Now, Lanchi not only had to continue paying Talia's three-pound daily wage, but also owed Talia a huge sum of over ten thousand pounds.
Because the value of the epic Magic Card Poet of Great Love was simply impossible to estimate, Lanchi and Talia ultimately negotiated the production fee to 75,000 pounds of Southern Kingdom Allied Currency. The card would belong to Lanchi first, but he had to repay the full amount within ten years, with corresponding interest, and they signed a contract.
If not for the fact that the core material, Poem of Compassion, had been provided by Lanchi, and that he had also participated in the crucial steps of creating the card, he probably would not have been able to afford it even if the price had gained another zero.
But even 75,000 pounds was an amount that even the Wilford Merchant Guild would have trouble producing in liquid cash all at once.
Lanchi could not pay it off for the time being. He could only wait until he slowly earned enough money to repay Talia.
At an annual compound interest rate of 4%, he would need to repay Talia at least 9,247 pounds each year to pay it off in equal installments over ten years. If he failed to make the payments, the late fees would cause the principal and interest to snowball higher and higher.
So Poet of Great Love was truly expensive.
For her sake, Lanchi had even had to take out a mortgage.
Of course, Lanchi would not be losing out. In a sense, he had once again firmly tied Talia to his side.
Originally, Talia had only planned to teach Lanchi until he reached Tier 3 before leaving.
But now, because Talia wanted to recover this enormous debt, she not only had to protect Lanchi, but also help Lanchi—who could freely sell Magic Cards in human society—earn enough wealth to repay the debt as quickly as possible!
As long as he owed Talia enough money, she would cover for him.
She had not even realized that the guard and teacher-student contracts between them would naturally continue as well!
The abacus in Lanchi's heart clattered away as he thought with a smile.
However, just then, Poet of Great Love showed no sign of turning back into a Magic Card.
"What a weak opponent."
As Poet of Great Love walked toward Lanchi, she slightly raised her proud head and let out a bell-like laugh.
Although she resembled Talia in appearance, their auras were completely opposite.
Compared to the cold, dignified, and unapproachable Talia, every frown and smile of Poet of Great Love was like the warm sunlight of spring. Yet deep in her eyes lurked a trace of cunning and arrogance that she could not conceal.
Seeing the torment Ferrat had suffered, she seemed very happy and did not even bother pretending otherwise.
"Friendship comes first. Respect your opponent."
Lanchi hurriedly closed his eyes and shook his head, silently chanting, My sins, my sins.
It was not strange for an epic-level summoned creature to possess an independent consciousness.
However, Poet of Great Love's combat attributes were even weaker than those of an ordinary Tier 1 summoned creature. When she could not make use of her special effect, there was no point in expecting her to fight. She could only serve as a mascot.
"All right, turn back into a Magic Card, Poet of Great Love."
Lanchi waved toward Poet of Great Love.
However.
Poet of Great Love did not seem to want to turn back into a card so soon. It was rare for her to come out and enjoy some fresh air.
Thus, she leisurely sauntered over to Lanchi's side.
"Hey, tell me, when can we torment another enemy next time?"
After she no longer needed to pretend to be innocent, Poet of Great Love no longer had the slightest air of a pure young girl. Her eyes narrowed like a fox's as she grinned and asked.
"Ahem!"
Lanchi's brow twitched when he heard that, and he hurriedly coughed twice.
"Tormenting a citizen of my country is illegal. It could constitute the crime of abuse described in the 'Hutton Codex.' Don't say things carelessly."
Lanchi explained earnestly,
"I have no intention of breaking the law. I am participating in the national examination through legitimate strategy."
"?"
Poet of Great Love furrowed her brows and froze for two seconds.
She blinked and stared at Lanchi's bright emerald-green eyes, finding them incomparably clear.
This person really seemed to be educating her about the law, rather than speaking in some underworld code.
"Tsk."
After clicking her tongue inwardly, Poet of Great Love scattered into points of light. She re-formed in Lanchi's hand, becoming a Magic Card suffused with wisps of orange haze.
"Weak master, you need to grow stronger quickly. That way, I can stay outside freely and enjoy myself."
A faint, clear aftersound carrying Poet of Great Love's sweet laughter echoed across the empty grassland.
Lanchi put away the Magic Card and shook his head helplessly.
Even if he had inexhaustible Mana, he could never let this troublemaker run wild outside according to her own whims.
She was fully capable of instantly turning any place dense with negative emotions into Arkham Asylum.
Although summoned creatures with independent consciousness could indeed act autonomously as long as they were supplied with Mana, advanced summoned creatures sometimes became excellent assistants to their owners and even took care of them.
But Poet of Great Love's personality was extraordinarily vile.
Unless she encountered a situation where she could torment and toy with people, she barely listened to Lanchi at all.
"Next time I summon you, it will definitely be to perform good deeds and accumulate virtue."
Lanchi secretly swore to himself.
Poet of Great Love was a Magic Card capable of bringing joy and happiness to everyone.
Forcibly calming an enemy's anger could also be considered healing others.
Today was another day filled with merit.
After recalling his summoned creature, the little angel Lanchi left the Artificial Shadow World.
Learning and Education Building, Seventh Floor Central Courtyard examination hall.
The spacious open area was surrounded on all sides by towering glass curtain walls. A pale-gold circular pillar of light in the domed ceiling served as the courtyard's focal point, stretching from the floor to the ceiling and allowing sunlight and air to flow freely through the circular opening.
The sun was already high in the sky. Ripples shimmered across the clear surface of the courtyard pool, while the surrounding greenery set it off beautifully. Lanchi, who had just returned to the examination hall from the Shadow World, could not help feeling extremely refreshed.
However, after looking around, Lanchi discovered that Teacher Theresa, who had originally been coordinating the examination hall, was nowhere to be seen.
Ordinarily, Teacher Theresa, who was responsible for this area, should have spent a little more time explaining the enrollment procedures for those who passed the examination.
But Lanchi soon noticed a stretcher being hurriedly carried away outside the examination hall by medical personnel, as well as the back of Teacher Theresa as she busily communicated with them. He understood immediately.
Teacher Theresa seemed to be busy handling the aftermath of Examiner Ferrat's situation, so she could only leave the examination hall temporarily.
That meant the second group of examinees, who were originally about to begin, had also been left waiting in the examination hall, with no one in charge of coordinating them.
"Ah, if I'd come out earlier, I could have lent a hand."
Warm-hearted Lanchi would certainly have gone to lend a hand when he saw an opponent needing to be carried away on a stretcher.
"..."
Inside the examination hall, Hughberlian happened to hear Lanchi muttering to himself and could not help looking at him.
If Ferrat had still retained even a sliver of consciousness just now,
then seeing Lanchi come to help carry him onto the stretcher
would probably have made him faint from sheer anger on the spot...
Hughberlian now seriously suspected that Lanchi was exceptionally malicious.
But when she observed his sincere and innocent expression, he did not seem like it.
He really was a little naturally slow on the uptake.
Before you continue