Chapter 65: The Six-Year-Old Son Who Wants Something for Nothing

The duel concluded, and Yugi approached Pandora, who had been battered and stripped of all spirit by the Five Formation Magician. Without hesitation, he snatched the duel disk from Pandora’s left arm and took the deck, searching swiftly until he found the manipulated card: the “Red-Clad Dark Magician,” whose appearance resembled Yugi’s own Dark Magician, save for the red-black hue of its skin instead of purple-black.

“A fake card crafted by Gurus…”

With a ripping sound, Yugi tore the three cards into a pile of fragments.

Just as he was about to leave, puzzle crystal card in hand, Pandora’s body convulsed and he crawled up from the ground. With a sudden roll, Pandora blocked Yugi’s path.

“Well, President Yugi! This is our first meeting, isn’t it?”

“You… Malik?”

Startled by Pandora’s abrupt obstruction, Yugi was about to speak, when his sharp eyes caught the glowing golden “single eye” on Pandora’s forehead.

That golden eye was strikingly similar to the Millennium Eye given to Yugi by Pegasus, one of the legendary Millennium Items.

After a brief pause, Yugi spoke with certainty, naming the person now controlling Pandora’s body.

“Oh? I didn’t expect the new president of the Illusion Society to know about the powers of the Millennium Items.”

In the anime, to distinguish Malik from his puppets, his voice would transmit remotely after taking over someone’s body. Here in reality, although Malik controlled Pandora, the voice remained Pandora’s own.

With only the golden eye on Pandora’s forehead marking the anomaly, and Yugi correctly guessing the identity of the manipulator, it proved that this new president was familiar with both the Millennium Items and Malik Ishtar himself.

Malik speculated privately that this knowledge likely came from the previous president, Pegasus J. Crawford, and his own elder sister, Ishizu Ishtar.

After all, information about the Millennium Items, and Malik being the mastermind behind Gurus, was known only to a select few outside the Gurus group.

“Since you already know about me, President Yugi, I won’t beat around the bush.”

Controlling Pandora, his eyes now hollow and empty, Malik stared straight at Yugi and declared:

“President Yugi, during your Duel City tournament, my objective—and the sole purpose for which I established the Gurus organization—is the Nameless Pharaoh!”

“To put it another way, I’m after the runner-up of the Duel Kingdom tournament, that little fellow named ‘Yugi Mutou.’”

Perhaps concerned that “Nameless Pharaoh” would sound confusing or ridiculous, Malik kindly specified the exact name familiar to Yugi.

“So?”

“So? There’s no need for us to duel! Once I’ve taken revenge on the Nameless Pharaoh, I’ll participate in your tournament through official channels, and then, in a proper match, I’ll win the Blue-Eyes God card from Seto Kaiba by legitimate means!”

“At that point, I’ll order all Gurus members in Domino City to withdraw entirely, never interfering with your International Illusion Society again! What do you think?”

Malik sounded confident, his motives and those of his organization unmistakably clear. He believed Yugi, as the new president, would surely agree if he had any sense.

Moreover, Malik spoke truthfully: for this tournament, he cared only about the Nameless Pharaoh within Yugi Mutou, and the Blue-Eyes God card entrusted to Seto Kaiba by his sister Ishizu.

Yugi: “…”

It seemed that Malik, despite being only six years old, still believed—just as in the anime—that his sister Ishizu had handed the Blue-Eyes God card to Seto Kaiba.

Seeing Yugi remain silent, Malik assumed he’d agreed and was about to explain that their previous conflicts were misunderstandings and propose a parting, when Yugi finally spoke:

“Not on your life!”

“Huh?”

“First, Yugi is a friend I met on Kingdom Island. If you think I’d let you harm him, you’re mistaken.”

“Well… to be precise, it’s not Yugi Mutou himself, but the inverted pyramid-shaped ‘Millennium Puzzle’ hanging around his neck.”

Malik clarified his target, explaining that though the Nameless Pharaoh’s soul resided in Yugi, its true vessel was the Millennium Puzzle.

If he could simply take the Puzzle, he wouldn’t need to trouble Yugi Mutou, the mortal.

“Second!”

Ignoring Malik’s explanation, Yugi continued:

“Seto Kaiba is not only my business partner, but also one of my fiercest rivals in Duel Monsters. Do you think I’d let you make a move against her?”

“Well… to be precise, all I want is a single card with a blue border and a blue monster illustration from her deck. As for Kaiba herself? Not much interest.”

Malik explained again, though his claim of disinterest was a lie. He knew that those who could wield the God cards were either ancient Egyptian Pharaohs or holders of one of the seven Millennium Items.

Such requirements were extremely strict, meaning very few people could command the three God cards.

He’d also heard that if a duelist, without meeting either condition, could earn the God’s recognition through charisma and skill, they might briefly wield the card. Yet, so far, none had been found.

At this point, Yugi lost all interest in further conversation. He crossed his arms, returned a cold smile, and retorted:

“You and your lot, who manufacture and use fake cards, have no right to make demands of me, president of the official card printing society!”

Malik: “…”

“But…”

Hearing this, Malik’s eyes brightened. His favorite words were “But…”—as long as they appeared, it meant negotiations could continue.

“If you’re willing to give me one of your two God cards, then perhaps I’d consider your suggestions.”

“…So, there’s nothing to discuss, then?”

The God card was Malik’s trump card for his revenge against the Nameless Pharaoh, no less important than Kaiba’s Blue-Eyes. Especially the highest-ranked God among the three—the “Sun God”! Anyone who dared touch it without his permission, or scheme against it… Malik would make them know the terror of the Shadow Games!

Taking a deep breath, Yugi replied with biting sarcasm:

“Damn it! You have zero sincerity, yet you want to walk away with my assent empty-handed? Let me give you two words—Day! Dream!”