The Card Apprentice

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Numerical series card! This thought suddenly emerged in Janet's mind. And it was precisely this thought that caused her to lose her mind. It was a numerical series card! This set of cards were so famous that it was impossible for any card salesperson to not know them. When 013 was sold, she watched the entire livestream. When she saw a four star card being sold at a sky-high price, she almost lost it.

She didn't know for sure how powerful these cards were. But as a professional salesperson, she was directly impacted by how valuable these cards were! Any three star card from this series could be sold for several ten millions! This fact made her drop her jaw. She always thought that the residents in the common residential districts were poor, until she saw the livestream, and realized that they were actually loaded!

It was also that very livestream that changed her many views on the common residential districts. She, like most people, had thought that good card masters were only found in the Five Flourishing Districts or Kyoto. Their impression of the common residential districts were a poor, backward place. However, when they saw Madame Zhilian, or Jie Yanbai, of the Central Repository of the Classics, Zhu Ning of the Federation Comprehensive Academy, and Faya chasing after the numerical series cards, only did they knew that the common residential district was full of rich people.

The mysterious card master did not appear all these while. Does anyone know who he actually was? But his fame has spread throughout the Federation along with the appearance of the numerical series cards. Rumor has it that somebody were collecting the patterns of the numerical series cards, attempting to compile a collection. Now that they were being collected, these cards were spreading like wildfire in the card master communities. Every single card master who saw these patterns would idolize the unknown card master.

But now…

Janet felt her heart beating unusually fast, so fast that she almost couldn't catch her breath. Her mouth was dry. She was nervous! Abnormally nervous!

Damnit, how could I be nervous!

She wanted to yell at herself, but no voice came through her mouth. The legendary, mysterious grand master could be the very masked man standing before him. How could she not be nervous? It was like snowing Oudi in her eyes!

Godammit, that's loads of money!

She bit her own tongue and the flash of pain brought her back to reality.

"Is there an issue?" Chen Mu was curious when he saw Janet's stupefied face. He could not imagine that the remark on his own card would create a world of imagination in her head. The remark was written down by himself. The numerical series cards were trending in Pomelo, several ten thousand miles away. He didn't think that an incident in a typical city within the common residential district would spread all the way here, to the Five Flourishing Districts, and it would still be remembered.

In Pomelo, he made 22 numerical series cards. The [Wheel] on Xiao Bo's hand was 023. To thank Xiao Liqian, he made five more cards for her. This [Explosive Projectile] was numbered 029 by himself. When he made it he marked the number down without a thought. It seemed like Chen Mu still had quite some habits of a technician.

"Not at all! Not a problem!" Janet was all smiles when she finally got herself together. She respectfully handed the [Explosive Projectile] back to Chen Mu, "Please, ignore these two rude fellas! This way, respected grand master."

Grand master? Chen Mu was dumbfounded and amused. In what way was he a grand master? But since his mask covered his face, his expressions were hidden. And it was too much a hassle to explain himself, so he received the card from Janet and followed her. Just when he took his first few steps, he asked, "Where to?"

In Janet's eyes, Chen Mu was a human figurine made out of pure Oudi. Then, her smile got a lot sweeter, "to celebrate your masterpiece, we have prepared a celebratory banquet. This way, please."

"Masterpiece? Haha, how is this even a masterpiece?" Chen Mu laughed nonchalantly. But after making cards with his full concentration for a whole day, he was quite hungry. As long as there is food, he's good.

As expected from a grand master! Janet's admiration was overflowing from her eyes. See, this is why he can earn so much!

Janet's pace has never been faster. With a "human Oudi" beside her, she'd achieved record-breaking efficiency. As they were on their way, she passed down orders via a communication card with a low voice. When they arrived at the VIP hall, a mini banquet has been set.

When he saw the table full of food, Chen Mu's stomach let out a cry. He did not pretend to be courteous, but started to stuff his mouth with food.

Since he was eating, he had to pry his mask open a little.

He seems young! Janet stared attentively at Chen Mu's exposed chin. Generally, women are more sensitive about skin. She secretly judged that the masked man was no older than 35. When she thought of this, Chen Mu's value in her eyes was immediately raised by a lot. In these times, capable people were rare, and capable young people were even rarer. The rarer the more valuable!

Looking at Chen Mu stuffing himself, Janet's smile was turning her eyes into lines. But when she saw Mu Chen slowing down, she adjusted her face and went back to the professional smile.

Chen Mu was finally satisfied. Janet, who was waiting at the side all the while went up to him, "How was it, grand master? Was it to your taste?"

"Not bad," Chen Mu was fairly pleased. Although his economic condition was much better than before, but most of his thoughts were spent on making cards and battling. So he didn't put much attention on enjoying life. Moreover, Janet has ordered for a banquet of the highest class, how could Chen Mu be not satisfied? When he heard her referring to himself as a grand master, he felt a little strange. But he saw this as a commercial tactic, just another salesperson calling a potential buyer 'grand master'.

Janet was covertly happy when he saw Chen Mu satisfied. Getting his approval, even a little, would be beneficial to her career advancement.

"Say, grand master, did you just arrive at Dongrui City?" Janet saw the alarm in his eyes, so she quickly said, "As a grand master of your level, you must have your own card making room, right? I was born and raised here in Dongrui, but I've never seen such an amazing card master like yourself!"

You are the maker of the numerical series cards, it's impossible you're from around here. Janet thought.

"Oh," Chen Mu expressed his relief.

"Wasn't it fate that you've come to our humble shop? Allow me to gift this golden card to you, grand master. With this card, all your expenses and material cost here will get a 30% discount! From today onwards, you will enjoy the privilege of the highest class!" Janet continued to exploit the opportunity.

After taking a suspicious look at her, Chen Mu took the golden card. He scanned the card and found out that other than a pattern used for recognition, there was nothing else on the card.

After gifting the golden card, Janet asked cautiously, "So, grand master, what do you plan to do with this [Explosive Projectile]?"

Sensing the doubt from Chen Mu, Janet quickly explained, "If you'd like to sell it, our humble store could retail it for you. We are not the largest card store in Dongrui, but with a history of 45 years, we are somewhat popular locally. You do not have to worry about the price. This card is very valuable! To show our sincerity, we will only take 8% as commission, what do you think?"

Chen Mu finally understood her intentions, and he laughed unintentionally, "I plan to gift this to someone. I'm not selling."

Janet's disappointment was apparent on her countenance. But she was quick to react, "Do we have the pleasure of producing cards for you? Price is not a problem."

Chen Mu did not think of this possibility, so he was startled. But he shook his head, "I will not be needing this service at the moment."

Janet has recovered by that time, "If you are interested in the future, you are always welcomed here!" her voice was humble and respectful.

Chen Mu smiled cooly, "Hmm, I will come to you if I need to sell my cards." If he didn't had to change cards for Sang Hanshui, he would not even think of making cards. At the moment, his first priority was to get the gold-mottled liquid-soft fungus. As such, improving battle capabilities was the most urgent problem he has to solve. As for card making, he would have ample time for them after this. More importantly, he wasn't in need of money.

Just after Janet saw Chen Mu's leave, Zhan Ken and Tapster came over angrilly.

"Where is that grand master?" Zhan Ken asked nervously.

"He left" Janet replied dismissively.

"What? You just let him go like that?" Tapster raised his voice unintentionally, then stomped his feet and sighed. Beside him, Zhan Ken sighed as well.

Janet rolled her eyes at Tapster, "Oh, should I have detained him?"

Tapster was stunned when he heard that. The three of them did not have the rights to do that. Who would dare to detain a grand master of that calibre? Grand masters usually have powerful card artisans among their friends. Only big corporations that can bend the rules do that. It was not a tactic a small store like them dared to use.

As for Chen Mu's identity, Janet did not tell the both of them about her guess. She was just a sales supervisor. She did not even plan to report this to her superiors. Her guess would only be beneficial if Chen Mu does come again. That was why she gave him a golden card.

The golden card gives a 30% discount if the holder wants to make cards or use the card making room the next time. This was where Janet was smart.

30% discount! This is a big investment! Janet thought as she gritted her teeth.

*******************************************************************

There was a mistake in the last chapter on the mask Chen Mu was wearing. Instead of a white mask with black lines, it was a matte black mask with red cross underneath each eye.