Luo Sheng walked over to the fridge and opened it, revealing an array of neatly arranged food items.
Fruits and vegetables in red, yellow, blue, green, and purple hues, along with fresh meats and exquisite cakes and desserts—it all looked quite expensive.
No surprise, considering she was the young heiress of a financial conglomerate.
Luo Sheng casually grabbed a bottle of milk and a large mousse cake. He needed a quick energy boost.
Glancing at the back of the sofa and half a head poking above it, he asked casually while munching, "Aren't you a wealthy heiress? Why live in a place like this?"
"Secret."
"Alright then, let me know if you need anything."
One should be grateful when taking others' kindness, Luo Sheng thought. Of course, it was just a polite remark—he doubted he could be of much help.
At least, that's what he thought.
But Qin Jianjia spoke up. "Actually, I do need something. Help me repair a card."
Luo Sheng was puzzled. "Aren't you a Card Enhancer?"
"I'm not confident about this one," Qin Jianjia admitted, pulling out her [Frost Wyvern] card. The card was damaged, a shadow of its former strength.
Although it was originally a ten-star Bronze card, its current performance was only equivalent to a six-star Bronze card. The drop in rank wasn't severe, but its effectiveness had been significantly compromised. It was no longer a reliable ally and could drain a lot of mental energy with little payoff.
Qin Jianjia had intended to enhance the card, but something went wrong. The card suddenly went berserk during the process. Fortunately, she stopped just in time to prevent it from completely shattering. However, the material cards were completely consumed.
"No problem. But I can't guarantee success. This is basically a roll of the dice," Luo Sheng said between bites of bread and gulps of milk.
"Don't worry. Even if it fails, I won't hold it against you. Giving it to you is just a final hope for the card," Qin Jianjia said without hesitation, handing him the card.
"You'll cover the material costs, right?"
"Of course."
With that assurance, Luo Sheng accepted the card. High-level cards like this required high-level materials for repair. For a fully-starred Bronze card, the material costs could easily run into hundreds of thousands. Luo Sheng wasn't about to take on such an expense himself.
However, repairing a card like this would likely yield a lot of mysterious energy, which made him excited.
Just as he was finishing his breakfast, his phone buzzed with a message.
It was from Xia Xingri:
[I owe you an apology for the trouble I caused last time. I'll make it up to you. Also, I've got a business deal for you. The payout is huge. If you're interested, meet me at the Luckin Coffee across from the Card Master Tower in half an hour. – Xia Xingri.]
Huh? Luo Sheng froze for a moment.
What was this guy up to? Apologizing and offering a deal all of a sudden?
Luo Sheng suspected it might be a trap. However, the location—across from the Card Master Tower—was one of the safest places in the city. The Card Master Tower was guarded by Peace City's security forces and armed units. Any conflict there would be resolved in under a minute.
Still, better safe than sorry. Luo Sheng shared the news with Qin Jianjia and told her to send someone if he wasn't back by noon.
Qin Jianjia reassured him, "Don't worry. If it's near the Card Master Tower, it's unlikely to be a trap. That area is under a massive suppression barrier. Traps and dimensional card effects won't work there, especially at a café across from the tower."
Feeling more at ease, Luo Sheng quickly finished his breakfast, summoned his motorbike, and sped off to the café.
Xia Xingri was waiting outside, waving enthusiastically as Luo Sheng arrived. Beside him stood a man in a brown, vintage-style suit, holding a large suitcase.
The man greeted Luo Sheng warmly, removing his gloves to shake hands. "Hello, I'm Robert, a Card Collector. You can call me Paul. It's an honor to meet you, the genius of Second High, Luo Sheng. I have a big business proposition for you. Let's discuss it inside."
The café's private meeting room was transparent, soundproof, and faced the Card Master Tower—a thoughtful arrangement that put Luo Sheng at ease.
Paul ordered two expensive coffees, a latte for himself and a cappuccino for Luo Sheng, while Xia Xingri stood behind him like an obedient lackey.
Luo Sheng noted this dynamic with suspicion. Xia Xingri's demeanor hinted that he had joined some secretive organization. Luo Sheng resolved to report this to his mentor, Su Tianchen, later.
"So, what kind of business are we discussing?" Luo Sheng asked directly.
Paul sipped his coffee, his brown, stubbly face breaking into a smile. "I like dealing with straightforward people. Let's get to the point—I want to buy your [Alice]."
Luo Sheng's brows furrowed instantly.
This wasn't a proper business deal at all.
He didn't outright refuse but asked, "Why? There are plenty of girl cards available in the Card Master Tower at much lower prices. Why target mine?"
"No, no, those cards lack a soul. That's not business; that's just an ordinary transaction," Paul retorted.
"So, what's your business? Buying cards from others?" Luo Sheng pressed.
Paul smiled nonchalantly, unconcerned about revealing his intentions. "Our business isn't as simple as you think. We're more like intermediaries. When a client needs something, we find and deliver it."
"So, my [Alice] is just a commodity to you?" Luo Sheng's gaze turned cold as he stared at Paul.
(Chapter End)