"That's not it," Kiryu said. "It's just that he, like me, grew up under the care of the Revolutionary Army."
"Back then, he was already a well-known genius."
"However, eight years ago, I chose to join the Revolutionary Army, while he chose to embark on the path to becoming king."
"He never contacted you?" Yūga Hōzumi asked curiously.
"No," Kiryu shook his head. "Just as he said when he left, he's doing what he believes is right. Past bonds would only become a burden."
"So, what he believes is right is sitting on a throne prepared by a circus for pretentious monkeys, performing like a clown, and hoping for a reconciliation between The Top Echelons and the commoners?" Yūga Hōzumi scoffed.
"Don't be ridiculous. Capitalists can never truly empathize with commoners. The only good capitalists are those hanging from lampposts."
"Indeed, before I met you, I also thought Jack might be right," Kiryu said. "But now, if he stands in our way, then as he said, if past bonds become a burden, we will sever them."
...
Heartland City.
On a street about five kilometers from the Orion District, a woman of about thirty, holding an infant, trudged toward the Orion District. Behind her followed a small boy, about five years old.
"Mom, how much further? I'm so tired!" the little boy said with a pained expression.
"Taro, just a little longer. We'll be there soon. Once we reach the Orion District, we'll be safe," the woman comforted him, forcing herself to be spirited despite her own exhaustion.
"Okay," the little boy nodded.
"Haven't you always wanted to learn how to duel? When we get to the Orion District, Mama will teach you the most basic dueling knowledge."
"Really?" the little boy said in surprise. "Don't worry, Mama, I'll study hard and become a powerful Duelist in the future, then help Dad get his revenge."
"I'm afraid you won't get that chance, you little brat." Just then, a discordant voice sounded from the side.
"Who?" Hearing this, the woman looked toward the source of the voice like a startled bird.
Not far from them, on a pile of building ruins, a man wearing an Obelisk Force uniform and a mask was staring at them. From beneath his mask, his lips curved into a cruel smile.
Cold sweat immediately seeped from the woman's forehead, her eyes filled with terror. But her child was right behind her, forcing her to calm down. She gritted her teeth, looking at the Academy soldier who had already raised his Duel Disk, and said:
"It's only five kilometers from here to the Orion District. Aren't you afraid of retaliation from the Resistance Army?"
"Retaliation? Hahahaha!" The Obelisk soldier laughed wildly upon hearing this.
"Those so-called Resistance Army won't be arrogant for much longer. Our new Commander will be here soon. This time, we'll wipe them all out."
"Taro, take your sister and run!" Seeing this, the woman shoved the crying infant in her arms into the boy's hands.
"Mom..." The boy fumbled to take the infant girl, then looked at his mother in front of him, at a loss.
"What are you waiting for?! Run!" the woman urged loudly, while resolutely gritting her teeth and charging toward the Obelisk soldier.
But the Obelisk soldier watched the scene with a mocking expression.
Seeing the man's expression, the woman seemed to realize something and spun around. She saw another Obelisk soldier, who had appeared from who knew where, blocking the little boy's path.
"No!" Seeing this, the woman screamed, breaking down. "Don't hurt my children!"
"Why struggle? Wouldn't it be much simpler to obediently be turned into cards?" the Obelisk soldier holding the little boy chuckled.
Seeing this, the woman collapsed to the ground in despair, as if all her strength had been instantly drained, continuously mumbling, "Please, leave my children alone..."
"How can we do that? The most important thing for a family is to stay together!" the Obelisk soldier said, aiming his Duel Disk at the woman.
Just then, a laser landed by his feet, startling him.
"Who?" The Obelisk soldier quickly looked in the direction the laser had come from. He saw a squad of people, dressed in the same uniform as him, lined up in a neat formation. Behind the formation, the cannon barrel in the mouth of a mechanical dragon was emitting smoke. Clearly, the previous laser had come from there.
"What the hell? So it's friendly forces. I thought the Revolutionary Army's patrols had arrived," the Obelisk soldier sighed in relief. But soon, he yelled angrily at the newcomers, "Which division are you from? Can't you see we're on a mission?"
At that moment, the neat formation parted down the middle, forming a passage, and a tall man wearing a gold-trimmed cloak walked out.
Seeing this man, the previously arrogant Obelisk soldier immediately snapped to attention and saluted.
The reason was simple: the cloak the man wore signified his identity—the Commander of the Obelisk Force.
This man was Ryo Marufuji, who had just arrived in Heartland City with his Personal Guard. At this moment, he approached the soldier with a grim expression, and simultaneously roared at the other soldier holding the little boy not far away, "Get over here!"
Hearing this, the soldier quickly grabbed the little boy by his collar and came before Ryo Marufuji, then casually tossed the boy, who was desperately clinging to his sister, next to the woman.
The woman was already on the verge of collapse. The laser from earlier had made her think that the Resistance Army's patrols had arrived.
But she hadn't expected it to be more of the enemy.
"Reporting, Commander! The 7th Squad of the 9th Battalion of the Third Legion is currently on a mission! Please give your orders!" the soldier saluted.
"I recall a squad has three people. Where's the other one?" Ryo Marufuji said coldly.
"Uh..." The soldier stammered, hesitant. But Ryo Marufuji seemed to have no intention of waiting him out, and roared:
"Speak! Where is the other one?"
"Captain... the Captain wasn't feeling well today, so..." The soldier, who had just been swaggering, now trembled like a sheep.
"What were you doing just now?"
"Com... completing a mission."
But his response was a furious kick from Ryo Marufuji, sending him sprawling to the ground. At the same time, the Personal Guards behind Ryo Marufuji stepped forward and apprehended the two.
"You call attacking commoners 'completing a mission'? Who gave that order?" Ryo Marufuji raged. "On the battlefield, you're cowards afraid of death when facing an enemy Warrior, yet now you swagger around when facing commoners? Did that failure, Aster Phoenix, only raise a bunch of trash even more useless than himself?"
...
(end of chapter)