After spending a few hours in the warehouse, everyone got the cards they wanted to strengthen their card decks.
As the host, Tenma Yako was unable to refuse, and even Yugi picked a few cards he found useful to make slight adjustments to his own card deck.
After finishing up, Yugi and his friends, under Yako's arrangements, temporarily returned to their respective hotel rooms to rest.
As for Youyu, he accompanied Tenma Yako to the headquarters of the Industrial Illusions Society's Inner World faction.
Pegasus was once a ruler who dominated an era. He brought the Duel Monsters game back to the real world and made its long-lost rituals the mainstream in the world of the Darkness Game once again. Pegasus, with the power of the Millennium Eyes, was a legend.
Until he was dethroned by Muto Yugi in Duelist Kingdom, and subsequently had his Millennium Eyes stolen by someone unknown. Prior to that, he held an unparalleled status among the Dark Duelists worldwide.
It can be imagined that a ruler with such immense power surely wouldn't lack his own organization of Dark Duelists. In fact, the strong under the Industrial Illusions Society were numerous, and before Pegasus' downfall, even formidable groups like the Ghouls had never dared to directly challenge the Industrial Illusions Society.
Even now, this organization possesses significant strength among the worldwide dark organizations.
...So it's not difficult to imagine why members of Industrial Illusions Society might feel displeased when Tenma Yako introduces Youyu as the suddenly appointed "commander".
Indeed, as the Duel King, Youyu can basically rely on his fame to get by in the card-centric Inner World. Black Duelists worldwide who gamble their lives with cards couldn't possibly not recognize his handsome face.
But recognition is one thing; acceptance is quite another.
When Tenma Yako brought Youyu to the headquarters and instructed the Duelists to follow Youyu's orders, someone immediately expressed dissatisfaction.
No matter how you look at it, Youyu is an outsider, a part of the Nightwalker World and Kaiba Group, with no real connection to the Industrial Illusions Society. Forcing outsiders into battles that determine the survival of Industrial Illusions Society—and having them play such an important role—it's understandable if they can't accept it.
However, Tenma Yako flatly said at the time: "Youyu is personally recognized by Mr. Pegasus, and this is also my decision. If anyone feels they can't accept it..."
As he spoke, he raised the Duel Disc on his arm.
"...Then you'll have to overcome me first."
Youyu: "..."
What to say?
As expected of Industrial Illusions Society's underground organization, as expected of Pegasus' top seed player.
...By the way, do you usually make all your decisions by playing cards?
Which department gets the quarterly funding? Everyone plays cards to decide.
Buying stocks? Everyone plays cards to decide.
Like salary, benefits, personnel decisions, all must be decided by playing cards.
...In short, everything must be decided by playing cards.
But Youyu didn't intend to let Yako solve this small problem for him. He stepped forward, patting Yako on the shoulder: "No need, I'll handle it myself."
Yako frowned a bit, "But Mr. Youyu..."
"It's fine, I'll resolve it swiftly."
Youyu turned, looking at a few who were calling out in dissatisfaction.
Actually, Tenma Yako's prestige in the headquarters was quite high, and Youyu himself, as the famed Duel King, didn't face outright opposition from many.
Only three people stepped forward—Dippler, a middle-aged man, Enoch, a glasses-wearing young man, and Disius, a bearded man.
All three were renowned within Industrial Illusions Society as "Card Professors", strong players under Pegasus.
It's understandable that a Dark Duelist organization decided everything by playing cards, however, they seemed reluctant to actually start. They looked at each other, their eyes suggesting, "Brother, hurry! You're the bravest, you go first!"
After all, when you're facing the Duel King, it's only human to be a bit hesitant when necessary...
But Youyu quickly helped them with this small issue. He gestured, "No need to dwell on it, let's save some time. You three can come at me together."
Everyone present at the Industrial Illusions Society headquarters was shocked.
Such confidence?
Fighting three at once!?
Duel Monsters is not like other games. Fighting three at once means the opponent has three times your resources, and three times the field space, under such disadvantage almost no one can take on three to win.
Even Tenma Yako was startled, but quickly regained composure.
Since Mr. Youyu said he'd fight three, surely he's quite confident inside.
So he said too: "Alright. If there are no objections, the duel will be between Mr. Youyu and the three Card Professors, using the latest team battle rules.
Mr. Youyu is one team, the Card Professors are another team. Each team takes turns, and the team with more members must rotate who is on the field each time they play.
Then one team shares 4000 LP, and a shared graveyard..."
Essentially, it's like in the movie "Super Fusion! Bonds Beyond Time", where the boldest Yu-Gi-Oh antagonist challenged Muto Yugi, Yuki Judai, and Fudo Yusei all at once.
This rule balances the blood and turn disadvantages due to team count differences, somewhat reducing the difficulty of being one against many.
But Enoch, the glasses-wearing young man, still thought it insufficient, pushed his glasses, and said in a deep voice: "I have a bold request. How about we duel using free-for-all rules?"
Tenma Yako frowned.
Free-for-all rules differ from team duels.
Following free-for-all rules, all Duelists in the zone are individual competitors, each having 4000 LP, and each of the four involved people has their own turn each round.
This means Youyu must face three Card Professors, totaling 12000 LP, with only 4000 LP.
Moreover, it means after Youyu's turn ends, he'll face three turns from the opponent before it's his turn again.
Taking on three under such absolute disadvantage, even the Duel King couldn't possibly have a chance, right?
Incidentally, in the Yu-Gi-Oh DM Orichalcos arc, the final battle had Dartz fighting both Yugi and Kaiba using such free-for-all rules.
Following a turn each from Yugi and Kaiba, it would then be Dartz's turn. Daring such a duel, Dartz must truly trust in his own cards.
"Normally, I wouldn't make such a request. But given the opponent is the Duel King..." Enoch pushed his glasses up, the glare hid his eyes, "Surely such a minor detail won't be an issue?"
Tenma Yako furrowed his brows.
Taking three on under free-for-all rules is outright one-sided rule suppression, maximizing the advantage of three against one, hardly a fair duel.
His subordinates proposing such an unreasonable request in a duel was discomfiting even for him.
Even the other two dissatisfied Card Professors frowned, unhappy with their companion's proposal.
Winning against Youyu this way would bring no sense of achievement.
Unexpectedly, before anyone could object, Youyu nonchalantly shrugged, "You do have a point. Alright, we'll go with free-for-all rules."
When these words came out, everyone present in the room was stunned.
Even Enoch, who proposed this idea, was a bit surprised.
His intention was merely to dampen the opponent's spirit, not expecting Youyu to agree to duel under such disadvantageous conditions.
Under these conditions, is it really possible to win?
Tenma Yako was slightly taken aback, "Youyu... sir, are you sure? Considering the free-for-all rules..."
"No problem." Youyu casually waved his hand, "After all, I was the one who said you could take me on three at once, if I backed down now it'd seem petty."
The other two Card Professors originally felt such victory would be undeserved, but hearing this, they felt immensely disregarded, rage boiled inside.
Even as the Duel King, could you truly take all three of us down in one fell swoop?
"Alright, since you said so, there's no need for pretense." Disius activated his Duel Disc, saying in a deep voice, "Then let's go, we three shall learn from the Duel King's strength!"