Chapter 22

  “Are you serious, kid?”

  Isola’s brown eyes drove into Shouren with a startling intensity.

  A Cardsmith with a recipe and a Cardsmith without a recipe were two drastically different levels of existence.

  “Forge one in front of us.”

  Thalin joined Isola next to her small frame. The large man’s body moved silently within the shadows.

  Shouren took a quick peek at his status, and he needed 1 more lumen to forge the card. It should replenish in a few minutes.

  “I can forge it now, but I think we should discuss something else before that.”

  The boy started, refraining from displaying his nervousness on the outside.

  Even Rubin stood there silently gawking at the events unfolding. From the expressions on the two adults’ faces, he knew the boy had captivated their attention. The blonde teenager had an inkling of the cause of their excitement. Cardsmiths with a recipe were a natural supplier of cards. They could theoretically craft an inexhaustible number of cards as long as they had lumen.

  This was critical to any organizations like a guild, or the kingdoms. They had so many members that they needed a constant flow of cards to sustain their influence.

  However, Shouren had a [Common] Cardsmith class card. Who in their right mind would let him take the recipe when the chances of the boy even evolving to Tier 1 were meagerly low?

  “An illusion trinket, a spatial storage utility card, unusual amount of hides for a non-combat class, and a Cardsmith a recipe on top of that… you’re a peculiar kid, Shouren.”

  Isola’s face turned serious for the first time since Shouren had met her. She seemed to contemplating what to do from here on. Thalin merely spectated silently while Rubin stayed uncharacteristically quiet as well.

  Shouren didn’t blink as he waited. His gamble would all depend on Isola’s next move.

  “Can I ask why you chose to reveal your ability to forge cards? We both know you didn’t have to if you simply wanted all 12 of these [Common] cards.”

  Isola knew the boy in front of her wasn’t stupid. From the way he entered the shop with a disguise, an [Uncommon] spell, having a storage card as a Tier 0, and combined with his abnormal suspicion to strangers, Shouren didn’t look like a dumb kid that would reveal his secrets to strangers.

  Moreover, the boy was clearly hiding the extent of his possessions from the world. Carrying around a sack of hides when he already had a storage card. If the number of hides was any indication of his prowess, then Shouren definitely had a lot more cards hidden with him.

  Then why not use those cards for a trade rather than revealing something like a recipe? The boy was well aware of the dangers of that information.

  “You’re a Tier 4 Cardist. Why would you care about a Cardsmith with a mere Tier 0 recipe?”

  Shouren shrugged nonchalantly.

  “Nice probe, but I’m not telling you my Tier, kid.”

  Isola chuckled at the boy’s attempt at getting her to divulge her level of strength. In response, Shouren grinned as if it didn’t matter. The boy confirmed that she was at least a Tier 2. However, Isola appeared to be waiting for the boy to continue his explanation.

  “It’s because of that pumpkin-head over there.”

  Shouren sighed and gestured to Rubin.

  “Who’re you calling a pumpkin-head, froggy?:

  The blonde teenager looked perplexed at Shouren’s reason, but retorted with a jibe of his own. The boy trusted Isola because of him?

  “Continue.”

  Isola rolled her eyes at the childish exchange and prompted for Shouren to resume.

  Shouren scratched his cheek and explained slowly.

  “Rubin is brash and irritatingly loud, but he listens to you. Not out of fear, but I see the respect in his eyes. Then there’s that scary bald guy over there. He looks like he steals cookies from children’s hands, but even he bows in respect to you. There’s no terror in their eyes. Then it only means one thing: they trust you above everything.”

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  A few seconds of silence echoed in the room once Shouren finished.

  “Pfft, the kid said you look like you cookie thief, Thalin.”

  Isola burst into a fit of melodious laughter, poking the large man mirthfully. Thalin grunted without saying a word, but Shouren glimpsed the edges of his mouth inching upwards.

  “Wanna have another go, froggy? Let’s see who is the ‘irritatingly loud’ one this time, huh?”

  Meanwhile, Rubin snapped with indignation, his dagger dancing between his fingers, goading the boy.

  Then Isola sighed and moved closer toward Shouren. The boy looked up at her, his gaze unwavering.

  “You have a fire in your soul, kid. It’s a shame about your [Common] class card, but you have the iron inside you to climb the dungeon floors. If the system favors you, you’ll might reach Tier 1, but that’ll be the end of your journey with that [Common] class. Such a pity. Anyway, I’m guessing you want to make an arrangement with me to sell your crafted cards?”

  Isola exhaled and reached out for the card in Shouren’s hand. She lamented that a boy of Shouren’s caliber was doomed to Tier 1. Even if he succeeded in the Chamber of Ascendance, he’d never be able to reach Tier 2 without an [Uncommon] class card.

  “Yes, you’ll take 2% of all the sales and give me 98% in return. Initially, we’ll do the exchange in [Common] class cards, and then switch to chronas. I prefer the Cardsmith class cards, but any other basic class cards will work as well. It will be a system enforced contract, and we can set the minimum number of cards you need me to forge every week.”

  Shouren listed out the terms. His first priority was to get as many [Common] class cards as he could. He didn’t worry about Isola getting suspicious about this request. Most people would shard class cards to increase their synchronization.

  “Why don’t we sign a slave contract at the same time as well and you can have me working for free? What is with those terms, brat!? Am I your long-lost aunt or something to give you 98%? I want 20% of the sales.”

  Isola almost spat out when she heard the boy’s terms. He was giving her a 2% while he kept 98% of the profits. How was this a 10-year-old kid? She had a feeling that if the boy had a merchant class, he’d ruthlessly wring everyone dry.

  “5%.”

  Shouren shook his head without giving an inch.

  “20% and I’ll make sure no one learns about your identity as the Cardsmith who forged these cards.”

  Isola crossed her arms over her chest, unrelenting as well. She read the spell card, and it was a pretty neat card. It wasn’t useful in direct combat, but the tamer guilds would go wild for it. It would let them safely capture Tier 0 monsters without harming them or intoxicating their bodies with paralyzing agents.

  It wasn’t normally worth her time to take on this transaction of a Tier 0 card, but her instincts were telling her to make a bond with this bizarre child. Having this contract would ensure she’d be able to reach Shouren whenever she wanted.

  How a [Common] Cardsmith brat could help her in the future, she didn’t know yet. But she’d learned to trust her guts.

  “7% and I give you a foot massage every month for free.”

  Shouren answered after a slight pause. The young money-grubber dreaded giving up his profits.

  “20%, and I guarantee your secrecy. I’ll gather as many Cardsmith class cards as I can from the other towns, and you give me a foot massage every week.”

  Isola smirked cheekily. She enjoyed watching the boy twitch under her gaze. She knew she had him. Shouren was a fool if he thought he could scam her. The boy trapped himself by offering the extra service.

  “Foot massage for me as well.”

  Rubin chimed in from the side, snickering at Shouren.

  “Fine, 20% and everything you said, but I want to add one final thing. Rubin will have to give Thalin a foot massage at the same time as well.”

  Shouren gave the blonde teenager a thumbs up with a wink and held out his hand to Isola. It was Rubin’s fault for interrupting the discussion.

  “Deal.”

  Isola nodded with a chortle and shook Shouren’s small hand.

  “Can we switch people? I don’t want to touch Thalin’s gross feet.”

  Rubin whined, resigned to defeat. Isola had already shaken the kid’s hand and now he’d be forced to do it despite not getting any benefits from the transaction. The teenager cursed his tongue for jumping into the discussion.

  “Use warm water for my feet.”

  Thalin said to Rubin in a deadpan voice before walking away.

  “One more thing, kid. You’re smart for your age, but I’ll say it anyway. Don’t tell anyone about us. I haven’t asked about your secrets, as you are allowed to have them. Similarly, you need to respect ours as well. I don’t like saying this to a child, but if you tell anyone about us, then I’ll dispose of you in a manner I see fit. Are we clear on this?”

  Isola gripped Shouren’s shoulder and stated in a somber tone, bringing the temperature of the room down a few degrees.

  “I won’t betray you as long as you don’t betray me.”

  Shouren matched Isola’s gaze. He had no intention of telling people about Isola. It was apparent that the three of them had secrets to hide, but that didn’t matter to Shouren. As long as Isola honored the contract and upheld her side of the bargain, Shouren didn’t want to get involved with them anymore.

  It was dangerous hanging around Tier 2 Cardists. That meant their enemies were Tier 2 as well.

  “A conditional answer… you won’t betray me as long as I do the same. What if you change your mind later?”

  Before Isola finished her words, her body dissipated in a moment and she reappeared in a flash beside Shouren, a crystal-like sword placed around the boy’s neck.

  “I won’t betray you as long as you don’t.”

  Shouren reiterated his words. Beads of sweat pooled over his forehead as he felt the coolness of the sharp blade, but the boy stood still. Unlike the thunder beast in the dungeon, Shouren didn’t feel any killing intent from Isola.

  The boy meant his words. Just because Isola was higher Tiered than him, he wouldn’t bow down to her in fear. If Isola had wanted to kill him, she’d have done that long ago.

  “Good kid. You’re a bit of a swindler, but at least you mean your words. Now, let’s finalize the contract.”

  Isola withdrew her sword with a satisfied smile, and patted Shouren’s head, pleased.

  “You owe me a discount for trying to threaten your client.”

  Shouren grumbled, rubbing his neck to make sure the blade didn’t nick anything.

  Isola laughed harder in response.

  “Sweet peaches, I can’t believe it.”

  Shouren whispered with giddiness, his hazel eyes twinkling under the reflecting glow.

  Delicately sitting on the palm of his hand was the stack of 12 class cards Isola had given him. It was an advance payment Shouren had insisted on after signing the system contract. The auburn-haired woman hadn’t really cared much and casually handed them to the boy.

  In return for the cards, Shouren had until next week to hand over 10 Spectral Threads spell cards to her before nightfall. Thalin had requested for Shouren to forge one card before them, and the boy obliged, receiving a reticent nod in return from the large man.

  “Wish I’d gotten more for the hides.”

  Shouren sighed as he looked at the 200 chronas in his vault.

  He still had a few more hides in his vault, but Shouren didn’t want to let Isola know just how big his storage space was. Having a [Common] utility card was unusual, but having a [Rare] storage utility card might even pique Isola’s attention.

  The hides were only worth around 170 chronas, but Shouren increased the amount to 200 after claiming he didn’t have any spare change. Isola had threatened him earlier with a weapon, so this was the boy’s petty payback.

  He wanted to sell the remaining hides to acquire more chronas, leaving his grandma with enough money to cover next week’s rent in case he got delayed in the dungeon. Without his disguise spell card, Shouren could to sell only his [Common] cards to the local merchants.

  Should I trust Isola with my [Uncommon] cards?

  Shouren pondered, but right then, a familiar voice cut through the evening air.

  “Oi, froggy. Want to join me in the dungeon tomorrow?”

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