Meanwhile, in the city government's dining hall...
"Your name is Aster Phoenix?" After hearing the gray-haired boy introduce himself, Maximillion Pegasus asked again in surprise.
"Yes, Lord Pegasus," the boy in the suit replied politely.
Pegasus quickly tested Aster with a few questions about the rules of Duel Cards.
The boy answered fluently, getting every one perfectly right.
"Good boy." The more Pegasus looked at him, the more he liked him. He couldn't help asking, "Aster, would you like to study and conduct research with me?"
"Well..." Aster hesitated and looked at his adoptive father.
"What are you hesitating for? Hurry up and thank your teacher!" His adoptive father urged him anxiously.
"Oh, all right, but I still have school, sports, and a friend waiting for me..."
"Don't worry. It won't interfere with your other commitments." Having taken on a gifted student, Pegasus was in an excellent mood.
But then he recalled what Aster had said earlier and looked at D.D. in surprise.
"Adoptive father? My old friend, what's going on?"
"Ah..." D.D. adjusted his glasses, his kindly face clouded with sorrow.
"Here's what happened. Aster's father was brutally murdered at home a while ago, and the killer still hasn't been found. As his close friend and partner, I have a responsibility to look after Aster and track down his killer."
"As the boy and I grew closer, he simply started calling me his adoptive father."
At that, the relaxed lunchtime atmosphere grew somber.
"What? Oh no! Felix was murdered?!" Pegasus was so shocked that he cried out, losing his composure.
"Ahem, sorry. That was unseemly of me. How have the police been investigating this? How can they still have no leads?"
"That damned killer covered his tracks perfectly. He didn't leave a single trace!" Filled with righteous indignation, D.D.