Chapter 108: The Time for the Curtain to Rise Has Come, Offer Thunderous Applause
At nine o'clock the next morning, Hayato and the others emerged from their respective Rooms and went together to the Hall where they had dinner yesterday.
After a day of rest, the four of them, including Hayato, were full of energy. Their Decks had also been adjusted to varying degrees to adapt to the situations that might arise in various Duels.
Even the ever-reckless Joey Wheeler, for the first time ever, included a Card like Mystical Space Typhoon in his Deck, which doesn't directly increase ATK.
Upon arriving in the Hall, Hayato and the others found that someone was already waiting there.
"Oh, someone's finally here?" The speaker was a middle-aged Uncle wearing a baseball cap. Noticing the arrival of Hayato and his group, he put down the coffee he was holding, stood up from his seat, and greeted them proactively, "Hello everyone, my name is Samejima Iemitsu. Everyone who knows me calls me Samejima."
"Hello, Mr. Samejima." Hayato shook his hand quite warmly. "My name is Hayato Kobayashi, just call me Hayato."
"Hello, Hayato."
Watching Hayato warmly greeting someone he had just met, Joey Wheeler lowered his voice and said to Tristan beside him, "Hey, what do you think?"
"I think they're both acting weird," Tristan paused. "Hayato isn't exactly a very enthusiastic person, is he?"
And in the Hall, it wasn't just Samejima and the newly arrived Hayato and his group: "Hmph, so noisy, a bunch of boring guys."
Bandit Keith leaned against the back of his chair, resting his feet on another chair, and grumbled discontentedly as he watched the lively atmosphere over by Hayato's group, "First thing in the morning, I see you brats chattering non-stop, it's so annoying."
Hayato and the others didn't say anything, but Samejima said apologetically, "Sorry, Mr. Keith, did we disturb you?"
"Hmph!"
Samejima had the appearance of a nice guy. According to Joey Wheeler and the others' understanding of Keith, he should have arrogantly mocked and ridiculed Samejima, and perhaps shown off his status as the U.S. Champion. But for some reason, upon hearing Samejima's words, Bandit Keith just snorted coldly and fell silent.
Samejima Iemitsu, if there were no surprises, should be that "Samejima," right? Looking at the hair visible under Samejima's hat, Hayato thought with some uncertainty.
Earlier, when Kujaku Mai mentioned that there was a Duelist using the "Cyber Style" among the Top 8, Hayato's first reaction was that he would meet Ryo Marufuji, but he quickly dismissed that idea.
One must know that the story of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX didn't happen until 2012, and Ryo Marufuji was only 17 years old then. It was currently only the year 2000, so even the child prodigy Ryo Marufuji, who showed extraordinary Dueling ability from a young age, was only five years old now.
Following this line of thought, Hayato remembered the previous generation's Cyber Style Duelist, Ryo Marufuji's Teacher, and also the Principal of Duel Academy—Principal Samejima. The "Samejima Iemitsu" in front of him looked to be in his early thirties. In another ten years, he would be forty. Although going bald at forty would be quite tragic, his age did match that of "Principal Samejima."
"Um, Mr. Samejima?"
"Oh, what is it, Hayato-kun?" Samejima showed a kind smile. Just like in the future, Samejima was a very amiable person and quite friendly to young Duelists. Otherwise, Kaiba wouldn't have appointed him as the Principal of Duel Academy.
"That hat on your head is too tight. Wearing it too much can easily lead to baldness."
As soon as Hayato finished speaking, someone not far away chimed in, "What does it matter if that guy goes bald?"
Turning his head, Hayato saw a guy walking very arrogantly, even comparable to Keith. Beside that guy was a young Woman dressed as a maid, carrying an aluminum alloy Briefcase beside him.
As he walked towards Hayato's group, the arrogant guy's gaze was fixed on Samejima: "Samejima Iemitsu, you didn't expect this, did you? I told you, don't think it's over just because you defeated me once. Just wait for my revenge."
Hayato turned to look at Kujaku Mai, who nodded: "As I said yesterday, that's the young master of the Gallum Corporation, Ptah Gallum. He lost to that Samejima over there once."
"Hmph, that's in the past!" Obviously, hearing his less-than-glory record mentioned made Ptah Gallum feel a bit embarrassed. Glaring at Kujaku Mai, who looked innocent beside him, Ptah walked away without looking back, while inwardly regretting how he had been momentarily confused yesterday and told that Woman named Kujaku Mai about his affairs.
Yugi silently counted the number of people present: 'Kujaku Mai, me, Joey Wheeler-kun, and Hayato-kun, that's four people. Plus Mr. Samejima and Bandit Keith, and the Ptah Gallum who just arrived, that makes seven. The last Duelist should be—'
"Oh my, it's really lively. So everyone arrived so early." A voice suddenly appeared behind Yugi, startling him. Turning around, the guy who had friendly approached their table during dinner last night was standing behind Yugi. "I thought I would be the first one to arrive."
"Lemuria." Hayato frowned, saying the name the other party had given last night.
Among the Top 8 Duelists, Bandit Keith was skilled in gambling Cards and Machine Monsters, Joey Wheeler was also skilled in gambling Cards, and Yugi, or rather the Pharaoh's, Deck emphasized Bond and cooperation.
Kujaku Mai's Deck was proficient in Backrow Destruction, and Samejima's Deck, even if not the invincible Cyber Dragon, was likely centered around Machine Type Monsters. The only ones with unknown Information were Ptah Gallum and the Lemuria in front of him.
And Hayato's sixth sense as a Duelist kept telling him one thing—this Lemuria in front of him was a formidable opponent.
"Oh my, Mr. Hayato, your eyes are scary." Lemuria noticed Hayato's gaze and said in a feigned manner, "Or perhaps, you're already impatient to Duel me? What an enthusiastic Dueling Heart."
In the Hall, Bandit Keith and Joey Wheeler, who couldn't stand each other, were bickering. Samejima and Yugi were chatting about their understanding of Duel Monsters. Kujaku Mai was boredly looking at her fingernails. Ptah received his Deck handed to him by the maid, and Hayato was playing "whoever blinks first loses" with that Lemuria.
"Cough cough." An aged voice came. The Butler of the Castle appeared at the Hall entrance at some point and spoke up to announce his presence. "All Duelists have arrived. Please follow me to the Duel Arena. Master Pegasus is waiting for everyone there."
Led by the old Butler, everyone obediently followed to the place where Kaiba and Pegasus had Dueled yesterday. Just as the old Butler said, Pegasus, still wearing his signature red suit, was already waiting there.
"Welcome! Duelists~, welcome everyone to my Castle." He spoke in classic Pegasus style. "First of all, congratulations to anyone who passed the first stage of the Qualifiers and became one of the Top 8 of the Duelist Kingdom, gaining the qualification to compete for the title of 'Duel King'."
"However, I believe anyone has also seen that there are seven other Players standing in front of you beside your." Pegasus said, a smile appearing on his face. "So me announce, the Qualifiers for the Top 8 will now begin!"