Public Security Maintenance Bureau · Control Room.
On the huge suspended projection screen, the image flickered in darkness.
It was the high-speed track in the city sky, with neon lights carving streams of light into the night. Two D-Wheels were racing at an astonishing speed, the roar of the engines clearly audible even in the footage.
One of the D-Wheels was entirely white, its metal gleamed hub shining brightly under the lights.
"Wheel of Fortune," the iconic ride of former King Jack Atlas.
"This is surveillance footage from last night." The technician quickly pulled up the data, "The location is the Eastern District high-speed loop, and the time is around 2:15 AM."
Yugen stood in front of the screen, arms folded, eyes locked on the image. Next to him stood the blue-haired, long-legged, efficient chief investigator Sagiri Shinkage, whose call had brought him to this control room.
In the footage, Jack's D-Wheel took a near-perfect curve while another black D-Wheel closely tailgated it. From the video, it was clear they were engaged in a Riding Duel.
"Who's the driver of the other D-Wheel?" Yugen asked.
"Seems to be some WRGP contestant... but that's not important." Deep Shadow said, "Let's just see the result of this duel."
The technician fast-forwarded the footage to the end of the duel.
The image on the suspended projection screen suddenly intensified.
Jack Atlas's wild laughter almost pierced through the recording, he raised his arm high, the Duel Disc erupting with crimson light—
"Crush them! 'Red Lotus Demon Dragon'—Direct Attack!!"
In an instant, crimson flames exploded in the night sky! A colossal Demon Dragon spread its wings vast enough to overshadow the sky, its scales etched with lava-like patterns. It roared and dove down, dragon claws gripping high-temperature blaze, striking straight at the driver of the black D-Wheel!
"Ah—!"
As if substantial flames shot from the claws of the Red Lotus Demon Dragon, hitting the D-Wheel directly. The black D-Wheel shook violently, losing balance at high speed, its tires screeching against the track creating dazzling sparks.
The enemy's Life Points hit zero, the front of the D-Wheel already spewing steam indicative of the onboard Perpetual Motion Machine stopping, beginning to decelerate sharply. But Jack laughed heartily, showing no intention to stop.
"It's not over yet!"
He twisted the throttle fiercely, the Wheel of Fortune's engine roared like a beast, the white body slammed into the opponent like a Battle Axe!
"Bang—!!"
Amidst a violent metal collision, the black D-Wheel completely lost control, rolling and crashing into the guardrail! The driver was flung out, tumbling multiple times along the track, finally slamming heavily against the barrier wall, motionless.
Jack braked the D-Wheel, glanced back, his lips curling into a cold arc.
"Hmph, negligible."
——Within the control room, the air was nearly frozen.
Yugen raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, seems the former King does have quite the temper." Yugen remarked, "This probably goes beyond the scope of a regular duel, right?"
Deep Shadow quickly voiced her concern: "Sir, that's what I wanted to say. The person in this footage... I believe may not be Jack!"
Yugen: "Oh?"
"Something's not right." Deep Shadow's voice was more tense than usual, "Jack Atlas isn't that kind of person."
Yugen's gaze shifted from the screen to her, observing this beautiful chief investigator playfully, saying: "The footage doesn't lie. He deliberately crashed into his opponent, that's a fact."
"But Jack has no motive to do such a thing!" Sagiri stepped forward, pulling up Jack's recent activity records, "Since he arrived in New Tongshiyi, I've been by his side. I know Jack. He values the glory of dueling more than anyone. Such mean tactics don't fit his character."
She swiftly slid the data panel, her fingertips drawing blue traces in the air: "Also, look, on the afternoon of the duel's occurrence, Jack's 5DS team had just completed a WRGP preliminary match, logically he should have been resting..."
Yugen: "So have you gathered evidence from the other 5DS team members? Does he have an alibi?"
"Um..." Deep Shadow looked elsewhere, "I asked, but they said after the match Jack was alone and no one saw him..."
Yugen shrugged: "Then there's no evidence. So, Investigator Sagiri, are you saying you want to declare Jack innocent just based on your personal feelings?"
Sagiri blushed, biting her lip, staring at the floor without speaking.
Silence briefly fell over the control room. Technicians exchanged glances, no one daring to interrupt.
Yugen observed her reaction, finding it amusing. He actually knew that the culprit in the video should not be Jack. Vaguely remembering a similar plot from the animation—a simulation robot with Jack's personality and card deck, that was even more skilled than Jack himself, committing misdeeds disguised as Jack, leading to Jack's arrest.
But the issue was, that in the animation, it was the Taiyi Three Emperors' conspiracy, Taiyi using ZONE's technology to create the Jack replica. However, now Yugen and ZONE were allies, with him being the new Taiyi Emperor. If this Fake Jack was also a creation of Taiyi like in the animation, why was he unaware?
Thus, Yugen naturally thought of the replica he had just encountered of Bleu.
Could it be the same group of enemies?
Sagiri Shinkage had no evidence to prove Jack's innocence, but she was among the most ardent members of Jack's fan club, a fervent admirer, calling with intimacy "Master Atlas" since Jack was the Duel King. Now that Jack was in trouble, she naturally exerted every effort to clear Jack's name.
Of course, Sagiri was also aware of the gravity of the situation.
Jack's Wheel of Fortune was uniquely one-of-a-kind, a D-Wheel unmistakably his signature, universally known. And the Wheel of Fortune appeared in the footage.
Also, the Red Lotus Demon Dragon. Jack as the Dragon Sealer uniquely matched to this Dragon, no other person could wield it. The appearance of Jack's ace Monster was equally a crucial piece of evidence.
Due to such compelling evidence, the Public Security Maintenance Bureau had to act immediately, already arresting Jack from the residence of Yusei and others. Jack was now held in a nearby detention facility awaiting disposition.
Sagiri Shinkage only contacted Yugen after learning of Jack's arrest, attempting to plead with the officer to buy time for Jack, allowing her to arrange an investigation, striving to prove Jack's innocence.
Unfortunately, things had gone against her wishes.
Before she could plead effectively, another bad news arrived.
It came from a detention facility as an emergency communication. A security officer appeared in the control room's projection, hurriedly reporting: "N-No good, officer! Suspect Jack Atlas... has fled, whereabouts unknown!"
Sagiri Shinkage's mind went blank for a moment, nearly fainting before her eyes.