Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2890: Berg District, Scarlet Berg

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Western Region, Berg District, Scarlet Berg

”Are you sure this is a first-tier city?” Aurelia asked her guide, Jonas Kobb, and the gang that had recently joined the Bright Lions Security Agency and were now acting as her escorts through the city.

”Boss, it might be a little shabbier than other first-tier cities, but it’s still a first-tier city,” Jonas replied awkwardly, unable to hide his embarrassment. ”Actually, the fact that this place still looks so poor and run-down despite being a first-tier city, yet so many demigods still chose to settle down and raise families here, says a lot.”

The others quickly nodded in agreement. By now, they knew exactly how unpredictable Aurelia could be, so they did their best to keep her satisfied, even if it meant slipping in the occasional bit of flattery.

What they failed to realize, however, was that this was all part of her evaluation. Aurelia was testing which of them were suitable to oversee and manage the Tripoint Border City recruits within the Bright Lions Security Agency. After all, the foundation of the agency was brotherhood.

As for the Bright Lions branch stationed at the Devil’s Table itself, it would still be led and staffed by veteran members. After all, it was destined to become one of the agency’s most profitable branches.

”What does that say?” Aurelia asked Jonas curiously.

Jonas smiled before answering, ”It says the city officials here are extremely corrupt and the fact that demigods are willing to settle down here overlooking that unchecked corruption means there’s a lot of money to be made in this place.”

Aurelia smiled from ear to ear, clearly amused by Jonas’s witty remark. At that moment, she decided to let him continue leading his gang of friends even within her organization.

In her eyes, Jonas was the real deal. After all, gathering and keeping under control a group made up of the angry young progeny of exiled noble families was no easy feat.

”Enough sightseeing. Take me to where the kids hang out in this dump of a city,” Aurelia ordered, looking more fired up than ever to take over the streets of Scarlet Berg City.

After all, the revolution was only a side quest for the Bright Lions. Their real objective was to make obscene amounts of money. If they failed to become just as profitable as the other organizations, they would not only fall out of favor but also prove every doubter right, those who believed a bunch of high school dropouts and fresh graduates could never be more than a gang of ruffians by going against society’s norms.

”They usually hang out at the Guild Association Mall right in front of us. The local gangs took over the place after the city’s Guild Association branch was driven into bankruptcy by rival merchant guilds using all kinds of underhanded methods,” Jonas said, pointing toward the massive mall a few hundred yards away.

”What about the city enforcers? Aren’t they obliged to protect the royal family’s property?” a hoarse, unmotivated voice suddenly asked.

Jonas turned toward the cloaked figure who had spoken. Aside from Deputy Leader Jaya, Aurelia had only brought this mysterious individual with her to inspect Scarlet Berg City, while the rest of the Bright Lions stayed behind to establish the agency’s branch at the Devil’s Table.

”The enforcers are just as corrupt and useless as the rest of the city officials. They don’t dare mess with those high school gangs since most of them are led by heirs of the city’s prominent families. These gangs fight, kill, and commit all kinds of atrocities there, yet nobody cares because the city has basically marked the mall as a dangerous territory.”

Jonas explained as best he could, fully aware of how absurd it sounded to say that a bunch of high school gangs had taken over the Guild Association Mall.

”That makes things easier. Let me take the lead this time,” Jaya demanded, stepping forward.

But Aurelia merely smiled while staring at the Guild Association Mall ahead of them, the excitement in her eyes only growing brighter.

Meanwhile, Jonas panicked. ”Boss, you said this was just a reconnaissance mission!”

The faces of Jonas’s gang of friends instantly turned pale. It wasn’t that they were afraid to fight, they had grown up around violence their entire lives. What terrified them was the sheer number of enemies gathered inside their own territory.

Charging into the Guild Association Mall with just this small group felt less like reconnaissance and more like carrying out a suicide mission.

Before Aurelia could calm Jonas down, Jaya suddenly shot toward the mall at full speed, leaving behind only a few words.

”First one there gets to take the lead!”

The moment she heard that, Aurelia abandoned everything and exploded forward as if her life depended on it, golden light erupting around her legs as she dashed toward the Guild Association Mall.

The mysterious cloaked figure merely scoffed at the sight. ”How childish.”

However, upon noticing that Jonas and his gang were still frozen in place, he sharply barked, ”What, are you planning to let your leader and deputy leader fight by themselves?”

”Fuck it!” Jonas roared, as if trying to force the fear out of his heart, mind, and body all at once, before charging toward the mall. The rest of his gang exchanged nervous looks for a split second before gritting their teeth and rushing after him.

Meanwhile, the mysterious cloaked figure leaped into the air and vanished without a trace, as though he had never existed in the first place.

*BOOM!*

Seeing the mall’s front entrance sealed shut behind layers of barricades made from massive stone blocks and uprooted trees, Jaya didn’t slow down for even a second. She knew that if she hesitated, Aurelia would steal the lead from her over some technicality.

So instead, she smashed straight through the barricade.

Stone exploded apart, shattered wood flew through the air, and the entire entrance caved inward beneath the force of her charge as she burst into the mall like a living cannonball.

Sliding into the central atrium, Jaya immediately turned back just in time to see Aurelia entering through the ruined entrance behind her.

”I won! I won!” Jaya shouted triumphantly, practically glowing with smug satisfaction.