"So that's what you wanted our help with, Alexis..."
The three of them stood before the dilapidated old dormitory, each holding a flashlight.
"Hm? Youmi, you look like you already knew all this. What's going on?"
Unlike Youmi, who already knew the whole story, Jaden had never been told anything by Professor Banner, so he had no idea about the rumors surrounding the abandoned dorm.
"This used to be the dorm for Duel Academy's top students. Atticus Rhodes, Zane Truesdale, and Yusuke Fujiwara—all the elites lived here. But something happened, and many students went missing. Eventually, the dorm was shut down."
Youmi's red eyes glowed faintly as he pointed forward. "Rumor has it a student used an artifact infused with dark power to conduct some kind of ritual, and that's what caused everything. I don't know the details, though."
Jaden nodded thoughtfully—then suddenly realized something. "Wait… Atticus Rhodes? That's the same last name as Alexis! So they're… siblings?"
Alexis placed a flower in front of the dorm entrance, then turned toward Jaden. "Yes. Atticus is my brother. He disappeared in this dorm… and we still have no clues about what happened to him."
Of course, Youmi already knew the truth about everything here. Regardless, telling them would neither bring Atticus back any sooner nor change fate. Better to simply watch without a word for now.
"So, Alexis… the thing you wanted to talk to us about this morning… was it entering this abandoned dorm to investigate? As far as I know, this place is supposed to be strictly off-limits."
Youmi pointed at the iron fence blocking the entrance. "See? It's sealed. If we go in, the school will definitely notice. We could even get punished, y'know?"
"Don't worry. I'm not asking you to go in with me. It's too dangerous. I'll enter alone. What I need you to do is simple: if it's past midnight and I still haven't come back, alert the school."
Alexis took out a small voice recorder and handed it to Youmi. "This recording proves I chose to enter alone to look for my brother. Even if I disappear too, you won't be held responsible. As for your reward…"
She rummaged through her pocket and pulled out ten booster packs.
"You two didn't make it in time for the new card shipment at Ms. Dorothy's shop, right? I had a friend buy these. Think of them as payment. If anything happens inside, just run and get a professor or a teacher. Don't get yourselves—"
Before she could finish, Jaden had already grabbed five packs.
"Come on, don't say it like that! We're friends! How can I watch you go in alone? I'm going with you. Youmi can keep watch for us, right?"
Jaden tore open the pack eagerly and picked out a few cards. "Yep! If we run into ghosts or some demon using Shadow Duels, I'll crush them with these new cards!"
Youmi also accepted his packs and shot Jaden a sideways glance. "And what does that make me? I'm obviously not letting you two go in alone either. I'm coming with you. As for calling the school…"
Youmi turned around and looked toward the nearby bushes.
"Professor Crowler. You've been eavesdropping since we met Alexis this morning, haven't you? As a teacher, shouldn't you step out and say something? Or were you planning to wait until we went in?"
With his non-human senses, Youmi had detected Crowler in no time.
Professor Crowler crawled out of the bushes, brushing off leaves and dirt, Duel Disk already equipped. "How did you notice? I hid myself so well."
Alexis stared in surprise. "Professor Crowler… why are you here?"
Crowler slid his Deck into place and declared, "What kind of teacher would just stand by while his students walk straight into danger, y'know!? For your safety, I absolutely will not allow you to enter the old dorm! Even if I must stop you with a duel! Leave dangerous things to adults. You three should return to your dorms and sleep!"
"Professor Crowler!"
Alexis tried to speak, but Jaden stepped forward, blocking her.
"Professor, you said you'd stop us with a duel, right? Then let's duel! If we lose, we'll go back to sleep. But if we win, you won't stop us from investigating. Deal?"
Jaden confidently lifted his Duel Disk, already shuffling the new cards into his Deck.
"Then it's settled! As a teacher, I will not lose again!"
….
Five minutes later
"Shining Flare Wingman—Shining Shoot! Destroy Ancient Gear Ultimate Golem, and then inflict damage equal to its Attack! That settles it, right, Professor? Now we can go investigate!"
Having swiftly blasted through Crowler's old reliable strategy using freshly pulled cards, Jaden removed his Duel Disk and approached the defeated professor.
"You said you wouldn't lose as a teacher…"
Crowler's confidence had unquestionably taken major damage from his string of recent losses.
Youmi walked up and helped him to his feet. "That said, today, you didn't come here just as a teacher, did you? You came as our friend. You overheard Alexis mention the old dorm, got worried, and came here to check on us. You didn't report us or immediately forbid us… which means you wanted to know what we were planning, right?"
Despite his earlier behavior, Youmi knew that Crowler had a good heart; he just didn't know how to show it.
"Perhaps… you're right. But since I lost, I must keep my word. I won't stop you. However! I will enter first as an adult. If you three run into danger, it would be unacceptable. Leave this to a responsible grown man!"
Crowler thumped his chest proudly, standing tall once more.
...
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