"I'm beat."
Kira answered the call while lying back in a dorm lounge chair.
On the student terminal, the fat cat face of the Pharaoh filled the screen, but the voice was Lyman's. Kira knew the ghost of Lyman was probably floating just off-screen; you can't see ghosts through electronics—only face-to-face.
"Do you have any idea how exhausting a duel is for a cat?"
Teacher Lyman began arguing for his labor rights.
"I demand a raise! Overtime pay for dueling overtime!"
"Sure." Kira agreed cheerfully with a wave. "Three extra pounds of cat food tomorrow."
Lyman's ghost's face went black—though of course Kira couldn't see it through the screen.
Cat food, seriously!?
Kira spread his hands helplessly. "But professor, you're already a cat. What else should I reward you with? Or—how about I introduce you to a couple of pretty lady cats?"
"Shoo, shoo." Lyman grumbled. "Fine, forget the overtime pay. Vacation. I want time off!"
Having a cat run around doing everything all day was too much. Lyman felt he needed a break, and so did the Pharaoh.
"Okay, no problem."
Kira then said:
"By the way, what about that guy?"
"He's right here."
The camera panned, and Lyman turned it toward Weevil. The so-called legendary Bug Kid was lying on the ground, barely conscious, his glasses askew, muttering nonstop.
"No, this can't be real…"
"A cat's dueling is too terrifying…"
It's not like Weevil couldn't handle losing—he'd lost more than once. He'd had his share of crushing blows in life. But taking a heavy blow from a cat? That had to be a first.
Any grand ambitions of contending for Duel King and standing atop the world were shattered in an instant by the simple fact of not as good as a cat.
"Uh, you sure he's not broken?" Kira asked.
"Relax, nyaa, I know my limits, nyaaa." Lyman was full of confidence, but then his tone deflated. "But you'd better send someone to this location to pick him up.
I'm just a cat. Don't expect me to haul him back…"
"Got it. I'll arrange pickup. Get an interrogation room ready," Kira said. "Find out what's going on with that Advent Church, and what that data-lost spirit is."
The Eye floated beside Kira, protesting, "I am not a thing, thank you!"
Just then the maid Alice arrived with a tray, setting it on the table beside Kira. On the tray lay an exquisite fruit platter.
"Ooh, looks delicious—your skills are improving, Alice-chan!"
The Eye's big pupil grew even bigger, drooling over the fruit.
Maid Alice looked expressionlessly at the big eyeball. "Not for you."
"So heartless…"
The Eye drooped and asked listlessly:
"By the way, why are you so devoted to following this guy?"
Lowering its voice, it muttered quietly:
"He doesn't exactly look like a good person…"
Alice smiled faintly.
"One reason would be atonement. I once lost myself and nearly made a mistake. Kira-sama stopped me in time and brought me back to my senses.
Another reason…"
She paused, closing her eyes gently.
When she opened them, an eerie, sinister glint appeared; the corners of her lips curled into a chilling arc. On that delicate doll-like face spread a treacherous smile.
"Because watching Kira-sama mete out judgment to those self-satisfied, dark-hearted duelists, sending them to a land of despair where the sun never shines—it's just too satisfying…"
The Eye shuddered, instinctively floating back from the ominous doll.
"I get it now—birds of a feather…" it muttered under its breath.
At that moment Kira ended the call and turned his head. "Alice-chan."
"Here, here!"
Alice flashed to his side in an instant. The gloom on her face vanished at once, replaced by the sweet, pure smile of a girl-next-door; her eyes curved like crescents.
"What are your orders, master?"
The Eye's pupil almost popped out.
That face-change act is something else…
"Oh, nothing big. It's just that we may have an uninvited guest coming to the island soon."
Kira paused, then smiled mysteriously.
"I'd like you to handle the reception when the time comes."
Alice tilted her head in puzzlement and pointed at herself.
"Reception? Me?"
…
Somewhere else.
Deep underground, in a dark laboratory heavy with oppressive air. Strange glass apparatuses were arranged in the center, nearly reaching the ceiling, filled with unidentified liquid, colored somewhere between ink-black and deep blue.
Golden energy stirred within the liquid. At the very center, the densest cluster of gold condensed, gradually shaping a distinct form—
—a massive eye.
No eyelids. Just an eye. Its abyssal pupil seemed to harbor ravenous hunger.
"Wait for me, Jaden…"
It murmured softly.
"My beloved… Yuki Jaden."
"…"
Right above this laboratory, a man in a long coat sat with his legs crossed on a couch, receiving a mission brief.
"Duel Academy?"
The long-coat man frowned slightly.
"That's not an easy assignment."
He looked up at the other man before him.
A towering, burly figure with dark skin, standing like a small mountain.
His name was Thelonious Viper, a professor at Duel Academy's West Branch—nicknamed Professor Viper.
"Of course it isn't easy. But don't worry—the price is fair."
Professor Viper clasped his hands behind his back and spoke coolly.
"After all, it's the Duel King's turf. Not many in this world are willing to take such a commission. I'm aware."
"Good."
The long-coat man leaned against the wall, narrowed his eyes, and chuckled softly.
"The world fears the Duel King's name; I don't. It's not like I've never beaten a king before."
He toyed casually with a card in his hand.
"I've long wanted to test this so-called new Duel King, but sadly no one ever paid for it, so I never had the chance…"
"Now you do."
Viper said coldly.
"But I must remind you: the Duel King isn't the target. Avoid direct confrontation if possible…"
"I know, I know. That student named Yuki Jaden, right? See how far he's evolved… Don't worry. Leave it to me."
The long-coat man patted his chest with a grin.
"I'm a professional."