Chapter 34: A Man Can Be Poor, But He Can't Sell
After casually grabbing a few boxes of District 11's local specialty Red-Eyes Magma Noodles, Amano took the cross-district train back to District 32.
Though there was no rush regarding Duel Academy matters, there was still plenty to prepare.
Besides daily necessities, most of it centered on Amano Shio.
As her older brother, he needed to do proper psychological prep work for Shio.
Including how Shio would face her future life after getting auxiliary mechanical prosthetics and being able to walk again.
And he absolutely had to convince Shio to come with him to Duel Academy.
The train arrived at the station. As Amano walked toward home carrying the spicy noodles, he discovered a luxury car parked outside his house that looked completely out of place.
Wait—why did this scene feel so familiar?
Didn't yesterday follow this exact same script?
First off, it definitely wasn't Finesse.
The young miss should've just left the lower districts heading to the Wein Family to analyze the Puppeteer's fake cards.
After observing from a distance for a while, Amano saw a petite girl in a black student uniform standing outside his door.
Amano had absolutely no recollection of her.
Right now, this unfamiliar girl was chatting and laughing with Kikawayu, getting along splendidly.
Wait—why did this scene feel so familiar?
Didn't yesterday follow this exact same script?
Kikawayu, are you some kind of social butterfly? How do you hit it off with every young miss?
"You're back, Rei!" As usual, Kikawayu noticed Amano first. "Someone's here to see you."
"Yeah." Tossing the bag of noodle boxes into Kikawayu's arms, Amano turned his gaze to the uniformed girl. "And you are?"
Getting closer, Amano realized the girl's build was somewhat miniature. If Shio could stand up again, she'd probably be taller than this girl.
Since she wore a student uniform, there was a strong chance she attended an Eva Duel Academy. Judging by appearance, probably middle school division—maybe she'd become Shio's schoolmate later.
Thinking this, Amano's attitude softened somewhat, his mouth forming a polite smile.
The uniformed girl greeted him cheerfully: "Nice to meet you. You probably don't know me, Amano Rei."
One second ago, he didn't.
After the system prompt, Amano remembered.
[Potential Target Discovered: Kaiba Chiha]
Kaiba Chiha. Yesterday when Amano searched for Kaiba Corporation information on Eva Wiki, that entry had popped up.
Since internet time was limited then, Amano hadn't clicked through to see detailed photos—just skimmed the information summary.
Amano only remembered that Kaiba Chiha was Kaiba Chiaki's younger sister and president of Kaiba Corporation. Currently a second-year high school student at Eva Duel Academy, about to enter her third year next month.
High school division?
This world's Duel Academy high school division only admitted students 18 years or older.
Meaning this shorty before him was actually older than he was.
What's going on? Aren't you rich people supposed to have excellent nutrition?
But Amano quickly dismissed that impolite thought. After all, she was Kaiba Corporation's number two. He thought she was short, but she probably laughed at him for being poor.
Still, for Kaiba Corporation's number two to personally come all the way to the slums to find him...
[Affection Query Complete]
[Kaiba Chiha] [Affection: 59]
Alright, Amano was now certain of one undeniable fact.
—He really was that handsome.
Otherwise, every girl he met for the first time had affection above 50. Besides being incredibly good-looking, there was no other explanation.
Listen—the surroundings were already starting to gossip.
After all, this kind of luxury car stood out way too much in the slums, naturally attracting quite a few District 32 residents to gather and discuss.
"Another rich girl came looking for that Amano boy today."
"Pretty sure yesterday's visitor wasn't the same one?"
"Is the Amano kid doing something... not entirely legitimate?"
"Gotta say, the Amano boy might be poor, but his face is definitely well-formed."
"But a man can be poor—he can't sell himself!"
Misunderstanding! Total misunderstanding!
If they kept discussing like this, rumors would spread and distort into absurdity. His carefully cultivated reputation in District 32 would collapse.
He had to clear up this misunderstanding.
"Kaiba Chiha—I'm not entirely unfamiliar with you. I happened to see information about you online. But for Kaiba Corporation's number two to personally come to the Tower's lower levels looking for me, what's this about?"
Without beating around the bush, Amano—determined to clear up the neighbors' misunderstanding—skipped even the self-introduction stage and cut straight to the core issue.
"Since you know me, that makes things easier. I won't beat around the bush either." Kaiba Chiha's smile grew even wider.
"Amano Rei, I want to buy you."
And the misunderstanding was now completely confirmed.
The whole area erupted.
District 32's neighbors spread the word far and wide.
—Amano Rei really is selling himself.
Wait, no!
Don't just listen to the first half and rush off to spread rumors!
"Amano Rei, I want to buy the card in your possession."
Right, Amano had pretty much guessed as much anyway.
For Kaiba Corporation's second-in-command to specifically seek him out, it couldn't be about anything else.
No matter how carefully he'd tried to hide it yesterday, tossing out that card in front of everyone—he couldn't escape Kaiba Corporation's surveillance network.
What had to come, would come.
Kaiba Chiha cut straight to the point: "The fourth Blue-Eyes White Dragon is in your hands, isn't it, Amano Rei?"
"Yeah, it's with me."
Kaiba Corporation had personally come knocking. There was no way to deflect this—better to admit it honestly.
[Kaiba Chiha Affection +1]
[Kaiba Chiha] [Affection: 60]
That raised affection directly?
The one trying to acquire Blue-Eyes White Dragon should be her older sister Kaiba Chiaki, right?
Or did the entire Kaiba family share a special fondness for Blue-Eyes White Dragons?
"Eighty-seven million!" Kaiba Chiha's eyes lit up with excitement. "Sell me the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. I can transfer the full eighty-seven million bounty to you right now."
The whole area erupted again.
Though this time, nobody rushed off to spread rumors.
As the saying goes—good news doesn't leave the house, bad news travels a thousand miles.
Better verify the facts first.
Compared to "Amano Rei sold himself based on looks," the idea that he possessed an 87-million-point card was easier to believe.
"E-e-eighty-seven million?!"
Even Kikawayu was scared into a stutter, mouth repeating the number over and over.
"We're rich! Rich, Rei! Tonight I'm eating the Eva Tower Feast!"
Don't get carried away!
"Regarding the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, I can't—"
"Ninety million!" Kaiba Chiha interrupted.
She immediately started raising the price.
Before coming, Kaiba Chiha never expected that the simple bounty amount alone would be enough to obtain Amano's Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
Otherwise Amano would've already claimed the bounty himself.
"Even if you raise the price—"
"One hundred million!"
"One hundred m-m-m-million!"
Now Kikawayu was stuttering so much he sounded like a broken record player.
"Rei, tonight I'm going to Heaven on Earth!"
How is this any of your business? Go home!
"One hundred fifty million!" Kaiba Chiha still wasn't done.
Was this the aura of the wealthy? Watching Kaiba Chiha raise the bid without hesitation, even her small stature seemed to grow imposing.
Amano's heart ached too. If this Blue-Eyes White Dragon could actually be sold, he wouldn't have waited for Kaiba Chiha to raise the price—it would've already transformed into a warm 87 million long ago.
Seeing Kaiba Chiha's momentum, Amano figured even if he refused repeatedly, she wouldn't give up.
Might as well let her face reality.
Opening the card case at his waist, Amano extracted the Blue-Eyes White Dragon from his deck.
Then just like that, without any precautions, he placed the card into Kaiba Chiha's hands.
"Take it. No charge~"
***
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