Card simulation, starting with the Goblin Deserter

Professor Bob's exclamation broke the silence of the hospital.

More and more patients, awakened by the noise, peeked out of their rooms, curiously observing the situation outside.

At that moment, Soraka also climbed up the stairs.

She was the first to see Hayes collapse to the ground, exhausted. She rushed over and helped him up, saying anxiously.

"Hays, are you alright?! Did Aunt Grace scold you?!"

Hayes leaned against Soraka, feeling as if not a single muscle in his body could be used.

He looked up at the sky and complained to Fisher, who was not present at the moment but was certainly watching.

"What do you mean she came here to take me as her apprentice?"

"Kidnapping someone and then forcing them to become a teacher—is that even acceptable?!"

Fisher did not respond to his words, but Grace stepped forward with a cold smile.

"That smooth-talking brat has quite the nerve."

"I was just trying to grab you, I was only trying to control my strength, who knew you would take it head-on."

And she actually caught it...

A barely perceptible look of horror flashed in Grace's eyes; even with her keen eyesight, she couldn't discern how Hayes had managed to block the demonic hand.

There was no flow of magic, nor any action of using cards... a special card that combines instant-cast cards with a hidden magic flow?

To possess such exquisite combat skills with only the magical power of a second-tier card master—this kid is terrifyingly powerful...

In fact, Grace didn't know that the reason she couldn't see through Hayes's defenses was because he had no defenses at all.

It was a complete hard hit!

Without using any cards or magic, he withstood the magic attack head-on thanks to the physical strength of a fourth-tier warrior!

However, Grace didn't realize it, but Bob, who was standing next to her, did, which is why he had lost his composure just now.

Back during the actual combat testing period, he learned from the secret realm recordings that Hayes possessed physical qualities far exceeding those of ordinary people, even comparable to first and second-tier monsters.

But you actually took Grace's evil hand by force, isn't that going too far?!

The power of that attack just now was equivalent to a fourth or fifth tier damage spell!

Bob's lips trembled, and his mind instinctively questioned whether he had made a mistake.

Actually, Hayes didn't take the hit head-on. Just as Grace suspected, he used a special card to conceal his magic flow, then blocked it with a high-level technique involving "instant-cast cards"...

Just as the two professors were deep in thought, Soraka suddenly opened her arms, shielding Hayes behind her, and looked firmly at Grace, saying...

"Professor Grace! I don't know why you're so angry, but actually... the Violet Serpent issue was raised by me, and has nothing to do with Hayes."

"Don't bully him!"

Upon hearing this, Hayes was stunned: What happened to the Violet Snake?

Bob was furious: That damn Hayes!

Grace was the only one who was happy.

She glanced at Bob and said with a smile, "Son, you've misunderstood. I didn't mean to bully him, and I'm not angry."

"But I want to confirm, is it really not this kid who said that the Violet Serpent's Fang can cure its poison?"

Soraka hesitated for a long time, and was about to agree when Bob, who had a grim expression, pulled her away.

"Grace isn't here to cause trouble for Hayes; she wants to take him on as her apprentice!"

Even though he was in a bad mood, Bob still spoke softly to Soraka, and upon hearing this, she immediately went from sad to happy, looking at Hayes with a surprised expression.

Hayes had a slight toothache and was filled with questions: "Did I say something right... or did I say something wrong?"

Otherwise, why would this violent old woman rush into the hospital in the middle of the night to kidnap him, and even call it "taking him as an apprentice"?

Grace didn't speak, but Bob spoke up to explain.

"The Violet's venom is extremely potent, and since scholars began researching it, countless highly venomous cards and weapons have been created."

"Although there is peace between countries now, weapons made from this snake venom have claimed countless lives during wartime..."

At this point, Bob's expression involuntarily turned serious.

What most people don't know is that he was a soldier in Zuma's army when he was young. Compared to ordinary people, he knows better just how terrifying an incurable "poison" really is!

But then his expression turned strange.

"How do you know that the violet snake's fangs can neutralize venom? Wasn't that creature extinct long ago? Only a few research institutes still have specimens..."

Hayes felt his teeth hurt even more; he never imagined that the information on the antidote for the Violet Serpent venom would be so crucial.

The fact that even the most careless person knows this is actually a problem that modern scholars have been unable to solve for a long time.

Is this what they call a intelligence gap?

Just as he was pondering how to fabricate a lie to justify himself, Grace conveniently provided the explanation for him.

"He must have obtained it from that secret realm where things went wrong a few days ago, right?"

Grace looked at Hayes with a shrewd, all-knowing glint in her eyes.

"Let me guess...you've obtained an ancient document? Right!"

Hayes wondered what ancient documents were.

But on the surface, he suddenly looked up, his expression one of shock and disbelief: "As expected of a professor, you saw right through me!"

"Hmph."

Grace laughed and gestured toward Hayes: "Alright, I'll just say it straight. Give me the ancient documents. There's definitely more than just information about Violet Serpent venom on them."

That thing is useless to a clueless kid like you. It's only worth having it by handing it over to me.

In return, I will take you as my disciple, and I will protect you while you are at the Zuma Academy.

Grace's words revealed a deep confidence, the confidence that comes from being a leading paleontologist and one of the world's top card makers!

No student could resist the temptation to become Professor Zuma's apprentice... except for Hayes.

To Grace's surprise, Hayes looked embarrassed and actually rejected her.

"Professor Grace, this is probably... not very convenient."

He was just going along with Grace's words, taking advantage of the situation. What ancient documents could he possibly hand over?

As for what the other party said about taking him as a disciple, Hayes wasn't really interested. After all, he hadn't even interviewed for Dean Fisher's offer yet, and as for Professor Grace... he could only wait in line.

However, Grace had no idea what was going on, and she asked with a frown.

"Are you unaware of the benefits of becoming a professor's student?"

After saying that, she summoned a rift in the void, took out a bottle of exquisite purple potion from it, and waved it in front of Hayes.

"If you become my disciple, this is my gift to you."

Hayes didn't react much; he didn't recognize what the potion was, and it didn't seem as good as the "Magic Amplifier"...

But Bob and Soraka exclaimed in surprise, with the former even leaning closer and staring intently at the potion.

"It really is the Purple Star Agent! Grace, don't you use it yourself? Why would you give it to him?!"

Upon hearing this, Hayes looked at the small purple jar in surprise. This was something that even Bob, a top card-making professor, considered precious.

Furthermore, the other party's statement, "Doesn't Grace herself use it?" implies that even top-tier card players can use this thing.

Grace scoffed: "I have plenty of good stuff. It's just a jar of Purple Star Potion. I'll give it away if I want."

That's what they said, but Hayes clearly sensed the other person's heartache and reluctance...

What on earth is this thing?

Just as Hayes was about to ask a question, Fisher's voice, which had been absent for a long time, reappeared in his mind... no, not in his mind, but at the end of the hospital corridor!

"How nostalgic those lively times were!"

At the dark stairwell, Fisher, dressed in a long robe, slowly emerged. The faint light emanating from him made him look just like a church priest.