Chapter 163

Having harvested another new deck, You Xuan is in a great mood today.

The Humanoid series actually still has development potential as a deck, and it is also a series that had nostalgic support cards released many years later. You Xuan tentatively noted this topic down to research when he has time in the future.

In the years before You Xuan transmigrated, it seems the K-Group had just thought of a new wealth code and began frantically strengthening old decks from the DM to GX eras.

Although many of these might look like trash in the eyes of modern Yu-Gi-Oh players, one must know that many of the "trash" cards of the new generation would be dimensionality-reduction strikes—fake cards—if taken back twenty years.

As for the top-tier decks of the new generation, it goes without saying; the entire deck is full of fake cards. Taking them back twenty years is almost equivalent to Three-Body Problem technology beating up primitive people who only know how to wield pitchforks.

Furthermore, the old-era decks that received support aren't all just "salted fish." Who could have imagined that Yubel, which was a "salted fish" deck in its own era, would actually have a day to defy fate nearly twenty years later?

One can only say that the waters of Duel Monsters are very deep, and the road of research is still very long. As long as the "Card Printing Power" is pulled high enough, even a three-wheeled cart can be sent to the sky.

This further proves that in this world where cheats fly everywhere, you either max out your bonds and use metaphysics to cheat, or you can only rely on scientific research to get rich and work with your own hands to be well-fed and clothed.

However, the list of projects You Xuan has currently lined up for research is already quite long, and the number of deck series he wants to research when he has time in the future is increasing.

It is clear that he won't get far if he does everything himself and leads every project personally. You Xuan is already thinking that once their first wave of results is announced and the laboratory's influence expands, he will soon have to consider recruiting more manpower.

In the future, You Xuan will definitely still research his own main force and his own spirits himself, but he certainly won't have the time to handle all the miscellaneous other deck series. With so many themes and so many new cards to print, both resources and manpower are necessary.

However, it looks like the day their laboratory releases its first batch of output is not far off.

Under You Xuan's guidance, Asuka completed the preliminary strengthening of the Cyber Angel deck and then worked tirelessly for a few more days, finally managing to finish the paper she was preparing to submit.

The day before submission, she even asked the supervising teacher at the laboratory to look it over—even though, deep down, she was actually still skeptical about the true ability of the laboratory's designated supervisor, Teacher Da Desi.

Teacher Da Desi stroked his cat and flipped through it casually, looking troubled as he adjusted his glasses: "Oh my, even if you say so, I haven't really written many papers myself..."

Flipping rapidly from beginning to end with a rustle, Da Desi soon handed the stack of papers back to Asuka.

"Very good, no problem, let's go with this. As expected of student Asuka, doing things is always reassuring."

Asuka took the paper blankly, wanting to say something but stopping, yet seemingly hindered by the teacher's face, she found it hard to speak.

She kind of wanted to say, Teacher, didn't you not look at it at all?

Misawa also couldn't help but say: "And I went to find out, the conference you mentioned is already opening next week. Is it really possible to submit it now..."

Indeed. Although You Xuan doesn't understand this world, in his previous life, paper submissions took anywhere from a few months to over a year. Now, let alone the deadline, even the conference date is right in their faces, and they are still preparing to submit—it is truly unheard of.

Da Desi smiled: "It's okay, that friend of mine is still quite influential; such a small matter shouldn't be a problem."

Misawa still wanted to say something: "But..."

This isn't a small matter anymore, right?

However, You Xuan laughed and interrupted him: "It's fine, since the teacher said so, let's just submit it and try."

"... Alright, since you said so." Misawa didn't speak again.

But he still couldn't help but steal a glance at Da Desi.

Although he trusts You Xuan, he still has some doubts about why You Xuan believes Teacher Da Desi's words so much.

This teacher doesn't look reliable at all.

Outside the academy, elsewhere, at a certain Duel Monster research institute.

The headquarters of the Cyber Research Association.

Huge servers hummed quietly, the low roar acting as background music for the entire space. The surrounding walls were covered with images and data of Cyber monsters, and the air was filled with a scent mixed with the unique smell of electronic equipment.

The Chief of the Association stepped in her high heels and walked quickly to the laboratory.

"Sakurako, help me review a paper. Be quick, it's for the International Illusion Society conference next week."

The Chief got straight to the point.

The one called Sakurako was a pink-haired girl who stood up from her seat and looked over in astonishment.

"Next week's conference? Reviewing it now?"

"The recommender is a big shot, seems to have been a titan in the alchemy field... It's not important. In any case, they said the situation this time is special, and the research topic is Cyber Angel, so the organizers asked us to review it.

Anyway, you review it for me first, mark any problems or highlights, and pack it up and send it to me before tonight. Understand?"

"Okay."

Sakurako sat back in her seat, feeling a bit curious.

A recommendation from a titan in the alchemy field, an article on the topic of Cyber Angel?

What kind of results could there be?

Their team basically already represents the top level of "Cyber" series research, and the most recent huge breakthrough, "Cyber Angel - Dakini"—currently also recognized as the strongest Cyber terminal in the environment—was printed by their team.

But after that, even they encountered a bottleneck and have been stuck for quite a while without making any new progress.

With curiosity, she clicked on the article sent by the Chief.

"The Ignored Potential of Cyber Angel?"

Sakurako frowned slightly.

Cyber Angel is a Ritual deck under the "Cyber" grand series, which happens to be the research direction Sakurako is responsible for.

Could it be that there are some undeveloped details in this deck that they have always ignored?

She took a sip of coffee, her gaze continued to move down, and she saw the author of the paper.

"Tenjoin Asuka, first-year student at Duel Academy, Fujiki You Xuan!?" Sakurako raised an eyebrow.

What kind of breakthrough discoveries could a newly enrolled student have?

Taking another sip of coffee, Sakurako continued reading with doubt.

And then she spat it out.

"..."

"Chief! Chief, Chief!"

Sakurako ran to the Chief's office and knocked on the door.

"What's the matter? What's the situation to be this panicked?"

The Chief opened the door strangely.

Sakurako was out of breath: "The article you gave me is outrageous..."

"Didn't I tell you to review it and send it to me?" The Chief looked at her strangely, "Is it that exaggerated?"

Sakurako continued to pant, holding her violently heaving chest, nodding repeatedly with a flushed face.

The Chief was surprised: "Is it really that powerful? Let me guess, they discovered the strengthening potential of a certain card? Which one?"

Sakurako continued to nod repeatedly, but after thinking about it, she shook her head.

"No, it's not a problem with which card, Chief."

Sakurako showed a terrified expression.

"... It's an entire deck."

The Chief: "???"

(End of chapter)