Intelligence

"Wind Chime Cat, oh, Wind Chime Cat. I finally figured out how to advance you, but I don't have the materials. Looks like you'll have to wait a while longer."

Lin Qi carried the Wind Chime Cat home, a trace of helplessness flashing through his eyes. He really hadn't expected advancing a Card Beast to be so difficult.

He had just reached an intersection a hundred meters from home when an urgent cry suddenly came from an alley to the side, trembling with panic. "Lin Qi, Lin Qi!"

Lin Qi stopped and whipped around.

A skinny man was huddled in the shadows of the narrow alley. His eyes darted rapidly from side to side as he kept watch on his surroundings.

"Jack?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, clearly surprised.

Lin Qi looked up and down the dark alley behind Jack. Only after making sure he was alone did he walk over.

"You've got some nerve. A bandit like you actually dared come into town."

Lin Qi kept his voice low, a hint of displeasure in his tone.

That was right. Jack was the Stone Iron Mountain bandit Lin Qi had bribed back then. The last time Lin Feng had been captured by bandits, Lin Qi had thought Jack hadn't sent word because he was dead. He hadn't expected to find him waiting here.

"Lin Qi, I have important information."

Jack leaned half a step closer, speaking urgently. Clearly, he knew just how dangerous his current situation was.

"Oh?"

Lin Qi raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into something between a smile and a smirk. "What a coincidence. I have some information for you too."

Jack frowned and stared at him warily.

"What information?"

Lin Qi looked him up and down before saying slowly, "A bandit has entered town. Do you think the city lord's manor would like to hear that?"

"You!"

Jack's face flushed red in an instant, and his back teeth ground together.

He realized what Lin Qi was doing: threatening him into handing over the information for free.

"Damn it, I was in too much of a hurry. I should have arranged to meet outside the city."

Jack's eyes darted about, as if he were searching for a way out.

Lin Qi gave him no time to dwell on his mistake. He leaned sideways against the wall, blocking Jack's path forward.

He folded his arms, his tone turning colder. "Go on, then. What's this important information? Keep dawdling, and I don't mind taking you to the city lord's manor myself to collect the reward."

"No, this information is extremely important. You have to give me a Source Crystal." Jack growled through gritted teeth, his voice trembling.

"A Source Crystal?"

A trace of genuine curiosity finally flashed in Lin Qi's eyes.

In his previous dealings with Jack, he had never paid more than a hundred Ka'en, while a single Source Crystal was worth a full ten thousand Ka'en.

What information does this guy have that he'd dare ask for so much?

Jack was skilled at reading people. Seeing Lin Qi's expression soften, he immediately pressed his advantage. "This information is extremely important. It's about you, and it's definitely worth a Source Crystal."

About me?

Lin Qi's curiosity was thoroughly piqued.

He stared hard at Jack, hoping to read something in his eyes.

But the guy looked so shifty that staring at him for too long made Lin Qi feel a little sick.

"One Source Crystal is fine."

A hint of delight had just appeared on Jack's face when Lin Qi changed tack. "But you'll have to throw in a detailed map of Stone Iron Mountain, including the sentry posts and secret passages."

"A map?"

Jack froze for a moment, his face full of confusion.

"What do you want a map of that dump for?"

"Never mind what I want it for. Just tell me whether you'll take the deal."

Naturally, Lin Qi wanted the map of Stone Iron Mountain so he could find a chance to wipe them out. He hadn't been strong enough before, but now that he had the Hellfire Skeleton and the Eerie Vine Demon, he naturally intended to settle accounts with them.

Jack hesitated for a moment, his fingertips picking unconsciously at the hem of his clothes.

The temptation of a Source Crystal was simply too great. In the end, he nodded firmly. "Fine! I'll draw you the map!"

"Come with me."

Lin Qi took Jack home and told him to draw the map in the living room, while he went to ask Lin Feng for a Source Crystal.

Jack doesn't want Ka'en, but insists on a Source Crystal instead... Looks like he wants to break through to Three-Star Card Master.

Lin Qi rubbed the Source Crystal, understanding dawning on him.

Although his breakthrough to Card Master had gone smoothly, that didn't mean it was so easy for everyone else.

Old John, for example, had only sensed Source Power and awakened his Natal Card at eighty-seven. Some Card Apprentices awakened their Natal Cards, yet might only break through to one star in their entire lives.

A Source Crystal, on the other hand, could directly provide pure Source Power, making it possible for Card Apprentices to achieve twice the result with half the effort when breaking through realms.

"It's done. I've marked the sentry placements you wanted too."

Jack handed the paper over.

Looking at the highly abstract drawing, Lin Qi couldn't help marveling that Stone Iron Mountain had actually produced an artist who drew from the soul.

Jack really has talent!

"All right, let's hear the information."

Lin Qi casually tossed the Source Crystal over, while an Eerie Vine Demon card quietly slipped down his sleeve. If the information wasn't worth the price, Jack wouldn't be taking the Source Crystal away, and he'd get a complimentary "sightseeing tour" of the city lord's manor.

Jack gripped the Source Crystal tightly. Only after feeling the Source Power flowing within it did he breathe a sigh of relief and lower his voice. "It's about Boss Scar and Lei De."

"Lei De?"

At that name, Lin Qi's gaze instantly turned cold. "He really is in league with the Stone Iron Mountain bandits."

When Lin Feng had been attacked on his last supply run, Lin Qi had suspected Lei De was behind it. Now his suspicion had been confirmed.

"They're more than just in league."

Jack licked his dry lips and said with some displeasure, "Lei De broke through to Five-Star Card Master. He's already joined the gang on the mountain and become second-in-command. He's riding high."

Lin Qi nodded, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "Any other news?"

"There's something even more important!"

Jack leaned closer and lowered his voice further. "Everyone in the city is saying your father is a card maker, but Lei De swore on his life to Scar that he definitely isn't. He's certain your father picked up those rare cards in a card secret realm."

Lin Qi's gaze darkened completely. "So they want to make a move against my father?"

Jack shook his head. "Your father's a Four-Star Card Master, after all. He won't be easy to deal with. They want to capture you!"

"In a few days, they'll pretend to attack the city and stir up a huge commotion. What they're really doing is sending people in to kidnap you, so they can use you to force your father to hand over the cards. One of the city gate guards is Lei De's man, but I don't know which one. That's everything I know."

Jack blurted it all out at once, clearly ready to leave.

Lin Qi sat there quietly, his thoughts racing.

After a while, he looked up and asked, "Just how strong is Scar?"

Scar was the leader of the Stone Iron Mountain bandits. No one knew his real name, but because he had a scar on his face, everyone had always called him by that nickname.

Jack frowned. Clearly, that wasn't something a small fry like him would know.

"The boss was already a Five-Star Card Master many years ago. And... I heard he's in league with the city lord's manor. More than half of everything we've plundered over the years has been sent up to them as tribute. I don't know what he got in return."

"The bandits and soldiers really are in it together..."

Lin Qi waved a hand. "You can go."

That information was indeed worth a Source Crystal.

As if granted a pardon, Jack tucked the Source Crystal away and hurried out the door.

Lin Qi picked up the abstract map from the table. As he looked at the crooked markings, his lips slowly curved into a cold smile.

"Maybe I really couldn't have done anything before, but now..."

He glanced at the Hellfire Skeleton card in his hand, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

"I am the God of the Flame Hell's envoy. You villains are due for divine punishment."