A vast hall, the high dome seems to contain the mysteries of the entire cosmos. The dome is inlaid with dazzling gems and crystals, weaving a bright glaring white light within the space.
Anyone stepping into this hall might first react with discomfort to the unusually bright white light, which is almost blinding, making it hard for one to open their eyes upon entry.
In the center of the hall is a white round table, its mirror-like surface reflecting the bright incandescent light. A hooded man sits quietly by the table, most of his face concealed by the shadow of the hood.
His fingers gently caress the Tarot cards spread on the table, occasionally touching the card surface lightly. A tall man stands behind the hooded figure, looking respectful.
"Lord Saio."
The man begins to speak but is interrupted by a gesture from the hooded man.
The hooded man, Takuma Saiou, slowly flips open the Tarot cards covering the table, squinting with an amused smile.
After a moment, he speaks leisurely.
"Revolver... is that so?"
"Yes."
The man nods lightly and says.
"This man called Revolver seems to have appeared out of nowhere. He and his Hanuo Knights have been unstoppable recently, severely disrupting the order of the underworld.
Several organizations have declared war on them, but so far none have succeeded. Not only have many Dark Duelists who dared to oppose them not returned, but even those lucky enough to survive have had their card decks taken..."
"Is that so."
Saiou continues to calmly handle his Tarot cards.
He flips one of the Tarot cards, then lets out an odd laugh.
But before he can say anything more, the hall door opens again.
This time, a silver-haired youth enters. A white suit, straight posture, actions exude the unique confidence of the strong.
"Ed."
Saiou speaks suddenly without turning his head, as if he has eyes on his back recognizing the newcomer's identity.
Ed Phoenix, a hotshot in the professional league, currently maintaining a winning streak with his ranking rapidly soaring.
The man standing beside couldn't help but say again: "Lord Saio, the actions of the Hanuo Knights have already begun to affect the peripheral organizations of the association; at this rate, it will inevitably affect the activities of the association itself..."
"Do what you want."
Saiou interrupts directly before he can finish.
The man's eyes brightened: "Isn't Revolver a problem?"
Saiou looks at the Tarot card in his hand and laughs.
"But he's just a prisoner of fate. Perhaps a slightly talented man, but nothing about him is worth noting."
The man is delighted: "Since you've destined him for doom, Revolver won't be a problem."
"You still don't get it." Saiou shakes his head, "It's not that I've destined doom. Everyone's fate has long been decided; I can merely glimpse its direction."
"Yes, Lord."
The man nods repeatedly and soon steps away.
Approaching the door, he bows to the just-entered Ed Phoenix before turning to leave.
Ed finally walks behind Saiou.
"Is there something?" Ed asks.
"Just some matters of the association." Saiou replies without turning, just sorting the Tarot cards on the table.
In Ed's impression, Saiou seems always inseparable from Tarot cards. Of course, he also knows Saiou is different from ordinary street fortune-tellers; he truly has the innate ability to divine the future.
Ed has known Saiou for many years. At least in his memory, Saiou's divinations have never been wrong.
The Light Association is a faction under Saiou, operating in the underworld, running errands for him.
"Is there something you're here for today, Ed?"
Saiou doesn't seem to want to discuss association-related matters with Ed.
Ed laughs, joking: "I thought you already calculated it before I entered."
Saiou remains silent.
"Nothing, just about Duel Academy." Ed folds his arms, "I still don't understand why you want me to enroll in Duel Academy.
If it's to duel with the Duel King, there's no need to approach through the academy. I can..."
"It's not about the Duel King."
Saiou interrupts softly.
"Fujiki Yugen, seemingly brilliant, is a man shining like a supernova. But that's not what the cards say."
He reshuffles and flips open the Tarot cards.
"Fujiki Yugen is meaningless to your progress. You need to connect with someone else."
Saiou casually flips through the Tarot cards in his hand, placing one flat on the table.
The Fool.
"Yuki Judai." he says.
Ed frowns: "The name doesn't ring a bell."
"A student of Osiris Red at Duel Academy." Saiou says.
"Why would I need a duel with a student from the Red Dormitory to evolve?" Ed asks, displeased.
"Don't try to understand fate; fate is elusive." Saiou speaks mysteriously as always, "You just need to follow the predetermined path."
Well, it's the same old rhetoric. I shouldn't have asked.
But Ed eventually doesn't say much more, just nods.
After all, Saiou's prophecies have never been wrong.
"Alright, noted. Yuki Judai... I'll remember."
Ed exits the room.
Saiou shuffles the Tarot cards for a new divination.
"Duel King, Fujiki Yugen."
He slowly flips the next card, sneering softly.
"Even a king, before the monstrous entity called fate, can only meet destruction."
...
...
Tragodia's base.
"Yugen, your efficiency is really incredible."
By now, the base has been single-handedly conquered by Yugen, and the Kaiba Group's team has taken over, busily cleaning the battlefield inside and out.
Keihei communicates remotely with Yugen from the Kaiba Group's office via a communication terminal.
"Pretty good."
Yugen casually replies while walking out.
"Without Tragodia, what's left couldn't amount to much. Two of them surrendered without a fight upon seeing me."
Thanks to their harmonious cooperation, Yugen collected the remaining Planet Series cards.
Keihei laughs.
"That's because of your notorious reputation."
"That's all rumors; how could I be that intimidating?" Yugen protests.
"Yes, since they haven't seen you in person, it's just rumors." Keihei agrees, "If they did, they'd know you're far more terrifying than the stories."
Yugen: "..."
"But seriously, there's something I really want to know." Keihei says, seriously.
Sensing something important, Yugen instinctively asks, "Go ahead."
Keihei hesitates for two seconds, then lowers his voice.
"I heard you infiltrated them in disguise; is that true?"
Yugen: "..."
After a pause, Yugen says: "Actually, it's just visual deception using a silent magic disguise, not really cross-dressing..."
"So it's true?"
"Just simple trickery, visual deceit..."
Keihei seems uninterested in hearing more, just laughs, pounding the desk.
Yugen: "......"
Whatever, as long as Keihei's happy.
"Sorry... sorry."
Keihei apologizes while catching his breath. Yugen imagines him wiping tears on the other end.
"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up." Yugen says, his tone flat.
"No, wait... haha, sorry, but there's something important."
Keihei struggles to be serious again.
"Have you heard of the 'Light Association'?"