Inside a hospital area of the palace at Mobotropolis; Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Shade were visiting Antoine as he had a broken arm looked at. "So you got careless and a little too cocky during your sparring Ant? Well I guess I can relate since your best at training and I'm the best at saving the world and kicking bad guy butt!" Sonic told him as he and Tails had given him get well soon cards and Antoine glared at him.

"joke all you want Sonic but you can learn not to be cocky yourself; one day you could end up facing a foe that's more than your match." Antoine told him looking at a get well soon message from Sally on her phone and Sonic looked like he wasn't taking him seriously.

"There are always foes that could challenge even the greatest warrior; I still remember fighting for my life against Mogul and it took my father's sacrifice to banish him..." Knuckles put in and sighed at the reminder of his father.

"So weird; being out here and seeing how much Mobius has changed without the Empire... The Mobius that Knuckles decided was worth preserving over rebuilding the Empire..." Shade muttered looking out the window.

"It's a world that's worth fighting for Shade and thanks again for you and Knuckles for volunteering to be reserves in case something happens; you know with Ant in the hospital and Sal off to visit the Golden Hive Colony for the royal retreat or something..." Sonic told them and jumped as in front of him appeared Nicole. "Nicole; warn your main hedgehog before you decide to literally pop in..." Sonic complained as Nicole looked apologetic.

"Sorry Sonic but I was at the workspace trying to find a way to find Robotnik's lair when the scanners searching for the 7th Chaos Emerald found a signature and well... I already informed the King..." Niccole muttered as this got them in alert at the mention of the Emerald as King Elias looked serious as he entered.

"Casino Nights; proceed with caution as I hesitated before allowing this mission to go forward." Elias sighed in explanation as they took this in.

"Isn't that place run by the most dangerous crime lord on Mobius... Clutch?" Antoine gulped.

"But something happened recently that wrecked the place and I don't think Clutch will be able to put up much of a fight." Sonic said having heard the news and grinned as he got into a ready position along with Knuckles and Shade.

"Well... We would need to check it out; especially to make sure that Starline doesn't get to it first..." Tails brought up and Sonic was ready to go there.

"Just be careful; Clutch always has something up his sleeve and his reputation has shown that those that saw an opening to strike at him often regretted it." Elias warned them as the group then left to use Knuckles' craft to go to Casino Night. Elias then looked to Antoine and said "I do hope that you get well soon Antoine."

Antoine just saluted at the King.

Robotnik's lair and Starline was almost to the level of pull his hair out as he was once more trying to give a lecture to JJ to mentor him and help mould him into being as great as his father did but JJ kept ignoring him and just played his video games on his chair. "The great Doctor Robotnik created you to be his son and how could someone created from the DNA of the greatest and most magnificent genius in the history of Mobius turn out to be such an impudent rude lazy brat! I almost wish that Bean & Bark were here instead; at least they listened to instruction and actually wanted to help!" screamed Starline as JJ had a hand free and was using it to puppet Starline's speaking which only got him more infuriated.

Then the computer had an alert that there was a signature of the missing 7th Chaos Emerald; "Where is it... Oh, Casino Night!" Starline grinned as he saw where the signature was coming from on the map as JJ scoffed.

"Am I only to have to bail you out again as this falls flat on your face?" JJ asked as Starline glared at him.

"Just wait until your father sees what a disappointment you turned out to be! Just watched the screen and see as I claim the 7th Chaos Emerald to stop Sonic and his ilk from having all 7! I shall direct the Badnik army from here and I shall use the Emerald when claimed to..." Starline spoke but JJ got up and then left to the entrance of an underground bunker that Starline himself was never able to access. JJ kept going there and refused to say a word to it. "Oh Dr Robotnik... How heartbroken you must be to see what your child turned out to be..." sighed Starline as he then had the Badniks load up on crafts to be sent out. The stolen tech and resources from the last visit meant that they now had a bigger Badnik army built than what they had since Robotnik's defeat and arrest.

They must beat Sonic to Casino Night and he was confident that this would be more successful than the last trip there as the place would be in no shape to mount a proper defence.

In Knuckles' craft Tails was piloting as they were sitting down and saw the pop up screens showing the outside of the craft; "Looks like Starline pulled off all the stops..." Tails said as they saw the sky littered with Robotnik crafts.

"All the more to smash..." Knuckles said cracking his well knuckles and Sonic grinned at the fight going to commence as they saw Casino Night in view. "Huh... Are they meant to have this security..." Knuckles muttered as they looked stunned as several blasts came toward the crafts and destroyed them all effortlessly.

"...What..." Sonic asked and the craft got in close to Casino Night to see it just like new and fully operational. "What... Certainly doesn't look like that it got wrecked recently..." wondered Sonic as the craft got to the hangar and they got out to find Clutch there with guards. "What a welcome wagon..." Sonic said as Tails gulped but they got out ready to fight.

"Well if it isn't the famous Hero of Mobius himself Sonic and his friends; what an honour. Please come inside as welcomed guests..." smirked Clutch with a hand to let them be inside as he held his cane up. They were confused but prepared for anything.

"Clutch; we know that you have a Chaos Emerald and you should just hand it over before we take it as you don't want that target on your back! Starline and a whole lot of other villains are gonna come here when word gets out..." Sonic warned him as Clutch laughed.

"I don't own that Chaos Emerald per say; it belongs to my new business partner. Come and meet him." Clutch laughed as they were confused but decided to follow him inside and looked down to see that business was booming as usual.

They were uneasy and Clutch showed him to an office that read on a plague 'CO-OWNER'. "I must admit that I was hesitant to share my business empire with anyone but this individual... He turned out to be a real mogul..." Clutch said as he opened the door and motioned for them to come in.

They were stunned to see the massive office and at the massive desk was a just massive mammoth Mobian smirking as he was wearing a white suit. "Sonic the Hedgehog; I heard about you and how you have taken my role as protector of Mobius and Knuckles... It has been a really long time..." smirked the mammoth as they stared at him with Knuckles and Shade shocked beyond belief.

"Is that..." muttered Shade and Knuckles glared.

"I must say that Knuckles; I was never a fan of your father. All that time trapped in the Chaos Emerald being held back by Locke's spirit thanks to that little spell. But I must thank you for banishing him before it finally freed me..." stated Mogul looking down at the group of heroes.