"Normally, only those who registered with me in advance can come, but who could resist such a handsome young friend of yours? The young ladies here all like this sort of man. I can let you compete, but you'll still have to pay the entry fee."
"Each contestant may bring two friends inside. The entry fee is 20 Crowns, and I know that's quite expensive. But I only keep 20% of the total entry fees as my commission. The remaining 80% will be distributed among the four semifinalists in a 1:2:2.5:2.5 ratio. Of course, the champion will also receive that Rhodes Card as a reward. Once you win, you'll earn far more than those 20 Crowns."
At the exchange rate, an entry fee of 20 Crowns was equivalent to nearly 250 Pounds. It was certainly no small sum.
"What card?"
Shade asked. Mrs. Frey leaned slightly closer and whispered into his ear:
"Ancient Alchemy Transformation Stone."
Shade froze.
"Isn't that—"
One of the three expensive Rhodes Cards rumored to have scattered throughout Moon Bay after that merchant's death.
Mrs. Frey nodded with a faintly smug expression.
"I've had information on that card for quite some time, but none of you were willing to buy it, so I acquired it myself. Well? Isn't this card worth spending 20 Crowns to gamble on?"
Of course it was. The "Ancient Alchemy" series was also one of the oldest Rhodes Card series. Its renowned Ancient Alchemy's Stone, Ancient Alchemy Elixir, Ancient Alchemy of Immortality, and Ancient Alchemy Solvent had each sold for at least 600 Pounds whenever they appeared in modern times. That was ten times the price of ordinary special-rule Rhodes Cards.
"Where did you get this card?"
Shade asked curiously. On one hand, he wanted clues regarding the last of those three