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Chapter 616: I Ate Fish for Three Whole Years
Instead of checking if anything had been added to his Deck, Alister was completely taken in by Hayato's "Trust" and directly accepted the Deck. Seeing Hayato leisurely enjoying red wine, Alister, operating under the principle of "why not eat it if it's free," also took out a bottle of brandy from the Aircraft Cabin's wine cabinet and savored it with some cheap candy.
While the two of them were enjoying themselves leisurely, the Private Jet they were on was flying through the clouds above the Pacific Ocean Area towards the higher Stratosphere.
At that time, Dartz's order to Alister, Valon, and Rafael was to intercept and kill the three Duelists who possessed the three "Legendary Dragon" cards—Kaiba, Joey Wheeler, and Yugi. Now, Valon and Alister had both put in effort and taken action, but they only achieved the result of failure. However, even so, they still had to continue executing the current order until Dartz issued a new task.
However, taking a short rest was also acceptable. After all, even Alister didn't know where Kaiba, who had also escaped death from Duel Kingdom Island, was currently flying his jet. And there was even less to say about Valon; he had already sacrificed his life for Dartz's task, and even his soul was intercepted by Hayato halfway from the Orichalcos God and sealed within a card.
As for Rafael, he hadn't made a move on Yugi yet. But actually, while Hayato and Alister were enjoying the drinks prepared for Dartz, Rafael wasn't idle either; he was doing serious business.
"Have Valon's remains been dealt with, Rafael?"
"Yes, Lord Dartz."
Standing behind a device that looked like a projector, Rafael said respectfully. In front of Rafael, the technologically advanced projector emitted dazzling light, projecting a three-dimensional humanoid figure out of thin air right before Rafael.
Although it was a humanoid figure constructed from light out of thin air, the figure's face was quite clear. It was none other than Dartz!
Organization Doma was a secret organization established by Dartz after his failure ten thousand years ago. However, a secret organization couldn't do anything if it only hid behind the scenes. There had to be a "White Glove" that could influence the World while concealing its identity as the "mastermind."
Was the prosperity and demise of the Roman Empire an inevitable part of history?
Who provided the funds and resources for the Age of Discovery?
Was the citizen-initiated revolution truly spontaneously held by the citizens?
And how did Napoleon gain real power?
Throughout the changes of era, Doma's "White Glove" repeatedly appeared behind history. And a glove always gets dirty and needs to be changed. Currently, Doma's "White Glove" is the Paradius Group, a super behemoth that even KaibaCorp and Industrial Illusions combined would find hard to compare with.
The equipment Rafael used to make contact with Dartz before him utilized the technology of Paradius Group. But even such a Paradius Group could only be considered a useful "White Glove." If Dartz, who served as the group's President, wanted to, he could discard it at any time.
After all, it was just a pair of "White Gloves." And not only Paradius Group, but even Rafael and the "Doma Three Swordsmen" were actually the same in Dartz's heart.
Listening to Rafael speak in detail, without any concealment, about how he had been monitoring Hayato Kobayashi and his conjecture about whether Hayato had interfered behind Valon's death, Dartz merely said indifferently, "Check the time. The bomber Alister applied for should have already arrived at Crawford Island and started indiscriminate bombing of Pegasus J. Crawford's Castle, right?"
"To complete the task, they seemed to have all staked their lives. However, they still did not complete the task."
Rafael, who was somewhat sad about Valon's death, was interrupted by Dartz's words halfway through speaking. He didn't show any expression, merely lowered his head respectfully and said, "Yes, everything for your will. But they have already done their best."
Looking at Dartz before him, who showed an expression completely untouched when mentioning Valon, who had already lost his life, and Alister, who could basically be said to be unable to survive, so flat it was like mentioning "the green vegetables in the refrigerator have gone bad," it was false to say Rafael had no thoughts in his heart.
Rafael, who joined Doma after losing his family, placed his own cards as a substitute for his deceased family in the most important first place in his heart. But in his heart, Valon and Alister, who were younger than him and joined Doma later, were like his own younger brothers.
Valon, who liked to be lazy but deep down was full of drive, and Alister, who was essentially somewhat kind in his heart but filled with the wrath of revenge. Although Rafael never put pressure on them with the identity of a "senior" or "Elder," Rafael, who was poor at expressing himself, actually took good care of them normally.
And even without such feelings, upon hearing the death news of teammates, Companions, or rather, "friends," who had been together for so many years, even someone with a heart of stone couldn't help but feel sad. But looking at Dartz's expression, it was like the thought, "Even staking their life, they couldn't defeat the opponent, truly useless."
'Lord Dartz, did he not care about our lives at all...?'
Rafael couldn't help but think inwardly. But he quickly found a reason for Dartz himself. 'No, it should be because Lord Dartz cared too much about his ideal of creating a New World. Seeing that the goal was already so close, yet because of the Nameless Pharaoh and the others, he was unable to get any closer.'
'Because of this, Lord Dartz would temporarily overlook Alister and Valon's death news. Yes, that's how it is.'
If Valon and Alister were like younger brothers in Rafael's eye, then Dartz in Rafael's eye was actually like a Teacher, and could even be said to be a "Father."
Ten years ago, Rafael and his family took a Cruise Ship for an ocean voyage because of his birthday. On his birthday, Rafael received the birthday gift his own younger siblings had prepared for him—the Duel Monsters card he had long wanted but was rare and difficult to collect, **Guardian Eatos**.
First time, going on an ocean voyage together with his family;
First time, receiving the gift of a desired Duel Monsters card.
Two happy things came together, and these two joys brought Rafael even more happiness. What he got should have been happy time like a dream... But why did it turn out like this...?
The route the ship on the ocean voyage was sailing had already been confirmed safe before setting sail. But somehow there was a deviation, and the Cruise Ship strangely sailed to above an Underwater Volcano, and even more unluckily encountered an underwater volcanic eruption.
Amidst the world turned upside down, Rafael tried to reach out and grab his younger siblings who were separated from him, but in that situation, just by a hair's breadth, he missed them, watching helplessly as the distance between them grew. Subsequently, towering waves swallowed everything, and when Rafael woke up, he had landed on a Deserted Island.
On the Island, there was no trace of anyone else besides him. Rafael became the only survivor, like a miracle, in that shipwreck. And what came with him to that Island was only the gift he received from his younger siblings—the card of **Guardian Eatos**. And from time to time, Rafael became able to see the materialized **Guardian Eatos** appearing beside him.
The current Rafael naturally knew that he had awakened the ability of a Spirit User at that time and became able to see the existence of card spirits. But Rafael at that time only felt that all of this was an illusion appearing under his mental stress.
Three years, a full three years. Holding onto the faint hope that "Since I survived, maybe my family also survived somewhere," Rafael lived alone on the Island for a full three years without anyone to communicate with, and also ate fish for a full three years, so much so that now Rafael feels nauseated when he sees fish.
During that time, his only spiritual sustenance was the **Guardian Eatos** card he received. He lived together with the card spirits, calmly and full of anticipation, waiting for the future. And a miracle indeed happened. Rafael on the Island went out to sea because he saw an Island appear in the distance, but found that it was just a phantom. But unexpectedly, he was rescued by a passing ship.
But when Rafael miraculously returned to Human Society, that faint hope that had supported his fragile mind in the past was extinguished by the cruelty of Reality, turning into deep despair.
Besides Rafael, no one else survived that shipwreck. Rafael's family died without corpses or remains, and the relatives who had originally fawned over Rafael's family also revealed their true colors, either plotting for their family's wealth or wanting to utilize the fame of the miraculously returned Rafael.
At that time, Rafael, who was full of confusion towards the World and could only feel a patch of darkness, saw that Sea Island that took him away from the Deserted Island again. Only this time, he did not arrive at the phantom, but met Dartz.
After knowing that Dartz's goal was to make the World return to "zero," Rafael also joined Doma and became one of the current "Doma Three Swordsmen." And on Rafael's path of growth, Dartz acted as his "Teacher," and because of his worship and recognition of Dartz's ideal of "creating a New World," Rafael had a reverence for Dartz like a "Father."
However, Dartz's performance today, for the first time, left a rift in Rafael's heart regarding Dartz's image. Everyone in the "Doma Three Swordsmen" was putting in effort, staking their lives for Lord Dartz's plan, but in Lord Dartz's heart, how exactly does he view us?
This rift was pieced back together by Rafael's reverence for Dartz over these ten years, but a rope that is cut and then tied back together will have a knot, and a wound that is torn open and then heals will have a scar. The faint idea that arose in Rafael's heart towards Dartz was ultimately buried.
'In Lord Dartz's eye, the most important thing is his great plan. As long as it is for creating a New World, even if the souls of the three of us are all offered to Lord Dartz, it doesn't matter. This point, whether it was Alister or Valon, had already prepared for it in their hearts.'
Rafael's gaze was somewhat serious. 'I am the same.'
And seemingly sensing Rafael's will in his heart, Dartz looked over. "Speaking of the Nameless Pharaoh, where are they now?"
"They are already on their way to me, Lord Dartz." Although Dartz didn't say it explicitly, Rafael took the initiative to say, "Please rest assured, I will definitely complete your task. For you, I will subdue the Nameless Pharaoh and the Legendary Dragon cards he possesses, even if I sacrifice my life."
Hearing Rafael's assurance, Dartz merely gave a cold smile. As kind as Dartz was when facing Hayato, he was just as strict and cruel when facing Rafael and the others. "Rafael, among the 'Doma Three Swordsmen,' you are the strongest one. I also believe you have the strength to defeat the Nameless Pharaoh."
"But I don't like hearing assurances like 'I will kill him.' Because it sounds just like bluffing. Only useless scum who only threaten people with a small knife but don't dare to actually act would say such meaningless words. I have heard too many such assurances."
"Doing is more important than saying. Before saying such words, go and complete it first. Not 'I will kill him,' but 'I have already killed him.' I hope to hear such words from you next time."
Finished speaking, the projector's light before Rafael dimmed, and Dartz's figure dispersed from before him. Rafael also straightened his back, looking at the location where Dartz had disappeared, and closed his eyes, seemingly thinking about something.
For a long time, like he made up his mind, Rafael walked towards a table in the Room. From an open briefcase filled with Duel Monsters cards on the table, he took out several cards and put them into the Deck Zone equipped on his wrist's Duel Disk.
After adjusting his Deck, Rafael turned and looked out the window. Looking out from a height, outside was already completely dark.
The current time was already six or seven in the evening. Because it was gradually entering winter, with short days and long nights, the time it got dark was getting earlier and earlier compared to summer.
Rafael was currently at the location of Organization Doma's "White Glove"—the Headquarters of Paradius Group. After leaving Yugi, he took Valon's corpse and came here, both to find a place to lay Valon to rest and also to prepare to welcome Yugi and the others, who had completely exposed their destination.
After taking a private car, taking a shortcut, and speeding up to arrive at Industrial Illusions, Rafael then used Dartz's identity to clear out all the Staff who originally worked here, only leaving behind a certain amount of manpower that would be needed next, leaving an empty Industrial Park to wait for Yugi and their arrival.
Under the cover of night, Paradius Park, which was usually as bright as daytime, fell into complete darkness. And within this darkness, there was a quite noticeable beam of light coming straight towards the building where Rafael was located, along the main road in the center of the Park.
Rafael recognized it. That was the RV that Yugi and the others were riding in, which he had seen once before in Conflict Town.
'Have they come, Nameless Pharaoh? It's finally about to begin, my Duel with you.'
Rafael, holding an indescribable feeling, pressed the call button on an intercom by the table. "Begin the action."
Instead of checking if anything had been added to his Deck, Alister was completely taken in by Hayato's "Trust" and directly accepted the Deck. Seeing Hayato leisurely enjoying red wine, Alister, operating under the principle of "why not eat it if it's free," also took out a bottle of brandy from the Aircraft Cabin's wine cabinet and savored it with some cheap candy.
While the two of them were enjoying themselves leisurely, the Private Jet they were on was flying through the clouds above the Pacific Ocean Area towards the higher Stratosphere.
At that time, Dartz's order to Alister, Valon, and Rafael was to intercept and kill the three Duelists who possessed the three "Legendary Dragon" cards—Kaiba, Joey Wheeler, and Yugi. Now, Valon and Alister had both put in effort and taken action, but they only achieved the result of failure. However, even so, they still had to continue executing the current order until Dartz issued a new task.
However, taking a short rest was also acceptable. After all, even Alister didn't know where Kaiba, who had also escaped death from Duel Kingdom Island, was currently flying his jet. And there was even less to say about Valon; he had already sacrificed his life for Dartz's task, and even his soul was intercepted by Hayato halfway from the Orichalcos God and sealed within a card.
As for Rafael, he hadn't made a move on Yugi yet. But actually, while Hayato and Alister were enjoying the drinks prepared for Dartz, Rafael wasn't idle either; he was doing serious business.
"Have Valon's remains been dealt with, Rafael?"
"Yes, Lord Dartz."
Standing behind a device that looked like a projector, Rafael said respectfully. In front of Rafael, the technologically advanced projector emitted dazzling light, projecting a three-dimensional humanoid figure out of thin air right before Rafael.
Although it was a humanoid figure constructed from light out of thin air, the figure's face was quite clear. It was none other than Dartz!
Organization Doma was a secret organization established by Dartz after his failure ten thousand years ago. However, a secret organization couldn't do anything if it only hid behind the scenes. There had to be a "White Glove" that could influence the World while concealing its identity as the "mastermind."
Was the prosperity and demise of the Roman Empire an inevitable part of history?
Who provided the funds and resources for the Age of Discovery?
Was the citizen-initiated revolution truly spontaneously held by the citizens?
And how did Napoleon gain real power?
Throughout the changes of era, Doma's "White Glove" repeatedly appeared behind history. And a glove always gets dirty and needs to be changed. Currently, Doma's "White Glove" is the Paradius Group, a super behemoth that even KaibaCorp and Industrial Illusions combined would find hard to compare with.
The equipment Rafael used to make contact with Dartz before him utilized the technology of Paradius Group. But even such a Paradius Group could only be considered a useful "White Glove." If Dartz, who served as the group's President, wanted to, he could discard it at any time.
After all, it was just a pair of "White Gloves." And not only Paradius Group, but even Rafael and the "Doma Three Swordsmen" were actually the same in Dartz's heart.
Listening to Rafael speak in detail, without any concealment, about how he had been monitoring Hayato Kobayashi and his conjecture about whether Hayato had interfered behind Valon's death, Dartz merely said indifferently, "Check the time. The bomber Alister applied for should have already arrived at Crawford Island and started indiscriminate bombing of Pegasus J. Crawford's Castle, right?"
"To complete the task, they seemed to have all staked their lives. However, they still did not complete the task."
Rafael, who was somewhat sad about Valon's death, was interrupted by Dartz's words halfway through speaking. He didn't show any expression, merely lowered his head respectfully and said, "Yes, everything for your will. But they have already done their best."
Looking at Dartz before him, who showed an expression completely untouched when mentioning Valon, who had already lost his life, and Alister, who could basically be said to be unable to survive, so flat it was like mentioning "the green vegetables in the refrigerator have gone bad," it was false to say Rafael had no thoughts in his heart.
Rafael, who joined Doma after losing his family, placed his own cards as a substitute for his deceased family in the most important first place in his heart. But in his heart, Valon and Alister, who were younger than him and joined Doma later, were like his own younger brothers.
Valon, who liked to be lazy but deep down was full of drive, and Alister, who was essentially somewhat kind in his heart but filled with the wrath of revenge. Although Rafael never put pressure on them with the identity of a "senior" or "Elder," Rafael, who was poor at expressing himself, actually took good care of them normally.
And even without such feelings, upon hearing the death news of teammates, Companions, or rather, "friends," who had been together for so many years, even someone with a heart of stone couldn't help but feel sad. But looking at Dartz's expression, it was like the thought, "Even staking their life, they couldn't defeat the opponent, truly useless."
'Lord Dartz, did he not care about our lives at all...?'
Rafael couldn't help but think inwardly. But he quickly found a reason for Dartz himself. 'No, it should be because Lord Dartz cared too much about his ideal of creating a New World. Seeing that the goal was already so close, yet because of the Nameless Pharaoh and the others, he was unable to get any closer.'
'Because of this, Lord Dartz would temporarily overlook Alister and Valon's death news. Yes, that's how it is.'
If Valon and Alister were like younger brothers in Rafael's eye, then Dartz in Rafael's eye was actually like a Teacher, and could even be said to be a "Father."
Ten years ago, Rafael and his family took a Cruise Ship for an ocean voyage because of his birthday. On his birthday, Rafael received the birthday gift his own younger siblings had prepared for him—the Duel Monsters card he had long wanted but was rare and difficult to collect, **Guardian Eatos**.
First time, going on an ocean voyage together with his family;
First time, receiving the gift of a desired Duel Monsters card.
Two happy things came together, and these two joys brought Rafael even more happiness. What he got should have been happy time like a dream... But why did it turn out like this...?
The route the ship on the ocean voyage was sailing had already been confirmed safe before setting sail. But somehow there was a deviation, and the Cruise Ship strangely sailed to above an Underwater Volcano, and even more unluckily encountered an underwater volcanic eruption.
Amidst the world turned upside down, Rafael tried to reach out and grab his younger siblings who were separated from him, but in that situation, just by a hair's breadth, he missed them, watching helplessly as the distance between them grew. Subsequently, towering waves swallowed everything, and when Rafael woke up, he had landed on a Deserted Island.
On the Island, there was no trace of anyone else besides him. Rafael became the only survivor, like a miracle, in that shipwreck. And what came with him to that Island was only the gift he received from his younger siblings—the card of **Guardian Eatos**. And from time to time, Rafael became able to see the materialized **Guardian Eatos** appearing beside him.
The current Rafael naturally knew that he had awakened the ability of a Spirit User at that time and became able to see the existence of card spirits. But Rafael at that time only felt that all of this was an illusion appearing under his mental stress.
Three years, a full three years. Holding onto the faint hope that "Since I survived, maybe my family also survived somewhere," Rafael lived alone on the Island for a full three years without anyone to communicate with, and also ate fish for a full three years, so much so that now Rafael feels nauseated when he sees fish.
During that time, his only spiritual sustenance was the **Guardian Eatos** card he received. He lived together with the card spirits, calmly and full of anticipation, waiting for the future. And a miracle indeed happened. Rafael on the Island went out to sea because he saw an Island appear in the distance, but found that it was just a phantom. But unexpectedly, he was rescued by a passing ship.
But when Rafael miraculously returned to Human Society, that faint hope that had supported his fragile mind in the past was extinguished by the cruelty of Reality, turning into deep despair.
Besides Rafael, no one else survived that shipwreck. Rafael's family died without corpses or remains, and the relatives who had originally fawned over Rafael's family also revealed their true colors, either plotting for their family's wealth or wanting to utilize the fame of the miraculously returned Rafael.
At that time, Rafael, who was full of confusion towards the World and could only feel a patch of darkness, saw that Sea Island that took him away from the Deserted Island again. Only this time, he did not arrive at the phantom, but met Dartz.
After knowing that Dartz's goal was to make the World return to "zero," Rafael also joined Doma and became one of the current "Doma Three Swordsmen." And on Rafael's path of growth, Dartz acted as his "Teacher," and because of his worship and recognition of Dartz's ideal of "creating a New World," Rafael had a reverence for Dartz like a "Father."
However, Dartz's performance today, for the first time, left a rift in Rafael's heart regarding Dartz's image. Everyone in the "Doma Three Swordsmen" was putting in effort, staking their lives for Lord Dartz's plan, but in Lord Dartz's heart, how exactly does he view us?
This rift was pieced back together by Rafael's reverence for Dartz over these ten years, but a rope that is cut and then tied back together will have a knot, and a wound that is torn open and then heals will have a scar. The faint idea that arose in Rafael's heart towards Dartz was ultimately buried.
'In Lord Dartz's eye, the most important thing is his great plan. As long as it is for creating a New World, even if the souls of the three of us are all offered to Lord Dartz, it doesn't matter. This point, whether it was Alister or Valon, had already prepared for it in their hearts.'
Rafael's gaze was somewhat serious. 'I am the same.'
And seemingly sensing Rafael's will in his heart, Dartz looked over. "Speaking of the Nameless Pharaoh, where are they now?"
"They are already on their way to me, Lord Dartz." Although Dartz didn't say it explicitly, Rafael took the initiative to say, "Please rest assured, I will definitely complete your task. For you, I will subdue the Nameless Pharaoh and the Legendary Dragon cards he possesses, even if I sacrifice my life."
Hearing Rafael's assurance, Dartz merely gave a cold smile. As kind as Dartz was when facing Hayato, he was just as strict and cruel when facing Rafael and the others. "Rafael, among the 'Doma Three Swordsmen,' you are the strongest one. I also believe you have the strength to defeat the Nameless Pharaoh."
"But I don't like hearing assurances like 'I will kill him.' Because it sounds just like bluffing. Only useless scum who only threaten people with a small knife but don't dare to actually act would say such meaningless words. I have heard too many such assurances."
"Doing is more important than saying. Before saying such words, go and complete it first. Not 'I will kill him,' but 'I have already killed him.' I hope to hear such words from you next time."
Finished speaking, the projector's light before Rafael dimmed, and Dartz's figure dispersed from before him. Rafael also straightened his back, looking at the location where Dartz had disappeared, and closed his eyes, seemingly thinking about something.
For a long time, like he made up his mind, Rafael walked towards a table in the Room. From an open briefcase filled with Duel Monsters cards on the table, he took out several cards and put them into the Deck Zone equipped on his wrist's Duel Disk.
After adjusting his Deck, Rafael turned and looked out the window. Looking out from a height, outside was already completely dark.
The current time was already six or seven in the evening. Because it was gradually entering winter, with short days and long nights, the time it got dark was getting earlier and earlier compared to summer.
Rafael was currently at the location of Organization Doma's "White Glove"—the Headquarters of Paradius Group. After leaving Yugi, he took Valon's corpse and came here, both to find a place to lay Valon to rest and also to prepare to welcome Yugi and the others, who had completely exposed their destination.
After taking a private car, taking a shortcut, and speeding up to arrive at Industrial Illusions, Rafael then used Dartz's identity to clear out all the Staff who originally worked here, only leaving behind a certain amount of manpower that would be needed next, leaving an empty Industrial Park to wait for Yugi and their arrival.
Under the cover of night, Paradius Park, which was usually as bright as daytime, fell into complete darkness. And within this darkness, there was a quite noticeable beam of light coming straight towards the building where Rafael was located, along the main road in the center of the Park.
Rafael recognized it. That was the RV that Yugi and the others were riding in, which he had seen once before in Conflict Town.
'Have they come, Nameless Pharaoh? It's finally about to begin, my Duel with you.'
Rafael, holding an indescribable feeling, pressed the call button on an intercom by the table. "Begin the action."
