Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2784: Boss’s Favor

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City, Teleportation Hub

”Boss, thank you for the gift. I won’t disappoint your trust in us,” Aurelia said loudly as soon as we arrived outside, glancing at the demigods from the Freedom Fighters with a taunting smile. With a card spirit now equipped in her grimoire, there was little left to restrain her arrogance and ambition, except me, hopefully.

”You crazy, little girl? Believe it or not, I’ll slap that smirk off your face if you don’t wipe it right now,” Blair snapped, taking the bait.

Without me realizing it, my various organizations had begun competing for my favor, and Aurelia was the most aggressive among them. Until now, her low realm had held her back, but with the Forsling Corpse Puppet card spirit in her possession, all bets were off.

Hearing this, Agatha sighed and shook her head before turning to Aurelia. As expected, the smirk on Aurelia’s face had only grown wider, darker. What shocked Agatha most was that, even with the city on the verge of burning, they were still fighting over something so senseless. These people were just as crazy as their boss.

”Cut it out,” I said, glancing at Blair and Aurelia before adding, ”I didn’t give you those card spirits to fight each other, but to protect the city. Got it?”

Seeing them both nod, I turned to Field Marshal Lorn and Corey, adding, ”Now that the preparations are complete and the team is assembled, let’s go give the world our answer to their decrees and counter-decrees, this world is ours, and if they don’t like it, they’re free to leave it!”

I then faced the puzzled crowd and revealed, ”Corey, the Field Marshal, and I will deal with the fools gathered two hundred miles from here. The rest of you will guard the city under Henricks’ leadership.”

I paused, then raised a hand explaining, ”Hold on, let me finish. I chose this approach because I believe others will try to attack the city while we engage the central government’s army. Make sure that anyone who dares attack this city finds their final resting place here.”

I swept my gaze across them. ”Now, speak if you have any concerns.”

”Have you informed Her Highnesses Susan, Anna, and Jill?” Henricks asked, bringing up what I had been avoiding. Even if they understood what I was trying to do, they would never approve.

Shaking my head, I said, ”That will be your first task as acting in charge after I leave. Anyone else?”

”Permission to follow you to the battlefield, boss,” Aurelia asked, her eyes blazing. Aba and Laura looked no different. To their disappointment, I shook my head, informing, ”I need your talents here. You’ll be in charge of the citizens’ safety. If necessary, evacuate them to Freedom City. And when I say ’in charge,’ I don’t mean you’re responsible for every single life. I mean you do your best to protect them. Beyond that, it’s their fate. We are not omnipotent. Got it?”

I wasn’t just saying that to politely refuse Aurelia’s request. Her public relations skills were phenomenal. In a crisis, I couldn’t think of anyone better to manage the citizens. Not that it would come to that, with Redfall, Yin Widow, Anna, and Henricks watching over the city, along with those chosen by the Forsling Corpse Puppet card spirits, the other demigods, and the houndragon battalion.

”Got it, boss!” Only after Aurelia nodded did my gaze move on. I glanced at the crowd and said, ”I’m not a general or a ruler. I can’t give a speech that sends you happily marching to your deaths. But I can promise you this—victory will be ours. The world will be ours!”

The Field Marshal teleported us out of the city on a high note, leaving the crowd wanting more and filled with hope. Soon, we met up with Sansa, who was staying in her camp set up by the Emissary of Light and the Supreme Leader’s camps, without their knowledge. Naturally, her base was protected by a series of space isolation barriers and anti-spying array formations.

Even though I had already informed her, it wasn’t easy convincing the Field Marshal to go along with the plan. She didn’t trust that Sansa was truly on our side or that she was wholeheartedly helping us eliminate her former allies. Since we arrived, she had been on full alert. Ready to teleport us out of her any second.

”So, what are we waiting for?” Corey asked, clearly uneasy about lingering so close to the enemy camp, even with a turncoat amidst the enemies.

”We’re waiting for her paw clan to bring you an item carrying Gidion Grim’s fresh scent,” I replied. ”Lil’ Baem will use it to lock onto him until you find and kill him. That man is a slippery bastard, you’ll need it. If he tries to escape using the devil merchant code’s teleportation function, you’ll still be able to hunt him down.”

I had chosen her to face Handsome Fox for a reason. Lil’ Baem’s chemical collector on her tongue, combined with her vomeronasal organ, formed a high-precision tracking system, allowing her to follow her prey across realms and dimensions.

With Corey’s new powers, combined with the support of her Forsling Corpse Puppet card spirit and Lil’ Baem, she wouldn’t lose to someone like Handsome Fox. Even if something unexpected happened, Lil’ Baem was confident she could escape while protecting her master.

”Um, I see. Good idea,” Corey said, nodding, though she couldn’t help but wonder how I knew about Lil’ Baem’s smelling abilities when she had never told me. It shouldn’t have been possible for me to learn about them from any other source, as Lil’ Baem was one of a kind. Well, she didn’t know I didn’t need any other source when Lil’ Baem was right in front of me.

Then I noticed the Field Marshal watching Dredre eat seeds on my shoulder. She looked like she wanted to say something but couldn’t. Her face had turned a concerning shade of crimson.