All contestants were required to have their decks inspected before the match. Since Shade had been delayed for a while with the Witches, by the time he reached the back garden, everyone else had already arrived.
The sixteen tables for the first round were scattered throughout the Grape Arbor, each surrounded by large crowds of audience members. Therefore, Shade had no chance to find out who the other contestants were.
After examining Life Ritual · Wedding, he temporarily bid farewell to Baron Lavend and Baron Rwanda. In the middle of the garden path on the western side of the Grape Arbor, he found a long table that had been set up in advance. Sitting at the other end was forty-two-year-old Colonel Lisbon. He did not possess much of a soldierly air, though that might have had something to do with his glasses.
The two did not say much. Once Shade took his seat, under the illumination of the Gas Lamps, Mr. Sikh of the Seer Association immediately announced the start of the match.
"Mr. Hamilton, I have long admired your reputation."
Colonel Lisbon had a brown beard. He wore a Navy Uniform to the banquet, along with military boots. A standing gas lamp was positioned beside them. It was one of the garden's lighting fixtures, broadly similar in design to the streetlamps on Silver Cross Avenue, only shorter.
Warm yellow light illuminated them. Tifa stood behind Shade with Little Mia in her arms, while the Colonel, who knew Shade's identity, greeted him politely. They each received their first card, and the surrounding crowd lowered their voices slightly, eagerly awaiting the Great City Player Champion's match.
It had to be said that playing cards in a scenic noble estate beneath the stars was indeed exceedingly pleasant.
"Colonel Lisbon, I heard you