Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2555: Key Bearers

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Central Region, Central Academic City, Morningstar University District, Morningstar University Campus, Garden of Beginning, Time Vestige, Morningstar University 2nd Campus

"How can you help me with this?" Lucine asked, frowning. A moment later, her eyes lit up as she leaned forward hopefully. "Are you going to change what you want as compensation for curing my time-rule dementia and helping me grow my strength?"

"Yes," I said. "I’ll change it—if you agree to announce my appointment as City Lord of the Southern Academic City to all five regions, and give me the time-rule runes I choose as diplomatic gifts."

I laid out my condition and her solution at the same time. If she did what I asked, no one would see her as ungrateful, and her university wouldn’t suffer the embarrassment she had nearly dragged it into.

And as a bonus, I would accomplish every reason I came to Morningstar University in the first place. I had planned to make the announcement by using Morningstar University as a stepping stone, but now that I knew about the top ten universities’ inheritances, I couldn’t afford to appear too aggressive. The smarter move was to have Lucine make the announcement for me and present me with a couple—or even several—time-rule runes as diplomatic gifts. Once the other top ten universities saw how close I’d grown to Morningstar University, they would likely rush to approach me on their own. I wouldn’t even need to seek them out. That way, I can negotiate with them on my terms.

If Lucine and Morningstar University chose to work with me, both sides would profit immensely. After all, they only stood to gain by being on my good side. Nothing brings former rivals together faster than shared benefit and mutual growth.

"Diplomatic gifts?" Lucine repeated, confused, trying to figure out how her dilemma had anything to do with diplomacy.

"I’m your guest, aren’t I? And as luck would have it, I’m also the soon-to-be City Lord of the Southern Academic City. In a way, my visit can be treated as a diplomatic meeting between Morningstar University and the Southern Academic City. Call a press conference, make a big show of our friendship and alliance, we make our announcements, and you hand me a few time-rule runes as diplomatic gifts. That is—if you don’t consider using the runes as diplomatic gifts as disgracing the memories of your loyal and brave teachers and students," I said, laying out the plan and couldn’t help teasing Lucine a little.

Lucine quickly cut in, "I get it now. But since the time-rule runes will be diplomatic gifts, we will choose them for you—"

"You’re pushing it again," I warned, stopping her mid-sentence, wondering if she had some kind of itch that made it impossible for her to quit while she was ahead.

"I was kidding," Lucine said, tossing her hands in the air. "When it comes to things like this, your mind works wonders. Are you sure you don’t want to become a lawyer?"

"For what? So you people can make a fortune while paying me in scraps?" I shot back, rolling my eyes. Since I dared to unravel and master the mysteries of the universe, the rules of man were hardly a challenge.

"Great, then let’s head to the vault. I can’t wait to get my hands on those babies," I said, urging her forward as an unconscious grin stretched across my face. How could I not smile? Knowing that soon I’d command time itself—threads of it dancing at my fingertips, bending to my will—was enough to make anyone grin.

"I can take you to the vault, but I can’t open it right now. Only two of the three key bearers are currently inside the time vestige, including me. And to unlock the vault, we need all three keys—the last one is with the remaining key bearer in our present," Lucine explained, dousing my excitement.

"Don’t look at me like that. We have a rule that no more than two key bearers can travel through the time vestige at once. It’s to protect the runes in the vault. Since very few people even know it exists, if the key bearers ever abused their authority, we might not find out until it was too late. To stay extra safe, we usually send only one key bearer at a time. But this situation is unexpected. Don’t worry—you won’t be missing out. You can still pick your runes once we return to our present."

Lucine went on to explain the entire procedure required to open the vault. It was an exhausting process, and the more she talked, the more deeper my excitement slumbered. Still, considering the value and danger of the time-rule runes, I understood why such strict measures were necessary. Once someone stole them, it would already be too late for regrets.

"Fine. Take me to a chamber where I can comprehend space rules. I don’t want to waste any more of my precious time on this," I said, letting my disappointment show. Only I knew how torturous the wait would be—knowing those time-rule runes were so close yet still out of reach.

"Wait, what’s the rush? I just came out of a long seclusion. Keep me company," Lucine called out as I started to leave the time-expansion chamber, stopping me in my tracks. For a moment, I wondered if I’d misheard her. But then, keeping my expression firm, I said, "Just spit it out. What do you want? Beating around the bush will only irritate me further."

"Can you share the recipe you used to fertilize the Virgin Clay of Giya (red)?" Lucine finally dropped the act and asked directly.

"Didn’t I already give you the list? Can’t you figure it out yourself?" I said, unwilling to hand over the recipe for free. Even if she knew the ingredients I used, she had no idea about the ratios. And trying to work those out through trial and error would take them centuries—even with the time expansion inside the Time Vestige.

At this pace, Lucine will never get an upper hand on me.