Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1426: Genesis: Earth
"You know, compared to most people who make deals with me, you’re quite sophisticated."
Osenfort said, reaching into his pocket with his right hand to take out his deck of cards, then drawing the top card:
"To prevent you from thinking I’m tricking you—I haven’t done so, thus, I’ll prove first that this card is indeed with me."
The card was placed on the table, the dim flame illuminating its surface.
The card face featured only white, black, and cool tones near those colors; a slender woman in a hooded robe, her facial details obscured, stood in the center of the card, with her arms outstretched, and a Holy Grail floating between them, the most detailed part of the entire card.
No other clothing was under the robe, and the Holy Grail cleverly covered sensitive areas. Interestingly, the bare body, instead, imparted a sense of maternal sanctity. Her feet were bare, standing on the earth, with the card’s background showing endless fields and distant, indistinct villages.
The upper right corner of the front bore the number 12, while the upper left had a small "Flower" emblem. Between the two, at the top center of the card front, a black vertical line was drawn within a white circle, marking the "Genesis" series.
At the bottom of the card, there was a small blank space with four lines of small text written in it:
[During both players’ hold phases, this card can activate a one-time effect: Remove any Sunflower Suit card to adjust the total points to 1; remove any Moon Suit card to nullify the first special effect activated by the opponent; remove any Star Suit card to simultaneously add 3 to both players’ total points; remove any Flower Suit card besides this card to remove all Flower Suit cards except this one; remove three cards of different suits besides this card to win directly, ignoring conditions.]
Looking at these rules, Shard thought of his own [Genesis: Darkness]. The latter also had a direct victory rule, but it required that the first card was [Genesis: Darkness]. Therefore, when these two cards met, [Genesis: Darkness] would win, ensuring the first card wins without giving the opponent a chance to draw at least four cards.
"Very well, very interesting rules."
He commented, contemplating whether to kill Osenfort now and seize this card. But after careful consideration, it seemed unwise to disrupt all the preparations he had made for so long for the sake of just one card.
Therefore, Shard decided to first hear what conditions the other party would propose, then consider whether to kill and take the card now... whether to eliminate this demon for justice now.
"What do I need to do to get this card?"
Shard asked.
"You don’t need to find anything. Today is Tuesday, what you need to do is to visit my manor on Friday night, and then I will give you this card. I keep my word... I swear by Haila’s name."
Osenfort also stared into Shard’s eyes, and Shard scrutinized him suspiciously:
"I believe you will indeed give me this card, but I also believe that when I arrive at your manor on Friday night, it won’t be just to retrieve something. What will happen there then?"
Osenfort chuckled:
"You’ll only know when you come, besides, even if I wanted to do something, couldn’t you just run? Although I’m stronger than an ordinary person, I certainly can’t beat you."
Saying this, he stood up;
"Then we shall meet on Friday, I’ll be waiting for you at the manor."
Shard’s fingers trembled slightly on the tabletop, but ultimately he did not act now. He had been preparing for so long; it wasn’t necessary to disrupt his plan for a card... it really wasn’t necessary to disrupt his plan for a card, moreover, by that time, that card would also belong to Shard.
"So, call the doctor over on Friday."
He thought to himself, and said out loud:
"Wait a moment."
"Is there anything else?"
Osenfort, who had walked two steps, turned around, and Shard rubbed his fingers:
"Did you settle the bill?"
The former grabbed the money pouch tied to his waist and tossed it onto the table:
"You settle it for me."
With that, he walked out through the bustling tavern. Shard untied the string on the pouch, saw coins over 20 Krones inside, and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow:
"Truly wealthy."
Shard checked the pouch to make sure there were no issues, then stuffed it into his pocket. He then picked up the glass of rye beer by his side, thought for a moment, and still did not try it.
He supported himself on the table with one hand, intending to get up and leave, but then he heard a voice from behind:
"No need to be in such a hurry to leave, how about we talk some more?"
It was Osenfort’s voice, only it sounded more slick. Shard turned his head in surprise and saw the slightly darker-skinned "Osenfort" walking through the crowd laughing loudly in the tavern, then sitting in the seat where Osenfort had just been.
It was the Demon.
Laughing as it sat down, it still held a wilted black rose in its hand. Seeing Shard looking at the rose, the demon said:
"Last time you arranged to meet Osenfort at the church door in the city, it was with this type of rose. So, I thought, you must have this type of rose before you’d agree to meet with me."
Saying this, it casually tossed the flower onto the table. It said such things to remind Shard that it knew about Shard’s private meetings with Ston Osenfort.
"Did you just encounter the Osenfort who walked out?"
Shard asked.
"I saw him, but he didn’t see me."
It pointed a finger at the glass just drained by Ston Osenfort, and the beer refilled the glass:
"Your meeting today was interesting, and unexpectedly, you found those three items before spring."
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"I’m saying, scheduling a meeting for Friday night was a great idea. So, are you ready to fulfill my commission?"
It raised the glass.
"Of course, Friday night, once I get that card, I’ll do what I promised and teach him a lesson."
Saying this, Shard reached to his waist, took out the sword hilt, and placed it under the kerosene lamp:
"The weapon has been custom-made."
A pattern of two crossed finger bones was embedded in the metal hilt. Although it’s just a hilt, it’s actually a telescopic sword, capable of unfolding into four segments of blade.
"Very nice, very nice."
The Demon simply observed without touching it:
"It looks like you’ve prepared quite well, and indeed it could affect Immortality. But for your safety, perhaps you should have a spare weapon as well."
It took out a black dagger and placed it under the gas lamp. It was not a Demon Weapon, but a Relic Dagger. Considering the price of weapon-type relics, no matter its function, the dagger would not be priced below 1,000 pounds.
"Osenfort mentioned your contract with him, which I recall prohibits you from using your power to break his Immortality."
Shard reminded, but the Demon asked:
"Is this dagger my power?"
Shard suspiciously nodded, took the dagger to inspect it. Demon runes were engraved on the short blade, and the flickering kerosene lamp formed a sentence:
[I await your Spirit.]
Although the origin of this relic was most likely related to demons, it was indeed not the power of Stone Mirror Demon: Goethe.
Shard then put the dagger away, deciding not to use it in this incident, instead having a doctor examine it before storing it, to either sell or repurpose after the Randall Valley matter concluded:
"Are you worried about me? Even with Immortality, Osenfort can’t be my adversary."
"I am indeed worried for you, but not about facing Osenfort, rather concerned about..."
Those terrifying pitch-black eyes stared at Shard:
"Recently, I’ve heard of a very intriguing person – Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer, God Summoner. I wonder, are you aware?"
"Of course, since last summer, this person’s reputation has begun to spread."
On the other side of the tavern, someone played the lute, and amidst the sound, Shard said:
"Summer night’s Godfall in Tobesk, Merman’s giant corpse in Coldwater Port, onset of Autumn’s Darkness Descends, Midshire Fort’s Death chaos. Oh, and winter, in the desolate depths of the Great Swamp, the God Summoner called upon a beautiful witch from the Fifth Era. Although these events haven’t all spread widely, those with keen interest can still find out."
"An epic of heroes." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
The Demon praised but still squinted at Shard from across the table:
"Do not play tricks with me."
"You don’t think I have anything to do with the God Summoner, do you? Rest assured, Friday, I’ll go alone to the estate."
"The reward promised to you, I won’t go back on my word, but you should also know if you wish to play tricks on me, what the consequence would be."
"Are you threatening me?"
Shard asked in surprise:
"Though I’d never go back on my word, I’m still curious, what exactly would happen?"
The Demon raised his right hand, index finger extended, middle and thumb joined, then snapped his fingers in front of Shard.
In that moment, the world fell completely silent. Even the flame of the oil lamp, which was flickering a second before, froze in place.
Shard looked around, everyone retained their expressions and actions from a moment before. Men at the neighboring table clapped together, while three apples tossed by the one among them floated overhead in suspension. Distantly, laughing people had mouths open, and the bartender behind the counter turned, holding a bottle motionless. The tavern door was pushed open, but only one raised boot had entered, the store’s flag had swayed at a 30-degree angle due to the breeze. The string pulled into an arc shape.
Sound stilled, wind stilled, flame stilled. Once again Time was stopped by the Demon.
