As soon as Ed arrived at the school, Judai sent a message to Youyu, including a photo of the pier crowded with students.
From the photo, Youyu could imagine how lively the scene was.
In fact, Ed's enrollment process was also handled by him. Ed skipped almost all the normal registration, assessment, and review steps along the way. He didn't participate in the entrance exam or interview. Even the academy leaders hadn't seen him, and he was admitted directly.
The reason he could enroll so smoothly was because Youyu had smoothed things out.
Though "a card game world champion coming to learn card games" sounds a bit odd, Youyu actually thought Ed might indeed benefit from some training at the academy.
Compared to the various deities visiting Duel Academy during the GX era, the so-called professional league might just be a bunch of novices pecking at each other in Newbie Village.
Any boss during the three years of Duel Academy – even a mid-level elite monster thrown into the professional arena – would be a Great Demon King that shakes things up.
So, the professional league is just for fun; real training requires coming to Duel Academy.
Besides, Youyu felt it was necessary to arrange a rival for Judai.
In the early anime, Ed's strength as a Duelist was actually stronger than Judai's. In the original work, their first clash with "pure hero" card decks ended in Judai's complete defeat.
Although Judai was Youyu's direct disciple, he actually educated Ed quite a bit too.
Youyu watched them grow up together, familiar with each other's card decks, routines, and skills, with their sparring sessions always resulting in mixed victories and losses.
Youyu thought arranging for Ed to attend the academy was a good idea. After all, he was concerned that his lovely disciple might become overconfident in a school with no opponents.
Speaking of which, before the school year started, Principal Samejima specifically sought out Youyu to discuss the "GX Tournament." He mentioned this idea during a meeting at the school.
Youyu remembered that was actually part of the GX's second year's storyline.
In short, Principal Samejima, using Duel Academy as a stage, hosted an international dueling event called the "GX Tournament." Many players ranked in the top ten of the professional league appeared in the original work to compete, marking it as a worldwide sensational event.
... Theoretically speaking, anyway.
But it's noteworthy that in the original work, Manjome Jun ended up winning the tournament – because Ed, Judai, and Saiou were busy with a boss battle themed around "world destruction."
Ed first lost to Saiou, and Judai, at the brink of world destruction, inherited Ed's will and defeated Saiou to save the world, although he also missed the final stages of the GX tournament.
This again showed that the level of the so-called "professional league" was just so-so. With many professional Duelists, including those ranked in the top ten, competing, an academy second-year student like Manjome winning the championship indicated the professional players were just like that...
Despite the GX anime title, the tournament level was lackluster, which is why Youyu had completely forgotten about this part of the original plot.
Now that he thought about it, he felt this could actually be a great opportunity worth exploiting extensively.
After all, in the original work, the organizer was Principal Samejima. Saying this might be a bit disrespectful to the bald old principal, but his teacher-like influence was indeed limited, and inviting top-ranked professional players might have been his max capacity.
If Youyu could use his influence to expand the scale and impact of this tournament, he might be able to invite more powerhouses to compete. That way, the GX tournament could serve as good training for the students.
He could also take the opportunity to bring in some genuine powerhouses to train his lovely disciple...
After messaging Judai, Youyu looked up and quickly noticed Officer Fujino sitting across the cabin, glancing at him with an unreadable expression.
Youyu felt a bit odd, almost blurting out "What are you looking at?" but he held back just in time.
"Is there a problem?"
"Actually, there is," Officer Fujino sat up straight, enunciating each word, "I don't like you, Duel King Youyu."
Youyu sighed with relief, feeling his tense body relax: "That's a relief."
"No, I'm serious," Fujino huffed, "I know what kind of person you are."
"Oh? Do tell."
Fujino snorted disdainfully: "Using various tricks to get the attention of people in power, using little cunning to earn trust, step by step getting closer to the center of power and wealth..."
"Sorry, hold on," Youyu frowned, "You're talking about some 'higher-ups,' wouldn't that be President Kaiba?"
"You know it yourself," Fujino snorted, "I don't know how you've gained his trust or managed to brazenly grasp such great power, but remember, I am always watching you.
If you have even the slightest suspicious notion..."
"Sorry, again, did I skip an episode? When did you become the President's man?" Youyu asked, "Does the President know?"
"... He will believe I'm a reliable ally sooner or later," Fujino huffed, "Unlike you, who gain his trust with malice, only wishing for wealth and power."
"Alright... Whatever."
Youyu wasn't even angry; he found it rather amusing, making the long journey to Antarctica feel not so dull.
He previously knew Fujino was interesting, but he didn't expect him to be this interesting, his whole being seemingly filled with cheerful vibes...
"But you might have mistaken some things," Youyu said with a smile.
"What?"
"You said I gained the President's trust? To be honest, that's exactly what I need the least right now," Youyu said, spreading his hands, "If you have any ideas that could help lower his favor... I mean trust, I'd welcome any suggestions."
The officer eyed him suspiciously for a moment, then snorted: "You think I'd believe you?"
Youyu smiled playfully: "Do you guess if I guess whether you believe me or not?"
Fujino gave him a blank look, folded his arms, and glanced elsewhere, saying nothing more.
It was at this moment that the aircraft suddenly shook violently.
The floor beneath everyone seemed to rise suddenly, followed by the entire cabin spinning, with the overhead lights flickering intensely.
Fujino, strapped into his seatbelt, was still tossed about, striving to contain the churn in his stomach: "Report the situation!"
"We've been attacked, sir!" someone shouted from the front seat.
"There's a target on the radar... The target is extremely large!" the pilot yelled, "It's heading towards us... right ahead!"