Chapter 60: I

"Hikari-nii has gone mad—he says he's going to establish a new Fusion Department!"

"What? A new Fusion Department?"

"Did you hear? Hikari actually applied to leave the Fusion Department!"

"No way, really? That Hikari-nii?"

Today's Duel Academy was unusually lively; though not large, the academy was just a small island where students constantly bumped into each other, mostly familiar faces, and any rumor would spread across campus within hours.

Like the mansion on the lake or the arena in the forest.

Such news rarely took two days to become common knowledge—students' insatiable gossip could never be stopped.

Moreover, Tenjo Hikari was the First-Year Representative and had just participated in the "World-Class" Exchange Tournament—he was a campus celebrity, and on top of that, he was famously known as a "super fusion freak" even extreme fusion fanatics called too extreme. For someone like him to leave the Fusion Department and even establish a new one, already naming it and applying to the professor, clearly preparing to get his own activity room—how could anyone not be shocked!?

"So should we still stay in the Fusion Department?"

"Hmm… does Hikari-nii have any similar card decks?"

First-year students, especially those from the Yellow and Red Colleges, didn't feel strong loyalty to the Fusion Department—they joined mainly for the "Ancient Mechanical Deck," since ordinary students struggled to obtain rare cards, which was precisely why the Fusion Department had grown so rapidly, even acquiring its own purple uniform.

But if Hikari's side also had a comparable deck to share, they wouldn't mind leaving.

After all, in the Fusion Department, they still suffered bullying from upperclassmen and Blue College students—they'd long been fed up.

"I heard Professor Kuronos also agreed to let them use the Ancient Mechanical Deck—after all, isn't that Professor Kuronos's own deck? Hikari's his disciple—he must support Hikari more, right?"

"Oh, really?"

In the Responsibility Office, Akuma Reo hugged his arms, frowning, visibly irritated.

"What's all the noise outside?"

"Um…"

"Speak up!" Akuma Reo's brow tightened—anyone who knew him recognized this as one of his rare states of anger.

If it continued, he might "take action."

"Professor, I heard… Tenjo Hikari left the Fusion Department."

"Huh?" Akuma Reo turned around, confused. "What did you say?"

The third-year Yellow College representative, startled by the direct gaze, quickly bowed his head and explained: "That… Hikari… Tenjo believes the current Fusion Department isn't fusion enough, the students aren't pure enough, they're always doing pointless things and bullying others—he's deeply dissatisfied, so he's decided to leave and start his own…"

He was terrified.

Akuma Reo was a man who spoke once and meant it, cold and ruthless; anyone who displeased him was always "exterminated." Hikari not only defied him but even wanted to "set up his own faction"—how could such a person not be his greatest enemy?

As a senior from Yellow College, he hadn't noticed Hikari's intentions and only now reported it—surely he'd pay dearly.

"Is there such a thing?" Akuma Reo muttered involuntarily.

"Huh?"

All three third-year seniors gasped in surprise.

"No, nothing." Akuma Reo turned back, inexplicably feeling slightly lighter.

Though only slightly.

Could it be that Professor Kuronos was afraid?

His mood improved a little.

In truth, his current irritation wasn't caused by Hikari or the commotion outside.

It was…

Serena.

She was, at best, barely his daughter.

She was now a second-year student in the junior division of the Duel Academy; after he discovered her, he took her to his research institute under the pretext of her being a "promising talent" to train her dueling abilities.

As a vessel for reviving his true "daughter."

However, earlier, that research institute—while studying parasites and spirits and carrying out his orders to duel Hikari and obstruct Kuronos and others to prevent them from causing trouble—seemed to have suffered an unbelievable accident, losing all contact.

He sent his soldiers to search, but there had been no word since.

He didn't care what Serena had endured—he just needed to find her quickly.

Originally, upon hearing Hikari's name again, he'd been furious and wanted to personally deal with the brat—but instead, he heard this good news!

To him, the Fusion Department, the Dimensional Department, or any other ridiculous name didn't matter.

He needed only absolute loyalty, soldiers he could control—cannon fodder to serve his grand ideals.

In contrast, people like Hikari, and those genuinely devoted to "Fusion Supremacy," were "poisonous blood."

If they were willing to leave, it was actually beneficial to him.

That's why he'd involuntarily said, "Is there such a thing?"

Hmm—

Though he didn't know what exactly had happened in Shitono City, it seemed Professor Kuronos, the old fool, still cared too much about his disciple's safety—a quality he himself utterly lacked.

Probably, he didn't want his disciple to face further danger, so he let him go independent?

Hehehehe, Kuronos—ultimately, I'm still superior!

"It doesn't matter. Students joining any club is their freedom," Akuma Reo said.

The three third-year students stared at Akuma Reo in shock, even wondering if this was someone impersonating him.

Akuma Reo's gloom from Serena's disappearance had lessened slightly, but after a moment's thought, he recalled another point.

First, he couldn't pretend indifference and let Hikari grow unchecked.

Then again, wasn't this the perfect place to train and cultivate soldiers?

"But who truly represents the Fusion Department shouldn't be decided by him."

"Huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"You three—go and eliminate them."

"Me?" The three exchanged glances, pointing at themselves. Even the Blue College captain couldn't help speaking up: "Impossible, Professor! They've invited Marufuji Ryo into their group!"

"We'd never be able to beat him!"

I take out Marufuji Ryo?

Could I win?

I'd lose for sure!

Marufuji Ryo is a genuine third-year "Emperor," not some "un-crowned" champion—he's the crowned academy top duelist, the strongest duelist in the entire Duel Academy—they've all lost to him. Send them?

Even excluding Ryo, Hikari, Yuusei Jidai, and Misono Daichi are the top three first-year duelists?

Akuma Reo's face darkened as he coldly stared at the three: "Didn't you understand what I said?"

"Yes!" The three snapped to attention, terrified.

"I don't care if you go yourselves or hunt them down year by year!"

"Do it!"

"Yes!"

The new Tablet Magic seems a bit pathetic; Yu Beier's Phantom Limit 1 was expected, but I didn't expect Red Dad to be released.

Although the Anaconda is long dead, I think Red Dad's strength is still fine—I wonder if it'll affect the environment.

Please vote, please recommend~

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(End of Chapter)