Want to play cards? I'll use my King's Deck!

At that time, Teruaki Satomi mentioned that there was a shop in Hoshino City owned by an acquaintance of his, and with his guarantee, the card prices there would be much cheaper than outside, with discounts of several tens of percent.

If the conditions are met, it may even be possible to trade at cost price.

Most importantly, there are many extra monster cards for sale there.

"Judging from the duels these past few days, you are indeed very strong. However, the quality and quantity of your extra monsters are severely lacking. I suggest that when you arrive in Starrise City, you visit my friend's shop; perhaps you can find something that satisfies you."

As Yuki spoke, the three of them simultaneously recalled what Satomi Teruaki had said.

Xingye Wu grunted and asked reluctantly, "Uh-huh? Are we really going there?"

Neither she nor Yuki really liked Teruaki Satomi.

If possible, it's best to avoid any connection.

Izayoi Yuki shared the same opinion, but she had other considerations.

"If it helps improve our combat strength, even if it's just a little bit, it's worth a try. If Wu and Yu Xi don't want to go, then I'll go alone."

Satomi Teruaki's suggestion hit a nerve with everyone.

They were, after all, students, and even with funding from the school, their financial resources were still very tight. Although the Public Security Bureau had a reward and punishment system, and she had received some benefits from arresting criminals, it was still somewhat stretched thin.

Normally it wouldn't be a problem, but with the Star Cup main tournament just around the corner, the pressure on the Star Vanguard team is real, leaving them no choice but to find every opportunity to improve themselves.

"No, let's go together."

Yu Xi shook her head and said to Izayoi Yuki, "I'm also a little interested in that shop. It shouldn't be a problem if I just go and take a look, right?"

"That makes sense."

After thinking for a second or two, Xing Yewu agreed with You Xi's statement.

"As companions, we should share both the hardships and the joys. Let's just consider this part of the shopping trip. It would be too dangerous to let Xiaoxue go alone in this unfamiliar city."

"What do you take this for? You should read less of those boring erotic novels in your daily life."

Izayoi Yuki glared at the girl who was deliberately misinterpreting the situation, and then said, "Then let's wait until tomorrow, after everyone has rested, before we set off together. I'll leave the inn to you, Madoka-senpai."

"No trouble at all, it's our duty. So, everyone, please follow me."

Led by senior student Yuanxiang, the group boarded a bus rented by Qingcheng and were driven by an AI driver to the five-star hotel that had received high praise online and in various media outlets.

This "Magic Chef Inn" is a typical Western-style mansion building, located in a beautiful area. The surrounding environment alone is enough to make people relax and feel very comfortable.

The dishes prepared by renowned chefs were indeed incredibly delicious, reminding Yu Xi of anime such as "Cooking Master Boy" and "Food Wars!".

Wow, there really are dishes this delicious in the real world!

After dinner, following Xingye Wu's suggestion, we went to the hot spring resort next door, and the fatigue from the whole day's train ride immediately disappeared.

Then, You Xi took out her phone.

He decided to try it out according to his previous idea.

[Yuki, the Stranger: @BluePrincess, I've arrived in Starsword City, have you arrived yet?]

Chapter 152 Private Chat Time

"Ugh, I'm so bored!"

With a "plop," she collapsed onto the soft bed, kicking her ice cream-colored white silk legs, her blue bunny ear scarf dangling down.

The black-haired loli, Mashiro Kaiba, sank into the bed, her arms outstretched, looking utterly listless.

However, this was a common occurrence for the maids.

Just like that, there are always a few days every month when a normally energetic little girl suddenly becomes lethargic and loses all motivation to do anything.

At this point, just leave it alone. It won't be long before the seahorse Mashiro fully recovers.

Of course, Mashiro Kaiba herself wouldn't be aware of this.

"Saki! Is there anything fun to do?"

She called out loudly to her teammates whom she could rely on in the Star Cup, who were also her personal maids, and wanted to find some ways to pass the time.

In this vast family mansion, while her brother was busy with work, Saki and the other maids were her best playmates since childhood.

"How about we play hide-and-seek?"

After thinking for a few seconds, Saki suggested, "How about the young lady be 'it,' we hide, and the young lady wins if she catches everyone?"

"Never!"

Kaiba Mashiro shook her head vigorously like a rattle-drum, rejecting the maid's suggestion without even thinking.

"I'm all grown up now, I don't want to play such childish games. Besides, why am I the one who's on the ghost? Shouldn't it be Saki and the others who are on the ghost?"

"Because if we were the ghosts, we could probably catch you very quickly, Miss. Wouldn't that be even less fun?"

Saki answered the little girl's question easily, and then asked, "So, Miss, is there any game you'd like to play? If you tell us, we can play with you."

"If I had, I would have said so already!"

Because she couldn't muster any enthusiasm for playing any games, Kaiba Mashiro wanted to see if Saki had any good ideas. Unfortunately, Saki disappointed her as well.

"Ah... never mind, I might as well just go to sleep..."

The soft, large bed seemed to possess endless magic. Kaiba Mashiro closed her eyes, feeling as if her consciousness was about to be sucked into the blanket.

at this time……

"Ding dong!"

"Ok?"

The smartphone lying beside her suddenly lit up, drawing the little girl's distracted attention.

The main thing is that the bell sound is very special.

That's the sound that only plays when someone you've set as a special contact to receive a message.

She didn't set many people to her special attention list: one was her older brother, another was Saki, and the last one was...

She picked up her phone, unlocked it with a retinal scan, and the name that appeared on the screen was exactly as the little girl had predicted.

"Oh! Have we arrived yet?"

Looking at the private chat messages on the screen, Mashiro Kaiba's eyes lit up, and the lazy aura around him instantly vanished.

……

The phone vibrated slightly. Less than ten seconds after Youxi sent the message, a reply appeared in the private chat interface of DL Games.

"So fast?"

You Xi was slightly surprised, but she immediately checked the message.

[Blue Princess: Have you arrived in Starshine City already? Wow, so fast! Σ( ° △ °|||)︴ I thought you wouldn't be here for a few more days.]

[Yuki, the Stranger: Uh... that's normal. We need to familiarize ourselves with Starsword City as quickly as possible, and get into the swing of things. Actually, it's not just my team; people from other schools arrived quite early too.]

In fact, the Chef's Inn wasn't just frequented by students from Kiyosumi High School. The support team led by Madoka-senpai, along with the three of them, could only book three or four rooms at most; the remaining rooms were taken up by students from other schools.

Previously, when Yu Xi and Xing Ye Wu were being led to their room by their senior, they had brushed past each other, but they hadn't really talked much.

As You Xi predicted, and as her senior mentioned, at least five school teams were staying at the Magic Chef Inn. It was truly a gathering of heroes.

Even so, including Qingcheng, these teams are just the tip of the iceberg among the numerous participants in the Star Cup.

[Blue Princess: I see, I see! So you came early to familiarize yourself with the city... In that case (o˙▽˙o)! There are some places you absolutely must visit while you're in Starsword City! If you don't, it'll be a wasted trip, you'll definitely regret it! Feel free to ask me anything about Starsword City, I'll answer everything I know (。>?<。)!]

The Blue Princess seems to really enjoy using emoticons in online chats, using them several times in just a few sentences.

Before Youxi could even ask a question, she excitedly rattled off a list of many famous tourist attractions in Xingfeng City, as well as some fun areas not mentioned in the travel brochure. She also added many of her personal opinions and comments.

...The tourist attractions at the beginning are fine, but the ones at the end are beyond the scope of a simple tourist's knowledge.

This further convinced Youxi of a certain guess.

He didn't intend to delay any longer.

then……

[Yuki, the Stranger: Thank you. I'll check them out when I have time. But, as expected... Blue Princess, you're Kaiba Mashiro from Star Peak Academy, aren't you?]

[Blue Princess: Huh?]

"Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?!!"

Mashiro Kaiba's incredulous voice echoed through the room, filled with shock and confusion.

"W-Why!? How does Yuki know my real identity? I didn't say anything!"

Mashiro Kaiba has a good memory; she's quite certain that she never revealed anything about her true identity in her private chat with Yuki.

"It's probably because, Miss, you don't know how to pretend at all."

Saki immediately understood the reason.

"Your tone and demeanor are almost identical to when you were in DL. Anyone who knows you well enough can probably guess your true identity."

"How could that be! My style in DL is that of a mature and charming older sister, shouldn't Yuki be thinking in that direction!"

"That only shows that you are too childish, Miss, and not at all like a mature woman."

Saki said bluntly, then before the little girl could react, she added, "So, what are you going to do, young lady?"

"Huh? What do you mean, what should we do?"

Kaiba Mashiro, whose attention had been successfully diverted, looked puzzled, not knowing what Saki meant.

"How should I reply to that stranger, Yuki?"

Saki asked, "Are you going to deny it, or admit it?"

"Mmm... Of course I admit it!"

Seahorse Mashiro didn't hesitate for long before coming to a conclusion.

"I'm Kaiba Mashiro! The Kaiba family doesn't evade questions. Now that Yuki recognizes who I am, there's no need to hide it any longer!"

That's what Mashiro Kaiba did.

She typed rapidly on her phone and sent the message.