Card simulation, starting with the Goblin Deserter

The moment Fisher appeared, a gentle, almost imperceptible flow of magic emanated from him, enveloping everyone, including Norton.

In an instant, everyone felt as if all the noise around them had disappeared. Although they were still in the hospital corridor, neither the patients nor the nurses could detect their presence.

Even the tiles on the ground that had just crumbled were perfectly intact, as if nothing had happened.

Hayes even heard someone muttering in the nearest ward: "Damn it, I clearly heard some noise outside, but I can't see anyone!"

Did I hear that right?

I didn't mishear; this is the power of the Zuma Academy's Dean.

As Fisher slowly approached, Soraka and her father immediately bowed in greeting: "Dean."

"No need for formalities." Fisher stroked his long beard, his gaze shifting back and forth between Hayes and Grace.

Seeing this, Hayes imitated Soraka's gesture and greeted her, but Grace crossed her arms and looked at him with a scrutinizing expression.

"Fischer, what are you doing here?"

Fisher...this professor doesn't even address the dean by his first name! How arrogant?

Hayes was surprised. Could she be even stronger than the dean?

No, it could also be that the two people have a good relationship.

Fisher's reaction confirmed Hayes's guess; he didn't care at all about how Grace addressed her, and was even pleased.

"Grace, how long has it been since I've seen you outside the conference room? I'm so glad you still remember my name..."

Hayes watched as Grace rolled her eyes and said impatiently, "Stop talking nonsense."

"You've come to the hospital at this hour to stop me from taking Hayes as my apprentice?"

Grace's words were direct and sharp. She thought Fisher would try to brush her off and change the subject, but to her surprise, he readily agreed.

"That's true."

"...What do you mean?"

Grace's face turned completely cold.

"Is it because those second-year students jointly reported me that you're so foolish as to think I really lack teaching ability?"

This time, Fisher actually laughed.

"I didn't expect you to care about something like this... You're overthinking it. I know very well how excellent the paleontology professors at Zuma Academy are."

Grace's expression softened slightly, but she still demanded, "Then why did you stop me!"

"Because I will become Hayes' teacher."

Fisher spoke in a flat tone, as if he were talking about something trivial.

But when he said this, not only Grace, but also Soraka and Bob who were eavesdropping on their conversation, and even Norton who was hesitant to come up the stairs, were all dumbfounded.

What did they just hear?

Dean Fisher... wants to take Hayes as his apprentice!?

Are you kidding me? But the dean himself said it...

At that moment, Norton, standing in the stairwell, suddenly remembered that earlier, when he asked Hayes what agreement he had with the dean, Hayes told him that Hayes wanted to take on a disciple. At the time, Norton thought he was just bragging.

After all, Hayes's demeanor was far too calm, as if he were saying, "I ate a bowl of noodles this morning," which didn't seem like he was being accepted as a disciple by the dean at all!

At that moment, Norman realized that in Hayes's heart, being accepted as a disciple by the dean wasn't such a big deal at all...

Surprisingly, Norton was right this time; Hayes really didn't care that the Dean had taken him on as a disciple.

After all, in his opinion, no matter how good a teacher is, can they be better than a simulator?

He's basically just a male version of Linda; maybe we can give him some gold coins...

Of course, the reality is far from that; it's just that Hayes doesn't understand the true value of Dean Fisher's credentials.

After the initial shock, Grace instinctively retorted.

"Are you kidding me? What's so great about this student that you'd personally take him on as a disciple?"

"He's just a bit handsome and a bit more talented... uh."

Grace paused for a moment, then changed the subject: "You do have good taste."

To the surprise of the others, Grace stopped arguing with Fisher and instead spoke seriously.

"Then you can have it, but..."

"The ancient documents he possesses are very important; they're useless to him. I must have them!"

"Just the ability to neutralize the Violet Serpent venom alone could save thousands of Zuma soldiers from death, not to mention the much more intelligence..."

Grace's last words were very resolute, and to Hayes's dismay, Fisher, who came to the rescue, actually agreed with her!

He looked at Grace solemnly and said, "I will offer him something of sufficient value in exchange... Hmm? What's wrong, Hayes?"

Under everyone's questioning gaze, Hayes gave an awkward smile and waved to Fisher, as if he were greeting a friend of the same age rather than a teacher.

"Dean, may I speak to you in private?"

The two walked a few steps away, all the way to the end of the corridor, before Hayes leaned close to Fisher's ear and whispered something.

"Dean, to be honest, I don't have any ancient documents..."

Fisher frowned and said earnestly, "Hays, I know you're a practical and intelligent kid."

"But ancient documents are different from cards and the like. They can only play a greater role in the hands of scholars and researchers. I remember your written test score was..."

"Oh, oh, oh, you've misunderstood! I really didn't!"

Hayes was getting anxious; he just couldn't explain it clearly!

Why did Fisher also think he had some ancient documents? What exactly are those things?

After five minutes of explaining and persuasion, seeing Hayes's sincere expression, Fisher finally began to believe him somewhat, but remained suspicious.

"Then how did you know about the Violet Venom?"

"This is an academic problem that countless scholars have been studying for a century without being able to solve."

How else could he know? It was a clueless goblin who told him...

Of course, this couldn't be said to Fisher, but luckily Hayes had just come up with a good "excuse"!

"To be honest with you, it's actually like this..."

-

"What are they talking about for so long?"

Seeing that Fisher and Hayes had been talking for almost five minutes, Grace, who was getting impatient, frowned.

Bob, who was standing nearby, struck up a conversation with her: "Hey, how did you determine that the information about the Violet Venom was true?"

"What if that kid just made it up?"

Upon hearing this, Grace gave him a look as if he were an idiot.

"Of course I confirmed it in the lab before..."

Grace realized her mistake halfway through her sentence and quickly shut up.

However, Bob chuckled, lowering his voice as he achieved his goal.

Article 2 of the Royal Decree on the Control of High-Risk Organisms states that unauthorized research into high-risk organisms is considered a serious crime of treason...

Realizing she had been tricked, Grace was so angry that her veins were bulging. She glared at Bob and hissed in a low voice.

"What do you want to do!"

"Nothing much." Bob's expression turned serious. "My daughter has broken through to the third tier, much faster than I planned. The old cards aren't working anymore."

"I'd like to buy some precious materials from you to make cards."

"If all goes well, I'd like Soraka to participate in this year's Freshman Trials!"