Card simulation, starting with the Goblin Deserter

Professor Grace smiled radiantly at them, not urging them on, as if she had given them special time to discuss and praise her own appearance.

Is this a life-or-death question?

That's interesting!

The three of them huddled together, whispering to each other.

Hayes said seriously, "This is definitely not a simple question. If we just give her perfunctory praise, we might make a mistake!"

It's like when a girl asks you what you did wrong, and you reply "I did everything wrong"—it seems sincere, but it's actually just being perfunctory!

Linda sighed, "Then how should I compliment you? I'm not good at this!"

As the daughter of a duke, when has she ever humbled herself to save face for someone else?

Gentry: "Hiccup hiccup hiccup!"

This guy was so scared that he kept hiccuping and couldn't even speak clearly.

Hayes looked up and sighed; he still had to lead this team!

"Uh, Professor Grace!"

Hayes rubbed his hands together, forcing a smile, and replied, "Your scalp... no! Your hair is long, very red, and then..."

"It looks good?" Grace maintained her smile, but her eyes turned completely cold.

Linda and Gentry, standing beside Hayes, both gasped in shock, thinking to themselves: "You're so damn tactless!"

Calling hair "scalp" is one thing, but why is it so red and long?!

But the usually astute Hayes was completely unaware that he had stepped on a landmine. He was even savoring his words and feeling somewhat smug.

"Yes! It looks really good!"

He pressed on, "Not only that, your makeup is fantastic!"

"With so many powder puffs on my face, everyone will immediately know I'm rich and have bought a lot of cosmetics... Waaaaah!"

Before he could finish speaking, Linda covered Hayes' mouth and pulled him away, then looked at Grace, who was as cold as ice in front of her, and chuckled awkwardly.

"He took the wrong medicine, please don't mind."

"Professor Grace, the first thing I noticed when I saw you was your dress today, it was just so..."

"Too red, too long?"

Grace interrupted Linda coldly, her demonic hand twitching wildly behind her, as if it would tear the three people in front of her to shreds at any moment!

"No!"

Linda shook her head, saying firmly, "Professor, your attire perfectly accentuates the effortless elegance and power you exude when wielding the Demon Hand!"

"Especially this vibrant red, like a burning magical flame, it suits you so perfectly!"

At that moment, the demonic hand behind Grace suddenly stopped. She looked at Linda expressionlessly and uttered two words.

"continue."

continue?!

Linda was stunned, but luckily her mouth was faster than her brain, and she kept uttering words of praise.

"This adds an even more stunning visual impact than your usual focused academic beauty in the lab!"

"This beauty reminds me of witches in classical oil paintings—but don't get me wrong, I'm talking about a wise and dignified witch leader..."

Behind her, Hayes and Gentry stared wide-eyed as the duke's daughter launched into a boastful speech.

She said she wasn't good at praising people, but she's obviously a master at it!

Linda praised Grace for nearly three minutes straight, until her mouth was dry and she ran out of words. Only then did she let out a long sigh and conclude.

"In short, you were absolutely perfect tonight! When you come to the classroom to teach us, the students will definitely love you!"

As if a switch had been flipped, when Linda uttered her last words, Grace's previously restrained smile instantly transformed into fervor!

She grabbed Linda's shoulder with such force that the latter hissed and gasped for breath.

However, Grace was completely oblivious to this, her eyes shining as she asked, "Is what you're saying true?"

"The students will really love me now!"

Linda forced a smile: "It's absolutely true, I swear!"

"They'll go crazy if they see you..."

"Oh my god!!"

Unable to grasp the hidden meaning in Linda's words, Grace cupped her flushed cheeks in her hands, adopting a girlish demeanor.

It's as if "making students like her" is the entire meaning of her life!

Grace twirled around in place for a few moments, and when she stopped, it was as if she had made up her mind.

"Let's go! We'll go to class now!"

Before the three could react, the demonic hand suddenly expanded and grabbed them all in its palm.

Grace, in a great mood, even swayed like a cat as she hummed a song as she walked toward Class One's classroom.

At the same time, an unpleasant static suddenly emanated from the school's public address system, which served as a bell.

The next second, a voice that sounded very similar to Dean Fisher's, but was extremely cold and mechanical, came out.

"Class rescheduling notice: The alchemy class in Class 1 will begin immediately. All students are requested to return to the classroom on time."

"Repeat, alchemy class in classroom one will begin immediately..."

This unexpected change left all the students in the academy stunned.

Two students who had been slowly leaving the classroom in a group of three panicked and rushed back to the classroom, saying anxiously.

"There's still at least half of the thirty minutes left, why did the secret realm suddenly change its mind?"

"Could someone have done something?!"

Bound by the demonic hand, Linda was bewildered. Looking at Hayes, she murmured, "Did I cause trouble?"

They even changed the rules that were set in advance for the secret realm!

However, Hayes had no time to answer Linda's question; he was observing Professor Grace, who was walking ahead with her back to the three of them.

The practical experience provided by "free fighting" allowed him to instantly locate the vital spot on the back of Grace's neck!

Although he doesn't have a suitable weapon right now, with his formidable strength as a fourth-tier warrior, he might be able to launch a surprise attack if the opponent is caught off guard!

Having made up his mind, Hayes coldly tried to break free from the clutches of the demonic hand. He moved slowly because he knew that if he didn't seize the opportunity to exploit an opening, Grace, once she realized what was happening, could very well cause them a lot of trouble!

However, Hayes' body thrashed in mid-air, but he couldn't break free...

Unconvinced, he braced himself with both arms and exerted all his strength... but it was no use!

He was shocked. Grace's "Demon Hand" in this secret realm was even stronger than the real-life version?

No, it's also possible that the real Grace went easy on him back then.

While the version from the secret realm may not be as strong as the former, as a creature from the secret realm, how could she possibly show mercy to the students?

Realizing that Grace was most likely an "invincible enemy" in the secret realm setting, Hayes looked up at the sky and sighed.

"It's over."

"What's wrong?"

Meeting the questioning gazes of the other two, Hayes remained silent, only offering a wry smile.

Grace rushed to class because she heard Linda say that "the students will like her"...

But when those classmates saw her, they were lucky if they weren't scared out of their wits, let alone like her.

What will Grace be like when she sees the students' reactions?

When the familiar classroom came into view, Linda realized the problem. Her face turned pale, and her brain seemed to freeze for a moment.

What should I do?