They all call me Great Master-Chapter 231 - 228 ’Intimate Closeness’!

The night wind gently blew, and the bright moonlight shone upon the flowing Inland River, its waters rumbling. Arthur openly revealed some of his ambitions to Marinda.

It wasn’t out of trust for this lady.

Nor was it because he had any particular thoughts about her.

It was simply because...

This lady knew too much!

Not to mention that she had almost single-handedly managed ’Miss Qiu’s Security Company,’ and would surely participate in ’Mr. Wu’s Exchange’ in the future.

Merely with the identity ’Cat Faction. Hei,’ Arthur needed to have ambition.

To have lain hidden for so long, and then to suddenly appear, it would be suspicious to claim he lacked ambition.

It was better to be partially frank, to dispel the other’s suspicions—

Marinda watched as Arthur, amidst the night, smiled at her once again, and she waved her hand dismissively with a look of disdain.

Then, the lady took a puff from her pipe and expelled the smoke into the night sky.

The smoke rose a half meter before it slowly began to dissipate.

Staring at the dispersing smoke, the lady asked directly.

"How do you plan to deal with that Countess?"

There was no polite inquiry, but a forthright stance—facing a partner, the lady displayed her usual manner, but Arthur keenly caught a fleeting scrutiny in her eyes.

Clearly, it was another test.

For Arthur, this was not a surprise.

After all, in South Los, as long as one had ambitions, that Countess was a figure he could never circumvent.

This was true for Arthur.

And even more so for Marinda.

In fact, in some respects, this lady’s ambitions far surpassed Arthur’s.

Therefore, she was always so cautious.

This was a matter concerning the future cooperation between the two, and the lady stared intently, waiting for Arthur’s reply.

Then, she saw Arthur sigh slightly and flash a smile, his narrow eyes narrowing further.

"Stop smiling, you look like a fox when you do,"

Facing the now squinting Arthur, the lady offered a fair assessment.

Then came the urging.

"Speak, what are your plans?"

"I like women."

Unexpectedly, this was how Arthur responded.

Previously, when the lady had given him shares, the young ’Spirit Medium’ signed a contract which stipulated he must not act against the interests of Marinda Julius Caesar, or else he would not be allowed to like women for the rest of his life.

At this moment, he used this contract to inform the lady that he would cooperate with her.

"Tsk!"

Marinda uttered a sound from her mouth very discourteously, her gaze towards Arthur filled with scorn.

"Would someone like you really care about these things?

You are such a cunning ’Spirit Medium’!"

Though she spoke this way, Arthur could feel a sense of relief in Marinda’s tone.

At least, that was his perception.

Of course, there was a good chance that it was just a performance for him.

So, he played along—

"Shouldn’t I care?

I am the sole heir of the Kledos Family for this generation!

I have to think about the Kledos Family!"

Arthur spoke righteously, but Marinda did not pay any heed; she threw a palm-sized iron box behind her and walked straight toward South Los.

[Name: Magic Poker Box]

[Type: Other Items]

[Quality: Secret Technique]

[Attributes: 1, Flying Cards; 2, Change Cards; 3, Transfiguration; 4, Explosion]

[Remarks: For the busy Imperial Court Jester ’Harrington’, the Court Wizard ’Xarlico’ was an annoyingly persistent presence; not only did Xarlico laze around every day with the Empire’s substantial fund, but he also often interrupted Harrington’s work, especially recently with his insistence on playing cards, which greatly disrupted his daily processes—For this reason, the jester created this poker box.]

...

[Flying Cards: All 54 cards can fly out on their own or be thrown, but they cannot exceed a radius of 25 meters from the initial fly out or throw relative to the holder of the box’s position. Depending on the throwing technique and strength, the flying cards can cause damage.]

[Change Cards: The holder of the box can transform any of the 54 cards into any card they desire.]

[Transfiguration: The minor ghost card can turn into a single fresh flower, the major ghost card can turn into a bouquet of flowers, and the remaining cards can turn into doves.]

[Explosion: Each card can produce an explosion similar to a firecracker; ghost cards during explosion can create a thick smoke.]

(Note 1: Any ’Transfiguration’ or ’Explosion’ means the permanent loss of that poker card.)

Visit freewёbnoνel.com for the best novel reading experience.

(Note 2: Paper types chosen must be standard size and weight not exceeding one gram; they can be inserted into the box to generate new cards.)

(Note 3: Ghost cards take three days to produce; all other cards take one day.)

(Note 4: When new cards are produced, the box needs to be bathed in ample moonlight or consume gold.)

(Note 5: When other cards turn into ghost cards, they do not retain the unique ’Transfiguration’ or ’Explosion’ of a ghost card; a ghost card transformed into another card retains its unique ’Transfiguration’ and ’Explosion’.)

...

Arthur looked at the [Magic Poker Box] with a hint of strangeness on his face.

He always felt that Marinda giving him this had a hidden implication.

In fact, that’s exactly what it was—

"It’s your reward for finding that ’Bloodline Clan’ member and drawing these guys out!

Of course, I chose it, not because your ’Spirit Medium’ profession fits performing these street poker magic tricks—Oh, and if you run into the Earl’s guards back in South Los, just give them your real name!"

As Marinda walked away, she spoke these words while hastening her steps.

"Street magic?

Who cares about that!"

Arthur muttered as he tossed the [Magic Poker Box].

Read latest stories on novelbuddy

Suddenly, 54 cards burst out like celestial flowers spreading in a two-meter radius, then with another lift of his hand, the cards flew back, forming a spire-like tower of cards on the ground. Arthur’s hand reached for the top two cards, immediately revealing the playful ghost cards.

Clatter.

With the removal of the two ghost cards, the card spire seemed to lose its support and collapsed.

But mid-air, as if birds returning to their nest, all returned to the [Magic Poker Box].

"Really nothing exciting!"

Arthur commented, yet he rubbed the two ghost cards in his hand and watched them turn into two Ace cards; the young ’Spirit Medium’ corner of his mouth quirked upwards.

After several more shuffles, the young ’Spirit Medium’ finally, reluctantly, placed the two ghost cards back into the [Magic Poker Box] and walked towards South Los.

His steps were light, humming a local tune from South Los.

It was only after the young ’Spirit Medium’s figure completely vanished that Marinda emerged from nearby mist and whispered softly—

"Naïve!"

After saying that, her figure also disappeared.

As Arthur continued his brisk walk, he seemed utterly oblivious to this, only murmuring internally.

’Ah, what a suspicious woman!

But next time she wants to watch my performance, there will be a charge!’

Arthur had no faith in Marinda’s claims that the [Magic Poker Box] perfectly matched the ’Spirit Medium’ profession. It was just another tool to test his ’ambition’.

He?

Of course, he’d play along.

Not just him.

His alter ego needed to play along too.

Thinking this, the next moment—

The young ’Spirit Medium’ began manipulating the [Exquisite Human Puppet].