Whispering Poems

Chapter 1650 The Traveling Merchant in the Tavern
The tables against the wall are not really placed side by side, so people can sit in all four directions.The lunches of the three professors hadn't been served yet, and they didn't start talking until Xia De also ordered his own lunch.

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

Professor Boulanger looked very enthusiastic, while the two young students who looked like students were a bit dull:
"After I met you last time, I added what you said about the natural and cultural environment of the Pantanal region to my next paper. When the negotiations between the two countries are over, I'm thinking about going to Panta Gnar is investigating, there must be a lot of ore veins in that place."

"Then I wish you success, Professor."

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

"I haven't heard of anyone doing decent research in the Pantanal area for so many years. Recently, both countries plan to develop swamps, and those areas that were forbidden to enter in the past are also allowed to enter, so they have the opportunity now. Professor , seize this opportunity, you will definitely become famous."

"Academic research is not about seeking fame, but it is of course nice if it can bring fame."

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

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

"Professor, are you looking for that bad-eyed Barry because you want to find someone? I'm investigating some interesting things recently. If I can find results, I will write a detective novel in my next book."

"Like "Hamilton's Detective Stories"? Then you must send me a copy. I like detective stories. But I'm not looking for people. I'm doing a geological survey. There's a college on the Carson Rico side." As long as I take out the issued documents, no one will stop me. But on the side of Delarion, some private territories do not allow us to enter. I spent a lot of time looking for someone to find out about the bad eyes. Barry, who owns a large piece of land along the lake. He promised to let me in to collect some soil samples, but that person is really vulgar."

Professor Boulanger said with some dissatisfaction, and didn't know what kind of criticism he had just received:
"Mr. Watson, from what you said just now, do you still have friendship with Bad-Eye 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 fight against the officers, especially here is the border area."

Xia De said, Professor Boulanger nodded in agreement:

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

He smiled awkwardly:
"If it's convenient, can you introduce me to your friend who is an officer? During this period of time, I was in the territory of De La Rion on the north shore of Green Lake, and I also felt a little dangerous. Our travel bodyguards, that would be great."

What he meant was to find someone to protect them at certain times, which is normal in military camps in border areas, after all, soldiers also have to eat.

"Of course, I'll take you there in a while. Captain Lades is the deputy battalion commander of the camp. Someone under him should be willing to take on such an errand. Speaking of which, I also have something I want to ask for your help."

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 what he knew about 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's related to the person I'm looking for recently."

Professor Boulanger took the pen and asked the students beside him:

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

The tall and thin young man held up his glasses:
"Professor, this is not the kind I use. This is a custom-made fountain pen from Spencer Company. It was only sold in Willowdale three years ago. The price is very expensive, and it is rusted like this."

"The name is... Durut 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 to Willandell and ask my colleagues to check it out. Those who use this pen must be scholars. If they are famous, they should I can find it."

"Thank you so much, Professor."

Shad said with a smile.

The two talked all the time during lunch, the professor of geology and folklore was very knowledgeable, and the outsider who had been to many places was also able to offer unique insights.As for the two students of the professor, the two of them just communicated with each other with their eyes, obviously not very used to eating with their teacher.

When lunch was about to finish, a traveling merchant with a red scarf around his neck and a brown scarf wrapped around his head came to the tavern.He claimed that he had a Rhodes card with special rules that had not been identified and whose authenticity was unknown, and he wanted to gamble with the people in the tavern.

This kind of gamble is not only to bet on who can win, but also to bet on whether the card of the traveling merchant is real.

So interested, Xia De got up and went to join in the fun, and asked Professor Boulanger to wait for him, and then went to see Captain Lades together later.

There are quite a few people in the tavern who are also interested in this, but most of them are worried that it is a scam.In addition, more people couldn't get the 5 pound bet that the traveler said, so in the end, there were only three people including Xia De who saw the card in front of the tavern counter.

The rules of the card are very special, different from all the special cards that Shade has seen:
"This is. [Dove of Peace·Kansas Mountain Talks], 13 suits and stars. With the consent of all players, this round is a draw."

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

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

The set of decks was released almost 30 years ago and has never been reissued.Although it is very rare, due to the fact that the rules of special cards are really difficult to implement, the auction and selling prices of this series of special cards are generally lower than other series of the same period at the beginning of the release.

Of course, since the Prophet Association has started to republish past cards in recent years, the price of the never-reprinted "Dove of Peace" has gradually approached or even exceeded that of other card series of the same era.

Seeing that it was this card, after hesitating, the well-dressed old gentleman among the three gave up the fight, so one of Xia De and another gentle gentleman wearing glasses had to gamble with the traveling merchant.

The two checked the card together, and "she" reminded Shad softly that the card had a high probability of being real from the details and textures.

After the two inspected, Youshang said:
"Please give me the amount of bet you want to bet on cards with me. The reserve price is 5 pounds as agreed just now. I will bet with the person with the highest bid."

"You really know how to do business."

Xia De said, took out his notebook and wrote a number.The middle-aged man hesitated, shook his head and said to Xia De:
"I'll give up too, you can play cards with him, I won't let this kind of profiteer take advantage."

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

Xia De showed the number he wrote in his notebook - 5 pounds, and the merchant smiled and shook his head:

"I didn't take advantage of you. I received this card and spent a lot of money. Mister, we decide the outcome in one game. What about the most basic rules? If it's a tie, I'll take it away." You take the money and the cards."

"of course can."

Xia De took out his spare deck that didn't have any special cards, and under the watchful eyes of the old gentleman and the middle-aged man who didn't leave, he and You Shang each drew two cards and showed the latter one.

Xia De raised the first hidden card and glanced at it, raised his eyebrows, and then lifted the hole card:

"I suspend trading."

Moon 10 and Star 9, a total of 19 points.

You used the second card to turn up the first card, took a little move in front of his eyes, and then smiled and showed Xia De with a card in each hand:
"Star 9, Sun 9. You shouldn't draw the cards directly, otherwise I will have to hesitate whether to continue drawing cards."

"Playing cards is for fun, it's boring to be too obsessed with winning or losing."

The foreigner, who has become richer and richer recently, leaned on the counter and said easily because the loss would not be too great.Both old and middle-aged people agreed.

So Youshang opened his third card, flung it on the table with an exaggerated movement, and let out a regretful voice:
"Sun 13? Are you kidding me?"

"Then the card is mine."

Star 13 [Dove of Peace · Kansas Mountain Talks] was not put in his own deck by the traveler, but in a position where everyone can see it.Shad picked it up and inserted it into his deck, and handed the 5 pounds as a bet to the merchant:
"You also want to make money to eat, so let's treat it as a draw."

You Shang 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 then said to Xia De:
"I don't want to take your money for nothing, just take a look at my products and pick one at random."

Then he said to the bartender who was watching the excitement:
"Four ales, please, yes four, and I'll buy three gentlemen over here."

Although he usually doesn't like to drink, Xia De didn't refuse the other party's kindness.When the bartender brought up the wine glasses one by one, he smiled and clinked glasses with the old man, the middle-aged man and the traveling merchant and praised the Rhodes brand.

Later, Xia De saw the merchandise of the merchant.

(End of this chapter)