Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"So, where did this guy named Saiou come from?" Watching Manjoume Chosaku lead Saiou on a tour of the dock area, but only standing at a distance without leaving, Manjoume Jun looked at his second brother with confusion. "Shoji-nii, do you know what's going on?"

“I’m not entirely sure either. All I know is that my brother met this guy named Saiou at a business dinner not long ago, and then inexplicably decided to invite him to the Duel Academy. He even spent a lot of money to sponsor the Southern Branch of the Duel Academy, and he even put his name on the sponsorship.” Manjoume Seiji also looked puzzled. “If I didn’t know that my brother actually likes women, I would have suspected that he has developed a love-struck brain.”

"Huh? What kind of operation is that?" Jun Manjoume's eyes widened when he heard the information from Masaji Manjoume. "Are you sure that big brother is really the big brother? That Nagasaku big brother who is quite talented in the business world?"

"I peeked at my older brother while he was taking a shower, and the birthmark on his butt is still there, so it should still be him." With a calm expression, Manjoume Seiji revealed some incredible information.

"Crack, crack—" Judai made two soft calls, stealthily creeping over under the cover of the large boxes of supplies piled up around him, attracting Manjoume's attention. Crouching in the corner, he whispered, "So, are we still going to put on this act, Manjoume?"

"It's Mr. Manjoume!" Manjoume corrected, then waved his hand helplessly, "Never mind, there's no use for you guys."

“Then let’s just come out.” As he spoke, Judai stopped hiding himself and walked out openly, greeting Manjoume Masaji who was standing next to Manjoume, “Hello, Manjoume’s older brother… um, should I call you Manjoume Jun’s older brother?”

"Just call me Seiji, Judai Yuki. My brother often talks about you when he's home." Seiji Manjoume greeted Judai in a friendly manner. On one hand, this was a basic courtesy of a politician, especially since he was running for prime minister this year. On the other hand, Judai Yuki was also a good friend of his younger brother. "I'll be sure to trouble you to take care of him at school."

"Yes, yes, Manjoume... Manjoume is indeed a rather troublesome person. He won't even let me have the fried shrimp."

Upon hearing Judai's words, Manjoume raised an eyebrow: "Huh? Don't you have fried shrimp yourself? Why should I give you my share?"

"See? Isn't that stingy?"

"Urussels!"

"How energetic! It reminds me of my own wonderful high school days..." Manjoume Masaji suddenly stopped, rubbing his forehead with a pained expression. "It seems like I didn't have any of that at all. I was either being bothered by that annoying Honda Hiro or being defeated by Kobayashi Hayato. Why wasn't my high school at Duel Academy?"

"Because you don't have much talent in the field of monster dueling, right, Seiji-nii?" Manjoume said something hurtful, but it also showed the good relationship between the two brothers. Compared to his serious older brother, Manjoume Chosaku, he could talk more heart-to-heart with his second brother, Manjoume Seiji.

"Huh? Did I just hear Hayato-sensei's name?" Marufuji Sho looked at Manjoume Seiji in surprise and asked, "Manjoume's older brother, is Seiji-sensei a classmate of Hayato-sensei?"

"Not only were we classmates, but we were also dueling opponents. Back then, I even managed to suppress Kobayashi Hayato's Life Points to less than 1500 points," Manjoume Masaji said proudly. "If I were still working hard in the Duel Monsters field, I might be considered a 'legendary duelist'."

"So, Masashi-san, you didn't mention at all that back then the rules for Duel Monsters were still 2000 base points?"

"Does it make you happy to expose me? Jun! That was unnecessary!" His boasting was swiftly exposed by his younger brother, and feeling betrayed, Manjoume Masashi awkwardly changed the subject. "Let me tell you about that Saiou's other identity. Remember how the Manjoume Foundation also established a professional duelist agency? That Ryuzaki Dinosaur was a duelist from one of the Manjoume Foundation's agencies. And that banquet was after Ryuzaki Dinosaur's duel with Kaiser Ryo."

"That guy named Saiou came to trade with the Manjoume Foundation, wanting to transfer the agency that Dinosaur Ryuzaki was signed with, and also bring Dinosaur Ryuzaki under his agency. His identity at that dinner party was not a fortune teller, but the manager of professional duelist Ed Phoenix."

"Dinosaur Ryuzaki!?" Upon hearing the name Ryuzaki, a fellow dinosaur user, Kenzan was visibly excited, much like Zoro upon hearing news of Mihawk. "Could it be—"

"Yes, just like I said before, my brother is a completely different person now. He's like a puppet of that Saiou. He really sold off his agency for a pittance, and even gave up Ryuzaki the Dinosaur to Saiou, who will become Ryuzaki's manager."

"Then, why not interfere? Aren't you brothers? You should be able to offer your opinions on the development of the Manjoume Group—"

Before Marufuji Sho could finish speaking, Manjoume shook his head and denied it, saying, "That won't work, because our father made a decision a long time ago that the three of us brothers should develop in three different fields, and we can only assist and support each other in our respective fields, but we cannot compete for power."

“The eldest brother, Chosaku, took over all the operations and decisions of the Manjoume Group a long time ago, while I developed my career in politics, and then became the Jun in charge of the Duel Monsters field,” Manjoume Masaji said helplessly. “If we interfere with the management of the Manjoume Group, according to the arrangements left by our father to prevent infighting among us brothers, the board of directors could even take the opportunity to seize our shares and kick us out of the company, so that the Manjoume Group no longer belongs to Manjoume.”

"What kind of bizarre arrangement is that? So you can only watch as your eldest brother, as if trying to please that guy named Saiou, slowly squanders the Manjoume Zaibatsu?"

Asuka had arrived nearby at some point. After hearing what Manjoume Masaji had said, she looked at Manjoume Chosaku, who was not far away and seemed to be attracted by the fragrance, circling around Saiou like a bee, trying to please him. "Even if it's your own brother, you can't show any mercy. It doesn't matter if you beat him up, as long as you can correct his mistakes."

"Swift and decisive measures reveal a compassionate heart!"

Standing behind Asuka, Fubuki swallowed hard, racking her brains to recall if she had offended Asuka recently.

Judai, meanwhile, seemed to be deep in thought, and finally came to an answer with astonishing wisdom: "I see, I completely understand—in short, all you need to do is use a duel to wake up your older brother, Manjoume."

"Huh? How did you come to that conclusion?"

"Because duels can bring smiles to people's faces." Faced with Manjoume's question, "How could you think that playing cards could solve the problem?", Judai, who had seen through the essence of the world with his extraordinary wisdom, said it as a matter of course.

Chapter 1531 Future Vision

"A duel... that's really the style of a Duel Academy student." Manjoume Seiji raised an eyebrow. "But, putting aside the fact that this is the first time I've heard of a duel having a personality-correcting function, my brother has no reason to duel with you guys, does he?"

"I think it's not as good as the folk remedy I heard from Hayato Kobayashi. It says that if you slap the target hard across the face and then stand still and do a big spin, it can effectively correct their personality. If that's not enough, you can slap them a second time. And supposedly it's even more effective on people who have never been hit by their own fathers..."

"Then why don't you go, Masaji?" Manjou suggested.

After a brief silence, Manjoume Masashi said firmly, "Folk remedies are meant to be used when all other options are exhausted, not the other way around. So, I'm counting on you, brother. Please be sure."

"You only shirk responsibility so quickly when you need to take responsibility yourself. You're too much of a politician, aren't you, Masashi?"

"But in the end, this still hasn't solved the two biggest problems," Manjoume complained.

“Indeed, that’s how it is with Duel Monsters. Jaden only needs to come up with an idea, but we have to consider a lot more when we want to use Duel Monsters to wake up Mr. Manjoume Nagasaku.” Fubuki said helplessly, “We don’t have a suitable reason or excuse to duel him, and we don’t know what we need to do to wake him up in a duel.”

"We can't exactly use a dark game, can we?"

"Even if we really do enter the Dark Game, who among us can actually start one?" Asuka glanced at Fubuki. "Or are you going to...?"

"I was just kidding! I surrender, meow! Don't hit me, meow!" Fubuki, who surrendered to her sister at lightning speed, raised her hands and gave a French military salute, while also deliberately acting cute.

Meanwhile, the commotion caused by Fubuki, Judai, and the others meeting with Manjoume attracted the attention of Saiou, who was standing nearby. As if he had overheard their conversation, he spoke to Manjoume Nagasaku and, without waiting for Nagasaku's opinion, walked over to them.

"Sure, I'm actually quite interested in you guys too, Duel Academy boys."

Interrupting their conversation, Saiou noticed that Jaden and the others had turned to look at him and calmly said, "As students of the Duel Academy and as Edward's seniors, I'm quite concerned about your strength. After all, your level of strength can reflect the Duel Academy's ability to train students."

Manjoume frowned. He only wanted to use a duel to wake up his older brother. He had absolutely no interest in Saiou, who, although he appeared elegant and calm in his movements, was filled with an inexplicable indifference and arrogance in his demeanor and words: "You're Ed Phoenix's manager, right? Do you need to confirm that kind of thing? Judai beat him a long time ago."

"And it's also—"

"—Using Jaden Yuki's favorite [E·hero Flame Winged Man] to deliver the final blow, right?" Before Manjoume could finish speaking, Saiou interrupted, accurately describing the situation at the time, "The continuous [Mask Change] and [Instant Fusion], coupled with the 'Contact Fusion' brought about by the power called 'New Space,' Jaden Yuki certainly possesses quite outstanding abilities."

"Huh? How does this guy know what happened back then?" Marufuji Sho looked at the others in surprise. "Not only [E·hero Flame Wingman], but also [Mask Change], [Instant Fusion], and even Big Brother's newly acquired [N]..."

“It is fate, fate has given me the answer,” Saiou said calmly. “I received this gift of fate, this ability to see what lies ahead of fate, when I was very young.”

"Predicting the future? That's just wishful thinking." Kenzan was dismissive of Saiou's explanation. "Maybe it's just that Edward contacted them, learned what happened from Edward, and is now trying to fool us."

“That’s possible.” Saiou didn’t deny Kenzan’s statement, which made everyone subconsciously think that Kenzan was right. “However, what Edward saw is what he saw, and it’s a different concept from what I saw with my own eyes. I’m quite looking forward to and curious about your strength and talents, Jaden Yuki.”

"Hmm? So who exactly do you want to duel, Saiou Takuma?" Manjoume paused, then corrected, "No, I want to duel with Nagasaku-nii. This has nothing to do with you, right?"

"Actually, whether it's you, Jun Manjoume, Judai Yuki, or Asuka Tenjouin and Delano Kenzan behind you, as well as Daichi Misawa, I'm very interested in all of you. If possible, I'd like to duel with each of you." Saiou, who could easily and accurately name everyone, still wore that mysterious smile. "But right now, relatively speaking, I'm more interested in Jun Manjoume and Judai Yuki, in the two of you."

"Why weren't my name and Marufuji's name mentioned?" Fubuki wore an exaggerated expression of disappointment. "What a pity, am I really on the same level as Marufuji?"

"Should I be happy at a time like this? I'm actually on the same level as Tenjouin-senpai?" Marufuji Sho was on the verge of tears.

Misawa, however, said with an upright expression, "I believe Mr. Saiō had no ill intentions; he is a good person."

"You're only saying that because your name was called correctly, aren't you!" several people said in unison.

Misawa showed no remorse and even retorted, "Do you guys even realize that you always call me by the wrong name?!"

“Since it is Mr. Saiou’s wish, then so be it.” Manjoume Chosaku, who was a step behind Saiou, had just returned to the plane to retrieve something. When he reappeared, he was carrying a black box in one hand and a standard dueling disk that was used in the outside world in the other hand. As he walked over, he said, “Let’s have a duel according to your idea.”

"However, it's not just you and me, or you and your classmate fighting against Mr. Saiou together. It's Mr. Saiou and I fighting against you and your classmate in a doubles duel."

Looking completely bewildered, Judai pointed to himself: "Huh? Why do I have to join in too?"

"Stop rambling. Didn't you suggest solving the problem with a duel?" Manjoume put on the Duel Disk, turned his head to look at Jaden, and said, "Besides, that Saiou is just a professional duelist's manager. If he were a powerful duelist, wouldn't he have become a professional duelist himself long ago? There's nothing to be afraid of."

"Not to mention Brother Chosaku, he has never even touched Duel Monsters before, he's just a newbie in the Duel Monsters field. In fact, even if you don't participate, I feel that I alone can handle the two of them."

Upon hearing Manjoume's words, Saiou smiled slightly and said, "That's quite right, Jun-kun. So, under those circumstances, it wouldn't be a problem to let your elder brother use a slightly more powerful card, would it?"

As he spoke, in sync with Saiou's words, Manjoume Nagasaku put on his Duel Disk and opened the briefcase he was carrying, revealing the cards inside.

Before anyone could even express their surprise, Marufuji Sho exclaimed, "That's... [D]!?"

"【D】?" Jaden blinked. "The 【D】 in 【D·hero】?"

"It's not that 'D', it's 'Difoma', [Transformer]!" Misawa explained from the side. "It's said to be a secret card given to the Southern Branch of the Duel Academy by Duel King Kobayashi Hayato, which has extremely high flexibility and can change its form to play different roles depending on the situation. It's a rare deck that's hard for anyone but a powerful duelist to unleash its full potential."

"But why would this card..." Asuka paused, then suddenly realized something, exchanged a glance with Fubuki beside her, and said in unison, "The GeneX tournament!?"

"That's right. Remember when I mentioned that my older brother sponsored the Duel Academy Southern Branch? Although it drastically reduced the Manjoume Foundation's cash flow, almost crippling it, it also gave them the right to keep and use the Southern Branch's Secret Card, which would be one of the final prizes during the GeneX tournament." Manjoume Masashi reminded Judai and Manjoume from behind. "But don't worry, my older brother probably isn't good at Duel Monsters, so getting that kind of card probably won't be of much use to him."

"I actually hope your older brother, Manjoume, is good at dueling. After all, wouldn't that be fun?" Jaden, who hadn't shown much interest before, suddenly became enthusiastic. "Dueling someone who isn't good at dueling sounds pretty boring, but if the opponent uses a rare and powerful card, then it's a different story!"

"Come on, Saiou, and Manjoume's older brother, I'm ready!" As he spoke, without any intention of adjusting his deck, Jaden took out his deck, inserted it into the Duel Disk, and activated the Duel Disk.

"Duel!"

[Yujo Judai: 4000LP, 5 cards in hand]

"Jun, you've repeatedly disappointed me in the realm of Duel Monsters. What kind of performance will you deliver this time?" Although he said this, Manjoume's serious expression revealed no trace of expectation for him. "Duel!"

【Manjoume's masterpiece: 4000LP, 5 cards in hand】

"Brother Nagasaku... Tch, while lying was wrong of me, isn't that enough? Being completely bewitched by that inexplicable guy." Manjoume wasn't a timid person to begin with, but after being suppressed to the extreme, he finally let out his pent-up frustration during the duel. "I heard everything from Seiji-nii. What have you done to the Manjoume Group? Someone like you has no right to lecture me!"

"Wake up, Duel!"

【Manjou: 4000LP, 5 cards in hand】

Finally, only Saiou did not equip the Duel Disk and activate it, because he somehow produced a round table covered with a white tablecloth and placed it on the open ground. At this moment, he was sitting behind the round table with a deck of cards on it, and said with a smile, "I'm really sorry, I'm not very good at using the Duel Disk, so I'll just use this round table instead."

This is a lie.

Not to mention that Saiou used the Duel Disk to duel Jonouchi on Duel Academy Island last year, how could he, as a professional duelist's manager, not be proficient in using the Duel Disk? He usually helps maintain Edward's Duel Disk.

In reality, his actions had only one purpose: to increase his mystique and mislead Manjoume and Jaden. Ideally, he wanted them to underestimate him because of his novice status and his deliberately mysterious behavior, which would inevitably put them at a disadvantage in the upcoming duel. After all, he had already informed Manjoume about the true situation of Manjoume at the Duel Academy, as well as the specific details of this duel, on the plane!

Yes, as a genuine prophet, although Saiou felt uncomfortable and resistant to using his prophetic abilities for a period of time due to his childhood experiences, he is now mature enough that he would not waste this powerful ability.

Jun Manjoume was supposed to greet his brothers at the dock, but because Jaden Yuki's acting was so bad, the truth was exposed. After being scolded, Jun was helplessly taken away by his brothers alone. The secret card that was sent to the Southern Branch of Duel Academy was handed over by Chosaku Manjoume to the acting principal, Iemitsu Samejima. This was the fate that Saiou had foreseen, the fate that would have happened today, the fate that would have developed normally.

However! Saiō's ability to foresee the future was never limited to observing only one future. Depending on the needs, he could derive three different abilities to foresee fate. The original future he saw belonged to the first type of future vision, "prediction." That is, by seeing the people and things in the predicted content, combining the large amount of information seen, and conducting analysis that is a level higher than that of ordinary people.

However, after confirming this future, Saiō used a second type of future vision, "determination," which involves analyzing the conditions required for a certain future and helping the holder achieve that future. In other words, as long as Saiō wanted to achieve a certain future, he could naturally receive guidance.

As for the third ability, to be precise, that is Saiou's true prophetic ability, called 'Absolute Future Vision'. It is different from 'prediction' and 'determination'. It is a future that even Saiou himself cannot avoid. The most memorable thing about this ability for Saiou was a divination he performed on himself several years ago. The result of that divination was inevitable destruction. The only ones who could influence Saiou's fate seemed to be the two people who held the hints of "The Pope" and "The Fool". But we will leave that aside for now.

In short, by combining the two future-vision abilities of "prediction" and "measurement," Saiou took early action and began to plan ahead. At a social banquet, he engaged in a playful duel with Manjoume Nagasaku under the pretext of "exchange." In the relaxed atmosphere, he inadvertently used his abilities to brainwash and control Manjoume Nagasaku, turning him into a completely controlled and loyal servant.

The subsequent sponsorship of the Southern Branch School and the acquisition of the Southern Branch School's secret cards, which were originally intended to be transported by the Manjoume Foundation, were also under Saiou's control. However, unlike before, the Southern Branch School's secret cards no longer need to be directly handed over to the Duel Academy; instead, they can be kept and used by Manjoume Nagatoshi.

What follows is Saiou's true purpose: to use the existence of Manjoume Nagasaku to get involved with one of the students of Duel Academy, Manjoume Jun, and then, just like controlling the other's brother, to control Manjoume Jun as his puppet, using this as a starting point to invade Duel Academy!

If possible, even Jaden Yuki would be a target for Saio! I really look forward to seeing Hayato Kobayashi return to Duel Academy and see his students brainwashed and dyed with his own white color. What kind of impotent rage will he show?

Saiou sneered inwardly, not at all worried about losing to Yuki Judai and Manjoume Jun. He simply drew five cards from his deck and said, "Duel."

[Zaiwang Takuma: 4000LP, 5 card in hand]

—After all, he even saw through the prophecy what cards Jaden Yuki and Jun Manjoume would draw!

Chapter 1532 Zawaludo!

"I'll take the first turn, is that alright?" Although he was the last to draw all five cards, Saiou asked the others with an expression of it being perfectly natural.