[WP] Chapter 54: Prophet Association

[WP] Chapter 54: Prophet Association

Mia stayed at home to look after the house, and Shade set off directly to the "Prophet Association Tobesk Branch" located in the city center at around 8:30.

The Tobesk City Prophet Association is an important branch of the Prophet Association of the entire continent. In addition to the headquarters in Ryan, the capital of the Principality of Lagson in the middle of the United Kingdom of Carlsenrik in the south, the Tobesk City Association is the most important institution in the entire association and also manages all other branches of the association located in the Northern Kingdom.

It is located together with the Yodel Palace on the Silver Cross Avenue in Tobesk City. Together with the buildings towering in the city center, it constitutes the most prosperous street scene in Tobesk City, the "Steam City" of the misty Northern Kingdom of Delarian.

There were many pedestrians and carriages on Silver Cross Avenue. Although it was still early, newsboys, coachmen, nobles, vendors, clerks, policemen, and all kinds of pedestrians filled the streets, and the association had already opened.

Standing on the street in the early morning, avoiding the flow of people in the hazy morning fog, looking up at the three-story building where the association was located, the walls were recently painted, and steam pipes and gas pipes covered the outer walls.

Even though it was only half past eight, there were still people coming in and out of the association's gate. Most of them were well dressed. I'm afraid no one would not believe that this was a club for nobles.

So, Shade deliberately tidied his clothes before walking into the association. Fortunately, no one would stop guests from entering because of their clothes.

Entering the lobby, looking up, I saw a circle of Rhodes brand oil paintings hanging on the wall, alternating with brass gas lamps to decorate the wall. One of the paintings was the card face of [Founding Silver Moon] holding up the Silver Moon sideways, which shocked Shade.

After checking the nameplate, he realized that these thirteen paintings were the appearance of the first Rhodes cards of the Founding series, and the association hung them up as a memorial.

And because of the knowledge of the "Thirteen Ancient Gods" last night, Shade suspected that the Ancient Gods had some connection with the thirteen Founding Rhodes cards, so he carefully wrote down the card faces of the thirteen paintings and had more guesses about the [Prophet Association].

He passed by the old gentleman who was counting the cards in his hand and almost bumped into the young man in boots and a brown vest with a worried look on his face. Turning around, he looked at the notice board on the inside of the door. There were all kinds of notices posted there, most of which were posted by private individuals trying to purchase some special cards. The largest and most central notice was written in handwriting, stating that the "Big City Players" Rhodes card tournament would be held in the city this fall, and Rhodes card players and enthusiasts from the entire Old Continent would gather here.

"Only when civilization advances to the steam age can so many idle people have time to engage in these entertainment activities."

Shade stood in the bustling crowd at the door and whispered in his heart that he finally saw how popular Rhodes cards were in this world.

The entrance hall extended to both sides with a curved corridor. A row of counters facing the hall was used for consultation and guidance of the association. Next to the counters were stairs leading to higher floors. The metal handrails were decorated with four colors of Rhodes cards in turn.

But compared to the bustle on the first floor, no one went up and down the stairs.

Shade held the diary of the former detective and came to the counter with some nervousness and excitement. The young lady with brown long hair in a maroon uniform immediately greeted him with a business smile.

"Identify the Rhodes card."

As he said this, he stacked up five copper coins, or five one-penny coins, which were about to burst out of his palm.

"No problem, sir; are you a member of the association? The identification fee for members is lower."

This kind of rhetoric vaguely made Shade feel that he was back in his own world. He raised his eyebrows:

"Member registration fee."

"1 pound per year."

"Identify first."

Shade said, looking around the counter to see if there was anyone else, then opened the diary and showed the founding series Silver Moon card with the suit of "Sun 3" in it.

Even Dr. Schneider, who was not a fan, could recognize what it was just by looking at the card surface, and of course the young lady who was the receptionist at the association could also.

She just took a look and reminded Shade with a smile:

"Sir, do you know that once the association identifies a counterfeit Rhodes card, the counterfeit will be destroyed on the spot?"

"Huh?"

Shade didn't know this. Dr. Schneider and Miss Louisa probably didn't deliberately not remind him, but they didn't know. The association's practice is similar to the destruction of counterfeit banknotes by banks, which is understandable.

If Shade hadn't heard the divination last night, he would probably be quite hesitant. But he trusted the divination level of the dean of the college's astronomy school. The other party should be considered the most powerful divination master in St. Byron's Comprehensive College:

"Yes, if it is a counterfeit Rhodes card, it must be destroyed, but I am willing to identify it."

Although he said this, he was still a little nervous. Shade thought this was normal. No matter who took a "big prize ticket" he picked up to redeem the prize, he would have this feeling.

Perhaps because she had seen too many such scenes, the receptionist responded very skillfully, and the smile on her face did not change. She was probably not a native of Tobesk. Her southern accent made people willing to believe in her professionalism.

Shade saw the brass logo on her chest. It was the Ouroboros, the logo of the Prophet Association:

"Then, sir, please come this way. Please wait in the waiting room No. 13 on the first floor. There are not many guests ahead of you."

The identification of Rhodes cards cannot be out of the owner's sight; otherwise, if it is identified as a counterfeit, it will inevitably cause unnecessary misunderstandings. But it is impossible to identify it here, so the association has a special identification room.

Shade took the cards with numbers and went to the room on the east corridor of the first floor. After opening the door, he found that the room was not a separate reception room but a crowded reception room full of coffee tables and sofas. Even tea was not provided.

In addition to the door connecting to the corridor, there was another door on the side wall leading to the next room. Like everyone else here, Shade got a hard paper card with numbers on it. The identification room next door would call people every few minutes. The Tobesk branch is the largest branch of the Prophet Association in the north of the Old Continent. There are many appraisers here, so Shade will wait for half an hour at most before his number 29 comes.

Even though it is early in the morning, there are still many people coming for appraisal and waiting in the reception room. Men holding number plates gather in groups of three or five to chat about Rhodes cards and current affairs and occasionally talk about interesting stories about the royal family and the nobility.

A few people unfolded newspapers, as leisurely as in a private club. No one paid too much attention to the strange young man who walked in.

(End of this chapter)