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Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: Getting Funds

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The chaotic blade fell, drawing the curtain on the duel.

Even after the duel image faded, the card professors were still stunned, staring at where Black Luster Soldier disappeared, speechless.

Still in shock that a vanilla monster has effects!

Tenma, however, quickly stood up.

"A fine duel. I lost." He pondered, "Black Luster Soldier… gaining such powerful abilities through Ritual materials—so this is the true path of Chaos evolution?

So all our research until now was off track…"

He glanced at Mokuba.

"No wonder KaibaCorp, known for its research, achieved such a breakthrough. This shatters the academic claim that Black Luster Soldier had reached its full potential."

"Thanks for the praise, but this time it wasn't our achievement." Mokuba smiled, gesturing at Kira. "Black Luster Soldier chose him.

On the contrary, as you said, it's thanks to him we achieved these results."

Tenma was surprised, looking at Kira again.

He squinted. Kira noticed he seemed to be looking at something behind him.

Kira turned to look and saw, after the duel, Black Luster Soldier had returned to spirit form, standing behind him like a bodyguard, hand on sword.

Kira realized something: "You can see him?"

"Yeah. My spirit affinity is pretty high." Tenma smiled. "No wonder you have such power… you're a chosen duelist too."

As a former God card holder, it was natural Tenma's spirit affinity was high.

"Strong spirits are a duelist's asset, but top duelists are equally a spirit's blessing."

Tenma closed his eyes and laughed softly.

"I lost, nothing more to say. In fact—"

He paused, looking at Kira and the Black Luster Soldier behind him.

"That form of 'Black Luster Soldier' didn't show all its power, did it?"

The card professors were all startled.

Even now, that wasn't its full power?

From what they'd seen, Black Luster Soldier had displayed overwhelming dominance.

"Mr. Tenma, you're sharp," Kira admitted. "That's true."

The two knights, Beginning and Twilight, grant Black Luster Soldier even more effects.

If both are used as materials, Black Luster Soldier can use "Dimensional Slash" twice per turn—banishing two monsters.

Or choose "after destroying a monster by battle, gain an extra attack" or "banish a hand card until end of next turn."

So not only did the vanilla get effects, it got multiple, rich abilities. In practice, it's easy to make your opponent feel "Your card doesn't say this, but you just do whatever you want."

"Indeed. It's a pity I couldn't see the rest. I hope I'll have the chance next time."

Tenma smiled, then turned to the balcony above.

"So, what does President Kaiba think of this duel?"

Everyone followed his gaze and realized Seto Kaiba had silently appeared at the second-floor railing.

Mokuba was delighted. "Big brother!"

Kaiba said nothing, vaulted the railing, and landed in a crouch.

Kira's first thought: "That's gotta be hard on the knees."

Then: "That's too high for a human! Did you take super soldier serum or something, President? Can I have some too…?"

Mokuba quickly ran over. Kaiba strode forward, arms crossed, and met Tenma's gaze.

After several seconds, Tenma broke the silence.

"I've always wanted to say this…"

Tenma spoke softly.

"I'm sorry for what happened in the past, President Kaiba."

Kaiba looked at him briefly, then turned away.

Some card professors, annoyed by the apparent snub, wanted to speak, but Tenma's glare stopped them.

Kaiba walked a few steps, then stopped, speaking without turning.

"You… at least you're a duelist," he said. "If you're a duelist, get stronger, then challenge me head-on."

He turned his head slightly, with a confident, cold smile.

"Of course, I just wonder if you still have the guts now."

Tenma paused, then smiled too.

"I understand." He said seriously. "That's a duelist's promise."

"Hmph."

Kaiba didn't look back, now facing Kira.

"Kira was amazing today—first against the card professors in the Link System, then that duel just now…" Mokuba quickly complimented. "And he only just got the new Black Luster Soldier card today, and already used it so skillfully, right, brother?"

Kaiba didn't speak, but his eyes showed a hint of approval.

It hadn't been long since he'd last seen Kira, but in such a short time, his progress was remarkable.

His craving for duels was starting again.

"Battle City. Don't disappoint me," Kaiba reminded. "Don't let me down."

"Of course," Kira nodded.

Assuming I have the resources…

"By the way, President, I remembered something," Kira said. "I've loved Duel Monsters since I was a kid—not just dueling but discovering new monsters, card design, research, all that.

Recently, my teachers noticed my talent and are encouraging me. With the academy's support, I'm setting up a lab—"

"Get to the point."

Kaiba cut him off.

So Kira went straight to the point: "We need money."

So honest. No pretense.

He'd looked up KaibaCorp before coming. He knew President Kaiba heavily promoted Duel Monsters R&D, with many research teams and lots of investment.

Many labs and private teams had received KaibaCorp funding—he'd even set up a special fund for promising Duel Monsters research.

Now that Kira had set up a small lab, he was a fledgling research team. Kaiba's investment was just a word away.

Sure enough, Kaiba was not annoyed but rather approving.

It seemed he respected that.

After all, Kaiba always believed in scientific card creation—that's how he got his fleet of Blue-Eyes variants.

For Kaiba, this was a trivial matter, so he agreed without hesitation.

"Fine."

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