Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 577 - Win-Win

Chapter 577: Chapter 577 Win-Win Chapter 577: Chapter 577 Win-Win Due to the bending motion, Shard’s face entered the shadow. The fountain pen in his hand couldn’t be opened carelessly; once it had been opened, it could never be restored to its original state.

He now had two tasks on him: one was to pass this object onto the Gray Glove intelligence network of Carsonrick; the other was to report the matter to MI6. But before deciding which to do, or whether to do neither, Shard wanted to see for himself what the intelligence he had obtained was actually about.

With a gentle pull, he removed the pen cap, and the deformed, broken metal wire immediately hung down. Shard carefully extracted the slender strip of paper inside; this time, the content wasn’t numbers but directly readableDraleonese:

“On the last day of this month, your merchandise will be in a warehouse in Midshire Fort City-Punjab Avenue-with a red door sign.”

Shard narrowed his eyes:

“The intelligence from MI6 is flawed. The Duchy of Seth doesn’t want to side with the United Duchy of Carsonrick, it is the Duchy of Seth that’s helping to transfer a batch of sensitive goods.”

The merchandise that justified the use of the high-level spy “Grey Hawk” by Carsonrick had to be anything but ordinary. Although Shard didn’t know what it specifically was, it was clear that the intelligence in his hands was of great value.

Being in close proximity to the Duchy of Seth, Midshire Fort City was an important transit hub city on the eastern border between the two nations, which all made sense.

“So, which task will you do?”

She asked with a chuckle close to his ear.

Shard pondered for a moment, then stuffed the strip of paper back into the pen cap and capped the pen. He took a deep breath, and with his inhalation, some invisible airflow flew out from the fountain pen in his hand.

Time reversed to twenty seconds earlier, and the sealed information in his hand was restored to its original state.

“A report to Director Anlos is a must, after all, I’ve taken his salary.”

He looked at the fountain pen in his hand, clipping it to his waist:

“But I can’t explain the origin of this object, so I can’t directly give the intelligence to Director Anlos…”

He walked towards the direction of the third-floor ballroom:

“As an amateur agent like me, I certainly didn’t discover Vigil Cameron making contact with anyone. But I’m thorough, so I asked to trade commemorative coins with the other party, and during the trade, I chatted a bit more with them. Since my friend, Priest Augustus went to Midshire Fort City, when I happened to mention it, it made the other party very vigilant… that’s enough. Later, I will think of a way to pass more detailed intelligence to Director Anlos.”

Shard nodded.

“What about the intelligence in your hands?”

“The task for MI6 must be completed, and so must the task for Gray Glove. Since I’ve been mistaken as ‘Grey Hawk,’ I naturally have to play out the role. Of course, just this once, for those two thousand pounds.”

He didn’t deny his own motives in the least; initially, he didn’t want to get involved in such things, but for two kinds of special blood, he was indeed short on cash. And the payment offered by the spies of Carsonrick was simply too tempting.

“Just this once, after this time, Grey Hawk can be considered truly dead.”

He said in his heart, and as he re-entered the ballroom, he still felt a bit guilty about Detective Sparrow Hamilton, who left all his estate to him. But then he thought that the intelligence he gave to MI6 was not complete, and indeed he perfectly accomplished the mission that Detective Sparrow hadn’t been able to finish.

“Isn’t this a win-win?”

“Are you saying you won twice?”

She still loved to laugh.

Tifa pulled out a chair for Shard, and after quietly thanking her, he caught the cat that had suddenly jumped up.

After sitting down and looking opposite, Mr. Cameron, who had finally let go of the heavy burden of the intelligence, began to enjoy the game at last.

The two exchanged a smile:

“Of course not, I mean that the party that should have received the intelligence got the intelligence, and the party that should have obtained the information got the information. Both MI6 and Gray Gloves, have won.”

He petted his cat, and under the crystal chandelier light above, the cat’s fur looked golden.

The obedient cat sat down and tilted its head, staring at Shard with its amber eyes. Shard then picked up the last card that hadn’t been cleared from the table, flipped it between his fingers and tossed it to the dealer, saying with a smile:

“Deal the cards.”

Although the main purpose of coming to Tobesk this time was to pass on the deadly intelligence in his hands, to say that Vigil Cameron, a veteran card player, had no thoughts of the 1853 Big City Player’s title of King of Roder Card would certainly be impossible.

So, after the psychological burden was removed, Shard’s opponent finally showcased his highest level of play.

In the first round of the second game, Mr. Cameron, with 19 points from three cards in his hand, decisively chose to stop drawing cards, forcing Shard, with 18 points from three cards, to draw a fourth card and then, unfortunately, bust and lose the first round.

Seeing that Mr. Cameron had regained his normal state from his earlier condition, the guests who came to watch the final also became excited.

“Lady Luck favors you again, Mr. Cameron,” Shard said indifferently.

“Yes, Mr. Hamilton, I think this game has finally become interesting,” Mr. Cameron replied.

Their conversation was very harmonious, nothing like enemies fighting each other for a championship title.

The scenario of the second round was very similar to the first; Mr. Cameron got 20 points from three cards. He laughed, raised the playing card to show the surrounding guests, then gestured for Shard to check the cards.

In Shard’s hand, the three cards were Sun 11, Moon 1, and Moon 7, totaling 19 points, still one point behind Mr. Cameron.

The Moon 7 was the “Northern City: Coldwater Harbor,” but as the deck hadn’t been used beyond half, it had no effect.

“Keep dealing,” Shard said. The cards continued to be dealt, face down and placed on the steel ruler engraved with the Ouroboros symbol, to Shard’s hand.

Shard pressed his card to the table and lifted a corner to peek, then he raised an eyebrow.

“How is it?”

Mr. Cameron asked suspiciously.

“3 points.”

“Then that’s 22 points, you’ve busted again.”

He revealed a smile.

“No, Sun three.”

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Shard picked up the card, showing its face to the opponent:

“Sun three [Genesis: Silvermoon], card number can be adjusted between 1-5 points. I adjust the 3 to a 2, I’m at 21 points.”

The crowd watching the game murmured among themselves. Shard paused a moment, allowing the judge and guests to understand his claim, then tossed the card to one side of the table:

“I win, deal the cards.”

In the third round, after both parties received their hole cards, Mr. Cameron lifted a corner of his card to peek and said to Shard with a smile:

“Look, my luck has returned—King.”

Shard also glanced at his hole card and revealed it:

“Sorry, my first hole card [Genesis: Darkness], wins directly ignoring any rules and conditions, with priority over any other rules.”

Mr. Cameron was taken aback, squinted his eyes, and flung the card he was holding to the side:

“I must be one of the few to lose to two different Genesis series cards in one game. Two to four, I still have a chance, please continue dealing.”

In the fourth round, with the first two cards dealt, Mr. Cameron’s first hole card unknown, the second being Moon five, while Shard received Sun two and Sun thirteen.

Shard of course chose to hit, while Mr. Cameron hesitated before asking for a third card, which earned him a tease from Shard:

“Hesitation leads to defeat.”

“Oh no, hesitation is just to be more cautious.”

Mr. Cameron’s reply was a proverb from the Southern Draleon, he read it out with a Duchy of Seth accent, and it took a moment for Shard to understand the meaning of the pronunciation.

“See, my caution has paid off, 20 points.”

Mr. Cameron revealed his third card and placed it alongside the first two—the Flower thirteen, Moon five, and Moon two.

“You’re really lucky, getting 19 points, 20 points, a King, and 19 points in four rounds.”

Shard said with a smile, glancing at his own cards and frowning slightly.

“But no matter how lucky I am, you won the first game and I’m still trailing in the second.”

Mr. Cameron folded his arms and watched as Shard drew a card.

“Busted again.”

Shard revealed his hole card, but was not disheartened:

“Sun two, Sun thirteen, Flower seven. 22 points. But the Flower seven is [Genesis: Balance], I’ve busted, so I can draw again.”

Shard discarded the three cards to the side, signaling to continue dealing.

The crowd whispered among themselves; although Shard praised Mr. Cameron’s luck, he himself had drawn from the Genesis series cards for three consecutive rounds.

Upon the redraw, the first card was Moon nine [Demon: Soul Stealer Bishop], but since the opponent had stopped drawing, it had no effect; the second card was Flower six, a common card; and the third card Moon six.

Total 21 points.

Shard heard Tifa behind him take a deep breath, clearly drawn into the tension of the game as well. The other guests also praised Shard’s luck in turn. Mr. Cameron’s brows furrowed, casting a shadow over his medially handsome, middle-aged face:

“How can this be possible?”

He could not comprehend.

Shard led the second game, six to two, winning consecutively with three Genesis series Roder cards.

In the second game’s fifth round, Mr. Cameron revealed his first card and chuckled out loud once again:

“Today’s luck is really strange; look, a Special Card—Moon one [Steam Age: Textile Worker off Duty].”

The pattern on the card showed a bustling crowd at the entrance of a textile factory at dusk.

“If this card is drawn as the first or third card, a dice can be thrown. If the dice shows a 5 or 10, then I can choose to adjust my points down by one during this round’s scoring.”

“What an interesting rule.”

Shard nodded, then watched as Mr. Cameron threw a dice provided by the Prophet’s Society, but it landed on a 6, making the rule inapplicable.