'This damn vegetable, I will turn him into grilled corn soon enough!' Cologne and Thunder Spark though at the same time.
They quickly explain themselves, although each of them has great pride being a duelist, no one want to undergo the same torture Captain Corn has received.
Seeing Ryuji's gaze directly at her, Cologne quickly makes up an excuse on the spot. "Don't trust his nonsense, I don't like duel that much. The reason why I want to have a duel with you is because I was worried that you will be bullied by those two."
With a righteous tone, Cologne continues with her nonsense. "Now that you have proven your power, there's no need for me to duel you anymore."
"Really? Look like Cologne-san is a good person~" Although his word is sweet and full of trust for Cologne, his eyes towards the female doll hold no trust. 'Just because I'm a kid, you expect me to believe your nonsense?'
Cologne turns her head away, pretend to not see his gaze. As for Thunder Spark, he smartly choosing to stay still and remain silent, trying to make himself invisible. But the lightning bolt on his hand is always ready to launch at whoever try to point out his existence.
Ryuji tactically choose to ignore him and turn to Mr.Heartland. "So, I'm now an official member of Number Hunter, right?"
Mr.Heartland nod his head. "Indeed, from now on, you're one of us. I believe no one here gonna object." He says while looking at the three Number Hunters.
The three keep their mouth tightly shut, none of them is dumb enough to speak up after witness the duel between Captain Corn and Ryuji.
Ryuji speechless watching the three adults standing like a child. 'Am I that scary?' He shakes his head helplessly. "Alright, is our group have any rules I must follow?"
"There aren't many rules in our group, but there's 2 rules you must obey. And not only him, but also the four of you must follow when you three become official Number Hunter so remember clearly." Mr.Heartland point at Kaito, Riko, Dextra and Nistro while saying.
"First, you must priorities order above everything else. Because your only job is to hunt Number cards and they rarely appear. So, when we need your help to hunt them, you must come immediately.
Second, you can borrow the Number cards if you want but return it when we have an emergency use for it. Any problem?"
Ryuji listened and found no problem with the rules; he already takes benefits from them. If he refused now, then he will forever be labeled with the selfish mark by the reader. As for return the Number monster? 'Haha, that's at least 10 years from now, when that time come, I'll teach Vector what it feels to face 3 Duel King level boss.'
"Oh, right. I have one last question." Ryuji raise his finger towards Captain Corn. "Are we allowed to kill or harm each other in anyway?"
Captain Corn pupils shook violently. "Hey! What did you mind with that question!? Although I'm not a good person, I was not shameless enough to harm my companion!"
Seeing Captain Corn trying hard to defend himself, Mr.Heartland also speak up to help him. "Captain Corn is right, although sometimes there will be disagreement between members, but no one will go as far as killing each other for such trivial thing. Challenge each other to a duel is the only thing they will do so don't worry too much."
Hearing his explaining, Ryuji let out a sigh. But there's no relief in it, only disappointed. "I see, and here I thought that I can take his Number for myself. What a shame, I really like Number 50 effect."
Ryuji's words causing everyone to froze from shock, cold sweat run-down Captain Corn's spine as he feels his heart beating violently. 'This kid, he thinking of killing a person just to take their card!? Okay, that's actually normal in this world...'
Ryuji's friends look at the terrifying Number Hunters and shake their head helplessly. They obviously know Ryuji was only joking and was just trying to scare them for extra security. Of course, they can't ignore the possibility that he actually means what he says.
Mr.Heatland wipe the sweat from his forehead and force a smile. "Alright, stop joking around. Let's talk about the benefits you got after becoming a Number Hunter. First, we'll arrange a research team for you, they're response for research and create new card for your personal use.
For example, if you want new dinosaur card then we will arrange you a dinosaur specialist researcher. Same goes for a machine type, warrior type or a specific archetype. Of course, it'll be the best if you choose a specific archetype for better research process."
Ryuji's getting brighter from each word Mr.Heartland say. He quickly takes out two cards from his pocket and put it on Mr.Heartland hand. "I need a research team specialized on machine monster to research this card."
Mr.Heartland look at the cards on his hand. The first card is Cyber Dragon Nova, and the second card is no other than 'Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger', the winner prize Mr.Heartland has giving Ryuji before. "Okay, I get that you are interested in machine type monster since you're using them in your deck right now. But why giving me Gaia? It has nothing to do with machine, is it?"
Ryuji: "I'm not interested in Gaia itself, but it summons mechanic. I want the researchers to create a Xyz Cyber Dragon that can use Cyber Dragon Nova as its material. Gaia is merely a researching material I gave them; I have no use for it anyway."
"Got it, are you also want me to arrange a research team for your Time Thief?" Mr.Heartland speak considerate of the archetype Ryuji use during the test.
Ryuji shook his head. "There's no need for now, tell them to priority making my Cyber Dragon card first."
"Alright, with that matter done, let talk about the remaining benefits you get. You will get a salary of 5 million ¥/month. You can also get notified when new cards are being produced and have priority to buy them first before they were released. And..." Mr.Heartland say as he lists the benefits of being a Number Hunter one by one.
By the time Ryuji's group walking out of the Heartland Theme Park, the sky is already turned orange from the sunset.
Riko quickly say goodbye to them and head home, she still has parent waiting for her at home so she can't stay for long. The trio go home together by Mr.Heartland's car. Of course, it's his bodyguard who ride them home.
After a long tiring day, there's nothing better than a long sleeping. Thank to Ryuji new Number, he can release a special gas that let them relax and fall into sleep quickly. That night to them was the most peaceful night.
And... They late for the school on the very next morning.
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At another place within Heartland city, a black card was driving normally on the road. Inside the car, a family of four was happily taking to each other.
Suddenly, a car coming from the opposite direction lost control and swerved into their lane. The father quickly turned the steering wheel in an attempt to avoid the collision, but it was too late. The black car crashed into the roadside barrier with a loud bang.
The other drivers quickly stop and come checking on them. Luckily, although the card was completely ruined, every single member of the family was safe, just lost conscious. The most damage one was the father and he merely bleed a little on his legs. They quickly call the ambulance for them.
But they didn't know that around the car, there's an invisible green barrier cover every member of the family completely. On top of a sky pillar, a figured surrounded by darkness sat there quietly. He watches the screen below with great interest. After confirming that the whole family is safe, he lifts his head towards the sky, patiently waiting.
After 15 minutes, the ambulance has arrived and about to take the family away. The man stands up as the two things, or two persons he was waiting for has appear.
On the sky, a space rift appears and two persons, two souls to be specific, fell out. The man raises his hand towards the souls and close his palm. A green barrier similar to the barrier protect the family wrap around the souls.
Two green balls fall into his hand. Without hesitation, he throws the two at the direction of the family below. The moment the balls touch the barrier around the family, it broke, release the souls inside.
The two souls quickly bind themselves to the body of the twin siblings.
After seeing the results he wants, the man turns away and vanished into the night. As for that man identity. He is no other than-
"❄︎♒︎♏︎❒︎♏︎🕯︎⬧︎ ■︎□︎ ■︎♏︎♏︎♎︎ ♐︎□︎❒︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎❍︎ ⧫︎□︎ 🙵■︎□︎⬥︎ ❍︎⍓︎ ♓︎♎︎♏︎■︎⧫︎♓︎⧫︎⍓︎📬︎ 👎︎□︎■︎🕯︎⧫︎ ❒︎◆︎♓︎■︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎ ⬧︎◆︎❒︎◻︎❒︎♓︎⬧︎♏︎📬︎"
"🕈︎♒︎⍓︎ ♎︎♓︎♎︎ ⍓︎□︎◆︎ ⧫︎❒︎♋︎■︎⬧︎♐︎♏︎❒︎ ❍︎⍓︎ ⬥︎□︎❒︎♎︎⬧︎ ♓︎■︎⧫︎□︎ 🕈︎♓︎■︎♑︎♎︎♓︎■︎♑︎⬧︎✍︎"
"❄︎♍︎♒︎✏︎ ☞︎◆︎♍︎🙵 ⍓︎□︎◆︎✏︎"
________________________________________
The chapter I write lately is getting shorter and shorter. I nearly squeeze dry all the content I can make for this period of time.
I will try to make chap 40 my first R-18