Inside KaibaCorp's main conference room sat five middle-aged men.
They were the heads of KaibaCorp's five major domains—Mergers & Acquisitions, Human Resources, Legal Affairs, Industrial Development, and Administration—and they were also the indispensable collaborators who had helped Seto Kaiba seize control of KaibaCorp in the first place.
They were known as the Big Five.
After Kaiba took over the company, he hadn't "killed the donkey after it did its work." Instead, he handed the five domains over to them to manage, and even granted them shares and special privileges within KaibaCorp.
"How can this be…?" Ōshita Kōnosuke slammed a hand onto the table. "That woman—Kisaragi—actually defeated Pegasus, the creator of Duel Monsters! Kaiba Seto was rescued too! And Pegasus has completely switched sides—he even made Kisaragi Aoi the largest shareholder of Industrial Illusions!"
"And that woman beside President Kaiba… she's no simple ornament," Ōtaki Shūzō sneered. "She's that beautiful—I thought she was just a vase. Heh."
"Kaiba Seto isn't the type who keeps someone around just for looks," Daimon Kogorō snapped. "If that's all it took, we wouldn't need to work this hard—just stuff women into the president's office. But I never imagined her ability was this terrifying."
"When Kaiba returns, he'll definitely come after us," someone muttered. "We need a perfect plan."
BANG!
The conference room doors burst open.
Seto Kaiba strode in first—cold and imposing.
Behind him came Kisaragi and Mokuba.
After returning from Duelist Kingdom, they hadn't gone home—not to the mansion, not to rest. Kaiba had brought them straight to KaibaCorp headquarters.
He had come to settle accounts.
"So." Kaiba's voice was ice. "I'm back alive—sorry to disappoint you five."
"Of course not, President Kaiba," Ōshita said quickly, forcing a smile. "Your safe return is a blessing for KaibaCorp."
"Hmph. You didn't think we'd show our faces here again, did you?" Kaiba said. "I already know about your plot with Pegasus to seize KaibaCorp."
"Yeah!" Mokuba flared up, anger flashing across his face. "Because of you, my brother and I had our souls stolen by Pegasus! If Sister Kisaragi hadn't defeated him, KaibaCorp would've belonged to you by now!"
Kaiba's eyes narrowed.
"This betrayal is unforgivable. I'm executing my authority as CEO—effective immediately, you are all dismissed."
"Please wait, President Kaiba—"
"Stop making that stupid face at a time like this," Kaiba snapped.
Ōshita took a step forward, voice turning oily.
"If we're going to talk about causes, it began when you repurchased our shares… and transferred them to the woman behind you—Kisaragi Aoi. President Kaiba, you're young and brilliant—you can have any woman you want. Why injure the hearts of us old hands… just for this one woman?"
"And maybe," Ōtaki added, "she's sweet-talked you into making these decisions?"
"Shut up."
Kaiba's fury spiked so sharply the entire room flinched.
"Don't assume I'm blind to your little tricks. I tolerated some of it because you were 'veterans.' After I repurchased your shares, what you kept was already enough to live comfortably for the rest of your lives."
"But now?" Kaiba's voice cut like steel. "I don't even want to see you again."
At that moment, one of the five—a bespectacled man—stepped out.
"President Kaiba," he said, "how about we make a wager? A bet between the Big Five… and you. Using your position as CEO."
Kaiba's eyes sharpened.
"So you're challenging me. Fine. What's the bet?"
"We've recently developed an adventure game based on Duel Monsters," the man said. "If you clear it… we lose, and everything will be handled exactly as you decide."
"But if you lose…" he smiled thinly, "…you hand over the CEO seat."
"Hmph. Then I—" Kaiba started to accept—
"Kaiba, wait."
Kisaragi stepped forward and stopped him.
"You can't take this bet."
Ōtaki snapped, slamming his palm on the table. "You woman! You have no right to speak here!"
Kisaragi didn't even blink.
Instead, she walked straight up to the Big Five.
"I've seen your game before," she said calmly. "Honestly, the competition is just a pretext. Your real goal is to trap Kaiba inside that game—am I wrong?"
The Big Five's expressions turned ugly—instantly.
"…Is that true?" Kaiba's face darkened.
"You bastards!" Mokuba yelled. "You're pulling tricks again?!"
Kisaragi's gaze stayed razor-sharp.
"I have a proposal."
Daimon Kogorō narrowed his eyes. "What are you planning?"
"Let's settle this the original way. A duel," Kisaragi said. "I'll even put restrictions on myself—so you'll have a chance."
"Restrictions?" someone repeated.
"For example—I'll only use Level 4 or lower monsters. How about it?"
The Big Five hesitated.
Kisaragi's tone turned colder.
"If you refuse, Kaiba will simply force you out. And then you won't even have the leverage to negotiate like you do now."
"You know Kaiba's methods," she continued. "Getting rid of the five of you would be effortless."
Finally, Daimon spoke.
"We accept. Under your condition—you can only use Level 4 or lower monsters, and you'll duel the person we choose."
"Daimon—!" the other four started to protest.
"Relax," Daimon said quietly. "Low-level monsters can't beat our trump card. She won't win."
Kisaragi nodded, as if the matter were already decided.
"Then it's settled. Two hours from now, we meet at KaibaCorp's duel arena."
"No problem."
After the Negotiation
Once Kaiba, Kisaragi, and Mokuba left, the Big Five finally exhaled.
"Honestly…" Ōshita muttered, wiping sweat. "I've never been that tense facing a girl. Her pressure is insane."
"Do you think our duelist can beat her?" someone asked.
"It's fine," another answered smugly. "With only Level 4 or lower monsters, she can't beat our trump card. I watched her duels—she wins by quickly summoning high-level monsters. Without them, she'll be stuck."
In the Corridor
As the three of them walked down the hallway—
"Sister Kisaragi…" Mokuba asked anxiously, "how can you beat the Big Five using only Level 4 or lower monsters?"
Kisaragi smiled faintly.
"If I said it, it means I'm sure. I'm not going to gamble with KaibaCorp."
Kaiba nodded.
"Mokuba, don't worry. She probably has some strange tactic prepared. We'll do it her way."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter116)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 118
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 111
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 80
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 112
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 95
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 89
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 53
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 61
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 65
Uma Musume: From Beginner 61
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 37
Uma Musume: I Want All 35
I Can Copy Unique Skills 36
A Guide to Aid in the Underwor 26
Summoning an Evil God, but the 27
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