After the match, Yugen grabbed a meal with the Pegasus brothers from the International Illusion Association. During the meal, Moonwalker assured them that they would be prioritized for sponsorship and given special access to purchase rare cards through the Association's exclusive channels, enjoying the same discounts as internal staff.
This further expanded Yugen's future card acquisition channels. Thanks to Moonwalker's sharing, he downloaded the International Illusion Association's store into the Academy terminal, making visiting the store for new releases a part of his daily routine alongside the Academy's store.
On top of that, he also found ways to acquire many of the decent-looking cards Moonwalker used in their duel.
Having unrestricted access to the world's largest card printing company's internal purchases would have made any other duelist excited, seeing it as an opportunity of a lifetime.
But Yugen's first reaction was, huh? Still have to spend money?
I always get freebies from Kaiba Company...
But it doesn't matter; he wasn't short on cash for now anyway. Just converting his found card decks and rare cards into cash was already a sizeable sum, not to mention the rewards from President were barely touched.
Being able to rely on strong support is indeed comforting.
After a fulfilling and enjoyable trip to the Illusion Association, the trio returned to the Academy that evening.
As Yugen anticipated, their newly established small laboratory quickly gained fame within the Academy.
Understandably so. A student-formed research team receiving sponsorships successively from the two giants, Kaiba Company and the International Illusion Association, sounded absurd even in description.
Initially spreading among the teachers, the word soon got around to the students too.
"Heard about it? Fujiki Yugen... that annoying duelist from Yellow Dormitory, set up a lab, and even Kaiba and Pegasus invested in it!"
"Nani, that powerful? He must have some serious backers, huh?"
"Exactly. I heard he's tight with that Seto Kaiba, like wearing the same pair of shorts close."
"What did you say?! Is he latching onto a bigwig for future prospects after graduation?"
"..."
The rumors became more and more exaggerated.
When Yugen heard these rumors from Mitsuzawa, he was completely puzzled. He thought that he had barely met the President a few times, and the conversations added up to less than ten sentences, so when did they get close enough to share a pair of shorts?
Indeed, people are naturally drawn to gossip. They prefer stories over truths, which is why things get twisted in transmission...
Oh well, it doesn't matter, it even helps with recruitment.
After returning from this meeting, the Academy started paying more attention to their project, even reallocating personnel from the research department to accommodate Yugen's development needs.
Along with funds from both Kaiba Company and the Illusion Association coming through, Yugen's lab was officially up and running with decent formality. As long as he relied on his memories of potential future card deck trends to guide the overall direction, stable production should soon follow.
This duel with Moonwalker, despite his victory, gave Yugen some inspiration.
"Duel with all your heart..."
Yugen reflected upon himself.
He believed he was genuinely passionate about dueling all along.
Although different from most duelists in this world, he relished the joy of dueling and especially enjoyed spreading this joy to others...
"Bringing smiles through dueling" should be the eternal truth of Yu-Gi-Oh!, right?
They say all roads lead to Rome, just as there are countless paths to ascend to godhood. There's no reason dueling shouldn't work. If Yuki Judai could become god-like through fiery card games, why couldn't he?
Thus, he realized what it boils down to is more practice and feeling.
Yugen further increased his daily training regimen for real matches.
His prime base for picking trusty opponents was naturally the Dueling Department. For several days, he'd drop by the department, each visit filled with laughter and joy.
Next, there was the Student Union, which he had joined not long ago. As a newcomer, he soon blended in with the veteran members, and over the course of more than a week, he had challenged almost everyone... um, no, had established friendship through dueling.
During practice, he also helped Senior Sister Seika handle some trivial Student Union affairs.
Apparently, the Photography Club and the Art Society both eyed the Academy garden on the same day. One claimed they'd reserved it for taking photos for an upcoming cultural festival exhibition, while the other said they were scheduled to sketch there today.
Their presidents were supposedly arguing endlessly, neither willing to give ground.
So the gold-medal mediator Yugen stepped up, smiling as he presented his Duel Disc: "I have an idea. Why don't you each duel me, and the winner gets priority? How does that sound?"
Both presidents hushed instantly.
After a brief silence, the Photography Club president said, "I thought about it, and since there's still time before the cultural festival starts, you can sketch first; we can come back in a couple of days..."
"No, no, you should go ahead," the Art Society president grew humble, "Sketching can be done anytime, but holding up the festival exhibition won't do."
"No, you first."
"You go ahead..."
Yugen chuckled: "Let's tweak that plan a bit. You each duel me, and the winner grants priority to the other. No problem with that, right?"
Presidents: "......"
It seemed they understood something.
Regarding who wins or loses their dispute, Yugen didn't seem interested or concerned.
He just came to play cards.
"..."
In the end, Yugen got the cards he wanted, and the conflict was resolved perfectly.
He thought the earlier description of both sides by the Student Union members was somewhat unfair. To him, both were quite courteous, accommodating, and reasonable.
From now on, it seemed they could handle club negotiation matters more peacefully and reasonably.
Later, a new rumor started circulating in the Academy.
About the Student Union acquiring a forbidden weapon.
If you violated rules or disobeyed management, depending on the severity, the Student Union might deploy "that officer" for enforcement.
For a while, all the clubs became anxious, feeling like a cloud of darkness had loomed over their environment... much like the future of the Dueling Realm.
Of course, over time, various clubs realized "that officer" taking action seemed to depend on his mood, and he wasn't interested in getting involved in everything.
The Student Union gradually reached a subtle understanding with students in the management process.
As long as behavior doesn't cross the line, they promised not to immediately use "that officer's" power.
However, anyone receiving a warning from the Student Union must be smart and curtail themselves early.
This strange balance, once established, became known in the latter half of the academic year as the "Yellow Uniform Deterrence."
Yugen's tendency to find tasks in the Student Union was entirely mood-dependent. Earning extra credits and getting cards from the Student Union's inventory were bonuses; the main thing was maintaining his skill.
He didn't care about specific assignments either, considering only one criterion: whether he could find a card battle from it, create an opportunity to play cards if needed, and whether the opponents were worthy.
It didn't take long for Senior Sister Seika to figure out his selection criteria. She'd typically compile tasks Yugen might find interesting, not even bothering him with those she knew he'd ignore.
Like today.
"So, Yugen, how about this one?"
Senior Sister Seika handed him a brief report.
"Regarding the on-site review of new club formations. Of course, you can require the registering president to pass a duel for approval..."
Yugen waved his hand, uninterested: "Any others?"
Primarily because he had already dueled the applicant president before, with no need for a rematch.
Senior Sister Seika helplessly put away the report.
For a moment, it was hard to distinguish who was actually the president...
But there's no choice. The laboratory led by the man in front of her not only had simultaneous investments from Kaiba Company and the International Illusion Association but also received substantial attention from the Academy's top management, and rumor had it that his relationship with President Kaiba was unusually close...
And what about her? Just a humble little Student Union president. What else could she do?
"Hmm? What's this?"
Yugen had already picked up a report he glimpsed out of the corner of his eye.
"Oh, this, a student reported a strange person wandering the Academy forest recently at night," Senior Sister Seika said, "It's said this person is highly skilled, and multiple students from Obelisk Blue have lost to them.
Also, after every duel, the stranger insists on collecting the opponent's rare card as a sign of humiliation; in severe cases, they might even take the Duel Disc as well..."
Yugen was taken aback.
Seizing Duel Discs and rare cards?
That there exists such a vile person in the world!