Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 386 Demonologist

"Special Rule Card?"

Shard looked at the man across the table in surprise:

"Of course I'm interested."

But he didn't think that a person he met at an inn in the dockside slums could just pull out a special card.

The man lowered his voice, speaking with an intonation, with a tendency to press down the last syllable. He touched his own scalp:

"I heard your conversation with the owner here just now and saw that you could patiently look at a notebook for half an hour. I bet you're certainly a Roder Card player, and quite a seasoned one at that. Such an aura is unmistakable. Would you be interested in betting on a game with me, using a special card as the wager?"

"Sorry, I don't have a special card."

Shard shook his head, not wanting to complicate matters while on an investigation.

"No matter, then let's bet something else. If you win, you can buy my card for the low price of 20 pounds. If I win, you give me 20 pounds directly."

That was a substantial sum, Shard wanted to refuse, but the man had already placed the card on the table, the corners of his mouth lifted upwards, eyes bright:

"Look at this."

Shard glanced down, his expression changed.

[Demon: Soul Stealer Bishop], suit of Moon 9.

When this card is drawn, if the opponent hasn't stopped drawing cards, they must draw two cards in the next round. If the two cards are of different suits, the opponent may choose to discard one. If the two cards are of the same suit, they must accept the numbers of both cards.

"This is...the Demon Series?"

Shard whispered, leaning on the table, even the outlander was surprised.

The Roder Cards had a thriving history that spanned several centuries, and apart from the Genesis Series, the other five special cards that Shard possessed were actually from series released in the last one or two hundred years.

In fact, at the beginning of Roder Card's issuance, the Prophet's Society preferred to use creatures and things from folk tales and legends as themes for their series of cards. It was only in modern times that the preference shifted towards series themed around nature and civilization.

The Demon Series was one of the early famous Roder Card series, which was later reprinted many times, but each special card was only issued once, with the next edition introducing new Demon Cards. And this card in front of him, with the sign at the top indicating it was from the first edition of the Demon Series Roder Cards.

Shard couldn't say exactly when the first edition of the Demon Series was released, but he was certain that if this card were genuine, its value would absolutely be no less than 1,000 pounds.

Besides the [Genesis] series, cards depicting Demons, Angels, the Saints of various churches, and legendary heroes from ancient myths were all quite valuable Roder Cards.

"Are you sure this is genuine?"

Shard hesitated to ask, and the long-faced man asked back, smiling:

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"If I could confirm that, do you think I would wager it for a 20-pound bet? Sir, I came across this card very coincidentally. While I am a Roder Card player, I always avoid Demons, so I will not keep this card. I happened to meet you, so why not take a gamble on it?"

It sounded very much like those classic scams.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am a Demonologist. Sean Asmon, recently investigating ancient rumors here at Coldwater Port."

As he spoke, he extended his hand to Shard.

Shard shook his hand and got the response that the other was an ordinary person:

"Demonologist?"

The kerosene lamp between them cast a faint yellow light, and an unnoticed black bug had flown into the lampshade. It crashed into the flame, causing the light to flicker, while the outlander's face showed changing contours of light and shadow.

"Yes, I don't teach at a university, but I specialize in taking on nobles' commissions to investigate ancient rumors they're interested in. Primarily, my research is in demonology, oh, of course, there is no such academic discipline, I created the term myself. Even though I study demons, I am very averse to things associated with demons and certainly will not carry any related items on my person."

Mr. Asmon said, his eyes still fixed on Shard. He touched his bald head again, a habitual gesture.

Shard nodded in understanding; he had heard Dr. Schneider mention such professionals, mystic scholars among ordinary people. They mostly served the nobility, with a few being private researchers, a group even Circle Sorcerers despised.

Only the gods knew what damned things these irreverent people had come into contact with.

"So, have you found any demons at Coldwater Port?"

Shard asked with interest.

"Of course not, and I'm not looking for demons. I'm pursuing knowledge and stories about demons. But this port only has the smelly mermen from the rumors and mermaids said to have been sighted by fishermen."

The long-faced man shook his head in disappointment.

"Well then, I am John Watson, a detective."

Shard continued in a lowered voice as he introduced himself:

"I'm here on an assignment; please keep it quiet."

"Of course, I knew you weren't from the slums."

Mr. Asmon spoke politely, then queried:

"Would you like to play a round of Roder Cards? I know it's risky, but for a true Roder Card player, it should be worth it for the chance of a potentially genuine Roder Card."

Shard didn't really want to play; if the card was confirmed to be real, he might be very interested, but the man seemed like a swindler, and the reputation of a so-called Demonologist was not good.

Seeing Shard's hesitation, the long-faced man spoke again:

"Since you're conducting an investigation, let's do this: no matter if you win or not, I can tell you about this inn. Since you're here on commission, you must be interested in this place. Although I don't stay here, I met a client upstairs and spent the whole morning there, so I'm quite familiar with the situation upstairs."

He continued to entice Shard.

However, his words implied that he was not associated with Mr. Daknis.

"Besides information about the inn, I would also like to ask you about some demonological knowledge."

Shard thought it over and felt the price was appropriate for Daknis's information. But even if he won, he would still have to pay twenty pounds, so he made another request.

In his heart, he did not believe that card was the genuine article.

"No problem, we can chat while playing cards. I enjoy sharing such strange knowledge. Let's play with some interesting rules: draw four cards each time, not comparing the points, but seeing who does not bust three times first. If you draw a King or Queen, regardless of the other points, it's considered not busting."

The long-faced man suggested.

"Okay."

Shard had never played this way before.

Mr. Asmon took out his deck of cards, and Shard took out his own.

As he shuffled, he cautiously opened the conversation:

"Mr. Asmon, what do you think demons are? Like elves or merfolk, the exotic creatures from rumor, or are they the aggregate of bizarre and evil things people put together?"

"Mr. Watson, that's an interesting question. My research shows that both of your answers are correct. While there are exotic creatures that are demons, demons also include some evil beings whose existence is unclear to people, the monsters from country folk tales or the exotic beings spoken of by the nobility."

Shard nodded. Miss Feliana's notes had mentioned this, and it seemed that Mr. Sean Asmon did have some ability.

He continued shuffling:

"Do demons parasitize humans? As rumors say, residing within beautiful women, requiring male exorcists to remove them through special means?"

"Those people are all charlatans, greedy for money and lustful cheats."

Mr. Asmon laughed, the kerosene lamp casting his smile in a normal light, but with a slightly discomforting feel:

"How about I tell you a story about demons?"

"Sure."

Shard and Mr. Asmon simultaneously laid their decks on the table, both pulling lightly, and the cards fanned out in an arc.

Shard used the "Treasured Item" to control the Roder cards, ensuring the deck wouldn't scatter. It seemed that this ability born from "Greed" was indeed useful.

"You still say the choice of this ability wasn't for playing cards."

She chuckled softly.

Shard paid no attention to the voice in his ear, for Mr. Asmon's story had begun, his raspy voice carrying well in the dim kerosene light and heady alcohol scent:

"I've forgotten which ancient book I read this story in. It was a very distant past, so far back that the sun was brighter than today and three moons had not yet appeared together in the sky."

Shard wasn't surprised; the documents accessible to ordinary people did record the number of moons.

"An odd being was born from lies, deceit, betrayal, hatred, and death. Not knowing what it was, people called it a demon. Because of people's beliefs, it truly gained the power of such a being."

Both men drew four cards and revealed them. Mr. Asmon had Moon 9, Stars 2, Stars 7, and Flowers 13. He bust without needing to count.

Shard had Sun 1, Moon 13, Flowers 2, and Flowers 5, exactly 21 points.

"You really are lucky... That peculiar demon didn't have a name because it wasn't even a demon initially. It traversed many places, and wherever it rested, schemes of deception and betrayal were sure to occur."

In the second round of four cards, the long-faced man had Sun 3, Sun 7, Stars 3, Flowers 7, a solid 20 points.

Shard had Sun 7, Moon 1, Stars 4, Queen.

"Tsk, tsk, the Queen. It seems I've indeed met a formidable opponent."

Mr. Asmon shook his head, adeptly selecting his third round of cards:

"It was malicious by nature, taking pleasure in the disasters it brought. It preferred to use the premise of fulfilling people's wishes to sign contracts with them. Then, exploiting loopholes in the contracts, it took everything they had."

This conformed to the common conception of a "demon."

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"However, according to legend, this demon failed once."

Mr. Asmon paused, unfolding the third set of cards with Shard.

The former's first card was none other than the "Demon: Soul Stealer Bishop," bringing a smile to his face. Shard had Sun 4, Sun 5, Sun 6, Moon 5—twenty points.

Shard hadn't busted in three rounds; he won.

"How did it fail? Did someone see through its contractual trap?"

Shard threw the cards down on the table nonchalantly, deeply interested in the story.

"No, that person said—I have no wishes."

Mr. Asmon looked at the cards on the table, shaking his head with a smile. Shard too smiled and took out a 20-pound note:

"This is yours."

"Aren't you afraid I specifically used fake Rhode cards to deceive you?"

He leaned slightly forward, his bare head gleaming in the kerosene light.

"If you can tell me about the third floor, then the twenty pounds as an information fee would be well spent."

Shard said with narrowed eyes.

"I like people like you."

Mr. Asmon took the banknote, tucked it into his notebook, then leaned over the kerosene lamp and passed the cards to Shard.

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