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Chapter 431: Colluding with Dark Forces
"In the future, don't help that guy Kaiba Seto."
Hearing Bakura's words, Hayato narrowed his eyes. He didn't directly refuse, but he didn't agree either. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest and said, "From what you're saying, it seems you're planning to make a move against KaibaCorp?"
"No, that's not right. It's not just you. You alone can't do much. So let me guess, you, Schroeder Corporation, and Doma?"
"KaibaCorp has been quite in the spotlight recently. Unfortunately, a tall tree catches the wind, so many people have set their sights on him." Bakura gave a cold laugh. "I'm just playing the role of a middleman in this, but even so, you wouldn't want to get into trouble because of Kaiba, right?"
Hayato snorted coldly. "Then you've completely misunderstood me. Kaiba is my friend, we have a life-or-death bond, and we can even be considered brothers."
"But why do I feel like someone like you, who wouldn't get up early without profit, wouldn't care about such things?"
"No, that's why I said you misunderstood." Hayato showed a sly smile. "Since Kaiba is my brother, if he's in trouble, you want me not to help?"
"You'll have to pay extra."
Bakura looked at Hayato, somewhat puzzled. "As far as I know, haven't you already gotten 30% of Industrial Illusions' shares from Pegasus?"
"Who would complain about having too much money?" Hayato said with a look of disdain and jealousy. "That guy Kaiba acts like he looks down on everyone every day, isn't it just because he has some stinking money? Once he's bankrupt, I'd like to see how he can still be so arrogant."
"Besides, I'm quite interested in KaibaCorp's technology."
Hearing Hayato's words, Bakura shook his head. "Just by looking at you, you have no experience. Have you ever schemed against others?"
Hayato also answered honestly, "No."
"Come, let me tell you." Bakura beckoned and lowered his voice as if imparting his experience. "To bring down KaibaCorp, they are doing the heavy lifting. The technology, data, and such are all theirs; we can't touch them. Even KaibaCorp's assets have to be split three-seven."
"Why only seven percent?"
Hayato looked dissatisfied, but was met with Bakura's scoff. "Seven percent is theirs. You getting three percent still depends on their mood."
"Then wouldn't I be begging on my knees!?" Hayato straightened up, looking extremely unwilling.
Bakura didn't seem to find anything wrong, only thinking that Hayato was somewhat persuaded but his greed made him want more. He struck while the iron was hot and said, "If you put it that way, it really is begging on your knees. You think it's shameful? I think it's shameful too. Is there any job nowadays that isn't shameful?"
Speaking of shame, Bakura couldn't help but think of that scoundrel Dark Marik. At first, the two had a good agreement: Bakura would help him get rid of Rishid, and Marik would give the Millennium Rod to Bakura. But who knew this scoundrel would renege and try to double-cross him?
Although he had the Millennium Eye snatched from Pegasus, it ultimately couldn't compare to the Millennium Ring he was used to. That dishonorable scoundrel Marik nearly took him down with a left kick and a right hook. Fortunately, while he wasn't good at anything else, he was the best at escaping, which is how he got away.
Later, when Kaiba's S.S. Anne was hijacked by Noah Kaiba to the Seafront Base, forced by the situation, Marik and Bakura teamed up again. The vengeful Bakura naturally chose the crucial moment to trap Marik and throw him to the Mechanical Troops, getting revenge for the previous humiliation.
But who knew, although that scoundrel had the ability to rampage against those robots, he also learned to be wicked and set Bakura up, taking the Card Uria, Lord of Searing Flames from him.
Finally, he even detonated the Seafront Fortress, sinking it to the bottom of the sea. Truly a villain. If Bakura hadn't been slightly skilled at escaping, he would have been sunk along with it.
However, it was also because he stayed in the fortress for a while longer that Bakura successfully found several Network Vulnerabilities from KaibaCorp's network that he had used in the past, stored in Noah's Database, which hadn't been fixed and were still usable. Using these as leverage, he took the lead in recruiting the two forces, Doma and Schroeder Corporation, bringing them together.
Driven by Bakura, these two forces basically reached an agreement. Schroeder Corporation wanted to eliminate Kaiba Seto and KaibaCorp, whom Zigfried considered a thorn in his side, while Doma also didn't want Duel Monsters to become more popular. They are currently cooperating with the goal of "bringing down KaibaCorp."
As for Bakura's own purpose, neither side knew, because each side only thought Bakura was the other's contact person.
Combining the power of the two forces, the only obstacles left to achieving the goal of bringing down KaibaCorp using the KC Cup are the troublesome guys blocking the way, and the first among them are powerful duelists like Hayato and Yugi.
Bakura's initial purpose for asking Hayato out was to see if he could control him using the Millennium Eye. However, as he wasn't as skilled with the Millennium Eye as Pegasus, the moment he expanded a Mystical Power Domain, it was canceled out by the Millennium Rod and Millennium Ring on Hayato.
However, being able to bribe Hayato Kobayashi was also a stroke of luck.
Hayato frowned and thought for a long time before sighing and saying helplessly, "Deal made. From now on, I won't interfere with your actions against KaibaCorp, and after it's done, thirty percent goes to me."
"Also, you can't actively go and inform Kaiba Seto or leak this matter; that wouldn't be good for anyone." Bakura added. He wasn't worried that Hayato would do anything to go back on the deal.
In fact, although the two were currently standing near the exit of the Safety Passage in the Kaiba Dome, none of the passing audience members or pedestrians noticed the conspicuously dressed pair. As soon as Hayato noticed Bakura, the Dark Magic Power released by the Millennium Items automatically formed a Dark Barrier separating them from others.
Not only was their conversation unnoticed by others, but this Dark Barrier was actually another application of the Dark Game, just like the one Pegasus used to seal Hayato and Yugi at the end of Duelist Kingdom. The deal reached by Hayato and Bakura within this domain would, to some extent, also be subject to the restraint of the Dark Game.
Therefore, Bakura wasn't worried at all that Hayato would break his promise. Rather, he was quite eager to see Hayato break his promise and be absorbed by the Dark Game. That way, he would have avenged being taken down back then.
Putting his hood back on, and having reached a deal witnessed by the Dark Game, Bakura wasn't worried at all about Hayato stabbing him in the back. He walked back into the Kaiba Dome venue a step ahead of Hayato, while Hayato watched Bakura's figure disappear around the Corner of the Passage before reaching into his pocket,
and hanging up the phone that had been on hold.
I, Hayato Kobayashi, keep my word. I've decided not to actively inform Kaiba Seto.
What?! That scoundrel Kaiba actually eavesdropped on me! How despicable!
"In the future, don't help that guy Kaiba Seto."
Hearing Bakura's words, Hayato narrowed his eyes. He didn't directly refuse, but he didn't agree either. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest and said, "From what you're saying, it seems you're planning to make a move against KaibaCorp?"
"No, that's not right. It's not just you. You alone can't do much. So let me guess, you, Schroeder Corporation, and Doma?"
"KaibaCorp has been quite in the spotlight recently. Unfortunately, a tall tree catches the wind, so many people have set their sights on him." Bakura gave a cold laugh. "I'm just playing the role of a middleman in this, but even so, you wouldn't want to get into trouble because of Kaiba, right?"
Hayato snorted coldly. "Then you've completely misunderstood me. Kaiba is my friend, we have a life-or-death bond, and we can even be considered brothers."
"But why do I feel like someone like you, who wouldn't get up early without profit, wouldn't care about such things?"
"No, that's why I said you misunderstood." Hayato showed a sly smile. "Since Kaiba is my brother, if he's in trouble, you want me not to help?"
"You'll have to pay extra."
Bakura looked at Hayato, somewhat puzzled. "As far as I know, haven't you already gotten 30% of Industrial Illusions' shares from Pegasus?"
"Who would complain about having too much money?" Hayato said with a look of disdain and jealousy. "That guy Kaiba acts like he looks down on everyone every day, isn't it just because he has some stinking money? Once he's bankrupt, I'd like to see how he can still be so arrogant."
"Besides, I'm quite interested in KaibaCorp's technology."
Hearing Hayato's words, Bakura shook his head. "Just by looking at you, you have no experience. Have you ever schemed against others?"
Hayato also answered honestly, "No."
"Come, let me tell you." Bakura beckoned and lowered his voice as if imparting his experience. "To bring down KaibaCorp, they are doing the heavy lifting. The technology, data, and such are all theirs; we can't touch them. Even KaibaCorp's assets have to be split three-seven."
"Why only seven percent?"
Hayato looked dissatisfied, but was met with Bakura's scoff. "Seven percent is theirs. You getting three percent still depends on their mood."
"Then wouldn't I be begging on my knees!?" Hayato straightened up, looking extremely unwilling.
Bakura didn't seem to find anything wrong, only thinking that Hayato was somewhat persuaded but his greed made him want more. He struck while the iron was hot and said, "If you put it that way, it really is begging on your knees. You think it's shameful? I think it's shameful too. Is there any job nowadays that isn't shameful?"
Speaking of shame, Bakura couldn't help but think of that scoundrel Dark Marik. At first, the two had a good agreement: Bakura would help him get rid of Rishid, and Marik would give the Millennium Rod to Bakura. But who knew this scoundrel would renege and try to double-cross him?
Although he had the Millennium Eye snatched from Pegasus, it ultimately couldn't compare to the Millennium Ring he was used to. That dishonorable scoundrel Marik nearly took him down with a left kick and a right hook. Fortunately, while he wasn't good at anything else, he was the best at escaping, which is how he got away.
Later, when Kaiba's S.S. Anne was hijacked by Noah Kaiba to the Seafront Base, forced by the situation, Marik and Bakura teamed up again. The vengeful Bakura naturally chose the crucial moment to trap Marik and throw him to the Mechanical Troops, getting revenge for the previous humiliation.
But who knew, although that scoundrel had the ability to rampage against those robots, he also learned to be wicked and set Bakura up, taking the Card Uria, Lord of Searing Flames from him.
Finally, he even detonated the Seafront Fortress, sinking it to the bottom of the sea. Truly a villain. If Bakura hadn't been slightly skilled at escaping, he would have been sunk along with it.
However, it was also because he stayed in the fortress for a while longer that Bakura successfully found several Network Vulnerabilities from KaibaCorp's network that he had used in the past, stored in Noah's Database, which hadn't been fixed and were still usable. Using these as leverage, he took the lead in recruiting the two forces, Doma and Schroeder Corporation, bringing them together.
Driven by Bakura, these two forces basically reached an agreement. Schroeder Corporation wanted to eliminate Kaiba Seto and KaibaCorp, whom Zigfried considered a thorn in his side, while Doma also didn't want Duel Monsters to become more popular. They are currently cooperating with the goal of "bringing down KaibaCorp."
As for Bakura's own purpose, neither side knew, because each side only thought Bakura was the other's contact person.
Combining the power of the two forces, the only obstacles left to achieving the goal of bringing down KaibaCorp using the KC Cup are the troublesome guys blocking the way, and the first among them are powerful duelists like Hayato and Yugi.
Bakura's initial purpose for asking Hayato out was to see if he could control him using the Millennium Eye. However, as he wasn't as skilled with the Millennium Eye as Pegasus, the moment he expanded a Mystical Power Domain, it was canceled out by the Millennium Rod and Millennium Ring on Hayato.
However, being able to bribe Hayato Kobayashi was also a stroke of luck.
Hayato frowned and thought for a long time before sighing and saying helplessly, "Deal made. From now on, I won't interfere with your actions against KaibaCorp, and after it's done, thirty percent goes to me."
"Also, you can't actively go and inform Kaiba Seto or leak this matter; that wouldn't be good for anyone." Bakura added. He wasn't worried that Hayato would do anything to go back on the deal.
In fact, although the two were currently standing near the exit of the Safety Passage in the Kaiba Dome, none of the passing audience members or pedestrians noticed the conspicuously dressed pair. As soon as Hayato noticed Bakura, the Dark Magic Power released by the Millennium Items automatically formed a Dark Barrier separating them from others.
Not only was their conversation unnoticed by others, but this Dark Barrier was actually another application of the Dark Game, just like the one Pegasus used to seal Hayato and Yugi at the end of Duelist Kingdom. The deal reached by Hayato and Bakura within this domain would, to some extent, also be subject to the restraint of the Dark Game.
Therefore, Bakura wasn't worried at all that Hayato would break his promise. Rather, he was quite eager to see Hayato break his promise and be absorbed by the Dark Game. That way, he would have avenged being taken down back then.
Putting his hood back on, and having reached a deal witnessed by the Dark Game, Bakura wasn't worried at all about Hayato stabbing him in the back. He walked back into the Kaiba Dome venue a step ahead of Hayato, while Hayato watched Bakura's figure disappear around the Corner of the Passage before reaching into his pocket,
and hanging up the phone that had been on hold.
I, Hayato Kobayashi, keep my word. I've decided not to actively inform Kaiba Seto.
What?! That scoundrel Kaiba actually eavesdropped on me! How despicable!
