The Card Apprentice

Chapter 103: Cooperation

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Chen Mu looked around his apartment to be sure that there wasn't anything offensive or that would draw someone's attention before he turned around and opened the door. It seemed strange to him to have someone come look for him at that time.

When he opened the door, a very eye-catching bald head was the first thing he saw. It was Ning Peng, which surprised Chen Mu somewhat, causing him to immediately put up his guard. Apart from seeing Ning Peng the first day, he had never seen the general manager of the building. And since he'd come together with Ning Yan this time, something must certainly be up.

"What's up?" Chen Mu asked.

Ning Yan was dressed in sharp contrast to the spitfire look she had last time. Her devilish figure was wrapped tightly in work clothes, must more serious than the last time, with only that slightly open neckline to hook someone with its silky seductive sexy hint.

But as Chen Mu saw it, she looked a little more capable and experienced. He was very appreciative of that kind of demeanor.

"Aren't you going to invite us in to sit?" Ning Yan said smiling.

Chen Mu turned aside to let the two of them in.

"I only have water here." Chen Mu looked the two of them over.

"That's OK, water is fine." Ning Yan responded with a smile.

Chen Mu stepped up his guard, since he remembered very clearly her barely concealed look of contempt the last time when he was returning the cards he'd repaired. While this time she seemed like she had become someone else entirely.

He knew that such a change in attitude surely had some cause, but he didn't know what it was just then.

Ning Peng was pivoting his shiny bald head, sizing up Chen Mu's apartment, and when his gaze fell onto the test instrument in the corner, his two eyes burst out of their sockets.

He got up and went over to the test instrument. Chen Mu had just finished his testing, and he hadn't shut down the instrument. The numbers flashing on the screen were very eye catching.

12,156!

Ning Peng gave Chen Mu a look, and he grinned, "I never knew that Mr. Chen Mu's ability was so surprisingly high. That reading is enough to put quite a few card masters to shame." He rubbed his two hands, and said with a face full of apologies, "I am a crude man, and don't understand these things, and I haven't been doing a good job. If I have slighted the gentleman the past few days, I feel very sorry."

Ning Yan gave Ning Peng a look as though something were a little strange, not knowing why her big brother would say those things. But when her gaze subsequently fell onto that test meter's screen, her tender body quivered, with her beautiful eyes were unable to hide her shock. She instantly forgot what she had been going to say.

Chen Mu was still more convinced that they wanted something. At the beginning when Ning Dong had brought him there, Ning Peng had been very impatient in his speech, and now Ning Yan was ever so polite. It was just that he'd seen a lot of that kind of change from arrogant to humble, and never made much of it, except that it confirmed what he thought.

Ning Yan's gaze toward Chen Mu immediately changed, now carrying a surprising hint of respect.

"Please say it straight out if you have some business. The time for my commission is coming quick." Chen Mu had decided to 'open the door and look at the mountains' as he went straight to the point. His concept of time had always been very precise, so he hadn't given himself too much leeway. Now with these two hanging around, Chen Mu was only twelve minutes away from the time he had to deliver his commission.

Not having thought that they would hear Chen Mu say such a thing, Ning Peng and Ning Yan looked at each other and smiled.

The one who opened her mouth was Ning Yan, who laughed and said, "You're delivering the commission for three-star power cards? How many did you make?"

"How did you know?" But then he thought about the status of the two and Chen Mu's expression returned to being at ease, "Sixty-two cards."

Ning Yan and Ning Peng were taken aback, and asked in unison, "How many?"

"Sixty-two. What, is there some problem?" Chen Mu looked at the two as though there were something strange, not understanding why there were astonished.

"You made sixty-two cards in three days?" Ning Yan and Ning Peng looked at each other as though they found that a little strange.

"Right. Did I make too few?" Chen Mu frowned, thinking about the explanation for the commission, "Didn't it say that it took only forty to complete the commission?"

"Ha ha, of course the commission is considered complete!" Ning Peng was quick to say. A layer of fine sweat was appearing on his bald head, and under the glare of the light one or two wisps of hot air could be seen densely rising. Then he asked probingly, "How do these three-star power cards look?" He pointed to the test instrument, "are they comparable to that one?"

"Just about, with a variance within two hundred." Chen Mu wasn't actually very satisfied with that result. That batch of cards were all made by him at the same time, and to have such variation could only mean that his control of the circular sections still wasn't precise.

Chen Mu remembered the phrase from the mysterious card very clearly: "If a card master cannot accomplish precise control of each circular section, then there is no way for him to become a successful card master," from which could be seen how important precise control was.

Still, discontent breeds discontent, and that was already his best success. If it had been earlier, the variations would be about three hundred or more. His success was completely due to the benefit from the period of perceptual sensitivity training, which had made his control of perception more precise.

He had only just then discovered that there were many good things about the perceptual sensitivity training. He believed that if he could only bring his perceptual sensitivity to a higher level, he could reduce those variations even further.

He didn't know what kind of an impact what he said was having on Ning Peng and Ning Yan.

The beads of sweat on Ning Peng's bald head were getting denser, and the hot air rising went from the one or two wisps at the beginning to being clearly visible. Ning Yan had long since put any seriousness or any charm to the back of her mind, now having a half dull expression.

They'd dug up the treasure! The two of them were thinking quickly, having immediately realized Chen Mu's value.

They figured that if this unprepossessing youth could make the raining shuttles card on top of that piece of work, that would be more than enough for him to be based there, and to do quite well.

The three-star power card was the most often used and the most cost-effective power card. The specifications of one and two-star power cards were too low and couldn't meet the needs of mid and high-grade card artisans. While four-star power cards and above were extremely expensive, and no family had the financial resources to equip all their cards artisans with four-star power cards.

Because of that any stable card artisan who could make high quality three-star power cards was very valuable to any of the powers. That's letting alone that it was a time of war, with the need for power cards untold amounts higher than during a time of peace.

In some ways, there were limits to the usefulness of several dozen high grade three-star power cards. But the two of them knew how truly valuable they really were. Once they were sent to the front lines, those seasoned card artisans would all know how to use the unexpected advantage they would provide.

Being considered excellent quality if they were above eleven thousand, high grade three-star power cards were still not easy to buy. How could it not excite the two of them to have that batch of three-star power cards in front of them, all surprisingly over twelve thousand.

And so long as Chen Mu remained there, they could continually get the high quality three-star power cards with a little more stability in production.

What's more, his output volume was equally exciting!

Though they hadn't tested them, they weren't doubting what Chen Mu had said.

Ning Peng swallowed deeply, and put on a bright smile, "Mr. Chen needn't worry, we've already determined that you've completed this commission. What's more, because the cards you made are so outstanding, we've decided that we will compensate you with ten points per card. You'll be getting six hundred and twenty points this time."

Beneath Ning Peng's puffed up look was a very shrewd mind. He knew very well how to get things done. Since his counterpart had real ability, he couldn't be stingy with the points. And it would be very difficult to buy so many high quality three-star power cards outside.

Compared to those points, winning over the card master was more important.

"Ah." Chen Mu grunted his agreement, his face ever placid, with no sign of excitement. That disappointed the two of them as they quietly continued to check him out.

But Ning Yan very quickly put on her uniquely charming smile, "Mr. Chen, I wonder if you would be interested in another commission? The compensation would be very high."

Chen Mu knew that they had arrived at the real reason for their coming. He'd never thought that they would be coming there without some good reason, especially the two of them together. He was still keeping up his guard, which was why he hadn't changed his tone when Ning Peng offered ten points per card in compensation.

"What commission?"

"Raining shuttle cards." Ning Yan was staring at Chen Mu as she enunciated those three words.

Chen Mu's expression remained as always, except for showing a flash of surprise in his eyes. He had never thought that the raining shuttles card that he had made to demonstrate his own worth would achieve its goal so quickly.

Ning Yan and Ning Peng probably didn't think anything of it, since the raining shuttles card was the thing that this simpleton wooden youth had made that got their attention.

Seeing that Chen Mu hadn't opened his mouth to refuse, Ning Yan felt happy, and the smile on her face became still more charming. "We would like a batch of raining shuttles cards, and of course we will pay ample remuneration."

"How much?" Chen Mu asked very directly.

Neither of them had expected Chen Mu to be so naked and open about the price. But when it came to talking prices, Ning Yan immediately put her inborn feminine advantages in play, as she agreed very quickly, though without naming her price. She asked instead, "How much does Mr. Chen require?"

Chen Mu met Ning Yan's gaze without any evasion at all, "I would have to first put one up for auction to determine the value." His mind was as bright as snow. The two them had certainly come for the raining shuttles card because it's performance had gotten their attention. And if that's the way it was, then all the other card artisans in the building would certainly all know about it. If he could do a little testing the water with one of the cards, he would presumably get a sense of its price.

Ning Yan was struck dumb, never having thought that such a simple and wooden seeming guy would be so shrewd. How could she not know how hot this raining shuttles card was among the card artisans in the building. If one were to go up for auction now, she was afraid it would stir up a high price, to the point where they wouldn't be able to bear the cost of acquisition.

Seeing the circumstances, Ning Peng quickly added a word, throwing out the price they'd already decided, "Two hundred points per card, and we'll provide the materials. How about it?"

Chen Mu let the two hundred points sink in and couldn't help looking a little pleased. He agreed immediately, "OK!" The price was already far higher than he'd anticipated, and he was talking to the real boss who could set the conditions, so he didn't have to haggle.

Seeing the pleasure on Chen Mu's face, Ning Yan who had been holding back went into a worse mood.

Ning Peng showed the temperament of a person in authority who had to make life and death decisions, where once something gets decided, you don't muddy the water.

"Good. Then it's decided." He thought for a moment, and then said, "The biggest advantage of the raining shuttles card is its firing speed, while its shortcoming is that it's power is a little low. I wonder if there might be some way for Mr. Chen to lower its firing speed a little to increase its power?"

Chen Mu had quickly regained his calm, flashing a few schemes through his mind, and then gathering himself up to say, "I would have to do some testing, and I would need some relatively expensive materials."

"There's no problem with materials. Starting now, Mr. Chen Mu can take anything he wants so long as it's in the self-service materials supermarket." Ning Peng very quickly responded, then added, "And if the supermarket doesn't have the materials you need, Mr. Chen can look for either myself or Ning Yan and we will quickly satisfy your request."

Ning Peng knew very well that the battle had come to its critical moment. He knew that some small bit of battle power could very well be the straw to break the camel's back. And if the precious raw materials weren't turned into cards, they wouldn't be forming any kind of firepower. The pile of words was just dead things, neither here nor there. And what is a little material worth compared to a war campaign, after all.

"OK." Chen Mu nodded in agreement, also knowing why his counterpart was being so generous. What Ning Peng really needed was pleasant cooperation, since for the Ning family just then, time had become the most important thing. He looked at Ning Peng and said, "I'll be fast."

Ning Peng's eyes flashed his appreciation. Dealing with smart people was always a happy affair. Then he said with a little discretion, "Can I trouble Mr. Chen to first make a batch of raining shuttles cards. How long would it take to make twenty?"

"Three days." Chen Mu immediately followed.

"Good." Ning Peng nodded while he was quickly calculating, and he said, "I'll come to get those cards after three days. The contribution points due will go onto your room card at the same time. If you can increase the power of the raining shuttles card, using the ability to penetrate the three-star energy cloak as the standard, I'll pay five hundred points per card."

"OK." Chen Mu agreed, though after thinking he said, "It isn't possible to raise the power of the raining shuttles card as it is, but there's something I have to be clear about, while the power can be increased, the star rating would still be three-stars."

"No problem." Ning Peng brightly responded, "I'm only interested in power." He then reached out his right hand, "To a pleasant cooperation!"

Chen Mu put out his right hand and lightly shook Ning Peng's right hand, "To a pleasant cooperation."

The two of them then took the sixty-two three-star power cards and bid Chen Mu farewell.

When they returned to the office, Ning Yan couldn't help complaining, "brother Peng, you were mistaken just now to be so generous, giving him such a high price at two hundred a card." She was clearly still brooding about Chen Mu having just beat her at her game.

Ning Peng laughed, "Look at you so small-minded. Don't mention these few points, I agreed just as he was about to raise the price. Time is the most important thing for us now. Compared with that, we can't be haggling about small change. Furthermore, he's a talent, and he should be highly paid."

"Talent? Why don't I see it?" Ning Yan flattened her mouth in disagreement, "So awesome that he can only make three-star cards? There are so many in the building who are much more awesome."

Ning Peng said with a cool smile, "This is the wrong way to think about it. How many commissions have we received during this time? Maybe we've gotten hundreds of three-star power cards, but how many have been above eleven thousand? We were able to pick out just five last time. Meanwhile, no-one else is making so many by himself. I would bet that every one of this pile of three-star cards is absolutely above eleven thousand."

"You trust that man so much?" Although Ning Yan believed him too, her mouth was still debating it, not ready to admit her mistake.

Ning Peng sighed, and then said sternly, "Little sister, you still don't understand. You can see at a glance that this Chen Mu is very serious about his work. Once he does something, this kind of person will take it to its limit, never giving up his carving, never boastful or exaggerating, and if he says that it's over twelve thousand then it's over twelve thousand. And a final point, compared to most of the high-grade card masters in the building, he could best quite a few of them." Then he opened into a smile, "I actually used to look down on him."

Ning Yan was stunned, looking full of amazement at her big brother. This was the first time in her memory that she had ever heard her big brother give such a high assessment of anyone.

Seeming to have thought of something, Ning Peng couldn't help admonishing, "Sis, when you're dealing with this person from now on, don't haggle. Although he looks simple and wooden, he's really very clever. It's worth it to spend a little more on such a person."

Chen Mu hadn't put that much hope on the raining shuttles card before. Its strengths and weakness were both obvious, high firing speed, and low power. He had only been thinking of using it as a way to demonstrate his value, and he hadn't thought that the raining shuttles card would have so many benefits for him.

If he were to put all of his energy into it, Chen Mu would only need a short amount of time to complete twenty raining shuttles cards. The materials required were all common low-level materials. Its design was the really complicated part. But given the increase in his perceptual sensitivity by that time, the thing that he was least concerned about was the complicated design of the composition

So, he had left himself some extra time.

His brain was entirely occupied with considering how he could increase the power of the raining shuttles card. That was the first time he didn't have to be concerned about materials and could play to his heart's content. If he could just imagine something, he could test it with abandon. He got very excited when he thought about all the materials in the self-service materials supermarket that he could choose to use.

But the standard that Ning Peng had set was still not low; being able to penetrate a three-star energy cloak was generally something that probably required a four-star fantasy card to accomplish.

If he could really pull it off, the lethality of that raining shuttles card wouldn't just be raised a little. It was difficult to imagine how very few could escape intact under such rapid firing.

It was an entirely new topic for Chen Mu, and one full of challenge, but he was still filled with confidence.

When Chen Mu went again to the self-service materials supermarket, those disdainful looks had entirely disappeared, replaced by looks of pure awe and respect.

This world is so practical! Chen Mu smiled bitterly to himself. For someone like him who had climbed up little by little from the lowest strata, this realization was a little deeper than it would be for most people.

He picked out some materials that he could previously only gaze at in the glass cases, which were all things that he would have had to spend large amounts of contribution points to buy. But now Chen Mu didn't have to spend anything, and he took advantage of his position to choose quite a few materials that he had coveted, and then returned to his apartment when he had satisfied himself.

The time was too short, and there wasn't enough time to completely redesign the card. But while he couldn't complete the optimization of the composition, he could compensate for that with materials.

He wasn't thinking of scrimping on materials for the Ning family. In his eyes, materials were meant to be used, and if precious materials weren't used there would be no way for them to show their value. Of course, it was also important that if he were to meet Ning Peng's demands, the compensation would be two and a half times more than for the basic raining shuttles card, which was enough to excite him.

He replaced blank cards made from the tannins of white banana leaves with blank cards made from gold-sprinkled grass which had better affinity. He replaced the chunked dragon stone with crystalline dragon stone powder, which had stronger physical properties. These were about an order of magnitude different in cost at the materials supermarket. For the affinity agent, Chen Mu also exchanged for the more highly concentrated and superior natural microbial liquid.

For each of the materials, Chen Mu substituted something of several times the performance. But although the new ratios were only in the physical qualities, he kept them in the same balance, though if he wanted to get the most out of it, he would have to make some fine adjustments.

Precisely controlling all the proportionate weights was one of the things that Chen Mu was best at. He very quickly adjusted each of the materials proportions, creating a new state of balance.

Finally, under Chen Mu's unremitting efforts, the new style of raining shuttles fantasy card which was named 'raining shuttles card .II' came fresh out of the oven!