The Whispering Verses Chapter 376: Demonologist
“Special rule cards?”
Xia De looked at the man across the table in surprise:
“Of course I’m interested.”
But he didn’t think that the people he met at the dock slum hotel could easily pull out a special card.
The man lowered his voice and spoke with a strong accent. He liked to press the last note downward. He touched his scalp:
“I heard the conversation you just had with the boss here, and saw that you could patiently read your notebook here for half an hour. I bet you are definitely a Rhodes player, and an experienced player. This kind of temperament , it can’t be faked. Are you interested in playing with me using special cards?”
“Sorry, I don’t have any special cards.”
Xia De shook his head, not wanting to cause unnecessary complications during the investigation.
“It doesn’t matter, let’s bet on other things. If you win, you can buy my card at a cheap price of 20 pounds. If I win, you have to give me 20 pounds directly.”
This is a big number. Shade wanted to refuse, but the man had already put the card on the table. The corners of his mouth were raised to both sides, and his eyes were bright:
“Look at this.”
Xia De looked down and his expression changed.
[Devil·Soul Stealer Bishop], Flower Moon 9.
When this card is drawn, if the opponent does not stop, two cards must be drawn in the next round. If the two cards are of different suits, the opponent can choose to discard one of the cards. If the two cards are of the same suit, the opponent must accept the numbers of both cards.
“Is this…a demon series?”
Xia De lowered his voice and supported the table. Even a stranger was surprised at this moment.
The prosperity of Rhodes cards has a history of several centuries. In addition to the founding series, the other five special cards in Shade’s hand are actually from the series within the past one or two hundred years.
In fact, when the Rhodes cards were first released, the Prophet Association preferred to use folk tales and legends to select themes for the series of cards. It is only in modern times that people tend to be more inclined to natural and civilized series.
The Demon series is one of the famous early Rhodes card series. This deck was later reprinted many times, but each special card was only released once, and the next edition was a new Demon card. As for the one in front of me, the logo at the top of the front shows that this is the first edition of the Demon series of Rhodes cards.
Shad cannot tell the exact date of the release of the first edition of the Demon series, but he can be sure that if this card is genuine, its value will definitely not be less than 1,000 pounds.
In addition to the [Original] series, demons, angels, saints from various churches, and legendary heroes from ancient legends are all quite valuable Rhodes cards.
“Are you sure this is authentic?”
Xia De asked hesitantly, and the long-faced man smiled and asked:
“If I could confirm it, do you think I would bet you 20 pounds? Sir, I got it by chance. Although I am a Rhodes player, I have always avoided demons, so, I won’t keep this card. I happened to meet you, so I might as well make a bet with you.”
This is very much like what happens in a classic scam.
“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am a demonologist. Sean Asmon, I was recently in Coldwater Port investigating the ancient rumors here.”
As he spoke, he extended his hand to Shade.
Xia De shook hands with him and got the reply that the other person was an ordinary person:
“Demonologist?”
The kerosene lamp between the two had a yellowish light, and a black flying insect flew into the lampshade at some point. It crashed into the flames, causing the firelight to sway and the stranger’s face to be mingled with light and shadow.
“Yes, I don’t teach in universities, but I accept commissions from nobles to investigate ancient rumors that they are interested in. In fact, my main research is demonology. Oh, of course I don’t have this knowledge. It’s me. I coined the phrase. Although I study demons, I personally avoid things related to demons, and I will never carry anything related to them.”
Mr. Asmon said, still looking at Shade. He touched his bald head again, which was his habitual action.
Shad nodded to express his understanding. He had heard Dr. Schneider mention this type of professional as a mysterious scholar among ordinary people. Most of them serve the nobles, and a few are private researchers. They are a group that even the ring magicians are tired of.
Only God knows what **** things these people who don’t know how to fear have come into contact with.
“So did you find the devil in Coldwater Harbor?”
Xia De asked with great interest.
“Of course not, and I’m not looking for demons. I’m looking for knowledge and stories about demons. But in this harbor, there are only the rumored smelly fish-men and the mermaids who are said to have been witnessed by fishermen.”
The long-faced man shook his head regretfully.
“Well, I’m John Watson, detective.”
Xia De continued to lower his voice and introduced himself:
“I am doing a commissioned task here, please don’t make any announcement.”
“Of course, I know that you are definitely not from the slums.”
Mr. Asmon said politely, and then asked:
“Want to play a game of Rhodes? I know it’s risky, but for a real Rhodes player, it should be worth it for a Rhodes card that looks suspiciously like the real deal.”
Shad doesn’t want to play. If it is confirmed to be true, he may still be interested, but the other party looks like a liar no matter what, and the reputation of professions such as demonologists is not good.
Seeing Xia De’s hesitation, the long-faced man said again:
“Since you are doing research, why not do this? Regardless of whether you win or not, I can tell you about the situation of this hotel. Since you are doing the commission here, you must be interested in it. Although I don’t live there Here, I met guests upstairs and stayed all morning, so I am familiar with the situation upstairs.”
He continued to bewitch Shade.
But his words mean that he is not Mr. Darkness’s companion.
“In addition to the information about the hotel, I also want to ask you for some knowledge about demons.”
Shad thought for a while and decided that this was appropriate. Darkness’ information was worth the price. But even if he won, he would still have to pay twenty pounds, so he made another demand.
He didn’t believe that the card was genuine.
“No problem, we can ask while playing cards. I like to share those strange knowledge. Let’s play with some interesting rules. Each time you draw four cards, it is not more important than the number of points, but to see who can do it three times without busting the cards. If the kingdom and queen are drawn, no matter what the other points are, it will be considered as a non-explosion card. ”
The long-faced man suggested.
“Yes.”
Xia De has never played this kind of gameplay.
Mr. Asmon took out his deck, and Shade also took out his deck.
While shuffling the cards, he spoke cautiously:
“Mr. Asmon, what do you think demons are? Rumored alien creatures like elves and fish-men, or the product of people lumping weird and evil things together?”
“Mr. Watson, this is a really interesting question. My research shows that both of your answers are correct. There are indeed alien creatures and demons, but demons also include some evil entities that people cannot determine their real existence. Those in the countryside A monster in the mouth of the common people, or a foreign thing in the mouth of the nobles.”
Shad nodded. Miss Feliana mentioned these things in her notes. It seems that Mr. Sean Asmon still has some abilities.
He continued shuffling the cards:
“Can demons inhabit people’s bodies? Just like in the rumors, they inhabit beautiful women and require special means to be removed by male exorcists.”
“Those people are all liars, money-grubbing and lustful liars.”
Mr. Asmon smiled. Under the light of the kerosene lamp, although his smile looked normal, it felt a little uncomfortable:
“How about I tell a story about the devil?”
“Okay.”
Shad and Mr. Asmon slapped their respective decks on the table at the same time. They both pulled gently, and the cards spread out on the table in an arc.
Shad used [Treasure Object] to control the Rhodes cards to ensure that the deck would not scatter this time. From this point of view, this ability derived from [greed] is really useful.
[You also said that you chose this ability not for playing cards. 】
She chuckled.
Shad ignored the voice in his ears, because Mr. Asmon’s story had already begun. The hoarse voice seemed very accentuated in the yellowish kerosene lamp and the intoxicating smell of alcohol:
“I have forgotten which ancient book I read this story in. It was a very long time ago, so long ago that the sun was brighter than it is now, and so long ago that the three moons did not appear in the sky at the same time.”
Xia De was not surprised. Some of the documents accessible to ordinary people did record the number of moons.
“A weird existence was born out of lies, deception, betrayal, hatred, and death. People didn’t know what it was, so they called it a devil. Because of people’s thoughts, it really had the character of a devil. The power of living things.”
Both of them drew four cards. After they were revealed, Mr. Asmon showed Moon 9, Star 2, Star 7, and Flower 13. The cards were busted without counting.
Xia De is the sun 1, the moon 13, flowers 2 and flowers 5, exactly 21 o’clock.
“You are so lucky… That weird demon has no name, because it is not even a demon originally. It has traveled to many places, and whenever it stops, there must be a conspiracy of deception and betrayal. ”
The second set of four cards, the middle-aged man with a long face is the sun 3, sun 7, star 3, flower 7, 20 o’clock.
Xia De is the sun 7, the moon 1, the stars 4, and the queen.
“Tsk, queen, it seems that I have really met a very powerful opponent.”
Mr. Asmon shook his head and skillfully selected the third round of cards:
“It is evil in nature and enjoys the disasters it brings. It prefers to sign contracts with people under the pretext of helping people realize their wishes, and then takes advantage of the loopholes in the contract to take away everything from people.”
This is in line with ordinary people’s views on “devils”.
“But according to rumors, this demon failed once.”
Mr. Asmon stopped talking and opened the third set of cards with Shade.
The first picture of the former was actually [Devil Soul Stealer Bishop], which made him smile. Xia De is Sun 4, Sun 5, Sun 6, Moon 5, twenty o’clock.
Xia De won without busting his cards in three games.
“How did it fail? Did anyone see through its contract trap?”
Shad threw the cards on the table casually, he was very interested in this story.
“No, the man said – I have no wish.”
Mr. Asmon looked at the cards on the table, shook his head and laughed. Shade also laughed and took out 20 pounds from his pocket:
“This is yours.”
“Aren’t you afraid that I’m just using fake Rhodes cards to deceive you?”
He stretched his head slightly, with an inexplicable smile on his face, and his bald head seemed to be reflecting under the kerosene lamp.
“If you can tell me the situation on the third floor, then the twenty pounds information fee is well worth it.”
Xia De said with narrowed eyes.
“I like people like you.”
Mr. Asmon took the banknotes, clamped them in his notebook, then passed the kerosene lamp and handed the cards to Shade.