NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 11: DTCD [11]
Although he didn't have a Fusion Deck right now, it wouldn't hurt to secure this card.
With that thought, Kai raised his hand. Immediately, a beautiful and graceful woman approached him.
"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?"
"How much is this card?"
Kai pointed at [Cyber-Stein].
The card was sealed inside a glass case, but no price was displayed beneath it. And Kai had a feeling this card on display wasn't the real one.
The woman merely glanced at it and said to Kai, "Please, come with me."
Kai was just about to follow her when a rough male voice called out, and a figure stepped in front of them.
"Miss Talia, I'm also interested in that card. Would it be alright if I came along too?"
Talia looked up at the speaker, hesitation in her eyes.
As a second-floor attendant at Sea-Skye Pavilion, she naturally knew the price of the card; However, Kai had been brought here by her lady, and that meant a discount.
How much of a discount wasn't for a lowly attendant like her to decide.
She had intended to bring Kai to her superior… the real decision-maker at Sea-Skye Pavilion.
Normally, she'd definitely side with Kai—but the man blocking the way wasn't someone she could afford to offend.
Kai could tell as much. He stepped forward and met the man's gaze.
"You looking for trouble?"
"Damn right."
"I'll say it here and now—there's no way you're walking away with that card today."
The man also stepped forward, glaring at Kai with disdain.
Their exchange promptly drew attention.
"And who the hell are you supposed to be?"
Kai spoke coldly, equally contemptuous.
He was polite to Marina because she treated him decently. So, that didn't mean he had a great temper.
And this guy? What a joke.
Just as things were about to escalate, a familiar voice rang out through the room.
"Gavin, what do you think you're doing?"
Marina hurried over, following Talia, glaring at the man facing Kai.
"M-Marina, I didn't mean anything."
The arrogance vanished from Gavin's face, replaced by awkward nervousness.
"Don't call me that so intimately! We're not that close!"
Marina frowned, already suspecting the confrontation had something to do with her.
"Sorry. Are you okay?"
Kai shook his head, his expression unchanged, eyes still locked on Gavin.
The once-tense atmosphere began to crumble with Marina's arrival, yet the spectators showed no sign of losing interest—if anything, they were even more engrossed.
In one corner, Noir watched with a wine glass in hand, a smile tugging at his lips.
Everyone in Tenkai City knew Gavin, the Dora Family's heir, had chased after the Skye Family's second daughter for years. Unfortunately, it was one-sided, and she never reciprocated. Eventually, she even moved to the capital.
Despite that, Gavin didn't give up and followed her there.
Noir had only leaked part of the info to Gavin: That Marina had returned with a mysterious man of unknown background.
Given Gavin's hot-headed personality, of course, he wouldn't sit still.
And as expected, conflict erupted.
As for this stranger's strength, Noir would know soon enough.
Unlike Noir, who was relaxed and calculating, Gavin now found himself in a bind—his eyes darted between Kai and Marina.
Finally, he spat out, "If you've got guts, don't hide behind a woman!"
Unable to face Marina directly, he vented on Kai.
Marina's brows furrowed deeper. What was this guy trying to pull?
Kai was her guest—Gavin's behavior was a direct slap in her face. If they weren't at least familiar, she'd think Gavin was deliberately picking a fight with her.
She was about to say something, but Kai stepped forward and pulled out his Deck.
"Alright, then let's settle it with a Duel."
With those words, the atmosphere turned electric.
"Duel! Duel! Duel!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as Gavin drew his own Deck.
"Bring it on! You think I'm scared?"
Seeing both had accepted, Marina sighed and stepped aside.
After all, she'd only known Kai for a single day. There wasn't enough of a bond between them for her to interfere in his decisions.
As the finest facility in the city, Sea-Skye Pavilion naturally had a proper Dueling Arena.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, the two men entered.
"Kid, don't say I'm bullying you."
"If you win, the card's yours."
"But if you lose… stay away from Mari... Marina!"
Gavin glanced at Marina above, recalling her rebuke, and adjusted his wording.
"Hah, like it's any of your business."
Kai didn't take Gavin's words seriously. Since when did he need anyone to tell him what to do?
He held his Deck, closed his eyes, and reached for the energy he'd felt in the Trial.
Silver light flashed around him, and a Duel Disk crackling with electric arcs materialized on his arm!
Kai smiled and slotted his Deck into the Disk. Sure enough, he could summon his Duel Disk even outside a Trial.
However, the once-casual atmosphere of the crowd abruptly shifted.
Everyone paused and fixed their eyes on Kai.
To manifest a Duel Disk with spirit energy—This man was undoubtedly beloved by card spirits!
Many spectators went from amused to serious, trying to dig up Kai's background.
Who was this youth blessed with the power of the spirits?
Noir shook his head as he watched.
It was futile. He'd already looked into Kai's identity.
Nothing. A total blank.
Given current tech, Kai had to be either from another world… Or from some hidden power, sent to temper himself in the mortal realm.
Noir leaned toward the second. It wouldn't be the first time.
"Hmph, just because you have spirit power doesn't mean you can Duel!"
Gavin scoffed, strapping on his Duel Disk and inserting his Deck.
Both sides—Ready!
[DUEL START!]
[Gavin, LP: 8000]
[Kai, LP: 8000]
...
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