After agreeing on a time to discuss tactics with Alexis Rhodes, Jiang He parted ways with Jaden Yuki and Syrus Truesdale, and the three of them headed back toward the Slifer Red Dorm.
By then, it was already noon.
Inside the Slifer Red cafeteria, a few trays of food sat atop the simple wooden tables. As usual, it was the classic combination of pickled dried fish and curry mapo tofu. However, this time, there was a special addition: several remarkably large pieces of shrimp tempura!
"Ah, Jiang He, Jaden! You're finally back!"
The moment Jiang He and Jaden entered the simple cafeteria, Professor Lyman Bannerwho had been sitting there like a lonely old man cradling a fat catstood up in a pleasant surprise. He lunged forward, moved to tears, and tried to wrap them in a hug.
"!!!" Jiang He reacted instantly, stepping back and pulling Jaden in front of him to serve as a shield.
"Uh... Professor Banner, what happened?!" Jaden, Chumley, and Syrus asked simultaneously, their faces twitching as they were pulled into the embrace. They were completely bewildered by the situation.
Only Jiang He had been prepared. Thanks to a prompt from Sphere Kuriboh, he had sensed something was "off" the moment the door opened. He stepped back just in time to avoid the professor's overly affectionate greeting.
Once they were all seated, Professor Banner wiped away his streaming tears while holding the brown, fat cat named Pharaoh. He began to explain the situation.
"A portion of the Slifer Red students took their written exams this morning. After finding out their grades were abysmal, they all decided to pack their bags and drop out while you were in the Chancellor's Office."
"In other words, there aren't many people left in Slifer Red?" Jiang He rubbed his chin, his expression subtle.
No wonder he felt like the number of Slifer Red students in his memory was so small. It turned out that after this morning's written test, most of them realized they had no future as duelists and chose to leave the Duel Academy of their own accord.
Jaden, Syrus, and Chumley all looked at Professor Banner, waiting for a confirmation.
"To be precise..." Banner wiped his eyes and nodded. He gave them the exact number to clarify Jiang He's "not many." "There are only four of you left."
"..." Jiang He was speechless.
"......" Jaden and the other two stared with wide eyes, completely stunned.
Even Jiang He didn't know where to begin his critique. Talk about a clean sweepthe entire Slifer Red dormitory now consisted of just the four of them. While Slifer Red never had many studentsusually around a dozenat least they used to be able to fill this small cafeteria.
"So, for this Tag Duel, you absolutely must win!" Professor Banner pleaded, pressing his hands together in a prayer-like gesture. "I really don't want to be the manager of an empty dormitory!"
"Professor, if you keep stalling and don't let us eat, I think Slifer Red might lose another four students to starvation..." Jiang He pointed at the food on the table and sighed helplessly.
He had been playing cards "all night," had only a bite to eat in the morning, and it was already midday. His stomach was genuinely growling.
"Ahahaha, of course, of course," Banner laughed sheepishly, responding with an awkward scratch of his head.
For some reason, he felt as if Jiang He had sensed something about him. This included the fact that he had intentionally leaked information about the abandoned dorm to Jaden and the others yesterday to let them experience a Shadow Game beforehand.
Although his favorite disciple and the one he wished to entrust his legacy to was Jaden Yukiwho possessed incredible talent for alchemythis Jiang He student seemed anything but simple.
Furthermore, Banner felt an invisible, powerful guardian force hidden within Jiang He. Naturally, what he was sensing was the protection of the Mark of the Dragon - Dragon Head, which Jiang He had recently exchanged from the system.
Jiang He, however, couldn't care less about Banner's secrets. For the time being, they wouldn't affect him. Aside from his little mysteries, Professor Banner was mostly just a goofball.
Jiang He sat down and began to enjoy his lunch. Since today was the once-a-month treat of shrimp tempura, he didn't mind the Slifer Red food at all. Besides, at this hour, the deluxe bento boxes at the school store were likely sold out.
Nearby, Jaden, Syrus, and Chumley were eating with expressions of pure bliss. They had been eating pickled fish and curry mapo tofu for days; they were practically numb to the taste. Every day they had to watch Jiang He eat gourmet meals from the shop, and now, finally getting a "feast" of shrimp tempura was enough to make them weep with joy.
Ignoring the three hot-blooded idiots, Jiang He finished his meal, patted his stomach, and took a stroll toward the grassy hill near the dorm where he had agreed to meet Alexis.
"She's not here yet...?" he muttered, looking around.
Finding the scenery quite pleasant, with a gentle slope and a tree to lean against, Jiang He lay back, soaking in the sun while he waited.
"Kuri kury!"
Sphere Kuriboh materialized and perched on Jiang He's shoulder, expertly joining him in the sunbathing session. Jiang He took the opportunity to open his system panel and count the rewards from his all-night duel with the Shadow Duelist, Titan.
[Name: Jiang He]
[Skills: Clear Mind, Spirit Vision, Mark of the Dragon - Dragon Head (Immunity to Shadow Game damage)]
[Current Decks: Exodia OTK Deck, Lava Golem Deck, Stealth Bird Deck (Toxic Burn Strategy)]
[Emotion Points: 2000]
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).