pillow, considering it a goodnight to the cat. Reaching out to extinguish the gas lamp on the bedside table, Xia De patted the pillow, lay down, closed his eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep in the darkness.

Consciousness fell into a stupor. In the safe home, even the vigilant Outsider could enjoy sleep. However, in the dream, a low and ethereal, illusory and hoarse voice was repeating, sounding bit by bit:

"Xia De Hamilton, open your eyes quickly, I am Rat Ao Gu Si. This is the last will and testament I have sent to you from the world of the dead." ===== CHAPTER 582 =====