Chapter 35: The Beginning is the End
12:14 P.M. — On top of Pegasus's Penthouse
Earlier that day, Devlin was invited to a brunch by his love interest, Valentine Pegasus (not Mai Valentine). The two were obviously lovers to those who seen the closeness between the couple. The young woman's grandfather, despite his paralysis, expressed his approval. Since it was still summer, it was naturally very warm outside.
Crawford's personal butler, Barry, went on the building's roof to serve some cooling beverages—some glasses of lemonade.
"I believe that you all would like to have something to cool yourselves off in this hot, sunny day."
In unison, Duke and Valentine said, "Thank you, Barry. But we already have some glasses of lemonade here already."
"That's strange. I could've sworn that someone called me to bring these up here for my master," replied the old servant, as he was beginning to sweat profusely. Apparently, this man's body temperature was slightly higher than most people. Because of this, he is prone to much perspiration, especially in elevated temperatures.
"My grandfather has already had his fill. But, since you've come all the way up here," said Valentine, "Would you like to partake of the lemonade you brought anyway?"
"I see why not," said Crawford's right-hand man, right before he downed a glass.
Much to everyone's surprise, the hapless old man dropped his glass of lemonade. Once soon it shattered into pieces, he started shaking violently. He grasped his own throat, screamed out unintelligible words, and fell on the floor.
Duke exclaimed, "What the-?!"
Obviously concerned, the female Pegasus went beside her old friend. "What's the matter with you?! Don't die on us now!"
However, the servant didn't reply. Instead, he remained motionless once his convulsions stopped. Crimson spots dripped onto the roof-floor...
"Valentine, I'm going to get help. Wait here!" stated Devlin as he left to fetch said person. But before he summon for help, Pegasus the younger interrogated him.
"Just where do you think you're doing?"
"I'm calling the police, what else?"
"You will do no such thing. Fortunately, my family doctor is currently visiting Japan; I shall contact him to pay us a visit instead."
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In the evening (from the last chapter) it was after the Count of Monte Cristo that Seto Kaiba paid a visit to his business associate, Joseph Wheeler to discuss some important matters. It had been yet another long day at work, and as such, the CEO reluctantly agreed to meet with the bonkotsu. Apparently, he was on his way home from work when Wheeler made his request.
Kaiba's limo soon arrived at the banker's estate. "Keep the car running; I won't be long," said the multi-billionaire to his chauffeur.
"Yes, sir." was the reply.
Once again, Mai found herself receiving the visitor, albeit with much disdain. Obviously realizing that he wasn't in the mood, the missus refrained from conducting small talk.
As he opened the door to where the banker was located, Seto barked, "Well, I hope that this isn't another waste of my time, Wheeler! However, you did mention to me that it would be worth my while. So it had better be that."
"Heh, you haven't changed a bit, money bags. Ever since the day we met, you've been bustin' my chops every chance ya got."
"Like it was my fault that you were a third-rate duelist. Hurry it up, sako. I haven't got all day! Now, what was so important that you actually had the nerve to finding out my private line number and calling me on my cell phone?!"
"Rememba da marriage agreement dat we agreed on? Y'know, da one between Mokuba and my sis?"
"What about it?"
"I've bin doin' some dinkin'... and it occurred ta me dat maybe you were right in opposin' the agreement. I mean after all, I had about five years ta dink about it. So, now you can put ya mind at ease. Da marriage won't happen. Period."
"So we're finally at quits?" asked Seto.
"Yep, sure looks like, it."
"Then, what's the bad news?"
Disconcerted, Joseph asked, "What bad news?"
"Business formalities, Wheeler. Haven't you learned anything in business school? The one where you somehow managed to graduate from nearly ten years ago."
"Huh...?"
What a baka... he must've had me drunk when I agreed to fund his scholarship.
"Good news are always given before the bad ones. Afterwards, the sender of said news provides an explanation to the news-receiver," clarified Kaiba, who was doing his utmost to constrain his volatile temper.
"Oh... dat," answered the dumbstruck financial wizard, "Yeah, I dink I remember dat, or I must've fell asleep during the lectures."
"Stop stalling and give me a clear answer!"
"Well, you see... the thing is... there is no bad news..."
"If that's the case, is there an underlying motivation behind your sudden epiphany?"
Quickly, Wheeler replied, "No!"
Seto Kaiba, being the genius that he is, discerns that the banker is indeed lying to him. "Listen, if you won't tell me, then perhaps I should just crush whatever is left of your fading firm."
"You couldn't!" responded Joseph, with much fear.
"Oh, yes, I can. You forget, as of 2019, my networth is ¥624,046,500,000.00 ($6.3 billion), while yours is now half of what it used to be."
In the past couple of months, Wheeler's original fortune was ¥60,101,766,850.54 ($6.0 billion). However, due to unforeseen circumstances (arbitrary bankruptcies coming from long standing clients), his wealth is crumbling downward.
"Let this is a warning, bonkotsu," stated the wealthier businessman as he left.
Not long after, Joseph learns that his sources are in progress of confirmation. He thought, I'll just send most of these dings ova to da local paper. Looks like I'll have da last laugh afta all... Kaiba.
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A few days after this discovery, various newspapers' gossip sections read: "Scandalous life of Seto Kaiba — To be revealed!"
Mokuba Kaiba, taking offense to this, went over to the stately residence of his companion, the Count of Monte Cristo. This, of course, took place in the morning, at around 11 o'clock.
"I wish to see His Excellency this morning, " demanded the younger Kaiba.
Valon answered, "My master has been expecting you, Mr. Kaiba."
"He has?"
"Yes. Now, if you will be so kind to follow me, and I'll show you to him."
Though the young man was a regular visitor of the count's mansion, he hasn't had the opportunity to tour through the entire estate. The Australian and the visitor stopped at a certain room.
"You will find His Excellency in his shooting gallery at this moment. The walls are sound-proof, which is the reason why you can't hear the gun shots being fired inside."
When Mokuba opened the door leading to where the supposed shooting gallery is behind, he found himself in awe of the vast room's interior. Almost everything inside was lined with gold. It was as if the count possessed the Hand of Midas that enabled him to accomplish such a task. The young man glanced upon the familiar figure, and noticed that he was sporting a sleek black uniform; apparently, he tends to favor dark-clad outfits.
Monte Cristo, realizing that his guest has arrived, receives him at once. "Ah, it is you, Mokuba. I believe that you wished to see me on this fine day?"
"Yes, I did. I assume that you've seen the newspaper earlier this morning, Hakushaku?"
"I have. As such, I had the feeling that you, your family, and your brother's company would be affected. Naturally, you would pay me a visit to ask me for my opinion. And if I'm not mistaken, you'll then urge me for help on something or other."
He continued, "However, don't always believe what are in newspapers, my young friend. You know how they are, don't you?"
"Yeah, but... did you bother to look who wrote the article? It was one of my good friends, Kazuki Takahashi!"
"I know. But-"
"But nothing!" cried Mokuba, "He thinks exploiting friends is all right to advance in his career."
Kaiba fumed. "That is why I have come here. I want you to be one of my seconds."
"Second? Surely, you jest. You cannot be serious about engaging your journalist friend in a duel, are you?"
"I haven't been more serious in my life, Your Excellency. I'm going-"
Monte Cristo finished, "To see Takahashi and challenge him?"
"Why, yes. I'll have him pick out his seconds, and then we'll arrange the time and place of said duel."
"Listen to me closely, Mokuba. Do not go through with this rash act. Perhaps you can persuade Takahashi for a retraction."
"Fine!" replied young Kaiba, "But if doesn't work, then I shall see to it that he pays for what he did."
Once his guest took his leave, the count continued in his daily target practice.
"Pull!" ordered the count, as Rafael threw several Duel Monsters cards out into the vast open range.
But before the cards could actually make contact with the floors, they were practically obliterated by several shots originating from the count's .45 Colt.
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When Mokuba left the count's estate, he immediately went for the local paper, where he will find a certain journalist.
Nervously, the middle-class man asked, "So... what brings you here?"
"You damn-well know why I'm here, Takahashi!"
"Look if you want a retraction, that's what I want too. However, we can't always get what we want."
"But this is slander!"
"I know... How about this? Give me one week, and I'll do the best of my ability to convince my superiors to make a retraction."
"One week?!" exclaimed an enraged Mokuba, "In less than one week, I shall already be ruined!"
"..."
"Consider us enemies from now on."
"Look, are you sure that your brother didn't do those... things to get a bunch of playing cards?" asked the fledgling reporter.
"I'm sure of it. Seto wouldn't do that."
"Mokuba... if you strongly believe that your brother didn't do those things, then I'll take your word. I'll see if I can arrange a retraction no later than today."
The two friends reconcile with one another... for now.
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The appointed time of the month had finally arrived. In a sleazy building, a certain Weevil Underwood and Benny the Devil (Andre Colombo) met together for a financial transaction.
It was a success. Once it was done, the young Italian sought to leave as quickly as possible. That was to be the case, until...
"Wait!"
Turning around to his former accomplice in crime, Andre replied, "What?"
"It crossed my mind that I want to have a servant."
"Then use the money that I just handed you, 'gramps'," he retorted.
"No, no... this will not be enough. Do you have any idea how much a servant charges for one month's worth of service?!"
"Oh, well."
"Look, it's actually my money that you're using, Weevil! It's from my benefactor, the Count of Monte Cristo."
"So?"
"I actually don't have access to all of my $10 billion. And I won't have any more of that unless he's dead or something."
"How do you know?"
"'Cause he told me so when he put it in his will recently."
"Bah, I don't believe you."
"Believe what you want, then."
"Fine."
"Fine!"
"Wait just a minute, my boy."
"Are we going to start this shit again?"
"I just had an idea. What if we don't have to wait for the Hakushaku's death? What if we were to relieve the count of some of his fortune?"
Andre was startled; never before had this notion come to his attention. "Y'know, Underwood... I happen to visit regularly at 'His Excellency's' mansion. And, I've seen where he puts something of great importance inside a vault that's the size of a room."
"You think money?"
"Probably."
"Hmm... but we'll need some equipment, and perhaps a bit of practice of thievery. It has been a while since the two of us did that, hasn't it?"
"Yeah, and I know just when to do this."
"When?"
"We shall strike in one week, because... Monte Cristo is going to stay at his country villa in one week's time."
"Perfect! How convenient for us!" exclaimed Weevil.
The two crooked men begin to work out their plan.
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Nearly a half hour passed after Barry died under mysterious circumstances. Pegasus and Devlin contacted the family's doctor. Fortunately, the physician was available and immediately made his way into the penthouse.
"Mr. Pegasus, from the blood sample that I've taken and analyzed through my computer... it's some sort of deadly toxin that caused your friend's untimely death. I'm having much trouble trying to identify it. Since this case falls beyond the range of my job description, I suggest that you let the police handle this-"
"No, Doctor. I may be affiliated with the police department in this city, but I will not involve them in my family's state of affairs."
"But-"
"No buts. You will keep this case undisclosed to the public. Understand?"
The family physician could only stutter at this point. When he regained his composure, he offered the American some advise. "Very well, then, Mr. Pegasus. However... do you have any idea who's the main culprit of this... murder?"
"There is no murder in my house!"
"Be reasonable, sir! With all due respect, I think it's clear that the main culprit is..." whispered the doctor into the other's ear, "mostly likely your daughter, Valentine."
"Oh no... you cannot be serious!"
"I'm afraid so. All evidence points to her: your parents-in-laws' recent passings... think about it. According to their wills, upon their deaths, she would gain a hefty sum of money from them."
"Listen to me, you will not let the public know of this incident. Is that clear?!"
"Fine. Beware of those around you, Mr. Pegasus. I suggest that you exercise extreme caution from now on."
"Will do, now good bye. Your services are no longer required for the moment."
"Farewell, Mr. Pegasus."
The once foppish man then broke down into tears. His stepwife, on the other hand, thought, Two down, still three to go...