The Card Apprentice

Chen Mu didn’t feel much about it. To him, her subservience was just to remind him not to keep the method of making the folding Yanbo card a secret. He simply nodded. “Mmmm, ok.” He hadn’t had any intention of keeping it secret since there was certainly a deal between the two sides; it really wouldn’t be kind to be so small-minded.

But the atmosphere in the hall had become a little strange. The puzzled and surprised gazes that had been focused on Ru Qiu had jumped over to Chen Mu. Where there really such thick-skinned people in the world? Or, was that youth such an awesome card artisan that he was qualified to speak that way?

It wasn’t that no one had made the connection to the card master who made numbered series of cards; it was just that as soon as they saw Chen Mu’s age, they unconsciously nixed the idea. How could a grand-master-level card master be so young? In the business of card making, age and power went together. Taking Ru Qiu as an example, although she’d been designated as the dean of the card making division for the next term, that wasn’t because her card making power was so outstanding. Rather, it was because of the potential and understanding she’d demonstrated. Many scholars at the Origins Academy were stronger than her at card making.

Bogner’s expression hadn’t changed, having heard the sense of what Jiao Si had said. He smiled. “There’s no need for the dean to be concerned; surely the boss will diligently guide Ru Qiu.”

Jiao Si’s expression quickly relaxed. “Then, I hand her over to Mr. Cao. Oh, right, I’ve brought along all the card masters requested by Mr. Cao. These are the backbone of our school, and they all have the title of high-grade card master. Just pass along to them whatever Mr. Cao instructs. I believe they will certainly be of great benefit to Mr. Cao.”

While others didn’t know who Mr. Cao was, Jiao Si knew very well. He was speaking sincerely. If the identity of the one who’d made the numbered series of cards were to get out, he believed countless card masters would swarm.

Seeing the dubious expressions on the faces of the card masters he’d brought over, he couldn’t help but smile. If they knew Mr. Cao’s identity, he was afraid half of them would faint from joy. Too bad. He would have been willing to pay any price to bring such a talent into the Origins Academy.

However, he knew that was just wishful thinking on his part. It already rather pleased him to be able to get the method of making the folding Yanbo card. He had been studying that card for a while, and its power was really exciting to him. To mine the full potential of a card was a long-term project, but his most recent gains had already made him extremely satisfied. He had plenty of reason to have even more expectations for its further potential.

By the time he systemized the usage of the folding Yanbo card—on top of the method to make it—the Origins Academy would have a genuine legacy. The difference between the Origins Academy and the Big Six was that the Big Six had many legacies. What they were concerned about was how to organize them all. But for the so recently established Origins Academy, any kind of powerful card would increase their power. He was doing what the Big Six had accomplished across countless prior generations.

Perhaps it wouldn’t have that much efficacy, but if they wanted to be as big as the Big Six, their work was going to be essential.

Chen Mu didn’t care much about the doubts on those card masters’ faces. The type of people who were card masters were actually pretty good at sorting things out. All of them were skillful, and everyone would be convinced by whomever’s skills were the most outstanding. Moreover, Chen Mu absolutely didn’t need them to be convinced; they weren’t going to do anything more than to help.

Chen Mu had roughly surmised why Bogner had wanted Jiao Si to bring along 20 card masters, but he still hadn’t successfully researched the folding Yanbo card, never mind its large-scale distribution. Chen Mu wasn’t about to leave those card masters idle, however. Each one of them had outstanding power, no matter what might be said about their other qualities. Making three- or four-star power cards wouldn’t be any problem at all.

The everyday consumption of power cards at the base was shocking. Adding that to the recent addition of 400 people, they would need a huge number of power cards. The other cards they needed were pitifully few, on the other hand. If those people were only able to make a pile of high-grade cards, the rookies wouldn’t even be able to use them. In order to make the card masters useful, Chen Mu would simply instruct them to make power cards.

Without the least bit of courtesy, Chen Mu said, “So, I’ll first ask each of you to make power cards. Three- or four-star are both fine, and the materials…” His gaze swung over to Bogner, who continued on, “have all been prepared.”

The lead of the card masters was in his 40s, and his face darkened as soon as he heard what was being said. The rest of them looked at one another as though they had heard something inconceivable. They were all the top card masters of the Origins Academy, and a third of them were professors of the card making division Jiao Si had specifically transferred over. The remaining were all the most outstanding scholars of the card making institute.

Any mid-grade card master could make a three-star power card, but few high-grade card masters would ever make power cards. In general, the more powerful the card master, the more full of pride. Those 20 people were in high demand. The number of people who would come to them seeking cards every day was incalculable. Whatever they made were all high-grade cards.

No wonder they wore such unhappy expressions.

Chen Mu found it a little strange that they weren’t saying anything. Could the card masters Jiao Si had brought be less than competent? He then more slowly said, “A three-star power card would be fine; just make as many as you are able.”

They were outraged. The bastard! They’d never come across someone so impudent! They had all heard the implication of what Chen Mu had said; he actually had such a low opinion of them.

So, it’s power cards? That gang had such solid knowledge that the one with the shortest contact with making cards still had about ten years. The most experienced had nearly 30 years! Some among them could even make five-star power cards, never mind four-star! For them, a four-star power card was simply child’s play.

The leader’s face turned red as he stiffly tossed out a phrase. “Ok, we’ll accept that.” The rest of them were gritting their teeth, itching to get to work. There were quickly led to the place that had been prepared. They looked like enraged bulls as they turned to leave, with their eyes red and their faces dark.

Bogner looked at Chen Mu in surprise, his eyes flashing a look of admiration. The boss’s move was really too beautiful; he succeeded with so few words in hooking into that gang’s competitive spirit.

Jiao Si was also impressed, never having thought the young Cao Dong would have such unexpectedly awesome finesse. But he quickly calmed down. If he was thinking anything, it was that Cao Dong wasn’t an ordinary character, after all. The more awesome Cao Dong was as a collaborator, the better it would be for him.

No one had thought all of that was completely unintentional on Chen Mu’s part. Since making four-star power cards had still been rather difficult for him not long before, he considered it natural that some among them might also find it difficult. He had forgotten that unlike himself, those 20 had all undergone systematic, professional study.

Apart from the few of them, no one else was in the great hall. Chen Mu said apologetically, “I’m facing a tough issue right now, and I might not have time for a few days. The method to make the folding Yanbo card may have to wait.”

What Jiao Si heard was something else altogether. His counterpart wasn’t going to let the falcons loose until he could see how fast the hare would run. For such a young person to be that sophisticated, he must have been someone who would do great things. Jiao Si laughed. “No worries, no worries. Anyhow, we’re going to be here bugging you for a while. If Mr. Cao isn’t uncomfortable with Ru Qiu’s humble abilities and wouldn’t mind letting her be his assistant, she would be quite capable. She has always been deft and reliable.

Jiao Si wasn’t going to let an opportunity pass him by. Being at the side of a grand-master-grade card master could really improve Ru Qiu’s character. Even if she didn’t learn anything, it would expand her horizons, which would be a big help to her growth.

Ru Qiu was smart as a whip, and she stood to bow right away. “I really wish for Mr. Cao’s guidance!”

His gaze falling onto Ru Qiu, Chen Mu nodded. “Mmmm, it would make things a lot easier to have Miss Ru’s assistance.”

A look of joy flitted across Ru Qiu’s eyes, even though what Chen Mu had said was nothing more than being polite from her point of view. The important thing was that he had agreed.

She didn’t quite know that what Chen Mu had said was no polite talk. In his eyes, for Ru Qiu to have been chosen to be the next dean of the card making division meant her power would naturally be hard-hitting—a lot stronger than his own half-baked ways. Having her help, the possibility of realizing Bogner’s idea got several times higher, without a doubt.

His counterpart being so above-board, Jiao Si was completely satisfied with what was happening. He was ready to do anything to trade a peach for a plum in their reciprocal exchange. He then said, “Having just seen how powerful those under Mr. Cao are, I’m eager to start. We should keep up the conversation. It would help me to learn a few more tricks, ha ha.” Given his power and position, to have said such a thing must have meant something.

All of that was a bonus for which Bogner was really surprised. He rushed to make the arrangements himself. Just like the card masters, to get the guidance of an ace like Jiao Si would save those under Bogner from heading down the wrong route.

What the boss had demonstrated that day was perfect! Bogner couldn’t help but praise his boss to himself as he left.