Chapter 1725 Shirley's Iron Box <TOC> Chapter 1727 Poker Time
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Translator: SumTLMan
Before Shirley lay a thick stack of cards.
These cards in the metal box were exquisitely arranged: a stack in each of the four corners and two cards overlaid in the center. Because they were all facing down, Shirley couldn’t discern the contents at a glance. She could only see that the backs of the cards were identical, filled with geometric designs and various line patterns, reminiscent of the sights within a kaleidoscope.
“What are these?” Shirley looked at Angel with confusion. Were these exclusively for magicians? Why was she utterly unaware of them?
Instead of explaining, Angel gestured for Shirley to examine them herself.
With a moment of hesitation, Shirley reached out to touch one of the cards. The moment she made contact, it seemed as though the cards inside were activated. They all flew out from the metal box, systematically arranging themselves, encircling Shirley in a revolving manner.
Only then did Shirley finally see the contents of the cards.
There were four different suits: hearts, spades, diamonds, and clubs. Each suit had thirteen cards, and each card was marked with universally recognized numbers and symbols. At that moment, these cards revolved uniformly around Shirley.
The sole exception was the two cards in the box, which remained stationary in its center. Even though their backs looked the same as the other cards, they exuded an indescribable gravitas that set them apart from the four other suits, making Shirley feel a distinct sense of solemnity.
Up to now, Shirley still didn’t know what these cards represented, but they evoked a peculiar familiarity in her. She felt as if they were an ideal match for her essence.
On the other side, Gloria, upon observing the cards, had a fleeting gleam in her eyes.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that she had seen these cards somewhere before.
At this moment, Shirley examined the fifty-two cards she was familiar with but found no clues. Thus, she turned her attention to the last two cards in the box.
As Shirley’s fingers picked up one of the cards, an eerie laughter suddenly resonated.
With a slight tremble of her fingertips, the card unexpectedly slipped away. Immediately, a burst of white mist erupted from the card’s center, revealing a jester garbed in black and white. This clown, adorned in a comical outfit stitched with four distinct patterns, appeared before her in a bizarre stance.
The instant the jester materialized, darkness enveloped the surroundings, reminiscent of a night devoid of any light.
She could see nothing, only the haunting and shrill laughter of the clown echoing in her ears.
Before Shirley could comprehend what was transpiring, a hand reached out, seizing the card floating before her.
The moment this hand touched the card, the jester, who had previously leaped out of the card, swiftly returned to it. Simultaneously, the enveloping darkness receded, restoring the world to its luminous state.
Shirley, coming out of her daze, then realized that the individual holding the card was Gloria, who had been observing the scene from the sidelines.
Gloria, at this point, was closely examining the card which previously displayed the monochromatic jester, her brows deeply furrowed.
“This card… It seems to have appeared in… the Sleepless City?” Gloria muttered softly, her tone filled with a rare seriousness.
“Sleepless City?” Before Shirley could gather her thoughts, she pondered: was Gloria referring to the Sleepless City in Eternal Night Kingdom that had already fallen? Or perhaps she meant the newly established Sleepless City after being forced out of Eternal Night Kingdom?
While Shirley remained puzzled, Angel seemed to understand the context of Gloria’s words.
“A creature from the Nightmare Plane——The Joker Card, or perhaps, the Ghost Card.”
“Have you seen this card?” Angel inquired curiously. Originally, the Joker Card had been accidentally released in Shadow Demon Castle of Shadow Demon Kingdom. Later, rumors said it followed the Fox Harpist and Frog Chanter to Eternal Night Kingdom. However, Angel hadn’t spotted it in Sleepless City.
Gloria shook her head, “I haven’t seen it. Yet, Candy House does have its internal information channels. I’ve heard of a similar card appearing in Sleepless City… a card, but it seems much larger than yours.”
After taking a closer look at the Joker card and discerning no particular details, Gloria handed the card back to Shirley. Holding the card, Shirley appeared somewhat bewildered, casting a questioning glance at Angel, hoping for some answers from him.
Having crafted this deck of cards, Angel saw no reason to keep it a secret. Without beating around the bush, he stated, “It’s a deck of Playing Cards.”
“What are playing cards?” It was the first time Shirley had heard this peculiar term. Although it felt vaguely familiar, would a magician really need such an item? And what’s the purpose of this deck of playing cards?
Shirley didn’t voice these questions aloud, but her expressive eyes conveyed her curiosity.
Angel pondered for a moment, “In a very distant place, though far removed from the Wizarding World, that place also cultivated the profession of magicians. And playing cards are a type of hand card, or rather, an item card used by them.”
“Magicians developed a series of techniques with these playing cards, collectively known as card magic.”
Although Shirley was hearing about card magic for the first time, being a devoted magician herself, she was intrigued. Observing the playing cards swirling around her, replete with numbers, patterns, and designs, all intricately linked by logic, she believed that with her expertise, it might be possible to derive a series of wondrous spells.
Angel offered, “I can give you a brief demonstration of card magic.”
Despite saying so, Angel didn’t intend to perform personally. Instead, with a gentle tap of his fingers on the table, an illusion materialized around them——
In a grand theater infused with an air of high-society, on the stage stood a stately man adorned in a magician’s attire. Below him, a cohort of nobles, clad in the very epitome of gentlemanly fashion, filled the room. The ambiance was suffused with the rich aromas of red wine and luxurious extravagance.
A beam of brilliant light illuminated the magician, immediately drawing the gaze of every attendee. With an opening joke — one incomprehensible to the layman but clearly an unspoken jest among the nobility — he warmed up the audience. As the atmosphere reached a lively crescendo, he brought forth a deck of playing cards. He chatted in professional jargon while simultaneously shuffling and cutting the cards.
To the uninitiated, his acts might have seemed perplexing. However, Shirley’s eyes grew brighter with every move, especially captivated by the magician’s flamboyant yet elegant card shuffling technique, prompting her to unconsciously mimic the motions with her empty hands.
The magician’s demeanor, poise, and actions, although distinct from Shirley’s style of magic, had their inherent grace. His guiding gestures, enchanting words, and subtle hints all clarified for Shirley that if this were reality, he would undoubtedly be a renowned master of magic.
After completing his card shuffle, the magician descended from the stage.
The overhead spotlight diligently followed him, causing all eyes to track his movement.
He approached a table situated at the prime viewing spot. Its occupants, dressed in the most opulent attire, undoubtedly represented the crème de la crème of the theater’s attendees.
The magician paused before this elite group, sharing a few light-hearted pleasantries before delving into the main act——performing his magic.
Chapter 1725 Shirley's Iron Box <TOC> Chapter 1727 Poker Time