Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 912 - 912: The Duel Under the Grape Trellis

"Mr. Hamilton's fourth Genesis series Roder card has finally appeared!"

Baron Lavende's face was flushed with excitement, almost standing up to look at the card in Shard's hand. Although he had seen this card at the Prophet's Society before, his emotions were still difficult to suppress:

"If the total points exceed 21 when this card is drawn, choose a card from the used cards to exchange with this card. The special effects of the chosen card are nullified."

He spoke out the effect of the card, and Shard nodded, revealing his hole card:

"The hole card is Sun 2, so my first three cards total 18 points. Then, I exchanged Sun 6 from the first round with Flower 3 from the first round, now it's 21 points."

"Splendid!"

Baron Rwanda behind Baron Lavende clapped his hands and said, the noisy sounds almost conveyed the appearance of [Genesis: Death] to the ears of everyone present. Shard, after acquiring [Genesis: Death], certainly wouldn't boast about this card to everyone through the newspaper, so this card officially appeared before people's eyes for the first time.

The Roder cards of the [Genesis] series are regarded as the origin of all Roder cards in people's cognition, and the meaning they represent is priceless in the eyes of Roder card players. The appearance of [Genesis: Death] is more important than the Roder card tournament at Lakeside Manor. Shard was very sure that by tomorrow, every Roder card player in the city would probably know that he obtained another card from the [Genesis] series.

"I was very lucky, this was discovered from an old book some time ago."

Shard explained quietly, his voice completely drowned by the clamorous sounds. In this lively atmosphere, Viscount Glenn widened his eyes, looking at the card in Shard's hand with amazement almost popping out his eyeballs, but his expression soon returned to normal:

"Mr. Hamilton, you truly live up to your reputation."

"Then your points?"

"My fourth card is Star 3, the last three cards total 16 points."

He arranged the three cards together and then pressed his finger on his hole card.

"Did you already exchange cards?"

Shard asked in his heart.

[Yes, when you took [Impermanence: Death] and showed it to people.]

Shard's expression remained unchanged, and then he looked at "Miss Witte." Just now, he made great efforts to draw [Genesis: Death] to create a brief moment where people's attention was concentrated, giving Viscount Glenn, who cheated in the first round, time to cheat again.

He knew that the Six Rings Female Sorcerer must have already seen through the opponent's trick, and was quite sure, given "Miss Pawo's" character displayed on the rooftop on Saturday night, she certainly wouldn't do nothing.

Shard's guess proved correct, before Viscount Glenn revealed his hole card, the Female Sorcerer's fingers tapped the table a few times.

Inconspicuous traces of Arcane Technique affected the table surface, Shard still maintained his smile and said nothing, then saw Viscount Glenn unveil his hole card:

"What a coincidence, my points total 5, also 21 points. Knight, although [Genesis: Death] is remarkable, we are tied."

He took the unveiled card, placing it beside his face. He licked his lips, slightly dry due to nervousness, and smiled at Shard.

But Viscount Glenn suddenly froze again, once more looking at his hole card, his face showing an incredulous expression:

"Sun 5?!"

"Sun 5?"

Baron Lavende frowned:

"Two Sun 5 cards in the same deck?"

Viscount Glenn had already drawn a Sun 5 in the first round.

The lively crowd gradually lowered their voices as cheating in a Roder card game was quite a serious matter. If really deemed cheating by the Prophet's Society, a ban from any official tournaments for ten years was a minor consequence, the most important impact being the complete loss of face and reputation.

"I am not..."

The Viscount hadn't had time to defend himself when Mr. Justin from the Prophet's Society, the referee, had snatched the card from his hand. The referee found the other "Sun 5" from the cards that Viscount Glenn had already used on the table, and sternly asked:

"Viscount, you need to explain."

"No, it wasn't me!"

The middle-aged man slammed the table and stood up, showing an angry rather than panic expression:

"Who? Who is framing me?"

He should have replaced Moon 5.

Shard immediately smoothed things over:

"Viscount, don't be so agitated, we are willing to believe you didn't cheat deliberately."

Upon hearing "deliberate cheating" uttered out, Tifa suppressed the urge to laugh and continued watching the scene.

"How about this, let me speak a word of fairness. We must not wrong any gentleman of integrity, gentlemen, ladies, please keep your voices down."

Shard raised his voice slightly, and his identity as the champion of Big City Player 1853 did indeed carry significant influence, prompting people to stop their discussions and look at Shard who had stood up:

"I heard that the cheating method is nothing but hiding the substitute card in the sole of shoes or inside hats. Why not check if Viscount Glenn has any substitute Roder cards on him?"

"That's a good idea."

The card player "Miss Witte" immediately said softly, while the last person at the table, Baron Lavende, asked:

"Mr. Hamilton, what should we inspect?"

"Everyone here is a dignified person, so there's no need to check shoes and hats."

Shard said, glancing at Viscount Glenn who stood in the light:

"Viscount, how about taking off your coat and handing it to me?"

Viscount Glenn's complexion changed drastically:

"Playing cards with you all is truly disgraceful, yes, you are insulting me!"

He turned around to leave, but the crowd blocked his way, and Shard reached out and grabbed her:

"Viscount, where are you going?"

"My reputation has been insulted, it's better not to participate in such a contest!"

Saying this, he still wanted to break free, but Shard still held onto his sleeve, kindly advising:

"If you leave now, your reputation will truly be insulted."

"Knight, I command you to let go of me!"

The middle-aged man shouted loudly, trying to use his voice to cover up his inner panic. He tried to forcibly break free from Shard's hand, but felt that the force holding him was as solid as a mountain.

"Viscount Glenn, take off your jacket, and this matter will be resolved."

Shard said again, and Baron Lavende stood up wanting to intervene. The crowd watching could see something was wrong, creating a human wall that completely blocked Viscount Glenn's path.

The middle-aged man was both shocked and panicked, his empty left hand trying to pry open Shard's right hand, but he couldn't do it no matter how hard he tried.

"Oh!"

In desperation, Viscount Glenn suddenly punched towards Shard's chest, and amid the crowd's exclamations, Shard's left hand accurately caught his fist. As Shard twisted his wrist, Viscount Glenn let out a startling shout:

"My wrist is about to break, let go!"

"Don't you forget, Viscount, my primary profession is detective. Do you think you're the first to cheat at cards in front of me?"

Shard said somewhat seriously, Viscount Glenn gasping while looking at him in terror. The onlookers did not feel Shard was in the wrong, even though it's a civilized era, Shard's quick moves for self-defense still won applause.

Shard continued to ask:

"Viscount, guess how I saw people dealing with card cheaters in the underground casinos?"

Viscount Glenn seemed to squeeze a scream from his throat:

"Don't cut off my fingers!"

Shard didn't know where Viscount Glenn had heard such a saying. He shook his head and released Viscount Glenn's fist and hand. The Viscount wanted to sneak away, but the human wall still blocked his path.

Shard took off his jacket and tossed it to Tifa, then beckoned to Viscount Glenn:

"Everyone saw you tried to attack me, so why not this: I'll give you a punch too, then you can leave. How about that? According to the rules, a cheater's card deck should be handed to their opponent. As long as you agree, I can let go of your special card."

"I have no objections!"

Baron Lavende said.

"Neither do I."

"Miss Witte" also said.

Viscount Glenn forced himself to act calm:

"I won't do such a barbaric thing."

Jeers came from around, and people spontaneously retreated to give the two men space under the grape trellis. Roder Cards were fun, but watching two men fight under the grape trellis was equally entertaining.

"Glenn, you've already lost once, don't lose a second time!"

There were even people egging on, and the Viscount verbally refused but was clearly unwilling to part with his card deck. He raised his arms and struck a professional blocking pose, clearly having practiced.

"Please get ready."

Shard reminded him, lightly stepping forward. Viscount Glenn also tucked his neck and stepped forward to move, his shoes tapping a rhythm on the ground.

Both men were quite evenly built. Though Viscount Glenn was older, his figure showed no signs of aging; rather, he had a kind of vigorous vitality.

Under the grape trellis, the two circled each other halfway in the gaslight's glow. As Shard suddenly leaned forward, Viscount Glenn immediately swung his right fist towards his chest.

Shard was waiting for this chance, blocking with his left arm, and took advantage of the opening in the opponent's defense with a punch, his right fist accurately and fiercely hitting Viscount Glenn's left eye. Of course, he held back his strength.

"Oh!"

Viscount Glenn staggered and fell back but was supported by someone, preventing a full fall. He shouted, covering his left eye, and when he removed his hand, there was a very obvious black eye.

"Viscount, you should find some ice to apply cold."

Shard kindly reminded, and people finally cleared the way. Viscount Glenn's face flushed red as he left silently through the gap, apparently not appearing again tonight.

He didn't even retrieve his card deck, so a gentleman familiar with Viscount Glenn helped pick up the deck.

"What now?"

As the commotion ended, Shard smiled, took his jacket from Tifa, and sat down again. He flexed his wrist and asked the judge, Mr. Justin shrugged:

"I will report Viscount Glenn's matter to the association. As for the card game, he is automatically out. Miss Witte, Baron Lavende, please show your scores for the second round."

Miss Witte still had 20 points, Baron Lavende had 17 points. However, people were no longer focusing on the card game itself; someone brazenly cheating under the Prophet's Society's referee and then fighting back was big news. And Shard Hamilton winning the fight was even more surprising than winning the card game.

Shard winning cards was a frequent occurrence, but two men fighting at a noble banquet was something you might not see even once a year.

Violence was wrong though, but it was indeed an attractive topic. Shard, to prove himself, would do many things tonight that he previously found too lazy to attempt, after all, for Divinity, it was all worth it.

He quietly glanced at "Miss Witte". The previous conflict with the Baron was to inform the lady that he and the Baron were opponents of the same level, so she wouldn't suspect him. Counting on showing his strength, it was truly a win-win.

[A triple win, didn't you truly want to punish that cheating guy?]

"She" really understood Shard.