Founding Silver Moon

Founding · Silver Moon

The document Doctor Schneider handed Shade was a perfectly standard explanation of higher academy tuition fees. It used the same printed format, even adding a Sun Sigil in the upper-right corner and three interlocking gears in the lower-left as page decorations. Even ordinary people would not find anything strange about it.

Compared to the knowledge provided, the first-year correspondence Ring Arcanist tuition was surprisingly cheap, only 50 Pounds. From Shade's preliminary understanding, even the annual tuition for a middle-class family's boy at a secondary boarding school in this world was around 100 to 150 Pounds.

He still looked troubled. Let alone 50 Pounds, he could not possibly produce even 5 Pounds in cash.

But there were still many belongings left behind by the Detective in the house. Selling all of them would surely fetch 50 Pounds, and several commissions were about to be completed, so Shade did have a way to manage it.

"Do I need to pay cash immediately?"

That was the most troubling part.

"The Academy requires cash in Gold Pounds, though other currencies are acceptable as well. You would need to check the exchange rate. Of course, if you cannot afford it for the moment, the Academy also has loan programs, though the interest may put you at a disadvantage."

Doctor Schneider explained, while Miss Louisa rested both hands on her knees and kindly added:

"Still, I think the group can lend it to you. We have that money. After all, aside from wealthy people like the Doctor, no one can produce that much cash all at once."

The Blue Eyes doctor touched his nose, Seemed somewhat embarrassed.

"I was the same back then. It is perfectly normal, but you need to consider whether you can bear this debt."

The blonde Lady reminded him kindly.

"This tuition loan carries no interest, but from the day you borrow it, you need to repay 10 Pounds in the first month, then 20 Pounds per month over the next two months."

The Doctor added:

"There is no need for collateral. I will guarantee it for you within the group. I know your identity information, after all. You cannot possibly leave."

The Doctor knew that Shade had only recently recovered from Blind Foolishness, so he understood his situation very well.

Only then did Shade let out a long breath. His luck really was quite good. Naturally, he did not forget to thank them. He had truly met some very good people.

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

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something else. Because of this interest-free loan, he decided in his heart to place more trust in Doctor Schneider and the Lady writer in the same group, so he took out the notebook he carried with him.

Carefully peeling back the notebook's leather cover, he removed a card from the gap inside.

On the front of the card was an image of a woman sitting sideways and raising a Silver Moon. This was the former Detective's most precious possession, a Rhodes Cards card of the "Sun 3" suit. Since the lock on Shade's Home could easily be split open with an axe, he kept it on his person.

"May I ask if this is valuable?"

"A Rhodes Cards card from a special series?"

Before Shade even handed over the card, Miss Louisa recognized it at once. But she shook her head and gestured for Shade to give it to the Doctor.

"I do not play cards often, so I do not know how much such things are worth. Shall we let the Doctor take a look?"

"It is indeed a Rhodes Cards card. Not only does it have a special illustration, it even has a special effect. Is this authentic?"

The Doctor took it curiously and examined it beneath the warm yellow light of the Gas Lamp on the wall. He had no intention of revealing Shade's identity or background to Miss Louisa, so he used his words to explain some common knowledge to Shade.

"I am not a collector, but I know that some nobles and enthusiasts are madly obsessed with these special Rhodes Cards cards. The special illustrations alone are valuable, and if they come with special rules... that kind of fanatical collecting obsession is even stronger than a man's Desire for beautiful Ladies. I cannot understand such behavior. I heard that last year, at the Biford Auction House not far from Saint Derain Square, where you live, there was once... Hm? Is this the Silver Moon from the Founding Series?"

The Doctor suddenly asked in surprise.

"What?"

Shade did not understand, but the blonde Lady rose with great interest to look at the card.

The Doctor placed the card on the Tea Table between the three of them and explained it to the two who did not understand Rhodes Cards:

"Look, at the upper center of the front of This Card, there is a vertical line. That signifies that it belongs to the Founding Series, the cards issued when Rhodes Cards was first released. It is said that only thirteen Founding Series cards were issued three hundred years ago. Every one had a different illustration, and every one definitely carried special rules. Silver Moon was one of them, hence its name, Founding · Silver Moon. Moreover, under the rules system of Rhodes Cards, every Founding Series card possesses extraordinary effects."

"I do not play cards, but I think the rule written on it truly is extraordinary."

Dorothy Louisa said, having read the effect ahead of them. The Doctor lowered his head to study the card's effect as well. Though he was neither a gambler nor a fanatical Rhodes Cards enthusiast, he knew how terrifying a card capable of adjusting a number from "1" to "5" would be under rules similar to "21."

"Is it authentic? It should be worth a lot, right?"

The blonde girl asked. Shade also felt some anticipation, but the Doctor decisively shook his head.

"Impossible. It absolutely cannot be authentic. Every Founding Series card is worth as much as all the houses on an entire street around Saint Derain Square, perhaps even more—far more. It cannot be authentic. The Founding Series was issued three hundred years ago. The cards have either already been destroyed, or they are in the tombs or family collections of great nobles. They could not possibly appear so easily."

He understood Shade's background, which was why he made that judgment.

"If it is not authentic, is it still worth anything?"

Shade agreed with Doctor Schneider, but he still asked. He did not believe it was authentic either. After all, it was an antique from three hundred years ago.

"Not a penny. People only recognize genuine cards. Especially those special-series Rhodes Cards cards—using counterfeit Rhodes Cards cards will be boycotted by all enthusiasts. So replicas are worthless, though this replica really is rather good."

The Doctor handed the card back to Shade with some regret.

"I will lend you the money first. But you could have this Founding Silver Moon appraised. Trying your luck would not hurt."

"Where can I have it appraised?"

Shade became interested as well.

"I know. The Seer Association specializes in that."

Miss Louisa, the writer, said. The Doctor nodded too, offering a more detailed explanation because he knew Shade definitely would not know.

"The Seer Association has always been responsible for organizing the issuance of Rhodes Cards, so they also provide appraisal services for special cards. Appraising one costs 5 pence, which is quite cheap. If it is authentic, the Seer Association will issue a certificate of appraisal. If people want to participate in an official Rhodes Cards Tournament and include special cards in their deck, they must present that certificate."

Rhodes Cards was even more popular in this world than Shade had imagined, though it did not surprise him too much. It was only a Card Game, after all. In the Steam Epoch, where productive capacity was relatively more liberated than several centuries ago, some special forms of entertainment were perfectly normal.

The Doctor continued:

"The Seer Association is actually also an organization of Ring Arcanists, though it is not particularly formal. It cooperates with both the Academy and The Church, is recognized by us, and even has some connection to our group. Its Beginning business was fortune-telling. Around the fifteenth century of the Sixth Epoch, it introduced special-series Rhodes Cards to make its divination business easier to promote, and Rhodes Cards then became its main business."

The Doctor pursed his lips, though it was unclear what emotion he meant to convey.

"The Association makes a fortune by hosting all kinds of Rhodes Cards Tournaments. Printing cards is practically like printing Gold Pounds. Ahem, I am not envious of that line of work. Of course, the Seer Association still offers divination services, but it has also expanded into book publishing and newspaper distribution. The locally famous Three Penny Newspaper is run by them."

That newspaper's name really was concise.

"The Seer Association has many branches and offices in a large city like Tobesk City. There is one near Saint Derain Square, and it is quite reputable. Tsk, living in the city center really is nice. Even if, by some extremely slim chance, your card truly is the legendary Founding Series Silver Moon card, you would not need to worry about the news leaking out. It is a very proper organization."

The Doctor joked.

"If This Card is authentic, remember to tell us. It might make excellent material for a novel."

Miss Louisa joked as well. She was also quite friendly toward the stranger Shade. Presumably, she was glad that the group would finally reach its full count of five members.