Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"Café hot sauce!" Hayato only had time to throw out his deck of cards. As he watched the cards scatter across the sky, several silver lights shot towards Shadi. He leaned back as far as he could to delay being stabbed.

Unfortunately, Shadi's movements were too fast. Hayato's upper body leaned back less than 10 degrees before he was struck by the Millennium Key, which has the ability to open minds.

The power of the Millennium Wisdom Wheel was passively activated, but in addition to the Millennium Key, Shadi also held a Millennium Balance Scale. The power of balance precisely intercepted the dark magic of the Millennium Wisdom Wheel, balancing the magic of the two Millennium Artifacts, one dark and one light.

[Gaia] attached itself to his original card—[Dark Knight - Gaia]—and thrust out its lance along the trajectory of the card, seemingly about to strike Shadi. However, at the very moment of contact, [Gaia]'s card passed through Shadi's body without any resistance, without touching anything at all, as if Shadi were a ghost!

Upon closer inspection, Gaia and his friends were dumbfounded—Shadi was nowhere to be seen in the room. Apart from Hayato, who had suddenly fallen back asleep on the bed, the only unusual thing in the room was the scattered card deck on the floor.

Where did that guy named "Shadi" go?

————Mr. Xia comes and goes quickly————

“I am the storm that is approaching!!!”

As the catchy Jackpot music started playing, Hayato answered the phone: "Who the hell is disturbing my sleep?!"

After saying that, Hayato suddenly felt something was off: "Hmm, why do I feel like I just said that?"

"Ah, Hayato-kun, are you still sleeping? Sorry." The sound of a game came from the phone.

Hayato sat up in bed, only to find himself wearing a jacket over his pajamas, looking rather odd. "Um, nothing. I just had a dream that Pegasus called and woke me up. Is something wrong, the game?"

"Oh, it's like this. Last night, Kaiba announced that the 'Duel City' tournament would be held in Domino City in six days, and Jonouchi wanted to participate. However, to participate in the Duel City tournament, you need the Duel Disks that Kaiba Group just released, so Jonouchi is planning to check out the prices of the Duel Disks."

"I understand, so you're asking me to go shopping at the card stores nearby, right?" Hayato changed his clothes while keeping the call going, and suddenly noticed that his card deck was neatly arranged on the bedside table.

"That old bastard Shadi sneaked into my room and attacked me. Why would I have such a strange dream?" Hayato muttered to himself as he spoke into the phone. "Wait ten minutes, I'll be right there. See you then."

"Okay, see you then, Hayato-kun."

After hanging up the phone, Hayato glanced at the Rainbow Kuriboh that had popped out of the deck and greeted it, "Hey Aibo, nothing strange happened before, right?"

"Kuri, kuri, kuri kuri~" A smile appeared on Rainbow Kuriboh's face, though it was somewhat forced. Hayato didn't notice, and nodded easily. "Hmm, it really was a dream. But speaking of which, that dream was too real, and why was it Pegasus and Shady in the dream? Why wasn't it Miss Isis?"

Muttering to himself, Hayato headed towards the washroom. Because of this, he missed seeing [Disruptor Yellow] sneaking out of the deck to report him, and [Gaia] physically silencing [Disruptor Yellow] and dragging it back into the deck along with its four brothers.

"Sigh, why didn't you tell the master?" [Sky Magician] watched the scene with a smile, his eyes narrowing as he laughed. "Gaia-san, you were probably one of the first to follow the master, weren't you?"

"This is not the time to inform my lord." Gaia rolled her eyes at Sky Magician, who was watching the show from the sidelines. After stuffing the Disruption brothers back into the deck, she tidied up the deck, which had become a little crooked because of their struggle.

After Hayato's card deck fell to the ground, he and Rainbow Kuriboh picked it up one by one and arranged it neatly. They also helped Hayato adjust his sleeping position while he was lying on the bed.

They witnessed Shadi disappear after stabbing Hayato with the Millennium Key, and they also saw Shadi, covered in sweat, emerge from Hayato's body. His previously lifeless eyes unexpectedly showed terror, and Shadi kept muttering words like "sun" and "dragon."

Forced by Gaia, who was lying in wait outside, Shadi reluctantly told Gaia and the others what information he knew, but demanded that Gaia and the other card spirits not reveal the information to anyone else, especially Hayato himself.

Of course, Gaia and the others obediently did as instructed, but the Disruptive Monsters, who had also overheard the information, became restless. Always eager to stir up trouble, they had just managed to work together without revealing the information to Hayato.

'Was what Shadi said true?' Gaia silently returned to the card, watching Hayato's retreating figure. Usually a man of few words, he always helped Hayato with actions, but this time, the usually action-oriented Gaia chose inaction. 'The inner world of the Fourth Layer?'

Meanwhile, the Sky Magician sat gleefully at a nearby table, tapping his fingers to the beat and humming an unknown tune: 'Ordinary people only have one layer of the heart, even that nameless pharaoh and dwarf duo only have two. My master, with your four layers of inner world, what kind of person are you?'

Unaware of the spirits' individual thoughts, Hayato washed up, grabbed his card deck, and left home. After walking for a few minutes, he arrived at the Kame-Ki Game House. Jonouchi and the others were sitting on chairs in front of the door. Upon seeing Hayato, Jonouchi greeted him, "Hey, Hayato, you're sleeping so late? Are you a pig?"

“On a rare day off, only idiots get up early,” Hayato replied with a laugh, then raised his left hand to show Jonouchi his Duel Disk. “Besides, unlike some people, I already have my own Duel Disk.”

"You've been showing off that thing for almost a month now!" Jonouchi waved his hand dismissively. "It's just a Duel Disk. Even I, Jonouchi-sama, can get my hands on it today. That trick won't work on me."

"I heard that this time, Haima Group is spending even more money than International Illusion Society, and the entire final eight will be broadcast live," Yugi said with a smile.

Honda patted Jonouchi on the shoulder: "Hasn't someone always wanted to be on TV? Here's your chance~"

"Heh heh heh, after a month of intensive training, and with all the card packs I've saved up for so long, my deck is completely different now. This time in Duel City, I'm going to win every single time!" Jonouchi imagined himself beating Kaiba and Pegasus in the future, a lewd smile spreading across his face.

In front of the sealed card shop, Hayato looked at Jonouchi, who was in a state of OTZ, and remarked, "Well, it seems that someone's dream of becoming the new Duel King has been nipped in the bud."

Chapter 231 The Second Way to Obtain the Duel Disk...

Hayato and Kaiba raided a Gluth outpost disguised as a card shop yesterday, and a nearby card shop was subsequently sealed off. This was hardly a coincidence, as Hayato had specifically sought out this particular card shop.

If Hayato hadn't asked Kaiba to shut down the card shop, Jonouchi and Yugi would have come there to collect their Duel Disks according to the original plan. Given Kaiba's twisted sense of humor in assigning Jonouchi his ranking, he shouldn't have been able to get a Duel Disk at all. However, due to the shopkeeper's manipulation, Jonouchi's ranking was temporarily changed, and he received the Duel Disk.

However, that's not a good thing, because the shopkeeper is actually Gurus himself, and he's not helping Jonouchi out of kindness, but because he's after that rare card in Jonouchi's deck—[Red-Eyes Black Dragon]. He'll be targeted and defeated by a Gurus rare card hunter, lose [Red-Eyes], and remain depressed.

That's how it should have been.

However, Hayato nipped that possibility in the bud.

"But this is the only card shop around here." Kyoko flipped through the map of Domino City saved on her phone. "Besides this one, the nearest one is five kilometers away."

"That's too far. By the time we get there, the Duel Disks will probably be sold out." Honda estimated the travel time. "We were just taking our time because we live so close to home."

Just as the group was puzzled, Hayato pointed to a corner of the street and said, "I think there are Duel Disks over there that you can get."

"Huh? Isn't this the only card shop around here certified by the Kaiba Group?" Jonouchi looked in the direction Hayato was pointing with some doubt and found that there was indeed a banner hanging next to a stall on the side of the street. It had many small words written on it, but the three words "Duel Disk" were printed in the largest font.

"Hello, is it true that we can buy Duel Disks here?"

A young boy, looking bored, was lying in front of a stall under a banner. Using his height to his advantage, he approached the child and asked a question.

The little boy didn't even look up, fiddling with a monster Lungmen Dice figurine in his hand, and said weakly, "Yes, yes, yes, there are Duel Disks here, they're genuine Kaiba Corporation Duel Disks, and they're free."

As he spoke, he looked up at the game with some impatience: "Honestly, the conditions are all written down right there, why do you keep asking, asking, asking? I'm going to be the next Duel King, why am I being sent to do this kind of thing every day..."

As he spoke, the boy's voice grew weaker and weaker, his jaw agape as he stared at Yugi and Hayato with astonishment: "Y-you-you-you, you are the Duel King?! Yugi Muto, and Mr. Hayato Kobayashi!"

Having shaken off his previous tired look, the little boy quickly pulled out paper and pen from the table and placed them in front of the stall, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the two of them.

Meanwhile, Jonouchi looked at the five or six-year-old boy in front of him with some dissatisfaction: "What? I'm also one of the top four players in Duel Kingdom, so why can't anyone recognize me?"

"You, you must be Jonouchi Katsuya, right?" To Jonouchi's surprise, the little boy actually called out his name. "The top four players of Duel Kingdom, judging from your appearance, you shouldn't be Samejima Iemitsu, so you must be Jonouchi Katsuya, right?"

Just moments ago, Honda had a displeased expression, but after hearing the little boy's words, when he turned to look at Jonouchi beside him again, he found that the smug guy was now standing with his hands in his pockets, striking a cool pose like a peerless master, and saying to the little boy:

"Alas, I was seen through after all. That's right, I am none other than Joey Wheeler, one of the top four duelists of the Duel Kingdom, the legendary duelist who brought the Duel King a grueling battle. Young man, my autograph won't be available after that time!"

To everyone's surprise, the little boy rolled his eyes at Jonouchi: "Who would want your autograph? Except for the first place, everyone else is last. If my brother didn't keep mentioning you, a top-four contestant like you, nobody would remember your name!"

"You annoying brat!" Jonouchi's usual attempt to show off failed. He never expected that the fan he thought he had was actually the one who looked down on him the most, and that his rhetoric was exactly the same as Rebecca's.

If it weren't for the fact that the kid in front of him had black hair and spoke fluent Japanese, Jonouchi would have really thought he was Rebecca's younger brother.

"Hahaha, that's hilarious, Jonouchi, hahahaha." Jonouchi's good friend Honda mocked him from the side, "That expression you just made, it's such a pity I didn't bring my camera, otherwise I would definitely have taken a picture and enjoyed it, hahahaha."

"Honda, you bastard!" Jonouchi slapped Honda hard on the shoulder, looking very angry, but after so many years of friendship, Honda knew Jonouchi well and wasn't afraid of him at all, continuing to smile.

The little boy glanced at Honda again: "You're Honda? Hmph, just like my brother said. You're just like Jonouchi, an idiot and a fool."

"You brat!" Now it was Honda who was angry. Jonouchi, of course, wouldn't miss the chance to mock him back, but he didn't realize that the little boy's words had still insulted him.

Honda said irritably, "You're really annoying. And who is your brother anyway? Don't let me catch him."

"Hmph, Honda, you idiot, so what if I'm standing right in front of you?" A familiar voice came from behind them, and a familiar arrogant smiling face appeared in their line of sight.

"It's you!?"

His usual blue school uniform was gone, replaced by a navy blue suit. Holding two cups of milk tea, he placed them on the table and proudly tossed his bangs aside: "It's me, Honda Hiro. What's wrong? Do you have a problem with my assessment of you?"

"I have a lot to say about this." Honda clenched his fist in annoyance, his knuckles cracking.

But Manjoume Masaji was not afraid of Honda's threat of force at all, and said contemptuously, "Hmph, vulgar fellow. Only barbarians like you would solve everything with force these days."

With that, Manjoume Seiji raised his left hand, and a duel disk plated in gold appeared before them: "Look closely, you commoners, this is a duel disk issued by the Kaiba Corporation, I bet none of you have ever seen one before—"

Seeing that Hayato and Yugi were wearing two Duel Disks that, while not gold, were of a higher grade than his own, Manjoume Masashi decisively changed the subject: "The most popular thing right now is to use Duel Disks to play Duel Monsters. This is the best way to resolve most conflicts!"

"Tch, who would want to duel a newbie like you?" Jonouchi said disdainfully, pointing his thumb to his chest. "I'm one of the top four players in Duel Kingdom. According to Kaiba's rules, even if I'm not the absolute best, I should at least meet the requirements for obtaining a Duel Disk."

"Hehe, you remind me of something quite interesting, Jonouchi." Manjoume Masaji suddenly laughed as if he had remembered something amusing. "You probably don't know this, but because the Manjoume Group and Kaiba Group had a very pleasant collaboration on the last duel arena order, the duel disks this time are also produced by the Manjoume Group."

"While I was entering the data, I was bored and took a look at the duelist rankings defined by the Kaiba Corporation. Jonouchi, do you even know what your ranking is?"

"There are 12 stars in total, and you are actually the lowest level, 1 star. Moreover, unlike others who only have a level, you even have the suffix 'mortal bone'. Even my younger brother, who is only an elementary school student, is stronger than you, hahaha."

Jonouchi was taken aback at first, but then immediately understood what was going on: "That bastard Kaiba!"

If someone were a hacker, they wouldn't have the time or inclination to tamper with the database just to humiliate Jonouchi. So the only explanation is that it's a case of Hikvision's twisted sense of humor.

"With a level of only 1☆, you don't even qualify to buy a Duel Disk, let alone get one for free. By the way, my Duel Disk level is exactly LV6." As he spoke, Manjoume Masashi shook the Duel Disk in his hand.

The reflected light dazzled his eyes, and Hayato looked speechlessly at Manjoume's younger brother, who was asking him for an autograph: "You've had it tough, Manjoume-kun."

"Mr. Hayato, I'm already five years old. Don't treat me like a three or four-year-old brat. Also, I have a name. My name is Jun Banjou. Please remember this name, Mr. Hayato, because I will defeat you and become the next Duel King!"

“Manjoume Jun, hmm, I’ve memorized that name.” Hayato nodded with a smile, confirming that the brat in front of him was indeed the “one, ten, hundred, thousand” Manjoume Lightning from the future GX. However, the current “Mr. Manjoume” was just a brat.

"However, defeating me won't be easy." Hayato stroked Jun's hair. "Your brother said you also have a Duelist rank?"

"Heh heh, don't be too surprised when I tell you, Mr. Hayato." Jun Banjou said with a hint of pride, "I defeated countless guys older than me to win second place in the All-Domino City Elementary School Duelist Tournament."

"So, my duelist rank is 3☆." Manjoume complained, somewhat annoyed. "It's all that jellyfish-head's fault, I was just 1☆ away from participating in Duel City. It was such a rare opportunity to duel without studying..."

"Do you really enjoy dueling?" Jun Manjoume looked very downcast. Hayato wondered if this was one of the reasons why he had been so dejected and slumped over the table earlier.

"Yeah, duels are super fun, aren't they? And after winning a duel, a lot of girls admire me."

"Haha, you little rascal, I didn't expect you to get it so quickly." Hayato laughed and patted Manjoume Jun's head lightly, then called out to Manjoume Seiji, who was still arguing with Jonouchi and Honda, "Hey, Manjoume."

"It's Mr. Manjoume! What do you want, Kobayashi Hayato?"

Hayato took out his deck from the card box at his waist and inserted it into the Duel Disk. The automatic shuffling function surprised Manjoume Masashi: "Didn't you say that everything can be solved with a duel? I have a plan."

Kobayashi, the idea genius Hayato, is back online, pointing to the boxes of duel disks next to him: "The bet is those duel disks over there. This is a chance to challenge the King of Duel, you know. You want to show off in front of your little brother, right?"

Noticing Jun Manjoume's expectant gaze, Masaji Manjoume confidently tossed his hair, drew his deck, manually shuffled it, and placed it into the Duel Disk, letting it unfold automatically: "Hmph, let's just consider this a revenge match from back then. I'm also looking forward to defeating you, Hayato Kobayashi."

"Duel!" x2

Chapter 232 The Majestic Chimera Manticore

[Hayato: 4000LP, 5 cards in hand]

[Zhengsi: 4000LP, 5 cards in hand]

"I'll take the first turn. Draw a card." Thanks to the Duel Disk, Hayato seized the right to go first.

"I summon [Disruption Red] in Defense Position, and then I activate the effect of [Disruption Red] to Special Summon [Disruption Blue] from my hand."

The virtual projection device projected by the Duel Disk is activated, and the red and blue [Disruption] monster duo appears on Hayato's field.

"Ikki soars to the heavens!" "How about we take a bath afterwards?"

Upon seeing the appearance of the [Disruption] monster, Manjoume Masashi complained with considerable dissatisfaction: "Hey, Kobayashi Hayato, why are you using such disgusting monsters again! Don't you have a whole bunch of other decks?!"