Who said this card is outrageous?

Finally, regarding the Mind-Stabilizing Array, he certainly didn't expect to obtain any important information; he simply hoped that once the Federation developed a countermeasure, they would inform him.

This time, I barely escaped being completely scammed thanks to the wonderful little gadgets Zhang Wenhe gave me, but who knows if I'll have such a good opportunity next time.

Don't forget that one who slipped through the net with the Eye of Truth; he personally witnessed Zhang Che using cards normally even when his mental power was sealed.

With this information, if those guys still couldn't figure out the problem, they wouldn't have been able to keep up their battle of wits with the Federation for so many years.

Chapter 214 Dividing the credit, and also dividing the blame

"You're quite good at setting prices." Bai Tao smiled slightly after reading what was written on the form.

"It's not too much." He lowered his head and signed his name on the form. "I can approve the formula and materials for you directly, but you'll need to pick them up in the provincial capital yourself."

The meditation method was too precious, and Bai Tao said that it needed approval from his superiors. At most, he could only issue a certificate to Zhang Che and then go through the normal procedures.

If nothing unexpected happens, Zhang Che should be able to go to the federal office in the provincial capital and get what he wants within a month at most.

As for the information on the Mind-Stabilizing Array, Bai Tao said that it was probably beyond his authority, and he could only try his best to obtain it, but could not give any guarantees.

Zhang Che nodded in understanding, and the result was already much better than he had expected.

Bai Tao carefully put the form into a file folder, then looked at Zhang Che: "There's one more thing."

"Please speak."

"I've learned a bit about your situation; many of the cards you've made are quite interesting."

“Especially your brother-in-law’s ‘Wings of Weapon’, to be honest, even I’m a little tempted.”

As a sixth-tier transcendent being, Bai Tao's interest in this card certainly wasn't for his own use.

However, he didn't say anything more, but instead brought up another matter: "The Federation has an 'elite training program'. Card makers with special talents like you should be contacted by someone once you arrive in the provincial capital."

Elite training program?

Zhang Che raised an eyebrow, wondering why Lin Jiming hadn't mentioned it before. Could it be a recent development?

However, at least for now, this is not a bad thing.

"Let's talk about it when I get to the provincial capital." Zhang Che neither agreed nor refused.

Bai Tao nodded, not continuing the topic, and turned to Zhu Yunge: "The matter of the Mind-Stabilizing Array ends here. You should not get involved here. The Federation will take full responsibility for the follow-up investigation."

"clear."

.........

After the meeting, Bai Tao led the two to the center of the secret room: "Finally, we can see what this friend is really like."

Zhu Yunge walked to the edge of the magic circle, placed her hands on the control runes on the outer side of the circle, and began to increase the input. The light of the magic circle changed from crimson to orange-yellow, and heat began to emanate from the center of the circle.

The first crack appeared on the surface of the ice.

Then the cracks became more and more numerous and denser, and the ice layer changed from translucent to translucent with white cracks, and finally began to fall off in large pieces.

The ice cubes fell to the ground with a dull cracking sound that echoed in the enclosed room.

After about ten minutes, the last layer of ice finally fell off.

The masked man lost the support of the ice and his body slumped forward, but he was caught firmly by the crimson energy chains.

The chains then wrapped around his arms and torso, fixing him in a kneeling position.

His hood had been soaked through by the melting ice and clung tightly to his face.

Bai Tao stepped forward and reached out to remove the cloth covering most of the face.

They finally saw the other person's true appearance: he was visibly thin, with high cheekbones, deep-set eyes, and an unhealthy pale complexion.

He looked young, probably around forty, but for some reason, most of his hair was already gray.

The man's eyes were open, his pupils slightly unfocused. It took several seconds for them to refocus, his gaze falling on the other people present in turn.

Despite having just endured torture that was no less than a brutal ordeal, his expression remained unchanged, displaying only an almost serene emptiness.

Bai Tao crouched down to look the other person in the eye and introduced himself: "FBI, Bai Tao."

What's your name?

The masked man looked at him without saying a word.

"Are there any other strongholds of the Eye of Truth in this area?"

The masked man remained silent.

Who invented the Mind-Stabilizing Array? What is its principle?

Still, silence.

Bai Tao waited patiently for a few seconds, then stood up and waved his hand: "Take him away."

Two men in FBI uniforms walked in from outside the secret room, grabbed the masked man from both sides, and stripped him naked.

This is one of the reasons why Zhu Yunge specifically called Zhang Che over, so that he could see with his own eyes that she had not embezzled the other party's spoils.

However, the mind-stabilizing array is of great importance, so Zhang Che will not be able to obtain the spoils on that person for the time being. Everything will have to wait until the Federation has investigated and clarified the matter.

Throughout the entire process, the thin figure had almost no strength to struggle. Having been frozen for so long, his physical functions had dropped to their lowest point. He couldn't even walk, let alone resist.

Before leaving, Bai Tao turned back and gave Zhang Che one last look: "Then we'll meet again someday."

After saying that, he led his men out of the secret room.

The door to the secret room was closed, and the footsteps faded away down the corridor.

Zhu Yunge stared at the direction where Bai Tao had disappeared, remained silent for a while, and then turned to Zhang Che: "The Federation's intention is to attribute the credit for capturing that fifth-tier superhuman to me."

Zhang Che raised an eyebrow, surprised, but quickly guessed the reason for doing so—it was to protect him.

No wonder Bai Tao was so easy to talk to when I asked for things earlier; there was this reason behind it.

That makes sense. If the Eye of Truth knew that a fourth-tier card maker had defeated their fifth-tier superhuman, their subsequent retaliation would only become more ruthless.

Attributing the credit to Zhu Yunge, a fifth-tier transcendent, would at least divert some of the hatred.

So if we really have to calculate it, Zhang Che should thank the other party for helping him share the firepower.

He knew that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, and he didn't want to be targeted because of it.

"I have no objection," Zhang Che said, shrugging.

Zhu Yunge finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As for the credit of the other three, since there were still some who slipped through the net, Zhang Che had to take the blame himself.

“The guy who got away knows it was you who did it, so he will definitely send the message back. So the Eye of Truth will still cause you trouble, though it will be less intense.” Zhu Yunge added a few more words.

……

For the next period of time, Zhang Che had a much more leisurely life than before.

He kept his promise to Zhang Wenhe and spent several hours every day teaching students in the new college's teaching building.

Although it was called a class, it was actually just me compiling my card-making experience into handouts and explaining it point by point to newcomers who had only been in the industry for a short time.

Pan Tingting, as his teaching assistant, would always sit in on the class and occasionally help him with some demonstrations.

Zhang Che's course content wasn't very in-depth, since it was aimed at lower-level card makers, some of whom hadn't even started learning yet, and they wouldn't understand if it was too complicated.

Because he himself progressed step by step in the same way, his teaching results were exceptionally good. Many students were full of questions on the first day, but before long, they were able to handle some simple materials on their own.

Pan Tingting's changes were more noticeable than those of the other students.

Sometimes, as Zhang Che was talking, he would notice that her gaze would always fall on his face.

Usually, the girl would quickly look away, lower her head and pretend to be looking at her notes, her ears turning slightly red.

Zhang Che noticed it, but said nothing.

He had seen similar looks before; back in Binhai City, Ruan Ruoshi had looked at him in a similar way.

But he didn't intend to respond; he simply pretended not to see it and continued attending class as usual.

Pan Tingting seemed to realize something, and she became much more restrained in the following days.

She seemed to have transformed back into the attentive student she once was, though the occasional glances she gave Zhang Che still carried emotions she herself might not have been aware of.

Chapter 215 Changes in the Situation

The battle situation in Hezhou City also changed during this period.

With the spy from the Eye of Truth eliminated, Zhu Yunge personally took over the city defense affairs in order to restore the city guard's command system to normal operation, and investigated and eliminated all the people planted by Mirage Princess.

In addition, after Bai Tao left, the several batches of supplies provided by the Federation have increased the overall combat strength of Hezhou City by more than one level.

Finally, the city guards and the adventurers' guild joined forces to launch a large-scale counterattack against the harpies.

Previously, with the help of Zhang Che's cards and Zhang Wenhe's alchemical tools, the harpies had been forced into a series of defeats. Now, with ample supplies, the Hezhou City side was almost completely dominating the fight, and the harpies suffered heavy losses in several consecutive battles.

But just as Zhu Yunge was preparing to finish off the harpies in one fell swoop, the harpy queen who had not shown herself finally appeared.

A harpy with even more ornate feathers flew out from the depths of the rift, followed by seven or eight fourth-tier bird-like extraordinary creatures.

Its wingspan was larger than any harpy that had ever appeared before, and its entire body was covered with magnificent silver-gray feathers that gleamed with a metallic sheen in the sunlight.

Her appearance and the appearance of her superhuman creature team instantly reversed the battle, and in the end, it was only through Zhu Yunge's personal intervention that they were forced to retreat.

……

At this point, it seems there is no longer any need to continue the war.

The rift where the harpies dwell still exists; if pushed too far, they can only be forced back into the rift.

Furthermore, the adventurers in Hezhou City discovered several familiar figures among the fourth-tier extraordinary creatures under the command of the Harpy Queen—these creatures were originally third-tier extraordinary creatures living nearby.

They had dealt with them frequently when they went hunting, so there was no possibility of them mistaking them.

To this end, Zhu Yunge specially gathered people and held a meeting, and Zhang Che was also invited to participate.

"This information was found in the Adventurers' Guild's records." Zhu Yunge distributed a printed photo to everyone.

The first picture shows a giant gray eagle with a wingspan of three or four meters.

"This is an Ironwing Falcon, a third-tier extraordinary creature. Its habitat is in the forest north of Hezhou City. Someone saw it half a year ago, when it was only third-tier."