Chapter 1 Covering Up

Pulling on his coat, Lan Qi picked up the codex he'd borrowed from the border library from the table and left the room.

As the morning light gradually brightened, the world outside became clearer.

After enjoying breakfast as usual, exchanging a few pleasantries with the butler Hans, and bidding farewell to the maid Francine, Lan Qi walked straight out of the mansion, heading towards the street corner he remembered.

Soon, he saw Talia standing by the wall.

"Good morning, Tata."

Lan Qi greeted Talia, who had been waiting early.

Previously, when Lan Qi asked Talia her name, she didn't tell him her real name.

Instead, she said her name was "Tata."

Even though Lan Qi already knew her real name, he had to pretend he didn't.

Otherwise, accidentally calling out "Talia" would definitely cause big problems.

As an ordinary commoner, there was no way he would know the true identity of this demon princess.

So Lan Qi naturally used the alias "Tata" to call her.

"Mm."

Talia simply nodded, ignoring Lan Qi.

Once Lan Qi started his schedule for the day, she followed him at a distance, neither too close nor too far.

…

About half an hour later, Lan Qi and Talia arrived at the Card Creator Association—Southern Wantina Border Territory Branch of the Hutton Kingdom.

Before Lan Qi could even touch the heavy door, a mysterious energy began to permeate the door of the Card Creator Association.

Before his eyes, driven by this force, the ancient crest on the black iron-like metal door gradually flickered with a faint blue light, as if it had come to life, pulsing with magical energy.

With a slight tremor, the gap in the door of the Card Creator Association gradually widened.

What came into view was a scene completely different from the outside world—

The interior of the association was simple and elegant. Apart from the neatly divided counter areas, there was no excessive and complicated decoration. The overall layout gave a sense of order.

Even though it was only morning, the association was already full of busy staff. Many visiting guests waited in front of the counters, discussing magic cards and topics related to the Shadow World.

Lan Qi took a step, entering this magnificent and spectacular building, but suddenly stopped.

"Tata, I'm not sure when I'll be finished today. Why don't you come in with me?"

He turned to look at Talia and asked.

Since reaching a deal with Talia, he had almost always told her about his schedule in advance, including what time he would leave in the morning and what time he would return home at night.

And Talia, as his bodyguard, was also very dedicated.

Previously, whether Lan Qi went to the border library or the Card Creator Association, Talia would wait outside until he came out.

The defense force in these important places wasn't weak. Lan Qi explained to her that some places didn't require her to accompany him.

For example, at Lan Qi's home, as long as he was sent back to the mansion, she didn't need to protect him anymore.

In addition, Lan Qi himself was also very clear that Talia didn't have the proper identity to enter these places.

Right now, she was just an illegal immigrant of unknown identity in the Hutton Kingdom.

If her identity was investigated for intruding into the branches of these large associations, it might cause no small trouble.

"No."

Talia's tone didn't reveal any emotion.

However, her voice was still as distant as ever.

Lan Qi sighed, put his hands on his hips, and looked at her:

"I might have to come here and stay for a long time every day. If you keep guarding outside waiting for me every day… wouldn't that kind of lurking feel more conspicuous?"

"…"

His words made Talia silent, as if she was considering it.

"Don't you think it would be much more convenient for your work if you could freely enter and exit the Card Creator Association?"

Lan Qi asked again,

"It's like this, I'm going to rent a card creation workshop in the association next. There will be no one in the card creation room except me, so you can stay in the card creation room to pass the time. If anyone in the association asks later, I'll just say you're my bodyguard."

As Lan Qi spoke, he took out his savings crystal card.

Obviously, it was the highest-level kind.

The Card Creator Association of the border city-state wouldn't easily offend such a distinguished guest.

"Okay."

Talia hesitated for a moment, nodded slightly, and then followed.

Compared to waiting outside, she had actually wanted to enter the human Card Creator Association to take a look for a long time.

Unfortunately, she had been suffering from not having a legal identity for many years.

This human… always managed to make her wish come true by accident.

…

Not long after Lan Qi led Talia into the association, an executive walked up to Lan Qi to greet him.

Although he wasn't a registered card creator of the association, the staff knew that Lan Qi came as a "merchant."

After all, Lan Qi's family was the famous Wilford Merchant Guild in this southern Wantina border territory.

"I want to rent a high-end private card creation workshop. Also, I need some materials."

Lan Qi expressed his intention to the executive in a concise and clear manner and handed him a list.

Then the executive nodded respectfully and politely, extending his hand to invite the two of them to go with him.

Under the guidance of the executive, bypassing half of the association's first floor interior area, they reached the third floor of the association from a suspended staircase.

This floor's corridor seemed to be decades old, but in order to preserve a certain sense of artistry, they didn't choose to renovate it excessively.

At the end of the corridor, a room with a purple sign hanging on the door came into Lan Qi and Talia's view.

The executive opened the door for them, then stepped aside, signaling that the two of them could enter.

"Mr. Lan Qi Wilford, the rental fee is 1 pound per hour. You can settle the rental bill when you leave. I will send the materials over later."

The executive operated on a small magical device in his hand for a while and returned the crystal card engraved with Lan Qi's identity to him.

"Okay, thank you."

Lan Qi chatted with the executive at the door.

Talia stood silently near Lan Qi, scrutinizing her surroundings.

She immediately understood that this spacious card creation workshop had a complete set of card creation facilities, all of which were relatively high-end equipment.

Having these things in a border city-state was already quite good.

Talia couldn't remember how long it had been since she last touched these familiar tools.

But she didn't want to touch these things at all now.

The magic cards she made, engraved with demonic runes, couldn't be traded casually in human kingdoms.

If traces were left and investigated by the Human Kingdom Alliance Council, it would only lead to deadly trouble…

…

Before long, the staff prepared and delivered the materials that Lan Qi purchased on the list as promised.

In addition to whiteboard cards, energy crystals, rubbing magic stones, magic core liquid and other conventional materials, there was also a pile of scrolls.

The main materials needed to create the three major types of magic cards were different.

Equipment cards must have equipment prototypes and enchantment, packaging and other props.

Summoning cards require materials such as magic beast crystal cores or soul crystals.

To make spell cards, magic scrolls were needed as materials for processing and rewriting.

As a practice, spell cards were undoubtedly the best choice.

Because a large part of the materials and processes required for spell cards had already been integrated by the magic scrolls.

Compared to creating from scratch, making spell cards was closer to a kind of "reprocessing"!

"Besides staying here, you can leave at any time, as long as you find that executive from before, he will bring you in."

Lan Qi moved a chair and placed it not far from the workbench, indicating that it was for Talia.

Talia nodded.

She didn't like standing and waiting all day either.

So Talia walked to the chair and sat down gently, her back straight, her hands gently folded on her lap, like a noble empress.

Her gaze was calmly focused on the front, as if she didn't include the surrounding things in her attention.

But after sitting down, she realized.

It seemed that all that was left for her to do next was to watch this kid make cards to pass the time.