Chapter 45: The Rare Hunters Strike

Things went smoothly for the next week, with Rin and Lulu becoming reacquainted with their friends and family. The new Pendulum monster prototypes were finished and in testing, while the interdimensional travel technology was nearly complete.

At the moment, Seto Kaiba and Declan were having a meeting when there was a knock on the door before Claude stepped into the room.

"Sir, there's a woman here to see you. She says she's a representative from the Supreme Council of Antiques of Egypt, and she has information you would benefit from."

"Send her in."

Claude stepped aside, and allowed the woman to enter. She wore a white cloak adorned with a few gold armbands and a necklace. She bowed before introducing herself.

"Thank you for seeing me. My name is Ishizu Ishtar."

"Miss, I'm afraid we don't have much time to speak. We're very busy-"

"Preparing for your war with Duel Academy?"

This got everyone's attention. While Paradise City was well aware of the Dimensional War, they'd take every precaution to make sure no one outside of it or Leo Corp was aware of the threat.

"Please don't worry, I intend you no harm. In fact, what I have to offer may be the key to your success."

"And what, prey tell, is that?"

Ishizu pressed a button on her duel disk, summoning a virtual projection of a mysterious object. It was a cube, but it appeared to be glowing orange with a strange energy. A gold eye emblazoned the front.

"This is the Quantum Cube, an object that holds great power. With it, one can bend reality to their will."

This got the three businessmen's attention.

"My people, the Plana, have kept it safe for thousands of years. However, recently our organization has been breached, and the cube was stolen. We suspect that the rare hunters who have been plaguing your town had a hand in it. Therefore, I humbly request the assistance of you and your lancers in gaining it back. If you do, I'll happily hand it over to you to use in your campaign."

Kaiba scoffed at the notion.

"You honestly expect us to believe a box can change reality? Get real."

"And yet the idea of a multiverse is easier to accept?"

Declan sighed, and pushed his glassed up on his face.

"With all respect, Miss Ishtar, I'm afraid we can't risk the lives of our lancers on this mission when we're so close to being ready for our current objective. And without much proof of your claim…"

"I understand. Thank you, gentleman."

She got up to leave, but not before giving them her phone number.

"If you change your mind, Feel free to contact me."

With that, Ishizu left, leaving the two men to concentrate on their own plans.

"What a weirdo."

But Declan couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth to her words.

Later that night, all was silent in the Leo Corp building, until…

"Sir!"

Kaiba groaned as he forced himself to his feet, picking up the phone.

"You'd better have a Damn good reason for waking me up, or so help me…"

"There's been a break in! The pendulum prototypes have been stolen!"

This got Kaiba's attention, and he was immediately on his feet and out the door.

When he reached the lab, he found Declan already scanning the room.

"Alright, how did they break in? You told me your building has the most advanced security system in the world."

"It does, and they didn't. If you'll observe, there's no sign of forced entry."

Kaiba wanted to argue, but he had to concede that Kaiba had a point. The doors were locked, the windows were in place, nothing had been broken…

"Check the security cameras."

"I already a look."

Tapping a few buttons on the computer, Declan pulled up a screen showing a man with green hair and grey robed phasing in through a wall and taking their prototypes before phasing back out again. In the man's hands was the cube Ishizu had shown them earlier. Kaiba scowled.

"Damn it, she was telling the truth."

"You contact her, I'll call the others."

The Lancers arrived shortly, with Ishizu waiting for them. Once she had explained the situation, they were all shocked.

"And the rare hunters have access to it?"

"We believe so."

"Well, what are waiting for!" Sylvio roared. "Let's go take back what's ours!"

"That might be a good idea, if we knew where they were," Gong said, making Sylvio slink back in defeat.

"Actually, we do," Ishizu said. "Although I am no longer in possession of the cube, I am still connected to it. I can see where they're hiding out, and it's in a warehouse complex near the docks. I believe their leader is aware of my ability, however, and will be expecting us."

"Alright then, we know where to go," Kaiba said, taking charge. "Yuya, Serena, Barrett, Rin, and Gong, you're with me. The rest of you stay here in case we need backup."

"I'm coming too," said Ishizu. Sylvio, however, was disappointed by his placement.

"What? You're letting the antiques lady go, but not your star duelist? This is madness!"

Kaiba was about to interject when Ishizu stepped in.

"You doubt my abilities as a duelist? Perhaps you'd like to wager who goes with a duel?'

Sylvio chuckled.

"You're on! I'll even let you go first."

"Very well."

DUEL!

Ishizu: 8000

Sylvio: 8000

"I'll start with activating the field spell Necrovalley. Next, I'll set one monster face down, and one card face down. Lastly, I'll end my turn with Royal Tribute! If I have Necrovalley on the field, we both must send every monster in our hands to the graveyard."

"What?"

"There's more. As long as Necrovalley remains active, neither of us are allowed to remove cards from our graveyards."

Sylvio snarled, and sent his three monsters to the graveyard, while Ishizu sent one.

"Your move, Mr. Sawatari."

"You'll pay for that! I'll start with Abyss Actor- Wild Hope (1600/1200) in attack mode! Attack her face down!"

The demonic cowboy twirled his pistols and fired, the bullets hitting a Gravekeeper's Spy (1200-1700/2000-2500).

"Since my Spy is a Gravekeeper's monster, she gains 500 attack and defense from Necrovalley."

Sylvio: 7100

"That's not all. Since my Spy was flipped up, I can now special summon a Gravekeeper's monster from my deck with 1500 or less attack, such as Gravekeeper's Curse (800-1300/800-1300)."

"Puh! It only has 1300 attack points."

"And an effect. When Curse is summoned, you take 500 points of damage."

Sylvio: 6600

"Grr, I'll end my turn. Next turn I'll pay you back!"

"There will not be a next turn. I have all I need to win right here."

"With only one card in your hand and two weak monsters? I doubt it."

"First, I'll tribute Gravekeeper's Curse to summon Gravekeeper's Chief (1900-2400/11200-1700) in attack mode. Not only does my Chief protect my graveyard from Necrovalley, but when he is tribute summoned I can special summon a Gravekeeper's monster from my graveyard, and the monster I choose is Gravekeeper's Curse."

Sylvio: 6100

"Next, I activate the trap card, Rite of Spirit! This allows me to special summon a Gravekeeper's monster from my graveyard, like my Gravekeeper's Cannonholder (1400-1900/1200-1700) in attack mode. Gravekeeper's Chief, attack Wild Hope!"

Sylvio: 5300

"Since Wild Hope was destroyed, I can add Abyss Actor-Leading Lady to my hand!"

"Not that it'll matter. Spy, Curse, and Cannonholder, attack him directly!"

Sylvio: 400

"I still have life points left!"

"I now activate the effect of my Gravekeeper's Cannonholder. By tributing another Gravekeeper, he can inflict 700 points of damage to your life points."

"What?"

Before Sylvio could do anything, Cannonholder had already absorbed Curse into his cannon and fired, knocking Sylvio on his ass as his life points hit zero.

Sylvio: 0000

Ishizu ignored Sylvio's grunts of pain and turned to the others selected for the mission.

"Let's go."