Miracle Card Shop: All My Cards Can Be Actualize

Daniel ignored the trailing admirers and arrived at the waiting area, where the school had arranged for examinees to meet their parents or guardians. It seemed the determined ladies knew exactly where he was headed, some even adjusting their appearance to seem more presentable, perhaps hoping to appear... more motherly.

Inside the waiting area, where children who had completed their exams were gathered, Daniel noted a bustling crowd.

Many were talking with the children, aiming to recruit them. Among those present, he observed three distinct groups: representatives from various mage families scouting new talent, parents there to congratulate their children, and other guardians negotiating with mage families to secure the best benefits for their children in exchange for service.

Seeing this felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. Despite having read about these customs and common practices in the mage world, something still felt off. He understood it as a "necessary evil," though he wasn't fully at ease with it.

"You find this practice unsettling, don't you?" a familiar voice spoke near his ear. Daniel turned to see Envy in disguise.

She wore a pair of glasses and used a cosmetic illusion to give her hair its natural black color, as it had been before she became a witch. Her glasses bore an anonymity enchantment, preventing others from recognizing her—though clearly, she had ensured that those she wanted to recognize her, like Daniel, still would.

"Yeah... I know I need to adjust to this twisted world of magic and its mage logic as quickly as I can. But... it hasn't even been two years since I became a mage," Daniel replied, his voice tinged with discomfort.

"Yet you've already become a leader and an authority figure in the Curtained World. If you plan to rule over mages, you'll have to tolerate certain practices that may seem unsettling to you. If you try to impose your ideals too rigidly, you'll spark another mage civil war," Envy explained.

She continued, "This practice may look distasteful at first glance, but most mages are heartless pragmatists. They prioritize personal gain with the smallest possible cost and care more about the results than the means."

"If you prohibit these practices, powerful children won't learn to channel their magic safely. They'll be forced into a much riskier self-discovery. You may not realize it, but most cultists—whether worshipers of the Hell Lord or the Old Gods who've caused you so much trouble—start out as rogue mages, lost in improper practices and eventually bending their powers toward our enemies."

After a pause, she added, "And the worst part is, these individuals aren't even registered with Hightower or any legitimate organization. Not everyone is as blatant, arrogant, or openly defiant as Mr. Worseley," she finished, with a note of resentment in her voice.

Hearing this, Daniel smiled wryly. "I've wanted to ask you about this for quite some time, but… what's your problem with Albert? I know he sparked a mage civil war and was behind both World Wars with his idiotic artifact, but from the tone of your voice, it seems… personal."

Envy looked at Daniel, then shifted her gaze past the glass window to where little Sylvana was still chatting with her friends in the VIP area.

"He killed one of my students… a very promising one," Envy said.

"Who was she?" asked Daniel.

"Jacqueline. She was the second-generation Witch of Wrath," Envy replied with a sigh, saying no more. Her eyes lowered, and Daniel could see she was harboring a deep regret. And if his instincts—the finely honed senses of a hunter—were right, he sensed something else too: guilt, hidden within her beautiful, amethyst-like eyes.

"Enough about Albert. Let's go meet little Sylvana, shall we?" Envy said with a smile, taking Daniel's hand. But just as she was about to lead him into the waiting area, an unfamiliar voice cut through the moment.

"Stop this instant, you bitch! What do you think you're doing?"

Envy froze, not because she couldn't tolerate the insult, but because, due to her high status and power, she rarely heard such vulgar words directed at her. Almost no one dared to speak to her like that.

Then again, she was in disguise. It was understandable that these hoes didn't recognize who she was.

Daniel wanted to deal with the situation himself and drive away this group of persistent admirers, but Envy stopped him with a gentle nudge. She even went so far as to take his hand, subtly displaying their closeness.

"Excuse me, are you perhaps talking to me?" Envy asked politely.

"And who else!? Just because mages prefer to have multiple partners doesn't mean any common riff-raff can be Lord Emberweave's consort! Who do you think you are? Do you believe you're better than me, the heir of the Silvestro noble family?" The woman gestured to herself with smug confidence, certain she was the most worthy among Daniel's admirers.

"Oh? Silvestro?" Envy repeated, closing her eyes thoughtfully before opening them with a smile of recognition.

"Ah, I remember now! The family of that snot-nosed brat who constantly bragged about his 'perfect' bloodline, even though he was inbred himself! How is he doing? Is he still around? Still boasting about his bloodline or that he fought Albert Worsely to a draw—even though it was only a hammer-paper-scissors match?" she asked with a genuinely curious tone, as if she hadn't seen him in ages.

"Wha… What!? That's absurd! Sacrilege! My ancestor fought Albert Worsely in the dead of night atop Venice! Everyone knows about the great explosion in the sky—it's recorded in our family chronicles as his forbidden spell!" Lady Silvestro protested, defending what she believed to be the truth.

Envy chuckled. "No offense, dear, but that night was not your ancestor's doing. It was someone from the Association of Prosperity, and that explosion? It came from an attack artifact misfiring, not some forbidden magic."

"You! You—this is an insult to my family's honor! I… I challenge you to a duel! How can you know such a thing! This is a blatant lie!" Lady Silvestro pointed at Envy's face, her expression shifting from red to pale, then back to red as she fumed with anger.

Envy sighed, then slowly removed her glasses and face mask, tucking them into her handbag. She dispelled her illusion magic, revealing her true features. Her amethyst-colored hair glinted under the chandelier's light, and the illusion's removal also uncovered a luxurious red dress, befitting her status.

"It's because I was there… in person," Envy said, her expression turning cold. "As for the duel, do you—"

"No, Lady Envy!" Lady Silvestro quickly interrupted, dropping to her knees and bowing in submission. "I'm deeply sorry for this transgression, Lady Envy. Please, please, forgive my foolish words. As the heir, I promise that any mercy you show will be worth your while," she pleaded, her face drained of color.

"Worth my while?" Envy scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "My husband is the wealthiest man in the Curtained World, with resources—magical and non-magical—that most can only dream of. Do you think you possess anything we don't?"

"No, Lady Envy! The Silvestro family could serve the Order of Ember wholeheartedly. You could even use us as pawns—"

"Serving the Order of Ember is an honor, a testament of trust that my husband grants only to the most reliable people. This is not a punishment; it's a privilege!" Envy replied with a sneer.

Lady Silvestro didn't dare offer anything further. She remained on her knees, trembling. Seeing that the exchange had gone on longer than he'd intended, Daniel sighed and spoke up.

"Envy, ease up a bit, will you? Don't we need to hurry and meet little Sylvana?" he reminded her.

Envy nodded, chuckling as she glanced at Lady Silvestro. "It seems your ancestor enjoyed bragging a bit too much. Bring me your family chronicle—I'll correct it myself, and then you can rewrite it based on my revisions."

Lady Silvestro trembled again. This was tantamount to public shame for her family. If her elders discovered the reason behind this correction, she'd likely be stripped of her heir status. It was a mark of disgrace for the entire lineage.

After a brief hesitation, a bright idea came to her, she forced a bright smile, as if she were a seasoned actress masking her thoughts. "Yes, of course, Lady Envy! We of the Silvestro family are honored to have our family chronicle corrected by your own hand. This is an honor we will treasure as long as the Silvestro name endures!"

Even Envy was taken aback, giving a wry smile and nodding. "Alright… have it your way."

Since the Silvestro family's ancestor was an acquaintance of hers, Envy decided not to push further. She would let the young Silvestro heir off with just this bit of a lesson.

After receiving permission, as if pardoned from death, Lady Silvestro quickly ran off, followed by the other trembling admirers of Daniel who hadn't dared to leave before.

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