The vast blue sky, the White Dragon reflected the sunlight all over, like a silver sword piercing through the serene clouds, leaving a long white contrail behind.
From a distance, it looked exactly like a White Dragon soaring high, and anyone unknowing might really think an elf had appeared. But it wasn't; this was a jet designed nearly identical to the White Dragon by President Seto Kaiba.
Over the years, President Kaiba has been committed to making the White Dragon the spokesperson for the group and himself. This idea is reflected in every aspect, and of course, the personal vehicle couldn't be left out.
The Blue-Eyes Jet is a super jet created by Seto Kaiba at a great expense, representing the world's most advanced technological level. Its engine is so quiet to the passengers inside the cabin that they can't even feel the engine running, and they might even think this is a real White Dragon flying.
But its speed breaks the limits of today's fighter jets and can effortlessly perform maneuvers that conventional fighters cannot. When it rushes into the blue sky, it's like a sword being unsheathed, and every take-off carries the momentum of taking the enemy's head.
However, its powerful performance comes with a high requirement for pilots, and it's said that it's not easy to handle. But Seto Kaiba never allows other pilots to touch his ride; everyone knows that whenever the Blue-Eyes White Dragon takes off, the pilot must be Seto Kaiba himself.
Though it's quite incredible that a company president's flying skills exceed those of an ace pilot, considering it's President Kaiba, it doesn't seem that odd.
After all, everyone knows that President Kaiba's physical prowess is at a superhuman level...
Before boarding, Yugen couldn't help but take another look at the White Dragon's appearance. He had only seen it from a distance on TV before, and seeing it up close in reality, it truly felt like a White Dragon was sleeping.
As he boarded, he jokingly said to Kaiba, "How about making this plane into a card? I think there's potential for that."
Kaiba raised an eyebrow upon hearing this remark, and although he said nothing, it was clear he took it to heart.
Perhaps not long after this trip, the "Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon" may come to life.
Yugen's lab is now up and running, producing a fair amount, and frequently sending members to attend various top academic conferences. Yugen himself has also established collaborations with several experimental teams under Kaiba, so Kaiba has heard quite a bit about Yugen's extraordinary academic abilities.
According to the team leaders, this person seems to have an innate card body, with an incredibly strong Spiritual Vision and exceptional Elf Affinity. Often, with a casual remark, he can point the way for teams stuck for a long time, making significant progress.
With these impressions planted by the experts, and after Kaiba thought about it briefly, he suddenly found Yugen's casual suggestion indeed quite interesting, thus noting down the idea to develop it after returning.
His Blue-Eyes always followed the route of combining technology with metaphysics. This is why everyone can see that although the Blue-Eyes White Dragon is clearly a Dragon Race elf from three thousand years ago, it has traces of modern technology on several of its variations.
The jet took off, gently pushing away the clouds to form an elegant ripple that quickly closed again, as if nature's skin shivered under the White Dragon's light touch.
The president personally served as the pilot, while Keihei entertained Yugen in the dining hall. The onboard dining room had a top-notch chef team offering customized food and beverage services.
"Wind Chime City?" Yugen asked, "Are you sure the enemy's base is there?"
As a representative of the academy, the competition was next week, and Keihei said this trip would take no more than two days. So Yugen decided to join Keihei for a trip to the neighboring city.
While ensuring the threat from his enemies was resolved, he also hoped to see if he could get some new card decks.
"Most likely."
Keihei was eating an extra-large chocolate sundae.
"We've commissioned some local friends to do some investigation, and it seems they've dug up something. But online communication isn't safe, so we'll discuss in person after landing."
After pausing, Keihei said solemnly.
"If it's truly as we suspect, this time it's old grudges left unsettled... but it doesn't matter anymore. This time, let's settle everything."
"Sounds like you already know the enemy's identity," Yugen said.
"Not sure... well, but we'll know soon enough." Keihei smiled, shrugged, "No worries, we aren't afraid of anyone now. No matter who it is, brother will handle it."
He seemed unwilling to continue on the topic.
So Yugen shifted the topic following his lead, "The local friends, are they people from a Kaiba Group subsidiary?"
"No. For certain reasons, we can't fully trust people within the group right now." Keihei chuckled, "You might not know them, but they are trustworthy folks."
"I thought President Kaiba didn't have any friends," Yugen said.
"Well, generally speaking, that's true. But there are occasional exceptions..."
Keihei put down the sundae, leaned back in his chair, and gazed, somewhat lost in thought, at the clouds leisurely drifting past outside the plane window.
"If I must say, the person closest to being a friend to brother... would still be that guy."
Yugen knew without needing more words; Keihei was thinking about Dark Game.
In fact, there were numerous external rumors even now. After all, Seto Kaiba had taken control of the Kaiba Group at sixteen, and in recent years, he had risen to be at the pinnacle of the world.
But it was well-known that he had no companions, no friends... no, not even those commonly associated, public figure scandals ever. Because the impression he gave was nothing short of a lone wolf.
If one had to describe him, perhaps the phrase "I'm a man aiming to become the Duel King, women are just a nuisance" would best represent him.
But even such a person harbored an emptiness in his heart that could never be filled.
That was Atom's departure.
It's said that Teacher Takahashi once joked during an interview that "Atom is everything to Seto Kaiba." Perhaps it's true; although Kaiba didn't acknowledge Atom as a companion, the opponent indeed was the person closest to this concept for him.
Losing this eternal rival felt like losing the purpose in life, and even ascending to the world's peak, or claiming the Duel King title he once coveted, turned flavorless.
In the movie of the Dark Side of the Dimensions, when the Pharaoh truly returned, even Tabletop Game expressed admiration for Kaiba. Game said that even he had given up, but only Kaiba persistently believed in finding him back, a determination that truly surpassed ordinary people.
At the movie's end, Kaiba even really ventured into the Netherworld and found Atom's Palace.
It's just that to the errand boys in the palace it might seem strange—why was Lord Set's attire so flashy today...
The movie had an open ending, so the outcome of that duel was unknown to both the audience and the world's duelists. Given the president's three-thousand-year entanglement with Atom and the Kurishinryu, it's likely he lost again.
That's why he still hasn't given up on returning next time.
Yugen suddenly thought of the Link System.
Wait a minute.
He had already discovered that the essence of the Link System was consciousness projection, capable of projecting into other dimensions. This might be similar to the technology used by the president when he ventured into the Netherworld.
Perhaps part of the reason for developing this system also includes this aspect.
Going a step further in imagination, when the Link System continues to expand and update, could a future version update a "Netherworld" DLC, allowing the president to frequently go find Ousama for a duel...
"By the way, since there's still a while before we land, do you want to try the dueling feature of the Link System?" Keihei suggested, "I can conveniently record some data for future adjustments."
Yugen glanced at him.
Seeing Keihei's expectant smile, Yugen pondered, real adjustments or not?
I think you just want to watch me duel, don't you?