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Chapter 566 Power! I need more Power!
Hayato's identity upon joining the Organization Doma is actually quite subtle.
According to Dartz, he is the immediate superior of the Doma Three Swordsmen. Within the Organization Doma, Rafael and the other two were originally second only to Dartz, but Hayato was placed above them. While it's not to say he replaced Dartz, he could barely be considered Doma's second-in-command.
The problem is, Hayato is merely the person in charge of the Doma Three Swordsmen. the rest of the Organization Doma will not obey Hayato's commands, even if he is their superior's superior. Maintaining superficial respect is already the limit.
After all, there's a saying, "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal, but my daughter's daughter is still..."
The latter half is not important.
And even the Doma Three Swordsmen, who are nominally directly under Hayato now, don't have a particularly enthusiastic attitude regarding Hayato joining Doma.
Especially---
"Just so you know, I don't trust you, Hayato Kobayashi."
Inside the cabin of a small passenger plane, Alister sat in the seat opposite Hayato, arms crossed over his chest, staring at Hayato with an unfriendly expression. "No matter how you look at it, you, as the Duel King, have no reason whatsoever to join the Organization Doma and become Lord Dartz's Subordinate. What exactly is your goal?"
Hayato casually picked his ear with an indifferent expression. "Let me correct you, I merely have a cooperative relationship with Dartz. He gave me this power, I joined Doma and then gave him a chance to convince me. That's it."
As he spoke, Hayato shook a bracelet strung with green gems tied to his wrist.
After joining the Organization Doma, Hayato naturally also received an "Orichalcos Fragment," which almost everyone in the organization had, and similarly, a card for the [Seal of Orichalcos]. The latter requires the former to be activated. However, although he had the ability to use the [Seal of Orichalcos], Hayato had absolutely no intention of adding it to his Deck.
After all, it's the famous "The 'Whoever Uses It Loses' Barrier." In the original work, from Grimo, a Minor Character from the Organization Doma, to the Doma Three Swordsmen and Dartz, anyone who used the [Seal of Orichalcos] could not escape the fate of defeat in a Duel. Even Yugi fell victim to this move.
"Ah~ For power, huh? That's truly reasonable~"
Valon, sitting next to Alister's seat, glanced at the "Orichalcos Fragment" on Hayato's wrist and said in a sarcastic tone, "You're already the Duel King, yet a reason like pursuing power is simply too low in credibility, isn't it?"
Hayato's life up until now has been investigated very thoroughly by the Organization Doma. With a complete family and free from worries about food and clothing, and as a Duelist, he has already stood atop almost everyone else, becoming the "Duel King." There is truly no necessity to pursue power in his life.
The three members of the Doma Three Swordsmen each have their reasons for joining the Organization Doma.
The country Alister lived in as a child fell into a war. That war was planned by the President of KaibaCorp at the time, Gozaburo Kaiba, who had already died, and died twice at that, to test newly developed weapons. Alister's younger brother died in that war. For this, Alister resented KaibaCorp and Kaiba Seto, who inherited KaibaCorp.
He joined the Organization Doma in order to utilize its power to seek revenge against KaibaCorp.
Valon was an orphan living alone since childhood. Once, the Church he lived in was burned down, and in a brawl, he killed someone and was sent to Prison. Later, because of Dartz, he defeated over twenty people through Duels and was released from Prison, regaining his freedom.
Although partly to repay Dartz for his kindness, staying within the Organization Doma was more so because Valon himself was somewhat content to go with the flow.
As for Rafael, like Valon and Alister, he was also alone in the World. His family was all lost during a sea trip when he was a child. After the shipwreck, Rafael, along with the card for Guardian Eatos, a gift given to him by his younger siblings before they died, lived together on a Deserted Island for several years before being rescued. But upon returning, he discovered that because his family had perished, his family property had already been seized by relatives.
Rafael, who had become confused and weary of this World, joined the Organization Doma under Dartz's guidance. He believed that after Dartz cleansed humanity, he could indeed create a beautiful New World. So that the tragedies he experienced would not happen again, he might be the only one among the Doma Three Swordsmen whose will is completely the same as Dartz's and who will carry out Dartz's instructions.
While Alister and Valon each expressed their distrust and rejection of Hayato, Rafael, sitting to the side, remained silent and said nothing. Only when Valon and Alister quieted down did he quietly say, "Pursuing power, huh? That's truly your style, Hayato Kobayashi."
"Hmm? Rafael, do you believe this guy?"
"Ah, isn't it obvious?" Seeing Valon's confused expression, Rafael, as if he had seen through everything, said with certainty, "Think back, Valon, what kind of person Hayato Kobayashi truly is. Excluding all the actions he has taken in the past, from Duel Monsters, which best reveals a person's true nature, think back to what kind of person he is."
"Hayato Kobayashi was able to become the Duel King, certainly due to his ability and the bonds of his Deck. But besides him, whether it's Mutou Yuugi or Kaiba Seto, they also have the potential to become King."
"The most crucial factor for him reaching the top as Duel King lies in his decision-making ability. For victory, he can abandon everything, even sending his Duel Monsters that have made great contributions to the Graveyard with his own hands is fine."
As he spoke, Rafael's gaze shifted from Valon and met Hayato's eyes, and Hayato could feel an extremely strong sense of disapproval in Rafael's gaze.
Valon thought back for a moment and found that it was indeed as Rafael said. Hayato Kobayashi's style as a Duelist was indeed a "Maximizing Benefit" advocate who primarily sacrificed his own monsters.
"So you mean?"
"Rafael means that the higher someone stands, the less willing they are to come down. After all, to climb to the position of the Duel King, he could abandon many things." Alister seemed to understand something after Rafael's hint, with an expression of realization. "Although we didn't see it directly, when we entered the Palace, didn't we also hear the voices of the Duel Monsters?"
"Presumably, this guy Hayato Kobayashi fell into a disadvantage during his Duel with Lord Dartz. That's why this guy needs power, just as he said, to find an opportunity to defeat Lord Dartz."
Rafael also nodded, agreeing that Alister's analysis was consistent with his idea.
"Ah, that's right. That's why I said from the very beginning, I need power, more Power." Hayato said, tracing the "Orichalcos Fragment" on his wrist. "Complete Suppression, a back that cannot be surpassed—this is the aesthetics of 'The Pursued' that I admire. Power is a necessary existence."
Alister narrowed his eyes upon hearing this and asked, "Even for this power, you, who joined the Organization Doma, might lose the friends who stood behind you before? You should know that for Lord Dartz's plan, we are going to collect the souls of many powerful Duelists next, and your friends are all indispensable excellent resources."
"Friends? Heh heh, those who stand behind the King are destined to be rejected. Friends are troublesome. My goal is to become the World's Strongest."
Listening to Hayato's words, plagiarized from a certain "King who crashed" decades later, Rafael looked at the expression on Hayato's face and seemed to confirm that Hayato wasn't lying. He sighed and said, "So that's how it is? In that case, even if you and I stand on the same side now, I still cannot approve of you, Hayato Kobayashi."
"However, for the sake of the organization, I will obey Lord Dartz's instruction and accept your joining."
Rafael had made his stance clear. As one of the Doma Three Swordsmen, he accepted Hayato's reason for joining Doma. And Valon, who was beside them, seeing that Rafael, who was almost the leader among the three of them, had made his stance clear, and who actually didn't care too much about Hayato, naturally also nodded at Hayato, indicating that he also accepted Hayato.
Alister, on the other hand, even though he understood Hayato's reason for joining Doma, because he still held onto the fact that Hayato had defeated him in a Duel before, he was still very resistant to Hayato joining.
Valon also saw his dissatisfaction and advised him as if joking, "Relax a little, Alister. At least Hayato has already accepted the 'Orichalcos Fragment', hasn't he?"
He looked at the gem on Hayato's wrist and said lightly, "Even if he doesn't use it, that gem will constantly unearth the darkness within the owner's heart, and even use it to birth new monsters."
"It just so happens that we came out to defeat powerful Duelists and seal their souls. How about our 'person in charge' Mr. also tries to get some action and see if he can unearth the dark monster within his heart?"
What Valon said wasn't baseless. The "Orichalcos Fragment" truly has the function of "unearthing the darkness within a Duelist's heart and birthing new monsters." Among the Doma Three Swordsmen, Rafael and Alister have already birthed their own darkness.
Hayato remained calm on the surface and even showed an expression of anticipation. "Heh heh, no problem at all. I am also looking forward to what kind of monster I can call forth from within my heart, as I pursue power."
However, in Hayato's heart, he felt somewhat fortunate about a certain Deck he had obtained before.
'The appearance of these cards, let alone the darkness within my heart, even if I kicked Dartz out now and claimed to be the reincarnation of the Orichalcos God, it would be fine, right?'
---
In a dimly lit Bar, a man with a Stars and Stripes bandana wrapped around his head tipped his head back and chugged a large glass of alcohol. The stimulating taste of the cheap, low-quality alcohol made the man somewhat sober, yet his nerves were numbed by the alcohol, as if half-asleep and half-awake.
Slightly nodding, the man's gaze, through the gap in his sunglasses, fell upon the TV screen hanging above the Bar counter. The screen was showing the Grand Finals of a recent Duel Monsters professional tournament. Because Duel Monsters as a form of entertainment was becoming increasingly popular and widespread, even soccer, which was best at prompting drunkards to empty their already thin wallets, had been replaced by Duel Monsters by the Bar owner.
On the screen, a blonde woman commanding her Harpie Lady monsters, fighting in cooperation with a Flying Dragon, was about to launch an Attack against a massive Tyranno on the opponent's Field. However, the power of the flock of birds was still somewhat insufficient before the former ruler of the planet. Those Winged Beasts and the Flying Dragon were forced back by the massive Tyranno's Aura and were flipped back into Face-Down Defense Position.
The man recognized both Duelists in the Duel. They were respectively Mai Valentine, who uses an [Amazon] Deck and a Harpie Lady Deck and is good at Spell/Trap Zone Destruction Tactics, and Rex Raptor, who specializes in Dinosaur-Type Monsters and whose Dueling Style is the rare straightforward "Dinosaur" style.
"Heh, Kujaku Mai and Rex. Even kids of this level can be arrogant in the professional Duelist circle?"
Watching Rex launch his Offensive but being blocked by Mai Valentine's Itaqua's Wind, the man commented disdainfully, almost saying "I could do that too." He subconsciously raised his glass to his mouth, only to find that the glass had already been emptied just now.
This made the man feel somewhat dispirited. Instead of continuing to linger at the Bar counter, he pulled out a few bills of cash tied with a rubber band from his pocket and threw them onto the Bar table. Without waiting for the bartender to give him change, he left the Bar counter.
In this remote small Bar, there were many poor wretches shamelessly asking the Bar for more alcohol, but those willing to give a tip were few and far between. Let alone the fact that the man threw down a Franklin, the bartender naturally wouldn't refuse this extra income and rarely showed a genuine smile as he respectfully saw the man off from the Bar.
Stepping onto the moonlight in the Alley, the man, who clearly wasn't drunk, staggered, walking forward in silence. After walking two steps, he fiercely punched the concrete wall on the side of the Alley. The rough surface of the wall scraped the skin off the man's hand, and blood flowed out.
"Bastard, bastard, bastard!"
As if cursing someone, or as if feeling sorry for himself, the man repeatedly punched the wall until the pain in his palm overpowered the numbness from the alcohol. He tore off his bandana and casually wrapped it around his trembling left hand, breathing heavily.
Completely disregarding the trash scattered on the ground in this quiet Alley, left uncleared, the man sat down against the wall. Using his right hand, which hadn't punched the wall, he pulled out a Deck from his chest. The card at the very front of the Deck was a Barrel Dragon.
The man who looked down on Kujaku Mai and Rex was none other than Keith! He had earned the name "The Bandit" by winning prize money in various events back then, reached the Top 8 in the Duelist Kingdom but was utterly defeated by Hayato, was almost killed by Pegasus and thrown off the Island, and was later controlled by Marik to attack the Egyptian Artifact Traveling Exhibition Hall, only to be utterly defeated by Hayato once again!
His fingers tightly gripped his Deck. Keith's face, full of stubble, was full of resentment as he muttered something angrily.
Perhaps at other times, after muttering curses to himself, Keith would vent his wrath and then get up again, go back to his home and sleep, and come back to the Bar the next day to buy alcohol to drown his sorrows.
But perhaps driven by destiny, a person Keith could never forget appeared before him this night.
Hayato's identity upon joining the Organization Doma is actually quite subtle.
According to Dartz, he is the immediate superior of the Doma Three Swordsmen. Within the Organization Doma, Rafael and the other two were originally second only to Dartz, but Hayato was placed above them. While it's not to say he replaced Dartz, he could barely be considered Doma's second-in-command.
The problem is, Hayato is merely the person in charge of the Doma Three Swordsmen. the rest of the Organization Doma will not obey Hayato's commands, even if he is their superior's superior. Maintaining superficial respect is already the limit.
After all, there's a saying, "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal, but my daughter's daughter is still..."
The latter half is not important.
And even the Doma Three Swordsmen, who are nominally directly under Hayato now, don't have a particularly enthusiastic attitude regarding Hayato joining Doma.
Especially---
"Just so you know, I don't trust you, Hayato Kobayashi."
Inside the cabin of a small passenger plane, Alister sat in the seat opposite Hayato, arms crossed over his chest, staring at Hayato with an unfriendly expression. "No matter how you look at it, you, as the Duel King, have no reason whatsoever to join the Organization Doma and become Lord Dartz's Subordinate. What exactly is your goal?"
Hayato casually picked his ear with an indifferent expression. "Let me correct you, I merely have a cooperative relationship with Dartz. He gave me this power, I joined Doma and then gave him a chance to convince me. That's it."
As he spoke, Hayato shook a bracelet strung with green gems tied to his wrist.
After joining the Organization Doma, Hayato naturally also received an "Orichalcos Fragment," which almost everyone in the organization had, and similarly, a card for the [Seal of Orichalcos]. The latter requires the former to be activated. However, although he had the ability to use the [Seal of Orichalcos], Hayato had absolutely no intention of adding it to his Deck.
After all, it's the famous "The 'Whoever Uses It Loses' Barrier." In the original work, from Grimo, a Minor Character from the Organization Doma, to the Doma Three Swordsmen and Dartz, anyone who used the [Seal of Orichalcos] could not escape the fate of defeat in a Duel. Even Yugi fell victim to this move.
"Ah~ For power, huh? That's truly reasonable~"
Valon, sitting next to Alister's seat, glanced at the "Orichalcos Fragment" on Hayato's wrist and said in a sarcastic tone, "You're already the Duel King, yet a reason like pursuing power is simply too low in credibility, isn't it?"
Hayato's life up until now has been investigated very thoroughly by the Organization Doma. With a complete family and free from worries about food and clothing, and as a Duelist, he has already stood atop almost everyone else, becoming the "Duel King." There is truly no necessity to pursue power in his life.
The three members of the Doma Three Swordsmen each have their reasons for joining the Organization Doma.
The country Alister lived in as a child fell into a war. That war was planned by the President of KaibaCorp at the time, Gozaburo Kaiba, who had already died, and died twice at that, to test newly developed weapons. Alister's younger brother died in that war. For this, Alister resented KaibaCorp and Kaiba Seto, who inherited KaibaCorp.
He joined the Organization Doma in order to utilize its power to seek revenge against KaibaCorp.
Valon was an orphan living alone since childhood. Once, the Church he lived in was burned down, and in a brawl, he killed someone and was sent to Prison. Later, because of Dartz, he defeated over twenty people through Duels and was released from Prison, regaining his freedom.
Although partly to repay Dartz for his kindness, staying within the Organization Doma was more so because Valon himself was somewhat content to go with the flow.
As for Rafael, like Valon and Alister, he was also alone in the World. His family was all lost during a sea trip when he was a child. After the shipwreck, Rafael, along with the card for Guardian Eatos, a gift given to him by his younger siblings before they died, lived together on a Deserted Island for several years before being rescued. But upon returning, he discovered that because his family had perished, his family property had already been seized by relatives.
Rafael, who had become confused and weary of this World, joined the Organization Doma under Dartz's guidance. He believed that after Dartz cleansed humanity, he could indeed create a beautiful New World. So that the tragedies he experienced would not happen again, he might be the only one among the Doma Three Swordsmen whose will is completely the same as Dartz's and who will carry out Dartz's instructions.
While Alister and Valon each expressed their distrust and rejection of Hayato, Rafael, sitting to the side, remained silent and said nothing. Only when Valon and Alister quieted down did he quietly say, "Pursuing power, huh? That's truly your style, Hayato Kobayashi."
"Hmm? Rafael, do you believe this guy?"
"Ah, isn't it obvious?" Seeing Valon's confused expression, Rafael, as if he had seen through everything, said with certainty, "Think back, Valon, what kind of person Hayato Kobayashi truly is. Excluding all the actions he has taken in the past, from Duel Monsters, which best reveals a person's true nature, think back to what kind of person he is."
"Hayato Kobayashi was able to become the Duel King, certainly due to his ability and the bonds of his Deck. But besides him, whether it's Mutou Yuugi or Kaiba Seto, they also have the potential to become King."
"The most crucial factor for him reaching the top as Duel King lies in his decision-making ability. For victory, he can abandon everything, even sending his Duel Monsters that have made great contributions to the Graveyard with his own hands is fine."
As he spoke, Rafael's gaze shifted from Valon and met Hayato's eyes, and Hayato could feel an extremely strong sense of disapproval in Rafael's gaze.
Valon thought back for a moment and found that it was indeed as Rafael said. Hayato Kobayashi's style as a Duelist was indeed a "Maximizing Benefit" advocate who primarily sacrificed his own monsters.
"So you mean?"
"Rafael means that the higher someone stands, the less willing they are to come down. After all, to climb to the position of the Duel King, he could abandon many things." Alister seemed to understand something after Rafael's hint, with an expression of realization. "Although we didn't see it directly, when we entered the Palace, didn't we also hear the voices of the Duel Monsters?"
"Presumably, this guy Hayato Kobayashi fell into a disadvantage during his Duel with Lord Dartz. That's why this guy needs power, just as he said, to find an opportunity to defeat Lord Dartz."
Rafael also nodded, agreeing that Alister's analysis was consistent with his idea.
"Ah, that's right. That's why I said from the very beginning, I need power, more Power." Hayato said, tracing the "Orichalcos Fragment" on his wrist. "Complete Suppression, a back that cannot be surpassed—this is the aesthetics of 'The Pursued' that I admire. Power is a necessary existence."
Alister narrowed his eyes upon hearing this and asked, "Even for this power, you, who joined the Organization Doma, might lose the friends who stood behind you before? You should know that for Lord Dartz's plan, we are going to collect the souls of many powerful Duelists next, and your friends are all indispensable excellent resources."
"Friends? Heh heh, those who stand behind the King are destined to be rejected. Friends are troublesome. My goal is to become the World's Strongest."
Listening to Hayato's words, plagiarized from a certain "King who crashed" decades later, Rafael looked at the expression on Hayato's face and seemed to confirm that Hayato wasn't lying. He sighed and said, "So that's how it is? In that case, even if you and I stand on the same side now, I still cannot approve of you, Hayato Kobayashi."
"However, for the sake of the organization, I will obey Lord Dartz's instruction and accept your joining."
Rafael had made his stance clear. As one of the Doma Three Swordsmen, he accepted Hayato's reason for joining Doma. And Valon, who was beside them, seeing that Rafael, who was almost the leader among the three of them, had made his stance clear, and who actually didn't care too much about Hayato, naturally also nodded at Hayato, indicating that he also accepted Hayato.
Alister, on the other hand, even though he understood Hayato's reason for joining Doma, because he still held onto the fact that Hayato had defeated him in a Duel before, he was still very resistant to Hayato joining.
Valon also saw his dissatisfaction and advised him as if joking, "Relax a little, Alister. At least Hayato has already accepted the 'Orichalcos Fragment', hasn't he?"
He looked at the gem on Hayato's wrist and said lightly, "Even if he doesn't use it, that gem will constantly unearth the darkness within the owner's heart, and even use it to birth new monsters."
"It just so happens that we came out to defeat powerful Duelists and seal their souls. How about our 'person in charge' Mr. also tries to get some action and see if he can unearth the dark monster within his heart?"
What Valon said wasn't baseless. The "Orichalcos Fragment" truly has the function of "unearthing the darkness within a Duelist's heart and birthing new monsters." Among the Doma Three Swordsmen, Rafael and Alister have already birthed their own darkness.
Hayato remained calm on the surface and even showed an expression of anticipation. "Heh heh, no problem at all. I am also looking forward to what kind of monster I can call forth from within my heart, as I pursue power."
However, in Hayato's heart, he felt somewhat fortunate about a certain Deck he had obtained before.
'The appearance of these cards, let alone the darkness within my heart, even if I kicked Dartz out now and claimed to be the reincarnation of the Orichalcos God, it would be fine, right?'
---
In a dimly lit Bar, a man with a Stars and Stripes bandana wrapped around his head tipped his head back and chugged a large glass of alcohol. The stimulating taste of the cheap, low-quality alcohol made the man somewhat sober, yet his nerves were numbed by the alcohol, as if half-asleep and half-awake.
Slightly nodding, the man's gaze, through the gap in his sunglasses, fell upon the TV screen hanging above the Bar counter. The screen was showing the Grand Finals of a recent Duel Monsters professional tournament. Because Duel Monsters as a form of entertainment was becoming increasingly popular and widespread, even soccer, which was best at prompting drunkards to empty their already thin wallets, had been replaced by Duel Monsters by the Bar owner.
On the screen, a blonde woman commanding her Harpie Lady monsters, fighting in cooperation with a Flying Dragon, was about to launch an Attack against a massive Tyranno on the opponent's Field. However, the power of the flock of birds was still somewhat insufficient before the former ruler of the planet. Those Winged Beasts and the Flying Dragon were forced back by the massive Tyranno's Aura and were flipped back into Face-Down Defense Position.
The man recognized both Duelists in the Duel. They were respectively Mai Valentine, who uses an [Amazon] Deck and a Harpie Lady Deck and is good at Spell/Trap Zone Destruction Tactics, and Rex Raptor, who specializes in Dinosaur-Type Monsters and whose Dueling Style is the rare straightforward "Dinosaur" style.
"Heh, Kujaku Mai and Rex. Even kids of this level can be arrogant in the professional Duelist circle?"
Watching Rex launch his Offensive but being blocked by Mai Valentine's Itaqua's Wind, the man commented disdainfully, almost saying "I could do that too." He subconsciously raised his glass to his mouth, only to find that the glass had already been emptied just now.
This made the man feel somewhat dispirited. Instead of continuing to linger at the Bar counter, he pulled out a few bills of cash tied with a rubber band from his pocket and threw them onto the Bar table. Without waiting for the bartender to give him change, he left the Bar counter.
In this remote small Bar, there were many poor wretches shamelessly asking the Bar for more alcohol, but those willing to give a tip were few and far between. Let alone the fact that the man threw down a Franklin, the bartender naturally wouldn't refuse this extra income and rarely showed a genuine smile as he respectfully saw the man off from the Bar.
Stepping onto the moonlight in the Alley, the man, who clearly wasn't drunk, staggered, walking forward in silence. After walking two steps, he fiercely punched the concrete wall on the side of the Alley. The rough surface of the wall scraped the skin off the man's hand, and blood flowed out.
"Bastard, bastard, bastard!"
As if cursing someone, or as if feeling sorry for himself, the man repeatedly punched the wall until the pain in his palm overpowered the numbness from the alcohol. He tore off his bandana and casually wrapped it around his trembling left hand, breathing heavily.
Completely disregarding the trash scattered on the ground in this quiet Alley, left uncleared, the man sat down against the wall. Using his right hand, which hadn't punched the wall, he pulled out a Deck from his chest. The card at the very front of the Deck was a Barrel Dragon.
The man who looked down on Kujaku Mai and Rex was none other than Keith! He had earned the name "The Bandit" by winning prize money in various events back then, reached the Top 8 in the Duelist Kingdom but was utterly defeated by Hayato, was almost killed by Pegasus and thrown off the Island, and was later controlled by Marik to attack the Egyptian Artifact Traveling Exhibition Hall, only to be utterly defeated by Hayato once again!
His fingers tightly gripped his Deck. Keith's face, full of stubble, was full of resentment as he muttered something angrily.
Perhaps at other times, after muttering curses to himself, Keith would vent his wrath and then get up again, go back to his home and sleep, and come back to the Bar the next day to buy alcohol to drown his sorrows.
But perhaps driven by destiny, a person Keith could never forget appeared before him this night.
