A helicopter emblazoned with the KC logo descended slowly onto the rooftop helipad of the foundation building like a giant black dragonfly. The roar of the rotors gradually subsided.
Yugen and Keihei got off the helicopter together, accompanied by a team of Kaiba Company's classic sunglasses and suit-clad security, along with a duel security consultant wearing a Duel Disc.
The so-called duel security consultant is someone companies hire specifically to handle matters that require card battles to resolve.
However, Kaiba Company's situation is quite unique, as when encountering a slightly stronger opponent, the president enjoys jumping in to play his cards himself, so most of the time, Kaiba Company's card consultants are just idling.
The team leader, the security chief, is that loyal sunglasses-wearing old guy from the DM storyline, Uncle Izuno.
This bodyguard, though having few lines, left a deep impression on the first-generation animation fans. Firstly, because no matter where the president went or did, he always took him along, which even led to the illusion that "the whole company had just this one bodyguard."
Secondly, because this person remained overly calm at all times, so much so that it seemed abnormal.
During the Duel City competition, when the Three Phantom Gods descended with such pressure that everyone was breathless, Izuno, being the judge, remained calm and even lightly reminded the participants to focus on the card game and not to show off.
Mr. Malikma engaged in a Dark Duel that made the opposing duelist's body disappear, erased them from the card game, and yet Izuno stood beside with a poker face that read, "This is just a minor scene, nothing to fuss about."
It always felt like Izuno was the hidden boss who saw through everything.
Now, Izuno had mixed into the position of security chief as Kaiba's most trusted right-hand man and led the team upfront. The foundation had already had people greet them and turn to lead them into the building after saluting everyone.
The group walked through a wide and bright corridor, with valuable paintings hanging on both sides of the walls. A heavy wooden door at the end of the corridor opened slowly, revealing a corner of a luxuriously elegant dining room.
Soft lighting shone on the exquisite dining table, which was filled with various dishes that were as exquisite as artworks, exuding a fragrant aroma.
Pegasus Nightwalker stood up, walked directly over, and shook hands with Keihei.
"Thank you for coming," he paused, "but unfortunately, President Kaiba couldn't join us in person."
"My brother is abroad, anything you have to say to him can be said to me," Keihei said, "Alright, you mentioned there are misunderstandings between us. What's the specific situation?"
"I was about to explain. But everyone, don't just stand, let's sit and have some food first."
Nightwalker clapped his hands, and immediately the servants stepped forward to invite everyone to sit down. Under the servants' lead, each person sat down in turn.
Yugen noticed that Nightwalker's Professor Card members were standing behind him, among whom he instantly recognized the Kak Dixon he saw online not long ago.
Yugen smiled and waved at him friendly, but when Kak saw him, his face turned grim, and he turned away without saying a word.
It seemed like the kid had some psychological trauma.
In any case, Yugen felt it was definitely not a waste to get a meal here. After all, he was mainly a spectator on this trip, focusing on eating while observing.
"The International Illusion Association was invaded a week ago," Pegasus Nightwalker said, "Unknown hackers broke through our firewall and stole a large number of cards and research development data from our servers."
Keihei frowned, "Hacked? You all?"
"Yes. There are not many people in the world with this level of technology,"
Pegasus Nightwalker picked up a wine glass filled with red wine and took a small sip.
"Especially when we analyzed the invasion techniques, we noticed some technical features we are quite familiar with."
"Oh? Who could it be?"
Pegasus Nightwalker said word by word, "Kaiba Group."
"Impossible," Keihei immediately denied, "We've never done, nor would have any reason to invade the International Illusion Association's system."
But as soon as he said that, he quickly realized that motives might not be entirely absent. After all, they did have some grudges with Pegasus Nightwalker from years ago.
"I think so too, so today I just came to confirm it just in case. Now I know it's unrelated to Kaiba Company, if there was any offense, the foundation is willing to compensate for the losses."
"So that's why you invaded the Link System, to gain our data because the Link System is connected to our duel mainframe, right?"
Keihei pondered.
"I wouldn't call it a loss...but you suspect that hacker, at least has something to do with us, don't you?"
"I know that recently, Kaiba Group is also troubled by hacker issues," Pegasus Nightwalker didn't directly answer the question, "There are very few people in the world who can break into both our systems."
"You seem to have clues?" Keihei asked, "Do you have a suspect?"
"Say it's a 'human' might not be quite precise," Nightwalker said in a deep voice, "It may not even be human."
Keihei was secretly shocked, "What do you mean?"
Nightwalker shifted the topic, "Kaiba Group once led the world in AI research. Your research team was once considered the closest to creating digital life, right?"
"You mean... AI?"
Keihei shook his head.
"Impossible, my brother and I ordered the halt of all digital life intelligence research long ago. Since... that incident, it was shut down."
He paused.
"What we're developing now is just Duel AI."
Yugen could roughly guess that "that incident" might refer to the events in the Naiya arc of the DM animation.
Kaiba Group didn't just come close to creating digital life; they had already succeeded. But it was after the AI went rogue and attempted to seize their physical bodies in the Naiya arc that Kaiba Group ordered a stop to the development of digital life.
The AI they're developing now, like the AI Sea Horse Yugen faced before, is just a simple dueling program. They simulate the real person's thoughts, tactics, personality, and performance in specific duels but are ultimately just imitation, without their own thinking, without a soul.
The true self-thinking AI would be like Naiya, like a living person residing in the digital world.
"The only digital life in the world is already dead, it died many years ago," Keihei said in a low voice, "no such thing exists anymore."
"That might not be the case,"
Nightwalker leaned into his chair, hands clasped together.
"I'm just providing a line of investigation. Whether or not to believe it, how to investigate next, that's up to you."
Keihei frowned and remained silent for a moment.
Roughly a minute of silence. Everyone quietly ate, and Nightwalker took another sip of red wine.
Then he wiped his mouth with the handkerchief handed by a servant: "Again, it's a pity President Kaiba couldn't join us. Since... that time, we haven't had a chance to meet again, and I have always wanted to apologize to him in person."
He paused and added, "Whether on behalf of the Illusion Association, or as a duelist."
Keihei didn't respond.
"In fact, I can roughly guess President Kaiba's thoughts," Nightwalker gently closed his eyes and said, "He thinks that it was the Evil God that defeated him, not me, right?
Now, without the Evil God, I'm not worthy as his opponent...is that right?"
Keihei smiled, "That's not what I said; that's what you think yourself."
But he also didn't deny it.
Indeed, even Keihei thought so. At that time, Kaiba was defeated not by Pegasus Nightwalker, but by the Three Evil Gods.
The Evil God, like the Phantom God, not only has powerful effects in a duel but also greatly enhances the destiny power of its holder. Not to mention, Nightwalker's mind was influenced then, almost completely controlled by the Evil God.
After Nightwalker was defeated by Yugi, the Evil God Card was rumored to have been destroyed by Beckas. So, in Kaiba's eyes, the remaining Pegasus Nightwalker was merely the former vessel of the Evil God, not the man who once defeated him. Even if he were to come and beat him again, it would be meaningless.
"Indeed, it's natural for him to think so; I can't deny it. It's just that, as a duelist, it's a bit unrealizable," Pegasus Nightwalker smiled, and then opened his eyes, looking at Yugen, who was focused on his meal.
"You are... Fujiki Yugen, a student at Duel Academy, right?"
Yugen looked up.
Why was the attention suddenly on him...
"First, thank you for the guidance you gave my Professor Card members today. I've long told them there's always someone better, but it seems experiencing it first-hand is more impactful."
"No problem."
Yugen waved his hand generously, thinking if you really wanted to thank me, let me browse through Beckas's warehouse...
"Dixon's evaluation of you is quite unique, so I did a little research, only to find out that it was you who defeated the hijacked AI at Kaiba Park. No wonder President Kaiba took an interest in you..."
Yugen propped his chin.
He smelled the scent of a card duel.
"So, if possible, I have a presumptuous request..."
By this time, a servant had already timely handed him a Duel Disc mounted with a card deck.
"...Would you duel with me?"