Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2592: Double Standards

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Central Region, Central Academic City, Morningstar University District, Brothwork Manor

”Are you crazy?” Jill slapped my hand away at once, staring at me in disbelief. ”Are you doing this on purpose?”

”What do you mean?” I replied, feigning ignorance. I had another motive to have Jill tag along with me while I killed the Brothworks present at their Morningstar Manor, but Jill caught on immediately. I knew she wouldn’t fall for it, yet I had to try.

”Don’t give me that dumb look. And how dare you try to use me to get to my father?” Jill shot back, mentally adding another mark to the growing list of things she intended to get back at me. Oh yes, she was pettier than I was. That was one of the things I liked most about her.

Anna and Susan didn’t compare to Jill in this regard. If either of them had been in her place, Susan would have quietly endured it or done something drastic, like leaving me without a word, while Anna would have called me out, perhaps even started a heated argument, only to forgive me almost immediately out of love.

Jill was different. I knew for a fact that she was only overlooking my loose tongue and careless actions for now. She was simply waiting for me to grow comfortable in our relationship. When that time came, she would make me pay for everything I had said and done today—and for whatever I might say or do in the future.

In her presence, I could finally let loose the greedy side of myself. It was the same greed that had made me a world-renowned entrepreneur in my past life—doing what I felt, saying what I thought, and taking what I wanted. I could allow that side of me to surface around her because I knew she would keep it in check, rather than silently suffer or walk away because of it. After all, when it came to greed, she had me thoroughly beaten.

When I was with her, I couldn’t help but think, ’If it’s with her, I could monopolize any market across the myriad realms.’

”Fine, you got me. But how is this any different from you using his Dream Nymph cards to get to me? Come on now, there aren’t two different sets of rules for us, are there?” I argued with Jill, not hesitating to strike below the belt. ”If not, then tell me why I can’t use you to get to my father-in-law when you can use your father to get to his son-in-law. Aren’t you ashamed of such blatant double standards?”

”Who is your father-in-law and how are you his son-in-law? Damn it, Wyatt, stop spouting nonsense,” Jill snapped, flustered despite herself, her cheeks heating up with embarrassment.

”Isn’t your father my father-in-law? Or does this mean you’re just going to dine and dash? Hit it and quit it? I feel so used,” I said, wiping at imaginary tears and putting on an exaggerated show of sorrow.

”Are you crazy? How dare you call my father your father-in-law when we haven’t even been on a proper date?” Jill exclaimed, worked up by my cringeworthy words. Then, catching the subtle, playful glint in my eyes, she huffed and added, ”Believe it or not, I’d dare to marry you right here, right now. You know what? Let’s get married right now.”

”Jill, stop being so clingy. We haven’t even been on our first date. I should’ve known this would happen when you put out on our first meeting. My mother warned me about girls like you—” I teased, unable to resist how cute she looked while fuming. I could practically imagine myself biting those puffed-up cheeks and filling my stomach.

Before I could finish, she pounced on me, raining punches and kicks as she shouted, ”I’m going to kill you!”

”Alright, alright. You’re not clingy or easy. I’m the clingy and easy one in this relationship, okay?” I surrendered at once, knowing better than to push my luck.

”Don’t patronize me. Only time will tell which of us is clingy and easy,” Jill shot back, taking my teasing a little too personally.

”If it’s with you, I’ll always be the clingy and easy one between us,” I said, trying to sweet-talk my way out of it. Instead, Jill flared up.

”Why are you putting it like that? Do you plan on being with other women while you’re with me? I knew you were a scumbag. My father warned me about boys like you... ah—w-what are you doing?”

Before she could finish turning my words against me, I leaned in and bit her left puffed cheek, gently sucking on it. Jill yelped, but the sound quickly melted into a soft moan.

”Sorry, I couldn’t help it. Blame your cheeks. They tempted me,” I said as I let go.

”Of course. Blame the woman. You men really are cut from the same cloth,” Jill complained, wiping my saliva from her cheek. Then she turned toward the Brothwork Manor and said calmly, ”Go on. Do what you need to do. I’ll wait for you out here.”

There was more to my asking Jill to come along to the Brothwork Manor than simply having her help me identify the Brothworks within the crowd. I wanted to use this opportunity to draw a clear line between Demigod Norley and the Masters.

If Jill were seen assisting me in killing the Brothworks, then the Master to whom the Brothwork family belonged would inevitably blame Demigod Norley for his daughter’s involvement in the deaths of several of his descendants. I didn’t know whether this would be enough to sever a relationship that had endured for millennia, but it would be a solid first step.

I did this because of the direction things were taking between Jill and me. When the time came for me to overthrow the Masters, I didn’t want to be forced to face and kill my potential father-in-law just to reach his allies. To prevent that possibility, I had already decided to push Demigod Norley away from the Masters. I didn’t need him to join my camp, but I could not allow him to side with them. If he did, I would have no choice but to kill him alongside the Masters—carving a tragic end into my relationship with Jill.