Chapter 26: Reiji Akaba
"Wait a minute, isn't Yuzu in danger then? There's an ill-intentioned guy from the Fusion Dimension by her side." After hearing Yūga Hōzumi's explanation, Yuto's expression changed.
"Don't worry," Yūga Hōzumi said, patting Yuto's shoulder. "That guy doesn't have the ability to kidnap someone right under Reiji Akaba's nose. Anyway, let's find Shun first."
...
After their talk that night, the two began searching for Shun Kurosaki's whereabouts in the city.
The problem was, Yuto at least had a capture coordinate, but Shun Kurosaki was just wandering all over Maiami City.
Yūga Hōzumi and Yuto could only get bits of news about him each morning from reports of another LDS team being attacked.
"By the way, which one of you came up with the genius plan of kidnapping Reiji Akaba to trade for Ruri from the Academy?" Yūga Hōzumi couldn't help but complain when he met Yuto that evening, after another day of fruitless searching.
Yuto blushed, not answering the question. Instead, he looked at the night sky with a worried expression.
"I've already told Shun that this isn't our battlefield and they aren't our enemies, but he doesn't seem to have any intention of stopping."
"Searching like this is no solution. Let's go." Yūga Hōzumi gritted his teeth and made a decision.
"Where are we going?" Yuto asked, puzzled.
"To LDS headquarters to meet Reiji Akaba," Yūga Hōzumi said.
"Are you sure about this?" Yuto hesitated. "We're not sure if LDS is an ally or an enemy yet..."
"Don't worry," Yūga Hōzumi said. "Besides us, the one who wants Akaba Leo dead the most is his own unfilial son, Reiji Akaba. Although our positions are slightly different, our goals are still the same."
"Alright, I'll follow your lead." Yuto nodded and followed Yūga Hōzumi.
Soon, the two were blocked at the entrance of the LDS building.
"Attackers, have you chosen to walk into a trap this time?" Shijima Hokuto, a member of the LDS elite Xyz class, gritted his teeth at the pair.
For the past few days, Shun Kurosaki's constant attacks on LDS duelists had given them a huge headache. Naturally, they blamed Yūga Hōzumi and Yuto for it.
"This time, you won't escape!" said Todo Hayato, holding a bamboo sword.
"Tell your president to come out. We don't have time to play with small fry," Yūga Hōzumi said.
"Don't look down on us! We are the elite of LDS!" the dark-skinned girl, Kotsu Masumi, retorted.
"The elite that can't handle one person with a whole team?" Yūga Hōzumi chuckled. "Do you know the difference between us and you so-called elite? We are warriors; once we pick up a Duel Disk, there's no retreat. You flowers, so well-protected in your ivory tower, have you thought this through before raising your Duel Disks to me?"
Yūga Hōzumi's gaze sharpened, and the murderous aura his previous self had forged in a sea of blood and corpses surged from his body.
The LDS duelists all took half a step back.
"Yūga Hōzumi, calm down. This isn't a battlefield," Yuto said with a frown.
"It's fine, I'm just scaring them a bit. I don't have Shun's sadistic pleasure of bullying the weak," Yūga Hōzumi said, retracting his aura.
At the same time, Yūga Hōzumi looked past them toward the interior of the LDS building and said loudly, "Aren't you going to come out yet, Reiji Akaba? Or do you really want to see all your subordinates turned into cards on your desk?"
*Clap, clap, clap.* The doors of the LDS building slowly opened, and a silver-haired man wearing a red scarf walked out, applauding.
"Welcome to LDS, guests from afar," Reiji Akaba said slowly.
"Guests?" Yūga Hōzumi's gaze swept over the duelists standing ready around them. "Is this the renowned hospitality of the Standard Dimension's famous LDS?"
Hearing this, Reiji Akaba waved his hand, signaling the duelists surrounding them to stand down.
"President..." Shijima Hokuto still wanted to say something, but a sudden glance from Reiji Akaba made him retreat obediently.
"To what do we owe the honor of your visit to LDS?" Reiji Akaba asked slowly.
"It's not an 'honor.' We just need the president's help finding someone, and while we're at it, to discuss an alliance."
"I understand. LDS will help you search for your companion. As for the other matter you mentioned, you'll have to prove your sincerity to me," Reiji Akaba said, waving a hand for his subordinate to hand over two cards.
"These are invitations to the main event of the Maiami Championship, which begins in one week. How about the two of you temporarily represent LDS?" Reiji Akaba said, adjusting his glasses.
"No problem," Yūga Hōzumi nodded.
"Also, in the time before the championship begins, could I ask the two of you to stay in the accommodations LDS has arranged for its participants? After all, your companion has caused us quite a bit of trouble recently."
Yūga Hōzumi shot a glare at Yuto, who looked away guiltily. Yūga Hōzumi then nodded again. "Alright, we'll follow the host's arrangements. I trust the president won't take us lightly."
"Then, I look forward to your performance in the championship." After saying this, Reiji Akaba turned and disappeared into the building, while a luxury car slowly pulled to a stop beside Yūga Hōzumi and Yuto.
...
Three days later, Yūga Hōzumi and Yuto met Shun Kurosaki in the hotel prepared by Reiji Akaba.
"Why are you here?" Shun Kurosaki asked, his face cold.
"Why else? We were looking for a certain scoundrel running all over the city," Yūga Hōzumi retorted, not bothering to be polite given Shun Kurosaki's attitude.
"My affairs don't require your interference," Shun Kurosaki said coldly.
Yūga Hōzumi ignored him, picking up the lunch provided by the hotel and munching on it himself. Honestly, Reiji was quite generous, arranging for them to stay in Maiami City's best hotel.
Yūga Hōzumi hadn't had a single decent meal since transmigrating, and he had certainly made up for it these past few days.
As he ate, Yūga Hōzumi gestured to Yuto. "Come on, try this. I hear it's a specialty curry from this dimension, and it's pretty good."
After a moment, Shun Kurosaki couldn't help but ask, "How are things in Heartland City?"
"They're alright, I guess." At this, Yūga Hōzumi also grew serious. He told Shun Kurosaki about the current situation and the matter with Ruri.
After listening, Shun Kurosaki was silent for a while before saying, "Thank you, for the matter with the Spades."
"No need for thanks," Yūga Hōzumi chuckled. "We were companions in the Resistance Army, weren't we?"
"But, do you really plan for us to participate in this so-called championship?" Yuto asked.
"What else? I already told them we would," Yūga Hōzumi said with a shrug.
"Besides, to completely defeat the Fusion Dimension, our own power isn't nearly enough. And isn't LDS a perfect, ready-made ally?"
"I don't believe the people of this dimension can be of any help in a war," Shun Kurosaki said coldly.
"No one is a born warrior. Once the people of this dimension experience the pain of war, they'll grow too," Yuto said from the side.
"Anyway, let's talk about all this after the championship is over." As he spoke, Yūga Hōzumi slapped his forehead and looked at Yuto. "Oh, right. From now on, stay away from anyone who looks like you, especially the one named Yuya Sakaki."
...
(end of chapter)