"In fact, it's pretty much the same as what ME guessed—"
Pegasus said with a smile.
Although he no longer had the Millennium Item, as his Spirit Adaptability rose, he once again gained the ability to hear the thoughts in other people's hearts, and it seemed that the higher his Spirit Adaptability went, the clearer those voices became.
Because of that, this year he heard the confusion in France's heart, the doubt about his own actions, so after watching Tenjo Hikari's Duel, he was struck by inspiration and created "Keeper of Dragon Magic," which specializes in supporting Polymerization, then used it to convey his ideas to all the designers.
Power level is always secondary. For the designers of Industrial Illusions Company, the philosophy has always been to combine design, spirit, strength, and art. Purely chasing power is not what a designer should be thinking.
Relying on this Mind Reading Ability that had returned to his body, he resolved the small conflicts within the company and guided France's thoughts, so France didn't waste his time idling away—for the rivalry between France and Maeda Hayato, he didn't pay it much mind.
People need to compete with each other to improve faster. Besides, without anyone chasing him, Maeda Hayato's the type to turn into a total sloth.
Anyway.
This Mind Reading Ability made Pegasus very satisfied, as if he had returned to the past.
"As expected of Mr. Pegasus! So strong!" France, a hardcore fanboy of Pegasus, shouted excitedly, not minding at all that his mind had once been read.
"But..." Pegasus said, closing his eyes.
The second "turning point."
The smile on his face slowly faded.
Indeed, Mind Reading Arts is an extremely powerful ability. Countless gamblers long to gain "Mind Reading Arts," so they can easily see through the dealer's moves and easily know which is the most "big money" choice.
However—
Having seen through gamblers' stupidity since childhood, and having once become a "gambler" himself just to resurrect his lover, Pegasus knew deeply that there is no such thing as pies falling from the sky for free. Just like back then when he was "given" the Millennium Eyes, it had never been "luck."
So over the past year he'd kept on studying, kept on exploring why he had regained the ability of Mind Reading.
And then...
He finally discovered it!
"Then, everyone, be careful—"
Pegasus turned back around and signaled for the two bodyguards to open the door. The bodyguards exchanged a glance, nodded, went to the main door, and first entered the password, unlocking the mechanical lock.
After that, once the electronic lock was opened and the first layer of the door swung aside, what appeared before everyone was actually a new door, sealed shut with a metal spiral lock.
The two bodyguards strained to rotate the door.
Several people couldn't help swallowing hard.
Pegasus warning everyone so solemnly to be careful, and the sealed door having this many layered safeguards, inevitably made them feel pressured and tense.
The second-layer metal security door was slowly unlocked, and then the door was gradually pushed open.
What appeared before them was an empty, pitch-black room.
But then, a golden flash lit up.
The air instantly froze.
Cold sweat seeped out on Maeda Hayato's forehead, and the relaxed smile had vanished from France's face as well.
The Maze Brothers gasped sharply, while the two bodyguards hurriedly stepped aside.
Just being swept by that light, the group felt as if their bodies were pierced through, filled with a chilling cold.
And in the next second...
In the Darkness, an [eye] slowly opened. As its gaze swept over everyone, almost all of them felt as if someone was gripping their throats, overwhelmed by a sense of suffocation.
Maeda Hayato was so scared he ducked straight behind France, and France himself was sweating and trembling a little.
W-What is this.
It felt like he'd been seen through in an instant.
Tenjo Hikari blinked. At his side, Tierra had already flown out on her own, letting out a low "wooow..." of amazement as she examined the [eye] in the Darkness.
"…Mr. Pegasus, th-that wouldn't happen to be the legendary..." someone asked, shivering.
"Mm~~ that's right, HAHAHA~~ this is exactly from the legendary story of the Duel King… the [Millennium Eyes]!" Pegasus joked as he laughed out loud.
"Millennium Eyes? Mr. Pegasus, could it be you've gotten back—"
"No… not gotten back." Pegasus shook his head.
"That is not the true [Millennium Eyes]… NO—that is not the [physical] Millennium Eyes."
Pegasus lightly tapped his forehead, then continued explaining: "How should I describe it?
It should be the [Spirit]… of the Millennium Eyes?"
"Even the Millennium Item has a [Spirit]!?" France exclaimed.
How could a Millennium Item possibly have a Spirit.
Tenjo Hikari frowned as he looked at the Millennium Eyes in the Darkness, then hesitated, thinking it over.
Not the Millennium Eyes, but the "Spirit" of the Millennium Eyes?
Could it be...
Illusion-Type!
In Tenjo Hikari's memory, Illusion-Type Monsters were a "brand-new race" released not long ago, and the biggest hallmark of this race was that every single Monster carried the emblem of an [eye] on its body!
"After more than a year of research, ME gradually realized that ME hadn't simply regained the talent of Mind Reading. Instead, ME had drawn in the power of a past departed soul. This power let ME regain the ability of Mind Reading, but it also drove ME crazy every day with never-ending thoughts flooding in."
Back then, he could choose when to read minds, so he only needed to learn key information at critical moments.
But now, being stuck in full-time, 24/7 automatic Mind Reading is really quite tormenting for someone his age, who's also lacking in exercise.
"So, ME calls it the curse of the [Thousand Eyes]."