Chapter 25: The President's Gambling Craving Kicks In

What should we do?

The two Gurus security officers were drenched in cold sweat at this moment.

As everyone knows, in recent years, Kaiba Corporation has been making big moves in Jounouchi.

From infrastructure construction up to highways, airports, and the Kaiba Land project. Moreover, according to rumors, Kaiba Corporation is also engaged in top-tier scientific research like space elevators and perpetual motion machines.

It wouldn't be surprising if, in a few years, the entire Jounouchi ended up belonging to Kaiba Corporation.

Faced with such a behemoth, who could afford to offend them?

But this mission to capture You Tian was an order personally issued by Lord Malik…

So the question arises: does Seto Kaiba's face take priority, or Malik's orders?

Just kidding—we're Gurus! Gurus have their own pride! Even when facing Kaiba Corporation, we should be unyielding and complete the mission.

The two security officers were seen striding firmly toward Seto Kaiba.

Malik, watching from afar, grew excited.

Yes! Exactly like that—better take Kaiba along too, so that Obelisk the Tormentor can return to my hands!

Then, he watched the two security officers extend their hands, link them together, bow down, with extremely respectful expressions…

"Ah ah, we'll get going then, sorry to bother! You carry on, you carry on!"

Then, the two security officers, like little chicks, immediately turned around, hopped on their motorcycles, and fled the scene as if flying.

Malik, watching from afar: …

You Tian: …

There's no helping it! Lord Malik, the man was so polite telling us to scram—surely we can't fail to read the room, right?

Exactly, exactly! The man treated us with courtesy, so we can't fail to read the room, can we?

Malik was practically driven mad with rage.

"Dammit! Dammit!!!"

At the airship.

"Thank you very much for the rescue!"

You Tian sincerely thanked Seto Kaiba.

Faced with You Tian's thanks, Kaiba showed no particular reaction.

Kawai, carrying a suitcase behind him, waved at You Tian as a greeting.

Kaiba studied You Tian carefully.

"You arrived quite early."

You Tian was momentarily stunned.

"Hmm?"

"Oh, my luck was decent—I won a few Duels in a row and gathered enough chips, so I came a bit earlier."

A faint smile curled at the corner of Kaiba's mouth.

Suddenly, without a word, he deployed his Duel Disk.

"Then, since there's still plenty of time, let's have a Duel!"

You Tian:???

Kawai: "Nii-sama?"

Malik in the distance: Oh? A good show?

"No!"

Unexpectedly, You Tian very decisively refused Kaiba's proposal.

Am I some kind of born card-game enchantress? Why does everyone want to play a round with me?

I've already collected 6 chips, I'm beat after a whole day—the optimal choice is to get on the airship and have a nice long sleep.

Otherwise, in tomorrow's finals, how am I supposed to snatch the Three Phantom Gods?

Besides, Seto Kaiba is one of the top powerhouses in DM—dueling him in my current state, if I lost, wouldn't that be dying before the campaign even begins?

Saying so, You Tian turned his head toward the airship's passenger stairs.

Kaiba frowned slightly.

"Relax, this Duel won't stake any chips or the Raya card—it's purely that I want to test myself against you."

You Tian turned his head back.

"No!"

That's even more reason not to duel! If I win, I don't get the feet card; if I lose, I get dissed—so what's the point of fighting him?

Seeing this, Kaiba frowned again.

Then, as if he had thought of something.

"Hmph hahahaha, Kaiba Corporation's computers have already checked—you're an unregistered Duelist!"

"You were also present when Game dueled 【Osiris the Sky Dragon】. Now, I have reason to believe that you are the leader of the Gurus—Malik!"

"Therefore, I have the authority to ban you from Duel City!"

Malik in the distance:!

You Tian:!?

No, brother, how can you wrong an innocent man like this!

Kawai behind them was also feeling very puzzled.

Given his brother's personality, he wouldn't care about a contestant's identity.

All his brother cared about was whether the opponent possessed sufficient strength.

Besides, no matter how you look at it, the guy across from him doesn't look like Malik at all.

Why does Big Brother have to use this baseless excuse to get the guy across from him to play cards with him?

Oh, the card craving kicked in, did it?

Kawai suddenly understood, and he shook his head helplessly.

Big Brother didn't get to play cards with Game today, and the other Duelists didn't satisfy him either, so the card craving kicking in is only natural.

Still, can the guy in front of him actually satisfy Big Brother?

You Tian figured it out too.

Holy crap, truly worthy of being DM's number one card-craving king! Isn't this just looking for trouble on purpose?

At some unknown point, You Tian's two spirits popped out and began watching the show from the side.

However, if the spirits don't wish to show themselves, only You Tian can see and hear them. So there's no worry about the science-worshipping Kaiba across the way making a fuss.

Niu Tounren: "Looks like you're pretty hated, huh~"

Dark Necrofear: "Master, you definitely aren't Malik! I saw Malik when I was with the Gurus, and that guy was even uglier than you, Master!"

"Ah, no, I mean, Master, you're not as ugly as him!"

"Ah, no no no, I mean, he was way uglier than you, Master!"

The two spirits' snarky remarks once again made You Tian's eyelid twitch.

He rolled his eyes, stepped forward, and slapped his hands together.

"I'm innocent, President!"

"How could I possibly be Malik?"

"Malik is said to be a guy with three faces, hideous and terrifying in appearance. Look at me—so handsome! How could I possibly be that ugly bastard?"

Dark Necrofear at the side hurriedly chimed in: "Exactly exactly, how could Master possibly be an ugly bastard like that?"

"Eh? Master, the appearance you described feels really familiar to me."

Malik in the distance:?????

Not even close, bro? I'm this far away and you can still trash-talk me?

However, Kaiba was completely unmoved by You Tian's explanation.

"Words are useless! If you want to prove yourself, then have a Duel with me! Between Duelists, cards should do the talking!"

Damn!

You Tian despaired.

Today's President is dead set on playing cards with him.

Sigh, what kind of situation is this!

He helplessly unfolded his Duel Disk.

Duel! ×2

Kaiba: "I'll go first! Draw Phase!"

Kaiba gave a light snort.

"I Summon 【X-Head Cannon】 in Attack Position!"

【Attack Power: 1800】

"Set Card two cards, end my turn!"

Actually, Kaiba wanting to have this Duel was partly because his card craving kicked in, and partly because he was also interested in this Duelist who'd popped up from who knows where.

When Game was being suppressed by the combo of 【Slifer the Sky Dragon】 and 【Infinite Cards】 and fell into a disadvantage, the guy in front of him had actually seen Game's path to victory one step ahead of him.

If that was just a coincidence, then now this guy had also managed to gather the chips one step ahead of him and arrive at the Airship. Then the Duel strength of the person before him was very likely no less than his own!

If, besides Game, there could be another person in the world who was a match for him, that would really be too exciting!

So, I must confirm the opponent's strength here!

"Hehehehehaha, come on, let me see your strength!"

You Tian was speechless.

Confessed without being pressed! All that talk about suspecting I'm Malik was just an excuse for your card craving!

Forget it forget it, let's just treat it as a pre-bed workout.

You Tian let out a helpless sigh.

"My turn, Draw Phase."

He looked at his hand and squinted slightly.

Since President, you insist on a Duel, then I can only let you witness the terror of my "Niu Tounren · Kai" deck!

(The following is an off-field brain-teaser skit)

【Many years later, the successful Pegasus, watching the Duel world fully enter the Fusion era, couldn't help but sigh to You Tian.】

【Pegasus: I really can't figure it out, Fusion Summoning loses so many cards, what's so good about it? Don't get it, really can't figure it out.】

【You Tian turned around: What about Ritual?】

【Hearing these words, Pegasus grew slightly flustered.】

【You Tian: Why... why would anyone use Ritual.】

【Pegasus: Where there's a buyer, there's a seller.】

【Fusion also loses cards, and people still use it.】

【Did I do any promotion? I didn't!】

【It's not like I tempted them into using it! I didn't!】

【They chose it themselves, what's it got to do with me?】

【It's fundamentally their own fault!】

【You Tian: Oh~ so that batch of Ritual Demons and Evil Ritualist series about to be published, I'll order production to stop right now, alright?】

【Pegasus: ……】