Seeing the Orichalcos arc about to start, Youyu's eagerly awaited new equipment finally arrived this afternoon.
The delivery package was brought by a guy in a suit and dark sunglasses, with an air of mystery. Youyu vaguely remembered that he seemed to be one of the two Door Gods that Pegasus brought last time he came to the shop—but he wasn't quite sure.
After all, in his view, these guys dressed like secret agents all looked pretty much the same, like they were cast from the same mold. It was as if the manga artist couldn't be bothered to spend too much ink on extra characters when rushing a deadline, so they just lazily drew everyone with the same face...
This agent didn't utter a word upon entering, and mysteriously pulled out a square-shaped package from his coat.
Youyu noticed that when he placed the package on the counter, he seemed to deliberately shield it from the window's direction with his body, as if to avoid unnecessary eyes.
He pulled out a special ballpoint pen marked with the Industrial Illusions Society logo from his pocket, then took out a receipt for Youyu to sign. After signing, the agent took the receipt, bowed, left the package behind, and walked out.
Throughout the whole process, he didn't say a single word, not even moving his mouth, like an emotionless robot, adding to the eerie mystery.
Youyu opened the package and the first thing he saw were the special cards that Pegasus promised to custom make for him. However, there were only two cards in the package for now, seemingly just for him to check the goods.
The first card was the half-finished product that Pegasus had shown him last time, but it seemed completed now. Masked Hero Inferno, Level 4, Attack 1600, Defense 1000, no effect.
The other card was the most crucial card in the Masked Hero series, and the core of the entire series.
Quick-Play Magic, Mask Change, allows the "Hero" Monster on your field to transform into a "Masked Hero" with the same attribute.
It's equivalent to the "Henshin (Transform)" from the Masked Rider series in the neighboring studio.
But besides the cards, he also found a videotape in the package.
By this point, Youyu had roughly guessed what might be on the tape. But of course, he still had to watch it.
Youyu inserted the tape into the player, and unsurprisingly, the first thing he saw on the screen was President Pegasus with his stylish hair, sitting behind his desk.
"Youyu Boy~"
Opening Raigeki. Right off the bat, it was the lingering echo of his broken English. Old employees from the Illusion Society, like Uncle Xin, felt a sense of nostalgia upon hearing it, as if they were home again.
Pegasus looked serious: "Regarding the chaos caused by Duel Monsters appearing worldwide, I conducted special research and investigation, and discovered some truly alarming facts.
But I cannot explain them here. No matter what, I must speak to you in person about this matter.
However, I can no longer leave from here. Someone is watching me, so I had no choice but to hide the videotape with the cards I promised to give you last time... but honestly, I have no idea if you can see this.
I also managed to warn Yugi Boy and Kaiba Boy, but to be honest, doing so is a gamble. I don't know which of you three will receive the notification, but even if just one of you does, please make sure to come find me!
Youyu Boy, arrangements have already been made at the Domino branch. Take the card I gave you to the Industrial Illusions Society branch there, and someone will arrange the travel for you. I'll be waiting for you at headquarters.
Please hurry, I don't know how much time I have left!"
The video ended here. The screen was replaced by static noise, accompanied by the sound of electrical interference.
Sure enough, Pegasus had also been controlled by Doma.
Youyu pondered that even if he went to the Free Realm to find Pegasus now, it might already be too late. At the moment he was watching the tape, Uncle Bei might already be done for.
But no matter what, Youyu decided to first follow Uncle Bei's instructions and check the Industrial Illusions Society's Domino branch.
As for whether to go to the Free Country or how to get there, he'd think about it later.
It seemed Pegasus's Industrial Illusions Society and his underground forces had also fallen victim to Doma, and he was now unable to protect himself. Frankly, Youyu wasn't too comfortable with his arrangements.
Anyway, estimating that President Kaiba would probably head to the Free Country within the next couple of days, Youyu was absolutely confident that President Kaiba would certainly take him along before he left.
By then, flying with President Kaiba on his "Blue-Eyes White Dragon," Youyu felt a bit more secure.
But just to be safe, Youyu decided to draw some cards before leaving.
Youyu first decided to test the waters with three thousand Crystal Stones. Without further ado, let's draw—draw cards!
...Well, as expected, nothing much.
Sixty percent were cards he had previously pulled, and the remaining forty percent were all meaningless. But it didn't matter, as Youyu had prepared thoroughly for this moment, and his wallet was still quite full.
This trial was just to lull the system into thinking that his wallet wasn't that loaded, so it would relax and perhaps carelessly give out something good next round.
So another three thousand Crystal Stones—draw cards!
Alright, once again to no avail. Six thousand Crystal Stones for a sound, not even a guaranteed card, just ask if anyone else could do this?
Can ordinary people draw cards and have this kind of luck?
But it still didn't matter. It's said that everything a true Duelist does is inevitable, even drawing cards—they could create—Shining Draw!
—YaDaZe (success)!
Elemental Hero Shadow Mist, Level 4, Attack 1000, Defense 1500. Effect: When this card is Special Summoned, add "Mask Change" from your deck to your hand; when this card is sent to the graveyard, add a "Hero" Monster from your deck to your hand.
But you can only activate one of the effects per turn.
Possessing the ability to search both "Mask Change" and any "Hero" Monster, it's undoubtedly a Divine Card in the Hero series!
Youyu glanced at the remaining five-figure Crystal Stones, then at the draw button in the card pool, and almost without hesitation chose to continue.
After all...
...If you don't use the Crystal Stones at crucial moments, they're meaningless!
And a Hero must never retreat in the face of battle!
Draw!
...
In the end, after draining that massive pile of Crystal Stones, Youyu only managed to get one Mask Change, one Shadow Mist, a bunch of meaningless Masked Hero Normal Monsters (comic cards), and a few Masked Hero Fusion Monsters.
Judging by the haul, it was actually not bad. But compared to the nearly astronomical number of Crystal Stones he put into the pool, which is unthinkable for an average player, it was a little terrifying.
Once again, it proved that being a Hero is not something ordinary people can aspire to. It seems like for an average player to invest in a set of Heroes, they'd need something like an apartment in the second ring road...