While Hikaru was pondering a certain bald professor…
Another "professor" was also concluding his own "ordeal."
"Mamma mia..." Professor Crowler rubbed his head and staggered off KaibaCorp's plane, making his way toward the empty classroom.
After more than a month of interrogation, Crowler had finally returned from KaibaCorp headquarters to his beloved Academy Island.
Unlike the students,
Crowler was a professor at Duel Academy, and nominally its top authority. Although technically on the same level as Leo Akaba, with the emergence of someone like Leo, it was only natural for Crowler, as his colleague, to be interrogated.
Most teachers underwent a couple of rounds of questioning and were then cleared.
Some were arrested, some released, and preparations for the next term resumed.
However, Crowler was different.
No teacher, from the main campus or the branch campuses, was quite like him.
Because, for a time, he served as Acting Principal of Duel Academy!
And more critically, he was one of only two individuals to have had direct contact with Leo Akaba!
Naturally, he had to be questioned.
What's more, after a couple of rounds, KaibaCorp's Investigation Division discovered numerous things related to Crowler in the Fusion Army's internal activity logs!
It included his schedule, Decks, management records, duties, daily teaching, and even his students—the data suggested the Fusion Army considered Crowler extremely important!
Honestly, even Crowler had been shocked when he first saw this.
He even started to suspect that someone in the Fusion Army's staff might have a crush on him.
Eventually, after multiple hearings and investigations, KaibaCorp realized that far from collaborating with Leo Akaba, Crowler had actually been working against him from the start—sending two students to oppose the Fusion Army, and even taking action himself.
He was, in fact, a truly admirable teacher!
The moment this truth was uncovered—and the Investigation Department saw how much Leo Akaba "despised" and "hated" Crowler—they began treating him like a hero.
Applause resounded, leaving Crowler thoroughly baffled.
'Wha… what?'
'I did that?'
'…I stopped Leo Akaba from recruiting at the Academy? I sent Hikaru to oppose the Fusion Army? I rebranded the "Fusion Division" into the "Polymerization Club"?'
'I was… that competent?'
Crowler had been completely dumbfounded.
Even he, normally prone to claiming credit, tried to deny the accolades.
But no one believed him. They thought he was being modest, and the applause only grew louder!
What could he do?
The world made no sense.
In the end, Crowler got a shower at KaibaCorp, changed into a fresh uniform, collected the compensation they offered, and boarded the flight back to the Academy, physically and mentally exhausted.
Though a month had passed, he figured things had turned out alright.
At least KaibaCorp paid off his 26-year mortgage.
Since all the students had gone to the Critical Nexus Dimension, the Academy was deserted.
As he walked through the empty halls, his heart felt heavier.
A month had gone by.
Though relieved not to be implicated, even unexpectedly hailed as a hero, none of that mattered to him now.
He only wanted to do a good job running the GX Tournament.
He wanted to carry out the Principal's project properly.
He used to fantasize about becoming Principal if Sheppard ever stepped down—that it would feel great.
Yet, now that Sheppard had actually resigned, he felt uneasy.
Principal Sheppard was a good man with a vast network. Just organizing something as big as the GX Tournament proved he was no slouch.
On top of that, Sheppard had always been kind to them.
Though Crowler once resented him for allowing Jaden Yuki to take a special entrance exam despite being late—which he considered favoritism—he still respected Sheppard deeply.
Now Sheppard had resigned.
But with both Kaiba brothers absent from KaibaCorp, his resignation hadn't been processed. Crowler had merely resumed the role of "Acting Principal."
In other words, the opportunity still lingered...
Burdened with thoughts, he didn't head straight to the principal's office to savor its air, but first went to inspect KaibaCorp's Dimensional Train.
He was worried that someone might be scheming to cause trouble again.
Fortunately, both the Dimensional Train and the gate station were well guarded.
He sighed in relief.
Shaking his head, he turned toward the Academy building, slowly making his way to the principal's office, and gently opened the door.
Just as he thought, he might tidy up and soothe his frazzled mind—
He was shocked to find someone inside the office!
The person wore a blue-tailed coat—standard Obelisk Blue teacher uniform. Blonde hair, blue eyes—clearly not from the main campus!
The stranger had rummaged through everything, scattering objects everywhere. In that moment, he held a small ornate box and seemed about to open it.
"Who goes there!" After the initial fear, an unknown surge of power welled up in Crowler, and he shouted, "Put that down!"
But the intruder, momentarily stunned, turned and ran straight for the window without hesitation!
"Wait!"
Crowler shouted and chased after him.
With a crash, the stranger smashed through the floor-to-ceiling window, shards of glass and wood slashing his clothes and skin—but he didn't care. He leapt outside.
Crowler didn't think. He jumped too.
The two landed one after another with a crunch, and the intruder took off sprinting toward the forest.
"Stop right there!!!" Crowler shouted, too angry to even say his catchphrase, ignoring his injuries as he gave chase.
After a long pursuit, he saw the intruder finally stop. Slowing his pace to avoid ambush, Crowler swept his eyes across the area—
And was stunned to realize they had reached the Shadow Riders' Seal Gate!
No way!
He looked at the box in the man's hand. The man didn't hesitate. He opened it, revealing the Shadow Keys.
"You're releasing the Sacred Beasts!?"
"Haha, that's right! The Sacred Beasts' bodies and their supporting cards—" the man laughed. "The cards the Professor lacks—I shall take them!"
He was one of Leo Akaba's agents!
Crowler gritted his teeth.
That scumbag who made a mess of their school and students again!
"You may have foiled the Professor's plans before, Crowler—but not this time!" The man jammed all the keys into the gate—but the door… didn't open?
"Huh? What the—?"
"Hehehe, hahaha~ Mamma mia! You think the Principal and I wouldn't have thought of this?" Crowler grinned smugly.
Because… This time, he genuinely wanted to oppose Leo Akaba. This was his decision, his plan!
"I already entrusted one of the keys to my most trusted student—Amaki Hikaru! He's in a distant dimension now. No matter what you do, you can't open it!" Crowler burst out laughing.
At least right now, he was the "hero" certified by KaibaCorp!
"..." The teacher gritted his teeth, body trembling like a volcano about to erupt.
"CROWLER!!!!!!" he screamed and hurled the box aside, activating his Duel Disk.
"Hah... It's Professor Crowler to you!" Crowler tapped his chest switch. His massive blade-like Duel Disk unfolded.
[Obaro, Fusion Army Instructor, South America Branch, LP: 4000]
[Professor Crowler, Acting Principal of Duel Academy, LP: 4000]
...
Next Bonus @400
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