However, as soon as Xia De walked into the hall, someone grabbed his wrist.
A tall, thin middle-aged man in black leather shoes stood almost face-to-face with Xia De, and Vice President Mark of the Prophet Association's Tobesk branch truly startled Xia De.
"Mr. Hamilton, you're finally here."
Mr. Mark's voice was hoarse today.
"Am I late?"
Xia De asked hesitantly.
Mr. Mark released his hand, giving Xia De a chance to take out his pocket watch, but it was only nine-thirty in the morning.
"You're not late, I'm just too early."
"Mr. Mark, what time have you been waiting for me here?"
Xia De could imagine the middle-aged gentleman pacing back and forth in front of the association's door, hands behind his back, waiting for him.
"Nine o'clock. Mr. Hamilton, you don't understand how important today is to me."
Saying that, he led Xia De towards the stairs leading to the second floor. A group of people standing at the staircase spontaneously made way for Mr. Mark and curiously looked at Xia De.
"Important to you?"
Xia De thought he had misheard.
"If your rhode cards are successfully appraised, then the Tobesk branch will be the first branch in nearly thirty years to appraise a Founding series of rhode cards. We will completely surpass all other associations, including the Ryan headquarters, and become this year's... In short, this is a very important matter for us."
It was clear that the Prophet Association had truly prepared diligently; the entire third floor of the association was closed to the public today. Compared to the last time Xia De came up, the carpets had been replaced with brand new ones, and the oil paintings hanging on the walls had also been replaced with new items that clearly looked like antiques. The gas lamps on the walls had been carefully wiped clean, and even the nameplates on each room's door had been replaced with a brand new style.
Xia De calculated the cost of such renovations and found that it might actually be more than the reward he received yesterday.
The association opened the main conference room on the third floor, a room only used for important agendas, as today's appraisal venue. The room had been re-cleaned and redecorated, and the interior was divided into two parts: one part was the working area for the white-haired rhode cards appraisal masters who had arrived early; each of these old gentlemen looked like an Old Professor from the University District of Tobesk City.
The other part was for Xia De to rest and discuss matters with the Prophet Association.
The President of the Tobesk branch was still absent today, so Vice President Mark received Xia De. He introduced Mr. Lister Rimo, who had specially traveled from the headquarters in Ryan City, the capital of Ragson Duchy, located in the central part of the Carson Rick United Kingdom.
Mr. Rimo was a middle-aged man with no hair, a somewhat large head, but taller than Xia De. He was also a Vice President, but of the entire Prophet Association.
Everyone took their seats, and Xia De took out his notebook, displaying the Origin · Silver Moon within it.
Mr. Rimo and the white-haired appraisers all showed expressions of astonishment:
"Remarkable, even at a glance, I feel like I've seen a Miracle."
Mr. Rimo said something very exaggerated, then called the association's secretary to record the upcoming conversation. This was a very formal occasion, requiring the conversation to be recorded to form a report for archiving.
For this matter, the Tobesk branch had prepared three secretaries, two men and one woman. Xia De felt that the slightly older lady with brown short hair, wearing the association uniform and an ouroboros pendant, looked somewhat familiar, and then he indeed saw that it was Miss Annette, the three-ring Sorceress of the team.
"Wearing this uniform, her temperament has really changed a lot."
He sighed in his heart.
The lady with pretty purple eyes looked up and was also very, even exceptionally, shocked to see Xia De. Her reaction was not like seeing an acquaintance, but rather like seeing an evil god appear before her eyes.
She sat on a chair behind the sofa where Mr. Rimo was sitting, ready to take notes. So she could only control her expression and nod to Xia De as a greeting, but she must have had many questions she wanted to ask.
"Speaking of which, Doctor Schneider, Miss Louisa, and Priest Augustus all know I have this card, but I never told Miss Annette... However, what did her gaze mean just now? Wasn't it too exaggerated?"
He thought to himself, put on the white gloves prepared by the association, took the Origin · Silver Moon from his notebook, and handed it to the Old Professor sitting on his left. The Old Professor looked as if he was about to faint from excitement.
The appraisal site was right next to them, ensuring the card never left Xia De's sight. While the appraisers worked, Mr. Rimo and Mr. Mark conversed with Xia De.
Of course, the association had no right to interfere with the card owner's ownership, but the Founding series cards held important significance for the association:
"Mr. Hamilton, I want to confirm again, do you really want the association to help you find a buyer to sell this card?"
Vice President Mark of the Tobesk branch asked, but this time Xia De gave the opposite answer:
"Sorry, I don't want to sell it for now."
This was not only because he was not in a hurry for money now, but also because establishing a relationship with High-Ring Sorcerer Duchess Galina Cavendish through this card would be greatly beneficial not only for his Detective career but also for his Ring Sorcerer studies in the future.
"You would indeed think that way; no one can refuse rhode cards. There's a curious saying that every Rhode Card chooses its owner, Mr. Hamilton, and it is destined to belong to you."
This was probably another superstition revolving around gambling, a method concocted by the Prophet Association to boost rhode cards sales.
The bald Mr. Rimo's delarion was not very good, and he spoke with a very strange accent:
"Mr. Hamilton, excuse me, may I inquire about your future plans for this card? Purely for personal collection? Or will it appear in the rhode cards tournament?"
"I will probably use it, but I won't gamble."
Xia De emphasized, and seeing the two Vice Presidents exchange glances, he added:
"I know the value of this card... But I've recently met some good people. Just yesterday, Miss Galina Cavendish invited me to bring this card to a rhode cards game on Sunday night, with... What was that Duke's name again?"
"Duke Lucas?"
Mr. Mark asked tentatively, and seeing Xia De nod, the gentleman showed a pleasant smile:
"We have always advocated that rhode cards should appear in competitions, not be hidden away. Mr. Hamilton, I'm glad you made such a choice. Coincidentally, the Prophet Association will be present to officiate the rhode cards game this weekend."
"Isn't this a private game?"
Xia De asked hesitantly, while Mr. Rimo, with his strange accent, explained:
"I also know about the weekend game; this is probably the most important rhode cards game in the Tobesk region this month. Duke Lucas has publicly invited rhode cards enthusiasts he knows to watch the game. Although it's just a game between two people, the Prophet Association will officiate it in the strictest manner.
Rather than a game, the weekend event is more like a salon for nobles and rhode cards enthusiasts. However, I didn't expect the other party playing against Old Duke Lucas to be Miss Jialinna."
"You also know Miss Jialinna?"
Xia De asked curiously; he still didn't know what the lady looked like.
"Although Miss Jialinna rarely participates in social events, this lady is quite famous. After all, she is an unmarried Duchess..."
He winked at Xia De:
"Social occasions are never short of discussions about her. To be favored by Miss Jialinna, Mr. Hamilton, you are truly fortunate."
Mentioning luck, Xia De was suddenly startled and realized something:
"Speaking of which, last Sunday night I was also invited to a rhode cards game, and then... this Sunday night, it's this kind of event again."
He planned to definitely ask about the whereabouts of the other members of his group on Saturday.
And after all that circling, Mr. Rimo finally brought up the topic he wanted to ask:
"Since you don't mind using this Founding series card to participate in rhode cards games, then, are you interested in participating in the 'Great City Player' rhode cards tournament held in Tobesk this autumn?"
This was the reason Mr. Rimo traveled all the way from the south to Tobesk. With the appearance of a "Founding series" rhode cards in the competition as a gimmick, this year's "Great City Player" would surely attract more participants.
"Sorry, I don't gamble."
Xia De immediately shook his head.
Vice President Mark immediately explained:
"But this is not gambling; the association never organizes gambling activities. This is just a rhode cards tournament, not a bet between two parties. Instead, after paying a small registration fee, participants receive prizes provided by the association based on their rankings. The association, in turn, gains connections and promotes rhode cards through such tournaments. At that time, you can meet all the rhode cards masters from the New World and the Old Continent."
"If that's the case..."
Then there was no problem, but Xia De was waiting for them to make an offer. As expected, the gentlemen present were very understanding, and Mr. Mark immediately said with a smile:
"We can even offer a sum of money as an invitation fee..."
He held out his hand and rubbed his fingers together, but was immediately "reprimanded" by Vice President Rimo of the Prophet Association:
"There's no such rule; this won't do. Paying to invite rhode cards players would undermine the fairness of the tournament."
The bald Mr. Rimo's tone was serious, but before Vice President Mark could apologize, he said to Xia De:
"If you participate, I think the association can provide an additional fee to cover your lost wages, transportation, food, accommodation, and clothing expenses for participating in the tournament. Of course, this is not paying to invite you to participate, but merely to compensate you for the losses incurred by participating in the competition. This money can withstand scrutiny."
This was probably why Mr. Rimo was the Vice President of the Prophet Association, while Mr. Mark was only the Vice President of the Tobesk branch.
"In that case."
Xia De, Mr. Mark, and Mr. Rimo all leaned back on the sofa, smiles appearing on the faces of the three men:
"Then there's absolutely no problem."
Miss Annette smiled and shook her head as she took notes.
The Southerner then bent down and wrote a number on a letter paper on the coffee table, handing it over:
"This is the reward, Mr. Hamilton, you'll probably be satisfied."
Xia De squinted at the number:
"Just to confirm, is the unit pounds or Carson Rick crown?"