Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2968: Bloodline Extraction & Collection

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

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

I looked at Veerott and then at Seraphina. To my annoyance, both of them were giving me the exact same pleading look. The kind usually reserved for abandoned puppies and people asking for unreasonable favors.

Unfortunately for them, it wasn’t working. Or at least, not completely. Because despite everything said and done, I still couldn’t bring myself to trust Seraphina.

I would be a fool if I did. Yes, Petra’s skill told she was being genuine and honest, but I, myself, had cheated it. So, I couldn’t trust.

Of course, there was a simple solution. I could feed her a Calamity Daughter Gem and be done with it. The moment the transformation was complete, loyalty would no longer be a concern. For this to work, me trusting her would become unnecessary. The problem would solve itself.

Yet I had no intention of doing that. In fact, I had already rejected that option once before. Back when Seraphina first arrived in Sky Blossom City. At the time, turning her into a Calamity Daughter Gem would have made things easier, especially when recruiting Veerott and Aqualas.

Yet I still chose not to do it. The reason was simple, Anna.

No, I wasn’t giving her relative a special treatment because of the relationship. And certainly not because of some cliché sentiments.

The reason was far more practical. I needed Seraphina exactly as she was. More specifically, I needed her bloodline. Among those with unparalleled bloodline I had encountered, Seraphina possessed one of the purest unparalleled bloodlines in existence, after Anna.

Her bloodline purity was so extraordinary that even the Field Marshal’s lineage fell slightly short in comparison. Though the difference was negligible by a fraction, a hair’s breadth. Nothing more.

That made Seraphina invaluable, as she would play a crucial role in helping me help Anna acquire her ancestor’s unparalleled physique.

The original source of their lineage. The progenitor from whom their bloodline descended. The very existence responsible for creating generations of unparalleled descendants. A physique that transcended ordinary inheritance. A physique capable of elevating Anna beyond the limitations of her current bloodline.

And Seraphina’s bloodline would be one of the components in making that happen. As such, transforming her into a Calamity Daughter Gem wasn’t merely wasteful. It was potentially destructive. The process could dilute her bloodline with Viltronain and World Calamity Tree lineages. Things could be much worse, especially if she were telling the truth and truly wanted to be with her friends, as then my cursed bloodline would turn her into a bloodkin.

Further corrupting her bloodline. As such, I wasn’t willing to risk it for the sake of short-term convenience. So despite how much easier things would become… Seraphina had remained Seraphina.

And it wasn’t just Seraphina. After discussing with Anna about having a baby with her, I had quietly compiled an extensive list of individuals connected to unparalleled bloodlines, both direct and indirect descendants, forgotten branches, diluted bloodlines. As long as there was a trace of the lineage remaining, they made the list.

Bloodline purity wasn’t the only thing that mattered. In fact, some of the most interesting subjects possessed surprisingly low purity levels. What interested me was potential. Even a heavily diluted bloodline could occasionally awaken a specific genetic marker inherited from its ancestors, a dormant trait, a unique mutation, an inherited gift that survived despite generations of dilution.

Those individuals were often far more valuable than their bloodline purity suggested. The Field Marshal was one such example. Strictly speaking, she wasn’t the best example of a diluted bloodline since her purity remained exceptionally high.

However, her starry eyes perfectly demonstrated what I meant. A unique trait inherited through her lineage. A rare manifestation that distinguished her from countless other descendants.

A more accurate example would be Luna Lorn. Her bloodline purity barely met acceptable standards. On paper, there was nothing particularly impressive about it. Many researchers would have dismissed her as an unremarkable descendant whose lineage was a step away from degrading.

They would have been wrong, terribly wrong. Despite her low bloodline purity, Luna inherited something far more valuable. Back when she was merely a Card King, It gave her the courage to stand her ground against Card Emperors and even semi-Card Demigods.

No one thought she was being reckless or foolish. But genuinely believed she belonged in the same conversation as them, because of it. And now that Luna had ascended to the rank of Card Emperor herself, that confidence had only become more outrageous. She no longer merely challenged semi-Card Demigods, she dared to stare down true Card Demigods without hesitation.

That kind of strength from bloodline wasn’t possible at her purity level. So, I was certain her bloodline has something unique just like her grandmother’s did. A lingering remnant of an ancestor who had once stood at the very pinnacle of existence. Which was precisely why I intended to gather them all.

The pure descendants, the diluted descendants, and hidden anomalies. Because when dealing with unparalleled bloodlines, the most valuable treasure wasn’t always purity. Sometimes it was the unexpected trait that managed to survive despite everything trying to erase it.

Therefore, I simply shook my head, and rejected her, “No, there is no place for you in my empire right now.”

The moment those words left my mouth, the reactions around me were immediate. Seraphina’s expression remained calm. However, Veerott looked devastated and Aqualas wasn’t much better. The two had genuinely hoped Seraphina would also be accepted by Southern Hope like they were.

After everything that had happened today, they had somehow managed to envision a future where all three of them remained together. Working together, arguing together, and causing trouble together. My rejection shattered that image instantly.

Seraphina, however, reacted very differently. She simply lowered her head and shook it lightly. As though she had expected this outcome all along. Yet despite being rejected, a gentle smile lingered on her lips. A small quiet smile. The kind that immediately put me on guard. My eyes narrowed wondering what she was thinking.

Then Seraphina spoke with a calm and respectful voice, “Can you give me a reason?”

“Please don’t misunderstand,” She raised her hand slightly. “I’m not trying to criticize you or challenge your decision. It’s simply for my own peace of mind.”

The smile on her lips widened ever so slightly. Then she looked directly into my eyes, justifying herself, “I applied for a position. And as the employer, I believe you owe me a reason for the rejection.”

The argument was completely absurd. Yet somehow, it also made perfect sense. Because this was Seraphina. A literal princess, the former Field Marshal, and current southern heir. A woman who had spent her entire life choosing what and who was worthy enough for her. People applied to serve under Seraphina. Not the other way around. Entire factions fought over the opportunity to recruit her.

Rejection was a concept she was familiar with. Especially these days, experiencing it personally. That was why this bothered her, not because her pride was wounded. At least not entirely. The real problem was curiosity. A dangerous curiosity. The same curiosity that had driven explorers across unknown continents and scholars into forbidden ruins. If she left without knowing why she had been rejected, the question would haunt her.

Long after today’s defeat had faded into memory. Long after the bruises healed. Long after the embarrassment disappeared. The mystery would remain. Why? Why Veerott? Why Aqualas? Why not her?

For someone like Seraphina, that unanswered question was infinitely more painful than rejection itself. And judging by the look in her eyes… She wasn’t planning to leave without an answer.

“Where do I even begin? The fact that you are the Southern Heir, or the fact that you tried to kill me and harm my people on numerous occasions…?”

I started to list her offenses, but then stopped mid-sentence. There was one definitive reason that trumped every other grievance I could possibly come up with.

“If I had to narrow it down to one thing, it’s because you use people like disposable pawns,” I said, looking her dead in the eye. “I still haven’t forgotten how you abandoned your own squad and fled for your life. I could never allow someone like that among my ranks.”

Seraphina listened to my reasons without so much as raising an eyebrow, appearing genuinely and honestly receptive to my criticism. I had no idea what she was trying to prove with this little show, but as far as I was concerned, I had given her a more than adequate explanation. Now, she could finally leave without forcing me to break my word to Veerott.

“I understand,” Seraphina nodded. But she was far from done.

Looking at me dead-on, she informed, “You are entirely right. I am not eligible to be a part of your empire at present. Therefore, I would like to formally enter your criminal rehabilitation and reintegration program.”