Chapter 1073: Being the Villain Has Its Upsides
Chapter 1073: Being the Villain Has Its Upsides
"Dragonmark Bearer."
Yusei didn’t show any surprise when he heard Warden Godwin’s words. He replied, "So the Security Maintenance Bureau knows about this legend as well?"
Yusei had never known about the legend of the Crimson Dragon before. However, while he was in the detention center, an elderly man who was imprisoned with him told him about the Crimson Dragon searching the land for its chosen ones, bestowing them with the Dragonmark and granting them the power to combat Darkness.
"Why is the Security Maintenance Bureau interested in a legend?" Yusei asked.
"Because this 'legend' has started to disrupt the peace", Youxuan sighed.
Yusei nodded, accepting this explanation. He knew it was true. He and Jack had been secretly dueling in a Duel Arena in the middle of the night, when the area was deserted and no one should have noticed.
But halfway through the duel, their Dragonmarks began to resonate, and the Crimson Dragon appeared, unleashing a tremendous force that nearly destroyed the entire venue. Such a massive power surge in a populated area was indeed very dangerous. It was fortunate that no one was injured that night.
"However, I’ve heard that your Dragonmark seems to have disappeared", Youxuan said.
Yusei looked at the arm where his Dragonmark used to be, rolling up his sleeve. Sure enough, his arm was now empty, with no trace of the mark.
But Youxuan, who was familiar with the original story, wasn’t surprised. Yusei’s Dragonmark didn’t appear from birth; it awakened gradually as he fought more battles.
In the early stages of the story, the mark on Yusei’s arm was the “Dragon Tail Mark,” which represented the tail of the Crimson Dragon’s symbol. However, during the final battle with the Shadowmark Bearer Godwin, Yusei’s heartfelt words moved the Crimson Dragon, and the Dragonmark was reallocated. From then on, Yusei’s mark became the “Dragon Head Mark,” symbolizing the leader of the Dragonmark Bearers.
"I don’t know why", Yusei shook his head. "I didn’t have a Dragonmark before. It only appeared during my duel with Jack."
"That’s a possible phenomenon", Youxuan said. "Sometimes, a Dragonmark Bearer’s power is dormant and only activates during battle. The time it takes for this process to occur can vary. Sometimes it can happen immediately, and other times it might take a long time.
However, there are methods to accelerate this process."
With a flick of his finger, Youxuan sent a thin envelope across the table to Yusei.
Yusei took it, opened it, and glanced inside.
"What is this?"
Youxuan explained, "The ‘Lucky Cup’ tournament, organized by the Security Maintenance Bureau, invites powerful Duelists from all over to participate. Other Duelists with similar ‘Dragonmarks’ will also be attending."
Youxuan paused, smiling. "Of course, including your old friend, the new king of Satellite City, Jack Atlas."
Yusei’s eyes flickered slightly at the mention of Jack’s name.
This was, after all, the reason he had come to Satellite City.
Back then, Jack was Yusei’s companion in the Satellite Zone. But one day, Jack accepted Godwin’s invitation to become the king of Satellite City, taking Yusei’s ace card, “Stardust Dragon,” with him.
Yusei had specifically made his way from the Satellite Zone to the city to duel Jack, to settle their past and reclaim his Stardust Dragon.
Raising his head, Yusei asked Youxuan, "Is the Lucky Cup tournament designed to gather Dragonmark Bearers? Can it accelerate the awakening of their powers?"
Youxuan said, "This is the most effective method we've found so far. For example, you awakened during a Duel with Jack, another Dragonmark Bearer, didn't you?"
Yusei replied, "But what does the awakening of Dragonmark Bearers mean for the Security Maintenance Bureau? Do you want us all to work for you?"
"No, you just need to be yourselves."
Yusei asked, "What do you mean?"
"It means that the existence of Dragonmark Bearers is not without purpose. The Crimson Dragon grants you power because there are evils in this world that need to be opposed.
Those evils may soon appear, or perhaps they already have. If no one stands up to them, the entire world could face catastrophe.
Helping Dragonmark Bearers awaken is the most effective way to combat this disaster. The power of these evil forces exceeds the norm, and only Dragonmark Bearers can oppose them.
Maintaining order and protecting lives—this is the duty of the Security Maintenance Bureau, and that's why."
Youxuan looked at Yusei seriously.
"Because we need you."
Yusei fell silent, lowering his gaze to the envelope in his hand.
Unlike the original Warden Godwin, Youxuan didn't use the safety of Yusei's companions to force him into the tournament. Yusei didn't give an immediate answer, but Youxuan knew his decision was already made.
Yusei was a person with a strong sense of justice and responsibility. He would certainly try to verify what "Warden Godwin" had told him, but he would soon find that everything the Warden said was true.
Youxuan hadn't lied. Everything he told Yusei was the truth. Shadowmark Bearers would awaken in this era, and only the power of Dragonmark Bearers could oppose them. If the Dragonmark Bearers lost, the entire world would face disaster and widespread suffering.
In the original story, Godwin's call to gather the Dragonmark Bearers to fight the Darkness was driven by his own selfish motives. His goal was to harness the power of all Dragonmark and Shadowmark Bearers for himself.
Youxuan didn't have that ambition, but he had his own goals. He intended to correct the historical course of this world, prevent it from colliding with his own, and expose the mastermind behind the scenes.
Regardless of the motives, the distorted history had been somewhat corrected. Yusei didn't die in the detention center and ultimately accepted "Godwin's" invitation to participate in the Lucky Cup tournament.
With his goal achieved, Youxuan left the detention center.
"One down", Youxuan muttered as he walked out.
Having convinced Yusei, he still needed to invite the other three Dragonmark Bearers. In the original story, this was all Godwin's job, and now that Godwin was gone, Youxuan had to do it himself to keep history on track.
Organize the Lucky Cup, gather the Dragonmark Bearers, and have them Duel to stimulate the awakening of the Crimson Dragon's potential.
Youxuan rubbed his temples.
Why did he suddenly feel like he was becoming a mastermind villain?
But it didn't matter. If being a villain helped achieve his goals, he didn't care.
Besides, being a villain had its perks. For instance, he now held significant power and had access to vast resources, with his card inventory rapidly replenishing. If he hadn't taken the Warden's position, even in this new dimension, he wouldn't have progressed so quickly.
He was now sitting in the Security Maintenance Bureau's vehicle, driving on the city's elevated road.
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed from below the elevated road.
Youxuan frowned and said to the driver, "Stop the car."
(End of Chapter)
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