Summer vacation had finally arrived.
For many students across Los Angeles, those words carried a very specific meaning.
Sleeping until noon without parents dragging them out of bed. Week-long trips to sunny beaches packed with tourists. Family vacations across the country. Crowded amusement parks filled with excited children. A temporary freedom from teachers, exams, homework and every other obligation that had dictated their lives for the better part of a year.
For Alexander, it simply meant replacing schoolwork with company work.
The change was almost comically small.
Instead of attending classes during the day before spending his afternoons developing Duel Monsters, he could now dedicate every waking hour to Industrial Illusion itself.
Not that he particularly minded; if anything, he found the routine oddly comforting.
Ginny had departed several days earlier to spend the summer with relatives on the East Coast, promising to write whenever she found the time.
Chuck and Julia had similarly disappeared from Los Angeles, each travelling with their respective families before eventually planning to meet again later in the vacation.
For perhaps the first time in months, Alexander found himself without social obligations demanding even a portion of his attention.
He had responded in the only way that felt truly natural, by burying himself in work.
~~~▽~~~
The temporary headquarters of Industrial Illusion had become noticeably livelier over the past several months.
What had once seemed like impressively spacious rented floors now felt almost cramped.
Employees constantly moved between departments carrying stacks of paperwork that never seemed to diminish.
Phones rang with increasing frequency.
Conversations drifted through the corridors as various employees coordinated projects that somehow multiplied faster than they could finish them.
Meeting rooms remained occupied almost continuously, and even the small break area had transformed from a quiet corner into a gathering place where employees hurriedly discussed schedules over cups of coffee before rushing back to work.
Several departments had already been forced to share office space simply because there was nowhere else to place them.
It wasn't complete chaos.
Far from it, as the company remained remarkably organised, but it had become the sort of organised chaos that inevitably accompanied rapid success.
Standing beside the large window of his office, Alexander quietly watched the controlled bustle below and muttered, "We've officially outgrown this building."
Across the desk, Roland calmly nodded.
His expression remained as composed as ever, though Alexander noticed the faint hint of satisfaction hidden beneath the older man's professional demeanour as he commented, "I reached the same conclusion approximately three weeks ago."
Alexander smiled faintly, "I figured you had."
"The additional rented space has delayed the problem," Roland continued, opening a neatly organised folder, "But it has not solved it."
Alexander nodded while absently turning his chair toward the desk, "At this point we'd simply be renting inefficiency."
"Precisely."
Industrial Illusion no longer required more offices, but it required a headquarters.
Somewhere designed specifically around the company instead of forcing the company to adapt to someone else's design.
Fortunately, timing had chosen to cooperate.
The collapse of California's commercial real estate market during the previous several years had devastated countless businesses.
Office complexes sat half-empty, and corporate campuses that had once represented enormous investments now struggled to attract buyers.
Property values had fallen dramatically.
For many companies, the situation had been disastrous, but for Industrial Illusion it represented opportunity.
Alexander spread several folders across the polished wooden desk.
Each contained photographs, financial reports and architectural information for available properties throughout Southern California.
There were dozens.
Most had merit, but only one truly held his attention.
A spacious suburban corporate campus surrounded by generous green space.
The buildings themselves were unremarkable but far enough from the increasingly congested centre of Los Angeles to allow almost unlimited redevelopment.
Alexander found himself studying the aerial photograph longer than any of the others.
The location itself wasn't what mattered; it was what the land could become.
In another lifetime, an area similar to this one would eventually become home to Apple Park.
His fingers lightly tapped against the photograph, "It's almost perfect..."
Roland reached for another folder without a word, "I had anticipated you might say that."
From inside, he carefully removed several sheets of paper that had clearly been preserved with unusual care.
Architectural sketches he made some time ago in his free time to train his drawing skills.
Alexander's lips curled into an amused smile, "You kept them."
"I considered them rather important."
The older man placed the drawings on the desk one by one.
Unlike the overwhelming majority of modern corporate buildings, the designs contained no towering skyscrapers competing to dominate the skyline.
No endless walls of concrete and glass; instead, broad, graceful buildings curved naturally across the landscape.
Internal gardens filled the spaces between departments. Walking paths connected every section of the campus. Large windows invited sunlight into nearly every room.
Employees weren't isolated inside identical offices. They occupied open spaces deliberately designed to encourage movement, conversation and collaboration.
Alexander had drawn them almost entirely from memory, not perfectly, but the essence remained intact.
A workplace that people genuinely wanted to spend time in.
"I've always disliked the obsession with building upward," Alexander admitted quietly.
"It makes efficient use of land," Roland observed.
"It does." Alexander leaned back slightly, "But it also separates people."
He gestured toward the sketches, "I'd rather have departments naturally run into one another than spend five minutes waiting for elevators."
Roland silently considered the drawings once again, "When you first showed me these... I believed them somewhat unconventional."
Alexander looked up and asked, "And now?"
"I believe they would make for an exceptional workplace."
Alexander laughed softly, "I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should."
For just a brief moment, both men simply looked at the sketches in comfortable silence.
Then Roland carefully returned the drawings to their protective folder and said, "I have already contacted Mister Harrington."
Alexander immediately recognised the name. The architect had worked alongside his father for years.
Experienced. Discreet. Reliable. Exactly the sort of professional needed for a project of this scale.
"He has agreed to meet us later this month."
Alexander nodded and said, "Excellent."
His gaze drifted once more toward the aerial photograph.
~~~▽~~~
The remainder of the morning unfolded much as expected.
Expansion reports. Tournament schedules. Manufacturing forecasts. Financial statements. Licensing agreements. Contracts requiring signatures. Several proposals regarding international distribution. Questions from department managers that only he could answer.
By early afternoon, both Alexander and Roland finally left the office.
Business suits disappeared beneath considerably more casual clothing.
Alexander adjusted his fake glasses before making several subtle cosmetic changes to his appearance to make him look more "nerdy."
Their destination remained unchanged.
Another farming session as the grind never stops.
No matter how successful Industrial Illusion became, Duel Points and Duel Energy remained among his most valuable resources.
Those currencies represented possibilities that ordinary money simply couldn't purchase; besides, few activities kept him more connected to the rapidly growing Duel Monsters community than actually participating in it himself.
Today's destination happened to be a large public park situated considerably farther from the mansion than usual.
Even before stepping out of the sedan, Alexander could hear the familiar sounds.
Children enthusiastically announcing attacks. Friendly arguments over card effects. Occasional cheers whenever someone managed an especially dramatic comeback.
The game had clearly taken root here.
Picnic tables had naturally transformed into improvised dueling arenas.
Several children sat cross-legged beneath enormous oak trees while carefully organising decks that had clearly been modified countless times. Parents watched from nearby benches. Some offered advice despite obviously knowing very little about strategy; others simply smiled while enjoying the sight of their children becoming so passionately invested in something.
Alexander quietly joined one of the smaller groups after exchanging a few casual greetings.
The familiar rhythm returned almost immediately.
One duel, then another, then another.
Victories steadily accumulated.
Occasionally he intentionally avoided making the optimal play, allowing newer duelists opportunities to discover combinations for themselves before ultimately claiming victory a few turns later.
Teaching without appearing to teach.
The approach seemed surprisingly effective.
More than once, he watched a child excitedly realise a tactical mistake moments before Alexander exploited it.
Lessons learned through experience tended to last much longer.
What truly captured his attention, however, wasn't the children; it was the adults.
A few months ago, most parents had learned Duel Monsters for one simple reason.
Their children loved it, and playing together represented another way of spending quality time as a family.
Now that motivation had begun changing.
Several fathers had organised an impromptu mini-tournament of their own beneath a nearby gazebo.
One loudly celebrated drawing exactly the card he needed while his opponent groaned dramatically enough to make everyone nearby laugh.
Elsewhere, two elderly gentlemen passionately debated the proper use of Trap Cards.
"You activate them too early."
"And you wait too long."
"If you never use them, you've already lost!"
"If you use them immediately, you've wasted them!"
Neither appeared remotely willing to concede.
Alexander couldn't suppress a smile as the game no longer belonged exclusively to children and entire families were beginning to enjoy it together.
That realisation filled him with a quiet satisfaction difficult to describe.
Not far away, Roland had accepted an invitation from another group.
Alexander occasionally glanced toward him between matches.
To his growing amusement, the elderly butler appeared to be taking every duel remarkably seriously.
His opponents did as well.
Cards were placed with careful precision. Life Points were announced in calm, measured voices. Every move seemed to receive thoughtful consideration.
It looked less like a casual park game and more like two veteran chess players engaged in silent warfare.
Alexander chuckled to himself before returning to his own duel while thinking, 'Perhaps Roland had become more invested than either of us has realised.'
The thought somehow felt strangely wholesome.
Before long, the afternoon sun began its slow descent toward the horizon.
Golden light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the grass and families gradually packed their belongings.
Children reluctantly agreed to "one last duel" before finally heading home.
Alexander finished his own final match, congratulated his young opponent on a clever play that had nearly caught him by surprise, and shook the boy's hand before standing.
Across the park, Roland had likewise concluded his own game.
The butler accepted a respectful handshake from his opponent before calmly gathering his deck with the same care he would have shown important company documents.
Alexander couldn't help smiling again as some habits truly never changed.
Alexander and Roland made their way back toward the waiting sedan at an unhurried pace.
The evening air had cooled noticeably compared to the heat of the afternoon, carrying with it the pleasant scent of freshly cut grass and the distant aroma of food from a nearby barbecue. The park behind them remained lively, though its energy had begun to mellow as families packed up blankets, folded picnic chairs, and rounded up reluctant children still trying to squeeze in "just one more duel."
Alexander cast one last glance over his shoulder.
A pair of boys were already replaying the match they had just finished, enthusiastically arguing over the exact moment one of them had made the decisive mistake.
Nearby, one of the elderly gentlemen from earlier triumphantly declared that patience with Trap Cards had won him another duel while his companion immediately insisted the result had been pure luck.
Alexander smiled again.
Roland opened the driver's side door while Alexander settled comfortably into the passenger seat.
The familiar scent of leather greeted him as the doors closed, muting the cheerful sounds of the park behind them.
The engine started with its usual smooth purr.
For several moments, neither spoke as Roland carefully guided the sedan away from the curb before merging onto the main road leading back toward the city.
Only once they had settled into the steady rhythm of traffic did Alexander finally voice the question he had quietly been saving, "So?"
Roland briefly glanced in his direction and repeated, "So?"
Alexander folded his arms, "Your deck."
Recognition immediately flickered across the butler's composed features, and a faint smile appeared beneath his normally reserved expression as he commented, "It performed admirably."
Alexander leaned back with exaggerated satisfaction, "I'm listening."
Roland's hands remained steady on the steering wheel, and he said, "The defensive strategy you suggested proved exceptionally effective."
He paused for a moment, mentally reviewing each duel, "Most opponents naturally focused upon establishing overwhelming field presence as quickly as possible."
Alexander nodded, "As expected."
"They committed their strongest monsters early."
"They usually do."
"Meanwhile..." Roland's smile widened almost imperceptibly, "...My own objective remained considerably simpler."
"Survive."
"Precisely."
Alexander chuckled and commented, "I imagine that most of your opponents didn't like the experience..."
Roland continued without taking his eyes from the road, "Indeed, several opponents became increasingly frustrated as successive defensive cards prevented them from maintaining momentum."
"They overextended?"
"They did."
Alexander grinned, "Then they ran out of resources."
"Exactly."
The older man spoke with quiet satisfaction rarely heard outside company matters, "Once sufficient turns had passed..."
His voice remained perfectly calm, "...Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth generally concluded the duel."
Alexander burst into quiet laughter.
Roland then commented with the same measured tone he might have used to comment on tomorrow's weather, "It appears that summoning a monster possessing 3500 ATK tends to discourage further resistance."
"I also discovered," Roland added thoughtfully, "that several younger duelists were entirely unfamiliar with the monster."
Alexander raised an eyebrow, "Already?"
"It would seem they have become accustomed to considerably faster strategies."
Alexander considered that observation for a moment, 'Interesting. Even at this early stage, the metagame is already beginning to evolve toward that direction. Players naturally gravitate toward immediate aggression. Long-term control strategies feel slower by comparison. That means decks like Roland's will occasionally catch opponents completely off guard.'
"Any weaknesses?" Alexander asked.
Roland didn't answer immediately as he always considered his words carefully, "The deck remains dependent upon surviving the opening turns."
"Fair."
"If my defensive resources are exhausted prematurely..."
"The cocoon never hatches."
"Correct."
Alexander rested one elbow against the window, "I'm sure you'll find a way to solve that."
For the remainder of the drive, conversation flowed naturally between them.
They discussed possible improvements to Roland's deck.
Minor adjustments, additional defensive options, alternative win conditions should Great Moth fail to appear.
The conversation gradually drifted toward upcoming tournament formats, newly emerging player habits and which monster types seemed to be growing in popularity.
Because today's farming location had been considerably farther from the mansion than usual, the return journey took noticeably longer.
The bright bustle of the park gradually disappeared behind them, and commercial districts slowly gave way to quieter residential neighbourhoods.
The orange glow of sunset faded completely, and by the time they approached the outskirts of Los Angeles, night had settled across the city.
Streetlights stretched into long golden lines along mostly deserted roads. Storefronts had long since closed for the evening. Traffic had thinned to only the occasional passing vehicle.
Inside the sedan, the steady hum of the engine blended with the faint sound of tyres rolling across smooth asphalt.
Silence gradually reclaimed the conversation.
Alexander gazed out the passenger window, his fingers absently tapping against his leg.
Roland, meanwhile, remained as attentive as ever.
Years spent as both soldier and butler had cultivated habits that never truly disappeared.
His eyes continuously scanned the road ahead.
Mirrors. Intersections. Blind corners. Everything.
Without warning, a dark figure lurched into the sedan's headlights.
For a split second, the world seemed to freeze, but Roland reacted before conscious thought could intervene.
His foot slammed against the brake pedal.
The tyres shrieked violently against the pavement while Alexander instinctively braced himself against the dashboard as momentum hurled both occupants forward.
The sedan shuddered, then stopped.
Only the ticking of the cooling engine disturbed the sudden stillness.
Alexander exhaled and asked, "What happened?"
Roland had already released his seatbelt and replied, "Someone collapsed directly in front of the vehicle."
The butler's hand was already reaching for the door handle and added, "I'll determine whether they're injured."
He stepped outside immediately, and Alexander followed only moments later.
The night air felt strangely cold.
As he rounded the front of the sedan, his attention immediately settled upon Roland.
The older man's expression had changed; his brows were furrowed with concern.
That alone was enough to make Alexander's stomach tighten.
He quickly shifted his gaze toward the figure lying motionless on the pavement.
Blood, a lot of it.
Dark stains spread across the asphalt beneath the unconscious man.
Quite a few wounds covered his body.
Some were fresh enough to continue bleeding; others had already begun drying, suggesting they had been inflicted some time earlier.
Cuts. Punctures. Maybe deep gashes.
This hadn't been a single violent encounter, but it looked more like the aftermath of relentless pursuit.
Alexander immediately crouched beside the stranger.
He rapidly assessed visible injuries.
Breathing was even. Pulse was weak, but present.
The man possessed an impressively muscular build despite his obvious exhaustion.
He was a black-skinned man, appearing roughly middle-aged. His clothing consisted almost entirely of black tactical gear despite the lingering summer warmth. A long trench coat partially concealed an astonishing collection of equipment.
Alexander's eyes moved quickly.
Firearms, several of them. Combat knives. Silver stakes. Two swords.
Additional items whose purpose became obvious only after a second glance.
What looked like specialised ammunition. Compact utility pouches carefully arranged for rapid access.
This wasn't random; every piece of equipment served a purpose.
This was someone accustomed to hunting things capable of killing ordinary men.
Recognition struck almost instantly and Alexander's eyes widened as cursed, "Damned Marvel..."
The words escaped before he consciously realised he had spoken them.
A heartbeat later, he added, "...Fuck!"
His expression immediately hardened.
All traces of casual concern vanished as he declared, "That's Blade..."
Roland looked sharply toward him and asked, "You know him?"
"I know of him." Alexander's voice had become noticeably quieter, "He is a vampire hunter. A legendary one..."
His mind raced, 'Blade. Of every Marvel character that could have appeared... It had to be Blade. Which means only one thing. This evening has just become considerably more complicated. Because Blade doesn't exist in isolation. Where Blade appears... Vampires usually follow.'
Alexander slowly rose to his feet.
His entire demeanour shifted in an instant as his senses stretched outward.
Listening. Watching. Searching.
His right hand subtly lowered toward his side.
A familiar sensation stirred within the System.
One thought. One command. That was all it would take to summon one of his prototype cards and materialise a Duel Spirit.
He sincerely hoped it wouldn't become necessary.
Because there was only one reason Blade, one of the most dangerous vampire hunters on the planet, would ever be found bleeding in the middle of an empty road.
Alexander slowly swept his gaze across the surrounding darkness.
Every rooftop. Every parked vehicle. Every narrow alley branching away from the street. Every patch of shadow where someone, or something, could remain hidden.
His voice remained calm and controlled, "Roland."
The butler immediately looked toward him, "Stay alert."
He needed no further explanation.
Roland subtly shifted his stance, positioning himself between Alexander and the unconscious hunter without drawing attention to the movement.
Years of military discipline surfaced beneath the polished manners of a professional butler.
"If Blade is here..." Alexander continued scanning the darkness without blinking, "...Then the vampires who did this are probably still nearby."
The quiet street offered no answer, only darkness and the growing feeling that something hidden within it was watching them.
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