After a moment's consideration, Marco Witt lowered his eyelids and said with unruffled composure, "I have two options."
"Oh," Chen Mu replied, waiting for him to continue.
Marco Witt held up one finger. "For the first option, I'll teach you some essential skills for a Close-Combat Card Adept. If you can master them, your abilities will put you in the upper-middle ranks of Close-Combat Card Adepts. For this option, you'll have to pay Contribution Points."
Chen Mu looked thoughtful.
"For the second option, you won't need to pay any Contribution Points." Marco Witt noticed that Chen Mu's expression remained unchanged, without the slightest flicker at those words, and grew more certain of his decision. He paused briefly before continuing, "I'll teach you every skill and technique I know, holding nothing back. But I'll need a promise from you."
"What promise?" Chen Mu's gaze was as clear as water.
"If I run into trouble in the future-if someone challenges me, for instance-I hope you'll help me when circumstances permit," Marco Witt said frankly.
Chen Mu was taken aback. He was clever enough to understand what those words meant. If he chose to go back on his word, the promise would place almost no constraints on him. Rather than agree immediately, he voiced his doubts. "That doesn't seem very fair to you."
Marco Witt's expression was calm. "All I want is a little hope." He glanced at Chen Mu. "For me, trading this for a little hope is an excellent bargain. What do you think? You can take some time to consider it."
Chen Mu stared blankly, clearly startled by Marco Witt's words.
Seeing Chen Mu's surprised expression, Marco Witt smiled. "Actually, I've never quite understood why you want to become a Card Adept. Being a Card Crafter is much safer. And