Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 576 - Intelligence Exchange

Chapter 576: Chapter 576 Intelligence Exchange Chapter 576: Chapter 576 Intelligence Exchange The final match was played in a quite traditional best-of-three format, with each game awarding 2 points for a win, 1 point each for a draw, and 0 points for a loss, the first to accumulate 10 points won the game.

Moreover, after each game, there would be a ten-minute rest period. However, players were not allowed to leave the floor during this time to prevent any form of cheating.

The first game proceeded swiftly, and not only Shard but Tifa as well could tell that Mr. Vigil Cameron was clearly distracted. The most obvious incident was during the third round of the first game when Mr. Cameron, after getting the Queen with his second card, still asked for another card. Although he apologized embarrassingly after being reminded, his action sparked soft discussions among the onlookers.

“If I didn’t know how innocent I am, I would suspect that I had drugged him.”

Shard thought to himself quietly, but in fact, he clearly understood that the opponent must be preoccupied with meeting “Grey Hawk.”

“I didn’t meet with him in advance, causing him to play cards distracted, I wonder if this could be considered a form of cheating beyond the game.”

Under Mr. Cameron’s distracted condition, Shard won the first round easily by 10 to 4, though this manner of victory didn’t give him much satisfaction.

As if completely indifferent to winning or losing, Mr. Cameron immediately stood up after President Stan, acting as the referee, announced the end of the first game and the break. He then quickly left the competition hall, excusing himself in a loud enough voice to his companion behind him, saying he was going to the washroom.

Before leaving, he definitely glanced at Shard, unmistakably motioning for Shard to follow him.

Initially, Shard was reluctant to get involved in Grey Hawk’s affairs, but after seeing that Special Coin, he had made up his mind. Although he did not move, Miss Maid behind him seemed to read his mind and sensed that Shard wanted to follow.

She bent down again and whispered in Shard’s ear:

“I must remind you, Mr. Cameron is mingling with the Grand Duke of the contemporary Stan Duchy.”

“I know… Huh? Oh, don’t worry, I only like women…”

Shard responded casually, glancing at Tifa before jokingly adding:

“Especially girls with a figure like yours.”

Tifa did not blush but instead smiled:

“Then I’m relieved, Miss would definitely not allow you to do such a thing. So do you have any other connection with Mr. Cameron?”

“Yes, I want to get a coin from him… Tifa, do you think it’s worth the risk of getting involved in troubles for a coin that can play a major role?”

The black-haired girl pondered for a moment, flicking the stray hair by her ear:

“The ‘troubles’ you mentioned, do they also involve people like us?”

After all, this is a public space, and even when talking in whispers, the two were avoiding sensitive words.

“No, just regular people’s stuff.”

“Then it’s completely worth it,”

Tifa said.

Shard nodded, stood up, and also spoke in an appropriate volume:

“I’m going to the washroom, will be right back, please take care of Mia for me.”

“Sure.”

Mia, the orange cat, wasn’t used to crowded places, so she had been lying by Shard’s hand just now. When Shard stood up, she wanted to follow but was handed over to Tifa by Shard.

Although the cat wasn’t very familiar with Miss Maid, she seemed comfortable being held, so she only meowed plaintively at Shard without struggling to follow him.

Then, Shard walked out of the third-floor hall naturally. After politely asking the staff at the door, he headed for the public washroom around the corner of this floor.

Inside the washroom, of course, there was not only Mr. Vigil Cameron. When Shard walked in, Mr. Cameron was at the sink, drying his hands with steam from a pipe.

Seeing Shard come in, he deliberately took out his cigarette case to show him, and Shard nodded slightly in understanding.

Inside the washroom, Shard checked the note that read — “Is it you?”

Obviously, the other party was confused by Shard’s lack of communication.

Shard used the washroom as anyone would, and after leaving, he did not return to the main hall immediately but headed to the smoking room on this floor. Like other formal clubs, the Prophet’s Society was non-smoking inside, but there was a designated smoking room for guests who wished to smoke.

At the entrance to the smoking room, Shard saw Mr. Cameron.

After shaking hands, Mr. Cameron asked again in a low voice:

“Is it you?”

“I think we need to hurry.”

Shard spoke with a severe expression, and Mr. Cameron’s eyes widened as he gulped for breath as if unable to catch his breath. He must have truly been under tremendous pressure:

“Is it you?”

He asked once again.

“Do not inquire about my identity.”

Shard said coldly:

“You only need to do what you should do.”

He stretched out his hand, and Mr. Cameron, wiping his sweat, nodded briskly:

“Yes, indeed, it is still you who are professional. I am almost nervous to death, and yet you really look like you’re here to play cards. But did you anticipate in advance that we would both make it to the finals? I tried to talk to you alone in the past few days, but you always avoided me.”

“Do not ask so much, it’s for your safety too.”

Shard issued another warning, and Mr. Cameron nodded earnestly in agreement:

“I understand, I understand. I have seen in novels, you may be one of them, but you may also be one of us, and you might not even know who you are yourself. The you I see might not necessarily be you, and the you I think you are definitely isn’t you. However, you are truly formidable. The lady behind you, she is the personal maid of Archduke Galina, right?”

While speaking, he reached toward his belt and took out a slender fountain pen from the side of his waist. Shard, with his eyes closed, took it from him.

Brass-colored, about as long as Shard’s middle finger, but only a third as thick:

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

“The information is inside the pen, but do not open it carelessly. There is a very fine metal wire inside, and once it breaks, it cannot be restored.”

Mr. Cameron warned, which must have been to prevent leaks during the transmission of intelligence.

“I know.”

Shard replied with a cold face.

“Remember, according to our arrangement, you must not disclose my identity to anyone.”

Mr. Cameron brought up what Shard wanted to say, and after that he let out a sigh of relief, patted Shard’s shoulder, and was about to leave.

“Wait a moment.”

Shard called out to him with a sharp look:

“We have been alone here for so long, to avoid arousing suspicion, we need an excuse.”

“What excuse?”

Mr. Cameron asked, and Shard pretended to consider:

“I would like to buy those two commemorative coins on you.”

“Hm? Oh, alright, that’s a good excuse.”

He extended his hand to pass the two coins from his pocket to Shard, and just as he was about to leave with light steps, Shard called him back:

“I have not paid you yet. Our wallets were checked earlier, and if someone really checks afterwards and the number of coins is incorrect, it will also arouse suspicion. How much are these two coins worth?”

“You’re really professional… These coins aren’t valuable. I suspected I was being secretly watched a few days ago, so I wandered around the city, and these are what I bought from an antique shop on the street at that time.”

It seems these were yet another Relic that somehow ended up in the hands of ordinary people.

Shard then took out two one-shilling coins and handed them to the other man, and Mr. Cameron smiled as he accepted them:

“Thank you.”

Mr. Vigil Cameron placed the two shillings into his wallet.

“You’re welcome.”

Shard Hamilton, tucked the coins, which as Relics could sell for at least double figures in Gold Pounds, along with that real commemorative coin, into his pocket.

“Please allow me to express my respect and gratitude to you once again.”

Mr. Cameron took Shard’s hand and gave it a light shake, and then departed with a spring in his step. Had it not been a public place, he might even have started humming a tune.

Shard stood still, watching his figure disappear, and then looked down at the fountain pen in his hand.