Chapter 126 – Preparation

"Get ready, Roland... We've got a hell lot of work to do."

Alexander pushed himself away from the breakfast table, already mentally running through everything that needed to happen. His mind was moving faster than his body could keep up with.

He had barely taken a step when Roland's voice stopped him, "Master Alexander."

Alexander turned and noticed that Roland was still sitting at the table, watching him carefully, so he asked, "What?"

Roland remained seated, looking at him with the same calm expression he always wore when he was about to point out something Alexander had overlooked, then he said, "Before you begin running around Los Angeles, perhaps you should sit down and think."

Alexander frowned. "We don't have time to sit around."

"We have several hours before the verdict," Roland reminded him. "That is precisely why we should use them properly."

Alexander opened his mouth to respond, but Roland continued, "You cannot simply walk into the street and tell everyone that a riot is about to happen."

"I know that."

"Do you?"

Alexander's expression tightened, but Roland remained calm as he said, "Even if you are correct, what evidence can you provide? How many people would believe you? How many would ask questions you cannot answer? And how much time would you waste trying to convince people who have no reason to trust your prediction?"

Alexander stared at him and for several seconds, irritation battled against reason, then he let out a sigh and slowly sat back down before admitting, "...You're right."

Roland smiled faintly and said, "I usually am."

Alexander gave him a look. "Don't push it."

Then Alexander leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment to think, 'I can't stop thousands of people from becoming angry, from breaking a window, starting a fight, throwing a bottle, or setting something on fire. I can't control how the police will respond. I can't prevent every protest. And I certainly can't guarantee that nobody will commit acts of violence and protect every single person in Los Angeles. Trying to stop the entire riot is impossible, but perhaps that isn't what I need to do.'

Alexander opened his eyes as he realised, 'I don't need to prevent the unrest. I need to reduce the damage as much as possible.'

That new understanding changed everything, and so instead of asking himself how he could stop the riots, Alexander began thinking about what he could actually accomplish before they started. 'So what should I do... I can get vulnerable people away from dangerous areas. Protect employees. Prepare shelters. Stock medical supplies. Secure important facilities. Make sure people have somewhere safe to go. Provide transportation. Establish communication...'

The more he thought about it, the clearer the answer became and then Alexander realised something else: that his greatest advantage in this situation wasn't his supernatural abilities; it wasn't Duel Monsters, it wasn't even his knowledge of the future; it was his connections.

His father. Industrial Illusions. Roxxon. Promethean Academy. His friends. Blade. Hannibal King. People who could accomplish things that Alexander himself couldn't.

At that point, Alexander focused back on the present and said, "Roland."

"Yes?"

"Get my father's emergency number."

Roland's expression immediately became serious as he asked, "The private one?"

"Yes."

Roland reached into his jacket and pulled out the small notebook he carried with him while Alexander walked toward the landline telephone.

Roland flipped through the pages. "Ready?"

"Go ahead."

Roland dictated the number as Alexander picked up the receiver and dialled.

The phone rang.

Once. Twice. Then someone answered.

"Alexander?"

It was his father's voice.

"Hey, Dad."

"What's wrong?"

Alexander almost smiled because there was no greeting or small talk; that's because his father knew exactly what the emergency number meant, so he said, "We have a serious problem."

Alexander quickly explained everything as he kept his voice calm and concise.

The Rodney King trial, the seventh day of deliberations, and based on the public information Alexander had gathered on the trial, he believed the four officers would likely be acquitted of the major charges involving assault and excessive force. More importantly, he believed the verdict would trigger several days of severe civil unrest throughout Los Angeles.

He didn't tell his father about memories from another life, nor did he explain that such an event basically became history in another reality; Instead, Alexander framed it as an unusually strong conclusion based on the information he had gathered and his understanding of the situation.

His father listened without interrupting.

Alexander then made his request but deliberately avoided asking him to somehow prevent the riots, as he knew it wasn't realistic; instead, he asked for something achievable.

"I need you to contact whoever you can," Alexander said. "Authorities. Officials. Organization. People who can prepare emergency responses. Use Roxxon's influence if necessary."

There was a brief pause before his father asked, "And what exactly do you want Roxxon to do?"

"Whatever resources are available. Supplies. Transportation. Shelters. Logistics. Security. Whatever can actually help people. And if possible, pave the way to allow me to make the moves needed and contact the right people."

His father was silent for another moment, but Alexander knew what was happening.

On the other side of the line, Hugh Jones was thinking like a businessman, and that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. 'If Roxxon helps communities prepare, protects employees, assists hospitals, supplies emergency resources, and supports local authorities during a crisis, it could strengthen the company's relationships with government officials and the communities in which it operates...'

Roxxon could genuinely help, and if the company responded quickly to a crisis, it could demonstrate exactly what corporate responsibility was supposed to look like.

Saving lives came first, but there would also be benefits afterwards, more specifically a visible demonstration that Roxxon could mobilise enormous resources when they were needed.

There would be goodwill. There would be positive publicity. There would also be opportunities to reinforce Roxxon's position with important people.

Alexander also thought about that, but he didn't particularly care about the latter benefits right now, yet he knew his father would understand both.

"All right," his father finally said.

Alexander blinked. "You're serious?"

"I know you well enough to know you wouldn't use the emergency number because you had a bad feeling about something or because you're nervous or scared. You may be young, but you have already demonstrated repeatedly that you can read situations others missed."

After saying that, his father's voice became firmer as he declared, "Focus on what you can control. I'll handle the rest."

Alexander exhaled and replied, "Got it... Thanks, Dad."

"Don't thank me yet. Go do your part."

The call ended right there, and Alexander lowered the receiver.

For the first time since remembering the date, some of the weight pressing against his chest seemed to disappear as he wasn't doing this alone.

After that, Alexander turned toward Roland as the next step was about Industrial Illusions, so he said, "Roland, issue an emergency corporate directive as soon as possible."

"Already thinking about it."

"All non-critical personnel in Los Angeles should remain home or leave potentially dangerous areas. Suspend deliveries into vulnerable parts of the city. No unnecessary travel. Secure every company facility."

Roland nodded, "And the warehouses?"

"Temporary shelters if necessary."

"Food and water?"

"Stock them."

"Medical supplies?"

"Acquire them."

"Generators?"

"Prepare them."

"Security?"

"Hire whatever private security we can get on short notice."

Roland was already taking notes. "Company vehicles?"

"Stand by for evacuation and transportation." Alexander stopped for a moment before he added, "And make one thing absolutely clear."

Roland looked up as Alexander declared, "People come first."

"Naturally."

"No. I mean it. If protecting inventory puts an employee at risk, abandon the inventory."

Roland nodded. "Understood."

Alexander looked toward the growing list.

If a warehouse became unsafe, they abandoned the inventory. If a delivery route became dangerous, the delivery was cancelled. No shipment, machine, computer, or box of Duel Monsters cards was worth risking someone's life.

Merchandise could be replaced. Buildings could be repaired. Cards could be printed again. But people couldn't.

Then Alexander thought about someone more important than any warehouse, Ginny, and then he also thought about his friends and schoolmates.

Alexander immediately grabbed his car keys and started to rush out of the mansion while saying, "We'll meet at Industrial Illusions."

"Where are you going?"

"Ginny's. And then school."

Roland didn't ask why; he simply nodded.

The drive to Ginny's house was faster than Alexander would normally have allowed himself, and when he arrived, relief washed over him when he saw that her family's car was still there. 'Good. They are all still at home.'

Without hesitation, Alexander jumped out of the car and ran up to the front door before he knocked.

Ginny opened the door, and she immediately knew something was wrong as she asked, "Alexander?"

He barely managed a greeting before she looked at his face. "What happened?"

Alexander stepped inside and said, trying to maintain a calm tone, "I need you to listen to me."

That alone made her expression serious.

He then explained the situation. The trial. The possible verdict. What he believed was going to happen afterwards. He didn't overwhelm her with unnecessary details. He simply made it clear that he wasn't guessing but was making a reasoned prediction.

Ginny listened silently, and when he finished, she asked only one question, "How sure are you?"

"Very."

She studied him for a few seconds, then nodded. She trusted him.

After everything they had already experienced together, Ginny knew Alexander wouldn't have driven to her house like this unless he genuinely believed something terrible was coming, so she asked, "You want us to leave?"

"Either stay here with the necessary precautions or come to my mansion. I'd prefer the mansion, but I'm not going to force you."

Ginny nodded and said, "I'll talk to my family."

Alexander relaxed slightly. "Thank you."

Ginny caught his hand before he could leave. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to Promethean Academy."

"Why?"

"The school is large, secure, and has enough infrastructure to shelter a lot of people if necessary. If things become bad, it could be a refuge for students, teachers, families, maybe even civilians. More importantly, I have to warn Chuck too, so that he can do the same with Julia."

Ginny nodded, squeezed his hand, and said, "Be careful."

"I will."

They shared a quick kiss before she released him.

Alexander turned toward the door, then he paused and said, "I'll see you later."

"Hopefully."

Alexander smiled faintly. "Definitely."

He jumped back in his car and drove away; his next destination was Promethean Academy.

Promethean Academy was still operating normally when Alexander arrived.

That almost made the situation feel surreal.

Students were walking through the halls. Teachers were preparing lessons. People were talking about the upcoming competitions. Nobody looked like they expected the city to descend into chaos before the day was over.

Alexander didn't waste any time and immediately sought out the principal; luckily, his reputation and contributions to the school allowed him to meet him directly without an appointment.

The meeting was not easy.

"What exactly makes you believe this is going to happen?"

Alexander couldn't exactly explain the System, nor could he explain that he had memories from another life, so he used a variant of the same excuse he used until now, "The Rodney King case has received enormous national attention. Tensions are already high, especially within the Black and Korean communities. The possibility of unrest is being discussed publicly. I'm not asking you to declare that a riot is coming; I'm asking you to prepare for the possibility."

The principal studied him as Alexander laid out the practical measures.

Emergency supplies. Medical stations. Controlled access to campus. Communication procedures. Designated areas for people to stay. A plan for keeping students and faculty and their families inside if necessary.

The principal wasn't completely convinced, but that wasn't necessary.

Preparing for a worst-case scenario cost considerably less than being completely unprepared when one occurred, and eventually, the principal agreed, "Very well. We'll begin preparations. I'll inform the teachers and other faculty members."

Alexander nodded and said, "Thank you."

As he left the office, Alexander felt another piece of the puzzle fall into place.

From there, the morning became a blur.

Alexander met Chuck at school, actually pulling him out of class; once again, his reputation helped there, before he explained the situation and told him to bring Julia and their families to the mansion if they needed somewhere secure.

Chuck didn't waste time arguing and said, "Got it."

Alexander then left the campus and headed for Industrial Illusions' offices, where he began compiling lists.

Roxxon facilities. Industrial Illusions facilities. Promethean Academy. Hospitals. Potential shelters. Employees. Friends. Acquaintances. Distributors. Anyone who might be vulnerable.

Roland coordinated Industrial Illusions' response while Alexander worked through the logistics.

His father was doing the same thing on an entirely different scale, making calls that Alexander could only imagine.

And then there were two more people Alexander needed to contact.

Blade and Hannibal King.

Alexander picked up the phone and dialled the number of BorderLine Investigative Services

The conversation was brief.

"Los Angeles is going to get dangerous today," Alexander told them.

Blade's response was immediate, "How dangerous?"

"The bad kind of dangerous where many people will get hurt."

Then Alexander explained the whole situation, once again minus the detail of his memories, but he wasn't asking them to stop the riots as he knew better.

"You two aren't going to control the city," Alexander said. "I'm not asking you to."

"Then what do you want?" Hannibal asked.

"Save people." A brief pause before he added, "Anyone you can."

Then Alexander continued, "Stop situations that are about to become lethal. Get people out when you can. And if actual supernatural activity appears, deal with it."

Blade understood immediately. "We'll do what we can."

"Thanks."

The call ended, and Alexander lowered the receiver while thinking with a frown on his face, 'It still isn't enough...'

He knew that. Nothing he had done would be enough to save everyone, but that wasn't the point anymore.

Only a few hours earlier, Alexander had been sitting at breakfast thinking about the riots as something that had happened decades ago.

Now they were approaching his doorstep, and he had decided to meet them.

By late morning, Alexander stood in his office overlooking Los Angeles.

Below him, the city continued as though nothing had changed.

Traffic moved through the streets. Stores remained open. People went to work. Children played. Families went about their daily lives. Most of them had absolutely no idea what was coming. But Alexander did.

Within hours, the verdict would be announced.

He couldn't prevent the anger. He couldn't control every protest. He couldn't guarantee that every person would be safe. But there would be people who already had somewhere to go.

Employees who were already home. Shelters prepared. Security teams waiting. Hospitals receiving supplies. People watching for those who needed help. And somewhere in the chaos, Alexander would be there as well.

He slowly clenched his fists while thinking, 'I have done everything I could. Now there is nothing left to do except wait for the verdict and the chaos to explode...'