Chapter 23: On the Road

Originally, Malik and Dark Mo Liang had meticulously planned a self-harm ruse.

Malik only needed to act as a hostage to make Jonouchi restrained and captured by his own men.

Then, he could take the opportunity to manipulate Jonouchi into turning against You Tian.

But now, Jonouchi wasn't captured at all, and Malik himself had been foolishly rescued by him.

Still, it's fine!

A cold smirk curled on Malik's lips.

Let me infiltrate You Tian's inner circle, control them one by one from within, and make You Tian feel the deepest despair!

"Ow! Ow! Ow!"

A sharp pain struck Malik's left cheek.

That damn bastard! He hit so hard! When we get back, I'll make him the guinea pig for the Winged Dragon of Ra Replica Card Experiment!

"Nam-kun, are you alright?" Makoto stepped forward, worried.

The group had now escaped to a safe place, and the injured Mo Liang had been sent to the hospital.

"I'm fine, fine, just a few minor injuries," Malik waved it off.

Jonouchi glanced sideways at Malik, a faint unease stirring in his mind.

You Tian had said Malik was likely a dark-skinned guy, and I should be careful.

This Nam has noticeably dark skin. And we ran into Gurus' ambush right after he showed up—this is strange.

"Jonouchi-kun, you're a Duelist too, right?"

As Jonouchi was thinking, Malik walked over.

"Yeah. I see you're carrying a Duel Disk—are you also a Duelist?"

Malik flashed a pure, innocent smile.

"Yes!"

"But I'm just a newbie with lots I don't understand."

"Jonouchi, judging by your look, you must be a very strong Duelist, right?"

Normally, Jonouchi would gladly accept such flattery. But this time, he unusually shook his head.

"No, no."

"Hmph, this guy already collected Six Chip Cards and was showing them off just now!" Anzu muttered sarcastically beside him.

Malik put on the wide-eyed, starstruck look of a devoted fan.

"Oh! You've already collected all the Chips? That's amazing!"

"Jonouchi, if you don't mind, could you teach me some Dueling basics right now?"

Anzu was about to happily agree for Jonouchi—after all, this Nam had saved Mo Liang's life. Spending a little time teaching him something wouldn't hurt.

But Jonouchi opened his mouth.

"Maybe later—we're heading to the final Soul Prison, and we probably don't have time."

Hearing this, Anzu frowned.

Strange—why was Jonouchi acting so distant toward this new friend today?

Malik's warm advance met a cold shoulder, and he was slightly angry.

This guy!

"It's fine. How about I just follow you? If possible, you could teach me some Dueling basics on the way."

Heh heh—heh, as long as I get inside your little group.

Anzu: "That's fine…"

Jonouchi immediately raised his hand to cut her off.

"Nam-kun, don't you need to collect Chip Cards?"

Malik quickly pulled out his six Chips.

"Actually, I just barely managed to collect Six Chip Cards myself—I'm heading to the final Soul Prison too."

Anzu: "Wow! That's amazing!"

Jonouchi narrowed his eyes.

This guy just claimed he was a newbie, yet now he's pulling out Six Chip Cards.

Something's off.

"Nam-kun, thank you for saving Mo Liang, but we have other matters to attend to—we'll have to take our leave!"

Saying this, Jonouchi forcibly pulled Anzu away.

Malik was stunned.

Wait, bro—I've said everything nice and reasonable, and you're being completely heartless?!

"Ah, it's fine, I can still follow you… follow you."

Before Malik could finish his sentence, Jonouchi had already dragged Anzu away.

Malik: …

Boom!

Once Jonouchi and Anzu were far away, Malik slammed a fist hard into the wall beside him.

"Damn it!!!"

…

Anzu, forcibly dragged away, pouted, clearly unhappy.

"Jonouchi, you were so rude! He saved Mo Liang's life, and you treated him so coldly!"

Jonouchi seemed not to have heard Anzu's complaint, walking along while thinking about something on his own.

Bang!

Seeing Jonouchi keeping his head down and ignoring her, Anzu directly used the "Destructive Chestnut Hurricane Bullet."

【Effect: While Makoto is on the field, she may launch one direct attack against Jonouchi's head; damage depends on her mood.】

"Ah!"

"Ow! You female ape!"

"You've bonked me twice today already! One more and I'll turn into an idiot, got it?!"

Anzu snorted coldly: "Well, Jonouchi, you're already plenty idiotic to begin with, so being a bit more idiotic doesn't matter, right!"

Jonouchi was furious hearing this.

Having gained the upper hand verbally and gotten back at him for ignoring her, Anzu crossed her arms and stopped paying attention to this idiot.

The two were silent for a moment.

"Anzu…"

After a moment, Jonouchi spoke first.

"You think… that guy from earlier, could he have been Malik?"

"Huh?" Anzu looked at Jonouchi in surprise.

"Why do you think so?"

Jonouchi told Anzu about You Tian's warning and the suspicious points he had noticed.

Anzu pondered slightly.

"If what You Tian said is true, then we really can't rule out the possibility that Nam is Malik."

No wonder Jonouchi was acting so out of character today.

Makoto glanced, a little embarrassed, at the spot on Jonouchi's head that had just been bonked.

"Anyway, you've already collected all 6 chips, let's head to the final venue first."

"Yugi must have collected his chips too, let's go meet up with Yugi first and then discuss."

"Mm." Jonouchi nodded.

Elsewhere in the city, You Tian was also heading toward the Kc Airship.

"Master, don't be angry, Nana actually really likes you as her master."

"It's just that, she used to follow Pegasus before, and now she has to follow a Duelist with no real reputation, she just hasn't adjusted her mindset yet."

"Of course! I'm not saying your Dueling skills aren't good, Master."

"Master's Dueling skills are absolutely the strongest I've ever seen, no question!"

"I, the Dark Magician, my admiration for Master flows like an endless river!"

Listening to the Dark Magician's flattering, even bootlicking words, the corner of You Tian's eye twitched involuntarily.

"Well then, Master, I'll go talk some sense into Nana!"

After saying this, the huge and ugly Dark Magician scampered over toward Najimi Magic Sprite, who was sulking not far away.

"Aiya, Nana~ don't be upset!"

"Master is just a…" saying this, the Dark Magician turned his three faces slightly this way.

Seeing that You Tian apparently couldn't hear their conversation, he continued in a small voice: "Just a damn idiot! Don't stoop to his level, okay? How about I sing you a song?"

You Tian's eyelid twitched again involuntarily.

Great, great, great. First day transmigrating into Yu-Gi-Oh!, not only did I have a falling out with my own Card Spirit, I also got cursed out by my backstabbing spirit!

The main thing is, damn it, I still have to pretend I can't hear it!

You Tian was honestly so angry he laughed.

The cause of this whole thing, to be honest, actually isn't You Tian's fault.

Just now, on the way to the Airship, Najimi Magic Sprite had suddenly manifested from the Deck.

"Hey! You're called You Tian, right? I want to leave you! Mail my card back to the International Illusion Society!"

Hearing Najimi Magic Sprite say this, You Tian was naturally unwilling.

Says who?! You want to quit just like that? Have I even paid you a salary?

Sure, you look a bit bizarre, but I still spent money to draw this card, why would I let you go?

Besides, You Tian was still counting on these two Card Spirits to fight the Dark Game. If Najimi Magic Sprite left, the Dark Magician would probably have to "follow her in death" too — how could he let her run?

So, You Tian immediately rejected Najimi Magic Sprite's request.

Najimi Magic Sprite had been quite "spoiled" back at Pegasus's place.

When she said one, no other Card Spirit dared say two.

At the International Illusion Society, besides her father Pegasus, she could ignore anyone she pleased.

This was also one of the reasons why, after You Tian drew her, she was reluctant to manifest.

And so, Najimi Magic Sprite got sulky, left the Deck, and flew outside.

She seemed to want to use this method to express her feelings of not wanting to see You Tian.

Sigh. You Tian helplessly side-eyed the two spirits not far away.

Whatever, throwing a tantrum is throwing a tantrum, as long as your card is in my hand, you can't do anything about it.