Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"A special rule that can only be activated if the sum of four cards is less than or equal to 8? Although adjusting it to 21 points is quite strong, can it really be used?"

Mr. Little Wood asked, while Viscount Gla laughed and showcased his four cards at the moment, which included a Special Card, Sun 1, and the other three cards being Moon 3, Moon 1, and Flower 3, the total points exactly being 8.

"Four cards totaling 8 points, this probability is smaller than that of four cards totaling 21 points."

Shard didn’t mind losing the first round, he displayed his total of 18 points, while Mr. Herman Wood’s hand also summed to 18 points. So, in the first round of the first game, neither Shard nor Wood scored, with Viscount Gla earning 2 points.

"To be honest, I didn’t expect to draw and use a Special Card in the first round. I’ve had this card for two years, and this was only the second time its effect could be used."

The Viscount said with a smile, and the three continued drawing cards, all stopping at the third card this time. Shard revealed his hidden card to Miss Belindel, who announced with a smile:

"Moon 7, Flower 7, Sun 7, 21 points."

Herman Wood and Viscount Gla both tossed their cards onto the table, losing under these circumstances was quite normal.

Thus, the first game reached the final round, where the three immediately became tense. Shard, after glancing at his hand, then lifted his hidden card, confirmed it was not the King or Queen, and continued drawing cards.

Unexpectedly, the other two at the table both stopped at the second card, which was unusual:

"Did you draw the King or Queen?"

Shard teased and probed, with Viscount Gla immediately shaking his head:

"I don’t have such luck."

Herman Wood then laughed and said:

"Although our card game doesn’t force us to reveal our cards, since you asked... yes, Queen."

He displayed his hidden card:

"If I win this round, then the first game will be a draw between the three of us."

"If Viscount Gla has 21 points in his hand, the Queen is still less than 21 points."

Shard reminded, glancing at the Viscount, noting he still didn’t reveal his first card, then proceeded to draw his third card:

"Viscount, I feel like you’re forcing me to take risks with a blowout."

"Young people have patience, so what do you think my card is?"

The Viscount asked.

"Is it a Special Card? Although I haven’t confirmed what all your Special Cards are, the activation rule should relate to the opponent, right?"

He drew his fourth card:

"Are you waiting for my results before deciding whether to use the special rules, by not revealing your card?"

He didn’t draw the fifth card, but said to the referee invited from the Prophet’s Society:

"I refrain from drawing more cards, according to the rules, I have the right to reveal after others since I’ve drawn the most cards."

This was a basic rule, so Viscount Gla, who was expecting Shard to reveal results, could only shake his head helplessly:

"Young people are really something these days, alright, let’s try our luck then, I want to activate this Special Card’s effect."

He flipped his hidden card, revealing yet another Special Card:

"[Charity Organization: Oblique Cross Club], suit Moon 10. Choose whether to apply the effect during point calculation, if your points are less than or equal to the opponent, the opponent’s total points increase by 2, your total points decrease by 1."

"I remember for point adjustments, the King and Queen are considered..."

Baron Wood asked, with the referee immediately replying:

"Point adjustments don’t affect scenarios where both the King and Queen appear. But if it’s a single card, it’s considered 21 points, meaning Mr. Herman Wood’s final points are 23, resulting in a blowout."

The young man who barely drew the "Queen" covered his forehead and discarded his hand:

"Even drawing the Queen results in a loss, is my luck too poor tonight?"

Thus, Viscount Gla looked at Shard again:

"I know your luck is good, so this round I’m betting you’re either at 20 points or 21 points."

The Viscount’s second card was Star 8, which meant his total points were 18-1=17 points.

Shard smiled and asked:

"You managed four cards with 8 points in the first round, so why can’t I have four cards less than 20 points? Statistically, less than 20 points is normal."

He revealed his hidden card:

"Star 5, Sun 9, Moon 1, Moon 3. Sorry, I’m also at 18 points, but with adjustments, I’m at 20 points."

Placing the four cards together, Viscount Gla stood up wide-eyed and then sat back down in defeat.

Earl Edington patted his shoulder reassuringly as if it wasn’t Earl Edington but Viscount Gla who would be giving away two fine horses.

Although getting 20 points over 18 is far from as spectacular as "Kingdom Queen" against "21 points", the fact that using a special card caused Viscount Gla to lose the third round is indeed amusing. Certainly, after tonight, Viscount Gla won’t voluntarily spread the story, but such a loss truly dents his confidence.

As for Mr. Herman Wood... drawing a Queen yet still losing is more embarrassing than simply losing.

No matter what, Shade openly won the first game. Miss Belindel softly congratulated him, suppressed the urge to invite Shade for a horseback ride outside the city over the weekend, and then quietly asked Shade if he needed a glass of champagne, only to be immediately refused by Shade:

"Champagne should never be opened halfway through."

Shade always says things she doesn’t understand.

The second round of the card game began soon, with the cards drawn earlier being placed back into the deck and shuffled. Having recovered from the earlier loss, Viscount Gla regained his confidence and stared at Shade before drawing the first card, saying:

"This time, I will be very cautious."

Shade made an indifferent expression.

The three proceeded to draw cards again, and it was apparent Shade did not have the luck to draw a King or Queen. Even the only special card in his deck did not enter his hand this round. However, when drawing the third card, Shade clearly noticed Viscount Gla’s hesitation:

"Viscount, hesitating will lead to failure. Playing cards requires decisiveness."

"But for a card player, decisiveness can also mean unnecessary failure."

In the end, Viscount Gla decided to forgo drawing a third card, while Shade stopped at his third card, with a total of 5+5+9=19 points.

As for Mr. Herman Wood, from the second card onwards, a smile of undisguised satisfaction appeared on his face:

"Viscount, and Mr. Watson, it seems my luck has arrived too."

He displayed the card with a complex ceremonial illustration to the two:

"Moon 7, [Life Ritual: Graduation Ceremony]. If the opponent’s total points are equal to or greater than 18 and an even number, the opponent’s total points are forcibly reduced by 1."

After reading the rules, he looked at them expectantly:

"Gentlemen, you may reveal your last card."

"Sorry, my total points are 19."

Shade revealed his cards, while Viscount Gla also regretfully said:

"Then I lost again, but fortunately, I didn’t have a blowout. I have 17 points; this time, I didn’t dare to take risks."

Mr. Herman Wood glanced at his cards once more, reluctantly slapping it heavily onto the table.

"In this way, as long as Mr. Watson wins one more time, it’s considered a complete victory, right?"

Miss Belindel suddenly said, and everyone nodded, so the Countess then suggested to Earl Martin Edington and Baron Harry Wood:

"Now my ’cousin’ is in the lead, although saying it this way makes me seem somewhat villainous, I still want to ask: Do you want to add some stakes for the second round?"

"Earl, it’s just a card game, what’s villainous about it?"

Earl Edington didn’t mind at all:

"I don’t believe your cousin’s luck will hold indefinitely; no one can keep winning. I just lost two horses to you, so are you interested in an oil painting? I have a piece by Henry Malfo, created in 1390, ’Lavender Fields of Sunflowers’."

"That’s quite a generous offer."

Baron Wood stroked his chin and said, not caring much:

"The Earl invited Viscount Gla, and I also have faith in my son. You know I’m not fond of collecting antiques and don’t have appropriate paintings or sculptures on hand. So how about this: whoever wins, I’ll cover all the Firewood for your estates this winter."

"I really appreciate your generosity; truthfully, I am still more interested in the Library."

Miss Belindel said, and thus the three card players continued with the second draw.

Of course, Shade’s bottom card remained hidden, but the openly visible card was Sun 12. He merely frowned slightly, then continued to draw a third card along with the other two. After glancing at it, he placed it face down on the table, then tapped on the table to indicate his stand.

After seeing their third card, the other two’s expressions turned rather peculiar, then just like Shade, they placed it face down and began observing each other’s expressions.

"Mr. Watson, would you like to reveal your cards first?"

Viscount Gla asked, and Shade nodded, slotting the only exposed Star 12 card under his third card before revealing it. The card was Shade’s wager, Flower 4’s [The Fool’s Tale: Thunderstruck Madman], which allows rolling two 20-sided dice and nullifying this card’s points if their total is less than 5.

"Not triggering the special rule."

Shade declared, seeing Viscount Gla and Mr. Herman Wood displaying various expressions, before he smiled and asked:

"Miss Belindel, along with Baron Wood and Earl Edington, had their bets. Why not let us card players also raise some stakes?"

He tapped on his undeclared bottom card:

"Let’s bet on who wins this round; yes, just this round. Viscount Gla, I heard local players say you only bet a special card once with the same person? If I win, how about we schedule another special game? Mr. Wood, I have some personal business I’d like to discuss with you. I hear you’re very well connected locally; perhaps we can collaborate."