"Boss, the communication still hasn't been restored."
The chubby guy walked along the carriage to Iwao, looking a bit frustrated.
"Is that so? Well, never mind. It's not really unexpected."
Iwao waved his hand dismissively.
Yugen had also checked his personal communication device earlier. Ever since they arrived in this area, the signal completely vanished, as if this town was isolated from the outside world by an invisible barrier.
"Alright, let's talk about the plan."
Iwao spread the map on the table and confidently explained to Yugen.
"Before you arrived, we had basically decided on the operation plan. But now that we have someone strong like you joining us, we can make some personnel adjustments for a better chance of success.
Let's start with the objective. Simply put, we want to leave this godforsaken place, taking all the survivors with us, using that train over there."
He pointed to the train parked on the side track. There was a dim light coming from the train's carriages, and people were walking back and forth inside, making it look like a makeshift living camp.
"But to get this thing moving, we first need to restore power and the traffic control system."
Iwao gestured on the map. Yugen noticed two red circles marked on the map.
"Here is the power station, which has been occupied by those damned zombies. It's probably like their base, and there's likely a very tough guy over there too."
"A Duelist zombie?" Yugen asked.
"Yeah. We used to have two excellent Duelists here, but they couldn't break through the blockade over there and didn't make it back."
Iwao's expression darkened, and he solemnly turned to Yugen.
"If you feel something is off, immediately turn back and run. Don't try to be a hero, understand?"
"No problem, don't worry." Yugen readily agreed.
Iwao frowned slightly.
He had a feeling that although Yugen agreed quickly, he didn't really take it to heart.
"Alright. Anyway, the operation at the power station will be quite dangerous. I'll personally take charge there. You're skilled, so you can join my team.
But remember, when I tell you to run, you must run, alright?"
"Sure." Yugen replied, "But does this mean besides the power station, there are other operations as well?"
"Of course. Once we've restored power, we still need to restore the traffic control system; otherwise, the train can't move. But that's the responsibility of another team."
He turned to Peacock Dance: "I'll leave that side to you."
Mai shrugged, hugging her arms and said nothing.
"If there are no issues, then it's settled."
Iwao put away the map and said in a deep voice.
"Success and failure depend on this; everyone needs to get out alive."
...
...
At dinner time, everyone gathered under the dim light of the carriage to eat and chat. The food couldn't be considered great, but given the current circumstances, it wasn't bad either.
"So, do you think you can do it?"
Peacock Dance approached Yugen from behind at some point.
"Who? Me?" Yugen shifted aside to let her sit next to him.
"Who else?" Peacock Dance sat beside him, looked at him curiously for a moment, "I know you're strong in dueling, but you still seem... young. For something like this..."
"It's fine, I've been through worse." Yugen smiled.
"Then I asked too much." Peacock Dance nodded, "But I can sense that you have the aura of a warrior who's truly been through trials. Even though you're still so young...
Anyway, I hope tomorrow's operation goes smoothly, and we all get out together."
"Hmm, actually, I might not even plan on leaving," Yugen said.
Peacock Dance looked at him in surprise: "You don't plan to... so you want to stay in this godforsaken place?"
"Yeah." Yugen shrugged.
He thought if he wanted to leave, he could do so at any time. A bunch of zombies couldn't trap him.
"I'm here to find someone and investigate. Now that I've found there really is something wrong here, naturally, I have to investigate the reason." Yugen smiled, "Based on experience, the center of strange occurrences usually involves a card.
And the bigger the event, the more unusual the card."
Peacock Dance met his gaze, pondering for a moment.
"A pursuer of power-type Duelists, huh." She nodded in understanding and then smiled, "Reminds me of my past self... or maybe even the current me, who knows."
"So why did Sister Mai think of coming to a place like this to find Joey?"
"Because of an email from him."
She casually took out her phone, unlocked the screen, and handed it to Yugen.
But Yugen didn't take it right away: "Is it okay for me to see?"
"It's nothing." Peacock Dance shrugged.
So Yugen took it and looked at the email.
"Whatever you do, don't come to Qingshui Town, Mai, absolutely don't come."
It was just a short message like that.
"Uh... so he told you not to come."
Yugen handed the phone back to Mai.
The implication being, are you naturally rebellious?
"Tch, but typically if he says that, it means I definitely have to come, right?" Mai pouted, "And besides, after that message, I haven't been able to contact him. How could I just let it go like that?"
"True, I guess..."
After a few seconds of silence, Yugen squinted at her.
"Then I have a question. Although it might be a bit rude, I'd still like to ask."
"Go ahead."
"What's your relationship with Joey?"
Peacock Dance's expression froze for a moment, then she snorted heavily.
"What relationship? Of course, he's an enemy and rival, someone I must defeat no matter what."
She grumbled with annoyance.
"I've beaten him so many times, and he thinks he can just walk away with a victory. It's not that easy... no way...
Indeed, from the first time in Duel Kingdom when she faced Joey, it seemed like she never won. And that should have been her best chance—back when Joey was a beginner, still half-understanding the duel rules, at his weakest.
Later on, Joey's growth was almost like a rocket taking off, and even though Peacock Dance joined the Darkness and tapped into the power of Orichalcos, she still couldn't truly defeat him.
But it's not a big deal. If you can't win at cards, there's always a chance to turn things around in the bedroom in the future...
"Is it just that?" Yugen asked.
"What else?" Peacock Dance glared at him.
"You're not planning... to get married or something, are you?"
"Ha?"
She widened her eyes in disbelief and suddenly stood up from her seat in confusion.
"With that guy? Are you kidding? Where did you hear that... impossible, absolutely impossible, not in this lifetime."
She denied it incoherently three times, then turned and walked away in exasperation.
"Getting so worked up, is it that serious...?"
Yugen rested his chin on his hand.
It seems Joey still has some work to do...