Chapter 1237: Chapter 1237: Tales of Pantanal Lake Heart Island
The noise at the moment could not be suppressed, even though this was a noble banquet, and even though Prince William Anjou was present, it still couldn’t make people hide their excitement:
“The first three cards are three sevens, and the fourth is the Queen? If not for meeting Mr. Osenfort, how could John Watson lose this round? How can someone have such luck?”
Shard took a deep breath, glanced at Mr. Osenfort, who was equally puzzled on the opposite side, and then asked Margaret’s brother:
“Prince William, according to the Roder Card rules, after drawing the Queen, you cannot draw another card. But my draw this time is due to the special rules which require drawing two cards, and since there is no particular order for these cards, can I continue to draw?”
“This…”
His Highness the Prince hesitated for a moment, then called someone to find the staff of the Prophet’s Society. Tonight’s banquet was only invited to the local nobles, businessmen like Mr. Osenfort came along with friends and were not considered invitees, so there was no Roder Card Arbitrator from the Prophet’s Society at the banquet.
The game was forced to pause for twenty minutes. Urged by the crowd, a servant quickly rode to the Prophet’s Society to find someone. When the elderly man, wearing the society’s uniform and an Ouroboros brooch on his chest, arrived, he listened to the situation of the game, reviewed what happened just now, and after thinking for a moment, he said:
“Special rules override basic rules. About 45 years ago, a similar event occurred. Yes, this Mr. John Watson, although he has already drawn the Queen, can still draw the last card.”
The curiosity suppressed for twenty minutes had reached its peak at this moment, and everyone was eagerly anticipating what Shard’s last card would be. He did have a chance to win, though the possibility was incredibly slim and unbelievable.
The old man from the Prophet’s Society took out a notebook, ready to record the result, as it was a rare case to be added to the “Examples” section at the back of the rulebook.
Shard placed his hand on the last card. People did not dare to voice their urging, even Prince William kept his mouth shut, watching his hand. However, Earl Granger, who was familiar with Shard, could speak the words on their behalf:
“Mr. Watson, I said earlier, you could have sneaked a look to see what the card is, but you insisted on waiting for someone from the Prophet’s Society. Quickly uncover it, is it… is it…”
He widened his eyes, while Shard frowned slightly. He had a strange inspiration; he seemed not meant to win this game, and if he did, something bad might happen.
[So, do you want to win?]
“Winning or losing, it’s not up to me.”
Shard muttered in his heart, and under the gaze of countless pairs of eyes, he turned over the fifth card—
The King.
A single Queen and King, less than 21 points, but a King and Queen appearing simultaneously, securing victory directly in the match.
Although Mr. Osenfort’s “special rule combo” was outstanding, fortunately, Shard had slightly better luck.
Mr. Osenfort’s expression was serious, and he raised a hand to press his temple, while the surrounding exclamations were almost piercing Shard’s eardrums. He didn’t show any joy because a voice once again came to his ear:
[Outlander, you have sensed the Misfortune Curse.]
Shard placed his hand into his pocket, frowned, and looked at the man opposite. The other only sighed regretfully, then looked again at the cards in front of Shard, showing no traits of a Circle Sorcerer:
“Winning against him, I’m cursed, is there a connection?”
[The source of misfortune is uncertain. Do you want to counter it with The Twenty-Sided Die of Destiny? The curse is very weak and has little impact on you.]
After hesitating for a moment, Shard did not use his dice. If possible, he would avoid using the power of fate.
“Interesting, what exactly is Ston Osenfort…”
“Mr. Watson, this card belongs to you now.”
The card slid along the surface of the coffee table towards Shard, with precision control, stopping just at his hand.
[Southern City: Randall Valley], suit: Sun 7. When this card is drawn, if there are other cards with a value of 7 in hand, all remaining cards can be adjusted to a value of 7.
“We didn’t bet on any Special Card, right?”
Shard reminded, but Mr. Osenfort lightly shook his head:
“I don’t even remember the last time I lost. Since you won, it is yours. I won’t touch this cursed card again. You can visit my manor anytime. I look forward to our next game.”
Afterward, a business card also slid over.
After saying this, Mr. Osenfort stood up, bid a soft farewell to Prince William, and left directly, not even giving Shard a chance to speak or return the ring. Prince William didn’t care about Mr. Osenfort, still in disbelief, looking at Shard’s five cards on the coffee table:
“I can’t believe such a thing exists, what kind of luck is this?”
Shard picked up the “Southern City: Randall Valley” card, staring at the back of Mr. Osenfort. He still felt that this person was definitely not as simple as he seemed.
The brilliant card game between Shard and Mr. Osenfort outshone all other segments of the banquet. Even though the match had ended, people continued to passionately discuss the details of the game, and Shard believed that soon, even Tobesk would hear rumors about it.
Of course, he hadn’t forgotten what he was there to do. After collecting the hefty prize and carefully storing the “Southern City: Randall Valley” card, he took the opportunity to speak privately with Earl Granger while Prince William Anjou was invited to dance by the Countess’s niece, the daughter of Marquis Karag.
“Yes, it’s still about Mr. Thomas Granger.”
The two stood with wine glasses just outside the dance floor, Shard spoke softly:
“Last time you didn’t seem to tell me the truth.”
He swirled his wine glass:
“I know this relates to your family’s past, and I really shouldn’t be prying. But please forgive my curiosity; what really happened to your great-uncle?”
Earl Granger glanced at him, took a sip, and shook his head slightly:
“Yes, regarding my great-uncle, I did indeed withhold some details last time. You returned such a precious relic; I really shouldn’t have withheld anything, but… well, it doesn’t matter. Just hope, Mr. Watson, that only you will know about it.”
“Yes, I can swear to Mr. Dawn.”
Said Shard while drawing a Holy Emblem on his chest, and the Earl nodded:
“Regarding the disappearance of my great-uncle, Thomas Granger, the family indeed found some clues during our long search afterward. However, it involves something no one wishes to mention, so we’ve been silent about it. Mr. Watson, you also know that noble families always have plenty of inexplicable relatives. If you trace back far enough, we even have blood ties with the Anjou Royal Family from hundreds of years ago.”
He smiled self-deprecatingly:
“The whereabouts of great-uncle Thomas Granger after his disappearance were truly never found by the family. But my grandfather once discovered that before disappearing, my great-uncle had very frequent interactions with our distant relatives, the odd Farmer Family. They exchanged a large number of letters.”
“Is the Farmer Family also local nobility?”
“No, no, just distant relatives, a small, down-and-out nobility in the kingdom’s northern rural area, but they have no descendants left now. Yes, not a single descendant.”
“What happened?”
Shard asked, somewhat surprised, as the extinction of noble lines wasn’t very common. But unexpectedly, the Earl asked a stranger question:
“Do you know about the Pantanal Swamp?”
“…Of course, I’ve heard Draleon and we are planning to open new trade routes around the swamp, which will enhance the transportation in the southern Old Continent and form a new commercial city in the western region of the Old Continent.”
Shard had read about this in the newspaper.
“Yes, indeed, but the recently planned route is at the swamp’s periphery. What I’m talking about is the central Great Swamp, which you probably haven’t heard of.”
The piano music couldn’t obscure their voices, but Shard believed no third party could hear their words; his fingers unconsciously tapped the glass:
“…I haven’t heard of it; it’s too remote, and I have no knowledge of that swamp.”
“Yes, there’s a huge lake in the center of the Pantanal Great Swamp, not inferior to Eldron Lake, and at its center, a Heart Lake Island. Although outdated, it has an owner. Even though Draleon and Carsonrick are reluctant to develop that desolate area, around seventy or eighty years ago, Carsonrick stationed soldiers there to declare sovereignty. That island, according to land deeds several hundred years old, actually belongs to our distant relatives, the Farmer Family.”
Shard nodded, although the Heart Lake Island was incredibly remote, both nations indeed coveted it, as it represented a nominal border. Long-term stationing was uneconomical, but sending people to plant flags or maintain facilities like lighthouses and barracks every few decades was not opposed by the Church of the Five Gods.
Not to mention, seventy to eighty years ago, the Pantanal Voodoo Society’s influence was not as significant as recently, and the sealed evil objects showed no sign of breaking the seal either.
“The extinction of the Farmer Family has to do with that Heart Lake Island?”
Shard further inquired, and Earl Granger nodded gravely:
“Around seventy to eighty years ago, when the kingdom dispatched soldiers to the island again, the Farmer Family accompanied them, intending to vacation in the deserted manor on the island and return with the soldiers… They were always peculiar, rumored to have hereditary mental illness. But in any case, the family did not come back, nor did the soldiers, and the subsequent investigation came to nothing even now. People avoid discussing this affair, and… supposedly, the Farmer Family’s insistence on vacationing on the island was related to their correspondence with my great-uncle. The Baron Farmer of that time was obsessed with mysticism, and my great-uncle… was the same.”
Such family scandals are indeed not suitable to talk about with strangers.