Playing Cards? The Kind Where You Bet Your Life

"Rein, I want to tell you all this so that you understand that medicine is for the betterment of all mankind, not a privilege of a particular class, nor a means to seek wealth and status."

Ilubeck said earnestly.

It seems he didn't want his disciple to repeat the same mistake.

"No, teacher."

To be honest, Rein had no interest in being an aristocrat under this social system.

What kind of pleasure haven't we seen in the late 21st century? He has absolutely no interest in these so-called aristocratic rights. If we need the pleasure derived from dopamine release, the "Mind Core" can create it.

Having finally managed to travel to this mysterious and fantastical world, and with the Transcendent power to become a god, isn't that appealing?

He shook his head and said firmly, "My ambition has never been for wealth and fame. I just want to see how far the Transcendent path in this world can take me."

"Um."

Ilubeck looked into his eyes and nodded with satisfaction.

Rein asked again, "Teacher, haven't you sensed something? Do you feel that your rejection of the Winst Family's surgical offer will cause trouble?"

Under normal circumstances, the Winst Family would certainly not dare to defy public opinion and do anything to Ilubeck.

But who knows, if he does something crazy like Prince Fox did before he dies?

"Not to mention that 'Head Transplantation Surgery' is an immature technology to begin with, even if the technology were mature, I would absolutely never agree to it under any circumstances."

Ilubeck's tone was as resolute as it had been ten years ago.

He glanced around the sewer laboratory and sighed, "Back then, for a stable research environment, I rejected the Xid Empire and the generous offers from various powerful forces. I set up this laboratory in the sewers so I could conduct my research in peace and quiet."

He paused, his expression complex, and said, "It seems this peace and quiet won't last much longer."

Upon hearing this, Rein said, "Teacher, no matter how arrogant those guys from the Winst Family are, they would never dare to lay a hand on you, right?"

During this time, he also gained a thorough understanding of the City of Radiance's contribution system.

As long as they pay their "Contribution Points" on time, according to the city's laws, no one has the right to expel them.

Although the Winst Family is the actual controller of the Fifth District, they dare not abolish the most important rule of City of Radiance.

Otherwise, most of the hunters who originally came to the "City of Radiance" were bounty criminals, fugitives, and speculators who gathered from all directions. If the rules were broken, wouldn't there be chaos?

"Why"

Ilubeck, who clearly knew more about the situation, said, "If Grand Magus Cavo still in charge, no one would dare to break the city's rules. But Grand Magus Cavo n't made a public appearance in at least the last five years."

Upon hearing this, Rein suddenly felt that something was terribly wrong. "Ah? You suspect that the Grand Scholar Cavo Ramirez, the creator of the City of Radiance, may have met with some accident, such as his lifespan being nearing its end?"

He became one of the "Top Ten Legendary Demon Hunters" eighty years ago; judging by his lifespan, it's about time.

"No."

Ilubeck shook his head and said, "I met Grand Magus Cavo years ago. His magic had reached its peak, and no one could pose a threat to him. Moreover, his mental state was excellent, and his lifespan was very healthy."

"Huh? Then this..."

Rein was puzzled when he heard this.

The possibility of external factors, such as the "Ten Great Legends Grand Magus" and the six-story Magic Tower in the city, is extremely low.

Since it's not due to external factors, nor is it because my lifespan is about to end, then what is the reason?

Ilubeck was clearly puzzled as well, and said, "Because Master Cavo has not interfered in the affairs of the city in recent years, the Five Great Families are now holding more and more power, and a privileged class is beginning to emerge, which is a very bad phenomenon."

"Teacher, at worst we can just leave here."

Rein decisively stated, "Wherever you go, I'll go with you!"

Ilubeck shook his head, a sense of helplessness washing over him as he felt the world was vast yet he had nowhere to go. "If there's no free research environment, what's the difference between staying here and staying in Omar or somewhere else in Sid?"

Rein frowned as he listened.

A previous bounty had forced him to flee to this "City of Radiance," leaving him nowhere to go in Omar. Now, if even this "City of Freedom," the only one not under the jurisdiction of the two great empires, couldn't accommodate them, their future was indeed uncertain.

"Hmm, how about..."

Suddenly, something occurred to Rein, and he suggested, "I heard that the Her Highness the Eldest Princess planning to establish a new duchy. Judging from her plans, it seems she's also going to implement that 'New Deal' approach. Why don't we go to her new territory?"

"It won't be easy for that girl Ymir to build a city here."

Ilubeck shook his head with a wry smile, not optimistic. "Besides, things aren't that bad. At least Master Cavo is still around, and the major families in the city don't dare to overstep their authority."

"Besides, even if they really send me back to Omar, so what? They wouldn't dare kill me, and I would never serve Omar again in my life. At most, they'd put me under house arrest."

When the old man said this, his face was full of the roguish air of a seasoned gangster, which suddenly made people stop worrying about him.

"Oh."

Rein pursed his lips.

Ilubeck looked at his newly accepted disciple and said, "Rein, you are the most talented student I have ever taken on. The reason I've told you all this today is to make you understand that science is a great thing, meant to benefit all mankind. Potions, steam technology, and medicine are all examples of this. No matter what happens in the future, hold fast to this belief, stay focused, and keep going."

After he finished speaking, it seemed as if the pent-up anger in his heart finally dissipated.

"Understood, teacher."

Rein nodded.

Having said all that, he couldn't say anything more.

Although the old man's words made sense, he still felt that something was not quite right.

The next morning, Rein got up at the usual time and took the intercity train to the martial arts hall to practice his skills.

Then, during lunchtime, we went to the "Central Library".

For more than a month, he has been in the library every day and has become very familiar with everything there.

The library was as quiet as ever.

It's still the second floor of the library. The quality of the books on this floor is much higher. You don't have to spend time like on the first floor, digging through tens of millions of books to find the classics. Every book you pick up on the second floor is a gem.

On his way upstairs, Rein ran into the building manager who looked like Mark again.

It's as if this old man lives in the library 24/7; you can always see him organizing books here.

"Huh, this old administrator actually has the leisure to play cards today?"

Rein was slightly surprised.

He's come every day for the past month or so. He often needs to ask about the location of bookshelves, so I've had a few brief exchanges with the old man.

Although he didn't know the librarian's name, he felt that the old man must be a homeless and lonely elderly person, otherwise he wouldn't spend all his time in the library.

And this time, he actually had the leisure to sit at the table and play cards with someone? It seems to be someone he knows.

He didn't go over to say hello, but glanced at the man in the black cloak sitting opposite the bearded administrator.

With his face veiled by a cloak, he looked mysterious and more like a Tarot Cards reader.

Whether it was because the two people playing cards weren't speaking or something else, Rein didn't hear any sound.

They probably used a shielding spell to avoid affecting others.

That's what Rein thought.

He didn't pay much attention; it was perfectly normal for the librarian to know a few magic tricks. Without giving it much thought, he walked straight to a section of bookshelves he hadn't looked at before and began another day of "flipping through books."

The two card players didn't even glance at Rein when he arrived.

As he expected, there was a Magic Barrier near the small table that isolated everything.

The man in the black cloak flipped through the cards in his hand, as if he were playing Spider cards.

An intruder suddenly appeared on the second floor. He immediately pulled out an Ace of Spades, smacked his lips, and said meaningfully, "Tsk tsk, the Ace of Spades. The lowest card, but in some poker rules, it's the highest card."

The cloaked man glanced at the nonchalant, bearded administrator opposite him, a wicked smile playing on his lips, and said indifferently, "You agree, don't you?"

Before the other party could answer, he had already turned over the next card, the King of Clubs.

"Great hand!"

Upon seeing the cards, the cloaked man's demeanor changed abruptly, and a near-hysterical excitement suddenly flashed in his eyes.

Like a gambler at his wit's end, he eagerly threw out all his chips, grinning and sneering, "Master Cavo, wanna play a round? The kind where you risk your life."

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