The Card Apprentice

Chapter 256: Preparing for War (I)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Bogner was still sighing when they returned to the base. Who would have thought Faya’s methods would be so ruthless? No wonder Faya’s style of doing business had always been so controversial. That was saying something when even such people as Bogner or Chen Mu, who had gone through quite a few battles, or the rich, whose lives were so superior, could feel chilled by it.

The apparatus on Chen Mu’s wrist suddenly sounded. It was the fatty. Could something have happened?

The fatty’s expression didn’t look good on the screen, and he opened by saying, “Things are not going so well, young brother! A troop of card artisans from Faya has just attacked a station of the Federation Comprehensive Academy, and there were heavy casualties!”

From the side, Bogner and Chen Mu looked at one another.

Seeing Chen Mu’s expression, the fatty immediately realized something might have happened. He asked in a sinking voice, “What’s up?”

“Faya just sprung an attack on Jie Yanbai over here. He must have been wounded.” Chen Mu continued on to narrate what had just happened in detail.

The fatty screamed, “What a gang of crazies Faya is! Have they really gone nuts?”

Chen Mu felt similarly perplexed after thinking hard about it, and Bogner looked puzzled as well. Faya’s behavior was really crazy! That wasn’t a provocation; it was a declaration of war! Still more perplexing, they stunningly declared war at the same time on two such huge powers! Was that gang at Faya just tired of living?

How would the Big Six tolerate Faya’s attacks? It was predictable that the ensuing counterattack by the Central Repository of the Classics and the Federation Comprehensive Academy would certainly be fierce. No one could bear the simultaneous attack from two establishments. The Big Six were at the top of the food chain in the federation. In in the minds of the people, Faya just barely squeezed in among those ranks. Faya could only stand at the tail end.

But now, the tail had just issued a challenge to the first two great powers at the same time. How could anyone in that world go on such a suicidal mission? Were the upper ranks of Faya having convulsions?

The fatty quickly calmed down. “We can’t pay attention to that now. Pomelo is going to get chaotic again, and we can’t intervene in the fighting among these big shots. We can lay off making cards for a while. Those with the leisure to be concerned with cards will certainly decrease during this time. But my young brother has to pay attention to safety. Jie Yanbai wasn’t wounded until he left you over there. Although he has always been big and open about that, it would be hard to guarantee the Central Repository of the Classics and the others won’t be angry with you. I reckon Jie Yanbai has guessed your identity. If they want to force you back to the Central Repository of the Classics, then this matter will give them a sufficient excuse.”

Chen Mu didn’t say anything, and Bogner remained cool.

“I’m going to contact Jiao Si to see if we can invite him there for a while. Having him, if the Central Repository of the Classics were considering making a move, they would have to think about it. You’ll have to recruit some manpower soon yourselves. Don’t be afraid of spending money. I’ll be sending over a big chunk of money. Don’t thank me; this will be an advance on profits, and I can deduct it from the auction later. No matter how you want to talk about it, let’s talk after we get past these difficulties.” The fatty was indeed worthy of doing great things, thinking clearly in the moment.

“Ok.” Chen Mu didn’t waste words since what the fatty said was right. If the Central Repository of the Classics really wanted to use force, he couldn’t think of many good ways out.

After disconnecting, Chen Mu immediately received the money the fatty sent over. It was 1.5 billion Oudi! Chen Mu felt a warmth in his heart, and he couldn’t help but smile bitterly. He really owed a lot for that favor.

Chen Mu knew a lot about the ups and downs of life. In that world, it was clearly easy to add icing to a cake, but to send coal while it was snowing was almost never seen! The first move was 1.5 billion. Even if the fatty had that much savings, it was still a shocking sum.

After taking the money, Chen Mu said to Bogner, “I’m handing the matter entirely over to you.”

“Yes, sir!” Even though he was about to face one of the Big Six—the Central Repository of the Classics—Bogner wasn’t the least bit timid. His tone was firm and alert. His eyes even showed a hint of excitement, while their cool pupils showed a repressed fighting spirit!

“Right, and have everyone send over their cards. I want to see if I can make any improvements.” He needed to use some tricks to increase his side’s power. That was the easiest and fastest way for him to do it.

“Mmmm, I’ll have them send them over right away.” Bogner was quite pleased, knowing who that boss of his was. As the maker of the numbered series of cards that had rocked the federation, that level of card master would never just casually do something. As long as the boss truly thought he could improve the cards, their power would immediately surge. He had carefully selected all those people, and he trusted them completely.

Soon, the card artisans had turned over all the cards in their hands to Chen Mu. They still didn’t know Chen Mu was the one who’d made the numbered series of cards. If it hadn’t been for Bogner’s extremely stern order, they would never have given over their cards, which were as precious as life to them. Even though it was Bogner who’d sent down the mortal order, there were still quite a few who looked reluctant.

It was a good thing there weren’t many of them and only 20 cards. Chen Mu started to study them right away. They were all ace card artisans, so their main cards would naturally be unusual. There were quite a few clever concepts, which really took up a lot of time for Chen Mu. But Chen Mu was no longer a youth who didn’t understand anything. His skills at making cards were maturing day by day, and the success of the numbered series of cards had given him quite a bit of self-confidence.

Moreover, he not only had good equipment there, but he also had three storerooms piled with precious materials.

Early the next day, having pulled an all-nighter, Chen Mu called Bogner over with bloodshot eyes to deliver the cards.

Chen Mu’s efficiency really surprised Bogner, who had originally thought the boss would need at least three to five days to complete that many cards. He had never imagined the boss could finish modifying them in a single evening. He was internally speechless, though he never showed it on his face.

“Have them try them out. If they need any improvements, let me know.” Tossing out that phrase, the already exhausted Chen Mu drilled into this room and slept as soon as his head touched the bed.

Bogner distributed the cards and took two people out with him.

He had also been up late the night before, finally coming up with a plan that rather pleased him. He took in a cold breath of fresh air and quickly cleared his head, turning over in his mind the plan he’d developed to be certain there weren’t any holes in it. He finally showed a satisfied smile.

Bogner’s snow-white teeth were dazzling under the bright sunlight, like a cheetah lurking in the underbrush of the jungle baring its fangs.

The recruitment center was full of commotion, with people everywhere discussing the previous night’s encounter and ambush between Jie Yanbai, along with the attack sprung on the Federation Comprehensive Academy.

One of the card artisans with Bogner couldn’t restrain himself. “What are we doing recruiting so many rookies, boss-man?”

The other card artisan who’d come along had the same doubts. “Yeah, boss-man, I could kill off 100 such rookies!” He wasn’t exaggerating. The people Bogner was recruiting were all young card artisans who had just broken through the fourth level of perceptual strength, with some of them even below the third level. Seeing those greenhorn-looking card artisans, the two were doubtful. If they were to really lead them onto the battlefield, it wouldn’t be any use beyond sending them to their deaths.

Those people had never been through battle. Nobody knew better than they did how much distance there was between novices and old hands. But, although the two of them had their doubts, they knew Bogner’s moves were well-admired. They naturally understood that since the boss-man was doing it that way, there must be something to it.

Bogner shook his head. “You’ll get it when the time comes.”

Just then, the two card artisans at his side went on alert, protecting Bogner between them. A man with a chilly expression and joined eyebrows walked over to stand in front of the three and said in a cold voice, “I’m applying.”

By the time Chen Mu woke up, it was already nearly dusk. He saw Bogner bringing someone back who was about 45 years old. Chen Mu was taken aback. He had actually found someone he knew within that gang—the bar-browed man! That sole authentic legacy of the Night of the Cross was among them!

Pointing to the bar-browed man, Chen Mu asked Bogner, “What’s up with him?”

Since the boss recognized that guy, Bogner thought to himself before asking, “Does the boss know him? His moves are pretty good. We recruited him at the recruitment center. Is something wrong with him?”

Chen Mu remained silent, not knowing how to explain the matter. He couldn’t help but speculate about the bar-browed man’s objective. He must have still been intent on the breath control method. Still, no matter what, Chen Mu couldn’t teach breath control to anyone else. If breath control were considered a weapon of war, it would be by far the sharpest!

He also found the issue of the bar-browed man to be a little tricky, so he simply threw it back to Bogner. “Manage it as you see fit.” He believed the bar-browed man certainly wasn’t up to anything crooked. He and Wei-ah had utterly stunned him that day.

Bogner nodded, although his brow hadn’t smoothed. The power of the bar-browed man really was outstanding. However, unless it reached the level of Jiao Si, no solo power would have any influence on the overall situation. Once his plan was put into practice, it wasn’t going as smoothly as he’d imagined. He recruited a lot fewer than he thought he would.

At just that time, the fatty called again. He gave Chen Mu a penetrating look and said, “I’ve contacted Jiao Si, and he expressed that he’d like to give it a shot. He would even bring along some students and teachers ahead of time to help out. But he has one condition.”

“What condition?” Chen Mu had already guessed.

“He hopes to get the instructions to make the folding Yanbo card.” The fatty hesitated before speaking. He knew the request was rather inconsiderate, and Chen Mu had flatly refused last time, showing his feelings very clearly. But, with Jiao Si taking to the field, his demands didn’t seem so extreme. He would also be taking a big risk. Once he set out, the position of the Origins Academy would be perfectly clear regarding any issues with Chen Mu.

He wasn’t only representing himself, but the entire Origins Academy.

Earning the enmity of the Big Six would be a high price given the current power of the Origins Academy. If the folding Yanbo card weren’t really so outstanding, Jiao Si would absolutely never have intervened in the matter.

“Ok!” Chen Mu agreed without hesitation. The instructions to make the folding Yanbo card really shouldn’t have been given out, but what were they worth compared to his own life?

Bogner’s eyes immediately lit up. Their conversation had suddenly provided him with a way to resolve his own issues. He rushed to interject. “Dean Jiao Si doesn’t need to bring any card artisans ahead of time, but we hope he could send over some student recruits from the Origins Academy—card artisans with a perceptual strength above level three, and under 25 years old. For other positions, we still need about 20 powerful card masters. Of course, that group of card masters would be returned to the Origins Academy afterward.”

“Perceptual strength above level three?” The fatty looked skeptical. “When did you become the garbage collection center?”

“You’ll get it when the time comes,” Bogner said with a composed expression.

“Mmmm, That’s easy. There are such card artisans everywhere, and I believe Jiao Si will be grateful to you. He would also be eager for the card masters to be able to receive the guidance of my young brother. I’m only afraid Jiao Si will be having happy dreams at night.” The fatty laughed. He was happy to see the two of them striking a deal. They were both important to him.

What the fatty said wasn’t wrong. There was no competition outside for the kinds of card artisans Bogner needed. No matter which school, they would all have a large number of card artisans who hadn’t yet made anything of themselves and would only have gotten to that level. Those people’s employment issues were always a headache for the schools. Bogner had just solved a big issue for them, so of course they would be grateful.

Sure enough, the response came back quickly from Jiao Si’s side, which agreed without hesitation. Jiao Si would first be bringing the required card artisans and card masters along the next day. Such an effective result proved how eager Jiao Si was for the method to make the folding Yanbo card.

The newly recruited card artisans entered the base with Bogner, all of them looking pleasantly surprised. They were immediately captivated by the high-grade base. Even in their wildest dreams, they would never have dared to imagine they would work at such a base someday. From what they could recognize, that was a place where high-level card artisans worked.

Only the Central Island Firm’s base could match it in all of Pomelo. The advanced facilities made them inwardly speechless, and quite a few of them couldn’t help but feel timid. Their hearts were heated up at how big they’d hit it that time. Although they still didn’t know who their boss was or what power he actually belonged to, one thing they were sure of was that it was no ordinary power.

That filled each of them with a lot of spirit and hope for their futures. However, none of them had realized what awaited them wasn’t anything like a fairy tale—it was more like hell!

After getting them settled, Bogner arrived at the training field. He was stunned by the frenzied scene there.

There was shouting, explosions, and whistling all mixed up chaotically into a lot of noise. Those were the card artisans who had been so calm before. They now seemed to have all gone crazy.

Seeing Bogner, Crow Feather rushed to stop his training and ran over. Barefoot as he was, his face was smiling as if it had bloomed. “Boss-man, boss-man! How did you get my card back to me in one night and make it into something so awesome? Boss-man, if you hadn’t taken my card for the night—no, no, no wait! Take it a few more nights…”

They had suddenly discovered how much more powerful their cards were. It was like a swordsman suddenly discovering the ordinary sword in his hands had become a precious sword overnight, and it was sharp beyond compare. How could that not make them crazy with joy?

At their level, it would be difficult for them to get a suitable card—more difficult than someone like Chen Mu could ever imagine. Although they had a good income, given the cost of a high-level card on the market, they could only hope and sigh. And, not every high-level card would be suited to them. The cards now in their hands would have been practiced for five or six years at the least, and those who’d studied longer might have stretched into ten or more years. If one were to change cards, that would mean they would require adapting and delving into another kind of energy composition. That was something they really didn’t want to do.

Finding high-level cards was difficult, but it was still more difficult to find a high-level card that was suited to oneself. Unless one was going to rise to the level of Jiao Si, their understanding of energy had already reached a rather central place.

It was then as though Chen Mu had taken their cards up another level. Although the energy composition had undergone some transformation, it came from the same place as the previous one, after all. Their comprehension and adaptation were both much smoother and easier!

Bogner saw how frenzied the training field had become. Seeing that, he immediately made some adjustments to the training plan, increasing the card artisans’ free training time. They needed to adapt to their revised cards as soon as possible. That was the only way they could bring the greatest degree of fighting power into play. Otherwise, never mind the group cooperation; their solo fighting power would never rise and might even fall.

After revising the training plan, Bogner went to look for Chen Mu. He needed his boss to personally carry out the most critical part of his plan.