"The match is over!! Vivian wins by the slimmest margin of Life Points, defeating the undefeated King! That clash of steel titans was just too cool!!"
"King actually lost… That Vivian is seriously strong…"
"Man, I'm screwed. I even lost my underwear on that bet."
"Even though King didn't win, this was hands down the most exciting duel I've ever seen in person."
Clara threw her arms around Akasha and bounced up and down in excitement. "She won! Vivi won! We hit the jackpot tonight~"
"Hit the jackpot?" Akasha tilted her head in confusion.
Since the metal fences around the ring had been blown over by the duel's impact, there was no need to wait for them to lower. King simply stepped down from the dueling platform.
"Hey, baldy, are you really okay acting so smug?" Watching King casually hop off the stage, Hoshino Alter couldn't decide what kind of expression to make.
She had already caught him secretly sabotaging the devices, but at least Hoshino Alter made an effort to put on an act. This guy, on the other hand, didn't react once during the entire duel and now just strolls off after losing? Was he treating the organizers and audience like fools?
With his hands behind his back, King glanced at Hoshino Alter, then swept his gaze across the crowd.
"A truly great duel doesn't need the gimmick of risking your life to be exciting. The charm of Duel Monsters alone is enough to bring joy to both duelists and spectators. And what's happening here proves that—"
The venue was ablaze with energy after the heated final clash. Voices full of excitement echoed louder than ever. This crowd of wealthy, jaded middle-aged men—who normally only cared about seeing the pain on a duelist's face after defeat—was now fully immersed in the duel itself.
For the first time, these men of power and wealth were captivated by the essence of the duel, rather than the stakes or consequences.
King continued:
"This match showed me the future of Duel Monsters—through you. But this kind of life-or-death, money-wagering duel is a cancer that will only hinder the game's evolution."
[What's with this old man? Why does his back look so… noble?]
Hoshino Alter shook her head indifferently.
"Give me a break, partner. I'm not getting involved with some mysterious middle-aged man."
"Got time for a chat? Trust me, what I'm about to say will definitely interest you."
"I knew it… Tag out, partner. I'm not sticking around to chat with a bald guy~"
The Pyramid of Light flickered faintly. In a flash, Hoshino Alter retreated, mercilessly kicking Hoshino's soul back out.
"That's so unfair… I'm bad at dealing with people like this too, you know."
Now back in control of his body, Hoshino muttered complaints toward the glowing pyramid on his chest.
She wasn't afraid that King would try anything shady—anyone who had dueled him could tell he was honorable and upright.
But it was exactly that unwavering righteousness that made Hoshino uncomfortable. She had the feeling that if she let her guard down, this man would start delivering heartfelt speeches without warning.
Still, as much as she didn't want to admit it, she was curious about what King had mentioned—something that would "definitely interest" her.
"Fine, I've already had two duels today. Might as well kill some time."
Akasha gasped:
"You're really not turning down a conversation with a bald old man? And you still say you're not into older guys?! Girls should be more reserved, you know!"
"Shouldn't I be saying that to you?" Hoshino shot back.
She hadn't even hit puberty yet, but Akasha's mind was already full of vocabulary and ideas far too mature for her age.
.
..
...
[Keith VS Jogriff]
Due to the iron fences being damaged and unable to be quickly repaired, Keith's next duel was moved to a different arena.
Clara, ever understanding, gently tugged on Akasha's wrist and gave Hoshino a knowing smile.
"Vivi, we're gonna head over to watch Howard's match next. Come find us when you're done~"
Does she think I'm into old men too…? Hoshino shuddered at the thought.
Meanwhile, King graciously reached out a hand to help Hoshino navigate through the crowd.
"It's too packed here. Let's talk in the lounge area."
The underground duel arena, built to entertain the city's elite, had resting zones even for those who couldn't afford a VIP suite.
They even thoughtfully provided complimentary drinks and snacks for tired, wealthy spectators.
"Whoa, I didn't expect a place like this down here! Being rich really is amazing!"
Hoshino's eyes sparkled as he stared at the beautifully arranged buffet on the bar counter, unable to stop himself from wiping away a bit of drool.
The food wasn't exactly gourmet by high-society standards, but to Hoshino—who was used to eating only what Grandpa Sugoroku cooked—it was a treasure trove.
King chuckled:
"Hahaha, such youthful energy. Don't mind me—if you're hungry, help yourself… Huh? Already eating?"
"This foie gras is incredible—melts in your mouth! Are you sure this stuff is free? How are they not losing money?!"
[Switch! Time to switch, partner! You're hogging all the good stuff—so unfair!]
"You ran away, remember? Give it up. This feast isn't for quitters."
King smiled warmly as he watched Hoshino pile food onto his plate.
"Watching you like this reminds me of my disciple. He always pretended to be all serious and mature, but deep down, he was just a lively kid too."
"Huh? You've got a student, old man?" Hoshino mumbled through a mouthful of food. The image in his mind was of a bald duelist just like King—probably one of the Labyrinth Brothers.
King continued:
"Yeah. He's much younger than you, but incredibly talented—just like you. I hope he'll inherit my legacy and take Cyber to new heights."
"Cyber? But don't you use Cyberdark, old man?"
"Before I came here, I decided to seal away that deck. A deck soaked in blood isn't something I can pass on to my disciple."
"You're sealing it? That's kinda a shame. I thought Cyberdark was super strong. But if you hate underground duels so much, why did you even enter?"
"To be able to duel you at the end of my Cyberdark journey—I have no regrets left for this deck. As for why I participated in the underground duels… that's something I'm about to tell you."
At that point, King's expression suddenly turned serious. "You might not believe me, but my real name isn't actually 'King.'"
Hoshino stumbled, nearly dropping the slice of pizza in her hand. What's so hard to believe about that? Most normal people wouldn't go around calling themselves things like 'King' or 'Caesar.' Those names were so cringey and over-the-top...
"The identity of 'King,' and even the Kelvin family behind me, were all fabricated to deceive the duel circuit. My real name is Sheppard, and I was entrusted with a mission—to investigate the ruling families behind the underground dueling."
Ah, a fellow undercover agent!
Hoshino had already suspected King had a hidden agenda. With a personality like his, he clearly didn't seem like the type to get involved in shady underground duels.
But she hadn't expected him to have the same mission as her—or that he, too, was acting under someone's orders. Could it be Pegasus didn't trust me enough and sent someone else as backup?
Even if they were on the same side, Hoshino pretended to be surprised, putting on her best Oscar-worthy performance. After all, when you're out in the field, you can't be too trusting. Who knew if Sheppard was telling the truth—or if this was a trap to make her reveal her identity?
"Oh? Something like that exists? (monotone reading) But… what's the point of investigating the mastermind? Who would even bother to take on such a troublesome task?"
"For ethical reasons, I can't reveal the identity of my client. But I brought you here to tell you two things..."
Sheppard raised two fingers and began explaining, "First, I can help you secretly disable the electric device they've installed on all duelists."
Hoshino's device had already been destroyed—but Sheppard didn't know that. Still, she asked out of curiosity, "We've only just met. Why would you go that far for me?"
"Because I don't want to see a gifted duelist like you die here. During our duel, I could feel it clearly—though you use a dark deck, your heart holds a strong sense of justice."
[W-Whoa, I got complimented out of nowhere. Embarrassing~]
Hoshino shook her head and politely refused. "I understand, but I'm going to have to decline."
Her device was already destroyed—and it was a high-end version with added special effects. She didn't need help. But she still made up a reason.
"—Because I absolutely won't lose!"
Sheppard raised his eyebrows, his expression complicated.
This was the first time he'd met such an eccentric girl. Her strange outfit, her remarkable dueling skill… it reminded him of the saying—"Genius and madness are separated by a fine line."
"If you insist, I won't press the issue. Then the second thing is more of a warning. If you manage to reach the high-tier duel arena, you must be careful of a man who uses a Valkyrie deck. His strength isn't even in the same dimension as the other duelists in the underground—including myself."
(***)
"Lord Zigfried, I've just finished gathering information on 'King.'"
Zigfried von Schroeder took the documents from the head maid and smiled meaningfully.
[Real Name: Sheppard
Founder of the original Cyber Art Dojo
An elder statesman in the history of Duel Monsters promotion, retired for many years and now largely unknown.
Rumored to have close ties with Kaiba Seto, CEO of Kaiba Corporation.
Reportedly reappeared in the public eye in response to Kaiba Corp's plan to establish a Duel Academy.
Highly likely he was sent by Kaiba Corp to investigate the Lloyd family's economic sabotage attempts and their ties to the underground dueling scene.]
"So you couldn't sit still anymore, Kaiba… even dragged that old man back into the game. Looks like you're serious about sparking a new Duel Monsters wave across the world."
The head maid added, "As for the duelist Vivian, that means she helped eliminate a threat from Kaiba's side. Could we assume the Phoenix family poses no threat? Though I am curious about the deck she used…"
"Heh, you mean the Heroic Spirit deck? I had my suspicions too, but that deck—part magical girls, part giant mechas—is far from the classic Heroic Spirit deck used by the Duel King. Sure, she's strong enough to beat Sheppard, but it's just a sideshow act at best."
Zigfried put down the file and looked toward the arena where the Phoenix family's representative, Keith Howard, was dueling.
"I only let her enter the underground duel on a whim, but to find such a powerful duelist—she really hit the jackpot."
Then, Zigfried's gaze shifted with desire to Clara.
"No woman I've set my eyes on has ever escaped me. Clara… enjoy your fleeting moment of victory while it lasts."
(***)
[Winner of the Duel: Keith!]
Full from food and drink, Hoshino returned from the lounge to the arena—just in time to witness Keith's victory.
Commentator: "With a perfect record of four consecutive wins, the Phoenix family is undoubtedly tonight's biggest dark horse! The mysterious duelist Vivian teaming up with U.S. Champion Keith Howard is sure to set off a whole new storm in the dueling world!"
"Whoo!! Phoenix is unstoppable!"
"Keep that energy up tomorrow—I'm putting all my bets on you from now on!"
After a full night of duels, the Phoenix family had proven their strength, and their popularity in the arena had exploded.
But the most excited of all was, of course, Clara herself. At this point, Clara felt like she was in a dream.
Akasha exchanged a glance with Hoshino, beamed brightly, and looked up at Clara.
"It's amazing, Clara! Four straight wins—that's a full 10 points! If we convert them all, that's a million dollars!"
"That's right… I never imagined underground dueling could be so profitable."
Hoshino casually added, "But I think the prize money from your bets tonight probably outpaced even that~"
"Yeah, with such high odds, I guess I did make a lot more… wa—"
Clara suddenly realized what she'd just said and hurriedly covered her mouth.
"You've already given it away, you adorably naïve lady~"
With perfect comedic timing, Hoshino and Akasha flashed mischievous grins.
(*****)
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