Chapter 650

The Traveler and Luo De Cards

At the same time Xia De saw Mr. Asmon, the other party also saw him and recognized this old acquaintance from Cold Water Port.

So he walked over:

"I didn't expect to meet you again here. Meeting different people in different places during a journey always makes one feel the wonder of fate."

The man in the brown robe sat opposite Xia De, and the two shook hands over the table. Afterward, the waiter walked over again to let Mr. Asmon order food. After the waiter left, the long-faced man stared at Xia De and said:

"Oh, Mr. Watson, I saw the news about the Big City Player later and heard about Xia De Hamilton, only then did I know who you really were."

He should have noticed that there was that demon card in the champion deck.

"Sorry, I'm actually a detective. Two months ago, I accepted a tricky commission and had to operate in Cold Water Port under the alias John Watson. This time as well, I came to Midehillburg for a tricky commission."

Xia De explained his whereabouts simply, then leaned forward slightly and asked with great interest:

"Mr. Asmon, did you finally find the demon in Cold Water Port?"

The surroundings were noisy, but no one noticed what the two people by the wall were discussing.

"Of course not. There were only stinky mermaids in the rumors there."

The "Demon Scholar's" Deraerion had a very distinct tone—not standard, but with a strange accent that didn't affect understanding. Under the light of the yellowish kerosene lamp on the wall, half of his long face was hidden in the darkness:

"But later I learned interesting things from the folklorists in Cold Water Port, so I traveled a long distance to come here."

"So to speak, is there a demon in Midehillburg?"

Xia De asked. Mr. Asmon made a long "Hmm~" sound from his nose and nodded lightly:

"Yes, it is said to be a demon related to fire. I have already found out that the Xikar Mountains are an extinct volcano, and there is a tradition of fire worship locally as well as many interesting rumors, such as evil ghosts in fires, primordial fire, phoenixes, old news about fire worship festivals, and so on and so forth. So I think, perhaps the demon is on this mountain."

He probably got the target wrong again. The origin of the local fire worship tradition was actually really the phoenix, not some demon.

"That sounds very interesting. Then I wish you a smooth journey this time."

"You are too polite, Mr. Watson. Then why did you appear on this mountain? Is it a commission related to the Red Water Camp?"

Mr. Asmon rested his right arm on his right leg and leaned forward slightly, asking.

"No, no. I have military friends locally. I happened to come to this city, so I thought about visiting him."

Xia De pointed in the direction of the military camp, then while eating, told Mr. Asmon about the serial murder case at the Midehillburg Mechanical Academy a few days ago. Of course, the protagonist of the story changed from a detective who could see bloodstains to a captain with great wisdom.

This "Demon Scholar," although he had always lived in the inn of the traveler camp on the Wind-Rising Path, also knew about the serial murder case in the city through newspapers. He was indeed attracted by Xia De's story and expressed his opinions while listening.

Regarding the "mystical" knowledge that ordinary people believed in, Mr. Asmon, who studied demonology, had a lot of say. Even when Xia De mentioned the bronze jar and the disgusting things boiled inside, Mr. Asmon could talk eloquently about how there were similar practices in rituals for summoning demons.

After finishing the meal, Captain Rads still hadn't appeared. Mr. Asmon didn't leave either, but instead invited Xia De to play another round of Luo De cards, and by the way, listen to him continue telling the story about the demon. He didn't have any special cards in his hand this time, but Xia De didn't mind using card games to pass the time.

Just before the two finished shuffling their respective decks, another stranger came over.

It was a young man who looked dusty but was still dressed decently, only he probably hadn't washed his hair for a long time, and his short yellow hair was a bit messy. He was probably three or four years older than Xia De's current body, wearing leather boots on his feet, and a shirt and black leather jacket convenient for movement.

He pulled his stool to the table and asked the two:

"Do you two want to play Luo De cards?"

Judging by the accent, he should be a Kasenrike person.

"Yes, sir, is there something?"

Xia De asked. Seeing that Xia De didn't mind his approach, the dusty traveler introduced himself:

"I am William Shelley, a poet from Kasenrike. I plan to walk from the southernmost tip of the Old Continent to the northernmost tip of the Old Continent. Unfortunately, there was a mistake in my travel expenses."

He placed that chair by the table facing the wall and sat down.

"Are you trying to play Luo De cards with us to earn some money? Oh, sir, sorry, we don't intend to gamble."

Xia De shook his head. Actually, he was worried that he would win the last meal money of this poet.

"No, gambling is no fun. Are you interested in betting a special card?"

He asked very seriously, then looked at the young detective and Mr. Asmon with the waxy long face. Seeing that both were very interested, he reached into his pocket, took out his deck, and then showed the top card to the two:

【Legend of Heroes · Bard Fletcher】, Suit: Flower Nine.

When drawing this card, if it is the first card, there is no effect. If it is not the first card, then if the previous card is of the Flower suit and the number is plural, this card can be adjusted between the numbers 9 and 10.

The card face was a long-eared poet wearing a hat decorated with long feathers and holding a seven-stringed lute with wood grain, probably trying to depict a legendary elf. But Xia De, who was quite proficient in elf knowledge, could point out at least five details on the card face that were inconsistent with elf customs. But considering this was just a Luo De card, there was no need to be so serious.

"Are you sure this card is genuine?"

The price of this card should be over 60 pounds. The Legend of Heroes series of cards contained fifteen different heroes from ancient stories (thirteen points plus King and Queen). This set of cards was issued about 90 years ago and had been reprinted twice. Judging from the texture on the edge of the card, the one in the poet's hand was the first edition.

"Of course, I won this in Molder City, Kasenrike, before entering the mountain area, and there is an appraisal certificate, which is in the room where I am staying."

The poet said very affirmatively.

"Have you been relying on playing Luo De cards to walk all the way here?"

Xia De asked curiously.

"Sometimes I lose when my luck is bad, but I can rely on singing and playing in taverns to earn money. I still have confidence in my voice."

Xia De nodded and took a look at Mr. Asmon, the demon scholar sitting opposite him. The latter's black eyes seemed to have been looking at Xia De:

"Then Mr. Watson, I won't participate. Although I like playing cards, I can't take out so much cash at once."

"One last question, here is only a day's journey from Midehillburg. Why not go to the city to sell this card? In the Prophet Association, there will be no shortage of buyers."

Xia De asked again.

"I never sell Luo De cards. I am a Luo De card player, not a merchant."

The poet said as a matter of course. Xia De nodded in agreement:

"That's good. I'll play with you. However, I was just discussing the legend of demons with Mr. Xiao En Asmon here. You shouldn't mind if we play cards while I talk to Mr. Asmon, right?"

"Of course I don't mind. I am also very interested in your stories."

The poet nodded, but asked curiously:

"I see this gentleman is dressed decently and speaks extraordinarily. I don't know what your professions are..."

He saw that Xia De had money, so he came over to propose playing cards.

"I am the writer John Watson who came here to gather material, and this is the demon scholar Xiao En Asmon who pursues demon knowledge."

Xia De introduced. The young poet nodded to Mr. Asmon very enthusiastically:

"Really interesting. Is a demon scholar considered a folklorist? Perhaps your stories can give me more poetic inspiration."

"Probably."

Xia De said, and the long-faced man sitting opposite him was already prepared to tell a story. This was the sequel to the story told in Cold Water Port last time, about that demon that was born in disaster and took away everything from humans on the premise of fulfilling human wishes.

And the card game between Xia De and the young traveling poet Mr. Shelley was conducted under the basic rules of simple ties not counting and best-of-three.

"I don't know what way to use to address that demon that fulfills people's wishes."

The demon scholar's voice was hoarse but powerful. When mentioning the demon, his black eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his mouth curled into a creepy smile. Xiao En Asmon belonged to the kind of person who could easily scare children at night.

Xia De and the young poet had also started the first round of the game. Xia De didn't add any special cards to his deck, but he still wasn't worried about the result of this card game.

Xia De's first hidden card was Star 13. Poet Mr. Shelley carefully lifted the card to look at the number and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

"It experienced failure because it met a person with no wishes. But the demon, unwilling to fail, hid in that person's soul and spread its malice and lies along with him."

"This sounds very scary."

The poet commented simply.

"Aren't the ancient evil spirits in those stories all like this?"

Xia De said, and then the two drew the second card. Xia De was Sun 6, adding up to 19 points. He thought for a moment and tapped the table to indicate he was stopping. And Shelley the poet was Moon 3; he continued to draw the third card:

"Mr. Watson, your luck is really good."

"The person with no wishes and the demon who fulfills wishes walked a long way. Malice, lies, war, plague—these accompanied them. The person with no wishes was regarded as the embodiment of disaster by his companions and was driven away by everyone he met, including his own flesh and blood. But he didn't care at all, just kept walking forward, walking forward."

"Perhaps he realized that he was possessed by a demon."

Xia De said, and the young poet sighed and took out the third card, Moon 11. Very unluckily, his hidden card was Flower 10; 10+3+11=24 points, he busted. And Xia De won the first round. ===== CHAPTER 651 =====

Xia De said, and the young poet sighed, taking out the third card, Moon 11. Unfortunately, his hole card was Flower 10; 10+3+11=24 points, he had busted. And Xia De had won the first round.