"The origin of the card is a bit inconvenient to disclose."
Xia De said cautiously, and Vice President Mark also showed an apologetic expression. The middle-aged man was very good at using smiles to diffuse awkwardness:
"It's alright, after all, this is also your secret."
This was certainly not Xia De's secret; while he had many secrets, this was not one of them. However, Xia De also didn't know where Sparrow Hamilton Detective had acquired this card.
He only vaguely understood why, in the last ten minutes before the Detective's death, he had specifically instructed Xia De to keep this card safe. Sparrow Detective was a true rhode cards enthusiast.
"A private Detective who loves rhode cards and novels, has excellent taste in black tea, possesses secrets, and is skilled in investigating extramarital affairs... What kind of person was Sparrow Hamilton?"
Xia De wondered in his heart.
It took nearly two hours for the three appraisers to give their preliminary conclusion:
"This 【Founding · Silver Moon】 'sun 3' is very likely authentic."
The three old men looked as if they had just completed a long race, all quite exhausted, but they were very confident in their conclusion.
Therefore, the Tobesk City Association was willing to issue Xia De an appraisal certificate to prove that the card in his hand was genuine. In organized, official rhode cards competitions, such as this autumn's "Great City Player," every special rhode cards must be accompanied by an official certificate issued by the Association to participate, ensuring the fairness of the competition.
However, the appraisal was not yet complete, Vice President Mark apologetically informed Xia De. Although the Tobesk City branch believed this card was a genuine Founding series Silver Moon that had disappeared for a hundred years, according to Association regulations, the appraisal of such special series cards issued a century ago required the Prophet Association headquarters to dispatch professional appraisers from Carson Rick in the south for further authentication.
In other words, Xia De could currently hold the appraisal certificate, but he would have to return in about a week for another appraisal to definitively confirm the card's authenticity.
"That's certainly not a problem."
Xia De accepted this arrangement. He had already retrieved his card, his heart filled with excitement, and any lingering resentment he had about Sparrow Hamilton not leaving a wallet behind had completely vanished.
"Of course, Hamilton, we must remind you that the value of this card... is immeasurable. Unless absolutely necessary, you had best not use it in unofficial rhode cards competitions, after all... you understand."
Vice President Mark offered a kind reminder, and Xia De nodded:
"Actually, I don't plan to participate in any rhode cards competitions at all."
He had always disliked gambling; he didn't gamble in his homeland, and he wouldn't gamble now that he was in the dangerous and mysterious Steam Age.
Even if the card in his hand was practically an official cheat device for rhode cards, he had no intention of gambling for money with it:
"I wonder if the Association would be willing to acquire it, I mean, after the appraisal in a week."
He shook the card in his hand at Vice President Mark, whose gaze unconsciously followed the card. Due to his Ring術士 studies, Xia De urgently needed pounds. He knew how valuable the item in his hand was, but he didn't intend to keep it long-term.
Perhaps having a unique rhode cards, defeating opponents in various card games, and traveling around this mysterious Steam Age to collect rhode cards decks would be interesting, but Xia De preferred mystical powers.
"You want to sell it? Sell a Founding series card?"
Vice President Mark looked as if he had heard something unbelievable. He leaned slightly forward and explained:
"I apologize, because collectors who have previously owned Founding series cards, those fanatical fellows, would never let go even if they died... Alright, I understand. But I'm sorry, the Association never acquires rhode cards."
"Why?"
Vice President Mark explained regretfully:
"To explain it in gamblers' terms, the Association is the banker and cannot easily interfere with the circulation of rhode cards. Otherwise, even if it meant losing everything, I would be willing to acquire it in my personal capacity."
"Then is the Association willing to act as a broker and introduce me to buyers?"
Xia De asked again. In fact, the museum Sparrow Detective mentioned before his death was probably also a sales channel. But compared to an unknown museum, Xia De trusted such an official organization more.
"Of course, this is also one of the Association's services. But you must understand that for a card like this, it's not easy to find a buyer who can afford it. Of course, all of this will be discussed after the appraisal in a week. You can think of a price you're comfortable with during this week. By the way, this is the Association's fee standard for introducing buyers... You are probably not yet a member of the Association, but it doesn't matter, you are now. You won't need to pay membership fees for ten years."
Vice President Mark took out a silver badge from his pocket and handed it to Xia De. This was the symbol of a Prophet Association member. But the badge did not have an ouroboros symbol; instead, it had a card pattern. The ouroboros emblem was only for internal Association members.
The middle-aged man then took out his small notepad, hastily wrote down a number, tore off the page with a rip, and handed it to Xia De:
"If it's this Founding · Silver Moon, this is the fee standard for Association members. Of course, we only charge after the transaction is completed, so you can rest assured about that."
Xia De looked at the terrifyingly ornate number written in pencil and unconsciously took a breath. He calculated how many Mia the orange cat this was worth, then realized that unit of measurement was too small, so he recalculated how many times he could attend first-year Ring術士 classes with just the broker's commission...
The woman in his mind laughed.
"Bah, bah, how can I think of such inauspicious things?"
So he nodded lightly:
"I understand, this commission is very reasonable."
"Then we'll see each other in a week, Hamilton. Please be extremely careful not to use this card easily... You probably understand what I mean."
Vice President Mark reiterated.
"Yes, thank you, of course I understand."
With a heart full of satisfaction, Xia De placed the appraisal certificate and the card in his diary, and Vice President Mark escorted him to the staircase on the third floor of the Association.
Since arriving in this world, almost everything had gone wrong. Even the residence he had finally managed to acquire might harbor danger. But this rhode cards was like a ray of light in the fog, giving Xia De hope for a better life.
He returned to the first floor of the Association with a sense of relief. Since there was nothing else to do, he planned to leave directly and decided to take Mia to a restaurant for a good meal at noon.
But in the lobby on the first floor, he again encountered Mr. Lavende, who had been playing cards with him earlier. It seemed he was waiting for Xia De; when he saw Xia De coming down from upstairs, he enthusiastically greeted him:
"Oh, Hamilton Detective, do you mind if I take up some of your time? I have a commission I'd like to give you."
The middle-aged gentleman said, holding his gold-inlaid cane, looking at Xia De expectantly. Xia De subconsciously clutched his notebook tighter and thought for a moment:
"Of course, the Detective Agency is always open. Shall we discuss it at my place?"
Saint Delan Square No. 6 was not far from here. Even if the card in his hand was valuable, he couldn't have no other income.
"Oh, I don't think that's necessary. Please come this way, I've already rented a reception room on the second floor of the Association. We can talk here."
Mr. Lavende led the way, and Xia De followed him back towards the stairs. Because the items he carried were too valuable, he couldn't help but ask in his mind:
"Is there something wrong with this person? Are there traces of elemental power nearby? Does he have a relic on him?"
"Get a little closer... He's a normal person. Sometimes you're really too cautious."
"Aha! How do you know the other person is a normal person?"
Xia De immediately asked, and the murmur in his ear replied:
"Your soul is sensitive, I've already told you that."
"It's always right to be cautious, after all, you also know that I am an Outsider, and I've been here for less than a week (Note), and I've already encountered enough strange things."
He replied in his mind, but received only the woman's laughter.