Chapter 26: The Electric Death Match

08:03 AM (King Land Time), Friday August the 16th…

"… This is your manor, Count Elec?"

"Yes! I know that it's worn down, but… It was grand, Mr. Charles!"

"I won't object. I'm but the witness…"

"That stupid Brother! Must be up to nothing good!"

"Hence why you asked of me to be the witness of this duel…"

"I know it sounds like something out of an Alexandre Dumas novel, but…"

Count Elec and Charles walked up the hill towards the old manor.

Charles wasn't too surprised, and Count Elec was mistrustful of things.

"It's Magnet Man, sir. They will use some small trick!" Elec Man argued.

"I don't doubt it. One must be 100 steps ahead of the foe…"

"I guess that he brought Tesla as witness, too! Hardly a guarantee!"

"Sure. She might suddenly steal the PET and resume the duel herself…"

They climbed up the steps of the front door.

It was ajar, as if inviting them inside.

"Excuse me. I'll check if there's a trap…"

"Go ahead!"

Charles glued his back to the door that was shut.

"Dave…!"

"OK!"

Davis materialized and stood before the door.

He scanned its height from the top to the bottom of the frame.

He grabbed a rotten wooden piece and flung it inside.

Nothing happened.

He pushed the door slightly open, gluing his back to it.

He quickly drew his weapon and scanned the hall.

It was devoid of life.

"… Can't see anything odd even using IR or night vision mode…"

"Watch out for analog traps…"

"I know…"

He hovered over the ground and flew further inside.

He checked the stairs and other things.

"Clean!"

"OK!"

Both stepped inside and Count Elec shut the door.

"Look! The living's door is open…!"

He signaled a door further inside that was open.

"I'll scout. Wait a minute…"

"OK!"

Davis hovered towards the door and leant on the wall next to it.

He looked inside through the gap of the slightly open door.

"… It's empty…" He whispered.

"That fool…! Must want to make a dramatic entrance…!"

"But didn't you do it, too?"

"That's…"

He grumbled and scratched the back of his head.

"I was half-drunk, can't properly remember…"

"Alright… Let's go, then…"

"Sure! I'll show that fool that I'm not impressed with his antiques!"

Both stepped inside of the living room.

A dueling machine was set there.

Two thick wires extended outside through a partly open window.

"This sound… A portable fuel generator…" Davis deduced.

"Naturally. They stopped the electric supply ages ago…"

"Well. Where's our Magnetic Man?" Charles sighed.

A familiar laughter rang out.

"BROTHER!" Count Elec grumbled.

"You look more miserable with each passing day, Jack!"

"You don't say! Always being abused by Tesla!"

"That's her love for her father!"

"How convenient!"

"Says the man who married a Countess out of impulse!"

Count Elec grimaced.

"Enough preludes!"

A panel in the far wall opened and Gauss jumped out of it.

He was wearing his "lady" costume, eye mask included.

"I shall deal with you with grace and elegance!"

"Fine! Tell Tesla to come out!"

"Silly! As if she'd be here!"

"Whatever. Bring out your witness!"

"Delighted! Black Knight!"

"Alright. Was bored from waiting…"

"Well, well. The famed "Black Knight"…"

Nelaus (wearing his pilot outfit and helmet) walked into the room.

"I did notice footprints heading upstairs…" Davis recalled.

"We're here to ensure that nobody hinders this duel…"

"Fine. Same over here. Watch, don't intervene…"

He lazily grabbed a chair and sat there, crossing his arms.

"I'll warn you that I'm borrowing a Copy Roid to "be here"…"

"Naturally. Your employers aren't that careless…"

"Say what you want. I couldn't care less…"

"Fine. I'll keep my trap shut, then…"

Charles also grabbed a chair and sat there.

"I'll scout the manor. Least someone else lurks here…"

"Suit yourself, Dave…"

Davis warped out of the room.

Both brothers walked over to the machine.

"Are you ready to realize your misery, Jack?" Gauss mocked.

"I shoot those words back at you! Brother!" Count Elec hissed.

"Let's see who shall be favored by the goddess of fate…"

"Less nobleman pretenses!"

"Plug In! Magnet Man, Transmission!"

"Plug In! Elec Man, Transmission!"

Both Navis entered the machine.

Magnet Man was confident, Elec Man was tense.

"No little bugs will save your hide, fool…"

"I needn't rely on them!"

"Mag Balls!"

"Thunderbolt!"

Magnet Man shot his spheres.

Elec Man dodged and fired a thunderbolt.

"… Why did Mr. Clark bother to stick to this farce…?"

"Maybe he wants us to learn from those veterans…"

Nelaus mumbled and Isaac whispered to him.

"That witness also looks like he hates this farce…"

Charles was reading a manga volume and barely paying attention.

"Detective Conan… Volume 80! Must be a long-running series!"

Nelaus whistled in surprise.

"Sure. Next year will be its 20th anniversary…"

"Amazing that such series can go on for so long…"

"Human creativity knows no bounds!"

"Creativity… I should try to use it, too…"

"… This lacks passion!"

"You started it!"

Gauss was growing impatient, too.

Count Elec pointed an accusing finger at him.

"Fine! Let's pour passion!"

"How? With a French wine bottle?" Count Elec mocked.

"With the tradition! Switch: on!"

"What!?"

Two hatches in the ceiling opened.

Spherical devices with tendrils deployed.

"That's…!"

Charles looked up, surprised.

"What the heck is that?"

Nelaus was also surprised.

The devices ignited and zapped both men.

Gauss laughed and Count Elec roared.

"It's begun… Just like I feared!" Charles sighed.

"Nostalgic, isn't it? It'll soon have been 4 years since then!"

"Don't remind me of that shameful episode aboard your zeppelin!"

"It's your fault that Lord Wily's legacy was lost!"

"Your fault!"

"Go, Magnet Man! Crush them like the ants that they are!"

"Go, Elec Man! Show them who's the real "legacy" of Lord Wily!"

"Mag Missiles! Mag Balls!"

"Thunderbolt! Lightning Blaze!"

Both gained further fighting spirit.

Magnet Man shot his attacks and flew towards the right.

Elec Man did the same, heading in the opposite direction.

"More! More! MOOOOREEEE!"

"The real inheritor of this bloodline won't yield! MORE!"

The devices zapped them for a longer period.

"… At this rate, both will end up in the hospital…"

Charles closed the book and pocketed it, sighing.

"Don't intervene! My pride is at stake!"

"Same!"

"… Then why bother call for witnesses…"

Nelaus sighed, annoyed.

"It's tradition!" Gauss laughed.

"Guess that Cloud Man was meant to be it, but…" Isaac guessed.

"He's under "house arrest" due to that prank. That moron!"

"Charles. Trouble…" Davis reported.

"What. A thief?" Charles sighed.

"No. Bright Man…"

"Bright Man? Wasn't he deleted the other day?"

"It's a copy without a mind…"

"And what it's doing?"

"Probably means to alter the output of those things…"

"To a deadly voltage?"

"Exactly…"

"Then take it out…"

"That's the issue. Spark Man is also here…"

"Lovely. Regal's handiworks?"

"Who else? Cloud Man doesn't benefit, and he's under arrest…"

"Fine. I'll go distract Spark Man. Bust the little shining fly…"

"OK…"

Charles lazily walked out of the room.

Nelaus looked at him leaving and rubbed his chin.

"Something is amiss…"

"Looks like Regal has sent pawns to hinder…" Isaac hushed.

"Naturally… The fool never has enough!"

"More, more, more!"

"Sir! The system has been hacked!" Magnet Man warned.

"What!?"

"This odd signature… The "Darkloids"?!" Elec Man gasped.

"God damn it!" Count Elec hissed.

"Sorry to spoil your fun, gentlemen…"

Regal's voice echoed.

"You're Regal!" Gauss growled.

"The boss of Nebula!?" Count Elec growled.

"You never have enough, do you?" Nelaus complained.

"Blame Clark for underestimating me…"

"Nobody is perfect. Not even you!"

"Matters little…"

Two explosions rang upstairs.

"Well? Did you find Lieutenant Pliskin, young Jack?"

"Again? I don't have time for your parodies!"

"You sound like Cloud Man, even!"

Regal suddenly became silent.

"Guess that I hit a sensible point…" Nelaus sighed.

"Be careful. Such types come back with a vengeance…"

Gunfire rang outside of the room.

"Father! Regal was trying to set fire to the generator!"

"It was a good idea to have you keep watch over it!"

"Stop right there, Regal!" Charles roared.

"I'll keep watch of the machine. Go!" Davis rallied.

"What's happening there!? Regal appeared!?"

"Yes, sir! Tried to kill these two by overloading the machine!"

"Lovely! Has become a stalker!"

"I'll thank you for getting rid of that eyesore, though…"

"I knew it! You spurred them to hit us to save you the hassle!"

"But isn't that proof that you're weak?" Nelaus challenged.

"Really…"

"Because not even you could take them out!"

"I could. But it'd take forever…"

"You can say anything after the facts!"

"… Shit. The fool gave me the slip!" Charles growled.

He opened the window and jumped inside the room.

"Wait. Maybe he's set up something in the machine, too!?"

He opened the cover of the generator section.

"By all the… There's a heap of SEMTEX and a detonator!"

"What!? When!?" Gauss gasped.

"Did you build it yourself?" Charles sighed.

"No…"

"Regal sniffed your intentions and built it himself…"

"Must've been wiretapping us!" Tesla fumed.

"What an insidious man!"

"I feel praised…"

"Pull out before the fool tries to hack us again!"

The "Copy Roid" reverted to normal and the core detonated.

"Found Regal's toy, too!" Tesla reported.

"… That fool ruined my mood!"

"Same!"

"… Why did I think of this farce, anyway…?"

"You asked your counselor for something to motivate you, sir…"

"Counselor? Which?"

"Dr. Legar…"

"Legar!? That's an anagram of Regal!" Gauss growled.

"Devil!" Magnet Man gasped.

"Sent you a fake mail to spur you into doing this…"

"And meant to take us out in one blow!? What a weasel!"

"… I called our pals. They're checking things, too…"

Davis joined Charles and reported to him.

"Fine. Let's call a bomb disposal thing to handle this beast…"

"Jack! I'll settle the score! Remember it!"

"Same over here! Brother!"

"… These two will never grow up!"

15:39 PM (Japan Time)…

"… What a stupid farce, man!"

"I know, right?"

"That geezer is growing stupider by the year…"

"Agreed…"

"Needs a lesson…"

Hinoken, Iroaya, Maha and Wily listened to Count Elec's tale.

He was talking to them from Hinoken's PET.

"The fool hasn't grown stronger by a single bit!" Elec Man sighed.

"What a letdown!" Fire Man grumbled.

"Sure…" Colored Man sighed.

"What nonsense…" Magic Man sighed.

"Well, Miyabi?" Wily called out.

"No traces of sabotage…"

Miyabi joined them, coming from the kitchen.

"Fine. But we must keep our eyes open…"

"Agreed…"

"I also scoured the area but found nothing…" Shadow Man added.

"Not even wiretaps?"

"No. My sensors were undisturbed, too…"

"I guess that his real aim is elsewhere, then…"

"What a fool I was… Spurring that man's ambitious nature…"

Wily shook his head, disappointed in himself.

"What does it take to stop that fool?"

15:45 PM (Japan Time)…

"… It's been a while since you last came here, Mr. Zataki…"

"Yes. I gathered information and wanted to share it with everyone…"

"We're all ears…"

"It's about the "Black Knight" tandem…"

"We lacked data on them, true. What is it about?"

Zataki had come to a Net Police meeting.

Netto, Raika, Enzan, Meijin, Misaki, Kifune and Manabe were present.

"New agents of Anaya and Izono… Codenames "Nelaus" and "Isaac"…"

"I see. Any special traits?"

"Unlike previous agents, this one specializes in Net Battling…"

"And has special abilities which can turn the tables around…"

"You fought them already?" Kifune asked.

"Yes. A brief scuffle… But was enough to assess their skills…"

"We wanted to compile and analyze the data before reporting, too…"

"Fair…"

"The only issue is that I lack data on the face of Nelaus…"

"Clark is being careful about hiding it, then…"

"Yes. All visual data that I have is of him wearing a pilot's helmet…"

"He might be walking across the city, and we couldn't tell…"

"Yes. However, he's still undergoing training…"

"But his abilities appear during real battles, making him unpredictable…"

"That could be cumbersome…" Blues admitted.

"Expect the unexpected…" Search Man summed up.

"Clark is finally becoming serious…" Prism Man concluded.

"Actually… Anaya and Izono. Clark didn't know of this beforehand…"

"Interesting. Why would that be?"

"He was being trained in secret as someone to become an executive…"

"And telling him too early would make Clark feel a threat on him…"

"Besides. He was on an accident and spent years healing from it…"

"Hence why he's become active so recently…"

"From what I can infer, it was on August the 1st…"

"But Regal sniffed out their existence beforehand…"

"There probably was a system to warn Anaya of his activation…"

"And Regal intercepted those transmissions…"

"Apart from Net Battling, he's a skilled pilot of a stealth fighter…"

"That could be worrisome. Could attack without being detected…"

"Insofar, they're saving him as a defense from real world attackers…"

"Such as Regal…"

"I confirm that Shade Man was lured to attack their hideout…"

"Shade Man… What became of them?"

"Deleted by Twilight himself…"

"Alright. I guess that we have one less factor to worry about…"

"Clark will probably hole up, fearing a similar attack again…"

"And use their agents to test our skills?"

"Possibly…"

"Anything else?"

"Charles told me that he tried a stunt over at King Land…"

"Is that so?"

"He's compiling the report. He'll send it within today…"

"Understood. We shall wait for it, then…"

"As for Regal… I tried several leads, but they were all dead ends…"

"No wonder. Must've been preparing this for years…"

"We confirm that Laser Man is back, though…"

"To begin with, it was ambiguous whether he was beaten or not…"

"That's how he communicated with outside of the prison…"

"Taking profit that we forgot about it…"

"Exactly. Was already using Clark's stunt on his favor…"

"We knew that he wasn't a man to take lightly, but…"

"He was bolder than expected…"

"What's done is done. No point in arguing about it…"

"Yes, ma'am…"

"Although… I think that Nelaus may be blonde…"

"Why is that?"

"Regal was calling him "young Jack"…"

"That's not his real name?"

"No. Because he then brought up "Lieutenant Pliskin"…"

"Jack and Pliskin…? That Regal…!" Meijin grumbled.

"What. More game references?" Misaki deduced.

"Yes. A game in which the main character is a blonde young man…"

"And he's named Jack…"

"Exactly!"

"Might be a lead…"

"Of course, since it's Regal, he might be trying to mislead us…"

"I am aware. But at least it might help form an idea…"

Meijin crossed his arms, as if trying to think about it.

"Is something the matter?" Kifune asked.

"Sorry, sir. Was trying to read their intents through correlation…"

"Alright. Tell us if you can find something…"

"Yes, sir. Any small lead is of help…"

"I have an idea of how to lure out Anaya, though…"

"What is it?"

"Oozono told me that she's trying to catch her…"

"I see. Fake a report and pretend that they caught her…"

"But after Regal's attack, they'll probably be wary…"

"Better wait some days before trying it…"

"Maybe stir up her impatience and ambition…"

"It could work, but wouldn't Izono or Clark try to stop her?"

"True. But maybe it can create a rift amongst them…"

"And weaken their unison…"

"Has always been frail, anyway…"

"Noted. Please keep it a secret to everyone else!"

"Roger, ma'am!"

"We're making steps forward. Patience is the key!"

"Roger, sir!"

"We must persist!"