"Who knows?"
Jiang He hadn't expected Alexis to take the initiative to strike up a conversation, let alone ask him questions. He gave a non-committal answer with a casual smile. Then, stroking his chin as he recalled the original plot, he teased her. "Alexis, since you're so concerned about my situation, could it be... that you've fallen for me at first sight?"
"Eh...?" Alexis was taken aback. Her face flushed slightly as she shot him a sharp, annoyed look.
This guy. If he didn't want to talk, he didn't have to, but there was no need for that kind of talk. She wasn't trying to spy on him or pry for information. However, she didn't truly take offense at the joke. She assumed Jiang He had some secret strategy for winning that he couldn't reveal. If that were the case, her questioning really was a bit inappropriate.
Still, Alexis found herself considering something else. She would find out his secret in her own way! No man could keep a secret hidden for long from a powerful woman who had already become interested.
"Her reaction is a bit different from what I expected. Did she misunderstand something...?" Jiang He wondered to himself.
He was perfectly aware of the weaknesses of his Exodia OTK deck. As for a way to fix those flaws? He didn't have any plans to!
If that fool Chazz tried to target the weaknesses of his Exodia deck to get revenge, Jiang He would simply use the extra Emotion Points he earned this time to buy a new Troll Deck from the system. He'd give Chazz even more "healing smiles," and that would solve everything! He might even be able to milk the guy for Emotion Points one more time.
In other words, Jiang He's solution was simple: just swap decks!
"My turn, draw!"
On the dueling field, the duel between Jaden and Chazz had already progressed through one turn. Chazz had taken the first move, summoning a monster with high defense and setting a trap card. Now, it was Jaden's turn.
"I activate the Spell Card [Polymerization]! I fuse Elemental HERO Avian and Elemental HERO Burstinatrix from my hand!"
"I summon my favorite ace Hero in Attack Position Elemental HERO Flame Wingman!"
As a blue, green, and yellow fusion vortex swirled with light, the silhouettes of Avian and Burstinatrix were drawn into the center. In an instant, an orange-yellow light flared, and a humanoid, single-winged monster with a black, green, and red body appeared on the field in front of Jaden.
"Is this the so-called bond between a duelist and their Duel Spirit...?" Jiang He's lip twitched as he grumbled internally.
Opening with his two workhorses, Avian and Burstinatrix, plus [Polymerization]. It was as if those three cards were glued together without being shuffled. But Jiang He knew better. Once a deck was placed into the Duel Disk, the machine automatically shuffled it before the duel began. There was no way Jaden wasn't shuffling.
It could only be said that although not every card in Jaden's deck had awakened a spirit, they were close enough. Whenever Jaden needed a card, it would be called upon, making its way to the top. Essentially, Jaden's legendary top-decking wasn't without reason.
Jiang He had felt a faint sensation of this when he used Clear Mind earlier. However, aside from five "corpse pieces" and two immobile libraries, his deck didn't exactly have Duel Spirits to speak of... Plus, he didn't have the ability to see Duel Spirits yet, so he couldn't truly sense anything. Even during Clear Mind, it was only a vague, strange feeling.
Jiang He could only conclude that Jaden, as the chosen child of this dueling world, had a reason for his luck.
Tap, tap, tap...
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the far end of the corridor, growing louder as they approached.
"Oh no! The academy guards are coming!" Alexis's expression changed instantly as she warned everyone. "Using the dueling facilities outside of permitted hours and betting cards like you two are doing is a violation of academy rules. You could be expelled!"
Jaden, Chazz, and the others were shocked.
Jiang He, however, wasn't surprised at all. The night patrol was always supposed to interrupt the duel between Jaden and Chazz at this point. Most importantly, his own duel was over, and he had already finished fleecing Chazz!
"Huh?! The Duel Academy has a rule like that?" Syrus asked in alarm.
"Haven't you guys read the academy regulations on your Duel Academy Communicators?" Alexis asked, exasperated, as she held up her own device. She glanced at Jiang He, but he remained calm, showing no signs of surprise. He had clearly known all along.
"Lord Chazz, the footsteps are getting closer! We have to get out of here!" Chazz's two lackeys urged.
"Tch, this ends for today. We'll settle this in our next duel!" Chazz snapped at Jaden. He stepped off the platform but paused to glare at Jiang He before leaving. "And you, you lucky bastard! Just wait for my revenge! I'll take back my victory next time!"
"Let's go!" Chazz hurried off with his two followers.
"Damn it, I wanted to finish the duel...!" Jaden looked even more upset than Chazz. He didn't want to leave at all. He even looked like he wanted to call Chazz back to keep playing. His "card addiction" was truly intense.
Jiang He looked at the hot-blooded idiot with an speechless expression. He gestured to Jaden and Syrus, and then headed toward a side exit opposite to the direction Chazz had taken. They wouldn't run into the patrol if they went that way.
Alexis didn't linger either. She gave Jaden and Syrus a final warning look and followed Jiang He out.
"Big brother, if we don't leave now, we're really going to get caught...!" Syrus practically shoved Jaden along to make him keep up. If they got expelled on their first night at Duel Academy, it would be the end of them!
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).