Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 753 - : The Card Game with the Earl

Chapter 753 -753: The Card Game with the Earl

“Priest, you really are very experienced.”

Shard praised sincerely.

“Ha ha, as one gets older, one’s physical and mental strength can’t compare to you young people, but life experience accumulated over a long period is by no means in vain.”

Shard nodded in understanding, stretched out his hand, and the fluttering Red Butterfly automatically landed on his fingertip, then melted into his skin.

The bell above the gate rang, and after waiting a few minutes, the old butler, holding a brightly polished oil lamp, walked through the mist-filled and modestly sized courtyard to the door. Once the self-proclaimed “John Watson” Shard explained his intentions and showed the card, the bald old butler in a black suit actually let the two men in.

“You see, Roder Cards can sometimes be really useful.”

Following the old butler through the courtyard toward the manor, Shard whispered to Priest Augustus, who ignored him, staring instead at the back of the old butler ahead:

“He doesn’t have much longer to live.”

“What?”

“Heart disease, with the current level of medical care, it’s already beyond saving.”

Priest Augustus shook his head, gesturing to Shard not to speak too loudly:

“It’s normal for people to die; that’s life.”

Earl Dalark was a locally famous Roder Card player, and many people had challenged him. When the old butler led Shard and the priest into the house, he also confirmed with them that they wanted to use Special Cards as a wager.

“Does the Earl wager with Special Cards every time he plays cards with someone?”

“Most of the time, yes.”

The old butler nodded, leading them through a hallway adorned with artworks and antiques, and up the stairs.

Although Shard wasn’t much of an antique connoisseur, he had seen the homes of many Grand Nobles. Based on his judgement, the Dalark Family had indeed declined; the decorations inside the house were outdated, and among the vases and paintings, there were some that were clearly modern works of art. For instance, the painting at the stairway corner looked like the one Shard had seen at the Fire Worship Festival banquet, “The Hero Slaying the Evil Dragon.”

The interior was very quiet, seemingly only the old butler was active; perhaps the other servants were resting. But at least it was clean, showing that those maintaining the house were still trying their best to uphold its dignity.

Shard and Priest Augustus met Earl Dalark in the second-floor study; compared to the flamboyant attire he wore at the Fire Worship Festival banquet, the Earl behind the desk was now in a normal black coat. If it weren’t for the pink flower in his hair, he would have looked even more ordinary.

The old butler introduced the two guests’ purpose, and Shard felt the Red Butterfly that had melted into his skin begin to tremble, while Priest Augustus also touched Shard’s arm and gave a nod, indicating with his eyes.

Shard and the priest both understood that the middle-aged noble in front of them was the third person they were seeking, who had been resurrected from death.

“Mr. John Watson? Oh, I remember you, you’re Miss Aphrola’s…”

The Earl looked up in surprise.

“I’m a friend of Miss Aphrola, the Baroness from the Southern Nation was joking with you last time.”

Shard replied with a smile, and at that moment, the old butler briefly left to prepare tea, so what Shard said didn’t matter. Now that they had found Earl Dalark, they must send him away.

“Ha, I just knew you weren’t an ordinary bodyguard. I’ve heard Miss Aphrola isn’t easily charmed by men. And besides, if an ordinary bodyguard has such good card skills, then my life would be too much of a failure.”

The Earl, who looked thinner than last time, laughed and put down the fountain pen he was writing with:

“Mr. Watson, with your appearance, you could make money doing all kinds of things. I guess you’re Miss Aphrola’s lover…”

“Cough cough!”

Shard hastily coughed to prevent his image as a virtuous young man in the eyes of Priest Augustus from being further tarnished:

“Earl, let’s talk business. After the last card game, I heard the locals say you’re a famous Roder Card player here, so I wanted to play cards with you again. Last time, neither of us played our Special Cards, so that doesn’t count as a win or loss.”

Earl Dalark seemed even more pleased:

“Yes, last time we didn’t use Special Cards, so it doesn’t count as a loss to you.”

He then stood up:

“Gentlemen, the weather is strange today, and by coincidence, I have nothing else to occupy this boring day. Please, come with me, I have a special Roder Card table here.”

As the Earl headed for the door, Shard and Priest Augustus also stood up from the chairs by the desk.

“First observe his current state. If we can send him away without fighting, then we’ll avoid battle as much as possible.”

Shard hoped his look could convey such a complex message, and to his surprise, Priest Augustus actually nodded in response.

Shard was very curious about what Priest Augustus thought he wanted to do.

In any case, under the Earl’s guidance, the three of them returned to the first floor. The Earl even took them on a detour around the mansion to introduce the history of various antique collectibles and the traditions of the Dalark family.

In front of one of the rapiers, the Earl lingered the longest. He had mentioned before that he was quite adept at using the rapier himself.

The so-called specialized Roder Card table was essentially a table with grids drawn on its surface, conveniently arranged for the placing of decks, drawing of cards, and discarding. It was a room on the first floor that faced the sunrise, arranged by the Earl specifically for playing Roder Card with players.

Apart from the central table, the surrounding walls were adorned with numerous autographs and photographs. These were from players who had come here to gamble with Earl Dalark. According to the Earl’s introduction, he had even played with the runner-up “Big City Player 1850.” However, the other party had declined to leave a photograph, so just an autograph was displayed.

Beyond the autographs and photographs on the walls, there were neat glass display cabinets below, which housed interesting memorabilia related to Roder Cards. For instance, copper commemorative coins used to calculate points during the “Big City Player 1853” playoff stage, along with news reports from the time, were all present in the collection.

And after the introduction of the collectibles, the card game officially began.

The elderly butler served as the referee, while Priest Augustus dealt cards to the two card players. As for the stakes, Shard put up his “only” Special Card, [Legend of the Hero: Bard Fletcher], laughing as he claimed that if he won this time, he would go to Red Water Camp on Rising Wind Trail to challenge Brigadier General Carter who owned [Legend of the Hero: Swordsman Sabelon].

“No, your information is outdated. The [Swordsman Sabelon] is now in the hands of a captain at Red Water Camp, the very captain from the Milestone Mechanical Academy who solved the serial murder case.”

The Earl reminded him, then took out and displayed his own wager:

“[Ancient Fairy Tale: Sleeping Princess] Suit: Sun 4. Roll a 10 or 20 twice in a 20-sided dice, and you can adjust the card number between 4 and 5.”

He recited the card’s information and had the butler pass it to Shard for inspection.

The Earl removed his gloves, somewhat smugly, and loosened his wrist as he spoke:

“This year’s Big City Player champion, Rejed’s Hamilton, also has a special card from the Ancient Fairy Tale series, [Ancient Fairy Tale: Match Girl]. In fact, I’m planning to take a steam train to Tobesk City this winter if I’m free, just to challenge that young man with dozens of Special Cards.”

He flexed his fingers, a look of anticipation on his face:

“The trip to Tobesk will definitely be fun, and I might even become friends with that young man.”

Shard kept a straight face, not revealing any emotion.

If Earl Dalark hadn’t been a nail resurrected from the dead, Shard really wouldn’t mind having such a friend—just like Baron Lavende, who had first invited the Outlander to play cards and introduced Shard to the world of Roder Cards.

But sometimes fate does not follow one’s will, and the path that must be taken cannot be defied by anyone.

To make the card game more interesting, this time they adopted the traditional best two out of three rounds game. Each round five turns, and the first to win three turns would take the round.

Both sides shuffled the cards, and after the elderly butler confirmed there were no discrepancies, the decks were placed to the left and right of Priest Augustus for dealing.

The long table was parallel to the window, with the meager sunlight streaming through the fog, illuminating the tabletop and the profiles of the two players.

Shard received his first hole card, which he didn’t flip over but simply indicated that he wanted a second card.

Then he said with a smile:

“Earl, I heard you were severely ill at the beginning of the year? I wish you health.”

“Indeed, that illness nearly claimed my life.”

The Earl also picked up his second card and frowned upon glancing at it, clearly dissatisfied.

Shard’s second card was the Sun 1, and he signalled to continue dealing, then he cautioned:

“I have a doctor friend who often says that exercise promotes good health.”

He did indeed have a doctor friend, but that was a psychologist.

“That’s a good suggestion, but lung diseases may not have much to do with exercise… I stand, 18 points.”

Earl Dalark displayed his two cards.

Shard’s third card was Moon 10. He glanced at his hole card again and then announced that he would stand as well:

“Sun 1, Moon 10, Stars 8, 19 points.”

“Such bad luck.”

The Earl shook his head and flung his cards to the side; the two cards spun and landed together, a clear sign of an experienced Roder Card player:

“Although, my sickness might be related to my unhealthy lifestyle. Mr. Watson, as an out-of-towner, are you aware of the local interesting drink, Blood Brew?”

Shard raised his eyebrows surprisedly and accepted the dealt cards from Priest Augustus:

“Of course, I even ran into a salesman promoting this drink at the Fire Worship Festival party. But I always stay away from blood products, I even insist on my steak being done to ninety percent before eating.”

“Then your life truly lacks much joy.”