"Today, we will once again conduct a theoretical written examination to adjust the dormitory rankings. All students of Duel Academy, please answer the questions diligently..."
The golden mushroom-haired professor stood at the front of the podium, rambling on before starting the theory test.
At that moment, in the back row of the tiered classroom, Jiang He was half-趴 on the table, wearing a sleep mask with an eye pattern printed on it. He looked like he was staring straight ahead, deep in thought. However, anyone who got close would immediately realize he was fast asleep.
Sitting some distance away, Alexis Rhodes couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. Feeling a wave of drowsiness herself, she covered a yawn with her hand and continued her test.
Not far from Jiang He, that hot-blooded Slacker boy, Jaden Yuki, and Syrus Truesdale were leaning their heads against each other, snoring loudly. Almost everyone involved in last night's events was exhausted.
After all, Jiang He had dueled Titan for an entire night due to the time-flow issues within the Shadow Duel ritual space. Having missed a whole night's sleep, he naturally needed a nap. As for the possibility of getting a zero on the written test again, Jiang He didn't care in the slightest. He had no intention of moving up to Ra Yellow or Obelisk Blue anyway.
A zero made no difference to him. Besides, his private luxury cottage was already more than half-finished; moving to another dorm now would be a loss.
While Jiang He was relaxed enough to sleep, Professor Crowler was struggling to stay still at the podium. He was incredibly anxious! From time to time, he cast a glance toward Jiang He in the back row, his eyes heavy with dark circles.
He was desperately wondering: Did that Duel Hunter, Titan, manage to destroy the photos in that Slacker boy's hands last night?!
Last night, after waiting until well past midnight, Crowler hadn't been able to help himself. He had gone to the Abandoned Dorm as agreed with Titan. He found some familiar footprints inside, but no sign of any people, let alone a destroyed camera. In the end, he hadn't even seen the "expert" he'd hired; Titan never came to collect his payment.
"Mamma Mia... is it really possible that Shadow Duels exist and that expert actually vanished...?"
Crowler clutched his mushroom hair, his face contorting into a shocked expression worthy of a meme, beads of cold sweat rolling down his forehead. The idea of someone "vanishing" because of a card game was simply too absurdeven for this place.
There's no way a real Shadow Duel exists! Crowler shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the ridiculous notion.
However, he faced a agonizing dilemma. If Jiang He still had those incriminating photos of him sneaking behind the Obelisk Blue girls' dorm, he would have the miserable task of covering up for the Slacker boy and Jaden for trespassing in the forbidden Abandoned Dorm. But if the photos were gone, he could turn around and push for their expulsion.
The golden mushroom-haired professor wore a comical, devious grin as he schemed, but he soon fell back into a state of conflict. Which one is it...?
Before Crowler could agonize for much longer, the test duration was nearly up. Jiang He, feeling satisfied with his nap, woke up under the reminder of his Sphere Kuriboh. He pulled off his sleep mask and immediately saw several people in Duel Academy's green security uniforms enter the classroom.
"We have discovered that someone entered the forbidden Abandoned Dorm last night, and we have identified the suspects. Would the students who went there please report to the Chancellor's office!" the leading woman in green announced.
"So they finally came," Jiang He muttered, letting out a small, unsurprised yawn. He was fully rested now and didn't feel sleepy at all. It didn't matter if he had to visit that Baldy Wukerather, Chancellor Sheppard. He had already anticipated this outcome before he even set foot in that dorm.
Alexis was startled, but after seeing that Jiang He didn't look worried at all, she inexplicably felt a lot more relaxed.
Only the still-snoozing trioJaden, Syrus, and the chubby Chumleywere unlucky. They were hauled up by the security guards and dragged toward the office, flailing all the way.
A few moments later, in the spacious Chancellor's office...
"Regarding the incident where Jiang He, Alexis, and the rest of you broke into the Abandoned Dorm... this is quite a difficult matter," Chancellor Sheppard said, looking troubled as he sat behind his desk with his hands crossed under his chin. "According to the regulations, this should result in immediate expulsion."
"Huh?! Expelled!" Jaden and Syrus cried out in shock. Crowler, who had followed them in, nodded in agreement. Yes, that's exactly how it should be handled!
At that moment, Jiang He coughed and adjusted his collar as if he were feeling a bit warm. In doing so, he intentionally let the corner of a small camera peek out of his pocket.
Crowler's expression froze. His eye twitched uncontrollably. A torrent of cold sweat poured down his face like rain.
Holy Mamma Mia!
No more agonizing. The photo was definitely still in that Slacker boy's hands! If Chancellor Sheppard followed through with the expulsion, heVellian Crowler, the Head of Practical Duelswould probably be kicked out right along with them!
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