Counter Seven-Star?
The Black Scorpion Thief Gang exchanged glances, faces filled with peculiar expressions.
But we're already part of Seven-Star...
Although there are supposedly seven members in Seven-Star, these five have a unique arrangement. The Black Scorpion Thief Gang shares one Seven-Star position, all for one and one for all—five members together count as one Seven-Star member.
"Are you asking us to betray the organization?"
Zarug snorted heavily.
"You've really thought wrong. We, the Black Scorpion Thief Gang, are proud thieves, unlike those with no principles. We have our professional ethics and will never betray easily..."
"I'll increase the payment," Yugen said.
Before Zarug could finish speaking, he was instantly silenced.
He began to ponder silently.
"Boss, he said he'd increase the payment." Zik widened his eyes, looking at the boss.
As if saying, what's there to hesitate about?
"Shut up."
Zarug glared at him. Zik then shrunk back, muttering a few incomprehensible words.
Possibly grumbling about why they were at odds with money.
"Moreover, if there's any guilt over betraying your comrades, it's not entirely necessary," Yugen smiled. "Among the seven cadres of Seven-Star, Vampire Camilla is dead, Darkness is unconscious, but his sister is my friend and when he wakes up, he'll likely join us.
Besides, three others have defected, joining us."
The Black Scorpions pondered what he just said.
Wait a minute.
There are only seven in Seven-Star. One is dead, four have defected, if we also defect...
...Wouldn't there be only one left?
All the Black Scorpions: "..."
"So hurry and join us," Yugen said earnestly, "Otherwise, you'll be the traitors who betray their comrades."
All the Black Scorpions: "......"
What the hell, now we're the traitors... Majority rules, huh?
"What do you say?" Zarug looked to his companions for their opinions.
"I think it's fine." Mina nodded first.
The others had no objections either.
Only Cliff pondered briefly, reminding, "Uh, boss, are we forgetting something important?"
"Hm? What?" Zarug raised an eyebrow.
"We just lost the duel." Cliff reminded softly, "His invitation might just be courtesy, we actually don't have much power to refuse."
Zarug: "..."
Damn, sounds reasonable.
"Alright, we'll join."
Zarug relented and turned again to Yugen.
"By the way, how should we address you?"
"Me? I'm Fujiki Yugen." Yugen smiled, gesturing to his uniform, "As you can see, just an ordinary Yellow Dormitory student from Duel Academy."
"Ordinary student..."
Zarug was momentarily speechless.
They say Duel Academy is a place where masters abound, with hidden talents. He used to not believe it, thinking how capable could a bunch of kids be. Now he truly believes it.
Though, Fujiki Yugen, that name sounds familiar...
"What a coincidence." Zik said, "Isn't this the same name as the new generation Duel King from recent rumors?"
Silence suddenly fell upon them.
The thieves then all looked at Yugen with expressions of surprise, slowly morphing into fear, reverence...
What!?
Zarug was stunned.
So he'd just challenged the Duel King!?
...
...
An hour later, the five members disguised themselves and went to a restaurant together with Yugen.
Yugen treated them. Having won a large sum of prize money after earning the title of Duel King, plus overflowing sponsorships from laboratories where his results are internationally notable, and fame bringing in various other streams of income, he's essentially well off right now.
Thus, Yugen ordered a variety of gourmet dishes for the group. The five seemed to transform into starving ghosts, devouring everything in sight.
"Delicious."
Takaga finished three large bowls of rice, grinning with his eyes squinted.
Zik also smiled, "Seems we really followed the right person this time."
Having completely forgotten about the supposed honor of thieves never betraying comrades.
The iron-willed Thief Gang was completely bought out by a meal.
Yugen asked and learned that Seven-Star had long been plotting against the Phantom Demon Key. The Black Scorpion Thief Gang had accepted a commission years ago and secretly placed members as undercover agents in Duel Academy.
Mina was a school nurse, Zik was a Red Dormitory student, Cliff was the security, Takaga was in logistics.
They disguised themselves with clothes and makeup, making them hard to recognize. But their leader Zarug, always wearing a fierce expression and having an unmistakably unique trait of the Eye of Horus, is difficult to ignore.
Not to mention within the Black Scorpions, Zarug was already the most famous one at Duel Academy.
Well, Yugen claimed not to have any clue as to why.
However, Yugen did find himself curious about a few things regarding these guys.
Like the question he'd had since seeing this episode in the animation.
"Speaking of which, are all of you elves?" Yugen asked.
They nodded.
"But elves aren't supposed to exist in the real world for long, right?" Yugen asked, puzzled.
His elves were like that, and in the later episodes, Judai's Ultraman was the same. They could briefly manifest in reality but had a time limit before reverting to spirit form.
Yet these elves were noticeably different.
They not only maintained their physical form for long periods but could also disguise themselves, integrating as students, nurses, logistics, etc., lurking in the Academy for years.
Is there perhaps some trick?
The thief elves exchanged glances.
Yugen inquired, "Is there a secret? Or did the Master of Seven-Star help you?"
"Nope..."
Zarug replied oddly.
"Because our real bodies are here, of course we're permanent physical beings..."
"Real bodies?"
"Yeah, we haven't been back to the Elf Realm in a long time." Mina added, "Our world is so boring; we lost interest long ago.
When we coincidentally came here, there's so much fun. Duelists are strong, there's plenty of delicious food and fun, we love it here, so we don't plan to go back..."
Yugen suddenly seemed to understand.
There were similar elves later in GX.
Ernest. Came to Duel Academy searching for his master, using transformation skills to appear as a student, managing to remain physically at the Academy for long periods, only exposed by Judai who had mastered Extraordinary Power by then.
So elves can actually leave the Elf Realm and live in reality...
"Actually, I'm the same."
A crisp female voice suddenly echoed from behind.
Yugen turned around to find the Vampire Princess silently sitting on a nearby chair, expressionless on her pale face.
Yugen then recalled.
When the Princess left her castle, she was determined to journey with them, saying goodbye to her blood race in the castle, seemingly bringing her real self.
But she usually stayed quiet like other elves, rarely appearing.
Yugen asked about this curiosity, and the Princess simply looked at him without expression.
Then held up her hand, pointing upward.
"It's so hot."
Yugen suddenly understood.
She didn't like the sun in this world.