Chapter 1236: Chapter 1236: 21 Points vs. 21 Points
Shard had blended into the crowd at this moment, and after Mr. Osenfort beautifully won with 21 points against his third opponent, he raised his hand to indicate:
"I would like to issue a challenge next."
"Oh, it’s Mr. Watson."
Earl Granger remembered Shard and greeted him with a smile. Seeing that the Earl knew this stranger, people made room for Shard to sit on the short sofa opposite Mr. Osenfort. The Earl quietly introduced Shard’s identity to the Prince, and Prince William Anjou studied Shard with some surprise as Shard took out his card deck to show everyone:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I’m a foreigner. It’s an honor to play cards with Mr. Osenfort, but there are no special cards in my deck."
He suggested his opponent check his deck, but the middle-aged man waved his hand dismissively:
"Mr. Watson, you seem to be from the Northern Country?"
"Yes, I was born in Draleon and am currently a novelist traveling in the Old Continent."
He introduced himself, then determined there was no elemental response from the opponent, at least he hadn’t perceived it:
"Let’s begin, shall I roll the dice?"
He tossed the dice, showing three points upwards, meaning they could draw a maximum of three cards.
As it was a quick match where only one round decided the victor, though Mr. Osenfort looked quite interested in Shard, both said no more.
After shuffling, each drew their first hole card. Shard took a glance at his card, Starry 7, a rather delicate number in a match where barely three cards could be drawn.
Mr. Osenfort also lowered his head to peek at his card, a curve forming at the corner of his mouth, his gray eyes looking across the coffee table at Shard:
"Mr. Watson, my first card is a special card."
The people watching erupted into a buzz of excitement, and Prince William Anjou sitting on the side sofa also showed a very interested look.
Shard hesitantly nodded:
"In many games of the past, I’ve encountered special cards, which don’t necessarily signify absolute victory."
Then both drew their second card, which had to be an upcard. Shard drew Flower 7, making his total points from the first two cards 14.
Amidst the crowd’s buzzing excitement once again as Mr. Osenfort unexpectedly drew a second special card. Curving his mouth, the middle-aged man raised the card to show Shard:
"Flower 5, [Carsonrick Horror Story: Undead Maria]. Roll a die; if less than 10 and odd, adjust the card’s points between 5 and the rolled number."
The card’s face depicted a woman sitting by a tombstone, one side normal, the other a cartoon skeleton.
Mr. Osenfort’s large hand also picked up the die, the ivory die clattering a few times before stopping at 7.
"Adjust between 5 and 7, my luck seems good, let me think... "
He glanced at his hole card again:
"I’ll adjust now, adjusting to 7."
Mr. Osenfort said, his eyes bright, almost overly fierce. Though it’s wrong to judge by appearance, Shard couldn’t shake the feeling that his opponent resembled a roadside robber more than a businessman.
"I will continue to draw the third card, what about you?"
Shard asked, as Mr. Osenfort was already extending his hand:
"I’ll draw the third card too."
Both drew their cards, but since Mr. Osenfort reached earlier, he revealed his card before Shard saw his:
"Look, luck strikes again."
People around grew more excited as the third card turned out to be another special card. Drawing three special cards consecutively, even Shard had never experienced. Of course, this didn’t mean Mr. Osenfort was cheating; no one could cheat in front of Shard, Ston Osenfort just appeared very lucky. The third card was displayed; it’s the very card that earlier defeated Prince William Anjou, [Southern City: Randall Valley]:
"[Southern City: Randall Valley], suit: Sun 7. If a card with 7 points is in hand upon drawing this, remaining cards can all be adjusted to 7. This effect must activate."
He read the card’s effect aloud with a smile, and the card image depicted the scenic eastern suburb of the river valley.
This card defeated Prince William Anjou earlier; even having seen it once, Shard couldn’t help but exclaim:
"Such a card is truly risky."
"But playing cards is all about taking risks. Mr. Watson, do you know what this implies?"
"Yes, this kind of ’point determination’ rule card, when encountering a card with adjusted points, if the card’s rules mandate immediate activation rather than final result adjustment, the adjusted card’s final points are the adjusted outcome. If the adjustment is post-final result settlement, then the points reflect the card’s original points."
Shard explained.
That is to say, Mr. Osenfort’s Flower 5 [Carsonrick Horror Story: Resurrected Maria], when calculating the effects of [Southern City: Randall Valley], its points are considered as 7.
At this moment, Mr. Osenfort only had three cards in his hand, therefore the special effect of [Southern City: Randall Valley] was triggered, and the first hole card yet to be revealed was directly considered as the number 7. There was no need to reveal the special effect of the first card; his points were already 21.
Although the rules are somewhat complicated, the people here are all Roder Card enthusiasts or players, so they can understand. The people excitedly whispered about the game that already had a result, Mr. Osenfort’s two special cards combined effects and exhibited amazing rules, this was definitely a splendid game worth discussing repeatedly for months.
Pa, pa, pa~
Prince William Anjou gently applauded, while Mr. Osenfort looked at Shard’s third card, which had yet to be uncovered:
"Mr. Watson, you have only revealed your second card. So, what is your hand?"
Shard did not move the third card, but first turned over the first Star 7, placing it together with Flower 7. As Mr. Osenfort slightly frowned, he picked up the third card, aligning the face towards himself upright.
Although during card-play, it is forbidden for non-assistants to stand behind the card player, the game had already ended at this point, so people nearby were still curious and craned their necks to check, then couldn’t help but exclaim:
"How is that possible?"
"What’s the number?"
The guests who couldn’t see Shard’s last card quickly asked, and Shard announced the result:
"Moon 7."
Three identical numbered cards were laid on the table, and after a few seconds of brief silence, the explosive uproar even drew the attention of people from other areas of the banquet hall.
"Interesting, truly very interesting."
Mr. Osenfort supported his right hand on his right leg, leaning in to look at Shard’s cards:
"21 points to 21 points, this is the first time I’ve encountered such a game."
Pa, pa, pa~
Prince William Anjou applauded again:
"I didn’t expect to see such a wonderful matchup here in Randall Valley. I think it even matches the Big City Player Championship in Tobesk last autumn."
"So, is this a draw?"
The Earl next to the prince inquired, but Mr. Osenfort solemnly shook his head:
"Unfortunately, Mr. Watson, my hole card has not been revealed yet."
He picked up his first hole card, still displaying it upright to Shard:
"[Shacadi Tale: Frozen Love], Star 1"
"Shacadi Tales Collection" is an ancient anthology formed in the Southern Region of Carsonrick during the early Sixth Era. It includes fairy tales, fables, and multiple genres, and is quite an ancient storybook.
"Effect: If at the end of the game, the number of cards with the same number in all players’ hands is not less than 4, you may require your opponent to draw (the same number - 4) additional cards. Special card effects do not apply when drawing again."
Exclamations echoed again, Shard couldn’t even recall how many times it had happened. He looked with keen interest at [Shacadi Tale: Frozen Love], the card showing a woman holding a rose, frozen in ice:
"Your [Southern City: Randall Valley]’s number adjustment is settled immediately, so our identical number is 6, I need to draw two more cards... Mr. Osenfort, this is really... impressive."
He realized what his opponents must have felt when playing against him in the past, but he didn’t feel regretful for losing; faced with such a hand, there wasn’t much else he could do. The God of Gambling only gave him the blessing of luck, not a guarantee of victory.
"She" chuckled softly in Shard’s ear.
"Remarkable, without any of these three cards, it would be impossible to form the current situation."
Shard softly praised:
"Even the drawing order had to be perfect for this result."
"No, no, you are the impressive one, forming 21 points directly without any special rules."
Mr. Osenfort also complimented, while Prince William Anjou once again applauded lightly, speaking softly to the Earl beside him with a smile. Shard looked again at the cards on the table before him, experiencing the rare taste of defeat.
However, the game wasn’t completely over, though the initial dice throw was a 3, allowing each person to draw only 3 cards, the card effects allowed for bypassing this limit, and any addition beyond twenty-one points signifies a blowout.
Though regretful, Shard still reached out to draw more cards. Others viewed this act as "noble"; even after losing the game, he insisted on completing the final action.
After drawing a fourth card, Shard looked at its face and was himself astounded. The people behind him also saw the card face; it was not a numbered card. Consequently, the clamorous noise burst forth like a chain-reaction steam bomb:
"How is it possible? The fourth card is—the Queen?"