Card Apprentice Daily Log

Date- 5 April 2321

Time- 09:35

Location- Southern Region, Blossom district, Sky Blossom City, Southern Watch Military Camp

"Y-you, shut up. No, get out of here," Colleen yelled at Anna pointing at the exit.

Colleen did not really care about the boy's debt what she cared about was his life. Forgetting that the boy was her granddaughter's lover, the boy by himself was a treasure to the southern region. Having lost the silver milk powder mine, the current generation of the southern royal family would be sinners of their family if they were to lose the boy too.

Therefore even if it meant stepping on a few toes of the boy Colleen decided to do everything in her power to groom and nurture the boy until he was strong enough to protect himself, hoping that one day he will understand their efforts.

Was this necessary? Yes, the boy seemed to have a knack to make powerful enemies. Having discussed it with Lorenzo she came to know that the boy was very stubborn and would not entertain the idea of doing things with discretion. For example, he would not agree to faking his death and attending the university using an alias or taking Lorenzo as his teacher to learn array mastery and other knowledge he had to offer.

Any one of the top ten universities would be willing to offer any price just to have Lorenzo as a guest lecturer. Lorenzo was a renowned researcher with a large following, people would be willing to sacrifice a limb to be Lorenzo's student, even some demigods were among these people. Only a handful of people would be able to say that they were better than the top ten universities and Lorenzo was one of them.

Colleen believed with Lorenzo personally guiding the boy and along with the resources of the royal family, the boy would be getting more than what he could have in the top ten universities. The top ten universities have their own politics, so the boy would not be given the care and guidance that he would get in one of the universities of the southern academic region. Though the universities in the southern academic region did not have advanced projects like the top ten universities, what they could offer was more than enough for the boy to soak in until he was strong enough to make his decisions. Having thought it through Colleen had come up with a plan to coerce the boy into doing what she thought was best for the boy and the southern region.

Anna ignored her grandma and snuggled deeper into my embrace. I appreciated Anna's heart for coming to my rescue but I felt that I could talk my way out of this one, "Wait, hold up. What debt?"

"The soul jades, broken rules, grimoires, you burrowed by blackmailing us," Colleen answered sternly.

"Blackmail? When did I do that? If you plan on accusing me, accuse me of something believable. Who would believe that a card soldier managed to blackmail the southern royal family?" I did not understand what Colleen was talking about. But it was clear that she planned to pressure me into doing what she believed was the best for me.

"Let me refresh your memory. You threatened us that if we do not lend you what you asked for, you would sell a percentage of your share in the production and distribution of the silver milk powder to our rivals," Colleen glared at me as if I was some kind of criminal.

"..." Listening to Colleen I was without words as what she said was not a lie, I did say that.

"I will have someone from the royal accounts department contact you to discuss and calculate how much you owe to the southern royal treasury and then you will sign a contract saying that you will repay your debt by completing your higher studies and working as a researcher at the university of your choice in the southern academic region," Colleen declared. Her tone made it clear that what she just said was not up for debate.

"Hold up, I agree that I owe quite a large amount of debt to the southern royal family but I do not agree to the method of how I will be repaying it," I did not care for Colleen's glare and spoke my mind.

I thought I could talk my way out of the debt but now that it was clear that Colleen was planning to use my debt to tie me up in the southern region. I realized that there was no way I can get the southern royal family to pardon my debt. The only thing I could do now was chose how I would pay what I owe them.

"Kid, don't be ignorant, take the deal it is in your best interest," Colleen persuaded me.

"My best interest? From what angle, all I see is you using the debt to trap me. I do not care, send you accountants, let us calculate what I owe you and I will work my ass off to repay my debt my way," I declared imitating Colleen's way of speech.

"Good then I will send the royal accountants, they will calculate how much principal amount you owe us and also discuss the interest rate for the agreed principal amount," Colleen spoke with a playful smile on her face.

"Interest rate, I did not agree to pay interest when I borrowed the money," I protested when Colleen said that she planned to charge interest for my debt.

"When you borrowed the principal amount you said we can collect the money from your share of profits in the production and distribution of the silver milk powder. Since that is not possible, the previously agreed conditions are no longer valid. As the creditor, it is our right to charge interest to the principal amount we loaned you, but if you do not want to pay the interest, you can pay what you owe us right now," Colleen looked at the boy playfully feeling that she had him in checkmate.

"..." I stayed silent unable to find words to refute Colleen as I did say that they could deduct whatever I borrowed from my share of the profits in the production and distribution of the silver milk powder.