Jiang He quickly deduced the reason for Crowler's behavior. It had to be the photo he took after baiting the Professor near the Obelisk Blue girls' dormitory last night. Crowler was clearly trying to stay on his good side to keep him quiet.
Jiang He hadn't originally planned to do much with the photo; he just felt that having a little leverage would prevent the golden-haired mushroom professor from causing him minor annoyances early on.
But now, he realized he could put it to better use.
Jiang He wasn't afraid of duels coming to himhe was only afraid of not having any unlucky souls to feed him Emotion Points!
"There's no need to change my opponent to Syrus, Professor. If possible, I'd actually prefer someone a bit stronger," Jiang He said, waving his hand in refusal.
He had already farmed Syrus for points several times in a single day recently; he was starting to feel a little guilty. He figured he should give Syrus a break for now. Besides, Syrus was probably so traumatized that he wouldn't provide many points anyway.
"A stronger opponent? Well then, how about we swap him for the Obelisk Blue Chazz... no, wait, how about Ra Yellow's Bastion Misawa?"
Crowler blinked, then rubbed his hands together with a comical laugh. Privately, he was scoffing.
What an arrogant slacker-boy. He thinks he can challenge real experts just because he got lucky and beat Alexis and Chazz.
This grade is vital for whether a student can upgrade to Ra Yellow or even Obelisk Blue.
However, the most important thing for Crowler right now was to keep Jiang He placated until that rumored duelist he planned to hire arrived.
"Bastion Misawa, huh? Yeah, he sounds like a fitting opponent," Jiang He nodded thoughtfully.
He had been wondering when he'd get a chance to duel Bastion. Since the entrance exams ended and they arrived at Duel Academy, he hadn't had any contact with the guy. Jiang He decided that during this afternoon's class, he would give Bastion a "warm" dueling welcome as a reunion gift!
At the thought, a satisfied smile spread across Jiang He's face.
(Insert meme: Bastion Misawa: 'Don't come any closer!')
"In that case, Professor Crowler, please arrange for me to duel Obelisk Blue's Chazz!" Jaden chimed in.
"Wha... Nani?" Crowler was bewildered.
He felt like his brain didn't have enough capacity for this. What was wrong with the Osiris Red slackers these days? Usually, students were terrified of failing their practicals by being defeated. Why were Jiang He and Jaden Yuki actively seeking out powerful opponents?
But if Jaden wanted to follow Jiang He's lead and seek his own destruction by fighting a powerhouse, that suited Crowler just fine! It would keep Jiang He happy while also dealing with Jaden.
Thinking of this, Crowler nodded enthusiastically, even letting out a bit of English. "No problem! Requests granted!"
"Syrus, do you want a strong opponent too? I personally recommend Dimitri from Ra Yellow!" Crowler added helpfully.
"No! I'm totally fine! I don't need that at all!" Syrus cried, shaking his head and waving his hands frantically.
He was terrified that he would actually be assigned a powerhouse like Jiang He and his "big brother" Jaden. Getting crushed in a practical would lead him straight to a failing grade!
Now this is what an Osiris Red slacker should look like... Crowler thought with satisfaction. He even found Syrus a bit more likable in that moment.
What's with that weird look in his eyes...? Jiang He thought, rolling his eyes internally.
As for Crowler's inability to understand the situation in Osiris Red, Jiang He could only say that the man clearly hadn't watched enough Naruto. Didn't he know that the Genin were the strongest ninjas? By that same logic, the Osiris Red students were the strongest duelists!
That afternoon, at the practical duel grounds.
Jaden and Syrus stood in the spectator area, holding their stomachs and complaining listlessly.
"Why is the breakfast and lunch at Osiris Red always pickled dried fish and curry mapo tofu?"
"No wonder Jiang He took the money after he beat Chazz last time..." Syrus said, looking enviously at Jiang He, who was leaning against a wall with a clean piece of straw in his mouth.
At noon, Jiang He was the only one in the Osiris Red dorm who hadn't eaten the standard meal. He had gone to the academy store and spent his own money to buy a deluxe lunch from Ms. Dorothy. Fried shrimp, pork cutletshe had it all!
If only they could eat like that! And then there was that luxury cabin being built right next to the Osiris Red dorm...
Syrus suddenly felt that following Jiang He might be a better deal than following Jaden.
"Attention, students! We will now begin the Duel Practical Class. Those whose names are called, please proceed to the six dueling fields in front."
Professor Crowler's voice rang out across the indoor arena. This was not the high-end stadium where Jiang He and Chazz had dueled previously; that place was reserved for school-wide events and Obelisk Blue training.
Since practical classes had time limits and required multiple duels to happen simultaneously, a single-field stadium wasn't practical. This arena was divided into six standard dueling fields, perfectly suited for the task at hand.
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