NOVEL NEXT Chapter 106: TST [106]
Just as Nina was about to Special Summon Springans Ship - Exblowrer from her Graveyard, she realized it wasn't there at all. Confused, she looked up—only to find Exblowrer now on Morgan's field.
"W-what… what's going on?"
Nina's wide eyes were filled with confusion.
Morgan smiled. "When your Exblowrer was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I activated Traptrix Allomerus's effect."
"If an opponent's monster leaves the field due to my card effect and is sent to the Graveyard or banished, I can detach 1 Overlay Material from this card… and Special Summon that monster to my field."
Hearing this, Nina felt despair… her last option had been taken from her.
"Then I'll Special Summon Springans Captain Sargas from my Graveyard in Defense Position!"
Captain Sargas had the highest Defense among her monsters—2800, enough to withstand Traptrix attacks. Even if Floodgate Trap Hole turned it face-down, its DEF wouldn't drop.
With this lone monster, Nina felt a small sense of security.
Despite that, Morgan certainly wasn't planning to let her off easy. This was a wagered Deck Duel—she intended to crush her opponent with overwhelming force.
Just as Nina was preparing to recover, she heard Morgan speak in an almost casual tone:
"I activate Traptrix Rafflesia's effect!"
"I detach 1 Overlay Material to send a 'Hole' Normal Trap or 'Trap Hole' Normal Trap from my Deck to the Graveyard."
"This card's effect then becomes that Trap's effect, and I can activate it during your turn!"
"I send Network Trap Hole! When your opponent Special Summons a monster(s) from the Main Deck or GY: Banish it face-down!"
Seeing Morgan's total lockdown, Nina was stunned. Every move she made had been anticipated… nothing slipped past Morgan.
Even with all her research into Morgan beforehand, she still suffered a crushing defeat.
From Viviana and Nina, it was clear—having Spirit Sight didn't automatically make you a great duelist. It only meant a higher affinity for Duel Spirits.
Jade cheered loudly. Even she could tell Morgan had all but won. Her opponent's final option had been countered, leaving the field nearly empty with no room to fight back.
Now, Morgan just needed to attack with all her monsters to bring Nina's Life Points to zero.
Victory was already within reach.
Isla sighed. From the very beginning, there had been no suspense—Morgan had read Nina like a book, leaving her with no way to resist.
The remaining Rare Card Hunters looked grim. This was the end for them.
"My turn… ends." Nina almost ground the words out between her teeth. Even knowing she was doomed, she still held to a duelist's principles.
Morgan then ordered all her monsters to attack, wiping out Nina's Life Points in an instant.
The duel ended, all virtual projections vanished, and Nina collapsed to the ground, finally breaking into tears.
"Uuu… I… I'm sorry, everyone… I lost… and I lost m-my entire Deck too!"
Hearing her sobs, the other Rare Card Hunters rushed over to comfort her. They owed their survival to Nina and had long considered her family.
Morgan walked up to her with a smile.
"Now you know how it feels to lose a card you love, right?"
At the sight of her, Nina curled up like a frightened rabbit. Her Linkuriboh hid behind her as if facing something terrifying out of a 10/10 horror movie.
Morgan was puzzled… she had only dueled her once, nothing more. Was that really so scary?
At that moment, Jade strode up beside Nina, puffing herself up as if she had been the one to win, making Isla and Rowe frown.
"Now you know better! Hand over Harpie Conductor already!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Jade held out her hand.
With tear-filled eyes, Nina hesitated, but finally pulled out a Link Monster card and handed it to Jade.
To anyone unaware of the context, it would look like Jade was the Rare Card Hunter and Nina the poor victim.
After handing over the card, Nina seemed resigned. Looking around at the others, she said sadly:
"I'm sorry, uncles… I lost… We can't be Rare Card Hunters anymore."
They exchanged glances, then gave her gentle smiles. Truthfully, they'd always felt guilty about putting such responsibility on a little girl. Not being hunters anymore might actually be a blessing—it gave them a chance to repay her kindness.
Holding back tears, Nina averted her face and held out her deck to Morgan as her hand trembled with her eyes shut.
"It's not a good feeling, losing your own cards, is it?"
Morgan didn't take the Deck. Instead, she crouched down, meeting Nina's eyes as a strand of hair fell by her ear.
Nina stared at her blankly for a moment before slowly nodding.
And she hadn't just lost a card—she'd lost her entire Deck. That feeling was magnified many times over.
But instead of demanding the Deck, Morgan spoke deliberately:
"Before I take any wagers, I want to ask you something first… At the start, you said your target was me. So tell me—who sent you?"
Nina froze, surprised that Morgan had heard that earlier conversation.
However, there was no point hiding it now.
"...It was the Shadow Duelists. They hired us to hunt your rare cards… seems they don't want you in the Duel King selection tournament. Besides us, they've hired a lot of people from the grey world. Their boss is rich and very generous."
Morgan nodded—just as Rowe had said before.
'So I'm that much of a threat to the Shadow Duelists, huh?'
'Did they find out I was farming them?'
'No… that shouldn't be it.'
Though she didn't yet know their exact reason for targeting her, Morgan knew one thing—if she kept doing exactly what they didn't want, they'd eventually reveal their true motives.
She looked curiously at Nina and her companions.
"What did you used to do? Why become Rare Card Hunters?"
They glanced at each other, surprised at the question. One of them answered, muttering:
"We were all D-Wheel mechanics. Our club disbanded, and we had no choice but to become Rare Card Hunters."
'D-Wheel mechanics?'
Morgan's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected them to have such skills—and it fit her needs perfectly.
After thinking for a moment, she smiled.
"I won't take your Decks…"
Nina and the others brightened—until Morgan continued:
"…but you'll all work for me. I'll pay you wages, of course."
Morgan had already received the champion's prize money from the Junior Division of the Duelist League—a hefty sum, enough to form a team.
Starting a team without a club's backing wasn't difficult—in fact, it was easier without their interference.
Nina and the others were stunned… who would expect a child to offer them jobs?
Isla realized what Morgan meant, and her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Morgan, you're saying…"
Morgan nodded with a smile.
"That's right. If they don't want me to go, then I'll go all the more."
"After all, my favorite thing… is telling those self-important types 'No.'"
...
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