Yu-Gi-Oh!: This isn't a duel!

You Yang withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and followed the still somewhat reserved Chen siblings.

"Buzz—" Sensing the arrival of someone, the heavy metal door immediately slid open slowly to both sides with a muffled buzz.

The moment the door opened, a restless atmosphere, brimming with hormones and the scent of money, instantly assaulted the senses.

If the outside is a well-ordered, law-abiding modern city, then inside the door is a bizarre and fantastical paradise for duelists where strength reigns supreme.

The first thing You Yang saw when he stepped into the hall was not a harmonious and orderly scene, but a chaotic order built on absolute power.

The expected reception desk did not appear; instead, there was an extremely spacious, high-ceilinged hall that seemed capable of accommodating giants.

The ceiling above was not an ordinary, cold ceiling, but a huge hemispherical holographic screen simulating the deep and boundless starry sky.

Occasionally, a gigantic virtual monster image—perhaps a legendary, priceless rare card—roars low overhead, scattering a shower of illusory and dazzling data dust, causing countless people below to look up in awe.

Directly in front of you is a giant "electronic task board" that takes up an entire wall.

Thousands of colorful information streams pulsed and throbbed on it, rushing down like a tireless waterfall.

Real-time quotes for card trading, bounties for various underground duels, requests to collect rare materials, and even scarlet kill orders targeting certain notorious illegal duelists.

The information is updated so quickly it's dizzying, constantly showcasing the opportunities and dangers inherent in this city.

The left side of the hall was designed to resemble the layout of a busy stock exchange, with countless people dressed in various colors crowded together.

Some were dressed in suits like shrewd financial elites, while others wore worn-out leather trench coats, carried well-worn dueling disks, and looked weathered.

They were shouting at the terminals in their hands, or arguing fiercely with the traders behind the glass counters in front of them, their faces flushed.

"Do they even have that 'Field Spell' I need?! Damn it, I'll pay triple! Triple!"

"A hefty reward is offered for a high-ranking elven healer! Money is no object if you can cure my friend!"

On the right is a huge open-plan lounge area, or rather, a bar brimming with testosterone.

The tables and chairs here are welded from heavy industrial metal, and the air is filled with the aroma of cheap alcohol, strong black coffee, and faint cigars.

Many duelists who looked like formidable characters were sitting there. Some were carefully wiping the card slots on their duel disks with deerskin cloths, while others were playing with cards that emitted a faint glow in their hands.

Those wary eyes, like those of a hawk, coldly scrutinized every new face entering the hall.

When You Yang and his group, especially those with distinctly Eastern features, walked in, the previously noisy hall did indeed pause for a very brief moment.

Dozens of gazes, a mixture of inquiry, greed, and assessment of strength, swept across their bodies in an instant, like invisible infrared scanners, as if trying to see through their secrets.

The smile in Lilith's eyes vanished instantly, and her slender fingers gripped the [Black Rose Dragon] card in her pocket.

A terrifying aura carrying a destructive force instantly spread out from her center. The oppressive power, which seemed to turn everything around her to ashes, startled many ill-intentioned people, who immediately withdrew their gazes and broke out in a cold sweat.

Is it possible for a small child to have such exaggerated strength?

How strong must the four following behind her be?

"Cough cough."

Lilith concealed her presence, walked to the counter with feigned seriousness, tapped lightly on the thick bulletproof glass with her finger, and said to the salesperson inside with a professional, fake smile:

"I need to see your manager. A big shot has been taken down."

"Okay, please wait a moment."

The waiter was taken aback by the imposing manner and dared not be negligent, so he immediately dialed an internal number.

Not long after, a well-dressed middle-aged man in a suit and tie hurriedly came to the front of the group and respectfully led them to the VIP passage.

Seeing the manager personally lead the group away, the people in the lobby were even more surprised and began to whisper among themselves.

Compared to newcomers like You Yang, these seasoned veterans who had been around here for a long time knew all too well what it meant to be personally led away by the manager.

That's a privilege only those who complete bounties that rank in the top 100 of the kill list can enjoy.

"You've been here before?"

You Yang watched Lilith walking ahead, handling all the procedures with remarkable skill, and curiously leaned over to ask her a question.

"Forehead……"

Lilith paused slightly, thought for two seconds, and decided to answer honestly.

Chapter 194: Has the double-crossing reached You Yang?

"No, it was Tiandao Lian who taught me."

She handed her phone to You Yang somewhat embarrassedly.

The screen was filled with messages from Tiandao Lian, ranging from which foot to step in first to how to talk to the receptionist to avoid being ripped off—all detailed explanations and strategies about the guild.

Looking at the screen full of text, You Yang couldn't help but feel ashamed.

Why does it feel like Tiandao Lian... besides being a shaman, also has a hidden motherly side to him?

"Alright, distinguished guests, you may now tell us which important figures you have taken down."

Even after arriving at a private VIP room, the manager remained neither servile nor arrogant.

Over the years, there have been far too many examples of foolish people attacking the powerful members of the Eastern Alliance and then being killed in retaliation.

As the manager of the Hunter Exchange, he was used to it.

Without wasting any words, You Yang directly drew the [True Dragon Emperor - Law King Beast] card, which exuded a dark aura, from his deck, revealed it, and placed it on the table.

"The Dark Dragon Emperor, would you consider him a big shot?"

Although saying this title felt a bit childish, You Yang didn't care about the shame for the huge bounty.

"The Dark Dragon Emperor?!"

The manager's previously calm expression immediately changed, and his eyes were fixed on the card in You Yang's hand, as if trying to determine whether the aura on it was genuine.

Taking a deep breath to calm his excited emotions, the manager spoke cautiously:

"If he really is the 'Dark Dragon Emperor,' then he is indeed an extraordinary figure."

"Please wait a moment, everyone. The guild's most professional appraiser will come to authenticate this card."

Within the guild, confirming whether a wanted criminal has been eliminated is remarkably simple.

That is to acquire the opponent's ace monster card.

In this world where dueling reigns supreme, ace cards carry the soul of duelists and the bond between spirits. They are arguably more important than the duelists' lives and are the most unforgeable tokens.

Therefore, although many fraudsters have emerged who have tried to forge cards to cheat for bounties, the truly rare cards all carry an extremely powerful and unique elven aura.

A professional appraiser can easily distinguish between genuine and fake products with just a little sensory examination.

You Yang nodded slightly, his expression calm as he indicated that he understood.

On his way here, he caught a glimpse of Lilith's phone screen out of the corner of his eye. In the long "strategy guide" message sent by Tiandao Lian, it was indeed mentioned that there would be a "professional appraisal" process.

As the manager respectfully rose to leave and went to invite someone, a brief silence fell over the spacious and luxurious VIP reception room.

You Yang and the others sat on the leather sofa, idly looking at the ancient card decorations hanging on the surrounding walls, wondering whether they were genuine or fake.

They didn't have to wait long before the heavy mahogany doors of the reception room were silently pushed open once again.

A young man who looked to be about the same age as You Yang walked in slowly with steady steps.

He was tall and slender, like a straight bamboo shoot.

She was wearing a perfectly tailored, dark gray British custom-made suit, with the collar and cuffs meticulously groomed.

What is most striking is his rare, smooth, silver-white short hair, which gleams with a cold luster under the indoor lights.

He carried a finely crafted briefcase made of dark, precious wood and brass, and wore an impeccable professional smile as he gave You Yang and his companions a slight nod.

He then gracefully took the seat of honor where the manager had previously been.

The manager, who had been so imposing just moments before, now stood behind him like a submissive servant, his attitude so respectful it was almost humble.

The silver-haired boy's gaze did not waver for a moment; his pale eyes bypassed everyone else and landed precisely on You Yang's face.

After pausing for a moment, she slowly moved down and looked at the dark card in You Yang's hand that exuded an ominous aura.

"Could you please give me the cards that need to be appraised?"

Although his voice was calm and not loud, it carried a composure and authority that was very different from his youthful appearance, as if he were the absolute king in this field.

You Yang didn't say much, but calmly reached out and handed over the card.

"【True Dragon Emperor - Law King Beast】, please appraise."

The silver-haired boy extended his slender hands, clad in pristine white silk gloves, and gracefully and precisely accepted the card, as if it were some fragile work of art.

He placed the cards flat on the velvet-covered table, lowered his head slightly, and his pale eyes instantly became focused and deep.

His fingertips, through his gloves, gently traced the edge of the card, as if caressing a lover's skin, or as if using touch to read the history and soul recorded within the card.

The air in the reception room seemed to freeze, with only the boy's soft breathing audible.

After a moment, he slowly raised his eyelids and, for the first time, formally and solemnly turned his gaze to You Yang.

A deep sense of apprehension and astonishment flashed briefly in the depths of those once calm eyes.

"The dark aura was pure and dense, solidified like an abyss, and its dragon might was incomparably domineering..."

He gently closed the suitcase's latch and gave his final conclusion:

"It is undoubtedly genuine."

In this world, so-called appraisers are actually a special group of people who have an extraordinary sensitivity to the aura of elves.

In this profit-driven society, there have been many opportunists who have tried to pass off counterfeit card images as worthless cards with a faint elven aura in order to cheat and win huge bounties.

This is precisely why the profession of "appraiser" came into being.

Each rare card possessing a spirit's aura is a unique fingerprint, making it impossible for these professionals to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit.

The silver-haired boy paused slightly, and instead of returning the card immediately, he placed it face down on the table and gently pressed it down with his slender fingers.

His smile remained perfect, but there was a subtle hint of probing in his tone:

"However... if possible, I personally hope to buy this [True Dragon Emperor - Law King Beast] directly."

"What do you gentlemen think?"

Before You Yang could answer, he quickly added, his tone as calm as possible, but the content made everyone present frown: