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← Back to novel Anime Card Maker

#362 · 362 of 399

Pig Hero Cheering.jpg

Jin Yubin’s sudden action made the staff member freeze for a moment before he moved to pull him up.

But before the staff member could do anything, two Ghost Shadow Soldiers had already helped Jin Yubin to his feet from either side.

Just then, Lu Su’s voice came over. "You can leave first."

"Yes."

Realizing that he was not suited to hear what came next, the staff member gave a slight bow in acknowledgment before turning and entering the elevator.

Only Lu Su and Jin Yubin remained in the room.

After a while, Lu Su finally spoke with a sigh. "So it really was you. When North Capital contacted me, I thought they were joking."

He paused, carefully looked Jin Yubin over, then continued, "But I wouldn’t call myself your benefactor. Back then, it was merely a transaction between us."

At those words, Jin Yubin, who had kept his head lowered the entire time, suddenly raised it. With a solemn expression, he said, "You jest, Benefactor. If not for your support back then, I would not be where I am today."

That was right. Jin Yubin was the passerby Lu Su had casually grabbed to ask for directions when Li Shuo teleported him to Goryeo years ago.

At the time, Jin Yubin had said that the humans in his city were being raised by Demons and hoped Lu Su would save them. But the youth had been in a hurry to return to Donglai and had no time to show off before people in a foreign land, so he could only leave Jin Yubin several Black Iron Grade materials and tell him to grow stronger.

Of course, Lu Su also felt that part of the reason he had done so was to pay for the directions.

Besides, a few Black Iron Grade materials meant nothing to him, so he had never taken the matter to heart.

But Jin Yubin did not see it that way. Back then, as a human raised by Demons, a few Black Iron Grade materials had already been an unimaginable gift.

Still, Lu Su had subconsciously overlooked the fact that when he had first crossed over, card loans had nearly driven him to desperation.

He looked at the man and sighed, then skipped over the subject. "You’re already a Gold Grade Card Master now. Why did you come to Great Ming this time?"

"To ask for aid?"

To be honest, Lu Su had never expected his casual act back then to produce a Gold Grade Card Master.

Before meeting him, Jin Yubin had merely been an ordinary civilian. Even in Great Ming, such a rate of advancement would have made him a minor genius.

But Gold Grade alone was definitely not enough against the Jade Diamond Grade Demons on the peninsula.

So forgive Lu Su for only being able to think that the other man had come to seek aid from Great Ming. Still, now that Great Ming no longer faced the threat of the Demon Army, it truly could consider acting to clear out the Demons entrenched on the peninsula.

Just as he was thinking this, Jin Yubin slowly shook his head. "If Imperial Ming is willing to send troops, the people of my country would naturally be endlessly grateful."

"But…"

"That is not why I came."

Lu Su could not help frowning slightly at that.

When North Capital had contacted him earlier, they had only said that a Goryeo man was looking for him. After looking at Jin Yubin’s photograph, Lu Su had told North Capital to bring the man to Sucheng City.

Thus, even now, Lu Su’s understanding of the other man’s purpose was still only speculation.

Fortunately, Jin Yubin did not beat around the bush and directly explained why he had come. "Benefactor, some days ago, a Master Grade Demon united the Demons entrenched within my country. It appears to be plotting against Imperial Ming."

After saying that, he hesitated briefly before continuing, "Also, according to reports from my subordinates, some foreign people with blond hair and blue eyes have appeared within my country."

Lu Su immediately straightened up.

He had never expected the Goryeo man before him to bring such explosive news.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Su asked, "Are there any sighting reports of that Master Grade Demon? Did it look like a fox?"

Before Jin Yubin could answer, Lu Su had already dismissed his own guess.

According to the intelligence, the Nation-Destroying Fox Spirit possessed forces of its own. There was no need for it to covet the Demons on Goryeo’s tiny patch of land.

Sure enough, Jin Yubin’s next words confirmed Lu Su’s thoughts. "Although sightings are rare, that Master Grade Demon does not appear to be a fox."

Hearing that, Lu Su pinched the bridge of his nose with a headache.

Who would have thought that just after Great Ming wiped out the Demon Army, so many Master Grade Demons would emerge around it?

Two by the Shanghai City coast, one in Goryeo, and the Nation-Destroying Fox Spirit currently hiding away.

That made four Master Grade Demons in total. The Demon Army had only possessed five army commanders.

The only difference between them and the Demon Army was that they were not as closely connected.

But one must not forget that the City within a City in Australia was still eyeing them hungrily, while Antarctica’s situation remained unknown.

I’m tired. Just destroy it all.

Lu Su only felt that Blue Star had become one enormous mess.

Suppressing a silent sigh in his heart, he casually said to Jin Yubin, "Stay in Great Ming for now. We’ll deal with Goryeo’s matters later."

Lu Su did not ask whether there was any other information. The reason was simple: it was already very good that Jin Yubin, as a Gold Grade Card Master, knew that a Master Grade Demon had appeared. Surely no one could expect him to cross three grades and exchange blows with it?

After all, Lu Su himself could not do that either.

Yet faced with such temptation, Jin Yubin refused in a firm tone. "Thank you for your kindness, Benefactor, but I have reasons I must return."

"My compatriots are still waiting for me."

Lu Su instinctively opened his mouth, wanting to say, What use would a Gold Grade be if he went back? But in the end, he swallowed the words at his throat.

A true man knew what he should and should not do. There was no need to discourage the other man in this situation, and even if he said it, he likely could not change Jin Yubin’s mind.

With that thought, Lu Su took out a large number of materials below Gold Grade. "As thanks for bringing me this information, take these materials back with you, Mr. Jin."

That was only proper. Great Ming had previously focused most of its attention on the Demon Army and had completely failed to notice the Master Grade Demon that had appeared on the peninsula.

Even though they would most likely discover its existence eventually, who knew whether that unknown Master Grade Demon would launch a brazen attack on Great Ming before then?

"Benefactor, this…" However, upon seeing Lu Su’s actions, Jin Yubin’s face showed some anxiety. He repeatedly waved his hands. "I cannot accept them. I merely came to repay your kindness."

Lu Su could not help tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He felt as though he had turned into GGBond. He was not far from becoming the sun.

Suppressing his increasingly wandering thoughts, Lu Su forcibly stuffed the materials into Jin Yubin’s hands. "Mr. Jin, you wouldn’t want your subordinates to have no materials to use, would you?"

With things having been said this far, Jin Yubin had no reason to refuse.

Gritting his teeth, he accepted the materials before abruptly dropping to his knees. "I will remember your kindness in my heart. Should you ever have need of me, I shall never refuse."

Lu Su waved his hand somewhat speechlessly and had the Ghost Shadow Soldiers quickly help the man up.

After standing, Jin Yubin first gave a deep bow, then strode into the elevator.

Now that he was the only one left in the office, Lu Su took a light breath and organized the intelligence. He then took out his communicator and began contacting Bai Yueming and the other senior figures of Great Ming.

The matter was too important. Naturally, it was not something he could decide on his own.

Australia, City within a City.

The same familiar old faces were present. Jin Ping and the other three Master Card Masters sat in the seats of power, each wearing a different expression.

The three were undoubtedly in much better condition than before. At the very least, they looked no different from ordinary people on the outside.

The Skin Peeler was the first to break the silence. Looking at Jin Ping with a strange expression, she said, "President Jin, Great Ming announced some time ago that the traitor under your command has become a ‘Master Grade’ Card Master."

"What do you think?"

She had not asked to provoke Jin Ping. She was not Chris. But if the news was true, Great Ming now had four Master Grade Card Masters and one Hall of Fame Card Master.

What the Skin Peeler wanted to know was whether Jin Ping had any countermeasures.

Jin Ping’s face immediately darkened. He said irritably, "You and I both know Great Ming’s little tricks. It is nothing more than an attempt to calm the people."

"After all, that little brat did defeat a Master Grade Demon head-on."

"As for whether he has truly advanced to Master Grade…"

"Let us not speak such ridiculous nonsense."

After he finished speaking, traces of gloom flashed through the old man’s eyes.

To be honest, he already dared not imagine how strong Lu Su would be if he truly advanced to Master Grade. By then, they would likely find every step difficult.

Fortunately, they still had a chance.

They simply had to speed up before Lu Su became a true Master Grade Card Master.

Thinking of this, Jin Ping could not help cursing inwardly. That little bastard! Even Ye Zhou did not put this much pressure on me when he was young.

The moment he finished voicing his opinion, an eerie silence fell over the room.

There was no need to mention the Black person group led by Marcus. Most of them were currently lost in thought, considering one hundred and eight ways to prepare two-legged sheep.

As for the white people behind Jin Ping, strange expressions of fear mixed with hatred appeared on their faces upon hearing Lu Su’s name.

That was right. They were former members of the Fallen Cult.

The reason for their expressions was naturally that they had thought of Chris. Unfortunately, relying on their own strength, they likely could not avenge their leader.

That was also why they had willingly signed Jin Ping’s contract.

Part of it might have been due to the old man’s pressure, but more importantly, they hoped he could avenge Chris.

It was rather ironic. When Chris was alive, he had been the Master Grade Card Master in the City within a City who got along worst with Jin Ping. Yet after dying, he had to rely on Jin Ping to avenge him.

Who knew what expression the boy would wear if he learned of this underground?

As for the Skin Peeler…

She was the calmest person in the City within a City right now. Unlike Jin Ping and Marcus, she was from the Indo-American Federation and still had a way out.

After they remained silent for a while, the Skin Peeler finally asked about something else. "President Jin, how are preparations in Goryeo going?"

"They are nearly complete. That test subject has basically taken control of Goryeo." At the mention of business, Jin Ping recovered somewhat. "But Great Ming should react soon, since the Demon Army is gone."

At the mention of the Demon Army, Jin Ping was filled with anger.

How could five Master Grade Demons all be wiped out in a single battle?

Otherwise, things would not have ended up like this.

Even taking ten thousand steps back, if Tempest had killed Lu Su, they would not be under such great pressure now.

Having learned their lesson, the Master Grade Card Masters of the City within a City would not be as arrogant as the Demon Army.

Hearing that, the Skin Peeler closed her eyes and folded her arms. "I see."

"Then we must act quickly. However, Shanghai City still lacks one final Secret Realm."

They had already descended two Master Grade Secret Realms onto the Shanghai City coast. They were only one Secret Realm away from allowing the Four Calamity Gods to descend.

Unfortunately, to descend the second Master Grade Secret Realm some time ago, Jin Ping had exhausted all the Secret Realms he had previously contracted.

Unless…

At that moment, the old man and the Feather-crowned Woman thought of the same possibility. Together, they turned their eyes toward Marcus, who was focused on gnawing on a bone nearby.

As if sensing their gazes, Marcus paused, then raised his head in confusion. "?"

Seeing this, Jin Ping and the Skin Peeler immediately withdrew their gazes and exchanged a look in secret.

Then, as though nothing had happened, they began discussing other matters.

"Set the time for when Great Ming sends troops to Goryeo. To deal with that test subject, they should dispatch at least two Master Grade Card Masters. When that time comes, we will have our chance to act. Before then, let the test subject stir up some trouble."

"We’ll do as President Jin says. Oh, and remember to make that stupid fox contribute as well."

"Naturally."

"Chomp chomp chomp."

Unfortunately, the Master Grade Card Masters of the City within a City did not know that Great Ming would discover Goryeo’s abnormality far sooner than they imagined.

But that was simply how the world worked. Plans failing to keep up with changes was perfectly normal.

Just like the City within a City’s scheme.

Just like Great Ming’s plans.

"I never thought something like this would happen."

In Great Ming, Ye Zhou and the others were looking at the intelligence in their hands with rather grim expressions.

After Lu Su informed them of the news Jin Yubin had brought, Great Ming dispatched Card Masters skilled in intelligence gathering to Goryeo.

Sure enough, just as Jin Yubin had said, the Demons within Goryeo had been united by a Master Grade Demon that had never appeared before.

"Fortunately, Xiao Luo is kindhearted. Otherwise, we might not have discovered its existence until it attacked."

As he said this, Fang Wenlong let out a long breath and looked at Lu Su with a trace of relief in his heart.

According to the investigation, the Master Grade Demon in Goryeo was extremely skilled at concealing itself. Only because the investigating Card Masters had learned of its existence beforehand were they able to find clues.

Thus, if Lu Su had not formed this connection in advance, causing Jin Yubin to risk his life to travel to Great Ming and deliver the news, what happened afterward might have been difficult to say.

As for how Jin Yubin and the other Goryeo Card Masters had discovered it…

Although this Master Grade Demon was skilled at concealment, it had inevitably exposed a few traces while gathering the Demons within Goryeo.

That was how the Goryeo Card Masters discovered its existence.

"Cough." At that moment, Ye Zhou covered his mouth and coughed before speaking weakly. "Xiao Luo and Uncle Fang, I’ll have to trouble you to lead people to Goryeo."

This was indeed the more reasonable arrangement. Among Great Ming’s Master Grade combatants, Bai Yueming was too old and faced greater risks fighting away from home, while Ji Weirui had yet to fully recover from the injuries she sustained during the battle with the Demon Army.

Therefore, only Lu Su and Fang Wenlong could take on this task.

Lu Su and Fang Wenlong exchanged a glance, then nodded.

"Alright."

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