Now, not only did Lanqi have to continue paying Talia 3 pounds daily wages, but he also owed her a huge sum of over ten thousand pounds.

Due to the immeasurable value of the epic card [Great Love Poet], Lanqi and Talia finally negotiated the production cost to 75,000 pounds in Southern Kingdom Union currency: the card would belong to Lanqi first, but he needed to repay the full amount within ten years, along with corresponding interest, and they signed a contract.

If the core material [Compassionate Psalms] hadn't been provided by Lanqi, and if he hadn't participated in the key steps of card making, the price might have added another zero, and Lanqi wouldn't have been able to acquire this card.

But even the amount of 75,000 pounds was difficult for the Wilford Trading Company to produce in liquid cash directly.

Lanqi couldn't pay it all at once, so he could only wait to slowly earn money to repay Talia.

Calculating at a compound annual interest rate of 4%, to repay in equal installments over 10 years, he would need to pay Talia at least 9,247 pounds annually. If he couldn't pay, with late fees, the principal and interest would snowball.

So [Great Love Poet] was truly expensive.

For her, Lanqi even had to take out a mortgage.

Of course, Lanqi wouldn't lose out. In a sense, he had once again tied Talia firmly to his side.

Originally, Talia only planned to teach Lanqi until rank 3 and then leave.

Now, because Talia wanted to reclaim this huge debt, she not only had to protect Lanqi but also help him, who could freely sell cards in human society, to quickly earn enough wealth to repay the debt!

As long as he owed Talia enough money, she would look after him.

She hadn't even realized that their guardian and master-apprentice contract would naturally continue!

Lanqi's mental abacus clicked away as he thought with a smile.

However, at this moment, [Great Love Poet] hadn't automatically turned back into a magic card,

"Such a weak opponent,"

[Great Love Poet] said as she walked towards Lanqi, slightly raising her proud head and letting out a silvery laugh.

Although she looked similar to Talia, her temperament was completely opposite.

Compared to the cold and dignified Talia who kept people at arm's length, [Great Love Poet]'s every smile and frown was like the warm sun of spring, only with a hint of undisguised cunning and arrogance in the depths of her eyes.

Seeing Felat's torment, she seemed very happy, not even bothering to act anymore.

"Friendship first, respect the opponent,"

Lanqi quickly closed his eyes and shook his head, silently chanting "mea culpa, mea culpa".

It wasn't surprising that epic-level summoned creatures had independent consciousness.

But [Great Love Poet]'s combat attributes were even weaker than ordinary rank 1 summons. When her special effect couldn't be utilized, she was nothing more than a mascot, and one couldn't expect her to fight at all.

"Alright, turn back into a magic card, Great Love Poet,"

Lanqi waved at [Great Love Poet].

However,

[Great Love Poet] didn't seem to want to turn back into a card so quickly. It was rare for her to come out and get some fresh air.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

So she leisurely sauntered to Lanqi's side.

"Hey, when are we going to torment enemies again next time?"

No longer needing to act pure, [Great Love Poet] had completely lost her previous innocent girl feeling. Her eyes narrowed like a fox's as she grinned and asked.

"Ahem!"

Lanqi's eyebrows twitched at her words, and he quickly coughed lightly twice.

"Tormenting our country's citizens is illegal, potentially involving the crime of abuse written in the 'Hutton Code'. Don't say such things casually,"

Lanqi explained seriously,

"I have no criminal intentions. I'm just normally participating in a national exam through strategy."

"?"

[Great Love Poet] frowned in confusion for two seconds.

She blinked, staring at Lanqi's bright emerald eyes, feeling they were completely clear.

This person seemed to be genuinely explaining the law, not speaking some underworld code.

"Tch."

Clicking her tongue silently, [Great Love Poet] dispersed into points of light, re-coalescing in Lanqi's hand, turning back into a magic card surrounded by faint orange mist,

"Weak master, you need to get stronger quickly, so I can stay outside freely and enjoy happiness."

The lingering clear voice of [Great Love Poet], tinged with a sweet smile, echoed across the empty grassland.

Lanqi put away this magic card, shaking his head helplessly.

Even if he had unlimited mana, he wouldn't let this troublemaker run out and act freely according to her whims.

She was fully capable of instantly turning a place dense with negative emotions into Arkham Asylum.

Although summoned creatures with independent consciousness could indeed be given mana to act autonomously, and sometimes high-level summons could become good helpers for their owners, even taking care of their masters,

[Great Love Poet]'s personality was extremely vicious.

Except for situations where she could torment and tease people, she hardly even listened to Lanqi.

"Next time I summon you, it will definitely be to do good deeds and accumulate virtue,"

Lanqi vowed silently.

[Great Love Poet] was a magic card that could bring joy and happiness to everyone.

Forcibly calming the enemy's anger could also be considered healing others.

Today was still a day full of merit.

After recalling the summoned creature, little angel Lanqi exited the artificial Shadow World.

......

Learning and Education Building, 7th floor atrium exam venue.

The spacious open space was surrounded by tall glass curtain walls, sunlight freely spilling onto the marble floor tiles. The pale golden circular light column at the center of the dome served as the focal point of the atrium, extending from the ground to the ceiling. Through the circular opening, sunlight and air flowed freely.

At this moment, the sun had risen high, and the clear water surface of the atrium's pool rippled with light. The surrounding greenery complemented the pool, making Lanqi, who had just returned from the Shadow World to the atrium exam venue, feel very comfortable and content.

However, as Lanqi looked around, he found that Teacher Teresa, who was originally coordinating the exam venue, was nowhere to be seen.

Logically, Teacher Teresa, who was responsible for this area, should still be explaining some post-exam enrollment matters.

But Lanqi quickly noticed a stretcher being hurriedly carried away by medical staff outside the exam venue, and the silhouette of Teacher Teresa busily communicating with them. He quickly understood.

Teacher Teresa seemed to be busy dealing with the aftermath of Examiner Felat, so she had to temporarily leave the exam venue for a short while.

This meant that the second group of examinees, who were about to start, were also left waiting in the exam venue without anyone to coordinate them.

"Oh my, if I had come out earlier, I could have lent a hand,"

The warm-hearted and quick-acting Lanqi thought to himself. If he encountered a situation where an opponent needed to be carried on a stretcher, he would definitely go help.

"......"

In the exam venue, Huberrian, who inadvertently heard Lanqi's self-talk, couldn't help but look at him.

If Felat still had a faint consciousness at that moment,

Seeing Lanqi come to help him onto the stretcher,

He might have immediately passed out from anger......

Huberrian now strongly suspected that Lanqi was particularly dark-hearted.

But observing his sincere and innocent expression, it didn't seem so.

He truly had a bit of natural airheadedness.