Different World Card Master: Change the World with Cards

135: PartnershipIt wasn’t until they had eaten most of their meal that Xu Bai asked the waiter to leave them undisturbed.

Only then did Xu Bai bring up the main topic of the day—inquiring about the relationship between the Government and the Card Maker Guild to Wu Zijin.

Two chapters have passed, and the main topic has just begun.

Uh, what does this count as?

Many people live most of their lives before finding what they want to do... ”Relationship? The relationship between the Government and the Card Maker Guild!”

Wu Zijin was a bit surprised that Xu Bai would suddenly ask him this question.

However, this was not a secret, so he lowered his head in thought for a moment, then took a sip of wine to moisten his throat.

”Let me first clarify their chronological relationship with you. The Card Maker Guild was established first, and the Tianlong Republic was established later.”

Xu Bai’s eyes widened, ”Then are their relations not good? Does the Guild want to lead the country itself? Does it want to overthrow the rule of the Tianlong Republic? Or does the Tianlong Republic want to eliminate the Card Maker Guild as an unstable factor?”

”Stop, stop, stop.”

Wu Zijin quickly interrupted Xu Bai’s speculations, afraid that if Xu Bai continued, he would think that the Tianlong Republic and the Card Maker Guild were about to go to war.

”It’s not what you think. Although the Card Maker Guild has been around for almost three hundred years, and the Tianlong Republic for almost one hundred and fifty years; however, the nature of the two is different.

The Card Maker Guild only serves Card Makers, and most of the powerful Card Makers within it have no ambitions. They also like peace, as only in a peaceful environment can their research proceed undisturbed by external factors.

So, they also support the Tianlong Republic. You can see from the many tasks published by the Tianlong Republic in the mission hall that there is quite a lot of cooperation between them.”

At this point, seeing Xu Bai nod, Wu Zijin took a sip of water and continued.

”However, the Card Maker Guild also has its independence and autonomy; it does not completely obey or entirely belong to the Tianlong Republic.

For example, for some custom cards tasks issued by the Tianlong Republic, Card Makers can choose whether to accept them or not; you are not forced to take them.

It is a cooperative relationship, not a subordinate one.”

Xu Bai thought for a moment and directly stated the point where conflicts between them might arise: ”Is it that the Tianlong Republic wants to take over the Card Maker Guild and manage Card Makers, not wanting such a large unstable factor to exist internally, but many Card Makers want freedom and don’t want to be restricted?”

”Yes, more or less. People with strong abilities don’t want to be constrained. Just think about yourself; if you were highly capable but constantly managed by others, wouldn’t you be quite unhappy?

Also, there’s the concern that if they were managed by the Tianlong Republic, Card Makers might be exploited, forced to only create cardss and research things that the Government wants. Do you think such a situation would arise?”

Xu Bai nodded in agreement.

”Indeed, both sides actually have their own positions. I think neither side is wrong; now both are seeking common ground while reserving differences and developing together.”

”Yes, you are right. Both sides are seeking common ground while reserving differences and developing together. The Guild will not interfere whether the Card Makers inside have a good relationship with the Tianlong Republic or not.

What the Guild wants is for Card Makers to be able to focus on researching and making cardss. Although the Tianlong Republic also wants this, it will also have some selfish motives.”

Hearing him say that, Xu Bai felt relieved.

This meant he could cooperate with both the Card Maker Guild and the Tianlong Republic.

”Wu Bai, then who should I approach to cooperate with the Card Maker Guild?”

”Well, in our provincial Card Maker Guild, there are only two people in charge: one is Old Lu, who registered you, and the other is Ms. Yin Jia, who reviews theses. You’ve met both of them; you can go directly to them.

However, you still need a reason that can impress them, such as a thesis, for them to have a reason to cooperate with you.”

”What if I want to cooperate with both parties?”

”Cooperate with both parties? Are you referring to cooperating with both the Card Maker Guild and the Tianlong Republic? In that case, you would first need to submit your thesis to Ms. Yin Jia. After it passes, she will contact official personnel from the Tianlong Republic to come over, and then they will evaluate it together. If the evaluation passes, then you can discuss cooperation.

After all, many Card Makers want official support, as the Government is quite wealthy. But if your thesis doesn’t pass, don’t even think about it; they aren’t fools.”

As he listened, Xu Bai looked at the other person with a somewhat strange expression.

”Listening to your tone, why does it sound a bit regretful?”

”Of course, I’m regretful. There was once a piece of fat meat in front of me that I didn’t eat. Now I regret it and want to eat it, but they are only willing to give me one percent of the size of the original fat meat. Don’t you think I’m regretful?”

Wu Zijin had a mournful face.

”Haha, you’re talking about that material you researched before, aren’t you?”

”Exactly! After I researched that material, the Tianlong Republic also extended an olive branch, wanting to invest in my subsequent research, but I refused. Now, after two years of no research results, their investment has been reduced. Alas, I regret it so much!

Xiaobai, if you encounter such an opportunity in the future, you must not miss it! Who knows when new research results will be achieved. No matter what, get the meat first.

I was too young and impetuous back then. You must learn from my mistake!”

With that, Wu Zijin took a small piece of bread and bit into it fiercely, as if he wanted to bite his past self to death.

”So, are you going to eat this piece of meat now?”

”No, after all, the conditions have dropped too much compared to before. I can still persevere. I’ve invested too much; I can’t bear to give up, nor can I bear to give it to others.”

”Aren’t you afraid of going down a dead end?”

”What’s there to be afraid of? I won’t starve to death anyway, and I really enjoy doing what I love.”

Xu Bai did not try to dissuade him. Everyone has their own choices, and others cannot make decisions for them; as long as they feel it’s right, that’s all that matters... Back home, Xu Bai thought carefully again.

He felt that using his real name directly was not safe, so he planned to use the pseudonym ’Bai Xiaobai’ to publish the theory and practice of dry battery production.

At the same time, he also wanted to cooperate with both parties under the name ’Bai Xiaobai,’ which would also help maintain confidentiality from the outside world.

His three previous theses had all passed review, and he had been sent a free journal for each, with his original name written on them. This would allow the two identities to be distinguished.

Now, a large portion of the points from journal publications and citations had been spent, and his badge currently only had a little over 300 points left, which was relatively less used compared to Wu Zijin.

It could be said that without points, his research could not proceed smoothly, and if he wanted to conduct further research, he would need more points.

Currently, he wanted points on one hand, and on the other, he needed protection.

Therefore, he needed to establish cooperation with both parties.