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Chapter 16: Drenched in Consequences
🕑 Added 2025-06-30 13:05:54 +0000 UTCThe Association's cardmakers guarding the portal at the base were startled to see Russell emerge from the secret realm alone. Did the training end this quickly? one of them thought. As they watched, Russell ran up to them, his face grim and serious. He spoke only three words.
"Something has happened."
Soon, after being alerted to the emergency, Victoria Song and the base leader, Commander Gordon, rushed to the scene. When Ms. Song had first heard that Russell had exited the realm early, she couldn't believe it. In her opinion, even if other students had problems, Russell, with his strength, should have been the last one to come out. Seeing him now, safe and sound, a wave of relief washed over her, but it was immediately replaced by concern. "Russell, what happened?"
Russell quickly recounted the events of the last hour, but with a crucial omission. He knew this matter was suspicious, and with so many ordinary Association cardmakers present, he couldn't be sure who might be a spy. So, while he described the attack by the powerful monster, he left out the part about Walter's transformation, only saying that an unknown demon had appeared and that the Association's guides were dead.
Commander Gordon was shocked. He knew the secret realm was filled with surveillance cameras. It should have been impossible for a powerful, out-of-control demon to appear without being detected. However, he didn't refute Russell's words. It was obvious the student in front of him wouldn't tell a lie that could be so easily exposed. He immediately ordered the cardmakers around him to enter the secret realm and begin a rescue operation.
As the other cardmakers rushed through the portal, Russell decided he had to tell the rest of the story. He pulled his teacher and the commander aside. "Ms. Song, Commander Gordon," he said in a low voice, "in truth, it wasn't a demon from the secret realm that attacked us. It was one of the cardmakers stationed here."
The composure that Commander Gordon had just regained was instantly shattered by Russell's words. He was, however, a base commander. He suppressed the curse that was about to burst from his lips, his expression becoming deadly serious. "Young man," he said, his voice dangerously low, "you have to provide evidence when you make an accusation like that."
Russell shook his head. "I have no evidence." When he was in the secret realm, he had deliberately used his own body to block the surveillance cameras' view of Walter's face. "But..." As he spoke, he took the [Flesh Demon] (Gold) material from his pocket. "I don't think a material like this is supposed to be produced in [The Thousand-Foot Woods]."
Looking at the pulsating, golden-quality material in Russell's hand, Commander Gordon's expression became uglier and uglier. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to control his emotions. "I need to report this to my superiors," he said, his expression complicated. "Ms. Song, please wait here with this student." With that, he hurried away from the entrance to the secret realm.
Soon, the other students from the key class were brought out one after another by the Association's rescue teams. They were all a little confused. Only an hour or so had passed since they had started exploring.
"Is this the end? I just got one material!" "You're lucky. I was only halfway up the mountain when they told me it was over."
Victoria Song clapped her hands, a practiced smile on her face, stopping the students' discussions. "Alright, alright, students. I believe everyone has now experienced the potential dangers in a secret realm. This training exercise ends here. Now, please go back to the bus and wait patiently." She naturally wouldn't explain the real situation to them. According to Russell, this incident was premeditated. The less these students knew, the better.
After a while, Nancy and Darren were also brought out. With them, carried on a stretcher, was the unconscious Liam Blake. Fortunately, according to the cardmaker carrying him, while Liam was seriously injured, his life was not in danger. In a world with healing cards, he would recover soon enough.
Seeing Liam being carefully carried away, Victoria was about to tell Nancy and Darren to get back on the bus when Darren suddenly spoke, his face pale and slick with sweat. "I'm sorry, Ms. Song! I was so scared just now... I accidentally pushed Nancy."
Russell, standing on the side, couldn't help but sneer in his heart. Only scared when you're caught.
Ms. Song was confused by his nonsensical words, but at that moment, Nancy spoke up, calmly and clearly explaining the situation that had unfolded in the woods. Hearing her account, a serious, stern expression settled on Victoria Song's face. "I will report this matter to Principal Shepherd. I will be sure to get you an explanation." Then, she turned to look at Darren, her voice like ice. "Darren. Go back to the bus now. When we return to the school, I will be having a long talk with your parents."
The unspoken rules of the cardmaker world were absolute. You do not fight with your teammates. You never let them take the blame—or the fatal blow—for you.
Darren shuffled back to the bus in a daze. His time at New Metro First High was over. It was doubtful any other school would accept him now. But the more serious punishment would come later. At most, he would be stripped of his ability to make cards and be kept under strict supervision for the rest of his life.
Russell felt no sympathy. Everything Darren was now facing, he deserved. It was all his own fault.
At that moment, Commander Gordon hurried back. "Russell, Master Blake wants to see you." "Master Blake?" " Blake Whitmore," the commander said, his voice filled with reverence.
On the top floor of the New Metro Cardmakers Association building, a white-haired old man was talking to a middle-aged man with a goatee.
The old man sighed. "I've heard that several high schools had... accidents during their secret realm explorations today?"
The middle-aged man—President Lance Jennings—nodded, his expression grim. "Many students were injured or killed. We still don't know who is responsible."
"Who else could it be but the Spirit Begging Society and their new friends, the Sect of Unification?" the old man said, his expression calm. He had already guessed the culprits. "I just don't know how they managed it."
Just as Jennings was about to speak, his phone rang, interrupting him. "I'm sorry, Director Blake, I have to take this." The old man was, of course, Blake Whitmore. He simply gestured for Jennings to proceed.
"Hello?... What!? I understand... Please have the student wait there."
After hanging up, Jennings's tone was urgent. "Director Blake, we have a lead. A student from New Metro First High successfully killed the attacker in his realm." "And he also saw the attacker's true face." "It was one of our own Association's cardmakers, stationed in the secret realm."
A rare smile gradually appeared on Blake Whitmore's old face. "It seems our Federation has a successor after all," he said, a spark of hope in his eyes. "Have this young student brought here. Immediately."
"Of course. I'll have them bring him over right away."
(End of this chapter)
