Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

As for Malik, he's even more of a heavyweight. Instead of sleeping in a perfectly good bed, he falls asleep like he has ADHD, half of his body rolling off the bed and his butt sticking out with his face on the floor. But even so, he still sleeps like he's dead. Hopefully, he won't have a sore back or neck when he wakes up the next day.

Compared to the three people sleeping in the left cabin, the three people on the right, whether it was Kyoko or Yugi, were sleeping much better, with only steady breathing sounds.

Hayato was also asleep, but the expression on his face was not very pleasant.

In my dream —

"Alright, let's play cards this time. After the new card pack came out, Blackwing Dragon got a big buff and finally got into the main deck. So this time we're playing a pure Blackwing deck. I'm Old Kro."

While drawing cards from his duel disk and muttering to himself, Hayato looked up at the duel stage shrouded in darkness opposite him. "We didn't get the first move this time, but that's okay. Let's see what deck they're playing..."

Wow, bald!

This wasn't just Hayato making things up, because he discovered that in front of the dueling platform opposite him, where the lights had finally come on, there was indeed a bald man standing there, wrapping a white cloth around his head.

Oh, isn't this Xia Di? Let's take a look at the cards in our hands, family.

Looking down, Hayato found that there were no cards anywhere, and even the dueling ring at his feet and the dueling disk on his wrist had suddenly disappeared without him noticing. Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed strange; why would he still be standing on an old-fashioned dueling ring when he already had a dueling disk?

"It's good to see you again, Hayato Kobayashi. I'm Shadi."

Hayato was still wondering if he was dreaming when he heard Shadi, who had finished wrapping his shiny forehead in white cloth, speaking to him.

After the dueling platform disappeared, Hayato found himself in a gray world, somewhat hazy as if shrouded in mist. Things were clear up close, but further away, everything was blurry, as if out of focus. Shadi, who had spoken, was standing just a step or so away from Hayato.

"Hmm, it must have been a dream, but it's so strange. Why would I dream about Shadi, that bald guy?" Hayato said with certainty, his arms crossed, but then muttered to himself with some doubt, "Not only did I not dream about Hades, our only designated target, but I didn't even dream about cards with strong beauty like Visit or Ash Blossom. It's so strange."

While muttering to himself, Hayato curiously reached out and poked Shadi, who was standing right in front of him. However, the moment Hayato's fingers touched Shadi, golden light appeared on the spot where Hayato had poked Shadi and rose into the air, while Hayato's hand passed right through Shadi's body.

Because Shadi's body became somewhat transparent as Hayato moved, Hayato could even see his own hand that had entered Shadi's body.

Shadi ignored Hayato's actions and continued, "Because of certain aspects of you, even with the power of the Millennium Key, I cannot see what kind of being you are. However, I believe you will stand on the side of the nameless pharaoh and help him regain his memories and return to the underworld. Therefore, when you approach Egypt, the image you leave behind—that is, the image of me before you—will be triggered."

"My true identity is that of a member of the Tomb Keeper Clan, the heir of another branch of the Ishdar family, and also the last heir. However, as a human, I died many years ago. In order to fulfill the important mission of the Tomb Keeper Clan—to help the nameless pharaoh return to the underworld and find peace—I rely on the power of the Millennium Scales to harmonize the boundary between soul and body and drift in the human world."

"To recover the lost memories of the Nameless Pharaoh, one must enter the memories themselves. The necessary items are the seven powerful Millennium Items, the stone tablets that bear the power of the Millennium Items, and the Ultimate Dark Game necessary to unlock the King's memories."

Although Shadi was spouting a lot of important information that others might have taken seriously, Hayato listened to Shadi's rambling and didn't believe a single word except for his name.

As far as Hayato knows, is Shadi on Yami Yugi's side, hoping he can find his memories and return to the Underworld? Yes, there is no doubt that Shadi is on the side of an ally and wants to help Yami Yugi, but is it really true, as Shadi says, that he is helping the nameless pharaoh simply to fulfill the ancestral teachings of the tomb guardians, just like Isis? That's not necessarily true.

Seeing Shadi talking to himself, Hayato reached out and touched the Millennium Wisdom Wheel on his chest, holding the golden wheel in his hand like a fist blade. He looked at Shadi with a half-smile and said, "I'm sorry to interrupt you, bald brother, I'm really not interested in all that nonsense you're talking about."

“But I think you should be very interested in the thing that killed you ‘many years ago’.”

As he spoke, Hayato ignored Shadi's claim that he was just a video image, grabbed the glowing [Millennium Wisdom Wheel] and shouted "Eight-Point Light Wheel" before smashing it at Shadi.

Then, Xia Di averted his gaze, much to Hayato's surprise, and his incessant chatter came to an abrupt halt.

“Hayato Kobayashi…” Seeing that he seemed to have seen through her from the beginning that she was not an image but a conscious being, Xia Di was silent for a moment before speaking again, “Are you on guard, wary that I might harm you?”

Shadi did not ask how Hayato knew about the connection between himself and the Millennium Wisdom Wheel.

However, when faced with Shadi's question, Hayato denied it: "No, I'm pretty sure you're on our side and want to help us collect all seven Millennium Items. You won't hinder our actions."

"The reason I don't want to listen to your rambling anymore is simply because I don't like you." With one hand, he brushed aside the strands of hair that had fallen in front of his eyes, making his hair stand up as if it had been sprayed with hair gel. Hayato's gaze met Shadi's unfocused, lifeless eyes. "A coward who doesn't even dare to appear in front of me."

Shady frowned, finding Hayato to be a difficult person to communicate with.

Do you think I don't want to appear in front of you? I already looked for you during the Duel City arc, okay? You almost killed me, almost blew me away. How could I dare to appear in front of you now?

This time, I managed to meet Kobayashi Hayato by using the mark I left on the [Millennium Wisdom Wheel] from last time to sneak into a dream that is separate from the mind. As a result, I said a lot, but he didn't listen to a word.

Even someone as indifferent as Shadi couldn't help but feel a little annoyed by the Millennium Wisdom Wheel as it hung limply in front of his chest after Hayato released it, since it had repeatedly thwarted his plans.

More than a decade ago, of the seven Millennium Items that existed in the world, apart from the Millennium Jewelry and Millennium Scepter kept by the Ishtar family, and the Millennium Blocks sleeping in the royal tombs, the other four Millennium Items—the Millennium Key, the Millennium Scales, the Millennium Eye, and the Millennium Wheel of Wisdom—were all collected by Shadi.

However, at the same time, just like there are five of the Four Heavenly Kings, Xia Di found the eighth [Millennium Artifact], named [Quantum Cube], and learned that it possesses the most unique "dimensional ascension" power, which can elevate the world into the dimensional realm.

Having experienced the beauty of the dimensional realm for the first time, Shadi instantly understood that it was a kind of "ideal land". Although once one gets involved with hatred and darkness in the dimensional realm, one will fall into the dark dimension, as long as the power of the [Quantum Cube] is used and the power of the seven [Millennium Items] is harmonized, humanity can be transformed into "perfect good". At that time, all mankind that has entered the dimensional realm will be saved.

This discovery thrilled Xia Di, who eagerly used the power of the Quantum Cube to gradually construct a new world. However, his good fortune was short-lived; after only a few years, Xia Di suddenly discovered that the Quantum Cube had lost its power.

In accordance with the prophecy left by their ancestors a thousand years ago, the soul of the nameless pharaoh from three thousand years ago seems to have returned to the world with the help of someone who retrieved the final "Millennium Artifact" from the royal tomb and completed the "Millennium Block." The "Quantum Cube" also lost its power due to the return of this soul from a thousand years ago and could no longer harmonize the power of the "Millennium Artifact," which had become silent due to the pharaoh's soul's resurgence.

Without awakening the power of the Millennium Artifact, it cannot be harmonized into "Perfect Good," and without sending the nameless pharaoh back to the underworld, the Quantum Cube cannot ascend to a higher dimension. For his own purposes, Shadi began his actions.

The first thing to do is to ensure that the Millennium Items are not just something to be enshrined in temples, but that qualified people can use and awaken their power. Therefore, Shadi first chose to go to the territory of the Ishdar clan and secretly guided Malik's actions, ultimately causing Malik, who inherited the Millennium Scepter, to kill his father and leave the Tomb Keeper clan.

Shadi was also generous with his Millennium Item. When Pegasus, who was traveling around the world, followed Shadi out of curiosity to the stone tablet where the Millennium Item was placed, Shadi "bestowed" the Millennium Eye upon Pegasus and gave him a lot of knowledge about the Stone Tablets, which indirectly led to Pegasus creating Duel Monsters and the Stone Tablets evolving into Card Monsters.

However, when Shadi gave away the [Millennium Wisdom Wheel], he accidentally messed up. He had never intended to give the [Millennium Wisdom Wheel] to the man who had become greedy after accidentally learning about the existence of the [Millennium Artifact]. He only wanted to punish the man slightly and let him wear the [Millennium Wisdom Wheel] to experience the terror of dark power.

Of the seven Millennium Items, apart from the Millennium Scales which symbolize "balance," three of the Millennium Items embody the will of justice, and three embody the will of evil. Among them, the Millennium Wisdom Wheel, which is modeled after the symbol of Aten, another identity of the sun god Ra, possesses the most powerful dark power.

As Xia Di had predicted, the Millennium Wisdom Wheel unleashed terrifying dark power the moment it was put on, knocking down the man who wasn't even qualified to touch it.

But before Xia Di could retrieve it, the [Millennium Wisdom Wheel] was picked up by the man's son, who was with him. The moment the golden wheel was picked up, the dark power within the [Millennium Wisdom Wheel] was released without reservation and poured into the boy's body.

Even Xia Di was unaware that the evil soul from three thousand years ago, hidden within the [Millennium Wisdom Wheel], possessed the boy's body and immediately used that dark power to kill Xia Di before he could react.

Although Shadi managed to stay in this world by using the power of the Quantum Cube, he was almost banished to the dark dimension because of his contact with dark forces. He only managed to move around the world by relying on the power of the Millennium Scales and the Millennium Key. Even so, Shadi was unable to interfere with the world much in most cases.

And that's why he's come to find Hayato now.

“Although you are unwilling to accept my help, I will help you at the right time.” Looking at Hayato, Shadi paused for a moment, then continued, “Perhaps you cannot understand, but the vortex of fate is drawing the scattered Millennium Items toward Egypt.”

"O you who possess the power of the Pharaoh and the aura of Prana, accept this gift before your destined time arrives..."

With his hand on his chest, Xia Di bowed slightly before disappearing into countless points of light that rose into the sky.

Hayato then opened his eyes and saw the first rays of sunlight streaming into the cabin through the gap in the drawn curtains.

And there was the [Millennium Wisdom Wheel] on his chest, shimmering with golden light under the sunlight, and the [Millennium Key], shaped like an Anka symbol, lying on the blanket.

Chapter 699 The chairs are sitable.

"Wow, it's huge! Is that a real pyramid?!"

As a small van drove through the vast desert, looking out the right-side window at the enormous pyramids, Jonouchi, sitting in the last row, exclaimed, "Although there are many cards in Duel Monsters that depict pyramids, this is the first time I've seen a real pyramid."

"Haha, after all, the Egyptian pyramids gave me a lot of inspiration during the creation of Duel Monster." Hearing Jonouchi's words, Pegasus, who was sitting in front of him, laughed and looked at the pyramids outside the window. He couldn't help but sigh, "After so many years, revisiting this place, even I can't help but feel a little excited."

Bekas realized that he seemed to be getting old. Just seeing familiar memories of the past reappear before his eyes made him start to reminisce. Was he already old?

Thinking about it carefully, the Duel Academy idea we discussed yesterday is actually a pretty good suggestion. In a few years, after a new batch of outstanding card designers join the International Illusion Society, I wonder what kind of interesting cards will be created.

At Cairo Airport, Bekas picked up Hayato and his group after they landed. Although they had experienced many twists and turns the day before, their trip to Egypt had officially begun, and their first stop was Giza, not far from Cairo.

Besides the pyramids, which amaze first-time visitors and are actually scattered throughout Egypt, there is another famous attraction here: the Sphinx.

"Wow, it really doesn't have a nose, it looks like it was chopped off with a knife."

"Move over a bit, Jonouchi! Your head is too big, it's blocking my view!"

"Hey, don't push me! My head is already pressed against the glass. If you want to see, go to the front row. You can sit on the chairs there."

"No way!"

Hearing the bickering between Jonouchi and Honda in the back seat, Kyoko turned her gaze from the window to Yugi, who was sitting next to her with a serious expression, seemingly deep in thought: "What's wrong, Yugi?"

"It's nothing, Kyoko." Yugi turned to look at Kyoko, smiled slightly, shook his head and said, "The other one just said that he doesn't have any impression of the scenery here."

This does not mean that the Sphinx before the Dark Game, or the Nameless Pharaoh's Soul, had not yet been built during their lifetime. In fact, based on current archaeological findings, the Sphinx in Giza was built well before 3,000 years ago, and this magnificent and mysterious structure had already stood on the earth during the Nameless Pharaoh's lifetime.

Even in ancient times when information traveled relatively slowly, Yami Yugi, as a pharaoh, should have known something about the strange buildings in his country. However, even with a unique building like the Sphinx, Yami Yugi still had no recollection of it.

"He doesn't remember this place either, does he, from another game..." Kyoko looked at the Millennium Puzzle she was holding in her hands, her voice low, and her hand unconsciously touched the souvenir she had specially bought at the airport.

"The Sphinx, what's so interesting about this pathetic Sphinx?"

Malik, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at the Sphinx, resting his chin on his hand, and said somewhat dismissively. As if remembering something, he turned to Hayato in the driver's seat, "It's quite surprising that you have a driver's license valid in Egypt, brother-in-law. But wouldn't that mean you can't properly enjoy the scenery while driving?"

"Just consider it my hatred for the house because of the crow. I'm not interested in the Sphinx, let alone the human-bodied lion."

Hayato glanced at the Sphinx in the distance before looking away. As he said, Hayato truly had no interest in the Sphinx now, although he had taken plenty of photos of it from various angles in the game *Berserker Creed Origins*. He would remember Anubis's grudge for a lifetime.

However, that was limited to the Sphinx. Egypt has more than just the pyramids and the Sphinx. When he got near other attractions that interested him, he would take more photos as souvenirs. This time, he even brought his pink camera from home with him.

As for the driver's license

“Although this isn’t the first time I’ve complained, in Japan you can get a driver’s license as long as you’re 18, and by the way, you can get a motorcycle license at 16. But I’m still two years away from the legal drinking age.” Looking straight ahead at the rolling mountains, Hayato paused and added, “Lastly, I have to correct you, who’s your brother-in-law? Hey.”

"Well, it's been so long, brother-in-law, why haven't you gotten used to it yet? It's only a matter of time anyway." Malik chuckled and glanced down at the map spread out on his lap. "Hmm... there seems to be a small town ahead. We probably don't need any supplies, since we've only been here for a short time."

Although ancient Egypt is known as one of the four ancient civilizations, it is not the only one that has survived to this day. Egypt is not ancient Egypt because it has experienced internal divisions several times. Its current land area is smaller than neighboring countries such as Libya and Sudan, and is even smaller than a province in some countries.

Since departing from Cairo, the group has only traveled for an hour. They haven't had a chance to rest, let alone eat or drink.

However, if you want to visit the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx up close, you'll need to stop here briefly and transfer to camel or other modes of transport to get closer with a guide. Judging from the expressions of Chōnei, Honda, and Pegasus, they all seem quite eager to go, and even Kyoko seems a bit excited.

Although Egypt's tourism industry is not as developed as it is many years later, the job of a guide is by no means backward. Egyptians can be said to be professional in guiding people, and in fact, most of their antiquities were taken out of the country by their own people.

Hayato and his group didn't even need to say much. Just seeing Pegasus, a white man whose face practically screamed "rich bastard" and "foolish rich man," stepping out of Hayato's group in a rare luxury car, a group of locals enthusiastically surrounded him, volunteering to introduce him and vigorously promoting their familiarity with the route to the pyramids and how their other accomplices were swindlers and con artists.

The heavy accents of the foreign language alone were enough to give Hayato and his companions a headache, not to mention the micro-expressions that the guides were putting on to make their claims seem true. Even Bekas, who had been to Egypt before, was caught off guard.

Fortunately, Hayato has a trump card that works best against volunteer guides.

When Malik stepped out of the passenger seat with a small, unidentifiable red flag that Hayato had given him, the commotion among the local guides paused briefly. Recognizing that Malik was Egyptian, they assumed he was a guide hired in advance by Hayato's group. Feeling rather bored, they scattered like birds and beasts, and squatted back down in the shade at the town entrance to wait for the next sucker to arrive.

Although Malik is basically a fake Egyptian who doesn't know the way at all, he can act as a guide to turn away locals who try to sell themselves to him. Meanwhile, the seemingly guise sucker, Pegasus, is actually Hayato and his friends' real guide.

As for why Hayato and his friends, despite having money, refused to hire a local guide to save themselves trouble? In Egypt, there are many ancient buildings, but there are even more scammers. It's a minor matter if they flaunt their wealth and are then robbed of their money by a greedy guide who then runs off without doing any work. If they're unlucky, they might encounter outlaws who commit murder and robbery. That's why Grandpa Sugoroku repeatedly warned them to be especially careful with the guide before the trip.

This is valuable experience gained from the personal experience of Grandpa Shuangliu, who hired two tomb raiders.

Using his money, Bekas quickly rented several camels for everyone to ride. The road to the Great Pyramid of Giza was not a smooth road for vehicles; it was mostly sand. After parking the vehicles in a paid parking lot by the roadside, the group loaded up their luggage and set off on their camels.

—Do you think it's that simple?

Although the camels they rented were specially trained and easy for beginners to ride, the group, who had lived in the city for most of their lives, rarely had the opportunity to come into contact with live animal-based transportation. Just riding on the soft back of a camel was already a considerable challenge, let alone freely controlling the camel's movement.

Although Bekas, who had traveled the world alone more than a decade ago, was wealthy, he was not a pampered fellow. Despite not having ridden a camel in a long time, he quickly recalled the key points of camel riding that he had specially learned after mounting the hump, and skillfully controlled the camel to stroll in front of Jōnei and Honda.

"Hahaha, even though so many years have passed, I haven't forgotten my camel-driving skills. But this shouldn't be too difficult for you guys, Honda boy, Jonouchi boy~"

"Just riding a camel is something to brag about," Bekas, with his youthful spirit, said like an old child.

Although Honda and Jonouchi had long since obtained their motorcycle licenses, their experience of speeding on the highway was completely useless in the face of the silent and docile giant camel. In order to avoid being shown off by Pegasus in that strange tone, it took the two best friends quite a while before they were able to barely manage to ride the camel and give the order to move forward.

If the two boys, who are usually very athletic, were already like this, then it goes without saying that Anzu was even more capable. Although Anzu could bravely approach the camel if it was still and quiet, it was really too much of a stretch for her to ride it. In the end, she had no choice but to sit on the camel that she was riding in the game.

Why is Kyoko, who is usually very outgoing and doesn't seem like an introverted girl at all, so afraid of camels? Hayato doesn't know the answer, but he thinks that the subtle "planned" smile on Kyoko's face when she sits on the game's camel must be just his imagination, right? Hmm, that must be it.

Compared to Kyoko, the most embarrassing one was Malik. Despite being a native Egyptian and from the Ishdar family, a clan of tomb keepers with a history of three thousand years, Malik's adaptability to this desert was even worse than that of Jonouchi and Honda, who were visiting Egypt for the first time. He couldn't even ride a camel.