2600 ATK Blackwing Tamer - Obsidian Hawk Joe!
2800 ATK Blackwing Dragon!
1600 ATK Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite!
2600 ATK Assault Blackwing - Raikiri the Rain Shower!
Total battle damage: 9600 points!
More than enough to clinch the Riding Duel!
"I activate my D-Wheel skill! I draw 2 cards!"
"I'm entering the Battle Phase…"
Ushio Tetsu slammed the brake pedal, hitting the surrender button just before the storm of attacks hit.
He knew full well that letting Ryo Nakamuta blast through his 8000 LP would be far more humiliating than conceding now.
That would be the real embarrassment, losing face completely.
A coach crushed by a college kid?
Word of that would ruin him.
Surrendering now, he could spin it as giving the rookie a break, salvaging some dignity.
At the same time, the surrender prompt flashed on Ryo Nakamuta's D-Wheel screen.
Duel terminated successfully.
The duel info appeared on the sixth-floor projection screen.
The once-rowdy sixth floor fell into a deathly silence at the sight of the surrender message.
They were numb.
Every single one of them was numb.
Who could've imagined Coach Ushio, with an absolute advantage, would fold after Royal Emperor was destroyed?!
"Holy smokes! Are Phantom God Dimension Academy students this cracked? Do they just graduate and take our coaching jobs?"
"Uh, isn't it possible—I mean, just a possibility—that he's an exception?"
"Wait, I remember now! That name and face seemed so familiar! He's the guy who used an infinite loop to thrash the exam proctor at the start of the year!"
"Hold up! You mean he's the one who beat the young miss for class president?"
One person's comment set the room ablaze.
The guy who'd just ridden a D-Wheel for the first time and obliterated their coach was the same one who'd taken on their Group's young miss for class president!
Now they understood why even Coach Ushio was no match for him.
After all, those who'd faced the young miss knew her strength best.
Someone who could beat her was no pushover!
"Ahem! The young are formidable, truly formidable."
"I'm getting old. The stage belongs to you youngsters now."
Ushio Tetsu's wistful voice echoed from the track nearby, snapping everyone out of their thoughts.
Turning, they saw Ryo Nakamuta and Ushio Tetsu riding their D-Wheels side by side, chatting and laughing as they reached the finish line.
"Hahaha! Big Bro Ushio, you're too kind."
"If you'd managed one more Nibiru effect, the outcome might've been different."
Ryo Nakamuta removed his helmet, humbly deflecting while giving Ushio some face.
This eased Ushio's heart a bit.
"Eh, enough of that."
"The duel's over."
"It's about lunchtime now."
"I reckon President Suzuki's been waiting for a while."
"Come with me."
As he spoke, Ushio Tetsu shot a glare at the onlookers still gawking instead of practicing, sending them scurrying back to their duel tables in a flurry.
Clearly, when Ushio returned, they'd be in for it.
"Alright, then I'll trouble you to lead the way, Big Bro Ushio."
Ryo Nakamuta cupped his hands in thanks, then followed Ushio into the elevator, leaving the sixth floor for the tenth-floor restaurant.
On the way, Ryo's curiosity led to a few more questions, like why Ushio worked for the Suzuki Group and what was up with the Signers' team now.
"You're wondering why I'm working for the Suzuki Group?"
"Let me put it in one sentence."
"No money, no Yu-Gi-Oh!?"
Ushio Tetsu's words hit Ryo Nakamuta like a lightning bolt.
It… actually made perfect sense!
Without money, regular folks like them couldn't afford the latest booster packs.
Unlike Ryo, who had his system to unlock decks with duel points.
Without it, he'd probably be slaving away at some job just to scrape by.
Forget about meta decks.
"Of course, besides money, being a coach at the Suzuki Group means I get first dibs on any new Royal Authority archetype support cards."
"President Suzuki hands them to me personally. That's one reason I quit being a security officer to stay here."
"As for your second question, about the Signers, I only know bits and pieces."
"Fudo Yusei and Izayoi Aki are still in the 5DS world. Crow Hogan, Jack, and Kiryu Kyosuke? No clue where they are."
"But you probably know about Ryu and Luna—they're seniors at Phantom God Dimension Academy."
Huh?!
Ryu and Luna, at Phantom God Dimension Academy?!
Ryo Nakamuta had been half-listening, but this snapped him to attention.
His body jolted with surprise.
The former elementary school kids were now college seniors!
He hadn't heard much about them, though. Seems the twins kept a low profile.
"Alright, we're here."
"Mr. Nakamuta, go straight and turn left."
"Oh, and a heads-up."
"The young miss will probably be there, so… you know."
"You got this."
"I'm outta here."
Ushio Tetsu nudged Ryo with his elbow, flashing a knowing grin.
That grin threw Ryo off, leaving a chill down his spine.
What was that smile about?
Good news or bad news?
Puzzled, Ryo walked straight and turned left. Before him was a rectangular dining table with only two people seated.
Half the table was laden with gourmet dishes—exotic delicacies.
The other front was neatly arranged with decks of cards.
At the head was a black-haired, bearded man in glasses.
No doubt, it was Seiji Suzuki.
To his left sat Mina Suzuki.
She looked thoroughly unwilling, her displeasure growing as she saw Ryo arrive, but she stayed silent.
"Hahaha! Welcome, welcome!"
"Ryo-chan, come, take a seat!"
"Mina and I have been waiting for you!"
Seiji Seijin's warm smile and enthusiastic greeting had no trace of pretense, a complete contrast to Seto Kaiba's demeanor!
"Ahem… Thank you, Seijin-san!"
Ryo nodded, the weight in his heart lifting entirely upon meeting Seiji Suzuki.
With this attitude, what was there to worry about?
Full confidence, no doubts!
"Good, good, good, that's the spirit."
"I won't beat around the bush, Seijin-san."
"The annual Winter KCKC Cup is coming up soon."
"And I was thinking…"
Ryo Nakamuta's mouth twitched, and the moment he sat down, regret hit him like a brick.
The old fox's tail was out!
He wanted to bolt, but seeing Seiji Suzuki's warm, kindly smile again, he suppressed the urge.
As expected, the invitation wasn't so simple!
He'd been careless! No dodge, no flash!
Now he'd taken the bait, and there was no running!