Sirens flashed red against the polished glass of Aurora Heights. Jackim had just finished a call with Kelvin when a knock thundered against the door—heavy, official, impatient.
"Open up! Police!"
He froze. The words cut through the air like blades. For a moment he wondered if this was another prank by The Wheel. The System's interface blinked across his vision:
⚠ System alert: Host is being targeted. Evidence has been fabricated.
Immediate counter-protocol ready: Lawyer Mode (Trial).
He inhaled once, slow and calm, before unlocking the door. Four officers entered in dark blue uniforms, their expressions stone-cold.
"Jackim Ochieng?" the lead officer asked.
"Yes."
"You're under arrest for suspicion of financial fraud and digital money laundering. You have the right to remain silent—"
Kelvin's voice came through the phone speaker. "Jack! Don't say anything! It's The Wheel—"
The officer cut the call, slid the phone into an evidence bag, and cuffed him. Jackim didn't resist. His eyes stayed level, unreadable.
The walls were gray, the air smelled of paper and stale coffee. Two detectives sat opposite him, files stacked high.
Detective Rono flipped through pages. "Mr. Ochieng, bank transfers exceeding ten million dollars were traced to your name. Care to explain how a student manages that?"
Jackim smiled faintly. "Ever heard of good investment?"
Rono's partner, a younger officer named Nyagah, scoffed. "Don't play smart. These accounts lead to shell companies registered under aliases connected to The Wheel Organization."
Jackim leaned forward, the steel cuffs clinking softly. "Then maybe you should arrest them instead of me."
Nyagah slammed a photo on the table—screenshots of fake receipts, forged signatures, and a doctored selfie showing Jackim shaking hands with a known money-launderer.
The System's voice hummed silently in his mind:
Evidence falsified. Origin: server node W-07 (Wheel Database).
Counter-evidence compiling… 45% complete.
He exhaled slowly. "You'll want to check metadata on those images," he said coolly. "The timestamps were manipulated."
Rono frowned. "How would you know that?"
Jackim met his gaze. "Because I built part of the software that detects it."
A sudden data pulse rippled through his vision; words scrolled like holographic ink:
Lawyer Mode (Level 1): Uploading legal database—complete.
Host now possesses advanced knowledge of criminal procedure, evidence law, and digital forensics.
A subtle ache throbbed behind his eyes as knowledge poured in—case citations, statutes, courtroom etiquette. When the upload stopped, his posture shifted.
"Officers," he said evenly, "under Section 44 of the Data Protection Act, any evidence acquired through illegal digital manipulation is inadmissible. I suggest you verify chain of custody before continuing this interrogation."
The detectives exchanged confused looks.
Rono muttered, "Get him a lawyer. If he wants to play smart, let him do it in court."
Two days later, cameras crowded the courthouse steps. Reporters shouted questions:
"Jackim! Did you embezzle student funds?"
"Is The Wheel paying you?"
"Are the rumors true—you hacked bank systems?"
He ignored them. Inside, the marble halls echoed with murmurs. Students from Sue City University filled the benches, curious to see the once-poor boy now in handcuffs. Lina was among them, her expression torn between fear and faith.
When the judge entered, everyone rose.
"Case number 1132—State versus Jackim Ochieng."
Jackim's assigned defense lawyer whispered nervously, "Just answer when spoken to. Don't argue."
Jackim shook his head. "I'll handle it."
The lawyer blinked, startled, but sat down.
Prosecutor Okoth strutted to the front. "Your Honor, the State charges the defendant with laundering over ten million dollars through offshore accounts. We have bank records, transaction IDs, and photographic evidence linking him to known members of The Wheel."
The crowd gasped.
Jackim stood. "Permission to address the court."
The judge raised an eyebrow. "Are you representing yourself?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
The courtroom whispered in disbelief.
"Granted," the judge said. "Proceed."
Jackim adjusted his collar, face calm. "The prosecution's case relies on forged data. The metadata of each exhibit shows inconsistencies—timezone mismatches, duplicate hash values, and IP traces leading not to my devices, but to a cluster belonging to The Wheel's data farm."
Okoth sneered. "That's convenient. Do you have proof?"
Jackim smiled faintly. "I do."
He lifted a small drive from his pocket—the System had synthesized it overnight—and handed it to the bailiff.
"Contained here is a verified digital trail compiled through open-source forensic tools. It reveals the real perpetrator: an individual named Bryan Chesire—student, finance major, associate of The Wheel."
Gasps filled the courtroom.
Okoth tried to object, but the judge gestured for silence. "Let the evidence be reviewed."
The technicians plugged in the drive. On the courtroom screen, logs scrolled showing that Bryan had remotely accessed Jackim's student account to plant documents.
The judge's expression hardened.
"Mr. Okoth?"
The prosecutor hesitated. "I… I need time to verify this data."
"You'll have it," the judge replied. "Meanwhile, I see no probable cause to detain the defendant."
Gavel struck wood. "Case temporarily dismissed pending further verification."
Flashbulbs exploded as Jackim stepped out, free at last. Kelvin rushed forward. "Bro! You killed it in there! You sounded like a top lawyer!"
Jackim chuckled. "The System helps."
System Reward: $2 million compensation + Skill Upgrade (Lawyer Mode Lv. 2).
He glanced at the reward message and smiled inwardly.
Lina approached, hesitant. "I… I knew you didn't do it."
"Thanks," he said softly. "But this isn't over. The Wheel just played their first card."
Melissa texted him right then: Be careful. Someone from The Wheel asked about you last night.
He typed back: Let them come.
That evening, in a penthouse overlooking Sue City, five people sat around a mahogany table. A holographic projection of Jackim's court performance played silently.
An older man in a silver suit, the group's leader, folded his arms. "He beat a full setup in forty-eight hours. The System is real."
A woman with scarlet nails smirked. "Shall we remove him quietly?"
The leader shook his head. "No. Let's invite him. If he refuses, then we erase him."
The room fell silent except for the hum of city traffic below.
Back at Aurora Heights
Jackim stood on the balcony, looking down at the city lights. His phone buzzed—a new System notification:
⚙ New Quest: Expose The Wheel's Core.
Reward: Hidden Skill + Company Acquisition Token.
Time limit: 30 days.
He exhaled slowly, watching headlights crawl like fireflies along the highway.
Kelvin stepped beside him. "You're really not scared, huh?"
"Fear's a waste of time," Jackim said. "They framed me once. Next time, I'll own them."
The city breeze lifted the hem of his coat as he turned toward the skyline. Somewhere out there, The Wheel was watching.
He smiled faintly. "Let them spin. I'm the one holding the axle now."
System Log: Case Closed.
Reputation + 500.
Influence Level Up.
Path Unlocked—The Underground Arena.
Jackim finished his coffee, the taste of victory sharp and steady. The night was young, and the game had just shifted.