Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

The currency universally used in the world comprised not only the Gold Pounds of Northern Draleon, but also the Crowns of the Southern United Kingdom of Carsonrick. Though cobbled together from several kingdoms, by the contemporary year of 1853, a unified kingdom had formed. However, several types of currency called "Crowns" still existed internally.

The Carsonrick Crown was a large denomination currency used for official transactions and, according to the current exchange rate, approximately 11 to 12 Gold Pounds were equivalent to one Carsonrick Crown.

"If it were in Gold Pounds, the amount would be about this number."

As a local, Vice President Mark wrote another note with the number "33" on it. Although this amount wasn't as hefty as the fee Miss Galina had commissioned the day before, Shard only needed to participate in the contest to receive the money, which seemed almost like a windfall.

Accountant Franklin, who had once commissioned Shard, had an annual income of about 70 pounds, which barely qualified him as middle class.

Now, by simply nodding, Shard could earn half a year's income of a middle-class family head; he had no reason to refuse:

"I think I'll need a copy of the competition's regulations."

Mr. Limo nodded: Continue your saga on empire

"If you need, we can retrieve the regulations for the contest shortly. But don't worry, you just need to participate; there are no expectations for you to win. Here's a contract."

Mr. Limo reached behind him, and the private secretary who stood by the wall immediately came over, handing over a dark brown leather paper bag. As for the payment, it would be awarded to Shard once he sat at the card table after the competition had commenced.

Shard's visit to the Prophet's Society went without any surprise, and he signed the contract to compete in "Big City Player" this coming September, while his Genesis: Silvermoon Card was naturally authenticated as genuine.

Vice President Cyndia Mark was even more excited than Mr. Limo from the headquarters; she enthusiastically invited Shard for a drink to celebrate the day's events. However, Shard declined due to personal engagements and matters to attend to at his office.

But they would still meet at the Roder Card game on Sunday evening, so Mr. Mark wasn't bothered.

After leaving the Prophet's Society, he immediately went home. After waiting for only half an hour, Miss Annette arrived as predicted.

Upon opening the door of No. 6 Saint Delan Square, the purple-eyed prophet silently entered. She paused upon seeing the sealed-off first floor, but still said nothing and followed the detective to Room No. 1 on the second floor.

"Something is very wrong here."

Miss Annette said as she sat down, having observed the conditions of the first, second, and third floors:

"It's just like the rumored haunted house. Even without divination, I can tell something is off here."

"It is a haunted house," Shard explained. "I've discussed it with the doctors, but you were not in Tobesk at the time. Tomorrow, I might speak with Priest Augustus and ask the Dawn Church to send someone for a final inspection. I want to make full use of the house."

Shard said, offering Miss Annette a cup of tea and sitting across from the diviner.

He asked earnestly:

"Before we start our discussion officially, I have a question. Miss Annette, will you attend the Roder Card game this weekend night?"

This question was very important to him.

"Why would I go? I already have plans with Luisa to go to the opera that day, and my work at the Society has nothing to do with Roder Cards," Miss Annette said, surprised.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Shard nodded in satisfaction, then broached the main topic:

"I was truly surprised to see you at the Prophet's Society. Aren't you a diviner there? How come you became a secretary this time?"

"Today is a special occasion, and I happened to be curious about the 'Genesis: Silver Moon' so I specially applied to come and help," Cyndia said. "Detective, I'm really surprised that the Genesis: Silver Moon is in your hands. This... shouldn't be."

Miss Annette furrowed her brow, but soon raised an eyebrow because of the black tea. This was their private meeting again after a casual conversation in a carriage on a Monday night.

"You've never mentioned the 'Genesis: Silver Moon' before."

She whispered while sipping her tea.

"Isn't it just an ordinary item? That's why I didn't mention it."

Shard asked in astonishment, taking out the card and placing it on the table. Seeing that Shard neither wore gloves nor showed any treasuring of the 'Genesis: Silver Moon', Miss Annette, coming from the Prophet's Society, felt somewhat headache-inducing.

"Yes, the Roder Cards are indeed ordinary items, but... well, it was also quite by chance that I heard some news from the higher-ups of the Society.

The original thirteen Roder Cards were not actually made by the Prophet's Society. Instead, it should be said that the Roder Cards were created based on these thirteen cards. The Society had accidentally acquired two of them hundreds of years ago and discovered the ancient data from the prophets of the early Fifth Era about the thirteen cards, that is, their faces and gameplay.

Although they didn't discover any power in them, the Roder Cards reproduced based on their appearance unexpectedly became a huge success, bringing astonishing wealth to the Society."

"The Roder Cards of the Genesis Series are 'Relics'?"

"Of course not, I didn't feel any element of the 'Whisper'."

"Of course not, the Roder Cards are just ordinary items... but the Genesis series cards are very special. These cards might originate from the Fifth Era, or even the more distant Fourth and Third Eras," said Miss Annette.

"You're saying these are ancient antiques from thousands of years ago, still well preserved despite being made of paper?"

Shard shook the 'Genesis: Silver Moon' and Miss Annette shrugged:

"At least that's the information I know. According to the Society's understanding, the thirteen cards of the Genesis series have no power, but they cannot be destroyed. Any attempt to destroy them will suffer the curse of misfortune. There's a belief that the holders of the Genesis thirteen cards will be very lucky when participating in activities involving cards, dice, and the like."

"Cards that can bring luck to the user?"

Shard looked at the 'Genesis: Silver Moon' on the table, pondering if this were true, then Miss Galina's weekend card game might have a higher chance of winning.

Miss Annette nodded:

"The thirteen Genesis Roder Cards choose their owners. No one can forcibly possess them, but only those who are meant to have them can own them... I hope you get my meaning. Because of this, very few people in the long course of history have been able to spot them. Even the True God Church and the Academy may not know of these cards' uniqueness.

The Society is also researching what these cards can actually do and believes it's related to the secret demise of the ancient gods."

"They choose their own holders? What exactly is this?"

The more Shard heard, the stranger it seemed, and Miss Annette shook her head:

"This isn't just an ordinary alchemical item, nor a 'Relic.' According to the ancient data from the prophets discovered by the Society, these cards are definitely related to the thirteen ancient gods. Do you know the ancient gods? Oh, good. In previous eras, some had discovered their uniqueness and believed these cards to be both keys and weapons.

From even older texts, the Society uncovered their names."

"Special cards related to the ancient gods with no power... What are they called?"

Shard was quite curious.

Miss Annette hesitated a moment:

"The thirteen cards represent the deities born with the world, embodying the Impermanence of the world, and are thus known as—'Impermanence.'"