Chapter 127
Aivina asked curiously, showing no awareness of her noble status.
The card game that Charles had mentioned was completely unfamiliar to her.
“Hmm, hmm, hmm?”
Adele also wore a puzzled expression, not understanding why 1 and 2 were greater than 3.
It felt inappropriate to just sit there, so Charles decided to adapt a card game from his past life called "Dou Di Zhu" (斗地主), renaming it "Dou Guizu" (斗贵族), and began teaching the two of them how to play.
Playing cards together was much better than wandering around and drawing suspicion from others.
After a few rounds of "Dou Guizu," Aivina and Adele became intrigued by this novel game, and their card game attracted quite a few gamblers who came to watch, many of whom were eager to get to know Aivina.
However, the servants of Dedton Manor were diligent, helping the black-gold member Aivina fend off those people, but they couldn’t stop the growing crowd around Charles’s table… it was starting to block his view.
Three beautiful young ladies and a new, exciting card game were enough to catch the attention of these gamblers, not to mention the combination of the two.
Just as Charles was thinking of ways to clear some people away, a path opened up beside the card table.
“Miss Russell, it’s you.”
A familiar voice came from behind a red chip mask. A woman stood next to Aivina and asked the people nearby, “What’s going on? Why are there so many people? Don’t disturb Miss Russell while she’s playing cards.”
“Don’t, Miss Georgina! I haven’t figured out the rules yet. Let me watch a few more rounds, and I’ll know how to play ‘Dou Guizu’!”
“I know how to play! I can set up another table over there. Is anyone interested in ‘Dou Guizu’? If you don’t know how to play, I can teach you.”
“I, I, I! Are you really going to teach me, brother?”
The savvy gamblers had already grasped the simple rules of this card game. They needed to act before more people learned how to play, seizing some chips based on their understanding of this novel game.
Soon, the crowd around the card table dispersed, all eager to try out the new card game.
“Thank you.”
Aivina glanced in Georgina’s direction and nodded slightly.
She hated the feeling of being watched, and the arrival of the assistant manager was just what she needed to alleviate the situation.
“Too kind, Miss Russell. It’s the least I could do.”
Georgina’s expression behind the mask held a hint of a smile, and she exuded a confidence she usually lacked. “If there’s anything else, the servants can come find me. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t disturb your entertainment time.”
After elegantly bowing to them, Georgina turned to leave.
As she passed behind Charles, a subtle silver flash flickered, and the "Sadana Emblem" she carried vanished, returning to Charles’s system warehouse.
A sense of security filled Charles’s heart at that moment.
He watched as Georgina wandered around the spacious game room, seemingly on patrol, occasionally leaning closer to crowded tables to place bets and stir the atmosphere.
But in Charles’s mind, the places Georgina passed through began to take shape in a mental map… it was the outline of a blood formation.
Charles slowly withdrew his gaze and turned to Adele, who was starting to lose interest, smiling as he asked, “Adele, want to play ‘Old Maid’?”
Adele replied, “Hmm, hmm!”
Though she didn’t speak, her actions showed that she was more interested in “Old Maid.”
After all, she had just lost a lot; if they were betting chips, Adele would have lost her pants by now.
Compared to the slightly strategic "Dou Guizu," the simpler "Old Maid," reminiscent of the card game "Old Maid" from his past life, suited Adele better.
Adele was enjoying herself, but as time passed, Aivina grew increasingly anxious for Charles.
With the arrival of the bishop from the Holy Order approaching at 1:01 PM, Charles appeared completely unconcerned, as if he had come just to enjoy a leisurely game.
Wasn’t he supposed to find out the identity of that bishop?
Was he searching now? Or had he already found it? When? Who was it?
The hesitation and contemplation of these questions caused Aivina to be somewhat distracted while playing cards, leading her to draw “Old Maid” cards from Adele repeatedly, losing several rounds.
Smack—!
Adele slammed her last two pairs down on the table. Unable to speak, she expressed her joy at winning through this gesture, blending into the surrounding environment.
At that moment, Charles began to notice that more and more people were leaving the game room. Compared to the initial crowd, it seemed a bit emptier now.
Georgina, who had been wandering around the game room, seemed to have received some information and hurriedly left.
The cultists were starting to gather towards the underground chapel…
A system interface appeared before Charles, showing the time as 11:31.
There was still an hour and thirty minutes left. As time ticked away, Charles’s heart gradually calmed.
The sacrifice he had rehearsed countless times in his mind was finally about to take place today.
Just a little more time… haste makes waste.
…
“Jidi, is everyone here? The bishop is about to arrive.”
Georgina questioned Jidi, who was beneath the altar.
Jidi turned to look at Georgina, merely gazing at her without speaking.
After a long pause, Jidi finally spoke slowly, “Where’s your bishop’s emblem?”
Georgina’s pupils constricted slightly. She suddenly raised her hand to check the spot where she had placed the bishop’s emblem, but found nothing there.
“Ha ha…”
Jidi grinned, watching Georgina’s expression turn increasingly panicked, and slowly said, “It seems the bishop has arrived early…”
“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you…”
“At least, not until the bishop’s task is complete…”
“I won’t do anything to you…”
Jidi’s tone grew increasingly sinister, her unintentional air of superiority causing Georgina’s adrenaline to spike.
The bishop’s emblem… had it really been taken back by the bishop!
When? When did the bishop arrive? Had he already come to Dedton Manor?
It’s fine… the bishop promised me he would transfer me away; Jidi can’t threaten me.
The underground chapel was bustling with people, and the two beneath the altar harbored their own secrets, quietly waiting for the final moment to arrive.
Chapter 93: 1:01 PM, noon has arrived, and doomsday descends.
“Thank you, this is fine. The road up the mountain is difficult.”
At the foot of Kelik Mountain, a plain four-wheeled carriage stopped on a small path.
A gentle voice came from inside the carriage, and the driver brought the horses to a halt.
The door opened, and a left foot stepped down from the carriage, landing on the stone-paved road.
“Hey! Move aside!”
Accompanied by the driver’s shout and the neighing of the horses, another carriage sped past, splattering mud onto the man’s high leather boots.
“No need to look for it.”
After getting out of the carriage, the man handed a five-shilling silver coin to the driver and looked toward the carriage that had stopped ahead.
The window of the noble carriage was rolled down, and a thin man with a goatee, holding onto his tall hat, leaned out to look at the man who had just stepped down by the roadside.
When the tall, thin nobleman saw the man’s exquisite attire and the luxurious gold watch on his wrist, he opened the carriage door and stepped out, holding a wooden silver-plated hand.
The man standing by the roadside apologized, “I’m sorry, sir, my foolish driver accidentally got your boots dirty… Are you heading to Dedton Manor?”
“I’m fine, my lord. A little mud on my shoes is nothing; my butler will just nag me about not getting enough exercise when I return.”
Brag raised the brim of his hat slightly with his right hand, smiling as he gestured to the nobleman ahead.
“Yes, I am heading to Dedton Manor.”
“This gentleman is truly a paragon of generosity,” the nobleman remarked, turning back to see his daughter peeking out from the window, seemingly curious about what was happening. He then looked back at the man in front of him and said, “It’s still a ways up the mountain. Would you do me the honor of joining me in my carriage for the journey?”
The gentleman before him was well-dressed, elegant, and articulate, prompting the nobleman to entertain the idea of getting to know him.
“No need, my lord. I prefer to walk up the mountain and breathe in the fresh air of nature.”
Brag shook his head and stepped closer to the nobleman, curiously asking, “By the way, my lord, may I ask why so many people are heading to Dedton Manor from Boren City?”
“I’ve already seen quite a few carriages making their way up the mountain.”
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