The document the Doctor handed to Xia De was a very formal explanation of the tuition standards for higher education institutions.
It was a printed version, even with a sun 3 pattern in the upper right corner and three combined gears drawn in the lower left corner as page decorations.
Even ordinary people would not find it strange to see this.
Compared to the Knowledge given, the tuition for a first-year Letter-based Ring術士 was very cheap, only 50 pounds.
One should know that, according to Xia De's initial understanding, in this world, even the tuition for a Boy from a middle-class family at a medium-sized boarding school was around 100 to 150 pounds per year.
He still looked troubled; let alone 50 pounds, he couldn't even produce 5 pounds in cash.
But there were still many relics belonging to the Detective in the house, and selling them all would be worth at least 50 pounds, not to mention several commissions that would soon be completed, so Xia De actually had a way.
“Do I need to pay in cash immediately?”
This was the most difficult thing.
“The Academy requires cash in pounds, but other currencies are also acceptable, though the exchange rate needs to be checked.
Of course, if you can't pay temporarily, the Academy also has loan programs, but the interest might put you at a disadvantage.”
Doctor Schneider explained, and Louisa, with her hands on her knees, kindly added:
“However, in my opinion, the team can lend it to you; we have the funds.
After all, besides wealthy people like the Doctor, no one can produce so much cash at once.”
The blue-eyed Doctor touched his nose, looking a little embarrassed.
“I was like that too; it's very common, but you need to consider whether you are capable of bearing this loan.”
The blonde Lady kindly reminded him.
“This tuition loan is interest-free, but starting from the loan date, you need to repay 10 pounds in the first month, and then 20 pounds per month for the next two months.”
The Doctor also added:
“No collateral is needed; I will act as your internal guarantor.
Anyway, I know your identity information; you can't leave.”
The Doctor knew Xia De had just recovered from “Blind Folly” and understood his situation very well.
Xia De finally let out a long breath; it seemed his luck was really good.
Of course, he didn't forget to thank them; he had truly met very good people:
“I will repay as soon as possible, Mr. Schneider, Miss Louisa, please allow me to thank you again.”
Speaking of this, he suddenly remembered something else.
Because of this interest-free loan, he decided to give more trust to Doctor Schneider and the Writer Lady in his team, so he took out the notebook he carried with him.
He carefully peeled off the leather cover of the notebook and took out a card from the seam.
On the front of the card was a woman sitting sideways, holding up the Silver Moon.
This was the former Detective's most precious relic, a rhode cards with the suit “sun 3”.
Xia De saw that his own door lock could be easily split open with an axe, so he carried it with him:
“Excuse me, is this valuable?”
“A special series rhode cards?”
Xia De hadn't even handed out the card yet, but Louisa recognized it at a glance, but she shook her head, gesturing for Xia De to hand it to the Doctor:
“I don't play cards often; I don't know the value of such things.
Let the Doctor take a look?”
“It is indeed a rhode cards, not only with a special pattern but also with a special effect.
Is this genuine?”
The Doctor curiously took it and examined it under the warm yellow light of the gas lamp on the wall.
He had no intention of revealing Xia De's identity and background to Louisa, so he explained common Knowledge to Xia De in his words:
“Although I am not a collector, I know some nobles and enthusiasts who madly pursue these special rhode cards.
The special pattern itself is very precious, and if it has special rules... that kind of fanatical collecting hobby is even stronger than a Boy's desire for pretty Ladies; I cannot understand that behavior.
I heard that last year, at the Biford Auction House not far from Saint Delan Square where you live, it once... Hmm? Is this the Founding series Silver Moon?”
The Doctor suddenly asked in surprise.
“What?”
Xia De didn't understand, but the blonde Lady, however, got up with great interest to look at the card.
The Doctor placed the card on the coffee table in the middle of the three, introducing it to the two who didn't understand rhode cards:
“Look, in the upper center of the front of this card, there is a vertical line.
This means it is one of the original Founding series cards first issued for rhode cards.
It is said that only 13 cards of the Founding series were issued about 300 years ago, each with a different pattern and certainly with special rules.
The Silver Moon is one of them, hence it is called Founding · Silver Moon.
And under the rule system of rhode cards, every card in the Founding series has an extraordinary effect...”
“Although I don't play cards, I think the rules on it are indeed extraordinary.”
Dorothy Louisa, who had read the effect a step ahead, said, and the Doctor also lowered his head to look at the effect on the card.
Although he was not a gambler or a fanatical rhode cards enthusiast, he knew how terrifying a card that could adjust numbers from “1” to “5” would be under rules similar to “21 points.”
“Is this genuine? It must be very valuable, right?”
The blonde girl asked, and Xia De also had some anticipation, but the Doctor decisively shook his head:
“Impossible, absolutely impossible to be genuine.
Each card in the Founding series is equivalent to a street of houses around the entire Saint Delan Square, and even more, much more.
This cannot be genuine.
The Founding series was issued three hundred years ago; either it has been damaged, or it is in the tombs of great nobles or family collection rooms; it cannot easily appear.”
He understood Xia De's background, which was why he made such a judgment.
“Is it still valuable if it's not genuine?”
Xia De also agreed with Doctor Schneider's words but still asked this question.
He also didn't believe it was genuine, after all, it was an antique from 300 years ago.
“It's not worth a penny.
People only support genuine cards.
Especially those special series rhode cards; using pirated rhode cards will be boycotted by all enthusiasts, so imitations are not valuable... But this imitation is really well made.”
The Doctor also regretfully handed the card to Xia De:
“Let me lend you the money first... However, you might want to get this founding · silver moon appraised; it's good to try your luck.”
“Where can I get it appraised?”
Xia De also became interested.
“I know this, the Prophet Association; they specialize in this.”
The Writer Louisa said, and the Doctor also nodded; he introduced it in more detail because he understood that Xia De would certainly not know:
“The issuance of rhode cards has always been managed by the Prophet Association, so they also provide appraisal services for special cards.
Appraising one costs 5 pennies, which is quite cheap.
If it's genuine, the Prophet Association will issue an appraisal certificate.
People who want to participate in formal rhode cards tournaments and include special cards in their decks must present an appraisal certificate.”
The popularity of rhode cards in this world was higher than Xia De had imagined, but it wasn't very surprising to him, after all, it was just a card game.
In the Steam Age, where productivity was relatively more liberated than hundreds of years ago, some special entertainment was also normal.
The Doctor continued to introduce:
“The Prophet Association is actually also an organization of Ring術士, but it's not very formal.
It cooperates with both the Academy and the Church, and we recognize them; they even have some connection with our team.
Their initial business was divination.
Around the sixth epoch 15th century, after launching special series rhode cards to facilitate the promotion of divination services, their main business became rhode cards.”
The Doctor pursed his lips, not knowing what emotion he was expressing:
“The Association made a fortune by organizing various rhode cards tournaments; printing cards was like printing pounds... *cough cough*, I'm not envious of this industry.
Of course, the Prophet Association still provides divination services, but it also involves book publishing and newspaper distribution businesses.
The local famous Three Penny Newspaper is run by them.”
This newspaper name was indeed concise.
“The Prophet Association has many branches and institutions in a large City like Tobesk City.
There's one near Saint Delan Square, which is more formal.
Tsk, living in the City center is really nice.
Even in the extremely small probability that your card is truly the legendary Founding series Silver Moon card, you don't have to worry about the news being leaked; this is a very formal organization.”
The Doctor joked.
“If this card is genuine, remember to tell us; perhaps it's a very good topic for a novel.”
Louisa also joked; her attitude towards the stranger Xia De was also quite good, presumably she also welcomed the team reaching its five-person quota.