"So what do any of these things have to do with us?"
Down in the reception room, Yuto and Kurosaki Shun were standing there, watching the images on the screen. As they watched, Kurosaki Shun spoke up in an icy tone.
Goodwin had already told the two of them about the "The One" war in the Synchro Dimension, but neither of them had any interest in that Dimension's affairs, nor did they want to get involved. Even though they were indeed members of the "City Government Team" Goodwin had put together, up to now they hadn't taken part in a single Duel.
Not far from them, Mitsuzawa Daichi—whom the Fusion Dimension had been searching for a long time—was rubbing his forehead, listening to their discussion with some effort. Beside him, a woman's phantom was trying to persuade him not to overthink it.
Yuto was a little worried about him.
After two days of talking, Yuto and Shun had already figured out Mitsuzawa Daichi's situation.
In that Duel in their Dimension, Marufuji Ryo and Mitsuzawa Daichi got dragged into this Dimension. Then, in this rotten situation, Mitsuzawa Daichi fell into this Dimension and accidentally lost his memory.
By chance, Goodwin discovered him and took him in, letting him work at City Hall as a temp at first. Then it was also Goodwin who discovered his talent for Dueling and invited him to be a Contestant in this Duel tournament.
Whether it was amnesia or some other hard-to-treat condition—so long as you take part in this world's most luxurious, most perfect Duel, you have a chance to be cured.
Because this Duel is an opportunity powerful enough to change the entire world!
Let alone healing wounds—changing reality, rewriting the laws of physics, reversing time, overturning life and death—would be easy!
Previously, when they were invited to the reception room in the President's Mansion, they had seen Mitsuzawa Daichi, lost and confused, sitting there.
In principle, this guy could barely be counted as their "companion."
But in practice, whether it was Yuto or Shun, they'd had almost no contact or real conversation with Mitsuzawa Daichi.
Still, no matter how you looked at it, this man had been dragged into this world and lost his memories because of the "civil strife" in their Xyz Dimension. Yuto couldn't quite bring himself to leave him to live here alone, so he accepted this job.
He joined up with Mitsuzawa Daichi, Shun, and another Duelist to form the "City Hall Team" and enter this tournament together.
Shun didn't really want to deal with Goodwin, but although he was cold and had no goodwill toward the Fusion Dimension, when it came to a jinx like Mitsuzawa Daichi who'd gotten hurt by accident, he honestly couldn't say anything too harsh.
But—
He still didn't understand, didn't accept it.
What do these Duels have to do with them?
"Why do you think they have nothing to do with you, Kurosaki Shun?"
Goodwin stood with his hands behind his back, facing the wall-high monitor, his eyes seemingly able to pierce through the screens and see everything in this world, every single place.
It was as if he could see the Divine Chosen hiding in the shadows; see the Other Dimension People concealing their identities, skulking around just to watch the show; see those people drawn in by a God's despair; see the girls cheerfully forming teams—among them, the very girl these two beside him longed day and night to find…
To him, the entire world held no secrets.
"Mr. Kurosaki, the world is not a sealed isolation chamber, but a [nest] where everything is linked and interconnected. When a fledgling yearns to find an even smaller fledgling, yet can't find it on its own, why not try mobilizing more people?"
"One person might not find them, but through that one person, you reach more people; one tells ten, ten tell a hundred—eventually thousands, tens of thousands. When everyone understands what you're seeking, the person you want to find will naturally appear before you."
With his hands still behind his back, he said softly, "This is… [Synchro]."
"Hmph…" Kurosaki Shun's expression stayed cold. "So, did you pick up that crap from the Fusion Army?"
"Not at all. I simply listened to the voices of the people."
As Goodwin spoke, he slowly turned around.
Behind him, on that huge screen, one Duel had just finished, and the next randomly selected team was precisely the "City Hall Team"!
Mitsuzawa Daichi hurriedly stood up.
"It seems the time has come for you two gentlemen to get ready."
Kurosaki Shun frowned at the screen, then let out a brief, cold snort and turned to leave.
Yuto, however, before catching up to Shun, asked thoughtfully, "What about our other teammate?"
"My apologies. The other member of the City Hall Team was chosen by the Noble House."
"Aren't you the President?"
"Haha… The so‑called President isn't a ruler who holds power; he's merely the speaker who coordinates all sides." Goodwin sounded almost like he was mocking himself.
Yuto frowned, thought it over for a moment, found it fairly reasonable, and dropped the issue, hurrying out.
Thus, this spacious presidential office once again had only Goodwin remaining.
Zi-la—
On the screen, all the Duel feeds were replaced by the same image, then those images merged into one massive backdrop.
The man on it was dressed in splendor, his clothes richly ornate—clearly someone of enormous wealth and status.
He was the new representative of the Nobles.
Only—
When he saw there was no one behind Goodwin, and that Goodwin was looking at him so calmly, the man instantly put on a fawning expression. Rubbing his hands, he said carefully, "Mr. President, we've already taken care of everything you requested."
"Very good." Goodwin replied mildly.