Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!-Chapter 45 - 47: Invitation

The last three collapsed—the entire bar wiped out by Kaiba. At the doorway, Fujimoto shivered, thinking it was lucky he switched sides fast enough.

Facing the three strongest of the Blood Moon Four Heavenly Kings—and a triple kill in one turn—their idea of the dueling world's peak was shattered.

Seto Kaiba hadn't dueled in public for years, so rumors swirled about his strength. Some said he was rusty, too focused on business, maybe not that strong anymore.

Now Fujimoto realized how laughable that was.

Years of dueling evolution hadn't narrowed the gap between the top and everyone else; it had widened it.

This man wasn't even playing the same game as them.

Kira, though, was calm.

Luckily, all the Blue-Eyes variants Kaiba used were still familiar to him, nothing so new he didn't recognize it. Overpowered for an ordinary duelist, sure, but not Blue-Eyes at its true peak yet.

Watching these duels, Kira became more convinced that Destiny Power let the strong do whatever they wanted—and that having money and a research team to print your cards made you even more unstoppable.

Looks like he'd need to find ways to raise his own Destiny Power, and learn a thing or two about card R&D.

With the duel over, Kaiba Corp's staff entered to clean up.

Kaiba walked over to the fallen trio.

"You win," Ryosuke admitted weakly. "We surrender, Seto Kaiba. The Blood Moon is yours to command."

Kaiba hadn't set his Duel Disk's output to lethal, but the beatdown still left them badly hurt.

"I have no interest in trash organizations," Kaiba said coldly. "From the start, the only thing I cared about was 'The Judicator.'"

The mention of that name made all the shadow duelists shudder as if they'd heard the devil's whisper.

Takuya knelt, stammering: "How do you know that name!?"

"Of course, I know. I also know your so-called organization is just a bunch of expendable pawns," Kaiba said coolly.

The duelists looked grim.

"We only know that name and hardly ever mention it, even among ourselves..." the bartender said, catching her breath.

"And if you knew how terrifying that person is, you'd know we couldn't tell you anything, even if we wanted to."

"Don't be so sure," Kaiba said icily. "I have my ways of making you talk."

He turned away, leaving the rest to his subordinates, who began cuffing and hauling the dark duelists away.

Afterward, Kaiba walked over toward Kira.

Fujimoto, who'd switched sides, tried to ingratiate himself: "President! That triple kill was amazing. So strong—"

He was interrupted by a click. He froze, looking down to see a KaibaCorp staffer cuffing his wrist.

"Eh?"

Fujimoto looked up, stunned.

"Hey, must be a mistake? I'm on your side!"

No one listened. Two staffers hauled him away.

Even as he was dragged out, he shouted: "I'm on your side! I helped the president! I want to see the president—"

His voice faded as the doors closed.

Kaiba ignored the noise, walking straight to Kira.

"Fujiki Kira."

"Hello, President." Kira shook his hand.

"I heard what happened—on behalf of KaibaCorp, thank you," Kaiba nodded. "Mokuba told me his plan, and I have no objections.

The rewards and cards he promised will be given to you."

He paused, narrowing his eyes.

"But I have one additional condition."

He flicked a card with two fingers, sending it flying straight to Kira.

Honestly, Kira admired Kaiba's card-throwing skills. In the anime, he could flick a card like a dart, and it looked dangerous—was he a kung fu master or something?

Kira caught it—it wasn't a Duel Monster card, but a strange card with a pentagram.

"What's this?"

"Entry card," Kaiba replied, folding his arms, a hint of a smile on his lips. "In six months, right here in Domino City, KaibaCorp will host 'Duel City GX.'"

So that's what he wanted.

"You want me to participate?"

The Duel City tournament had been held more than once; after the DM storyline, later tournaments drew less attention as Kaiba never competed again.

Seeing his thoughts, Kaiba said flatly, "This time will be different. I will compete myself, and invite only the very best duelists."

So the president was coming out of retirement?

Kira was surprised.

Rumor had it that after Yugi left, Kaiba lost interest in dueling, never appearing at any tournament, big or small.

Maybe, with no more rivals to chase, beating everyone else couldn't prove anything.

But now he seemed ready to come back.

Or maybe he just couldn't resist his dueling addiction any longer.

After all, the Duel Academy was supposedly founded "to raise the next generation of Duel Kings."

When Kira first heard that, he imagined: after Atem returned to the afterlife and Yugi retired, Kaiba was left looking for a worthy opponent, his dueling addiction growing, so he built the best academy to find new rivals.

"Alright."

Kira nodded, accepting the entry card.

If the president himself was competing, there'd surely be a hefty prize.

Back in the day, Pegasus offered 60% of his company to the Duelist Kingdom champion—winning once could set you for life.

Kaiba walked out, boarding the helicopter, his coat billowing in the wind like a battle flag.

"If you're a true duelist, then fight your way through every wall and obstacle, and face me in the survival-of-the-fittest Duel City!

Don't disappoint me like that good-for-nothing!"

Kira: "..."

So, even now, the president just can't resist picking on Joey, huh?

PS: Lol, invited Kira for revenge. What a petty guy.