Chapter 13: 1.5 Billion Yen for One Blue-Eyes, Isn't That Reasonable?
But Kaiba called Jonouchi a "Mediocre Person," and from his expression, it didn't look like a joke, so Jonouchi also got a little angry. "So, Kaiba Seto, the great young master and great genius of KaibaCorp, what business do you have here, condescending to visit?"
"I just happened to hear there were super Rare Cards here, and curiosity led me to this place." Although Kaiba had a smile on his face, it was filled with disdain for the simple Kame Game Shop. "But really, how could there be Rare Cards in a place more run-down than a toilet next to a country field?"
"Honestly, it seems I occasionally have immature delusions. To actually think a place like this would have decent Cards." As he spoke, Kaiba shrugged helplessly, making anyone who saw him want to punch him.
No, Jonouchi already wanted to make a move. If Honda and Hayato hadn't pulled him back in time, Kaiba might have ended up with a broken face. Even while being restrained by the two, Jonouchi was still extremely agitated. "Don't mistake my patience for weakness! What right do you have to insult Grandpa Muto's Toy Shop!"
"Hmph, do you think I'm like you guys?" Seeing Jonouchi being held back, Kaiba provocatively took another step forward, looking completely fearless. "I have the skill level of a national Duel Monsters champion. The gap between you and me is as vast as the difference between a soaring dragon and the fish and shrimp at the bottom of a river. We're not even on the same level."
Seeing Kaiba's arrogant look was truly infuriating. Hayato even considered letting go of Jonouchi and letting him beat Kaiba up. What excuse could he use then? That his hand cramped up?
"Then how about you spar with a fish and shrimp like me, Kaiba!" Jonouchi, angered to the extreme, instead started laughing. He pulled out the Deck he had just adjusted from his person. "I've seen enough of that annoying attitude of yours at school. I've tolerated you for long enough!"
"Heh, my time is very precious. I can tolerate spending it searching for Rare Cards, but a Mediocre Person like you isn't worth my time." Kaiba sneered and was about to turn and leave. As he left, he unconsciously glanced at the others in the room.
Mutou Yuugi, the timid kid from class; Jonouchi the Mediocre Person and his delinquent friend Honda; Téa Gardner, who was plain-looking; and that other guy, who had a low profile because he was a good student? But, he wasn't an important character anyway.
Kaiba's final gaze fell upon the owner of the Toy Shop—Solomon Muto. His inherited height and hairstyle were enough to recognize his family relation to Mutou Yuugi at a glance.
Then, his gaze shifted downwards. This shift led to something major. Kaiba Seto couldn't move his gaze, it was glued to the Card being held in Solomon Muto's white-gloved hand.
"What?! That's, 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon'!?"
Impatiently, Kaiba completely disregarded Jonouchi's fierce, ready-to-fight look. He directly pushed aside Yugi and Anzu, who were blocking his way, and rushed straight to the counter. He bent down, getting his head as close to the 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' on the counter as possible.
"Why, why would the legendary 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' appear in this place, why!"
Seeing Kaiba lose his composure like this, the smugness in Jonouchi's heart spilled onto his face. "Heh heh, Kaiba, 'what kind of run-down Cards could be in a place like this'? What are your thoughts now? You don't even put 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' in your eyes, huh?"
But Kaiba seemed not to have heard Jonouchi at all, lost in shock. 'To actually find a 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' here, it's unbelievable. I have to get it, I absolutely must get it!'
"Alright, alright, you've seen enough." Sugoroku seemed to see through the longing in Kaiba's eyes. He quickly put the Card back in the box, closed it securely, and put it away, clearly not planning to show it any further. "This classmate of Yugi's, your name is Kaiba, right? This Card is a Non-sale Item."
'Damnable old man.' Kaiba hadn't even had a chance to speak before Sugoroku saw through his thoughts, and he couldn't help but feel annoyed. But the upbringing from his elite education since childhood gave him the composure not to show his emotions outwardly. He just calmed his tone as much as possible and lifted the aluminum alloy case he was carrying, placing it on the table.
"Thud!"
Sugoroku was startled by the dull thud the case made when placed on the counter glass. After all, the counter was glass to display the Cards, and he was afraid Kaiba's strength was too great and he'd smash the counter.
Kaiba paid no attention to Sugoroku's expression at all. He directly opened the case, turned it halfway, and showed the contents of the case to Sugoroku. "Grandpa, please, sell me that 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon'. I can exchange it with these Cards!"
Sugoroku, who had seen many Duel Monsters Cards, looked towards Kaiba's case, and a hint of longing couldn't help but show on his face. This was because Kaiba's case was packed full with nearly five hundred Cards, practically a small mobile Card library!
Hayato stepped forward, wanting to see what Cards surprised Grandpa Sugoroku so much, but just glancing at it made him a bit speechless. Indeed, the case was packed full of Cards, but the quality of the Cards, just from the first layer, wasn't very high—either high-level Normal Monsters with unclear meaning and low Stats like 'Spark Plug' and 'Collision Beast', or mysterious Fusion Monsters that were a complete waste of resources like 'Labyrinth Tank' and 'Giant Red Seasnake'.
Even the Spell Cards were things like 'Red Potion' and 'Curry of Life'. The only one that was barely acceptable was a single 'Fusion', which was considered a good thing.
So President, your Cards are just a collection of these weak Normal Monsters? I thought there would at least be slightly stronger Cards like 'Sapphire Dragon' or 'Emerald Dragon'.
"Um, Kaiba, I happen to be missing a 'Fusion'," Hayato interjected. But Kaiba just stared directly at Sugoroku, seemingly waiting for his reply.
"Hmm, no, I can't," Sugoroku replied firmly after looking at the case full of Cards for a long time, letting go of the longing in his eyes.
"If you're not willing to exchange, I can also buy it with money. I'm willing to pay any amount!" Although Kaiba was a bit surprised that Sugoroku refused the exchange, he still didn't give up the idea of "getting 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon'" and continued to make his offer. "You name your price! Whether it's thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions, as long as you're willing to sell it to me!"
Hayato Ranted, "I don't think selling 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' for 1.5 billion Yen is too much, is it? But in that case, President, it seems your KaibaCorp would be gone."