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Time passed in a flash, and the cards of Grant and his two teammates gradually recovered from their cooldown. The faint shimmer of restored magical energy flickered around their card holders like dying embers finally catching flame again.
"Now that you are all well, I will be leaving first," Russell said, his voice cutting through the silence that had settled over their small group. Grant and the others didn't say anything to try and keep him, but just watched him go with complicated expressions. Their faces showed a mix of wariness and something that might have been grudging respect.
"Let's go," Grant finally said to his team after Russell had turned away. "It's time for us to finish our own work."
Russell's dark form moved through the corridors of the pocket dimension, the crimson patterns of his Arrogance transformation pulsing with each step. The dimensional barrier ahead shimmered like water, marking the boundary between this magical space and the real world.
After crossing through the barrier, Russell finally allowed himself to drop his Arrogance form. The transformation peeled away like a second skin, black and red energy dissolving into wisps that left the metallic taste of spent magic in his mouth. He'd maintained that monstrous appearance for most of the journey - there hadn't been a choice. The pocket dimension's dangers demanded respect, and he had no intention of dying forgotten in some magical realm.
Guards maintained their watch outside the pocket dimension at all hours. When they spotted a figure emerging from the shimmering portal, the cardmakers on duty tensed immediately. Hands moved toward weapon cards before they recognized the familiar magical signature of another cardmaker.
"Student, is the mission completed? Come register with me." The duty officer spoke with the practiced efficiency of someone who'd processed hundreds of returning trainees. Her uniform remained crisp despite the late hour, though Russell noticed the slight tremor in her hands - too much coffee and not enough sleep.
Russell approached the registration desk, his boots echoing against the polished stone. The administrative area felt sterile compared to the wild magic he'd just left behind. Following the officer's instructions, he placed his palm on a crystal interface and transmitted his mission data. Information flowed through the device like streams of liquid light.
"Okay, registration is complete." Her stylus scratched against parchment that duplicated itself automatically. "Once we verify that you have indeed cleared the problem, the points will be credited to your account."
The officer turned back to her paperwork without another word. Russell stood there for a moment, feeling the ancient book pressed against his ribs beneath his jacket. The tome still radiated faint warmth - whatever secrets it contained had been worth hiding behind multiple layers of protective spells.
He'd made his decision during the walk back. No one had searched him beyond the standard magical resonance scan, and he wasn't about to volunteer information. If the book contained anything important, he'd discuss it with his teacher first. As for the Spirit Begging Society... that could wait until he understood what he'd actually found.
Russell thanked the staff and headed for the exit. Storage cards need to move up my priority list, he thought, already planning his next purchases. An enchanted storage ring would solve so many problems.
Days of constant tension had left Russell feeling wrung out like an old dishrag. Even his enhanced cardmaker physique had its limits, and he'd pushed well past them. All he wanted was his own bed and maybe some quality time with his card collection afterward. Those sweet, responsive girl cards were perfect for unwinding.
The walk home took him through Northgate's quieter streets. Warm lamplight spilled from tavern windows, mixing with the sound of distant laughter and the steady clip-clop of late carriages on cobblestone. The familiar sights and sounds helped ease some of the tension from his shoulders.
Noon sunlight blazed through his apartment curtains, painting bright rectangles across the wooden floor. The light had an almost aggressive quality that made Russell wince as consciousness returned.
"These curtains are absolutely useless," he grumbled, sitting up in bed and running fingers through his disheveled hair. His back felt sticky with dried sweat from the previous night's activities, and when he twisted to look, red scratches decorated his shoulders.
"Well, at least the marks are already fading," he observed with satisfaction. "Bronze-level physique has its perks." The enhanced healing that came with his cardmaker abilities meant injuries that would plague a normal person for days were already beginning to close.
After a quick shower - the hot water felt like heaven on his abused muscles - Russell spread his acquired materials across the kitchen table. Each piece gleamed with its own particular magical resonance, a small fortune in raw crafting components.
He planned to sell most of the bronze and black iron materials through Mr. Warren. The broker's underground connections made him perfect for moving bulk quantities without attracting attention. The proceeds would fund a proper house purchase - something with more space and better privacy wards than his current cramped apartment.
A grand manor like Hazel's was out of the question, of course. Her family's estate with its manicured gardens and small army of servants was completely beyond his means. Besides, he wasn't planning to settle in Northgate permanently. A decent villa would serve his needs.
The real prizes were his silver-level materials. Between his own finds and what he'd acquired working with Grant's team, he now possessed twenty-three blue and green quality components. The crown jewel was a single golden [Immortal Demon Fox] core, its faceted surface containing what looked like trapped fire.
Five blue materials would go to Mr. Warren as handling fees - the broker's services weren't charity, after all. The rest might be worth converting to Association points, despite the terrible exchange rates.
Russell opened his laptop and navigated to the points redemption site. The interface looked like it had been designed by a committee of accountants - functional but uninspired. His current balance showed 2,020 points: twenty from his Gray Ridge Mountains heroics, and two thousand for completing the pocket dimension training.
He browsed the available materials, noting that his points could purchase one or two purple-quality silver components. Then curiosity led him to check the recycling rates.
"Are they completely insane?" Russell stared at the screen in disbelief. The recycling program offered exactly half market value, and only accepted silver-grade materials or higher. "No wonder Mr. Warren stays in business."
Grant had mentioned the points system like it was some great benefit, but now Russell understood why private brokers thrived. Unless you enjoyed being systematically cheated, the Association's official channels were worthless.
This has to be intentional, he thought . Probably some deal between the Association and the royal court - cooperation in exchange for trading profits. It explained why successful brokers all seemed to have court connections.
Setting aside his irritation, Russell focused on planning his next card project. His time in the pocket dimension had clarified several needs: better transportation, item storage, and help with mundane tasks. Watching Hazel's Yellow Turban Warriors handle household chores with supernatural efficiency had been particularly inspiring.
Then inspiration struck. The Shadowkhan. ( For those who don't know its from Jackie Chan Adventures )
These supernatural servants could transport their master through shadow-space, solving mobility issues that conventional vehicles couldn't touch. They also possessed dimensional storage capabilities, creating unlimited carrying capacity disguised as a simple card effect. And unlike purely combat-focused cards, they excelled at household management.
Russell couldn't help but grin at the perfect solution. While Shadowkhan might not be the strongest combat cards available, their versatility was unmatched. Plus, given the lore about nine Oni masks bringing ultimate darkness... their power ceiling might be higher than it initially appeared.
He immediately began searching the points catalog:
Silver-level [Shadow Ninja] (Purple), points required: 800.Silver-level [Mind-Controlling Mask] (Purple), points required: 1100.
Perfect. The [Shadow Ninja] would provide stealth and mobility functions, while the [Mind-Controlling Mask] would handle servitude and dimensional storage aspects. Together they consumed 1,900 of his 2,020 points - nearly everything he'd earned.
But Shadowkhan cards required three materials, not two. Russell leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the desk while considering options.
After a moment's thought, he opened his messaging app and composed a note to his senior sister. Perfect timing, really - besides needing materials, he had questions about the ancient book and learning pocket dimension languages.
His finger hovered over the send button briefly before he pressed it. Sometimes the best solutions required asking for help.
(End of this chapter)