Seto looked at Kyouya, who was openly displeased at having to ask for help. Someone had finally taken notice of the fact that there was a strong unaffiliated Cloud who looked far too much like the Storm Arcobaleno to possibly be a coincidence and decided that they wanted him. And, after they likely discovered the existence of multiple Inactive flames in an city, were attempting to take over Namimori as their new turf for easy access.
When Mukuro took Mokuba to the safety of the Hibari clan, he had made an agreement on part of his Sky that they would return the favor to be called in at a later date. Considering the resources of the Kaiba Corperation, Kyouya had agreed to it never expected they would actually need to call it in.
The problem was that the group trying to establish themselves in Namimori were too big and connected for Kyouya or the clan to deal with them alone, and Fon was having his own issue with the Triads trying to keep his newly adopted daughter out of their clutches and away from the assassination game. He wouldn't be available for some time, and Kyouya needed the Triad flunkies out of his town now.
Fortunately, Seto had been tossing some of his lesser (but trustworthy) bodyguards at the teen for some real combat training. It was rather embarrassing for them to be taken out by their own boss, who to their knowledge only had self-training and an uncanny ability with a gun to defend himself. Even Chrome was better, which made it worse!
It was through the 'trainees' that Kyouya contacted Seto for help.
Seto kept a calm expression, though inwardly he was pissed. He knew, thanks to some discreet investigation via the Mist twins, that the guards around Namimori for the Young Lion's family were dismissed after Nana died and "Tsuna" disappeared.
Which meant there was no support coming from the Vongola...the only defense the retired flame actives and their families had was the Hibari clan, and this was a middle Triad with considerable influence. Without help, they were going to be in deep trouble.
Kyouya knew a favor of this magnitude wasn't going to simply stop once the people in his territory were kicked out. There was no way a Triad would give up that easily, especially with his connection to Fon. Namimori would need almost constant protection unless a bigger group came in and took it over as their own.
The returning favor wasn't equal, and he knew it.
"I can help, but considering the headache this is likely to cause, we will have to adjust the favor accordingly," said Seto.
"I'm aware," said Kyouya.
"Did you know Namimori was my hometown before the accident?" asked Seto conversationally.
Kyouya blinked, before properly looking at the other teen.
"I've had my best men keeping an eye on it, mostly because my birth mother was buried there. It has sentimental value to me, enough that the idea of spending extra resources defending it doesn't bother me," said Seto. "However, the amount of effort and resources needed to keep the Triads, yakuza and potential mafioso out of there who wish to exploit the citizens over a power most don't even know they have is too much to be used for a simple favor."
"What are you suggesting then?" asked Kyouya.
"An alliance. Soon after I took control over the company, I started forming a group of my own that I've called the White Dragon clan. My step brother Noah has been acting as the face of the group since I can do more as the head of the company and fund the group from the shadows," said Seto. "The problem is that while we have money and potential influence, we lack knowledge. Our group is too new and our members are mostly from civilian backgrounds or are self-taught when it comes to flames."
Seto knew from his previous life that Kyouya's clan had a considerable amount of knowledge and flame lore since before the time of the Primo. There was a reason Fon's control was so good and that was because he had proper training that was normally restricted to inner famiglia members and heirs.
Which was why he felt confident he could make this deal to benefit them both.
"You want access to our flame knowledge."
"It gives me a place to send my people for proper training in a discreet area where information can be controlled so that the honorable law keepers are never involved, and it means the Hibari clan have someone they can ask for help in protecting the people living there without giving too much face."
Kyouya was seriously considering the idea.
"How are you going to justify this to your board of directors? Surely someone is going to ask questions."
Seto smirked.
"I've been developing a portable duel disk system for the popular game Duel Monsters. It's almost ready for mass production, but the real issue is going to be promoting it to the duelists in a way that really brings in enough hype that everyone will want one," said Seto. "I know for a fact you control Namimori so thoroughly that most of the delinquents are under your direct control."
Kyouya smirked as well, mostly at pride that the other teen was acknowledging his ability to protect his territory without help until this point.
"You want to host a tournament in Namimori," said Kyouya, guessing.
"The last headache I need now is a lawsuit. While the public is busy watching Duelists, my people can go in and discreetly do away with the idiots trying to take over the town. With your help, we can insure that no one tries to duel in areas they shouldn't be and keep the duelists safe. I know your people can reach the duelists within minutes and take them to a hospital in a respectable time after having to deal with anyone stupid enough to piss you off," said Seto.
It was an excellent plan, and it wouldn't alert the Triad group trying to infringe on his territory until it was far too late to actually block them. And with the added scrutiny of the tournament, it would heavily restrict their ability to use flames for fear of being arrested by the Vindice.
And, if they planned this well enough they could use the tournament to help them funnel the criminals to areas they could ambush them.
"This is going to be a monumental headache," said Kyouya.
"If we do this right, then I'll establish a branch office of Kaiba Corp in Namimori where I can send those who need flame training without anyone being the wiser," said Seto. "As far as the underworld needs to know, Namimori is going to be the main base of the White Dragon clan...having it in Domino is just asking for the cops to look places they shouldn't."
Kyouya was satisfied with Seto's suggestion.
"What is the main purpose of the White Dragon clan anyway?" asked Kyouya.
"We're a sanctuary group. I'm sick of the established groups pressuring anyone who goes flame active into a life of crime, like they did the Cloud Arcobaleno. I want freelancers to have a place they can go where they won't be coerced into joining a group... particularly children. It's not like I need flames actives in my day to day operations to increase my business," said Seto.
He couldn't help but think of I-Pin, forced to act as a killer at the age of five, or Fuuta who had been chased for so long because of his ability. They deserved a proper childhood.
They were going to have to do a lot of coordination to pull this off... hopefully without Mukuro pissing Kyouya off to the point it fell apart before everything was over.
He didn't know whether it was fate or just his luck, but soon after coming to the decision of hosting a tournament, he got a mysterious message from another party regarding his future.
His intuition told him to go, but something told him this would reveal new headaches altogether.
He would be right.
Seto's face was twitching, just not because of the whole magic and reincarnation spiel that she was giving him.
"You're telling me there's some idiot after these...God Cards...and that you expect me to help because I'm the reincarnation of some priest who happened to serve a king that looks like the spirit controlling Muto?" said Seto irate.
"Magic is real," said Isis.
"Oh I'm not saying it isn't, or that that the idea I'm the reincarnation of some priest is a joke," said Seto calmly. "I'm just pissed that once again my luck seems insistent that I get involved with this mess when I already have an issue to deal with. When exactly are these Rare Hunters supposed to come after the cards and Muto?"
He was already the reincarnation of the Vongola's Primo...the idea of him also being the reincarnation of some 5,000 year old Egyptian Priest wasn't that shocking. And it explained rather neatly what the potential outside force was that had been trying to imprint on him when he got the Blue Eyes White Dragon card.
Seto's eyes narrowed after that thought hit.
"By any chance, did this priest have a special connection to the Blue Eyes White Dragon?" he asked.
"It was his spirit beast," said Isis promptly.
Seto inwardly cursed. He wasn't surprised...it explained everything like why the imprinting stopped after the 'reprimand' from Yami.
It all fit into place...this priest was likely Yami's former Cloud Guardian, which meant he snapped out of trying to imprint on his reincarnation after coming into contact with Yami's Sky flames.
As if he didn't have enough to deal with.
"Marik is likely to come for the tournament...particularly if you give him incentive to show up for it personally," said Isis.
Seto gave her a flat look.
"You still have one of these 'god cards' in your possession, don't you?" he asked.
She pulled out a card with a blue-colored monster on it. It was certainly powerful...Seto didn't have the slightest bit of training in this 'shadow magic' stuff, but he could sense it from where he was standing and he wasn't even holding the thing!
The card's name read "Obelisk, the Tormentor".
Seto gave her a flat look.
"You want me to act as bait."
She nodded.
"What will my side get out of this in return?" he demanded.
"I am giving you one of the most powerful cards in existence," said Isis bluntly.
"Which will likely end up in the hands of the same king your clan has been serving, otherwise you wouldn't be so calm handing it over to a relative unknown," Seto countered flatly. "I know how these things go, so don't try my patience."
"We cannot give you any monetary reward, and our clan is one most people have never heard of," said Isis suspiciously.
Seto's glare shut her up promptly.
"I don't need any more money or potential influence," he snapped. "What I do need is information."
"Information?" said Isis.
Seto stared at her necklace pointedly.
"There is no way your clan would hand over a potential artifact like that without training first...and something tells me this 'Marik' has one in his control as well. Which means your people almost certainly have information and knowledge of how to train others to use shadow magic. And let's not forget the Puzzle around Yugi's neck...there is no way an artifact that powerful with a competent user could have been beaten by someone easily. Someone had to have taken out the king for him to be so young when he manifests," said Seto.
Isis relaxed a bit at that.
"There was another artifact holder, as you call them. A thief who stole one and used it to ambush the Pharaoh who was reeling from the loss of his trusted adviser at the time."
Seto thought back on the police reports he had read ever since he realized there was a possibility he would end up stuck helping Yugi out on more than just the sidelines.
"What was this thief's name?"
"While the king's name was lost, the thief is well known to my clan. He was called Ba-ku-ra," said Isis.
"Of course he was," deadpanned Seto. "I'll help set a trap for this Marik, but I will need a phone number or some way to contact you in order to do any proper coordination."
Isis blinked.
"Why?"
"Because we're not holding the tournament in Domino. As I said before, this particular nonsense had the worst possible timing since I'm already trying to help someone else," said Seto.
"Where is it going to be held?" asked Isis, almost crossly.
"Namimori, at least three hours from here."
Isis...did not look happy about that information. Seto found he didn't really care.