Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2599: Southern Man-Whore

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City, TSR Guild, New Headquarters

Thinking of Corey snapped me out of my spiral. Having the memories of Earth, she was likely the only one who could truly understand why I struggled so much with the idea of embracing polygamy. Setting those thoughts aside, I headed toward the teleportation hub.

”Hi there, boss,” Cindy greeted me as I arrived. She had clearly traveled from the Southern Capital to Sky Blossom City after learning I was here. I suspected Henricks had tipped her off.

I nodded to her and couldn’t help asking, ”Should I be worried that you’re already forming factions, even before we can be considered an established force?”

”Boss, it’s the only way for us little guys to stay relevant in your fast-growing organization. Otherwise, in the blink of an eye, we’ll be replaced by card emperors and demigods,” Cindy replied candidly.

She wasn’t wrong. I had already brought in the Western Princess and her ragtag group of demigods, and now I was planning to bring in Jill, Asong, and Agatha as well. With so many powerful and capable figures joining, it would be difficult for talents like Cindy and Diana to rise any further in ranks. At best, they would be stuck at the middle tiers of my organization.

Yes, my organization operated on a merit-based system, but there was no denying that a low-level card apprentice could never earn merit at the same pace as a high-level one. Left unchecked, it would simply become another case of the rich getting richer while the poor grew poorer. That wasn’t to say the high-level card apprentices didn’t deserve their rewards. They did. But as their leader, it was my responsibility to help everyone grow, so they could continue earning more merit by serving me more effectively.

It was my duty to ensure that the ceiling above every member of my organization kept rising. If it didn’t, they would begin to feel trapped, pressured into survival mode, and driven to actions they would never normally consider. Everyone was fighting for a better future. I didn’t want to be the one who denied them that chance.

With that in mind, I met Cindy’s gaze and said, ”I completely overlooked that. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Give me some time. I’ll figure out a solution.”

”Why?” Cindy replied, a hint of self-reproach in her voice. ”It’s not your fault that our talent isn’t good enough.”

”Neither is it your fault,” I said firmly, knowing from experience that a person’s talent alone did not define their worth. And sadly in this world no amount of hard work was enough to make up for talent.

Cindy was taken aback by my words. After a moment, she shook her head, assuming I was merely trying to comfort her, and continued with her self-deprecating smile, ”Yes, I know that. I blame my luck.”

”I don’t know about your luck,” I replied, ”but I do know this. You chose to follow me, and you’re giving me everything you have. I can’t walk your path for you, but I will make sure you have every opportunity and every tool you need to keep up with me. That, I promise. So don’t lose sight of your dreams yet. Don’t get lost in these games. Let’s make it there together. Okay?” I said, offering her a simple, honest smile.

”Okay!” Cindy answered eagerly. Then, returning my smile with one of her own, she added, ”Now I see why those girls keep falling for you left and right.”

”Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for me too,” I teased as we walked toward the teleportation array.

”Unfortunately, no. Your aesthetics aren’t my type. Only little girls like Jaya would be into that,” Cindy clarified in excessive detail, to the point that it felt like she was overcompensating, as if trying to hide something.

”So, you like a dad bod?” I asked. After all, my physique was the pinnacle of the human male form. It didn’t get better than this.

”Yes, but not the kind that comes from overeating and a lack of exercise,” Cindy replied. ”I mean the natural kind. Aged like fine wine. Dense, rugged beard. Menacing, yet comforting at the same time. Every time I kiss him, it reminds me that I’m with a man. A true man.” Lost in her imagination, she forgot herself and began to overshare.

”Ahem,” I cleared my throat, feeling uncomfortable, snapping her out of her trance.

She blinked, then instead of apologizing, asserted firmly, ”You’re the one who asked.”

”This counts as sexual harassment, right?” I said, reminding her that we were still at work and that I was, in fact, her boss.

”Boss, no one would believe you,” Cindy replied calmly. ”Your reputation already precedes you across the five regions.”

”What reputation?” I asked, genuinely astonished.

”Come on, boss. First Anna, then Susan, and now Jill. People are bound to talk,” Cindy said as if it were inevitable. ”They even started a betting pool on which other women you might be seeing on the side. Someone made a whole list. There were a few names on it that even surprised me.”

”It hasn’t even been a day,” I complained helplessly. There were just too many card apprentices with too much time on their hands out there.

”Hey, boss,” Cindy continued, leaning in conspiratorially. ”Why don’t you tell me who else you’re seeing besides those three? If I win, I’ll split half the profits with you.” She tried to pass it off as a joke, but the glint of greed in her eyes betrayed her.

”Have you lost your damn mind?” I thundered. ”Where are your priorities, woman? Your boss is being publicly shamed across the grimoire network, and all you can think about is hitting the jackpot with insider information instead of defending my reputation?”

”Boss, I am defending you,” Cindy replied smoothly, rubbing her hands together with a sly grin. ”This is my way of getting back at them for insulting you. If I cheat them blind and take all their money, wouldn’t that be the most satisfying revenge?”

”Sure, they lose money, you make money, but what about my reputation?” I snapped, thoroughly displeased. ”The five regions will stop calling me the Southern Hope and start calling me the Southern man-whore.”

The thought made my blood boil. Whoever had started that betting pool was going to pay for it.