Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

Upon hearing this, Hayato frowned with regret: "I see. It seems that without the Millennium Treasure, I really have no chance."

Although he said he had no chance, Hayato turned around and stared intently at a temple near the royal palace.

If the plot doesn't deviate from its course because of his existence, it seems that the guy who obtained the "Millennium Artifact" will be returning here soon?

"Achoo!" Sitting by a campfire, Bakula dried his clothes by the fire and covered his burned left hand. "Damn Mahad, he still left me with trouble at the end. If it weren't for [Diaband] taking the opportunity to kill his [Shadow Ghoul] that he hadn't retrieved and steal his 'wall-penetrating' ability, I might really be dead down there."

"Even the nameless Pharaoh and Hayato Kobayashi couldn't kill me, but I almost lost to a phantom of memory. That's too embarrassing!"

Bakuramo, gritting his teeth, stroked the [Millennial Wisdom Wheel], as if recalling something, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "I remember seeing an interesting memory in the royal city. If I'm not mistaken, it was that guy three thousand years ago. It's time to add another ally to my collection!"

Chapter 733 The Seahorse's Bizarre Adventure

"Energy loading complete."

"The simulated runway is ready."

"The acceleration system is operating normally."

In the experimental building of Haima Industrial Park, there is only one device in the center of the empty laboratory, which is a omnidirectional simulated track for testing the speed of vehicles indoors. Countless cables extend to the track and connect to a strangely shaped motorcycle-like vehicle.

The exposed internal details of the motorcycle reveal that it is not a finished product but an experimental model. Although it is similar to a regular motorcycle with two wheels and a pair of handlebars, the numerous light-up devices on the motorcycle body indicate that it is a very technologically advanced vehicle.

And who else could be sitting on this motorcycle but Seto Kaiba?

After the researchers finished reporting the situation through the earpiece, Guiping's voice followed: "Brother, you've been flying all over the world lately, quietly building this motorcycle. That's rare. You've even reduced the frequency of your duels with the simulation robot these past few days."

After a pause, Guiping took the earphone away from his mouth and muttered to himself, "It's just that it went from once every fifty minutes to once every hour on average."

Riding on the motorcycle, Haima kept his head down, constantly operating and adjusting the data on a touchscreen mounted on the motorcycle, and said to Guiping, "After all, this thing was obtained in exchange for Haima Group helping the elementary school student that Kobayashi Hayato knew launch a rocket. I have already completed the relevant technical analysis, so of course I have to make a physical object to verify the data."

"Launching the satellite was clearly part of the group's plan, wasn't it? You actually managed to trick Hayato with these conditions. Brother, you've truly learned how to be a proper capitalist." Keihei teased Kaiba with a laugh. In the entire Kaiba Group, he was probably the only one, as Seto Kaiba's younger brother, who would joke about Kaiba like that. "But, even the technology from the future was successfully cracked?"

"Hmph, you haven't forgotten who I am, have you, Keihei? Although some functions couldn't be fully replicated due to limitations, I've restored most of the device called 'D-Wheel'."

With both feet off the ground, the motorcycle's tires began to spin, and the omnidirectional track also began to move, keeping the motorcycle stationary and connected to numerous cables even as it gradually accelerated.

In just a few seconds, Guiping saw on the control panel in the control room outside the laboratory that the motorcycle Kaima was riding had already reached a speed of 200 miles per hour, and was still increasing at an extremely exaggerated speed.

Inside the control room, researchers reported on the data they were responsible for: "Energy transmission is sufficient."

"Accelerate system stability."

"The minimum speed required to activate the function has been reached."

Guiping was puzzled upon hearing this: "Activate the function? Didn't you say that not all functions were completed?"

"Wait a minute! Brother, you're not going to...!"

"Hmph, it's just a motorcycle. How could I, Seto Kaiba, not be able to handle it? I'll make up for the lack of functionality with my sheer presence!"

"That kind of hot-blooded idiotic talk is definitely not something a brother would say!"

Amidst Guiping's complaints, Haima released his hands. The high-speed motorcycle did not lose its balance; instead, a synthesized voice came from the motorcycle: "Autopilot activated." At the same time, Haima's released hands pressed a button on the touchscreen.

Just as Guiping had guessed, the Seahorse was incredibly audacious. Knowing that it had not fully restored all the functions of the "D-Wheel" that served as the technological prototype, it actually activated the incomplete experimental functions.

The moment the seahorse pressed the touchscreen, a black dot suddenly appeared in front of the accelerating motorcycle and expanded at a constant speed, turning into a wormhole that was almost big enough for the motorcycle and the seahorse on it to pass through!

"Hmph, learn to run before you learn to walk." A smirk crept onto his face as he watched the wormhole appear before him, but before he could say anything more to Keihei through his earpiece, he suddenly felt a burning sensation under his buttocks.

"Something's wrong, President! The energy transmission pipeline is overheating!" A researcher's anxious voice came through the communication channel in the headset. "Using only electrical energy to simulate that unreduced, mysterious energy is far too inefficient!"

"The heat is about to affect the normal operation of the experiment!"

Almost at the same time the researchers finished speaking, the wormhole in front of the seahorse became distorted and unstable. With a loud "boom," the wormhole suddenly disintegrated and vanished without a trace, simultaneously sweeping the seahorse off the motorcycle.

Although Haiba himself possessed extraordinary, even superhuman, physical abilities and outstanding neural reflexes, even he didn't have time to react to what happened in an instant. As he was being knocked away, he was also slightly relieved that he wasn't actually on a speeding motorcycle.

With a "thud," Haima fell to the ground. He didn't feel much pain from the fall, but his rapidly thinking brain had already come up with a new plan to improve the motorcycle. He figured he could finish the motorcycle by spending a little less money to try it out.

However, the name "D Wheel" doesn't suit my aesthetic at all, so I need to think of a cooler name after it's finished.

Thinking this, the seahorse reached out to take off its helmet, but was blinded by the glare from the helmet.

Is the light in the lab that strong? The seahorse, squinting, sat up from the ground, but when he put his hands on the ground, he didn't feel the coolness that a metal floor should have. Instead, he felt hot, rough sand.

The seahorse opened its eyes and looked around; its face froze.

One second he was clearly riding a motorcycle, so what's with this desert?

Oh, I see. I must be dreaming again, just like that guy named Daz's performance last time, it was exactly like that.

The seahorse, having quickly completed its self-deception, stood up from the sand where its body outline was imprinted, looked around, and happened to see an ancient city in the distance.

Although he didn't know exactly where he was, it was always best to head towards populated areas. He brushed the sand off his white trench coat, tossed his helmet onto the sand without a care, and walked towards the distant city.

---------

Isis left the royal city with only a few dozen men, heading into the desert in the direction Kalim had gone. Hayato quickly accepted the fact that only the Millennium Item could enter the Valley of the King's Sleep.

Thinking back, Hayato realized that in the original timeline, Yugi and the others who came to the memory world from the modern era with Yami Yugi seemed to possess the Millennium Puzzle from the real world. Isis's condition might be true; without the Millennium Item, he probably really wouldn't be able to obtain the "King's Name."

This also helped Hayato understand why his previous attempts to say or write the nameless pharaoh's "name" had all ended in failure. It was like the "find the key" part in RPG games; even a broken wooden box that could be kicked apart with one kick still required you to find a key to unlock it.

The world of Memory of the King doesn't seem to be the highly open world with a high degree of freedom that Hayato initially thought. At most, it can only be considered a linear level game where you can move freely within a single level. Even if you know the "King's Name" in advance, you can't use the power of that name without going through the process of going to the tomb of the nameless pharaoh.

That's roughly it.

"Tsk, it's like having already spent money to buy something you've been wanting for a long time, but still having to wait with anticipation for the online purchase to arrive. That's pretty much how I feel right now." Hayato muttered to himself with a helpless expression as he returned to the city.

But after walking a short distance into the city, he saw a man leading troops into the city from outside.

"Hmm?" Seth, sitting on his horse, looked at Hayato walking by the roadside and raised an eyebrow. Of the troops under his command that were previously stationed outside the city, only a small portion of the soldiers were left behind to continue guarding the area. The rest of the troops were transferred to the royal city by himself to be responsible for guard duties.

Isis and Kalim had just led a portion of their troops away when he returned to the royal city. He didn't meet the two priests who had set off, but he did see Hayato Kobayashi.

They almost got into a fight in the palace because of their differing opinions. Seth really had no intention of seeing Kalim again, but meeting Hayato was a pleasant surprise.

Ever since Bakura attacked the palace the night before last, and Hayato, who was also at the palace, summoned a powerful being with power close to that of a god without the Millennium Item, he has kept Hayato in mind and has been thinking about finding him, but he just hasn't had a good opportunity yet.

However, now that he has encountered Hayato again, Seth is not willing to let such a good opportunity pass him by.

"Hmph, Hayato Kobayashi, is it? I've been looking for you for a while." Seth dismounted and stood on the ground as equals with Hayato, looking at him with intense fighting spirit. His gaze was burning with battle intent, but it instantly cooled when it fell on Hayato's hands.

"Where did your gladiator's disc go?" Seth asked, frowning and staring into Hayato's eyes.

Hayato was a little confused by Seth's gaze. He thought to himself that although he was quite familiar with Kaiba, he had only met Seth once. What did this guy want from him? And, the Gladiator's Disk and all that...

"Priest Set, where do you think I put the gladiator disk?" Although she spoke respectfully, the eye-rolling expression she made while speaking clearly showed that she did not take Set's priest status seriously. "That belongs to Priest Isis. I only borrowed it temporarily the night before last, and I returned it to its rightful owner on the same day."

Upon hearing Hayato's words, Seth showed a look of disappointment and dissatisfaction.

The reason he sought out Hayato was to witness the power of the spirit he had summoned once more. On that day, all the priests had joined forces but were defeated by Bakura alone. Besides feeling humiliated and ashamed, Seth also developed a desire for power because he saw a real power that was not an illusion.

If one possesses immense power, power comparable to that of a "god," then one can easily defeat the thief Bakura, just like the Pharaoh, and redeem oneself by defeating him honorably while Mahad is still alive, thus becoming the true "strongest priest." Furthermore, one can use one's own power to bring peace and happiness to the Pharaoh's people.

I need power, even greater power, and before that, the most important thing is to first see the powerful limit that I can regard as a goal to pursue.

In other words, the thief Bakula's [Diabund], the [Obelisk the Tormentor] summoned by the Pharaoh, and the dragon-like monster with a very long name that I can't remember at all that Kobayashi Hayato summoned.

Knowing his own limitations, Seth knew that going to see Bakura alone would be suicide, and he couldn't possibly ask the Pharaoh to summon a legendary god just to see how strong the opponent was. Therefore, for Seth, the best target was Hayato.

But now Hayato is telling Seth that he doesn't have a gladiator disk that can summon spirits?!

Suddenly letting out a cold snort, Seth reached out and took off his gladiator's flank, tossing it to Hayato and saying, "Then use mine for now. Here you go, Hayato Kobayashi."

Hayato had no idea what Seth was doing and hurriedly reached out to catch the gladiator disk Seth had thrown, preventing it from hitting the ground: "What are you doing, suddenly shoving this thing into my hands?"

"Does such an obvious thing need my explanation? Of course, it's to let you summon your strongest slate spirit to fight me." Seth said with a matter-of-fact expression. "As the strongest among the priests, I have reason to test whether you, trusted by the Pharaoh, have enough strength to be recognized by me."

Hayato knew that Mahad was dead, but he didn't expect Seth to take over so quickly and start calling himself the strongest priest.

"Even if you say that, what will you do if you give me your own Gladiator's Disc? I heard Priest Isis say that this Gladiator's Disc is also a product of alchemy, and each priest only has one."

“This is none of your business.” Hearing Hayato’s words, Seth smiled smugly, turned around and went to get a bag hanging on his warhorse, from which he actually took out a gladiator’s chariot.

"Lord Aknadi hasn't been able to use his Gladiator's Disk recently, so he lent it to me as a backup. Now you can fight me, right?" Seth said expectantly, looking at Hayato. "Summon it quickly, I can't wait."

“That’s similar too,” Hayato remarked, then donned his gladiator compass and looked at Seth. “Alright, this time we’ll play cards!”

Chapter 734 I don't want to be too rude, but you should just give up.

Skipping over the predictable process, Seth, who took the initiative to challenge Hayato to a fight, was indeed defeated.

As Seth retrieved the stone tablet spirits he had defeated, Hayato also raised his hand, and the Starry Sky Dragon behind him immediately dissipated without pausing, as if afraid that Hayato would toy with him again like last time.

"So this is the level of power that can be compared to that of a god?" Recalling the details of his performance in the battle just now, Seth's face did not show any sense of defeat. Instead, he showed a confident smile that was quite excited because he had found a goal to strive for. "Compared to last time, I see the direction in which I need to become stronger more clearly. From now on, I just need to ignore the obstacles on the way and move forward."

As long as one becomes stronger, one will have the power to protect everything, and making some sacrifices for this is naturally not a problem.

Just as the two finished their battle, a person approached them from a distance, calling out from afar, "Priest Set!"

Upon hearing this, Seth turned around and saw a shiny bald head: "Xia Da? What brings you here?"

The newcomer was none other than Shada Sin, one of the five priests currently possessing the Millennium Item. Earlier, after a dispute between Priest Set and Priest Kalim in the royal palace, Yami Yugi, in order to temporarily appease the two, assigned Shada and Set to be in charge of the royal city's security.

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that, Priest Set?” Unlike her silence and restraint in the palace, Shada was slightly more relaxed in front of Set, not the Pharaoh, and said casually, “You said you were going to gather the troops and told me to wait for you, but you never came back. That’s why I came here to see what happened to you.”

"As soon as I got here, I saw that you had been defeated again." Xia Da said, pausing slightly in surprise.

Huh? Why did I say "again"?

"Heh, this isn't a defeat, it's just a necessary trial to learn from experience." Even though they had clearly lost, the reason Seth came up with sounded quite plausible, and Xia Da just shrugged and said nothing.

Because there are six Millennium Items in total, excluding the Millennium Cone which symbolizes royal power, the priesthood that possesses them consists of only six people. However, despite having only six priests, they are still divided into two factions for their own reasons.

Mahad is Isis's friend, and she would naturally side with him in most matters. Seth, on the other hand, was promoted from the bottom up by Aknadi, so she would naturally side with him as well. As a result, because Seth was always causing trouble for Mahad, two factions naturally formed.

Of the remaining two priests, Kalim disliked Set's arrogant and domineering attitude and admired Mahad, who was simple and straightforward. Shada, on the other hand, revered Aknadi, who had been a priest of the previous pharaoh, and was closer to Set's side.

The leaders of the two factions, Seth and Mahad, did not actually have the awareness to draw a line within the priesthood. Seth simply wanted to prove that he was stronger than Mahad, and Mahad only wanted to be loyal to Pharaoh and work for him. However, it was an indisputable fact that the priesthood was divided into factions because of the two of them.

Everything was fine while Mahad was alive, and this potential division did not become public. But after Mahad sacrificed himself yesterday, leaving one member of the priesthood missing, the undercurrents that had never subsided before surged into the open.

Among the priests, the eldest, Aknadi, had no great ambitions and simply supported Set as always. However, the second oldest priest, Kalim, had his own thoughts. He had previously admired Mahad's character, so even though Mahad was known as the "strongest priest" and was implicitly considered their leader, he had no objections.

But now that Mahad is dead, Set seems to have a plan to become the "strongest priest" and the leader, which makes Kalim a little unhappy. If we don't count the priests of Aknadi, then it should be Kalim's turn, not a little brat like Set.

This led to the argument in the palace. While it was true that Kalim himself did not support Set's proposal, at a deeper level, he was also motivated by his dislike for Set and his desire to cause him trouble.

Of the five priests currently in office, Priest Aknadi is still recovering from serious injuries, Priest Isis has inexplicably lost the power to foresee the future from her Millennium Jewelry, and is also unwilling to do anything because of Mahad's death. In reality, only three priests are active: Kalim, Set, and Shada.

Of the four young people in the priesthood, Shada's abilities were inferior to Mahad and Seth, but stronger than Isis. This made him the least noticeable and mediocre among the priests. In addition, his personality was somewhat peaceful and uncompetitive. After Mahad's death, he became a buffer between Kalim and Seth.