Yugen fell silent. He did not know anyone at Industrial Illusions. Well, he had just defeated a professor who used Machina, but that man probably was not eager to chat.
Without noticing, he had spent most of the day inside the warehouse. Carrying another box of cards, Yugen returned to the office to find Mokuba Kaiba.
"Looks like you found what you wanted," Mokuba Kaiba said with a smile.
"Yes. Thank you," Yugen replied.
Mokuba Kaiba waved it off. "If you want to thank me, just do not disappoint him on the field. As long as you give him a satisfying Duel, this investment means nothing."
It did sound like something a Kaiba would say. Compared to building satellites or chasing souls just to find worthy opponents, a few boxes of cards were trivial.
Mokuba Kaiba stood up. "I should get going."
"To Yako Tenma's Foundation?" Yugen asked.
"Right. It has been a long time since I contacted him directly. I will see what he is planning. Still, I am surprised." He looked at Yugen. "He specifically requested to meet you, if possible."
"Me?"
"Perhaps your Duel left an impression," Mokuba Kaiba said. "But do not feel pressured. If you would rather not go, I can decline for you. Are you heading back to Duel Academy, or?"
Yugen thought for a moment. If he returned to Duel Academy now, he would likely just rest.
"I do not have plans," he said with a shrug. "Since the invitation is sincere, I might as well go take a look."
The helicopter marked with the KC logo descended like a huge black dragonfly onto the rooftop landing pad of the Foundation building, its rotor noise slowly fading. Yugen and Mokuba Kaiba stepped off together, followed by a line of Kaiba Corporation security guards in classic black suits and sunglasses, along with a Duel Security Consultant wearing a Duel Disk.
A Duel Security Consultant was a specialist hired by companies to resolve matters that had to be settled through cards. Kaiba Corporation was a special case, because when a strong opponent appeared, the president preferred to jump in and take over the Duel himself. As a result, their consultant usually had little to do.
Leading the team was the calm man in sunglasses, Isono, long known for his loyalty to Seto Kaiba. He rarely spoke, yet left a deep impression on fans. No matter what happened, even when the pressure of the Egyptian God Cards filled the arena during the Battle City Tournament, he remained expressionless and reminded Duelists to focus on the match.
Now he had risen to security chief as Seto Kaiba's most trusted aide and walked at the front. Staff from Foundation were already waiting, bowing before guiding them inside. They passed through a wide, bright corridor lined with expensive paintings, and at the Dead End a heavy wooden door opened to reveal part of a luxurious dining hall.
Soft light fell across an elegant table covered with dishes arranged like artwork, their aroma filling the room. Yako Tenma stood and walked over to shake hands with Mokuba Kaiba.
"Thank you for coming," he said, then paused. "Unfortunately, Seto Kaiba cannot join us."
"My brother is overseas. You can tell me anything you would tell him," Mokuba Kaiba replied. "You mentioned a misunderstanding. What exactly is going on?"
"I was just getting to that. Please, sit and eat first."
At his signal, servants stepped forward and guided everyone to their seats. Yugen noticed members of the Card Professors standing behind Yako Tenma, including Kirk Dixon, whom he had faced online not long ago.
Yugen smiled and waved in greeting, but Kirk Dixon only darkened his expression and turned away in silence. It seemed the loss had left a mark. In any case, Yugen felt the trip was worthwhile just for the meal, since he was mostly here to watch and eat.
"One week ago, Industrial Illusions was hacked," Yako Tenma began. "An unknown intruder broke through our firewall and stole a large number of cards along with research data."
Mokuba Kaiba frowned. "You were hacked?"
"Yes. There are not many in the world capable of that level of skill." Yako Tenma lifted a glass of red wine and took a small sip. "When we analyzed the methods used, we noticed certain technical signatures that felt familiar."
"Oh? And who would that be?"
"Kaiba Corporation."
"That is impossible," Mokuba Kaiba replied immediately. "We have never, and would never, have reason to attack Industrial Illusions."
Yet even as he said it, he remembered there had once been conflict between them. "I thought the same, which is why today was only to confirm. Now I know it was not Kaiba Corporation. If any offense was caused, Foundation is willing to compensate."
"So that is why you infiltrated the Link System? Because it connects to our Duel mainframe, and you hoped to obtain our data?"
Mokuba Kaiba considered this. "We have not suffered real losses. But you suspect the hacker is connected to us?"
"I am aware that Kaiba Corporation has also faced hacking issues recently," Yako Tenma said. "There are only a handful of entities capable of breaching both our systems."
"You have a suspect?" Mokuba Kaiba asked.
"Saying suspect person may not be accurate," Yako Tenma replied quietly. "It may not even be human."
Mokuba Kaiba stiffened. "What do you mean?"
"Kaiba Corporation once led the world in artificial intelligence research. Your team was considered closest to creating digital life."
"You mean AI?" Mokuba Kaiba shook his head. "Impossible. My brother and I ordered all digital life research shut down after that incident. What we still develop are only Duel AI programs."
Yugen could guess the incident referred to the Noah affair years ago. True digital life had existed, but after it went out of control and tried to seize physical bodies, the project was terminated. The current AI systems only simulated a Duelist's tactics and personality without possessing independent thought.
"The only digital life in the world died many years ago," Mokuba Kaiba said firmly. "Nothing like that exists now."
"That may not be certain." Yako Tenma leaned back with his fingers interlaced. "I am only offering a direction for investigation. Whether you believe it and how you proceed is up to you."
Mokuba Kaiba fell silent, brows tightly drawn. About a minute of Silence followed as everyone continued eating, and Yako Tenma took another sip of wine.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Once again, I regret that Seto Kaiba could not attend. Since that event, we have not had the chance to meet. I have long wished to apologize in person, whether on behalf of the company or as a Duelist."
Mokuba Kaiba said nothing.
"I believe I understand his thinking," Yako Tenma continued softly. "He thinks the one who defeated him was the Dark God, not me. Without the Dark God now, I am no longer a worthy opponent. Is that correct?"
Mokuba Kaiba smiled. "Those are your words, not mine."
But he did not deny it. In truth, many felt the same way. After the Dark God was destroyed following Yugi Muto's victory and said to have been eliminated by Maximillion Pegasus, what remained of Yako Tenma seemed only a former vessel of that power.
"As a Duelist, I cannot help but feel some regret," Yako Tenma said with a faint smile. Then he opened his eyes and turned his gaze to Yugen, who had been focused on his meal.
"You are Yugen Fujiki from Duel Academy, correct?"