Chapter Text
The air in the private dining room was thick with formality and unspoken tension. Pegasus, the flamboyant CEO of Industrial Illusions, sat at the head of the table, his piercing blue eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and foresight. Across from him, Mokuba Kaiba, young and weary, fidgeted with the silverware, as if even the metal beneath his fingers weighed the same burden as the conversation about to unfold. Beside Pegasus, Mr. Fodi, the sharp-tongued lawyer known for his quiet influence, leaned back, his expression calm but calculating. This was not a lunch of camaraderie but a meeting of necessity. Pegasus made a fully recovery from his attack from Seto Kaiba and his thugs, he was bestowed blessings from Atem to recovery fully as a gratitude from Atem to Pegasus in helping Yugi and securing Yugi's future.
The mansion’s secluded room, far from the prying ears of servants and reporters, was chosen with care. Pegasus had offered to host the discussion here, rather than a public restaurant, to ensure that the future of Kaiba Corp could be discussed without interference. Outside, the midday sun filtered through the stained glass, casting shifting hues onto the marble floor. Inside, the atmosphere was far less colorful. The recent events—the kidnapping, the brutal attack, and Seto Kaiba’s divine punishment—hung between them like a phantom.
Mokuba was the first to speak. “I told him you’d want to talk,” he murmured, placing his napkin aside. “Seto… he’s not the same. He’s not even eating, just water.” His voice wavered slightly, betraying the fear he had kept buried. Pegasus watched him carefully, his expression unreadable. Mr. Fodi, ever the pragmatist, raised a brow. “A fragile mind, but not beyond repair,” he said. “If only mortals would heed their own limits.”
Mokuba exhaled slowly, his fingers curling around the edge of the table as if grounding himself. “I’ve never seen Seto like this,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “He used to be so… certain. Now, he just stares at the walls, muttering things I don’t understand. I try to talk to him, but he doesn’t respond the way he used to.” His gaze flickered to Mr. Fodi, searching for reassurance. “Is he going to recover?”
Mr. Fodi leaned forward, his expression unreadable. “Recovery is not the right word,” he murmured. “This is atonement.” His voice carried the weight of something far larger than simple illness. “Your brother has let his hubris consume him. He sought power, and now he is being judged for it. His body may heal, but his soul… it has to be reckoned with.”
Mokuba shuddered at the word, a chill slipping down his spine. He had heard of such things—of the gods meting out justice in ways mortals could not understand. And yet, Seto had always been beyond such fates. Now, he was the one being punished, and Mokuba was helpless to stop it.
“I know this is part of Atem’s judgment,” Mokuba said, his voice raw with emotion. “But what if it’s not enough? What if my brother never comes back?” A thick silence followed, the kind that pressed against a person’s chest like a tangible weight. He stared at the table, the polished wood reflecting the tension in his eyes. “I’m scared.”
Mr. Fodi’s gaze remained unwavering as he spoke. “Your brother’s actions have not only cost him his own well-being, but also his right to control Kaiba Corp,” he said. “We have spoken with Mr. Asato. With careful maneuvering and the legal strategies I have employed since my days as a practitioner of the law, we can ensure that Seto Kaiba’s authority over the company is severely diminished, if not completely revoked.” His voice carried the quiet certainty of a man who had seen justice served in both mortal courts and divine ones.
Mokuba swallowed hard. “You mean… my brother won’t be able to run the company anymore?”
Mr. Fodi nodded. “Precisely. I can draft bylaws that will prevent him from exercising any executive power, and as for the inheritance from Mr. Kaiba’s late stepfather, I will examine how it was structured to determine if it can be challenged or revoked.” He hesitated for a moment, his expression darkening. “Without Seto’s unchecked influence, it would be easier for Industrial Illusions to step in and take control of Kaiba Corp before it crumbles entirely.”
Pegasus, who had been listening intently, finally spoke. “And let’s not forget, there is another matter: your brother’s health.” His tone was light but deliberate. “If the courts declare him unfit for decision-making due to his current state, it would only reinforce the legal framework we need to keep the company afloat.”
Mokuba felt the weight of the discussion pressing in. “I understand,” he said, his voice quiet. “But what if he never recovers enough to be declared fit again?”
Mr. Fodi met his gaze. “Then, perhaps, it is time to consider appointing a legal ward to represent him… and to ensure that his misdeeds do not extend further.”
Pegasus tilted his head, his expression thoughtful, as if considering the weight of Mokuba's question. "Let me be clear," he said, his voice smooth but firm, "this is not about taking advantage of Kaiba Corp's misfortunes. It is about salvation—of the company, of the people who depend on it, and, in time, of Seto himself." He gestured toward the empty space between them, as if visualizing the path he described. "Industrial Illusions has long sought to expand Duel Monsters and to make it a juggernaut for generations, to bring our games across the world. You know as well as I do that Kaiba Corp's technology is far ahead of our competitors. Acquiring it would allow us to merge resources, accelerate development, and reach countries neither of us could have imagined."
Mokuba hesitated. He had not considered the broader implications. Still, something in Kaiba Corp’s name made him uneasy. "You don’t see the scandal involved," he said. "How could you consider investing in something so… tainted?"
Pegasus smiled, though his tone remained serious. "Tainted? Perhaps. But every great company has faced adversity. Even yours, Kaiba-boy, once rebuilt itself from the ashes of his stepfather. This is no different." His eyes glinted with a hint of mischief. "And think of the names we could brand these new projects under. The Kaiba name still carries influence, even in its fall. We could restore it… under our guidance."
Mokuba frowned but said nothing. The idea was absurd in its scale, yet he could not deny the logic behind it.
Mr. Fodi, his expression grave, leaned back in his chair, the weight of the discussion pressing upon him like an ancient burden. “You must understand, Mokuba, that this is not merely a legal or financial matter,” he said. “This is the will of the gods speaking through us.” His voice, though calm, carried an undercurrent of something far greater than mortal understanding. “The gods withdrew from the world of men long ago, allowing them to shape their own fates. But Seto Kaiba’s actions… they warranted divine intervention.”
Mokuba’s brow furrowed, his confusion evident. “What do you mean?”
Mr. Fodi met his gaze, his piercing brown eyes betraying the presence of Horus, the ancient god of the sky. “The boy has defied the natural order. He sought power not through righteous means but through manipulation, coveting and violence to a God and his lover. His punishment was not of this world—it was bestowed by the Divine Grandeur Lord Pharaoh Atem, whose justice is unyielding. And now, his judgment continues through us, as we shape the path Kaiba Corp must take.” He let the words settle, then added, “We are not doing this for profit alone. We are fulfilling a divine will.”
Pegasus, ever the showman, nodded solemnly. “This is the way it must be,” he said. “Kaiba Corp will rise again, under a new name, a new direction, and a new sense of justice.”
Mokuba looked between them, realization dawning. This was not just a business deal. It was a divine decree.
Mokuba sat in silence, absorbing the weight of the words spoken around the table. The future of Kaiba Corp was no longer in Seto’s hands, nor his own—not fully. The burden of rebuilding would fall on Industrial Illusions, led by Pegasus’s vision and Mr. Fodi’s legal prowess. The former vice president of Kaiba Corp would soon become the new vice president of its savior, a role he had not yet earned but perhaps one the gods had already destined for him.
Standing, Mokuba cleared his throat. “I… I can see it,” he said, his voice steady. “Seto will need time to recover, if he ever truly does. This gives us the chance to keep the company alive.” He met Mr. Fodi’s gaze. “I trust your judgment. I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work.”
Pegasus smiled. “Good. Then it’s settled.”
Outside, the sun continued its slow descent, casting the mansion in golden light, a symbol of the uncertain dawn Kaiba Corp now faced.