"I... I actually lost...?"
Dr. Bainstein stared blankly at his own hands, looking at the cards in his hands, seemingly unable to believe it.
"The doctor actually lost."
Mitsuzawa repeated, but his tone was flat.
No, maybe it should be said, he lost as expected.
It's really not surprising. After all, even if the doctor is a genius, he is ultimately just a slightly talented dueling researcher, just a genius among humans.
How can a person possibly beat a dog?
But speaking of which, it's not like he doesn't know about the new project recently undertaken by the lab. After all, Mitsuzawa is considered a veteran of the lab. Although their lab is getting bigger and the number of people involved in projects is widening, as an elder, Mitsuzawa still holds a significant position.
The new projects contracted by Yugen outside the lab, although many are not under his responsibility, he is somewhat aware of them.
He had heard earlier about the establishment of a specialized team to research the Duel King Muto Yuugi's card deck. Although Mitsuzawa seemed to have heard that this team is different from the previous common dueling realm projects, he didn't know how it was different.
From before, Mitsuzawa's deepest impression of the legendary Muto Yuugi was nothing more than the Three Phantom Gods, Black Mage, Dragon Slayer Knight, Chaos Warrior, etc., all are famous monsters with powerful forces in the legends.
And the combination Yugen performed today, Bouncing Turtle and Brick Dragon, saying it's a combination of the First Generation Duel King seems to be correct...
But are you sure Mr. Yugi's dueling is like this?
Mitsuzawa and Asuka both had strange expressions, looking like they wanted to make a sarcastic remark but didn't know where to start.
But then thinking about it... forget it, even the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, which represents the image of power in the dueling realm, can be played into the shape of the underworld by Yugen. Compared to that, the others don't seem strange anymore.
Of course, they didn't voice these thoughts, otherwise, Yugen would definitely snub them.
What? You say Muto Yuugi's dueling isn't like this?
Such a frog at the bottom of the well.
You can tell right away you don't know how the Pharaoh was sent back to the underworld...
These people actually thought he turned the cards of the Game into his own image, heaven and earth, that's not the case.
Yugen can pat his own black conscience and guarantee that the Duel King's duel was originally like this. Now it's like this with him, and it was like this with the previous generation Duel King. It's just that the predecessor sealed the cards for years and didn't like to show off, and early on when establishing fame, it was mostly the Pharaoh representing him, so most people have no concept.
If you get a chance one day to see how Mr. Yugi plays cards now... you'll know.
Of course, he's just thinking about it.
"Doctor, are you okay?"
Mitsuzawa concernedly came beside Dr. Bainstein.
He was truly worried about his idol's safety. From experience, very few could say they were okay after dueling with Yugen.
"What? Ah?"
Only now did the doctor snap out of the daze, his expressionless eyes glanced at Mitsuzawa, looking like a half-dazed old man.
"Oh... haha, I'm fine. Wasn't I just shot into a sieve by Bouncing Turtle and Brick Dragon? What's the harm? I'm very well, very well indeed."
Mitsuzawa: "..."
It really doesn't look like he's fine.
Mitsuzawa hurriedly said: "Doctor, please don't take it to heart. Yugen, he... is like this. You can't take his duel seriously. Your theory of the unification of dueling is still very amazing, I'm looking forward to reading your new work."
"Unification? Ah... yeah, seems there was such a theory." Dr. Bainstein mumbled to himself.
"Ah?"
Mitsuzawa was dumbfounded.
Wasn't that the masterpiece of your lifetime?
Oh no, has he really been messed up by Yugen?
"Just now, in that moment, I seem to have suddenly realized something." Dr. Bainstein said seriously, "I joined the Light Association because I saw the path as right.
I researched my theoretical life—the essence of dueling, the truth of the cosmos—ought to be hidden in that path of light. Yet just now, I felt like I was suddenly struck hard on the head, waking up.
Why must the truth be in the light, and not in the darkness?"
"Ah?" Mitsuzawa grew more confused.
"Though the cosmos has light, it has much more darkness. The twinkling stars barely light the profound cosmos; darkness is the theme of this world, this cosmos, and it ought to align with the true essence of dueling."
Doctor slapped his forehead.
"I don't know how I was blinded earlier, actually believed those cultists' nonsense. Now thinking about it, how strange..."
Mitsuzawa: "......"
He didn't know what to say at this point—whether he should persuade the doctor not to overthink or agree with his words.
Just now Dr. Bainstein mentioned the Light Association. Mitsuzawa naturally knew it. He was part of the "Underworld Plan," having encountered a few of the association members in the past.
So, the doctor would've had the chance of being brainwashed by the association, dispatched as a new hitter. Yet through Yugen's duel, seems the cult brainwashing was forcibly broken...
...Actually, whether it's broken or not remains uncertain.
To Mitsuzawa, it felt more like reprogramming another brainwashing over the original cult version...
Only this rewriting seems to have side effects, stronger even than the light faction.
At least the Light Association catered to the Doctor's theory, convincing him that the Cosmic Light it represented matched the correct path of his dueling unification theory.
Yugen went further, not only rewriting the brainwashing but also overturning the doctor's theoretical research entirely. From now onward, the doctor seems like having an intention to join their Underworld Divine Cult...
"Nice duel, the doctor's cards are very interesting."
Yugen even friendly invited.
"If the doctor doesn't mind, would you like to join our lab?"
"Hmm?"
Dr. Bainstein was stunned.
Join them?
Thinking about it, this doesn't sound like a bad idea. Especially since he's beginning to question his research theories; if you can't beat them, joining seems good...
Mitsuzawa hesitated.
His idol joining their camp, should he be happy now?
But why does his mood feel so complex?
Asuka also was speechless for a moment.
She suddenly wondered, if the Light Association, who sent Dr. Bainstein to counter Yugen, knew the result, how would they react?
Light Association Member: I'll never forget that day. Back then the doctor said, to catch the thief, capture the king first, and to sneak around to cut down on opposing Duel King.
In the end, the doctor sneaked around and never returned. Next time they meet, he's already joined the opposite side...