"Uh… President Kaiba lost to a bot?"
Chi had indeed heard recently that the tech department was working on upgrading the duel simulation system.
However, she never expected their efficiency to be that terrifying.
A simulated AI modeled after the Duel King… actually managed to blow Kaiba up.
Ether explained, "Chi, you know how the President was always obsessed with the Duel King, but never satisfied with the duel simulator's difficulty."
"Yeah. Even when he won, he'd have that serious look… like it didn't count at all."
"So we figured the template might be too outdated. The 1.0 system was using a very early Duel King Deck, after all."
Chi's eyes widened. "Wait… so what did you guys do?"
Ether said, "We personally visited the Duel King and obtained data on his latest Deck."
"Eh?! Don't tell me you even added Gandora the Dragon of Destruction?!"
"That's exactly what we did. And not just Gandora."
"Okay, I think I get why President Kaiba is angry. That's not the 'Duel King' he wanted at all!"
"How is that any different?"
"Trying to explain this to you tech people is impossible."
While Chi kept arguing heatedly with the simulation researchers…
Miles, temporarily ignored, was examining the simulation room with Kaima.
The simulation chamber wasn't used for dueling directly; it was for close observation of the AI duel taking place below, so researchers could analyze data for future improvements.
Under the elite engineering of KaibaCorp, even an AI Duelist would grow stronger the more it battled.
Though being artificial with no soul, its growth always had a limit.
The observation room sat above and to the side of the simulation arena, and the massive glass wall allowed an even clearer view than a stadium audience.
"So that's the duel arena for fighting bots."
Miles, Kaima, and Dark Aisha pressed against the glass, peering downward.
For a field meant for AI duels only, it was several times more luxurious than Fusion Academy's largest duel arena.
Even though Miles consciously reminded himself this was all just a virtual illusion inside the obelisk tower… being surrounded by such advanced modern tech still made reality and illusion begin to blur subconsciously.
"I wonder what it feels like to duel in a sci-fi arena like this…"
Really, it was just his card addiction flaring up at the sight of high-end duel equipment.
"That's it, Miles! That method will work!"
The moment Chi overheard Miles's mutter, something clicked in her brain, and she shouted triumphantly.
Only then did some of the researchers notice the group following behind Chi.
"Who are these people?" Ether asked, glancing at each of them—only to pause on Kaima. "Huh? The President's daughter?"
Kaima was done. Why did everyone have the same reaction the moment they saw her?
Just what kind of person was this Kaiba—she had to see him for herself today.
"These are friends I just made. And apparently they want to see the President."
"So they're the ones looking for him." Ether flicked her cigarette ash and immediately extinguished it—for the sake of the children present. "Impossible. With the way the President is feeling today, he won't see anyone."
After all, even the so-called veteran employees here had never seen Kaiba with the expression he had earlier when he lost to the AI.
"No!" Chi denied passionately. "The more impossible a situation looks, the more likely it hides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Like what Miles just said!"
"…What did I say?"
"A duel! You wanted to know what it feels like to duel here!"
"That was just me talking. Besides, what's the point of dueling a bot?"
"Hmm, yes. Fighting a bot is pointless… but beating a bot? That's extremely useful!"
All the researchers froze.
The bearded researcher stepped forward.
"Chi, I know you and Ether are close, but I can't pretend I didn't hear that."
These elite researchers, handpicked for KaibaCorp's top technology team, were proud people by nature.
The upgraded Duel King Simulator ver.2.0 was the product of their combined expertise. It represented the highest limit their team could currently reach.
Even President Kaiba couldn't beat it—the Hellbot.
And now some "new friends" Chi dragged in… were being proposed as challengers.
And worse: Chi was implying they could WIN.
"Even President Kaiba couldn't beat Duel King 2.0. Chi, do you really think a normal person has even the slightest chance?" the bearded researcher demanded.
"Wanna bet and find out? I'm very good at judging people~"
Chi once again formed a circle with her thumb and forefinger, holding it up to her left eye as she stared at Miles.
"As KaibaCorp's chief Deck Compatibility Specialist, I've long since seen that Miles is no ordinary Duelist!"
Dark Aisha blinked in admiration. "(?д?)ノ Chi, you're not just a Compatibility Specialist… you're the chief? Amazing."
Ether exposed her in a mutter. "Technically, she's the only Compatibility Specialist in the entire company. So someone decided to call herself the chief."
"Anyway! If Miles can defeat the AI that even President Kaiba couldn't beat, then with his personality, he'll definitely want to meet him!"
This was the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Chi mentioned; possible only because Kaiba had just lost to the upgraded AI.
The bearded researcher emphasized, "This equipment is President Kaiba's personal duel simulator. Not just anyone can challenge it whenever they feel like it."
Even so, the elite researchers—proud people by nature—were clearly fired up. They wanted to use their masterpiece to give these reckless kids a harsh lesson.
"Looks like you guys are the ones itching for a duel," Chi said knowingly, seeing through them instantly.
"So? What terms do you want to set?"
"Weren't you the one who suggested betting?" the bearded researcher said. "If you stake something interesting enough, we can treat this as a field test for the new system and let you challenge it."
"…You weren't secretly eyeing my stuff all along, were you?"
Chi took a step back, reached into the pocket over her chest, and slapped a shimmering gold card onto the table.
"Behold! First prize from last month's company raffle—a one-year, unlimited-use Super VIP pass to the luxury hot spring villa on the 188th floor!"
"You little brat… you're actually putting something that valuable on the line? You that confident?"
"It's just something I won in a raffle! Nothing I'm attached to. Besides, the thrill of a gamble like this is way better than a spa trip!"
"Then what do you want us to wager?"
"Let's not mince words—I want Gandora!"
If you're going to bet, go big. Chi immediately pointed at the rarest, most valuable ace monster in the Duel King Deck—Gandora the Dragon of Destruction.
"Nani?! You want that card as the stake?!"
To perfectly recreate the Duel King Simulator 2.0 Deck, the research team had burned through countless company resources to obtain Gandora.
Gandora's value was far beyond anything like a hot spring VIP card.
"What's wrong? Scared? Where's all that 'absolute confidence' you had earlier? Didn't you say even President Kaiba couldn't beat the Hellbot?"
Pride as elite researchers meant they could not tolerate this kind of provocation.
They exchanged glances, then nodded. The bearded researcher declared:
"Fine! We'll bet! On the outcome of this duel!"
"Ugh… how did this escalate so fast?"
Ether leaned against the wall, lighting another slim cigarette. She had no intention of getting involved.
"If something goes wrong, don't drag me in. I don't know anything. I still need to save money so I can afford to keep my pretty boy toy someday."
Before Miles even agreed, both sides had already locked in an outrageous wager.
"Well, Miles? I believe in you!" Chi said, jumping up to pat his shoulder enthusiastically. "And this is your best chance to meet President Kaiba!"
You want Miles's honest thoughts?
It's just a bot. What? Like, I'm gonna lose to an AI?
↑ That was his first reaction when he heard about computer-simulated dueling.
But after hearing the rest…
The Duel King… version 2.0… Gandora…
Miles suddenly felt that something was very, very wrong.
And he finally understood why Kaiba had been in such a foul mood.
Anyone would lose their smile.
Facing this "Duel King 2.0" Hellbot… would he get stomped so hard he'd lose the will to live?
...
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