When Aigami and Sella entered the room together with the Ishtar siblings, Youyu was a bit surprised.
"Oh, you all arrived together? That's quite a coincidence."
Marik was the first to step forward: "Mr. Youyu, long time no see."
"It has been a while indeed... Oh, you've grown quite a bit."
Marik chuckled: "People have to grow, especially since Mr. Youyu has always taken good care of us..."
Only then did he suddenly raise an odd question.
Wait, who did Mr. Youyu say has grown quite a bit?
Was he talking about me or my sister?
Mr. Marik was surprised to find that this question was rather difficult to answer.
Next up was Sella: "Mr. Youyu."
"Sella? Wow, you've really gotten... taller, haven't you?" Youyu gave her a once-over.
Indeed, although her frame was still small compared to others, Sella was at least much taller than she used to be. In Youyu's memory, Sella was like a little bean-sized child, and now she was almost a graceful young lady.
Still, her growth seemed limited to height, without much change in width. Especially when standing next to the voluptuous Ishizu, the difference was even more pronounced.
Youyu's gaze then swept to the last person present. Aigami had been trying to keep his presence low from the moment he entered, but seeing there was no escape, he reluctantly stepped forward: "Well... Mr. Youyu, my card deck is still the same old set, just those three basic Cubic moves, nothing new. About this..."
Youyu couldn't help but laugh.
Goodness, do you think I summoned you all the way here just to have you bring me a card?
Am I really that bored?
Besides, who doesn't know your Cubic deck only has those three moves? I wouldn't want such a thing even if you gave it to me...
"By the way, although there aren't any new Cubic monsters, there are still some other cards." Sella somehow produced a few cards and handed them to Youyu, "You can see if anything interests you."
Aigami: "!"
Goodness, his sister actually secretly prepared a gift for him!
How come he, as the brother, didn't know?
Before Youyu could speak, Marik also made a move: "By the way, Mr. Youyu, I mentioned before there were some new cards you might find interesting. I brought them today."
He also produced a few cards and handed them to Youyu.
Aigami was even more astonished.
Wait, what's with this Mr. Marik? I heard that back then, wasn't he smacked down by Mr. Youyu, his Egyptian God was taken, and his organization got dismantled? Shouldn't they be enemies?
Could it be that he's gotten addicted to having his deck snatched and developed some strange dependency on the Duel King?
Ishizu seemed to sense the timing was right, elegantly raised her hand, and from the loose robes, somehow also produced a golden pendant.
"Over the years, with nothing much to do, I've studied alchemy for a while, gained some insights, and improved a lot technically." Ishizu said, "This is a Spiritual Artifact I've recently crafted myself, hoping it can be of some assistance to Mr. Youyu."
Aigami: "..."
Goodness, so I'm actually the only one who came empty-handed?
"Ahem, you've misunderstood. The reason I invited you here isn't for these kinds of things."
Youyu coughed, receiving everyone's gifts and casually stashing them into his desk drawer while explaining.
"Today, there are mainly two matters."
He thought for a moment, considered the order of narrative, and then turned his gaze to Aigami. The latter felt his gaze, jerked his eyelids, instinctively stepping back half a step.
"The first matter refers to the Quantum Cube..."
"Gone!" Aigami hurriedly interrupted, "The Quantum Cube is the unique Divine Artifact left by Lord Shin for us, existing for the purpose of achieving 'Dimensional Leap.'
It cannot be replicated and there's only one, which has been handed to you, we really don't have it anymore!"
Youyu: "..."
Look how scared the child is.
"I know there's only one." Youyu said helplessly, "What I meant is, the 'Quantum Cube' has always been kept by the Kaiba Group, it's key to the development of the 'Duel Links' system.
But recently it has been stolen."
"Huh?"
Aigami and Sella simultaneously showed surprised expressions.
"Stolen?" Sella asked, "By what person?"
"Someone high up in the Kaiba Group, but it's clear he was also manipulated by someone." Youyu said, "The real mastermind is still under investigation, and the Cube's whereabouts are unknown."
He paused, glanced at the two: "But if we're talking about the Quantum Cube, there shouldn't be anyone in this world more familiar with it than you. So I thought, maybe you could help?"
Aigami and Sella looked at each other.
"Hmm... Although we no longer have the power of Prana, we still understand quite thoroughly the way the Quantum Cube operates." Sella thought, "If we can use the Kaiba Group's technological equipment, as long as the person who stole the Cube taps into its power, we should at least have a means of locating its position."
She nodded, saying: "Both I and Diva are happy to help."
Aigami: Wait, why don't I remember expressing my opinion...
"That's great." Youyu said, "I'm planning to drop by the Kaiba Group later, you should come with me."
Aigami made one last attempt to resist: "I can handle this, Sella doesn't need to..."
"No, this is a serious matter. If someone wants to misuse the power of the Quantum Cube, then stopping them is also my responsibility." Sella's attitude was firm.
Aigami: "..."
Mr. Marik glanced at Aigami, somehow seemingly understanding this brother's mindset.
Truth be told, when Youyu and his sister were shut in a room all day from morning until night studying alchemy, Marik was somewhat similar to Aigami's present mindset.
However, later on, Mr. Marik figured things out.
Upon careful reflection, he realized those were just his wishful thinking and imagination brewing unnecessary concerns.
Mr. Youyu is a gentleman!
After all, seeing his card skills so magically proficient, one knows he must have no romantic distractions, hence there's no need for such unnecessary worry...(crosses out)
Truth be told, now Marik is actually slightly worried for his sister. After so many years, his sister grows ever more mature, yet still lacks a partner, which deeply worries him as a brother.
Sometimes he even feels that if Mr. Youyu had done something else while teaching his sister alchemy back then, he wouldn't be so anxious now...
With the matter settled, Youyu immediately proceeded: "Next, there's the second matter."
With this, he paused, then retrieved from beneath his desk a silver-white circular badge and tossed it onto the table. The badge had the letters "GX" engraved on it clearly.
Marik picked up the badge, curiously asking: "What is this...?"
"A ticket to the 'GX' tournament." Youyu crossed his fingers, resting his chin on them, "I need you all to participate in this competition... And duel with my students."