Darkness washed over him like a tide. Lazar wanted to say more, but his lips parted and no sound came.
His consciousness was engulfed, as if sinking to the bottom of the sea. Even if he wanted to speak, nothing came out. Finally, his awareness faded and he slipped into a deep sleep.
Kira stood silently with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at the unconscious Lazar.
"You know, for just a moment there…"
At that point, the Marshmallon Sprit popped out, peeking around.
"I… really thought you were going to kill him."
Kira looked surprised. "Why would I do that? He and I have no grudge—why would I kill him?"
Marshmallon replied, "Uh, because he found out your secret? You know, the usual villain stuff: 'You know too much, so now you have to die,' blah blah…"
Kira: "Really? Do I really look like a villain to you?"
Marshmallon: "…."
Not only shameless, but apparently also lacking all self-awareness.
The Vampire Fraulein echoed, "Honestly, Master, I thought you were going to do him in, too…"
Kira was helpless: "Is that really how you all see me?"
His reputation was crumbling—even his own spirits didn't trust him. He was both resigned and innocent; he considered himself an upstanding, positive duelist, but clearly his friends disagreed.
He never intended to kill Lazar.
The "Goodwin" disguise was still useful, but honestly, even if it was blown, it wasn't that important to him.
Besides, as a duelist with king-level strength, why resort to crude methods like murder? That's so uncivilized.
In a Shadow Duel he could command the loser to do anything, even things they couldn't normally do. For example: forget.
A simple Shadow Duel, defeat Lazar, then command him to "forget my identity and this duel"—he would have no choice but to obey.
After today, Lazar would only remember Goodwin as his one and only boss—nothing odd about him. And while Lazar himself was decent enough, he was still just an ordinary person—no supernatural abilities. For Kira, a little Shadow Power was more than enough.
He then called for Zaloog, Meanae, Chick, and the others.
The spirits popped out, doing their customary dramatic poses—which they thought looked cool, but really just looked silly.
"Dark Scorpion Burglars, reporting for duty!"
They saluted Kira.
"What can the Lord in Yellow command?" Zaloog asked as their representative.
Kira: "What Lord in Yellow? Here, I'm Sector Security Director Goodwin."
Zaloog quickly corrected, "Yes, Director Goodwin. Any orders?"
Kira pointed to Lazar, who was now snoring on the floor. "Clean up here, erase any evidence anyone was ever here.
Then take this guy—"
"Understood, Director."
Cliff of the Dark Scorpions pushed up his glasses smoothly, giving a chilling smile before slicing a finger across his neck.
"You want us to finish him off, right? Clean job?"
Kira: "…"
Why did everyone automatically assume he wanted a murder? Did he really look like the murder-and-disposal type?
He scowled: "Nothing that dramatic. Just move him to the Vice Director's office at Security. Don't worry, he won't wake up until morning."
"Oh, alright."
They agreed—but was it his imagination, or did Cliff look a bit disappointed?
Kira began to understand why this group was called "burglars."
Clearly there was… something off about them. They almost seemed regretful not to be asked to do something sinister.
Orders given, Kira set the matter aside.
He'd nearly been branded for the crimes of the previous fake Goodwin. Without Z-ONE's warning, he might never have known his disguise had been rumbled by Lazar. Not that Lazar would actually tattle—he'd probably have just buried his head in the sand. Still, potential threats are best handled quick.
He now owed Z-ONE a small favor.
…
Next morning, Vice Director's Office.
Crash.
Lazar, who'd been sleeping soundly in a chair, suddenly toppled onto the floor as the chair tilted.
"Ow, ow, ow…"
He woke up, scratching his head and looking left and right.
"This is… the office?"
Did he fall asleep here after working overtime? He couldn't remember last night. He shook off the confusion and unlocked his computer, only to find his favorite browser game running—the one he always played instead of working.
Startled, he quickly closed the game.
"That was close… what if someone had seen while I was sleeping…"
He patted his chest, still a little nervous.
He thought he remembered: last night he was slacking off here, playing games instead of going home, and played until he fell asleep.
This memory rooted itself in his mind, growing ever clearer, convincing him that was indeed what happened last night.
"Oh right," Lazar said, snapping his fingers, "I should go see Director Goodwin and let him know I stayed overnight working extra hard. Yes, that's right."
As for slacking off and playing games, well, that was beside the point.
…
Interdimensional Space.
A pure white ceiling and floor; a limitless subspace. Z-ONE's nautilus-like shell floated silently in the endless expanse.
A ripple disturbed the emptiness, as a shadow appeared, gradually taking solid form and clear features.
It was a slim but straight-backed man dressed in a tight uniform. The dark blue made him look even taller. Blue hair, red goggles obscured his eyes so his features were hard to make out.
"Antinomy," Z-ONE called gently.
Antinomy, one of Z-ONE's future team—the last top Duel Runnerer of the world before its destruction.
"The King of Duels from another dimension has arrived, Z-ONE?" Antinomy asked.
"Yes," Z-ONE replied.
"So, are you interested?"
Antinomy nodded, glancing at his right hand.
"Dueling… should bring hope, should open the door to the future, but I didn't accomplish that. Maybe I just wasn't good enough.
If I could witness the road taken by a duelist who became King in another world, maybe I'd learn something new…"
Z-ONE stared at him for a moment, then said,
"Then do as you wish."
…