Could I Have a Moment of Your Time, Sir?

"Handsome, you really dared to take it?"

Tang Yueyue was extremely surprised. Though she had felt from the bottom of her heart that this young, handsome shop owner was anything but ordinary.

At his age, he actually dared to accept an order for a third-rank card. Wasn't that a little too... arrogant?

"I already said I can't guarantee the success rate." Gu Xin spread his hands, looking rather innocent.

"A rich lady like Miss Tang is giving me third-rank materials for free so I can practice. How could I possibly refuse such a good deal?"

"Fine."

Hearing Gu Xin's humorous tone, Tang Yueyue rolled her eyes.

"Once I've gathered all these materials, I'll bring them over to you, handsome. If things go quickly, I should be able to get them this afternoon."

Tang Yueyue slipped the list into her pocket. They were mostly second-rank materials, and as long as she had money, they would not be hard to acquire.

"And the payment for the commission..."

"Pay the rest after the card is made. Of course, you'll need to pay part of it as a deposit first."

Gu Xin replied. If the final card turned out to be second-rank, its price would naturally differ from that of a first-rank card.

As for the deposit, that was necessary.

Although he had a favorable impression of Tang Yueyue, this cheerful and pretty girl, and felt that she would not skip out on payment, business was business.

"No problem." Tang Yueyue agreed readily.

"Oh, right. I won't be at the shop tomorrow. I made plans with some friends to visit a secret realm." After receiving Tang Yueyue's 200,000 deposit, Gu Xin reminded her.

"Mm, got it." Tang Yueyue blinked her large eyes.

"Oh, handsome."

"?"

"Would you be interested in becoming a full-time card maker for our Tang Family? Your monthly pay would definitely satisfy you."

Tang Yueyue flashed an incredibly energetic smile.

Although Gu Xin was only a second-rank card maker right now, this was the first time Tang Yueyue had seen a card maker capable of giving a summon card a "trait."

Gu Xin chuckled. This was the first time a faction had extended an olive branch to him.

The Tang Family was one of Yin City's prominent local families, and Tang Group was quite famous. Judging by Tang Yueyue's tone, she was probably a young lady of the Tang Family.

"Sorry, I'm still a student. I'm not considering that for the time being."

Gu Xin declined tactfully. Joining a faction did come with quite a few benefits.

As long as that faction was willing to invest in and support him, Gu Xin would no longer need to worry about resources and materials himself.

But every advantage came with disadvantages. Once he joined a faction, his own wishes and freedom would inevitably be affected.

Gu Xin liked making cards. He enjoyed the fulfillment and delight of successfully creating one, and he also enjoyed the praise and amazement people showed toward the cards he made.

But becoming nothing more than a card-making tool was not what Gu Xin wanted.

Besides, to put it plainly, he was already fully capable of supporting himself. Money was indeed necessary, but Gu Xin could earn it himself, so why did he need to rely on others?

As long as he could continue making outstanding cards, sooner or later Gu Xin's network would grow wider and wider, and he would build his own social circle.

There was a saying that put it well: an outstanding card maker never lacked friends. That was exactly how it was.

After all, magic cards were far too versatile as magical tools.

"Mhm, then I'll wait for the card you make, handsome." Tang Yueyue was not disappointed. She still wore a cheerful grin.

After chatting for a while longer, Yin Xue and Tang Yueyue said their goodbyes. They had come out during their lunch break.

They still had to return to school for class. High school was different from university; their time was tight.

"I told you, but you wouldn't believe me. You just had to try."

On the way back to school, Yin Xue shot Tang Yueyue a sidelong glance, making no effort to hide her teasing.

"So what?" Tang Yueyue curled her lips. "I was just asking. It wasn't like I had anything to lose."

"The owner isn't an ordinary person. Stop thinking about all that nonsense."

Yin Xue thought of [Magic Cylinder] and [Wither], then glanced at Squirtle by her feet.

If she had not seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed that those cards had been made by a student only one year older than herself.

"Hehe, I'm already looking forward to my summon card. Heh heh heh, I'll definitely slaughter everyone in the academy tournament and take first place in the grade!"

Tang Yueyue's pretty, fair face was filled with anticipation. She already had the powerful card [Heart Change].

Once she got the summon card she had commissioned from Gu Xin, she would definitely crush everyone!

Just thinking about it made Tang Yueyue hum softly to herself.

"Not necessarily."

Yin Xue's smile was meaningful. Well, she had not told Tang Yueyue about [Wither].

She planned to give her good friend a huge surprise during the competition!

Back at Blue Star Card Shop, after Yin Xue and Tang Yueyue left, Gu Xin lounged on the beanbag chair and took out his phone.

He had no intention of returning to school. Instead, he started searching online for information.

"Why is it all porn sellers? I swear, this is ridiculous."

After quite some time, Gu Xin cursed as he left yet another group chat he had just joined.

This was already the sixth one. He had been searching for how to join the Black Net, but every time he entered one, it was full of porn-peddling garbage.

What era was this? Why were there still so many of these things?

People online really were too repressed.

"I should go get something to eat. What rotten luck."

At five in the afternoon, Gu Xin rubbed his stomach. After thinking it over, he decided to treat himself properly today and not order delivery.

He had heard that prepackaged meals had become more common lately. Since he only knew how to make egg fried rice, it was safer to eat at a restaurant.

"I really need to make a summon card that can cook someday. It could handle all three meals for me every day. Or I could hire a shop assistant?"

Gu Xin threw on a jacket and pondered.

His shop might be a little small, and business was admittedly rather average at the moment, but that did not stop him from hiring someone.

Hiring an employee would not cost much anyway. They could help receive customers and cook as well.

As soon as he thought of it, Gu Xin immediately wrote out a job posting on a piece of paper and stuck it beside the shop entrance.

"Not bad. I'll post a recruitment listing online later." Gu Xin gave himself a thumbs-up.

After thoroughly stuffing himself with hotpot, Gu Xin headed home in satisfaction.

It was now close to seven, and the sky had already darkened. Gu Xin deliberately took a shortcut.

"Come to think of it, I wonder if they caught that demi-human yet. Yin City's officials haven't released any news either."

Looking at the quiet alley, Gu Xin could not help thinking of that demi-human.

If possible, he would not have minded having a romantic encounter with that demi-human.

Well, provided the demi-human was not too strong. But they could not possibly be strong. If they were truly a fourth-rank demi-human powerhouse, Yin City would have been thrown into chaos long ago.

"Hm? This smell..."

Gu Xin abruptly stopped. He had caught an unusual scent, a sharp and pungent odor.

Turning his head slightly, Gu Xin looked at a short man in a black cloak slowly emerging from the alley beside him.

"Sir, could I have a moment of your time? I would like to properly tell you about our savior and..."

"?"

Gu Xin's expression turned strange. What kind of thing had he run into?