Chapter 249: Now, Let the Duel Begin!
On the commercial street of Domino City.
"These guys are a bit too diligent, aren't they? To think they're already waiting here this early?" Hayato complained, holding a thin card in his hand that looked somewhat like glass-like material, as he looked at the crowd that had packed the commercial street.
After leaving Ishizu Ishtar's place together, they hurried towards the commercial street. They had originally thought that since it was only a little past seven in the morning, still the peak time for office workers, the commercial street wouldn't have too many people.
But on the way, Duelists wearing Duel Disks on their wrists were practically crowding the street.
"What's going on with all these people?" "I'm not sure. Have the Mafia gotten so arrogant that they're going out for a fight in broad daylight?"
Hayato even heard two middle-aged men on the roadside, briefcases tucked under their arms, discussing the Duelists who were collectively walking down the street.
However, it was clear they were mistaking the Duelists for a group of delinquents on the move, and their Duel Disks were being treated as some kind of weapon, since they did look pretty cool.
It was quite reasonable for those two office workers to think that way, because the increase in the number of Duelists naturally led to uneven average quality, and there happened to be two or three guys dressed like delinquents standing right in front of them.
"Starting today, Domino City is going to become Duel City. You guys don't even know that, old man?"
"Are you living in the stone age? They've been promoting this for a month now."
"If you don't want to get hurt by being treated as prey, you'd better run!"
Ishizu Ishtar frowned as she looked at the arrogant delinquent Duelists. "The number of Duelists attracted by Duel City is still a bit too high."
"While we want to attract as many Ghouls as possible, we've also unexpectedly brought in some lowlifes." Hayato shrugged, stepped forward, and patted one of the three delinquent Duelists surrounding the two office workers. "Hey, what are you doing?"
"Hah, who's this guy who dares to butt into This Great One's business—"
The delinquent turned his head back, annoyed. After arriving in Domino City, relying on his excellent fighting ability and decent dueling strength, he had barely managed to obtain LV5, then used "borrowed" money to buy a Duel Disk, becoming one of the Duelists with tournament qualification.
At the same time, he had successfully taken on two obedient underlings.
He was very ambitious, thinking of using this Duel City tournament in Domino City to become famous in one fell swoop and become the strongest delinquent in all of Japan, and the two office workers in front of him were the funding source he had chosen.
But when he turned his head, he saw the tall and imposing Hayato.
"I'm sorry! I know I was wrong!" The delinquent Duelist immediately executed a practiced routine of apologizing and running away, clearly a master of the "bowing craftsman" spirit.
Hayato watched the delinquent leave with his underlings disdainfully. "I thought he was some kind of street thug, but he's just a coward."
"Perhaps it's because your height is too exaggerated, Hayato-kun. There aren't any Japanese people who are 1.95 meters tall." Ishizu Ishtar stood beside Hayato, hands on her hips, looking helpless. "Really, didn't I tell you to take care of yourself? Your injuries haven't healed yet."
Unlike her casual attire at home, when going out, Ishizu Ishtar had changed back into her original Egyptian white robe, only this time she wasn't wearing her veil.
"I told you it's nothing serious. That attack from The Winged Dragon of Ra didn't even—"
Hayato wanted to clarify again that he wasn't injured at all and that his previous unconsciousness was just due to being too tired, but just as he opened his mouth to speak, he heard a familiar voice ring out.
"Greetings, Duelists! Welcome to 'Duel City'—Domino City!"
Instantly, not just Hayato and Ishizu Ishtar, but the Duelists gathered on the commercial street all stopped their noise, quieted down, and looked up.
However, the large screens on both sides of the street showed no change.
"Where is that voice coming from?" "That voice just now sounds so familiar." "That voice is Seto Kaiba! Where is he!"
Because they couldn't find the source of the voice immediately, some people in the crowd who had just quieted down started getting noisy again. And just then, a massive shadow slowly enveloped the entire street.
"Is it cloudy today?" Ishizu Ishtar looked at Hayato, only to see the corners of his mouth slightly turn up, revealing a smile. "The weather today is clear all day, it's just that occasionally, someone trying to show off appears in the sky."
Amidst the roar of engines, the true form of the "cloud" blocking the sunlight was revealed above the commercial street. An extremely massive airship appeared, suspending an equally huge screen, and Kaiba's stern face was on that screen!
"President Kaiba is really throwing his money around..." Ishizu Ishtar was somewhat speechless seeing the scene before her. Although she possessed the Millennium Necklace which could see the Future Sight, she usually only used it to look at relatively important futures.
The opening declaration of Duel City had proceeded normally in the future she saw, and Ishizu Ishtar hadn't paid much attention to how Kaiba would open it, so she was also a bit surprised at this moment.
"Now, I shall announce the rules of Duel City."
"Within Domino City, anytime, anywhere, when Duelists with Duel Disks meet, that is when battle begins. Engage in Duel Monsters battle using a Deck of 40 or more cards, including Rare Cards. The victor will obtain the defeated opponent's Rare Card, as well as one Puzzle Card they possess!"
"Puzzle Card?" Ishizu Ishtar took out a card that was somewhat similar to the "glass card" in Hayato's hand. The only difference was the puzzle-like pattern in the central area. "Is this a Puzzle Card?"
Meanwhile, Hayato was holding two Puzzle Cards. One was his own, and the other was the one Rishid had given to Ishizu Ishtar to pass on to Hayato after Marik's defeat last night.
"Collect Puzzle Cards along the way. When a total of six different types of Puzzle Cards are gathered, they will provide guidance to the final stage of Duel City." On the screen, Kaiba sneered. "For the sake of fairness, I, who am also participating in Duel City, do not know the location of the final stage either, but it is definitely within Domino City!"
"Only the first eight Duelists to reach the destination will have the qualification to enter the final stage competition. So, hunt for Rare Cards to make your decks stronger, and strive for the glory of defeating the King of Games! Now, let the Duel begin, Duelists!"
The airship departed from above the commercial street, and just then, Hayato heard someone calling out to him from nearby: "Kobayashi Hayato!"