"Your plan will not succeed," the elder in the center said coldly, looking down at Roger, who wore a smug expression.
"Even if you can control this place, what then? The lifeline of this city, the various factories and banks, are guarded by separate Duelist Armies. The Security you control has no way to instantly incapacitate all of them. And once they learn of your actions and rush to provide support, do you think your subordinates alone can stop them?"
"Of course, we can't," Roger readily admitted. "But why would I fight them?"
"As long as you five are in my hands, they wouldn't dare act rashly. Besides, those armies will soon have their hands full," Roger said with a sinister smile, opening the large screen in front of the five elders. On the screen was a replay of the duel between Aster Phoenix and Yuya. "This man is the Commander of the Fusion Dimension Army, Aster Phoenix. Though I don't know why he's here, I don't need to explain what his presence signifies, do I? After all, that man named Reiji Akaba must have told you many times. The army you rely on should first think about how to resist the Fusion Dimension's attack."
"By the way, where's Reiji Akaba?" Roger asked with a frown, scanning his surroundings after mentioning the name. He didn't see the bespectacled, scarf-wearing man who was always with his younger brother.
"He left an hour ago. He must have already anticipated your scheme," said the elder on the far right. "He'll probably bring his Lancers to support us soon. I wonder if the Security Officers under your command can stop this group of elites?"
Roger's expression subtly changed upon hearing this, but he still forced himself to retort, "Is that so? But as far as I know, your negotiations broke down, didn't they? Why would he help you?"
"It's just minor issues. At worst, we'll pay a small price and earn a bit less in the upcoming dimensional war. But without us, his people alone can't confront the Fusion Dimension head-on," the leading elder said confidently. In his view, Reiji Akaba had no choice. The only reason they hadn't reached an agreement before was that their demands were too high, but now, in a crisis, they didn't mind conceding some interests.
So, what was Reiji Akaba doing now?
After Yūga Hōzumi, Kiryu, Serena, and the others drove their D-Wheels out of the main entrance of the Underground Labor Facility, they hadn't gone far when they saw Reiji Akaba waiting by the roadside with his younger brother.
"You're five minutes later than I expected," Reiji Akaba said after the three D-Wheels stopped and he checked his watch.
"My apologies. Things happened suddenly, and it took a little time to gather the comrades who were scattered throughout the facility," Kiryu said.
"If we're in a hurry, let's cut the chatter and go. If that guy Aster Phoenix has appeared, then the Obelisk Force could show up here at any moment. We must control this city before they arrive," Yūga Hōzumi said, cutting off their pleasantries without ceremony.
The five elders mistakenly believed that Reiji Akaba, who controlled the LDS group with its power to influence the entire Standard Dimension, was a capitalist just like them, and that their differences were merely a matter of conflicting interests.
However, they overlooked Reiji Akaba's other identity: one of the top Duelists in the entire world. In this world, even capital had to serve one's dueling addiction; the classic example being that company president who loved jumping from airplanes. Reiji Akaba was no different. Operating LDS was merely a means for him to metaphorically stab his old father with Frostmourne. The greed of those pure capitalists, the five elders, had completely worn out his patience.
...
When Yūga Hōzumi and his group arrived at the TV Station, Shinji Weber and his people had already successfully set up in various corners of Neo Domino City, just waiting for Kiryu to declare war and for everyone to respond.
The TV Station's guards naturally couldn't stop Yūga Hōzumi and the others. Soon, control of the station fell into the hands of the Revolutionary Army.
Kiryu stood before the door to the news studio at the Neo Domino City TV station, ready to push it open.
"Have you memorized the speech, our future governor?" Yūga Hōzumi asked before Kiryu entered.
"Of course." Kiryu nodded and looked at Yūga Hōzumi. "Sometimes, I'm truly glad I met a comrade like you. I couldn't deliver a speech like this on my own."
It was no wonder Kiryu said that. The pre-war speech Yūga Hōzumi had prepared for him combined everything he had learned in his past life's language arts and political science classes, fusing the ideological essence of several great figures. In this world of dueling, it was tantamount to a nuclear bomb.
"Alright, go light the first fire, together with the will of the Revolutionary Army's predecessors," Yūga Hōzumi said with a smile to Kiryu, then turned to leave. "As for those who want to rush over and extinguish this flame, leave them to me."
Kiryu watched Yūga Hōzumi leave, then smiled slightly and pushed open the door to the studio. Just as would be written in Neo Domino City's history textbooks years later, behind that door lay a new world.
Before long, Kiryu's figure appeared on all illuminated screens across Neo Domino City.
Many people recognized Kiryu; after all, the title of "the most dangerous wanted criminal of the decade" certainly carried some weight.
"Greetings, citizens of Neo Domino City," Kiryu said from the screen.
"Many of you probably know me, considering my picture has been on Security's wanted list for almost six years now."
"I've heard many rumors about me committing all sorts of evil deeds and killing countless people. However, I can swear on my duelist's soul that in my entire life, I have only killed one person: a scum of a Security Officer who abused his position to defile a commoner's daughter."
"There's really no need to bring up that story. But why did I become the most dangerous criminal in history?" Kiryu's tone shifted. "The reason is simple: my identity. First, allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Kiryu Kyosuke, the 17th Leader of the Neo Domino City Revolutionary Army."
The commotion Kiryu caused was not small. Soon, the five elders in the Municipal Building, as well as Roger, all received the news.
The expressions of everyone present changed drastically.
Soon, the large screen in front of them switched to the live broadcast, showing Kiryu's impassioned speech.
"My brothers and sisters, my fellow commoners! It's not the jobs provided by The Top Echelons that feed us; they are merely vampires clinging to us, sucking out our surplus value!"
"Think carefully: has your hard work made your lives any better?"
...
(end of chapter)