Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

Chapter 1215 has a really high degree of fidelity.

"Magic Card, [Transport Robot Link Zone] activated!"

After inserting a card into the Spell & Trap Zone, Marufuji Sho revealed the card in his hand and said, "The effect of this card is: send the Fusion Material Monsters specified on the 'Transporter' Fusion Monster Card from your hand or field to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster from your Fusion Deck!"

"I send the three 'Mech' monsters from my hand—'Steam Robot,' 'Drill Robot,' and 'Submarine Robot'—to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon my ace monster!"

The drill bit was mounted at the front of the submarine, powered by a high-output steam engine. The monster summoned by Marufuji Sho caused Jaden, who was watching from the sidelines, to exclaim in surprise: "Isn't this 'Undersea Battleship Gotengo'? The accuracy is really high."

"It's not some 'Skybreaker,' it's the [Super Transportation Robot - Giant Drill]!"

Upon hearing Jaden's words, Marufuji Sho quickly corrected him, placing the Fusion Monster Card on the Duel Disk. Meanwhile, the "Super Transporter - Giant Drill" on the field blinked its big eyes to prove that it was not some sci-fi warship from a tokusatsu show, but rather a chibi-style character.

[Super Transportation Robot - Giant Drill] [8 stars/land]

[Mechanical Race/Fusion/Effect]

[3000/2000]

Opposite Marufuji Sho, a student wearing a yellow dormitory uniform looked at the monster Marufuji Sho had fused with and said disdainfully, "Muda muda muda! Fusion summoning without my permission is not allowed! Chain Fusion Summon of [Super Transport Robot - Giant Drill], open my back row face-down card!"

"Trap Card [Fusion Removal Device]: Destroy the face-up Fusion Monster on the field!"

Upon hearing the line spoken by the student from the yellow dormitory, Judai scratched his cheek and said somewhat subtly, "That's strange, why does that person's line sound so familiar?"

"Because Kagurazaka's role model today is Principal Hayato."

"Manjoume?" Judai looked at the boy speaking beside him in surprise. "You're here too? What a coincidence."

"I was the first one here, so I should be the one saying that." Without turning around, Manjoume corrected him, looking at Kagurazaka and Marufuji Sho who were dueling, "There's one more thing—it's about you, Mr. Manjoume!"

"Got it, Lightning~" Jaden said with a grin, and looked into the arena as well, "I came here because there were so many people. As soon as I arrived, I saw Sho dueling with that guy named Kagurazaka. So what's going on? And what's the meaning of Kagurazaka imitating Hayato-san?"

"Ask people questions one by one. Do you think I'm some kind of search engine that answers every question?" Despite his impatient tone, Manjoume still answered Judai's questions one by one.

While the exchange selection competition was in full swing these past few days, taking advantage of the fact that exchange students from other colleges were also at the main campus, Duel Academy held an exhibition for all teachers and students. However, the exhibits were not the usual technological exhibits or antiques, but the decks of the legendary duelist, one of the two Duel Kings of Duel Kingdom, the current chief card designer of the International Illusion Society, and a genius game producer, Yugi Muto.

Although what is on display is only an early deck composed of cards from Yugi Muto's entire collection, roughly at the level of his Duel Kingdom era, it is still a classic deck built by a legendary duelist based on his understanding of Duel Monsters. Even without the "Sky Dragon of Osiris" that was once included in Yugi Muto's deck during Duel City, it is still worth seeing.

However, although the exhibition will be open to all teachers and students and will last for three days, meaning that almost everyone can visit if they want, there is no need to rush. But the experience of visiting when there are many people is absolutely different from that of visiting when there are few people.

Putting aside other issues, once there are many people, even if you are interested in a card and want to take a closer look, you will probably be pushed and shoved by the crowd and have to move forward to look at other cards. The "visit" to carefully appreciate each card will only become a "whirlwind tour" of "browsing".

This is why Marufuji Sho is dueling with Kagurazaka, the student from the yellow dormitory. Although the exhibition itself is free, the academy offers "advance admission tickets," allowing holders to enter several tens of minutes before the official opening time for an undisturbed experience. At the Duel Academy's shop, there's an unclaimed "advance admission ticket," and Kagurazaka and Marufuji Sho are going to fight over it.

As for what Manjoume said about "imitation"...

"The duels that Kagurazaka excels at are a variation of data duels, imitation duels." Misawa, who was also watching the duels at the convenience store, had somehow walked up to Jaden and answered for him on behalf of Manjoume. As a fellow student of the Yellow Dormitory, he knew Kagurazaka much better than Manjoume. "The specific form of it is that he uses the same deck and plays the same combo as the one he is imitating."

"Kagurazaka's talent lies in his ability to replicate the target's deck almost 99% accurately by understanding their clothing, hairstyle, and even verbal tics, and by using a deck that is as close to the target's as possible. I remember during the entrance exam, Kagurazaka used a Dragon deck that was a copy of the legendary duelist Seto Kaiba's deck without Blue-Eyes, and defeated the proctor in an OTK."

"I see, no wonder he talks like Hayato." Jaden tapped his fist against his palm and said with a sudden realization, "Thanks, No.3."

While Jaden and the others were talking, the duel continued. Kagurazaka's [Fusion Removal Device] was also successfully activated, releasing a special capture field that only targets fusion monsters and locking onto Marufuji Sho's [Super Transport Robot - Giant Drill].

However, after the [Fusion Removal Device] was used up and left the field, he discovered that Marufuji Sho's [Super Transportation Robot - Giant Drill] on the field had somehow pulled out a handkerchief and was wiping the dust off its body, completely unaffected by the [Fusion Removal Device]?

"Hmph, as a Fusion Spell Card exclusive to [Transport Robot], [Transport Robot Link Zone] has a particularly powerful effect. That is, [Transport Robot] Fusion Summoned with [Transport Robot Link Zone] will gain resistance to being destroyed by card effects and its effects will not be negated."

"What?! So that means my [Skill Drain] skill won't work on it either?!"

Seeing Kagurazaka's surprised expression, Marufuji Sho said smugly, "That's right, because the resistance of [Super Transport Robot - Giant Drill] does not come from itself but is granted by the [Transport Robot Connection Zone]. Even the [Skill Extraction] that was activated earlier cannot take effect on it."

"Then, the effect of [Super Transport Robot - Giant Drill] is defense penetration. When it attacks a [Disruption - Yellow] with 3000 attack power, it can deal 2000 penetration damage to you!"

"I currently have 2000 base points left, which is just enough to clear my base points!?"

"That's it!" Marufuji Sho exclaimed excitedly, pumping his fist. "Now, let's enter my battle phase! Attack! [Super Transport Robot - Giant Drill]! Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann!"

In an attempt to emulate the Duelist King Hayato Kobayashi, Kagurazaka added "Disruption Yellow" to his deck. Even though he successfully replicated this exceptionally complex deck, the strength he displayed could only be described as "humorous," and he was even less impressive than Sho Marufuji.

Under the attack of the [Super Transport Robot - Giant Drill], which was neither destroyed nor had its effects nullified, the [Disruption - Yellow] on Kagurazaka's field was destroyed and pierced, and its Life Points were also cleared.

Originally feeling inferior, Marufuji Sho never expected that he could actually defeat the top student from the Yellow Dormitory. Confident because of his victory, he took the "advance tour ticket" handed to him by Aunt Tomie from the convenience store and casually said to Kagurazaka, "I'll take this ticket, don't blame me."

"Oh right, and this line too." Standing with his feet apart, Marufuji Sho raised his right index and middle fingers and swept them across his face. "I won! What an interesting duel!"

"Well done, Sho! That fusion was pretty cool." Seeing his friend win the duel, Jaden patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction. "Now you can enter the arena earlier, right? I remember that Mr. Yugi's deck has the [Dark Magician Girl] that you've been longing for."

However, Judai saw that Marufuji Sho did not put the ticket away, but instead handed it to him.

"Hehe, it's not mine. This one is actually yours, big brother. I actually got another trial ticket from somewhere else before." As if afraid that Jaden wouldn't believe him, Marufuji Sho even took out the ticket he had obtained before to show Jaden. "Big brother, don't you also want to see the monsters in Mr. Yugi's deck?"

Looking at the tickets handed to him by Marufuji Sho, Jaden couldn't bring himself to say, "Manjoume actually got five tickets and was planning to give three to our dorm." He didn't tell Marufuji Sho that he also had tickets, but accepted his kindness. After all, these were tickets that Marufuji Sho had worked hard to obtain through his duels, and he couldn't let him down.

As for the three coupons I have, I'll give one to Maeda, and as for the two extra trial coupons, since Manjoume said he would also give one to him at a 60% discount, there aren't many people I can give them to. I might as well give one to Caesar and one to Asuka.

Misawa, who had also received a ticket from Manjoume, thanked him. Upon hearing the address "Mr. Manjoume," Manjoume suddenly became very easy to talk to, and left alone with a smug look on his face, secretly enjoying himself somewhere. Misawa didn't care and walked to Kagurazaka's side not far away, saying, "Don't worry about it, everyone has their bad luck sometimes."

He had just overheard many of the students watching mocking Kagurazaka for losing, especially to a poor student from the Red Dorm. They even said contemptuously that if Kagurazaka continued like this, he would probably be demoted to the Red Dorm and end up with the poor students. Misawa, who had high hopes for this student who had performed well upon entering the school, was worried that Kagurazaka would be affected by the comments of others, so he came to comfort him.

However, to Misawa's surprise, Kagurazaka was not only affected, but after Misawa comforted him, he became even more agitated: "Shut up, you bastard! What do you know, someone who can enter Obelisk Blue at any time!"

With that, Kagurazaka pushed through the crowd and ran away, seemingly heading back to her dorm.

Being able to offer a word of comfort was already the greatest help Misawa could give to a classmate he didn't usually interact with. He didn't necessarily have to go over and help Kagurazaka, but instead shrugged at Judai and the others with a helpless expression.

Not far across from the convenience store, in a spot unnoticed by many students, Hayato shook his head in disappointment: "So this is all? It didn't even capture my dueling style properly. Not to mention the current me, even the me from Duel City back then couldn't imitate it. It's barely at the level before Duel Kingdom?"

"In the end, isn't it because your deck has too many variations, Hayato? Even if someone wanted to imitate it, no one could replicate every single one of your decks. In the end, the only deck that could be imitated was the one you had before Duel Kingdom." Jonouchi said, gesturing as he spoke. "If 100 points is the maximum, I feel that boy has already achieved 90 points. It's just that he didn't have those rare cards in your deck, which is why he couldn't replicate it perfectly."

"But then again, why does he always touch his hair with his hand when he's imitating you?"

"Probably because he doesn't know my hair gel hand move. Heh heh, this is a skill I gained by sacrificing my double jump ability." As he spoke, Hayato reached up and brushed his hair, causing his long black hair to stand up as if it had been coated with hair gel.

"No, humans don't know how to double jump, do they?"

While complaining, Jonouchi glanced at the clock on the wall and said, "It's about time, shouldn't we go?"

Although the exhibition of Yugi Muto's deck doesn't officially start until tomorrow, that doesn't mean the deck won't arrive until tomorrow. Otherwise, would the students who used advance tickets get up early just to go to an empty exhibition hall to see nothing? Actually, the deck arrived on the island today, and before it starts, someone needs to place each card in its corresponding exhibition area for easy viewing.

Hayato and Jonouchi also made a special trip to the Duel Academy's island pier to wait for the ship carrying the card decks to arrive.

Compared to the small passenger ship that Jonouchi and Mai took when they arrived on the island, the ship that docked this time was much larger. In addition to transporting game decks, it also served as a cargo ship, transporting a large amount of supplies, including new card packs from the International Illusion Society, to the island.

The cabin door opened, the gangway was fixed to the dock, and a young man stepped out of the cabin. He smiled at Jonouchi and Hayato, who were waving at him from the dock, and greeted them, "It's been a long time, Jonouchi and Hayato."

Her long hair, in shades of gold, black, and purple, swayed in the sea breeze at the dock, stubbornly maintaining its starfish-like shape instead of becoming disheveled.

Chapter 1216 Deck? Card Dump!

Dark clouds obscured the moonlight, casting a shadow over the Duel Academy headquarters.

"Wow, the legendary duelist Yugi Muto's deck is being exhibited on the island! Even I never imagined this day would come. The principal's connections are truly extensive!"

Holding the keychain handed to him, and watching the staff leave, Professor Chronos put his finger into the keychain and twirled it, looking quite pleased with himself.

Although Yugi Muto's deck was set up by the staff, the key to the only main entrance to the exhibition hall was kept by Professor Chronos. Until the exhibition officially opens tomorrow morning, no one else can enter the exhibition hall through the main entrance without Professor Chronos's permission.

This is both to ensure fairness and prevent anyone from sneaking in first, and to prevent the theft of those important cards.

Shaking the key in his hand, Professor Chronos turned to go back to the Blue Dormitory to get some rest so he could be there on time to host the exhibition opening the next day. But after taking only two steps, he suddenly stopped.

"Students from the other four branch campuses are also participating in this exhibition. The official start time is 8:00 AM tomorrow. No matter how much I look forward to it, as a professor, I can only wait with my students."

Professor Chronos turned around on the spot, a smile suddenly appearing on his face, as if he had thought of an interesting idea. "If I have to wait, then of course I have no choice but to wait. However, if I have to wait until tomorrow morning, the best place would be outside the exhibition hall, wouldn't it?"

Returning via the passageway to the Blue Dormitory, Professor Chronos walked along the fork in the road leading to the exhibition hall. Looking around to make sure no one was nearby, he tiptoed towards the closed exhibition hall door, muttering to himself, "For the time being, I can't even get my eyes close to the keyhole, okay?"

Looking through the keyhole into the exhibition hall, it was obvious that there was no one inside. After all, the school staff had locked the door and handed me the key only after everyone had left.

In other words, even if he were to sneak in and inspect the legendary duelist Yugi Muto's deck beforehand, no one would notice. Professor Chronos couldn't help but excitedly shout, "Eccelso!"

However, the moment Professor Chronos finished speaking, he suddenly heard a sound of breaking glass coming from inside the exhibition hall. If he hadn't been standing in front of the door, he wouldn't have even heard the noise. He looked into the keyhole again in surprise.

Then he discovered that the exhibition hall, which had been empty just moments before, had suddenly been filled with a person who had a scarf wrapped around his neck and covered most of his face. This person was using his elbow to smash the glass of the display case and reaching inside to take the cards that were neatly arranged!

"A thief?! This is outrageous! I haven't even seen those cards yet!" Professor Chronos excitedly grabbed the key and was about to open the door. Although he didn't know who the thief was, there was no doubt that he was stealing the valuable exhibit deck, so he had to catch the thief quickly!

However, the more tense the situation, the more likely one is to make a mistake. Professor Chronos, who had been skillfully twirling the key just moments before, was now like one of those idiots in a horror movie who was cornered and couldn't get the key into the lock no matter what he tried to do. He just couldn't get the key into the lock. After all, he didn't just have one key, but a whole bunch of keys. In addition to the key to the front door, the keys to the display cases inside were also on this key bunch.

After Professor Chronos finally figured out which key was the key to the main gate, he pushed open the door only to find that the thief had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only shards of glass everywhere.

He rushed into the exhibition hall, only to find that both the round display case in the center, which held the most valuable rare cards, and the display cases around the hall, which held combo cards, were in complete disarray. Not a single card was left; the thief had packed them all up and taken them away!

"Mamma mia!"

"Ah, Professor Chronos?!"

Just as Professor Chronos was in a panic, he suddenly heard someone calling his name. Before the open door stood six people: Jaden Yuki, Sho Marufuji, Hayato Maeda, Jun Manjoume, Daichi Misawa, and Asuka Tenjouin—all of whom hadn't slept and had come to the exhibition hall to witness the horrific scene inside!

There are so many shards of glass on the ground.

"The display cases are all broken?"

"And we can't see the cards that should have been displayed here..."

"Then, Professor Chronos appeared here."

"And he had a 'Oh no, I've been caught' look on his face."

The group, each offering a comment, all looked at Professor Chronos with suspicious eyes. Jaden's concluding remark made him break out in a cold sweat: "Ah, could it be—?"

"We need to tell the others right away."

As they spoke, they all turned to run, but Professor Chronos shouted, "No! That's not how it is, nono!"

As he spoke, he lunged forward and grabbed the feet of the others, preventing them from leaving, and frantically explained, "Don't tell the principal!"

"If things get out of hand, I'll have to take a lot of responsibility, noonae!"

"That's why we need to hurry." "If Principal Kobayashi finds out..." "Professor, you'll probably get expelled, won't you?"

"I already said it wasn't me." Hearing what Misawa, Maeda, and Marufuji Sho said, Professor Chronos was almost speechless with his explanation. He could only shake his head and deny it, "I didn't steal it, it wasn't me."

However, Jaden had a strange expression on his face: "Wasn't it obvious from the beginning? Because if you wanted to steal the card, teacher, you could have just used the key to open it, right?"

"Y-yes." Upon hearing this, Chronos belatedly realized that he had the key and was not really a suspect.

"If we retrieve the card before the exhibition starts tomorrow, things won't escalate." Manjoume pulled a deerstalker hat from somewhere and put it on his head. "Tracking! Extinguishing! I'm the one who arrests the culprit, Mr. Manjoume!"

"Don't worry, I'll help too." Asuka patted her well-developed pectoral muscles. "After all, there are some places that you guys might not be suited to search."

"The most important thing is to look for clues first." Misawa looked at Professor Chronos. "Teacher, have you seen what the thief looks like before?"

Professor Chronos nodded subconsciously, then shook his head: "Although I saw the thief, the guy covered his face so I couldn't see what he looked like at all. I could only see that his hair was standing up like this, and that he had a golden inverted triangle on his chest."