The Card Apprentice

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

Chen Mu's expression was a little dull when he received the news.

The fatty had died!

In front of him, Xi Ping's eyes were bloodshot, and his face was covered in tears. Bogner's face had turned pale but remained utterly calm to a scary extent. Chen Mu and Bogner did have a bad feeling before but hadn't thought the feeling would be so directly confirmed.

"It's Faya!" Bogner's voice was low. "They're the only ones who could make such a move at this time."

The more Bogner spoke, the deeper his tone became and the darker his gaze. He had limited power at that time, and it was the boss's base. He couldn't take advantage to do something for himself.

If it had been earlier… Bogner was clenching his fist too tightly; his knuckles were white, and his veins were popping out.

"Don't we have any way to do something?" Having restored his calm, Chen Mu suddenly opened his mouth to say something utterly surprising to Bogner and Xi Ping.

The two of them looked at Chen Mu, stunned. They had seen how Chen Mu had gotten to where he was with their own eyes. They knew how much bitterness and how much difficulty it had meant.

Their adversary was Faya. Faya could contend with the Big Six. Chen Mu had put everything into what he had been able to do there, and he had no obligation to do anything like that. Xi Ping and Bogner were both people who had gotten used to the highs and lows of the world. No one could blame Chen Mu for not doing anything. His watching over little Yang An already meant enough to them.

The thing the boss had uttered so calmly and coolly seemed completely foolish.

Sobbing, Xi Ping threw himself on his knees, desperately kowtowing to Chen Mu.

Bogner was stunned as he looked at Chen Mu. He didn't say anything until he suddenly opened up into a smile and said firmly and full of self-confidence, "I can guarantee you will have a powerful force."

Lifting up the tearful Xi Ping, Chen Mu turned to Bogner to say, "You do the planning, and I'll do the implementation."

The three of them then sat down for the important matter. If they were the least bit careless, it could possibly invite a fatal disaster. Xi Ping was restored to calm, and his expression had turned serious. He knew how powerful their adversary was. Faya's power wasn't something a local power could contend with.

Bogner placed three cups in the shape of a triangle.

"These are the three most powerful factions in Pomelo right now. The Central Repository of the Classics, the Federation Comprehensive Academy, and Faya. Among them, the Central Repository of the Classics is the most powerful. The card artisans Qiao Yuan brought here are very strong, adding up to more strength than the other two combined. Faya hasn't had any losses during this battle, but their power is slightly weaker. However, given the ferocity of the battle between the Federation Comprehensive Academy and the Central Repository of the Classics, now adding in the attacks from that bunch of Qiao Yuan's card artisans, they've become the weakest of the three."

He then put two of the cups together, leaving the other one slightly farther away.

"The current situation is that the Central Repository of the Classics and the Federation Comprehensive Academy are strangling one another while Faya lies in wait from the side. The commander behind the scenes for Faya is using an awesome strategy for them to dominate the dispute. They keep out of sight, quietly awaiting their opportunity."

Bogner's train of thought was clear, and his gaze flashed quite a bit of wisdom.

"The current situation in Pomelo is now delicate. That unexpected play of the Central Repository of the Classics has completely destroyed the entire rhythm of the battlefield. I'm guessing Faya didn't consider that the Central Repository of the Classics could gain such an overwhelming advantage in such a short time. No matter which of those two gain an advantage, it wouldn't be good for Faya. So, Faya will certainly respond."

Chen Mu and Xi Ping held their breath as they carefully listened to Bogner's analysis.

"What is Faya going to do? Send reinforcements to Pomelo? All the routes are still held by the Federation Comprehensive Academy. Neither of those two are going to permit card artisans from Faya to enter Pomelo. Faya needs time.

"I had been wondering why Faya would pull these wealthy businesses together. Given their size, they shouldn't really respect those powers. But I've finally figured out the simple reason. They don't have enough power on hand. In other words, they don't have enough power in Pomelo. With no way to get reinforcements into Pomelo, and even at the risk of being discovered, they gathered up all the power on the hands of the wealthy businesses.

"So, they need time. Otherwise, given the current situation, they could only look on helplessly while the Central Repository of the Classics takes away all the fruit. That's why I'm guessing they will certainly be making a move.

"If it were me, what would I do? I would let the power of Faya reside on the outskirts of Pomelo to help the Federation Comprehensive Academy's reinforcements enter Pomelo with the greatest dispatch. Once they enter, the time the two sides remain entangled would immediately increase."

Xi Ping made his first management decision. He had a quick mind and expressed his deep agreement. "The Federation Comprehensive Academy has blown up all the routes to the outside by now, leaving only one. That relieves the pressure on their defenses."

"That's right!" Bogner nodded. "Although the Central Repository of the Classics card artisans have a lot of strength, the Federation Comprehensive Academy are no vegetarians. While they might not be the equal of their adversary in a direct fight, when it comes to defense, they are extraordinary. If it really doesn't work, I believe the Federation Comprehensive Academy will certainly blow up the remaining route. That way, Pomelo would be isolated.

"The Central Repository of the Classics wouldn't dare apply too much pressure. If it were only them, they could still go back through the jungle. But they would be taking Ren Wenzhou and his group of ordinary citizens along with them. Ha ha, I'm afraid even with such a big card artisan escort, there would still be no way to guarantee nothing would happen to them. Never mind Qiao Yuan; they wouldn't be able to guarantee it even if the lord of the Central Repository of the Classics personally led them out.

"Ren Wenzhou had the control of the jungle communications technology in his hands, and the Central Repository of the Classics wasn't going to let anything happen to him, no matter what. Otherwise, all their losses during that time would have been in vain. Therefore, they would certainly storm the route the Federation Comprehensive Academy was defending, though not daring to use too much force. On the other hand, the Central Repository of the Classics' power on the outside ought to be able to occupy one of the routes at its terminus and start to repair it with all their power.

"That would be an opportunity for Faya; they could take advantage of the consolidated power of all of Pomelo to become a rather powerful player. Moreover, they would still have their own manpower. I would guess Faya has some secret weapon. Otherwise, if they wanted to seize Ren Wenzhou, they would have no way to get him out of Pomelo. It would have no value for them."

Bogner said coldly, "Faya has done their calculations well. Now, how can we fulfill their wishes? We only have to do one little thing."

After he stopped speaking, the following words were pronounced one by one: "Let the Central Repository of the Classics discover the existence of Faya."

Bogner then grinned to show his dense, white teeth. "We won't have to worry about Faya looking to cause trouble for us afterward since the entire federation has already descended into chaos. This is a melee from which no one can escape. There are many more people looking at Faya than there are looking at us."

Theirs would be a secret operation carried out by Chen Mu and Wei-ah. The two were both good at hiding, which would be perfect in such a confused time. Even if they couldn't fight, they would have no trouble escaping.

Taking advantage of the dark night, the two quietly left the base, bolting straight for Pomelo.

Chen Mu flew ultra low, stuck along the ground, so he could avoid being discovered by card artisans in the sky. Like a ghost, Wei-ah followed Chen Mu closely with a calm expression and no sign of exertion. Running along on just his legs, his speed wasn't at all slower than Chen Mu's. He showed the vigorous, explosive power of a cheetah.

Chen Mu wore no expression as the wind whooshed past his ears.

When he heard the fatty had died, a certain coldness surged from Chen Mu's heart. He'd had a rough fate, suffering life's ups and downs, and those he cared about could be counted on his fingers. The fatty had been one of them.

Although they had a cooperative relationship, what the fatty had done far exceeded the scope of partnership. As Chen Mu saw it, it was in the category of friendship. Chen Mu had very few friends. It had only been Copper before. He still remembered that after he went missing, Copper resolutely resigned from Bai Zheyuan and left Eastern Shang-Wei City.

Chen Mu felt he should do a few things, although he didn't know what they were.

His was a simple way of thinking. He didn't think too hard about things like the base's issues, which Bogner and the others were pondering.

Friendship wasn't so easy for Chen Mu.

He was glad in his heart to have Bogner, who was so good at seeing the big picture. Otherwise, he wouldn't even know what to do.

There was also a lot more he could do by having someone as awesome as Wei-ah.

Then, there was Xi Ping. If it weren't for him, they wouldn't even know where Faya was stationed. By then, Chen Mu felt profoundly how complex the fatty was to have laid out such a huge network in Pomelo within a few decades. But his enemy was a lizard who was just as cunning and much more powerful. It used the most direct and violent means to beat him.

But that time, the network the fatty had so painstakingly woven was finally proving its value.

The formerly bustling Pomelo was already desolated, with corpses and ruins everywhere. Bleak wailing and sobbing filled the air, and the people's eyes were vacant and hopeless.

Chen Mu couldn't help but inwardly sigh. He was afraid the Central Repository of the Classics and the Federation Comprehensive Academy would have one more city of enemies ever after. Although they were of the Big Six—the most honorable Big Six—the hatred wouldn't be reduced in the least because of how distinguished they were.

Settling his attitude, Chen Mu's expression resumed its calm.

He was no savior but was the same as all those ants pursuing their existence beneath the powers. He had no ability to change the heavens or the earth; he was as ordinary a participant as could be. He had to rack his brains in the same way they did just to survive.

Chen Mu and Wei-ah didn't actually go to where Faya was hiding. Instead, they ran over to the Central Repository of the Classics' encampment.