I’m in Marvel, but I play Yu-Gi-Oh!?

The manager of Kingsley Toys & Hobbies led Alexander and his group to his office and invited them to take a seat.

Once there, Alexander didn't waste any time and immediately gave an introduction to Duel Monster to the manager.

At first, he clearly expected a school project like some amateur homemade game or rich-kid nonsense, but the longer Alexander spoke, the more serious the atmosphere became.

"From what you told me," the manager said, leaning back slightly, "this sounds like another board game."

"In some ways, it is," Alexander admitted easily. "But the business model is different and so is its potential."

That earned him a more focused look.

Alexander opened one of the sample cases and calmly placed several cards on the counter.

"Most tabletop games sell once," he explained. "A family buys the box, plays it for a few weeks, then moves on."

He tapped the cards lightly and said, "This doesn’t work like that."

The manager glanced down at the artwork while thinking, 'So... Monsters, Spells, and Traps...? Strange designs, but professionally made.'

After a brief pause, Alexander continued evenly, "Each player builds a personal deck. Different cards create different strategies, so matches can develop in many different ways and can become highly competitive."

"Meaning?" the manager asked.

"Meaning players naturally want more options," Alexander replied. "Stronger combinations. Better counters. New tactics."

Now he pulled out several sealed booster packs, "These are randomised. Small purchases. Affordable enough for teenagers to buy repeatedly."

The manager frowned immediately, "So gambling."

"Collecting," Alexander corrected smoothly. "Baseball cards have already proved that people enjoy randomised acquisition. This simply adds gameplay value on top of it, making it a game of skill. Moreover, all booster packs promise an exact number of cards in every purchase, and while the cards will have different rarities, we won't assign any monetary value to single cards."

That actually made the man pause, as Alexander's response was much more thoughtful than what he expected.

Alexander pressed the advantage before he could dismiss the idea, "A player who loses doesn’t simply quit. They adjust their deck. Trade with friends. Experiment. Then they come back to test it again."

"And you think kids will actually do all that?"

"I think competitive people always do."

That answer came instantly, which somehow made it sound more convincing.

Alexander gestured toward the empty tables near the back of the store, "You already host tabletop nights for miniature games, correct?"

The manager narrowed his eyes slightly, "…Sometimes."

"This is easier to learn. Faster to play. Cheaper to enter. And far easier for younger customers to carry and collect."

The manager stayed quiet now, thinking about what he just heard.

Alexander noticed it immediately and continued, "Once players start gathering regularly, the store becomes more than a retail location."

Now the manager looked sceptical again.

Alexander didn’t mind and said, "It becomes the local meeting point for the community."

That made the older man’s expression shift slightly because that part sounded realistic.

Local hobby stores like his survived on repeat customers, not single purchases.

"Weekly events create recurring traffic," Alexander said. "Recurring traffic creates repeat sales. Packs. Trades. Accessories. Future expansions."

"Future expansions?" the manager repeated.

Alexander nodded once and explained, "The game is designed to continuously grow."

That was the moment the atmosphere subtly changed because he had stopped viewing this as a teenager’s fantasy project and started viewing it as a possible business opportunity.

Then Elizabeth quietly stepped forward and placed preliminary confidentiality paperwork onto the counter.

The manager blinked, "…You brought legal documents?"

"We prefer protecting original intellectual property before public demonstrations," Alexander answered calmly.

Now the man looked genuinely unsettled, just increasingly aware that this entire situation was far more serious than he first assumed.

The manager looked down at the documents for several seconds before exhaling slowly.

"…Alright," he admitted. "Suppose I believe you’re serious. What exactly are you asking for?"

"A trial run," Alexander answered immediately.

The manager raised an eyebrow as Alexander continued, "This weekend."

Now the older man frowned outright, "You want me to clear store space for an unknown game designed by a teenager?"

"A controlled demonstration event," Alexander corrected calmly. "Small scale. Limited risk."

The manager crossed his arms and countered, "Table space during weekends isn’t cheap."

"I know." Alexander gestured toward the transport van outside and added, "We provide all materials ourselves. Demo decks. Rule sheets. Promotional displays."

"And if nobody cares?"

"Then you lose one weekend."

The answer came without hesitation, and that confidence made the manager study him more carefully, 'Most people oversell. This boy didn’t...'

Alexander continued evenly, "But if customers respond well, your store becomes the first official distribution location."

The manager’s eyes narrowed slightly as he repeated, "Official?"

"We intend to expand gradually," Alexander explained. "Local stores first. Regional growth afterwards."

That sounded far more ambitious than the manager expected and made him ask cautiously, "And why offer us favourable terms?"

"Because early partners assume early risk." Alexander said it like it was obvious before he added, "If the event performs well, we can discuss preferential wholesale pricing and priority access to future inventory."

Now that finally landed.

The manager leaned back slightly, no longer looking at Alexander like a child with a hobby project.

Now he looked like a retailer evaluating a potential supplier, still sceptical but interested.

"You speak like someone much older," the man muttered.

Alexander smiled faintly, "I prepared thoroughly before coming here."

The manager stared at him for another long moment before asking, "And what exactly do you expect from me during this ‘trial run’?"

"Permission to use several tables," Alexander replied. "Visibility near the entrance. And authorisation to sell starter decks directly during the event."

The manager tapped his fingers against the counter. Thinking and calculating before he finally said, "One weekend."

Alexander remained silent as the manager continued, "If this turns my store into a circus, the agreement ends immediately."

"Understood."

"And if customers damage merchandise—"

"We will compensate for the losses."

That answer came too quickly, as Alexander had prepared in advance.

The manager noticed, which somehow made this entire proposal feel even more legitimate.

Finally, the older man sighed, "…Alright, kid."

Then he extended his hand, "You’ve got your weekend."

Alexander shook it calmly, but inwardly, he could already see it, 'This is going to be the first Duel Monsters event. The first players outside the school's demography. The very first spark. And once that spark spreads, I'm sure that the world will never be the same again. Or at least I hope...'

As the group exited Kingsley Toys & Hobbies and returned toward the car, Elizabeth glanced sideways at Alexander with undisguised curiosity.

The negotiations went far better than Elizabeth expected, and her expectations had already been fairly high.

"You know," she began while adjusting the folder containing the freshly signed NDA documents, "I was expecting to spend most of the afternoon stopping you from accidentally promising away intellectual property rights."

Alexander opened the rear car door calmly to let her step inside while asking, "And instead?"

"You handled the negotiation better than some startup founders I’ve represented."

Alexander paused briefly before looking at her and said in a humorous tone, "That sounds mildly concerning for your clients."

Elizabeth snorted and replied, "Heh... You have no idea."

Chuckling softly to himself, Roland closed the trunk after helping several workers reorganise the remaining product boxes inside the transport van.

The older man looked distinctly satisfied.

Elizabeth crossed her legs once seated inside the car.

"What honestly surprised me most," she continued, "was your restraint."

Alexander also took his seat after her, blinked and asked, "…Restraint?"

"You never oversold the product."

Alexander leaned back slightly and said, "Because overselling creates unrealistic expectations."

Elizabeth immediately pointed at him and said, "That."

She shook her head slowly as she added, "Most adults fail to understand that."

Alexander quietly looked out the window as the car started moving again toward the next destination while thinking, 'Honestly… It still feels slightly surreal. Several weeks ago, Duel Monsters had only existed inside my head, in handwritten notes, and during dangerous Spirit World negotiations. Now? Retail stores are seriously considering stocking my products.'

The thought alone was bizarre, but at the same time, it was exciting, dangerous, and potentially world-changing.

Alexander smiled faintly to himself as he thought about what the future may hold.

~~~▽~~~

The next day during lunch break, Alexander sat together with Chuck and Ginny near one of the academy courtyard tables while the surrounding students, mostly members of the Chess Club and their friends, continued discussing Duel Monsters almost nonstop.

"…No, listen," one nearby student argued desperately, "you can’t just put whatever random card you like in your deck!"

"Why not?"

"Because then you brick!"

"What the hell is a brick?"

Alexander quietly ignored the ongoing chaos while taking a bite from his lunch and thinking, 'The terminology corruption has already begun. Faster than expected, honestly.'

Ginny rested her chin against one hand while glancing toward another nearby duel as Chuck immediately shook his head and commented, "I still think Trap Hole is stupidly overpowered."

"Skill issue."

"Say that again, and I’ll throw you into a wall."

"Violence won’t make your arguments better."

"It’ll make me feel better, though."

Alexander snorted quietly at their friendly banter, then suddenly an idea came to mind.

He looked toward both of them and said, "Actually… I wanted to ask you two something."

Ginny immediately narrowed her eyes suspiciously and commented, "That tone usually means work."

Chuck nodded solemnly as he added, "She’s learned to recognise the signs."

Alexander ignored them completely and said, "I’m holding several demonstration events this weekend at the stores that agreed to cooperate with us."

Both immediately looked interested.

"Seriously?" Chuck asked.

Alexander nodded and briefly listed them, "Toy stores, hobby shops, and a comic store."

Ginny blinked, "Wait… plural?"

"Momentum is important."

Alexander then continued calmly, "And I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to help."

That clearly caught both by surprise.

Chuck leaned slightly forward and asked, "What exactly would we be doing?"

"Mostly demonstration duels," Alexander explained. “Helping explain the rules to newcomers, answering questions, and helping organise people if things become a bit too chaotic."

Ginny immediately looked intrigued.

Honestly, the idea sounded fun.

Then Alexander added, "I would naturally pay both of you for your time—"

"Nope."

Alexander blinked as Ginny grinned and said, "I’m doing it for free."

Chuck looked equally amused, "Same."

Alexander frowned slightly and said, "You should still be compensated."

Ginny waved dismissively, "Please. We get to spend an entire weekend teaching people card games and watching kids lose their minds over cool monsters."

Her grin widened further, "That sounds like an amazing experience already."

Chuck nodded, "And honestly, pretty unique."

Alexander looked at both of them silently for a moment, then sighed, "Haa… Fine."

Ginny immediately pointed toward him dramatically, "However."

Alexander already felt suspicious.

"If you truly wish to express gratitude," she declared solemnly, "then booster packs would be an acceptable substitute."

A brief silence followed, then Chuck nodded with complete seriousness, "That seems fair."

Alexander stared at both of them before slowly smiling, "Deal."

Immediately, Ginny pumped one fist victoriously, then Alexander tilted his head slightly, "Should I pick both of you up?"

Chuck shrugged, "Works for me."

Ginny nodded as well, "Sure."

And just like that, the arrangements were made.

~~~▽~~~

Saturday morning arrived surprisingly quickly.

Alexander sat quietly inside the car while Roland drove through the streets of Los Angeles toward Chuck’s home.

Behind them, the transport van carrying starter decks, booster boxes, folding tables, banners, and demonstration material followed closely.

The atmosphere inside the car felt strangely calm.

Though admittedly, Alexander still found the entire situation mildly absurd.

He was on his way to host the world’s first public Duel Monsters event.

That sentence alone sounded insane.

Eventually, the car entered a significantly wealthier district filled with large estates and carefully maintained properties.

Alexander raised an eyebrow slightly but wasn't all that surprised as he was used to even more lavish views.

Several minutes later, the vehicle finally stopped in front of a fairly large modern-style house.

Alexander stepped out first, then blinked, "So Chuck lives here?"

Roland glanced at the mansion-sized property calmly, "It would appear so. This is the address you gave me."

Then Alexander quickly approached the gate and pressed the button on the intercom, announcing his presence.

A few moments later, Chuck himself exited through the front entrance carrying a backpack over one shoulder, except that a sharply dressed older man followed behind him.

Alexander immediately noticed that he was wearing an expensive suit, had a controlled posture, measured movements, and extremely sharp eyes.

He had seen many people like him before by his father's side; he looked like one of those corporate lawyers, likely a high-level one considering where he lived.

The man approached calmly before extending his hand, "Robert Lucas Zane. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Alexander shook it politely, "Alexander Jones. Likewise."

The man nodded once, "Charles mentioned your project."

Alexander paused briefly, 'Charles?'

Then the realisation struck, 'Ah. So that's Chuck's real name...'

Chuck noticed Alexander’s expression and immediately groaned, "Urgh... Please, don’t start."

Alexander failed to suppress a smile, "You absolutely look like a Charles."

"Traitor."

Robert sighed faintly, "I’ve been trying to convince him to use his actual name professionally for years."

"Charles Irvin Zane... It sounds so pretentious."

"You attend Promethean Academy."

"That’s different somehow."

Alexander quietly watched the interaction, 'Interesting. Very interesting. Robert Lucas Zane is clearly wealthy. And not merely wealthy but actually well-connected.'

Alexander vaguely recognised the law firm name once Chuck explained it, 'Green, Ellis, Zane. One of Los Angeles’ top corporate law firms and Chuck had somehow managed to act completely normal despite growing up in that environment. Honestly, it's impressive.'

After brief introductions concluded, the group returned to the car.

Roland opened the passenger-side door for Chuck with perfect composure before saying, "Master Alexander also possesses several names suitable for aristocratic embarrassment."

Alexander immediately narrowed his eyes slightly, "Roland."

Chuck looked between them once before bursting out laughing, "Wait— seriously?"

"I have served this family long enough to weaponise information responsibly," Roland replied smoothly.

Once inside the car, they didn't waste any time and drove away, heading toward Ginny’s home.

Compared to Chuck’s neighbourhood, Ginny’s area felt significantly more modest, not poor, just normal.

Suburban houses. Children riding bicycles. Families working on lawns. Ordinary.

Alexander actually found it somewhat refreshing.

Eventually, Roland stopped in front of the correct address.

Alexander and Chuck stepped out before walking toward the front door.

Alexander calmly knocked, and a few moments later, the door opened, and a middle-aged man stood in front of them, possessing the kind of presence that instantly changed the atmosphere.

He was tall with broad shoulders, sharp eyes and a controlled posture.

Awareness that constantly evaluates surroundings automatically.

Without question, he had a military background.

The man silently looked between Alexander and Chuck, then at Roland behind them.

Chuck visibly straightened slightly under the pressure, but Alexander and Roland remained completely calm.

The man noticed that immediately and gave a subtle nod.

Alexander spoke first, "Good morning. I’m Alexander Jones. We came to pick up Ginny for the Duel Monsters event."

The man continued silently evaluating them for another few seconds before finally nodding once, "Steven Potts."

Ginny’s father.

Then Steven raised his voice slightly, "Virginia!"

A voice immediately echoed from deeper inside the house, "Coming!"

Hearing the name "Virginia" and connecting it with the surname "Potts" immediately made Alexander's mind sprint, 'Wait! Ginny's name is actually Virginia...? Virginia Potts!? Is she actually the future Pepper Potts? Could it be a coincidence? Just how common is the surname Potts?'

But he doesn't focus too much on the issue, as a few moments later, Ginny appeared.

And for a brief second, Alexander froze, not because she looked unbelievably beautiful or anything dramatic like that, but because this was the first time he had seen her outside the school uniform, the academy structure, or classroom settings.

Casual clothes changed the impression entirely.

More relaxed. More approachable. More…

Alexander immediately regained control of his expression and greeted her, "Good morning."

Ginny grinned slightly, "Well, look at that. You actually came in time."

"Contrary to popular belief, I fulfil promises."

Chuck snorted quietly.

Steven Potts observed the interaction silently before speaking, "Be careful."

Ginny immediately sighed, "Dad—"

"I mean it."

Then Steven looked directly toward Alexander and Chuck and added, "And look after her."

Both boys nodded immediately.

"Of course," Alexander replied calmly.

Roland inclined his head politely toward Steven Potts and added, "You have my word as well, sir."

Something in the older man’s tone made Steven pause briefly before nodding once in acknowledgement.

Ginny blinked slightly while following the others toward the car, then quietly muttered, "Okay… Why does your butler sound like he used to run military operations?"

Chuck immediately answered, "Because he probably did."

Satisfied, Steven stepped aside, allowing Ginny to leave properly.

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