Chapter 19

The document the doctor handed to Shade was a formal explanation of the tuition fees for higher education institutions. The same printed version even had a sun pattern added to the upper right corner and three interlocking gears drawn in the lower left corner as page decorations. Even if an ordinary person saw this, they wouldn't find it strange.

Compared to the knowledge provided, the tuition for first-year correspondence ring mages was quite cheap, only 50 pounds. After all, based on Shade's initial understanding, in this world, even the tuition for a middle-class boy at a medium boarding school was around 100 to 150 pounds per year.

He still looked troubled, let alone 50 pounds, he couldn't even come up with 5 pounds in cash.

But there were still many relics of the detective in the house, and if all of them were sold, they could be worth 50 pounds. Besides, there were a few commissions that could be completed soon, so Shade actually had a way.

"Do you need to pay in cash immediately?"

This was the most difficult part.

"The college needs gold pounds in cash, but it can also be other currencies, though the exchange rate needs to be checked. Of course, if you can't pay immediately, the college also has a loan program, but the interest might be a bit high."

Dr. Schneider explained, and Miss Louisa, with her hands on her knees, also kindly said:

"However, in my opinion, the group can lend you the money; we have the funds. After all, apart from rich people like the doctor, no one can come up with so much cash at once."

The blue-eyed doctor touched his nose, looking a bit embarrassed.

"I was in the same situation at first; it's quite common, but you need to consider whether you have the ability to bear this loan."

The blonde lady kindly reminded him.

"This loan for tuition has no interest, but starting from the loan date, you need to pay 10 pounds in the first month, and then 20 pounds each month for the next two months."

The doctor added:

"No collateral is needed; I will guarantee you within the group. After all, I know your identity information, so you can't leave."

The doctor knew that Shade had just recovered from "Blind Folly" and understood his situation.

Shade let out a long breath, it seemed his luck was really good. Of course, he didn't forget to thank them; he had indeed met some very nice people:

"I will repay as soon as possible, Mr. Schneider, Miss Louisa, please allow me to thank you again."

At this point, he suddenly remembered something. Because of this interest-free loan, he decided to trust Dr. Schneider and the lady in the group more, so he took out his notebook.

He carefully peeled off the leather cover of the notebook and took out a card from the seam.

On the front of the card was a woman sitting sideways, holding up a silver moon. This was the most precious relic of the previous detective, a "Sun 3" card from the Rod deck. Shade saw that his door lock could be easily broken with an axe, so he carried it with him:

"Is this valuable?"

"Special series Rod card?"

Shade hadn't even handed over the card, but Miss Louisa recognized it at a glance. However, she shook her head and gestured for Shade to give it to the doctor:

"I don't play cards often, so I don't know the value of such things. Let the doctor take a look?"

"Indeed, it is a Rod card, not only with a special pattern but also with special effects. Is this genuine?"

The doctor curiously took it and examined it under the warm yellow light of the gas lamp on the wall. He didn't intend to reveal Shade's identity and background to Miss Louisa, so he explained to Shade:

"Although I'm not a collector, I know that some nobles and enthusiasts are crazy about these special Rod cards. The special patterns themselves are very valuable, and if they have special rules, the enthusiasm of collectors is even stronger than a man's desire for a beautiful woman. I can't understand that behavior. I heard that last year, at the Biford auction house not far from St. Dalian Square where you live, there was—wait, this is a founding series silver moon?"

The doctor suddenly asked in surprise.

"What?"

Shade didn't understand, but the blonde lady was very interested and got up to look at the card.

The doctor placed the card on the coffee table between the three of them and introduced it to the two who didn't know about Rod cards:

"Look, in the center of the top of this card, there is a vertical line. This indicates that it is a card from the founding series of the Rod deck. It is said that the founding series cards were only issued 300 years ago, with 13 different patterns, each with a special rule. The 'Silver Moon' is one of them, so it is called the 'Founding Silver Moon.' In the Rod deck system, each card from the founding series has an extraordinary effect."

"Although I don't play cards, I think the rule on it is indeed extraordinary."

Dorothy Louisa, who had read the effect first, said. The doctor also lowered his head to read the effect on the card. Although he wasn't a gambler or a Rod card enthusiast, he knew that in a game similar to '21,' a card that could adjust the number from '1' to '5' would be terrifying.

"Is this genuine? It should be quite valuable, right?"

The blonde girl asked, and Shade was also hopeful, but the doctor decisively shook his head:

"Impossible, absolutely impossible to be genuine. Each founding series card is equivalent to a whole street of houses around St. Dalian Square, or even more. This can't be genuine. The founding series was issued 300 years ago, either it's already damaged or it's in the tomb of a noble or a family's collection room. It can't appear easily."

He understood Shade's background, so he made this judgment.

"Even if it's not genuine, is it still valuable?"

Shade agreed with Dr. Schneider but still asked. He also didn't believe it was genuine, after all, it was a 300-year-old antique.

"It's worth nothing. People only support genuine cards. Especially for special series Rod cards, using counterfeit Rod cards will be boycotted by all enthusiasts, so counterfeits are not valuable. But this counterfeit is quite well-made."

The doctor regretfully handed the card back to Shade:

"I'll lend you the money first. However, you might want to get this 'Founding Silver Moon' appraised; it's worth a try."

"Where can I get it appraised?"

Shade was also interested.

"I know where. The 'Seers Association,' they specialize in this."

The writer, Miss Louisa, said, and the doctor nodded. He explained in more detail because he knew Shade wouldn't know:

"The issuance of Rod cards has always been handled by the 'Seers Association,' so they also provide appraisal services for special cards. The appraisal fee is 5 pence, quite cheap. If it's genuine, the Seers Association will issue an appraisal certificate. If people want to participate in official Rod card tournaments and include special cards in their deck, they must provide an appraisal certificate."

The popularity of Rod cards in this world was a bit higher than Shade had expected, but it wasn't too surprising, after all, it was just a card game. In the steam age, with relatively liberated productivity compared to a few hundred years ago, some special entertainment was normal.

The doctor continued:

"The 'Seers Association' is actually an organization of ring mages, but it's not very formal. It collaborates with the college and the church and is recognized by us, even having some connection with our group. Their original business was fortune-telling. Around the 15th century of the Sixth Era, to promote the fortune-telling business, they introduced special series Rod cards, and their main business became Rod cards."

The doctor pursed his lips, not sure what emotion he was expressing:

"The association makes a fortune by hosting various Rod card tournaments, printing cards is like printing gold pounds—cough, I'm not envious of this business. Of course, the 'Seers Association' still provides fortune-telling services and is involved in book publishing and newspaper distribution. The well-known local 'Three Pence Newspaper' is operated by them."

The newspaper name was indeed concise.

"The 'Seers Association' has many branches and institutions in large cities like Tobask. There's one near St. Dalian Square, which is quite formal. Tsk, living in the city center is really good. Even if your card is the legendary founding series silver moon card, which has an extremely low probability, you don't have to worry about the news leaking; it's a very formal organization."

The doctor joked.

"If this card is genuine, remember to tell us; it might be a good novel topic."

Miss Louisa also joked, and her attitude towards the stranger Shade was quite good, probably because she welcomed the group reaching the required five members.