Chapter 45: Fusion's Essence
District 8's "Transit Tower"—physically the closest location to the mid-level districts.
Everyone traveling from lower districts to mid-level had to ride the rail elevator inside Transit Tower.
Of course, you couldn't just go whenever you wanted.
Lower district residents required a "transit permit" and had to pass security inspection before being allowed to enter mid-level.
At this moment, Amano's group was waiting in line for Transit Tower's security checkpoint.
"So many people!" Shio hopped up to peek.
Having completely mastered her auxiliary prosthetics' functions over the past month, actions like hopping, jumping, and running were no longer difficult for Shio.
As if releasing a girl her age's natural energy, Shio couldn't stay still for a moment.
"Bro, this is my first time seeing so many people! As many as District 32's garbage!"
"Shh, you can't say things like that!" Amano quickly embraced Shio, restraining her so she wouldn't run around everywhere.
Held in her brother's arms, Shio didn't struggle or make a fuss, just hung on Amano like an accessory.
"Bro, that card you've been looking at since earlier—is it the farewell gift Yui gave you?"
"Yeah."
"Such a shame Yui couldn't come along."
Among the childhood friends from District 32, only Yui had been left behind.
This couldn't be helped.
First, Yui's situation differed from Kikawayu's. Her family needed her shop assistant wages to make ends meet—her parents couldn't possibly agree to let her attend Duel Academy.
Second, Yui was very self-aware.
Finesse had said if they were beautiful girls, she couldn't bring them along.
Yui was very self-aware—she was a beautiful girl.
"You absolutely have to come back! Otherwise I'll be lonely! Definitely!"
"Don't worry, Yui. We're just going to school, not moving away. We'll definitely return for New Year's break."
For Amano, District 32 would always be home.
Besides, District 32 still had the New Year's Landlord Tournament. How could the ten-time consecutive champion not attend?
[Yui] [Affection +1]
[Yui] [Affection: 70]
[Romance Skill Unlocked: "Fusion's Essence"]
Actually, Yui's affection had stayed at 69 points—very close to a reward—for quite a while.
But just like that dinner table incident, even having grown up together since childhood, Amano completely couldn't understand how to raise her inexplicably quirky affection.
Then right at their farewell, after Amano promised he'd definitely return, Yui's "good friend reward's" most crucial point was finally added.
And this card in Amano's hands was the farewell gift Yui had given him.
Apparently the Tsundere Duelist card shop's owner had gifted it to shop assistant Yui when in a good mood.
"Gave this kind of card when in a good mood?"
Trap Card: Grave Robber
The reason was the little person on this card smiled brilliantly, much like the shop assistant's smile when greeting customers.
Where exactly was it brilliant?
Well, coming from a shop owner who'd name a store that, having a peculiar thought process was understandable.
As for why Amano kept studying this card during the journey—it wasn't because of its "brilliant smile" artwork.
Rather, it was this card's effect.
[Grave Robber] [Trap Card: Target 1 Spell/Trap in your opponent's GY and activate it. This card's effect becomes that card's effect.]
This was the original anime effect, right?
Amano recalled the real card wasn't like this.
Only in the anime Yu-Gi-Oh! DM, when gambling god Jonouchi used this card, did it have this effect.
Amano had long harbored doubts about some cards' actual effects within Eden Tower.
This card, including Lutz's Gate Guardian used during the underground duel, clearly had their original anime effects.
Yet the Three Sacred Beasts Kikawayu had pulled were the nerfed real card effects from his previous life.
After all, the anime version Three Sacred Beasts were far stronger than their real card versions.
These differences between real cards and anime card effects—was it purely Eva system's random selection, or did patterns exist?
Amano pondered this question throughout the journey.
"Security's coming up soon. Will there be problems? Do we need to take off clothes?"
Kikawayu nervously looked around. With that shifty behavior, he'd probably be security's priority inspection target.
Finesse assured: "Everyone's transit procedures were personally handled by the Wein Family. There can't be problems."
Just this past month, Finesse had traveled between lower districts multiple times—she was thoroughly familiar with Transit Tower's procedures.
Facts aligned with Finesse's words. Whether shifty nervous Kikawayu or metal-prosthetic-wearing Shio, everyone smoothly passed Transit Tower security.
Then came Amano's turn.
When scanning his Eva terminal to confirm identity information and transit permit authorization, the female officer conducting inspection slightly frowned while staring intently at her screen.
"Mr. Amano? Your identity information seems to have a slight problem. Could you please come with us?"
"Oh, sure."
When security issues appeared, following Amano's previous life's common sense, cooperation was safest at times like this.
"What happened?" The three who'd already passed security turned back, suddenly discovering Amano at the rear being led away by the female officer, collectively expressing confusion.
Five minutes later, the female officer brought Amano to a rather deep room inside Transit Tower.
"Inspector Akira, I've brought him."
After the security officer reported to the man inside the room, she closed the door and exited. Leaving Amano alone with the man before him.
The man inside wore a deep blue military cap atop messy unkempt hair, his lower face covered in stubble, a half-burned cigarette dangling from his mouth corner.
Looking utterly slovenly, forming stark contrast with the young newly-hired officers—clearly a workplace veteran.
"You're Amano Rei?"
"Yes."
"I don't like beating around the bush, so I'll be direct."
Akira took a deep drag on his cigarette, then ground the butt beneath his shoe.
"Someone important doesn't want you going up."
"Someone important?"
"Kid, as for who you've offended—that's for you to figure out yourself."
Just as he finished speaking, the previously somewhat dim room's ceiling lights suddenly all switched on, thoroughly illuminating every corner.
Only now could Amano see clearly—this room was a massive duel arena.
Simultaneously, Transit Tower's wall-mounted giant screens suddenly began broadcasting footage of Amano and Akira sharing the duel arena room.
"What's going on?" Shio tilted her head in confusion. "Why is Brother suddenly on TV?"
"Doesn't seem like TV." Kikawayu observed and analyzed. "Wait, this is... a livestream?"
"Is—is this right?" Finesse's head filled with question marks. "Something's wrong! Why would Amano be with an inspector?"
"Ahem, attention everyone. This is Transit Tower Inspector, badge number 004, Akira Totas."
After clearing his throat, Akira felt something off in his mouth and simply lit another cigarette.
"Just discovered one illegal immigrant, about to conduct Judgment Duel!"