The Whispering Verses Chapter 1649: Traveling Merchant in the Tavern

The table against the wall is not really placed side by side, so people can sit in all four directions. The lunches of the three professors had not been served yet, and they did not start talking until Shade ordered his own lunch.

"I never expected that, Mr. Watson, I would meet you again by such a coincidence."

Professor Boulanger seemed very enthusiastic, while the two young students who looked like students were more dull:

"After I met you last time, I added what you mentioned about the natural and cultural environment of the Pantanal region to my next paper. When the negotiations between the two countries are over, I will think about it again. Let’s go to the Pantanal to investigate. There must be many mineral veins there.”

"Then I wish you success, Professor."

Xia De raised his glass of water and said that he likes to deal with such scholars:

“I haven’t heard of anyone conducting decent research in the Pantanal area in so many years. Recently, both countries have plans to develop swamps, and areas that were prohibited from entering in the past are also allowed to enter. That’s why we have the current Opportunity. Professor, seize this opportunity and you will become famous."

“Academic research is not about fame, but of course it would be nice if it can bring fame.”

The professor said modestly, and talked with Shade about the local weather conditions for a while. There has been only one light rain in the Green Lake area this spring, and Professor Boulanger believes it will probably continue to rain starting next week.

When the drinks and food were served, Xia De finally asked:

"Professor, do you also want to find someone when you come to see Barry with the bad eye? I have been investigating some interesting things recently. If there are results, my next book will be a detective novel."

"Like "Hamilton's Detective Stories"? Then you must send me a copy. I like detective stories very much. But I'm not looking for someone. What I'm doing is a geological survey. At Carson Creek There is a document issued by the college on the side. As long as I take it out, no one will stop me anywhere. However, there are some private areas on the Delarian side that we are not allowed to enter. I spent a lot of time asking people to find out. That bad-eyed Barry actually owns a large piece of land along the lake. He agreed to let me go in and collect some soil samples, but that man is really vulgar."

Professor Boulanger said with some dissatisfaction, not knowing what kind of criticism he had just received:

"Mr. Watson, what you just said is that you still have a relationship with Bad-Eyed Barry?"

"No, no, I don't know this kind of person. It's my friend, an army captain. You know, no matter how powerful the local people are, they don't dare to go against the officers, especially since this is still a border area. ”

Shade said, Professor Boulanger nodded with deep understanding:

"This sentence is very correct. Since this is the case, it is actually a bit embarrassing to say..."

He smiled awkwardly:

"If it's convenient, could you introduce me to your officer friend? During this time, I also felt some danger in Delrayon on the north shore of Green Lake. If you can ask your officer friend to introduce some A bodyguard who can travel with us temporarily would be great."

What he means is to find someone to protect them at specific times. This is normal in military camps in border areas. After all, soldiers also need to eat.

"Of course, I will take you there in a moment. Captain Rades is the deputy battalion commander of the camp. There should be someone under him who is willing to take on such an errand. Speaking of which, I also have something I want to ask you for help with."

Xia De said, taking out the pen found near the water ghost's lair. He didn't know who the original owner of the pen was, but based on his knowledge of pens from Dorothy, he at least knew that this pen was definitely not cheap:

"Professor, have you seen this pen and this name? Maybe it is related to the person I am looking for recently."

Professor Boulanger took the pen and asked the students aside:

"Something looks familiar, Kirk, is this the kind of pen you use?"

The tall and thin young man raised his glasses:

"Professor, this is not the kind I use. This is a custom-made pen from Spencer Company. It was only sold once in Willondale two years ago. The price is very expensive, and it is so rusty."

"The name is...Duluth Giles?"

Professor Boulanger returned the pen, frowned and thought for a moment:

"I seem to have heard of this name, but I'm not sure. It's nothing special. Oh, I'll write back to Willendale and ask my colleagues to help check it out. Those who use this kind of pen must be scholars. If It’s very famous and should be looked up.”

"Thank you very much, Professor."

Xia De said with a smile.

The two kept talking during lunch. The professor of geology and folklore was very knowledgeable, and the outsider who had been to many places could also express his unique opinions. As for the professor's two students, they only communicated with each other with their eyes, and were obviously not used to eating with their teacher.

When lunch was almost over, a traveling businessman with a red scarf around his neck and a brown scarf wrapped around his head came into the tavern. He claimed that he had a Rhodes card with special rules in his hand that had not been authenticated and did not know whether it was true or false, and wanted to bet with the people in the tavern.

This kind of gambling involves not only betting on who can win, but also betting on whether the card played by the travel dealer is real.

So Shade, who was interested, got up and went to join in the fun, asking Professor Boulanger to wait for him, and they would go to see Captain Rades together later.

There were many people in the tavern who were also interested in this, but most of them were worried that it was a scam. In addition, more people could not afford the 5 pounds bet that the traveling merchant said, so in the end, only three people, including Shade, saw the card in front of the tavern counter.

The rules of the card are very special, different from all the special cards Shade has ever seen:

"This is... [Dove of Peace·Kansas Mountain Negotiation], suit star 13. With the consent of all players, this game is a draw."

On the card, two hands are clasped together, with a distant view of the Kansas Mountains in the background.

The "Dove of Peace" series of decks includes those negotiations and meetings that played a decisive role in world peace and the process of civilization. This series of cards is very special, because the rule for all special cards is "all players agree, the game will be a draw", which also expresses the original intention of the Prophet Association when making this deck.

The deck was released nearly thirty years ago and has never been reprinted. Although very rare, because the rules of special cards are really difficult to implement, the auction and sales prices of this series of special cards are generally lower than other series of the same period in the early stages of release.

Of course, since the Prophet Association has begun to reprint past cards in recent years, the price of "Dove of Peace", which has never been reprinted, has gradually approached or even exceeded other series of card sets of the same era.

After seeing this card, after hesitation, the well-dressed old gentleman among the three gave up the fight, so one of Shade and another gentle gentleman wearing glasses decided to have a bet with the traveling merchant.

The two of them checked the card together, and "she" gently reminded Shade that the card was most likely real based on its details and texture.

The travel merchant said after the two checked:

"Please give me the amount of money you want to gamble with me. The base price is the 5 pounds I just agreed on. I will bet with the person who bids the highest."

"You are really good at business."

Xia De said, taking out his notebook and writing a number. The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, shook his head and said to Sha De:

"I'll give up too. Just play cards with him. I won't let such profiteers take advantage."

"You're right, I don't want profiteers to take advantage either."

Xia De showed the number he wrote on his notebook - 5 pounds. The traveling merchant smiled and shook his head:

"I didn't take advantage of you. I received this card and spent a lot of money on it. Sir, we will determine the outcome of the game. What about the most basic rules? If it is a draw, I take the money and you take the cards.”

"Of course."

Shad took out his spare deck that contained no special cards. Under the gaze of the old gentleman and middle-aged man who had not left, he and the traveling merchant each drew two cards and displayed the last one. come out.

Shad took a look at the first hidden card, raised his eyebrows, and then revealed the hole card:

"I suspend trading."

Moon 10 and stars 9, totaling 19 points.

You Shang used the second card to tilt up the first card, brought it to his eyes, moved it a little bit to open the card, then smiled and held a card in each hand to show it to Shade:

"Star 9, Sun 9. You shouldn't draw the cards directly, otherwise I would have to hesitate whether to continue drawing cards."

"Playing cards is fun, but it would be boring if you are too obsessed with winning or losing."

Because the loss is not big even if he loses, the foreigner, who has become richer and richer recently, leaned on the counter and said easily. Both old and middle-aged people expressed their approval.

Then the travel merchant opened his third card, threw it on the table with exaggerated movements, and made a sound of regret:

"Sun 13? Is this a joke?"

"Then this card belongs to me."

Star 13 [Dove of Peace, Negotiation at Kansas Mountain] was not placed in his deck by the Traveling Merchant, but was placed in a position visible to everyone. Shade picked it up and inserted it into his deck, and then handed the 5 pounds as a bet to the businessman:

"You also want to make money and eat, so just treat it as a draw."

Youshang was a little annoyed at first, but now he was stunned. He wanted to refuse for the sake of dignity, but in the end he accepted the money and said to Shade:

"I won't take your money for nothing. Take a look at the products I have here and pick one out."

Then he said to the bartender who was watching the excitement:

"Please give me four glasses of ale, yes four glasses. I'll treat the three gentlemen here to drinks."

Although he usually doesn't like drinking, Xia De did not refuse the other party's kindness. When the bartender brought the wine glasses one by one, he smiled and clinked glasses with the old people, middle-aged people and traveling businessmen and praised the Rhodes cards.

Afterwards, Xia De saw the merchant's goods.