After dealing with two potential traitors, Tenma Yako prepared to lead everyone to the card storage warehouse of the Industrial Illusions Society to replenish their ammunition.
Although they were currently at the International Headquarters of the Industrial Illusions Society, there was actually no inventory in the building.
This was a common misconception. Everyone tends to assume that the headquarters of the world's top card manufacturer would surely have many valuable items, but in reality, there's nothing here.
After all, this office is just the headquarters for planning, design, and business operations, not a card printing facility. There are no cards here.
When Yako proposed this idea, Jonouchi looked excited: "Alright! With Pegasus's rare cards, Doma is no big deal!"
However, Yugi seemed hesitant: "Doing this... isn't so good, right? Given the situation, it must be difficult for you guys as well..."
"Right...right." Jonouchi suddenly realized, "Isn't this kind of taking advantage of you in your weakest moment..."
Yako smiled slightly: "No need to worry about this aspect, Mr. Yugi. Here at the headquarters, I can take full responsibility. Given the current situation, for the Industrial Illusions Society... no, perhaps the entire world is standing on the brink of life and death.
If we can't defeat Doma and get through this, then there's no tomorrow for any of us. There's no point in keeping the cards."
"Oh... I see, that makes sense," Jonouchi understood.
Kujaku Mai crossed her arms: "If you don't use them when needed, there's no point... is that what you mean?"
"Exactly." Yako nodded, "But don't get your hopes too high. Though the Industrial Illusions Society is called the center of Duel Monsters cards in the world, our regular card stocks are merely common cards, not every rare card is available.
As everyone might know, the field of Duel Monsters is profound and complex. Many cards in the current environment aren't even created or issued by us, and some rare cards, even if we wanted to recreate them, can't be reproduced due to various limitations..."
"Such as the Blue-Eyes White Dragon?" Youyu asked.
"Yes, such as the Blue-Eyes White Dragon." Yako smiled and glanced at Kaiba, "The Blue-Eyes White Dragon in President Kaiba's hands is undoubtedly one of only three in the world. Even if we wanted to, we can't recreate it now."
Kaiba snorted, his expression almost proud, as if to say, of course, the Blue-Eyes can only be found with me, no one else should think about getting it!
President Kaiba wasn't interested in rare cards at all. On the spot, he bluntly remarked "boring" and turned to leave.
Firstly, he felt his card stockpile wasn't less than that of the Industrial Illusions Society, and secondly, he wasn't interested in taking advantage of Pegasus's small gains.
So President Kaiba turned around on the spot: "Mokuba, let's go."
"Oh... okay."
Mokuba was about to leave with his brother, but suddenly paused, puzzled: "Huh? Youyu brother isn't coming with us...?"
Kaiba glanced at Youyu, unusually ignoring him, and said coldly, "Let him be."
"... Oh."
So Mokuba followed his brother out. Before leaving, he turned his head to tell Youyu, "We're going back to the room first then."
After the duel with Amelda, the place where they rested changed — naturally, because the previous duel was quite a commotion.
Youyu: "..."
He was just worried that the President would drag him away without a word, and he was drafting in his mind how to persuade him, but unexpectedly, the President understood everything without any prompting.
It seemed that Kaiba had figured out all of Youyu's interests. President Kaiba had already noticed that this Duel King was especially interested in cards, and making him not join in the excitement was almost impossible.
However, the President didn't think this was a bad thing... he even appreciated it deep down.
The path of a true warrior is endless!
Even though Youyu already held the supreme position of Duel King, he still never relaxed in his pursuit of stronger power. This showed that he was not blinded by past glories and was a man who was never satisfied with the present and always looking to the future.
And isn't Kaiba the same?
Watching Kaiba's departing figure, Youyu instinctively felt that the President might have misunderstood something again...
... Otherwise, why was there another "affection +1" warning for no reason?
The remaining people then followed Tenma Yako to the card storage warehouse at the Industrial Illusions Society.
As Yako entered the password, the door slowly opened, and heaps of cards piled like small hills came into view. Row after row, stack after stack, arranged according to the card series, magic, trap, and monster card categories, neatly laid out, leaving everyone momentarily dazzled.
Jonouchi was amazed: "So many cards... How much money is this worth!"
Otogi Ryuji: "W-what a lot of cards! Truly worthy of Pegasus..."
The player group of four also found the sight impressive and overwhelming, however... it was of no practical use.
Though the warehouse was filled with many seemingly powerful cards, to them, they were just quest items; otherwise, they were just good-looking but not useful.
Tenma Yako was quite satisfied with everyone's reaction.
After all, everyone has some vanity. It's like inviting friends over to your home, showing off a wall of treasured collections cultivated over years, and their gasping reactions make you feel gratified and uplifted.
But he also noticed that among the people present, two individuals remained the calmest.
Which was to be expected. This warehouse seemed packed full, but scenes like this were already familiar to Youyu from sweeping through Ghouls' facilities.
Even now, his own stores had several warehouses full, so this small scene wasn't worth being startled over.
As for Yugi...
... strictly speaking, he was a potential major shareholder with a 60% stake in the Industrial Illusions Society, just a few cards certainly wouldn't stir him.
However, Yako didn't see it that way. He secretly admired the two Duel Kings, seeing them as true masters for remaining so composed in the face of a temptation irresistible to ordinary Duelists.
It seemed he had to continue striving to take the two as his role models.
In truth, Yako was also honest, the rare cards in the inventory here indeed weren't many. Most cards were already in Youyu's possession.
Having raided so many Ghouls' warehouses, Youyu was hardly lacking cards from the current DM environment. Some, like Card of Demise or Ring of Destruction, which might be difficult to obtain, could easily be acquired from Kaiba Company...
Now at Kaiba Company, it's exceptionally easy for Youyu to pull a few cards from the inventory. Practically everyone within the company knows him, and when he approached the person managing the card storage saying he wanted to take a look, they would immediately allow him access with a smile, without needing to inform the President.
It can't be helped when the affection is there, it allows him to do as he pleases.
So rather than strengthening his deck, this move held more significance for Youyu in further filling his card stock. Furthermore, brother Yako generously declared that all the inventory here at the Industrial Illusions Society was open to the public, as if they couldn't win this battle, the Industrial Illusions Society itself would cease to exist, making hoarding the cards meaningless.
Listening to this, combined with the warehouses full of cards already in his possession, Youyu couldn't help but entertain a bold thought...