Chapter 1247: Suspect Jack Atlas

Sector Security – Main Control Room.

On the huge floating projection screen, footage flickered in the darkness.

It showed a high-speed track high above the city, with neon lights streaking into flowing bands of color in the night. Two Duel Runners were racing at astonishing speeds; even in the recording, the roar of their engines was clearly audible.

One Duel Runner was pure white, its metal-rimmed wheels gleaming under the lights.

The "Phoenix Whirlwind"—the signature vehicle of the former King, Jack Atlas.

"This is last night’s surveillance footage," the technician quickly pulled up the data. "Location: East District high-speed loop. Time: approximately 2:15 AM."

Kira stood in front of the screen with his arms crossed, his gaze locked on the footage.

In the video, Jack’s Duel Runner cut through the curves with near-perfect arcs, while the other black Duel Runner clung tightly behind. From the footage, it was clear the two were engaged in a Turbo Duel.

"Who’s driving the other Duel Runner?" Kira asked.

"Seems to be another WRGP participant, but that’s not important," Mina said. "Let’s look directly at the outcome of this duel."

The technician fast-forwarded to the end of the duel.

The scene on the floating projection screen suddenly grew intense.

Jack Atlas’s manic laughter nearly pierced through the recording as he raised his arm high. His Duel Disk erupted with crimson light—"Crush them! ’Red Dragon Archfiend’—direct attack!!"

In an instant, crimson flames exploded in the night sky!

The massive demon dragon spread its wings that blotted out the heavens, molten-lava-like patterns flowing between its scales. It roared as it dove downward, its claws wrapped in high-temperature infernal flames, striking straight at the driver of the black Duel Runner!

"Ugh—!"

What felt like solid flames burst from beneath Red Dragon Archfiend’s claws and slammed into the Duel Runner.

The black Duel Runner shook violently, losing balance at high speed. Its tires scraped the track, sending out blinding sparks.

The opponent’s Life Points hit zero. Steam—indicating the onboard perpetual motion engine had stalled—burst from the front of the black Duel Runner as it began to decelerate sharply. But Jack only laughed wildly, showing no intention of holding back.

"It’s not over yet!"

He twisted the throttle hard. The "Phoenix Whirlwind’s" engine roared like a beast as the white vehicle slammed sideways into its opponent like a battle axe!

"Bang—!!"

Amid the violent metallic crash, the black Duel Runner completely lost control, tumbling and smashing into the guardrail!

The driver was flung out, rolling across the track several times before slamming heavily into the barrier wall and lying motionless.

Jack braked his Duel Runner, glanced back, and the corners of his mouth curled into an icy arc.

"Hmph. Pathetic."

—Back in the main control room, the air felt almost frozen.

Kira raised an eyebrow.

"Wow, the former King really has a fiery temper," Kira said. "This probably goes beyond the scope of a normal duel, doesn’t it?"

At that moment, Mina hurriedly spoke up: "Director, that’s what I wanted to say. The person in this footage... I don’t think it’s Jack!"

Kira: "Oh?"

"Something’s off," Mina’s voice was tenser than usual. "Jack Atlas isn’t that kind of person."

Kira shifted his gaze from the screen to her, studying the beautiful Secretary with amusement. "The footage doesn’t lie. He deliberately rammed his opponent—that’s a fact."

"But Jack has no motive to do something like that!" Mina stepped forward and pulled up Jack’s recent activity records. "Ever since he arrived in New Domino City, I’ve been by his side. I know Jack. He values the honor of dueling more than anyone. Such despicable methods don’t match his character at all."

She quickly swiped through the data panel, her fingertips leaving blue trails in the air. "Also, look—on the afternoon of this duel, the 5D’s team that Jack is part of had just finished a WRGP preliminary match. He should have been resting..."

Kira: "So, have you obtained statements from the other members of Team 5D’s? Does he have an alibi?"

"Well..." Mina looked away. "I asked, but they said after the match Jack stayed alone the whole time. No one saw him..."

Kira spread his hands. "Then there’s no evidence, right? So, Investigator Mina, are you saying you want to declare Jack innocent based solely on your personal preference?"

Mina’s face reddened. She bit her lip and stared at the floor, momentarily speechless.

The main control room fell into brief silence. The technicians exchanged glances, none daring to interrupt.

Kira found her reaction quite interesting. Of course he knew the perpetrator in the video wasn’t the real Jack. He vaguely recalled a similar plot in the anime—a robot that copied Jack’s personality and deck, yet was somehow even stronger than the real Jack. It impersonated him, caused trouble everywhere, and let Jack take the fall and get arrested.

The issue was that in the anime, it had been part of the Three Pure Nobles of Iliaster’s scheme—they had used Z-ONE’s technology to create the Jack copy. But now Kira and Z-ONE were on the same side, and he was the new Emperor of Iliaster. If this fake Jack was also made by Iliaster like in the original story, how could he, the Emperor, not know about it?

Thus, Kira naturally connected it to the Breo copy he had just encountered.

Could it be the same group of enemies?

Although Mina had no concrete proof of Jack’s innocence, she was a devoted member of Jack’s fan club—a hardcore fan who had called him "Lord Atlas" affectionately ever since he was Duel King. Now that Jack was in trouble, she was doing everything in her power to clear his name.

Of course, Mina also understood the severity of the situation.

Jack’s Phoenix Whirlwind was a one-of-a-kind Duel Runner in the entire world, practically his personal symbol—everyone knew that. And the footage clearly showed that very Phoenix Whirlwind.

The same went for Red Dragon Archfiend. As the signature dragon of the Dragon Emperor, no one else could wield it.

The appearance of Jack’s ace monster in the video was equally decisive evidence.

Because of such strong evidence, the Sector Security had no choice but to act immediately. Jack had already been arrested from the residence of Yusei and the others and was now being held in a nearby detention center aZ-ONEting processing.

Mina Shad only contacted Kira urgently after learning of Jack’s arrest, hoping to plead with the Director to buy time so she could arrange an investigation and try to prove Jack’s innocence.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.

Before she could successfully plead her case, another piece of bad news arrived.

It was an emergency communication from the detention center.

A security officer appeared on the main control room projection, speaking hurriedly: "N-not good, Director! The suspect Jack Atlas... has escaped custody and fled. His whereabouts are unknown!"

Mina felt her mind explode with a roar. She nearly blacked out on the spot.