The open area before Martha’s orphanage in Satellite was unusually lively today.
“Ah!
Big Bro Crow is back!”
“Big Bro Crow!
Big Bro Crow!”
The moment the engine’s roar came to a stop, the noisy children swarmed forward and surrounded the black winged D-Wheel.
The orange-haired young man they called Crow stepped off the bike with a bright smile, casually grabbing the bulging shoulder bag from the back seat.
“Have you all been behaving lately?”
The children nodded frantically and responded one after another.
One young boy even puffed out his chest proudly.
“I even helped Martha clean up!”
“Oh?
Then you’re amazing.” Crow reached out and rubbed the boy’s forehead.
“That deserves a reward.”
“Ta-da!”
As he spoke, he pulled several rare cards from his bag and placed them into the boy’s hands.
The surrounding children exploded into chaos.
“Ah!
That’s so unfair!
We helped too!”
“Yeah, yeah!
Big Bro Crow, where’s mine?
Where’s mine?”
Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Crow decisively opened the bag and set it on the ground.
“Alright, alright, everyone gets a share.
Pick for yourselves!”
“Yay!”
Amid cheers, the children scrambled to snatch cards from the bag.
Taking advantage of the children being distracted by the cards, Crow skillfully slipped out of the encirclement.
A few steps later, he arrived before the orphanage entrance and gave the person who came to greet him… a huge hug.
Martha, once a nun of this three-story cathedral and now the director of the orphanage.
Looking at the pristine condition of the cards, Martha guessed Crow had probably raided a Sector Security storage depot near the edge of the upper district again.
“At least you still remembered to come back.
And after doing something this dangerous again too!”
Faced with the angry Martha, Crow could only awkwardly scratch his head.
However, well-versed in the art of dealing with parents, he immediately put on an earnest expression of apology.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, next time!
Next time I definitely won’t do it again!”
“Hmph!
That’s what you say every single time!” Martha poked Crow’s cheek irritably.
“If you’d really stopped, would your face still have so many ‘marks’?
Such a handsome face, totally wasted!”
Everyone who committed crimes in New Domino City would have bright yellow marks branded onto their faces, like ancient criminal tattoos. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“But it’s all for the kids…” Crow muttered.
“Forget it.
Since you came back to see me and even brought gifts for the children, I’ll let you off today.”
Martha sighed softly, waved her hand, and turned back toward the building.
“Stop standing around and come inside for a drink.
Today is pretty rare.
Two people actually came back to visit me.”
Two people?
Confused, Crow quickly followed Martha inside.
Passing through the somewhat dim hallway, they arrived at the reception room beside the side hall.
“Yo, long time no see, Crow.”
Seated leisurely beside the simple wooden table was Kazumo, now dressed in a white shirt and jeans while casually drinking tea.
He raised his teacup in greeting toward Crow, who had just entered with Martha.
“Ah, it’s Kazumo!
It really has been a long time!”
Seeing his reunited childhood friend, Crow excitedly stepped forward.
Kazumo stood as well, and the two exchanged a firm hug.
“I heard you got a job at the scrapyard.
How’s it been lately?”
After separating, Crow pulled out a chair beside Kazumo and started chatting casually.
“Ah, well…
that’s kind of hard to explain.” Kazumo rubbed his nose, avoiding answering.
“Oho~ keeping secrets from your bro now?”
As Crow dragged out his teasing tone, Martha placed the freshly brewed teapot and cups before them.
“You young people have a good chat.
This old lady still has work to do.”
“Don’t say that, Martha.
You’re still young and beautiful!”
Though Martha replied with a stern face, “You smooth-talking brat,” the lightness in her departing footsteps showed she was clearly pleased.
Only after Martha’s footsteps faded away did Crow put away his playful grin and look seriously toward Kazumo.
“Alright, now you can explain everything properly.”
“Do you know about that black-cloaked cult that’s recently become active in the lower district?”
“I know a little.
They’ve been spreading some weird doctrine lately about how the Crimson Dragon is a symbol of evil or something.”
Crow paused, seemingly recalling details, before continuing.
“And they’ve been recruiting a lot of people.
They’ve also been bringing large groups of followers deeper into Satellite.
Doesn’t look like anything good.”
Kazumo nodded, confirming the movements of the Earthbound Immortal cult through Crow.
As for what Earthbound Immortals are, well, let me explain it properly…”
The last of the tea slid down Kazumo’s dry throat; explaining this long chain of events had left him utterly parched.
Meanwhile, Crow stared blankly at the teacup before him without taking a single sip.
The massive amount of information had overloaded his bird brain.
Kazumo did not disturb him.
He merely stood up slowly, walked to the nearby tea table, and refilled the teapot with water.
He poured himself another cup and leisurely sipped it.
That very night after defeating Roman, Kazumo fled overnight, afraid of being targeted again, and ran all the way to the farthest edge of Satellite.
Even if Roman had been injured by the Shadow Duel, he still had three powerful subordinates under his command.
Kalin with Infernity, Misty with Reptilianne, and Devack with Beasts.
Devack aside, in this 5D’s world with Link Summoning, those first two were absolutely operating at full power.
Judging from the strength of the two duels he had already fought, Kazumo genuinely feared the other side suddenly pulling out some absurd Tier 0 monstrosity like “Mitsurugi” just to broaden his horizons again.
And during these past few days of resting at Martha’s place, Kazumo discovered a major problem after conducting experiments and discussions with the children in the orphanage.
This world could not summon the Overlay Network, which meant he was unable to perform Xyz Summons.
Crow suddenly spoke up.
“You said you came back from the dead?
Seriously?
You’re not messing with me, right?”
“Why would I lie to you?
You can ask Yusei about the Signers if you want proof.”
Kazumo replied calmly as he rolled up the sleeve on his right arm and revealed the hummingbird mark there.
The moment he saw the mark, Crow slapped the table and shot to his feet.
“Then I want to fight too!
Let me help you guys out!”
Looking at the excited Crow, Kazumo shook his head helplessly.
“These are duels where you’re betting your life.
If your LP hits zero, you really die.
Me coming back to life was just a special case.”
“That’s exactly why I have to go!” Crow clenched his fist tightly, his eyes firm with determination.
“If what you’re saying is true, then the entire Satellite district will be in danger sooner or later!”
As he spoke, Crow revealed a mischievous grin.
“Heh, if even a terrible player like you could beat them, then wouldn’t it be easy for me?”
“You’ve got some nerve saying that!” Kazumo protested.
“Then I’ll show you what true bad luck looks like!”
Crow lifted his chin provocatively.
“Bring it on, bring it on!
Whoever loses has to bark like a dog!”
“Fine by me!
You’re definitely the one barking!”
Seeing Kazumo stand up, Crow burst into laughter, threw an arm around Kazumo’s shoulder, and shoved him toward the door.
“Let’s go, let’s go!
It’s a rare chance, so let’s have a duel right now!”