Mia stayed home to guard the house, and Xia De departed around 8:30 AM, heading directly to the "Prophet Association Tobesk Branch" located in the city center.
The Prophet Association in Tobesk City is a significant branch of the Prophet Association across the entire Old Continent. Besides its headquarters in Ryan City, the capital of Ragson Duchy, in the central Carson Rick United Kingdom to the south, the Tobesk City Association is the most crucial institution within the entire association, also managing all other association branches located in the Northern Kingdom.
It is situated on Silver Cross Avenue in Tobesk City, alongside Yodel Palace, and together with the towering buildings in the city center, they form the most bustling streetscape of Tobesk City, the "Steam City" of the misty Northern Kingdom of Delarion.
Silver Cross Avenue was bustling with pedestrians and carriages. Although it was still early, newsboys, coachmen, nobles, vendors, clerks, and police officers, various types of people, filled the streets, and the association had already opened its doors.
Standing on the street in the early morning, dodging the crowds in the hazy mist, Xia De looked up at the three-story building where the association was located. The walls had been recently repainted, and steam and gas pipes covered the exterior.
Even though it was only 8:30 AM, there was still a continuous flow of people entering and exiting the association's main entrance. Most of them were well-dressed; one might even believe it was a noble's club.
Therefore, Xia De tidied his clothes before heading inside the association. Fortunately, no one would prevent a visitor from entering due to their attire.
Upon entering the foyer, he immediately saw a circle of rhode cards oil paintings hanging on the walls, alternating with brass gas lamps as decorations. One of the oil paintings was strikingly the "Origin · Silver Moon" card face, depicting a figure holding up the silver moon, which startled Xia De.
Checking the nameplates, he understood that these thirteen oil paintings were the original Founding series of rhode cards, displayed by the association as a memorial.
And because of the Knowledge of the "Thirteen Ancient Gods" he gained last night, Xia De suspected a connection between the Ancient Gods and the thirteen Founding rhode cards. Therefore, he carefully memorized the card faces of the thirteen oil paintings, leading to more speculation about the Prophet Association in his mind.
He brushed past an old gentleman counting cards in his hand and almost bumped into a young man with a worried expression, wearing boots and a brown vest. Turning to look at the bulletin board inside the entrance, he saw various notices posted there. Most were private postings attempting to acquire certain special cards. The largest and most central notice, handwritten, announced that the "Great City Player" rhode cards tournament would be held in this city in the autumn, bringing together rhode cards players and enthusiasts from across the entire Old Continent.
"Only with civilization progressing to the Steam Age can so many idle people have time for such entertainment activities."
Xia De said softly to himself, standing among the bustling crowd at the entrance, finally witnessing the popularity of rhode cards in this world.
The entrance hall extended into curved corridors on both sides. A row of counters directly facing the hall was used for association inquiries and guidance. Next to the counters were stairs leading to higher floors, with metal handrail railings adorned sequentially with decorations of the four rhode cards suits.
However, compared to the lively first floor, there was no one going up or down the stairs.
Xia De held the former Detective's diary, approaching the counter with a mix of nervousness and excitement. A young lady with brown hair, dressed in a reddish-brown uniform, immediately greeted him with a professional smile.
"I'd like to authenticate a rhode card."
Saying this, he stacked five copper coins, or five one-penny coins, which he had clutched tightly in his palm, onto the counter.
"No problem, sir. Are you an association member? The authentication fee is lower for members."
This kind of talk vaguely made Xia De feel like he was back in his own world. He raised an eyebrow:
"The membership registration fee..."
"One pound per year."
"Authenticate it first."
Xia De said, looking around the counter to ensure no one else was there. Then, he opened the diary and displayed the Founding series Silver Moon card with the "sun 3" suit that was folder inside.
Even Doctor Schneider, who wasn't an enthusiast, could recognize what it was at a glance just from the card face. The young lady, as the association's front desk receptionist, naturally could too.
She merely glanced at it and, with a smile, reminded Xia De:
"Sir, are you aware that once a rhode card is authenticated by the association as a forgery, the counterfeit must be destroyed on the spot?"
"Huh?"
Xia De was unaware of this. Doctor Schneider and Louisa probably didn't intentionally withhold the information, but rather didn't know it themselves. The association's practice was similar to how banks destroy counterfeit money, which was understandable.
If he hadn't heard the Divination last night, Xia De would likely have been quite hesitant. But he trusted the Divination skills of the Astronomical Academy Dean; he should be considered a powerful Diviner at Saint Byron's Comprehensive College:
"Yes, if it's a forged rhode card, it should certainly be destroyed, but I am willing to have it authenticated."
Although he said this, he inevitably felt a bit nervous, which Xia De considered normal. Anyone holding a "winning lottery ticket" they found and trying to cash it in would feel the same way.
Perhaps having seen such situations too many times, the receptionist lady handled it skillfully, her smile not faltering. She was probably not a local of Tobesk City; her southern accent made one willing to trust her professionalism.
Xia De noticed the brass symbol on her chest, which was an ouroboros, the emblem of the Prophet Association:
"Then, sir, please follow me. Please wait in waiting room 13 on the first floor. There aren't many guests ahead of you."
Rhode card authentication, of course, cannot leave the owner's sight; otherwise, if it were deemed a counterfeit, unnecessary misunderstandings might arise. But it also couldn't be authenticated right there, so the association had dedicated authentication rooms.
Xia De took the card with the number written on it and went to a room in the east corridor on the first floor. Upon opening the door, he found that the room was not a private reception room but a crowded waiting room filled with coffee tables and sofas; they didn't even provide tea.
Besides the door connecting to the corridor, there was also a door on the side wall leading to the adjacent room. Xia De, like everyone else here, had received a hard card with a number written on it. The authentication room next door would call people in every few minutes. The Tobesk City branch is the largest Prophet Association branch in the northern Old Continent, and there were many authenticators here, so Xia De would wait at most half an hour for his number 29 to be called.
Even though it was early morning, there were still many people who came for authentication and were waiting in the reception room. Men holding number cards gathered in groups of three or four, chatting about rhode cards and current affairs, occasionally discussing interesting anecdotes about the royal family and nobles.
A few others unfolded newspapers, relaxing as if in a private club. No one paid much attention to the unfamiliar young man who walked in.
