As the heroes walked down the road toward the Gilded 7 Casino, a woman walked right past them, Layton looking at her with a stunned face.

Flashback

In a restaurant, a younger Layton sat at a dinner table with a woman who resembled the one who passed him.

"So, what is it you're wanting to tell me Hershel?" She asked.

"Well, if I were to get the teaching job, then you and I could…" Layton said blushing. "I'll just tell you later."

"Come on, Hershel! Don't change the subject on me!" She said laughing as Layton got back to his dinner.

End flashback.

"Professor? Are you feeling alright?" Sci-Twi asked.

"Yes. Just had a bit of a flashback." Layton said recovering.

"That girl… that's Claire, isn't she?" Naoto asked.

"I suppose….no. It's impossible." Layton said.

"I've read her file." Naoto said. "You and her use to date before that incident at the Polydimensional labs."

"Yes. And the last thing she gave me, is what you see on top of my head." Layton said.

"I always wondered how that top hat came to there." Jexi said.

"Yes. I will continue wearing it no matter what." Layton said. "Now come, we mustn't linger." Layton said.

The group continued until seeing the casino where it looked like any average casino.

"Wow. Even in the future gambling doesnt change, right?" Jexi said before seeing Vector at a table with Chopper. "I'm betting this reindeer on lucky number 7." Vector said.

"Hold on." Sugarcoat sad. "To get the Jackpot, you have to know the pattern of the numbers. Let's think about this."

"Alright, we'll do it your way." Vector said. "Okay, the Roulette wheel is set to always stop at certain red or black numbers. If it always does that, then… got it! Put us down for 13!"

The wheel spun as the ball inside clacked around. As it stopped, it slammed right on 13, just as Vector and Sugarcoat predicted.

"Ack! But how is that possible? The House always Wins!" The dealer said.

"Well the house just got schooled. Now pay up!" Vector said holding a hand out.

"Fine. 120 thousand Pounds, as betted. And you keep the Reindeer." The dealer said.

"Ha! I knew I made the right choice betting the reindeer." Vector said.

"Ah. Same old Vector." Said a new voice. The group looked forward to see a man wearing clothes similar to Luke's.

"Wow. So that's future Luke. Wow. Not a bad look." Indigo said.

"I thank you a lot Indigo. It is a pleasure to see all of you once more. But, I'm afraid I cannot reveal anything as of yet." Future Luke said.

"Why not? We came as instructed." Levy said.

"Not until I confirm that this is the geniune Professor Layton. For all I know, this could be Don Paolo in disguise." Future Luke said.

"Very well. Just how can I verify my identity?" Layton asked.

"Simple. Professor, I challenge you to a battle of wits." Future Luke said pointing his finger at the Professor.

Future Luke then placed four cards on the table, all faced down.

"Now here are my conditions." Future Luke said. "A heart is next to a diamond. A club is not next to a spade. A heart is to the immediate right of a club. Find the Spade."

"Ah. A very simple puzzle." Layton said pointing to the far right where the card was revealed to be a spade. "Now I'll give you one." Layton said laying out four cards face down. "A club lies directly to the right of a heart. A diamond is on the far right or far left and has a heart next to it. Finally, a club is also the far left or far right card. Find the Spade."

"Hmm. Clever professor, but there is no spade." Future Luke said as the cards were flipped to reveal two hearts, a club and a diamond. "You never said each card had to be one of each suit." Layton said.

"There's no doubt that you are my old mentor. Now we can talk, but not here." Future Luke said leading them back to a large storage space.

"Okay, talk. What's going on with this crazy future?" Ranma asked.

"Easy. After the Prime Minister vanished, parliament went into chaos and turmoil without its competent leader. That's when a certain person we all know stepped in and took over." Future Luke said. "That would be you, Professor."

"What? That's impossible!" Luke said.

"Its true. After what happened, Dr. Stahngun himself sought asylum with the Professor. He grew distant after this and began to obsess over time travel. Using his intellect, he gained control over all the underground crime families as well as the government. Thus creating his new government as well as his enforcers, the Family." Future Luke said.

"So the Future Layton is behind all of this huh? Then all we gotta do is hit his hideout and beat the crap out of him!" Natsu said.

"His home base is in the towering Pagoda in Chinatown." Future Luke said.

"I see, but before we can do that, I would like to return to the present. There's something I need to check into." Layton said.

"Very well, I'll take you back over there as quickly as possible." Future Luke said as they left the storage room, only to be met by goons in mafia like attire as well as some of Flux's own troops.

"Don't let em escape!" The five main gangsters said as the grunts began firing their machine guns. The bullets knocking off parts from the slot machines. Layton and Future Luke then got to work assembling a Slot Machine gun. Loading coins into one end, they began flying, hitting the grunts as well as some of the mob bosses.

"We can't win this fight!" The lead one said before a coin hit him. "Fall back, boys! Fall back!"

"Well, that was pretty good. We really showed them." Luke said.

"You didn't help at all." Sugarcoat said.

"Hey! He's me. Which mean I get some credit for assistance." Luke said proudly.

"Well, that's one way of putting it." Layton said.