Miracle Card Shop: All My Cards Can Be Actualize

Envy, despite her distaste for the 'Path of Knowledge' faction, which was known for its domineering nature and relentless pursuit of knowledge and power, and that Daniel's presence could serve as a counterbalance to their influence. However, as the Hightower Grand Councilor, her primary concern remained the interests and well-being of the mage society.

She needed someone or something loyal to her that could monitor Daniel's activities, allowing her to prepare in advance in case anything went awry. She couldn't rely on Wrath, given her connection to Daniel as his girlfriend. Greed, on the other hand, was not trustworthy either, as she tended to align herself with those who offered the most personal gain. Envy lacked confidence in her own resources and benefits when compared to Daniel's advanced technology.

So, Envy formulated a plan in her mind.

"Say, Mr. Magitek, are you familiar with Sanctum Sanctorum?" she inquired.

"Sanctum Sanctorum? What's that?" Daniel asked, his tone betraying his growing realization of his limited knowledge in the realm of mages. He couldn't help but feel that his lack of familiarity with certain terms might be a weakness he needed to address.

Envy took a moment to compose her response before delving into an explanation. "Well, Sanctum Sanctorum essentially refers to a highly private and secretive place. For us mages, it symbolizes our stronghold, a fortified workshop or base where we hold immense power. It serves as a sanctuary where we can thwart or eliminate any enemies foolish enough to trespass upon our Sanctum Sanctorum."

She continued, providing further context. "In most cases, a mage's Sanctum Sanctorum is synonymous with their home or estate. For instance, the Willow Clan's Sanctum Sanctorum encompasses their entire estate, extending even 20 meters beyond its physical boundaries."

Daniel's curiosity was piqued, and he couldn't help but express his skepticism. "Are you certain that the Willow family's Sanctum Sanctorum is their estate? I didn't sense anything unusual or powerful while I was there."

Envy proceeded to shed more light on the matter. "If I were to tell you that you were fortunate, would you believe me? If my guess is correct, Edmon Willow may have been killed or assassinated before he had the chance to activate his Sanctum Sanctorum. And I must admit, even though it might be attributed to luck, eliminating the mage who holds the key to activate their Sanctum Sanctorum before they have the chance is one of the few effective strategies used to attack other mages' Sanctum Sanctorum." She paused briefly before continuing.

"However, you should know that the Willow family was considered weak, and the Sanctum Sanctorums of more powerful mages, especially those at the rank of Grand Magician, are even more formidable. They possess passive functions that can detect any intruder," Envy explained.

Hearing Envy's explanation, Daniel nodded in understanding before raising a question.

"Can your Sanctum Sanctorum withstand the bomb that was used against me? Or can it withstand a nuclear blast?" Daniel inquired.

Envy went silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. "My Sanctum Sanctorum can withstand a nuclear blast, but just one. It can also withstand a mana blast bomb specially designed to breach Sanctum Sanctorum shields," she answered.

Daniel nodded, contemplating her response, before expressing his decision. "So, Miss Envy... the reason you brought up Sanctum Sanctorum is because...?"

"So, I'll help you set up your Sanctum Sanctorum in this base. In return, you..." Envy wanted to offer her services in setting up a Sanctum Sanctorum for Daniel, but...

"No, thank you," Daniel immediately refused without hesitation.

"What... What?" Envy was stunned, taken aback by the first rejection she had ever received when offering to set up a Sanctum Sanctorum for someone.

It should be noted that Envy's expertise in setting up Sanctum Sanctorum was renowned. The sanctuaries she helped establish for other mages could even withstand a nuclear blast, a remarkable accomplishment. Many mages dreamt of having Envy assist them in the creation of their Sanctum Sanctorum.

Confused by Daniel's refusal, Greed interjected, "Hey, Aunt Envy is the best at setting up Sanctum Sanctorum. I owe my life to her for setting up mine. Why don't you want it?"

"Well, if you're curious about the reason, it's simply because I only just learned about Sanctum Sanctorum a few minutes ago, thanks to Miss Envy's explanation. I have no knowledge or expertise in setting it up. I don't understand its workings, the requirements for its installation, or the benefits it would provide once established. Furthermore, I have concerns about potential backdoors or hidden entrances being implanted in the Sanctum Sanctorum's security system if someone else were to set it up. What if I find myself in trouble if, one day, Miss Envy decides to raid this base?" Daniel paused, turning towards Envy.

"Oh... No offense, Miss Envy. I'm simply stating the facts," Daniel said apologetically.

Upon hearing Daniel's explanation, Envy could only offer a wry smile. What he said was true, as many mages who were confident in their abilities preferred to set up their Sanctum Sanctorum on their own, for the very same reasons as Daniel. The Sanctum Sanctorum represented an absolute homeground advantage for the mage, and they didn't want others to be aware of their secrets or potentially implant any backdoors in the security system.

"No... No offense taken," Envy replied with a wry smile. She now needed to come up with another method to monitor Daniel.

"But, to be honest, I still require your expertise, Miss Envy. There are many things I don't know, such as the symptoms Wrath displayed when she was rescued from the Willow Family estate. I'm unaware of why she lost her ability to cast magic, and I didn't even know about concepts like Magic Essence and Blood Essence. If I had known earlier, perhaps I could have found a way to preserve her magic-casting ability," Daniel expressed his needs, pausing briefly before continuing.

"Additionally, I need some of your best artificers to assist me in testing my products. I want to ensure that my creations are truly foolproof because there's a possibility that a mage or artificer might purchase my product and attempt to tamper with it, only to discover that I'm selling magical artifacts. That's why I need your team to help me test it and do everything within your capabilities to try and crack it," Daniel explained his requirements.

Upon hearing this, Envy nodded in understanding.

"I see, in that case, I can understand your point. But..." Envy teased, looking mischievously at Daniel.

"Aren't you afraid that I might slip in a spy or two?" she asked with a playful grin.

Daniel also let out a teasing smile as he answered.

"No, If I were, I wouldn't be asking you in the first place. Besides, I know how to limit their right of access and my security was not to scoff at either. I think We can manage a few spies you send my way. But please be warned, If we were to catch your spy in a forbidden area such as a high security laboratory, armory or B4 floor. I don't guarantee you spy safety, If you know what I mean." Daniel warned Envy, He knew that Envy was intent on monitoring him.

Daniel could tolerate being monitored by Envy's people since she was still a Grand Councilor of the Hightower. He respected her allegiance to the Hightower and understood her need for monitoring. However, he made it clear that he would not tolerate any attempts at sabotage or stealing what he considered to be his secrets.

"If that's the case, alright! Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Magitek," Envy said as she shook hands with Daniel, accepting his condition. It was comforting for Daniel to know that Envy recognized the shock of his abilities and was sending someone to monitor him. He appreciated her understanding.

"By the way, Mr. Magitek, I heard from Wrath that you were interested in joining the Hephaestus Institute. Are you still interested? I can easily recommend you to the institute director."

"Hephaestus Institute!? What's that?" Daniel asked blandly, as this was the first time he had heard of such a name.

Hearing his question, Envy clutched her head, feeling a slight headache due to Daniel's unfamiliarity with the affairs of the Curtained World.

Afterward, Daniel led the two of them to his office, engaging in a discussion about the Hephaestus Institute. He had gathered some information from Envy and Greed, knowing that the institute served as an association and research institute for craftsmen within the Curtained World. It encompassed various fields such as Alchemy, Artifice, and even had a department that specialized in constructing golems.

From what he had learned, the institute could be considered a branch of the Hightower, but it maintained its independence. Any projects the Hightower wanted the institute to undertake had to be commissioned, emphasizing their autonomy. Additionally, the institute boasted formidable individuals who could rival the power of the Hightower. This explained why Wrath had encouraged him to join the institute in the past.

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