In the vast, boundless blue sky, a white dragon reflected the sunlight like a silver sword piercing through the tranquil clouds, leaving a long, white wake behind it.
From a distance, it looked exactly like a white dragon soaring on spread wings. Someone unaware of the truth might have genuinely believed they were seeing a duel spirit manifest. However, it was not; this was President Seto Kaiba's personal jet, designed with a silhouette that almost perfectly replicated his beloved Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
Over the years, President Kaiba had dedicated himself to making the white dragon the face of both his corporation and himself. This philosophy was reflected in every aspect of his life, and his personal transport was no exception.
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon Jet was a super-jet built with a massive investment of wealth, representing the absolute pinnacle of this world's technology. Its engines were so quiet that passengers inside the cabin couldn't hear a sound; they couldn't even feel the vibration of the machinery. One might truly believe they were riding on the back of a real dragon.
Yet, its speed surpassed the limits of modern fighter jets, and it could effortlessly perform maneuvers that conventional aircraft found impossible. When it charged into the sky, it was like a blade being unsheathedevery takeoff carried the momentum of an army general seeking the enemy's head.
However, such powerful performance demanded much from its pilot, and it was said that mastering the craft was exceptionally difficult. Seto Kaiba never allowed any other pilot to touch his vehicle. Everyone knew that whenever the Blue-Eyes White Dragon Jet took flight, the man at the controls was always Seto Kaiba himself.
While it might seem absurd for a corporate president to possess flight skills superior to those of an ace pilot, it wasn't so strange when one remembered it was President Kaiba. After all, it was common knowledge that Kaiba's physical constitution was at a superhuman level.
Before boarding, Yugen couldn't help but take a few extra looks at the exterior. He had only ever seen it from a distance on television; seeing it up close in reality truly felt as if a white dragon were sleeping there.
As he boarded, he joked to Kaiba, "I think it would be a good idea to print this plane into a card. I feel like it has potential."
Kaiba raised an eyebrow. Though he said nothing, he clearly took the comment to heart. Perhaps it wouldn't be long after they returned before the Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon made its debut.
Yugen's laboratory was now well underway and highly productive, with members frequently sent to attend top-tier academic conferences. Furthermore, Yugen had established collaborations with several of Kaiba's own experimental teams, so Kaiba was well aware of Yugen's extraordinary academic talents.
According to the heads of those teams, this young man seemed to possess a natural Innate Dueling Constitution, with an absurd level of Spirit Sight and an affinity for spirits that was off the charts. Often, a casual remark from him could provide a breakthrough for teams that had been stuck for months.
With these impressions from the experts in mind, combined with a moment of reflection, Kaiba found Yugen's casual suggestion quite interesting. He noted the idea, planning to develop it upon their return.
His Blue-Eyes had always followed a path that combined technology with metaphysics. That was why, despite the Blue-Eyes White Dragon being a dragon spirit from three thousand years ago, many of its variations bore the distinct marks of modern technology.
The jet ascended, pushing the clouds aside into elegant ripples that quickly closed behind it, like nature's skin trembling under the light touch of the dragon.
While the President served as the pilot, Mokuba Kaiba hosted Yugen in the dining area. The onboard restaurant featured a top-tier culinary team providing customized gourmet food and drinks.
"Den City?" Yugen asked. "Are you sure the enemy's lair is there?"
The tournament where he would represent the academy wasn't until next week, and Mokuba had said this trip would take two days at most. Thus, Yugen decided to follow Mokuba to the neighboring city for a look.
While ensuring the enemies threatening him were dealt with, he also hoped to see if he could pick up some new decks or cards.
"Almost certain."
Mokuba was eating an extra-large chocolate sundae.
"We commissioned some local friends to do an investigation, and they seem to have unearthed something. Online communication isn't secure, so we won't exchange details until we land and meet in person."
Mokuba paused, his voice turning heavy.
"If it's truly what we suspect, this incident involves a grudge we failed to settle in the past... but it doesn't matter. We'll end it all this time."
"You sound like you already know who the enemy is," Yugen said.
"I can't be sure yet... well, we'll know soon enough." Mokuba smiled and shrugged. "It's fine. We fear no one now. No matter who they are, my brother will handle them."
He seemed reluctant to continue on that topic.
Yugen took the hint and shifted the conversation. "These local friends, are they from a KaibaCorp branch?"
"No. For certain reasons, we can't fully trust people within the corporation right now." Mokuba smiled. "You probably don't know them, but they're trustworthy guys."
"I thought President Kaiba didn't have many friends," Yugen remarked.
"Well, generally that's true. But there are occasional exceptions..."
Mokuba put down his sundae and leaned back in his chair, staring absentmindedly at the white clouds drifting slowly past the window.
"If I had to say, the person who comes closest to being a friend to my brother is still that guy."
Yugen didn't need to be told; he knew Mokuba was thinking of Yami Yugi.
In truth, there were many rumors in the outside world. After all, Seto Kaiba had taken control of KaibaCorp at sixteen and had become one of the most powerful people on the planet in the years since.
Yet, he famously had no partner and no friends. In fact, he had never once been the subject of the gossip or scandals that usually follow public figures. To the public, he was a total lone wolf.
If one had to sum him up, it would be: 'I am the man who will become the King of Games; women and the like are just obstacles.'
But even a man like him had a hole in his heart that could never be filled.
That was the departure of Atem.
It was said that Takahashi-sensei once joked in an interview that "Atem is everything to Seto Kaiba." Perhaps it was true. Although Kaiba did not view Atem as a "companion," the Pharaoh was indeed the closest thing he had to one.
Losing that eternal rival was like losing his life's purpose. Even standing at the pinnacle of the world and finally claiming the title of King of Games felt hollow and tasteless.
In the movie The Dark Side of Dimensions, even Yugi Muto expressed his admiration for Kaiba when the Pharaoh truly returned for a moment. Yugi said that even he had given up, yet Kaiba alone never stopped believing he could bring him back. That level of obsession transcended normal human limits.
By the end of the film, Kaiba had even charged into the afterlife to find Atem's palace.
Though, the underlings in the royal palace probably found it strangeWhy is Lord Seth's outfit so flashy today?
The movie had an open ending, leaving the result of that duel unknown to both the audience and the duelists of that world. However, considering the President's three-thousand-year history of grudges with Atem and Slifer the Sky Dragon, he had likely lost yet again.
That was why, to this day, he still hadn't given up on the idea of going back for another round.
Yugen's thoughts immediately drifted to the Link System.
Wait.
He had already discovered that the essence of the Link System was consciousness projection, capable of projecting into other dimensions. This had distinct similarities to the technology the President used to reach the afterlife.
Perhaps that was part of the reason why the system was developed in the first place.
If he dared to imagine further, as the Link System continued to update its maps and expand, would there one day be an "Afterlife" DLC? If so, the President could go find the Pharaoh for a game of cards every other day...
"By the way, there's still a while left in the flight. Do you want to try the Link System's duel arena function?" Mokuba suggested. "I can take the opportunity to record some data for debugging."
Yugen glanced at him.
Looking at Mokuba's face, which was filled with an expectant smile, Yugen wondered: Real debugging or fake debugging?
I think you just want to watch me play cards, don't you?
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