Chapter 69 Abnormal Good Fortune

At the very instant their eyes met, both Doctor Schneider and Lood wide-eyed, and Lood even read the meaning of "Why are you here?" in the other's gaze.

When Lood had been inquiring about attire, he had indeed informed the doctor that he was attending a rather formal dinner party due to a commission task for his detective agency, but he had not mentioned that it was the banquet at Lakeview Manor, nor had the doctor asked where he was going, presumably never imagining that Lood would appear in this place.

He wanted to leave the card table and head over to the doctor, but the doctor solemnly gave Lood a slight shake of his head, while his conversation with a friend about the differences between silver and gold blunt weapons continued without pause.

They thus passed right by the grape arbor. Some people beside the card table were friends of Doctor Schneider's companions, and they exchanged a few mutual greetings.

The doctor did not have any conversation with Lood, but instead very covertly used both hands to gesture a series of rather complex movements, making sure Lood saw them clearly before departing with his companions.

"But what do those gestures mean?"

Lood stared at the grapes hanging down from above, wondering with perplexity.

Although he had seen them clearly, he completely failed to understand. He did not know sign language, nor did he understand hints, so no matter how clearly Doctor Schneider gestured, it was useless.

"However, now that Madam Lasoya of [Mercury Blood], the orthodox church's team of ring-warlocks, that high-level warlock of unknown rank 'That Lady', and Doctor Schneider have all appeared in Lakeview Manor, what on earth is going to happen here... I'll finish playing cards and then try to find the doctor... Could Miss Louisa and Reverend Augustine be here too?"

The second round of Lood between the horticultural artist Sir Solair and the flour mill owner Mr. Sick was clearly much more interesting than the first round between the two barons. The two were locked in a stalemate, with each winning a game in turn, to the point that by the end, sweat was already beading on both of their foreheads.

And when the second game reached its climax at four to four, not only the participants, but even the onlookers did not dare to breathe too loudly.

"This game, I have won."

Sir Solair used the face-up "Flower 12" to flip open a face-down playing card, let out a long breath, and turned the "Sun 9" face up. Mr. Sick, sitting opposite him, heaved a deep sigh and flipped over his own face-down card; at this sight, even Lood couldn't help feeling a pang of regret for him.

Mr. Sick's face-up cards did not matter, because once the face-down playing card he revealed was flipped open, it turned out to be the "Queen". In the competitive rules of Lood, once one party draws a "Queen" or a "King", they must immediately stand. Although the other party can continue drawing cards, they will be the loser in any case unless they can eventually reach exactly 21 points.

If both parties draw Kings or Queens, under identical circumstances, the other card is compared by size; under different circumstances, the King is greater than the Queen. If one party holds both the "King" and the "Queen" in their hand, they win automatically, though this situation is only possible when the cards are dealt.

Therefore, Mr. Sick had drawn the Queen, yet lost to Sir Solair's 21 points. Such a card game was enough for the onlookers to use as a topic of discussion for several months.

Sir Lavender leaned forward with a glowing red face, looking at the playing cards on the stone table, and brought his hand down heavily on Sir Solair's shoulder, almost knocking out the toothpick the baronet was biting on.

The two opponents stood up and left, and compared to the atmosphere during the first game, the atmosphere at this moment was noticeably much better. Sir Solair and Mr. Sick had no conflict of interest; the two shook hands amicably, and the latter continued to express his regret over and over.

Thus, the match became one win each, and the final candidate was particularly important. The seemingly shrewd Baron Rwanda decided to step up to play again, while Baron Lavender pondered carefully for a moment, then took out a deck of cards, had his "friends" each draw one, and finally sent out Lood, who had somehow drawn the King.

At this, even Lood was left speechless:

"However, this kind of luck is getting a bit strange."

Yet Baron Rwanda had something to say. He was somewhat short compared to his surrounding friends, and sitting down early made him look even more like a glowing potato:

"Lavender, we agreed to compete fairly. The people invited are all respective good friends, not high-level Lood experts hired with money, otherwise this match would be meaningless."

He did not directly say there was something wrong with Lood, but he obviously did not approve of this stranger playing against him.

"Yes, this young detective is my friend, and we had a very pleasant chat just now."

Baron Lavender said with an unblushing face. Lood seized the opportunity to hand his remaining few business cards to the somewhat short baron. Upon seeing the address "No. 6 St. Derand Square", the latter showed the same slight surprise as the others and very earnestly put the business card away.

"You see, I am a native of Tobesk, not an outsider Lood player. If I were some formidable player, it's impossible you wouldn't have heard of me. Oh, Baron, if you don't believe me, I can swear to the orthodox deities that I am definitely not a Lood expert."

Lood said quite earnestly. Baron Rwanda still looked at him suspiciously, but nodded nonetheless to indicate that the match could begin. However, before Mr. Candela of the Diviners' Association could even begin shuffling the cards, Baron Rwanda said to Baron Lavender:

"Since Detective Hamilton is your friend, how about this: if he wins this match, you gift him this wager of mine, and I'll give you 20 pounds as an additional stake."

Baron Rwanda smiled all over his face:

"Since you are friends, I suppose this shouldn't be a problem at all? You don't need to increase your own stake."

Although 20 pounds was a large sum of money, it still could not compare to the value of that [Ancient Fairy Tale: The Match Girl]. According to the market price understood by Lood, once [The Match Girl], which possessed special rules, found a suitable buyer to be sold, its value would be no less than 50 pounds; this was a collectible truly fit for the wealthy.

Baron Lavender certainly did not want to agree, nor was there any reason to agree to such a request now. But seeing that everyone was looking at him, a sudden surge of stubborn pride took over at the peak of his mind. He lifted his chin and said:

"Of course, Detective Hamilton is my friend. If he wins this game, the wager belongs to him... and your 20 pounds shall be handed over to Sir Solair."

As he spoke, he gave a heavy pat on the shoulder of Lood, who had already sat down. Lood understood that Baron Lavender would certainly ask for the playing card back afterward, but would compensate him with a sum of money.

"I have no objection either."

Lood said. Sir Solair, who was standing aside and watching the game, also nodded indifferently.

Thus, the third game officially began. The deck was still the two barons' deck, so after the shuffling concluded, Lood, whose right eye possessed a faint red glow, roughly knew the contents of the opponent's first two cards.

Of course, it was impossible for him to remember the bloodstains of all 54 cards, but after using the spell [Echo of Blood], not only did he possess a keen observation of minute bloodstains, but his memory for bloodstains was also enhanced, which was why he dared to confidently believe he roughly knew them.

"The opponent's first two cards are Flower 10 and Flower 9, and there is a high probability they will not continue asking for cards..."

Lood thought to himself, seeing that his own face-up card was Sun 1, and flipping his face-down card to reveal Star 9. He motioned with his hand for Mr. Candela to continue dealing, and when it was flipped open, it turned out to be Moon 11.

"No, this luck is definitely not right. What on earth is going on here?"