# Chapter 243: Infiltration Plan
"Just tell us the direction; we can cross without a boat," Sugihara Yo said coldly.
Are you kidding? With his Deck full of aquatic monsters, why would he need a boat to cross the sea?
"I advise against it," Asuka said. "Due to recent war failures, the Academy's defenses are very strict. You might be strong, but a direct assault isn't a good option."
"However, in three days, the Academy's Higher Division enrollment exam will begin. You could use that to infiltrate the Academy," Asuka said.
"Does the Academy's Higher Division still recruit from outside?" Serena asked, frowning upon hearing this. "Doesn't the Higher Division only accept students promoted from the Middle Division?"
"Due to the recent war, the number of soldiers in the Higher Division is insufficient and urgently needs replenishment," Asuka explained.
Hearing this, Yūga Hōzumi grew interested. "Participate in their exam? But not many of us here can use Fusion Summon, and every single one of us is on the Academy's wanted list."
"Who exactly are you people?" Asuka couldn't help but ask.
"Let's put it this way: we're largely not from this Dimension. A few of us are from the XYZ Dimension, and those with your senior brother are from the Standard Dimension."
"XYZ Dimension?" Asuka raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you still in a war? Why are you here?"
"War? We've already won," Yūga Hōzumi said with a shrug. "We're here to rescue our companions who were captured by the Academy."
"To rescue your companions?" Asuka pondered for a moment. "If you can't Fusion Summon, it's not a major issue. The Academy offers courses for niche Summoning methods. For example, when I was at the Academy, I was in the Ritual Summon Branch Campus. However, Xyz or Synchro Summoning would definitely not work."
Niche Summoning methods? What the hell does Yūga Hōzumi know about this? This isn't like the world of his previous life where any Summoning method just required cards. In this world where dueling determines everything, every Summoning method has its own scientific explanation. Last time, with the System's help, Yūga Hōzumi figured out how Synchro Summoning worked. But without Brother Crab's playstyle, wouldn't he still be unable to use Synchro Summon?
But just then, the System's electronic voice rang out in Yūga Hōzumi's mind.
[Side Quest: Infernal Affairs]
[Although the Fusion Dimension has been temporarily defeated, they certainly won't give up. Moreover, with the Host's companions still in their hands, how can you, as the Hope of the XYZ Dimension, sit idly by and wait?]
[Mission Requirement: Infiltrate the Academy, gather intelligence, and rescue Ruri Kurosaki and Rin.]
[Mission Deck: Floowandereeze X (Uses: 5/5) has been added to your System Inventory.]
"Does the Academy have courses for Tribute Summon?" Yūga Hōzumi turned his head and asked after receiving the System's Mission.
"Tribute Summon?" Serena frowned upon hearing this. "Yes, there are, but it seemed to be on the verge of being shut down before I ran away, wasn't it?"
"Wait a minute? You want to infiltrate the Academy?" Serena reacted, immediately opposing. "No, it's too dangerous."
"Do you have a better idea? We can't just have a few of us launch a direct assault, can we?" Yūga Hōzumi said.
"But..." Serena tried to say more, but Yūga Hōzumi cut her off.
"Alright, it's decided," Yūga Hōzumi declared. "I'll go in first as an Undercover Agent. Once I find their weak points in defense, I'll contact you, and then you can sneak in."
Everyone: ...
"Are you sure?" Sugihara Yo asked. "I remember you never passed the Tribute Summon course back when you were in Heart Garden First Primary School!"
"It's just an Enrollment Exam for the Higher Division; how high-level can it possibly be?" Yūga Hōzumi complained, slightly annoyed that Sugihara Yo brought up his predecessor's dark history.
"Then please follow me. For Tribute Summon, Teacher should be able to help you," Asuka said.
The group had no choice but to follow Asuka to Yusho Duel School's Base. They had no other option; everyone present in the Fusion Dimension was an Unregistered Person, unable even to get a hotel room to rest.
After the group navigated through winding paths and entered a certain Underground Facility where water trickled, Yūga Hōzumi could no longer suppress his urge to inwardly complain. How did the famous father of Entertainment Dueling from the Standard Dimension end up in such a state?
Not long after, Yuya finally met his father who had been missing for years. As for Yūga Hōzumi and the others from the XYZ Dimension, they had no interest in interacting with them, only asking Asuka to arrange a place for them to stay.
Once in the room, Yūga Hōzumi finally had time to check the temporary Mission Deck the System had given him.
"The core elements are mostly complete. Empen, Barrier Statue, and Apex Avian are all there. It's a shame there's no Macro Cosmos, so I'll use Trap Cards instead."
As Yūga Hōzumi spoke, he began searching for useful cards from the System's card packs. He also slipped in 3 Ash, 3 Ghost Belle, 2 Effect Veiler, and 2 Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit from his Main Deck. He decided against Infinite Impermanence, as its origin would be hard to explain.
It didn't take long for a Moe Deck, composed of cute little birds, to be created in Yūga Hōzumi's hands.
"Too bad it can only be used 5 times," Yūga Hōzumi muttered to himself, fiddling with the Floowandereeze X Wang Xiaoming (pshaw, Emperor Penguin Guy) in his hand.
No sooner had the Deck been constructed than Yūga Hōzumi's room door was knocked.
Yūga Hōzumi opened the door to find Serena standing outside.
"Are you really going?" Serena asked.
"What else?" Yūga Hōzumi shrugged. "Besides me, who else can go?"
Serena bit her lip, then sent Yūga Hōzumi a document via her Duel Disk: "Here's the Academy's map. Be careful. When you come back..."
Serena's words were cut off as Yūga Hōzumi covered her mouth.
"Don't just set up a Flag like that for me!" Yūga Hōzumi said with lingering fear.
Yūga Hōzumi's sudden intimate gesture instantly made Serena's face flush crimson, with a hint of steam seeming to rise from her forehead.
"Ah, sorry, sorry." Yūga Hōzumi also noticed his action seemed inappropriate and quickly released his hand, apologizing repeatedly.
The atmosphere between the two immediately became somewhat awkward, and neither spoke again.
"Ahem, that's enough already," Sugihara Yo couldn't help but say, appearing at the door of Yūga Hōzumi's adjacent room after finishing dinner, seeing the two seemingly taking so long.
"Anyway, your safety comes first. If there's no chance for intelligence, then forget it." Serena, unable to bear the awkward atmosphere any longer, spoke a few words before fleeing in embarrassment.
Sugihara Yo desperately winked at Yūga Hōzumi, but Yūga Hōzumi clearly didn't understand his meaning. Instead, he inexplicably asked, "What's wrong with your eyes? Are you sick?"
Sugihara Yo: ...
"Heh heh, I finally understand why the male single rate at your Heart Academy used to be as high as 70%," Sugihara Yo said with a dry chuckle, then directly closed the door, not wanting to speak with Yūga Hōzumi.
...
(end of chapter)