Card Apprentice Daily Log

Date- 30 Mar 2321

Time- 8:43

Location- Sky Blossom City, Guild Association Mall, Warehouse no. 234

”Okay, would you prefer to upgrade your grimoire to silver grade in privacy, or this is fine?” I asked Susan, handing her a silver grimoire.

”I will use the card lad to upgrade my grimoire.” Taking the silver grimoire, Susan eyed Van and old Ben before informing me that she would like to upgrade her grimoire in privacy.

”Sure, just remember to empty this glass of silver milk water before you attempt to upgrade the grimoire.” The upgrading idea I thought of was nothing new. It was just the regular upgrading method with a Card apprentice under the influence of silver milk powder.

”What? I need to drink the entire glass of silver milk. Didnʼt you say that it was highly concentrated and could kill me?” Hearing me ask her to consume the entire glass of silver milk water, Susan exclaimed in horror, remembering the repercussions of taking in highly concentrated silver milk powder. Susan did not want to die ODed on silver milk powder.

”Donʼt worry, all the influence of the silver milk water will be consumed in the upgrading process, leaving you unharmed to reap the benefits,” I assured Susan that there was nothing to worry about as the grimoire upgrading process would save her from all repercussions of consuming the entire glass of concentrated silver milk water.

”How sure are you about all this? Am I the first lab rat you are trying this half-baked theory on?” Listening to my words, Susan felt something amiss and realized that she might be the lab rat for my new hypothesis.

”Haha! Didnʼt I already mention I just came up with this theory? So, unfortunately, I did not get time to test it out. But I can bet on my reputation that nothing unexpected will happen.” I let out a laugh to cover my embarrassment.

”Humph, What if something unexpected does happen?” Susan snorted and asked, staring deep into my eyes.

”This...what do you want me to do?” For some unknown reason, Susanʼs question felt like a trick question to me. Therefore for a second, my words trailed off.

”In case something unexpected were to happen to me because of your untested theory, I want you to…. Take Responsibility.” Susanʼs sharp voice trailed, and soon it added a seductively devilish ring to it.

” I will!ʼ I nodded thoughtfully, as a scientist I will always be responsible for my mistakes. the possibility of Susanʼs word carrying other meaning did cross my mind, but I did not entertain those thoughts even for a second longer as I did not want something like sexual tension between Susan and Me to ruin what we have going on here, a super efficient systematic arrangement.

”...” Seeing me respond positively without hesitation, Susanʼs cheeks turned red with blush, and grabbing the glass of silver milk water, she ran towards the Card Lab.

”...” I did not understand how my response could generate such a reaction from Susan. Shaking my head, I returned to my seat only to see Van give me a thumbs up with both his thumps. Vanʼs action annoyed me, and I almost considered reducing his calamity daughter gem privilege level to slave tier.

…

*Bang*

Slamming the door of the card lab shut, Susan leaned back on it. Remembering the bold words she spoke earlier, her face turned tomato red as she repeated, ”Stupid! Stupid!...”

Susan did not know what had got into her to do something so bold, but ever since she saw Luna kiss her boss, she felt this strange feeling grow in her heart which has been on a trend ever since then. Now, matter how much she tried to erase or suppress or hide these veil thoughts, they did not seem to go away. It kept resurfacing, and every time it resurfaced, it would grow stronger. Because of these veil feelings, Susanʼs nights have been restless.

And today, she finally did it. She indirectly blurted out what was in her heart. Thankfully her boss was as dense as they came and did not realize the intentions behind her words. Nevertheless, remembering how he answered her positively without any delay or hesitation, her heartbeat raised to an alarming speed.

”Begone! Begone! Veil thoughts Begone!” Susan chanted, trying to suppress her unidentified feeling for her exclusive client whom she wanted to make her exclusive man.

”Time to upgrade,” suppressing her dirty thoughts and clearing her mind, Susan focused on the matter at hand. She was here to upgrade her bronze grimoire to a silver grimoire under the influence of silver milk powder, not fantasize about her boss.

Susan sat on the futon in a lotus position and placed the silver grimoire in her bronze grimoireʼs card creation page, ready to upgrade the bronze grade grimoire to a silver grade. Before starting the process as suggested by her boss, she chugged down the silver milk water in one breath and hurriedly began to upgrade the bronze grimoire to silver grimoire.

Under the influence of the silver milk water, Susan felt like she had entered the enlightened state, but unfortunately, she did not. She was just high under the effect of concentrated silver milk powder. Just when Susan felt that this state would consume her heart, mind, and soul, finally the upgrading process began, and all the boost to Susanʼs connection with her soul and soul power suddenly vanished as if it never existed.

The silver milk waterʼs boost disappeared from Susanʼs body to her grimoire. Right then, a brilliant silver light shone in the card lab, indicating that Susanʼs upgrade to silver grade grimoire was successful.

…

”Good job, you two. All I had asked for is here. Now, all we have to do is wait and watch.” I equipped the Superbrain card and shared the photocopy of all the evidence collected on the crime committed by the circle in Sky blossom city. I patiently monitored as the sentient AI consciousnesses of superbrain did their job to make all this evidence reach as many people as possible on the grimoire network flawlessly.

”Boss, there is a minor situation.” As I was admiring the proficiency of the superbrain card and watching my new toy work their magic as I expected them to, Van drew my attention with a dire voice.

”What happened?” I ask disgruntledly, being disturbed from watching my babies at work.

”All the other subordinates in the Blood Rock Cave have returned except one, Sarah,” Van reported.

”So? Whatʼs the problem if she wants to continue to learn and experience blood rules more, let her.” I asked in annoyance. Because I had increased the authority of Vanʼs calamity daughter gem so that he could handle such small things, it seems I had overestimated him.

”Boss, the problem is Sarah seems to have entered a trance like state and is glowing with blood-red light. This caused others to choose to leave the blood rock cave voluntarily. Others are worried about Sarah as they have not experienced something like this before.” Van narrated what he had gathered.

”Um… ok, letʼs head to the blood rock cave. I cannot identify the problem from here and without determining her current conditions. Before that, letʼs stop at D-rank silver beach dungeon to pick up Cortney and Bloodette. ” I had no choice but to head to the blood rock cave to check on Sarahʼs condition, leaving the superbrain card running in my grimoire.

I wanted Bloodette to tag along with me because she could control the gate of the blood rock dungeon. Secondly, because I had shallow knowledge of blood rules and their various meanings, I decided to call an expert in blood rule to help me understand what is going on with Sarah.

…

Date- 30 Mar 2321

Time- 8:53

Location- ???, ???, Yang Harvesting Cave

Inside a dark cave, an old lady sat on a stone slab in a lotus position with her eyes closed. She looked like a corpse hoisted to sit in the lotus position. Yet she emitted a strong aura and pressure. From the presence alone, one could tell she is no ordinary being.

In front of the old lady was a blood-red unlit candle, which suddenly lit up, shining light in the dark cave.

”Hahaha, Heavenʼs be damned,” seeing the blood-red candle lit up out of thin air, the old lady started to laugh maniacally and cursed the heavens.

With her laughter, strong turbulent energy sheathed out of the old ladyʼs body. This energy was strong enough to outmatch any veteran demigod.

”Finally! At last, my son lives again. Hahaha, heavens be damned.” The old ladyʼs manic laughter grew stronger, and her curses to the heavens grew louder. It seems she is celebrating the rebirth of her son.

Turns out the blood-red candle is no ordinary candle. It is called Soul Status Candle. Itʼs a candle created using the placenta of an infant as its ingredient. The candleʼs flame displayʼs the health of the infantʼs soul, whose placenta is used as ingredients in the making of the candle.

The flame of the candle was not too bright; it appeared to be struggling to stay lit.. Seeing this, the old lady exclaimed, ”my baby needs me.”

😉