Kirito and Cid strolled casually to the academy, both yawning simultaneously. "Long night?" Kirito asked, and Cid nodded. "Yeah, had some things to take care of," he replied with a knowing smile.
"These days have been incredibly busy for me," Kirito admitted with a slight sigh.
Cid chuckled, "You're lucky, Kirito. I've got nothing to do lately." (LYING!)
"Well, let's hope today turns out to be another peaceful day for both of us," Kirito said optimistically.
As Kirito and Cid continued their casual stroll, a booming voice echoed, "Halt! In the name of the Knight Order, stop right there!"
Both friends froze and turned to see a group of stern-looking knights surrounding them. "Well, there goes our peaceful day," Kirito muttered under his breath.
Simultaneously, they lamented, "It is ruined!"
Kirito leaned in and whispered to Cid, "Hey, did you happen to sell potions on the black market or something?"
Cid smirked, replying in hushed tones, "Nah, Kirito, I might love gaining wealth, but dealing in shady business? That's a hard pass on my list."
Before they could continue, a stern-faced Knight interrupted, "Silence, you two!"
Suddenly, Zenon appeared in front of them, a smirk playing on his lips. Kirito felt a sense of unease, realizing something was amiss.
"Wait a minute, what's going on?" Kirito questioned, his brow furrowing in concern.
Ignoring Kirito's inquiry, Zenon sternly asked, "Are you two aware of Princess Alexia's kidnapping?"
Kirito's eyes widened in shock, and he exchanged a puzzled glance with Cid. "Kidnapping? No, we had no idea," Kirito replied, genuine shock in his voice.
Before Kirito could delve further into the situation, Zenon commanded, "Silence! Surrender yourselves."
"But we didn't do anything!" Kirito protested, frustration evident in his tone.
Ignoring Kirito's defence, Zenon pointed at him, declaring, "You, Kirito Kuroha, are the most suspicious person throughout Midgar. The Knight Order have reason to believe you might be involved in the princess's disappearance."
"I swear, this is all false! I had nothing to do with Princess Alexia's kidnapping!" Kirito shouted defiantly, his frustration palpable.
Ignoring Kirito's protest, the knights proceeded to tie him up as he resisted, struggling against the restraints.
Watching the scene unfold, Cid couldn't help but feel intrigued by Kirito's predicament. Inwardly, he acknowledged, (No matter how hard I try to be an NPC, Kirito always surpasses me. He's the epitome of the Background Character with bad luck.)
A smirk played on Cid's lips as he whispered to himself, "Well, if he's going down, I might as well do something too."
Cid, with a mischievous grin, proudly shouted, "I confess! I am the mastermind behind Princess Alexia's kidnapping!"
The knights and Kirito stared at Cid in disbelief, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion. Cid extended his hand and casually said, "Well, go ahead, tie me up, please."
The knights, still processing the unexpected turn of events, hesitantly secured Cid in restraints. Kirito shot him a sceptical glance, clearly not buying into the act.
As Cid winked at Kirito with a sly smile, he thought to himself, (This is my chance to shine as the ultimate Background Character—doomed to be vanquished offscreen!)
Zenon furrowed his brow, looking at Cid with a perplexed expression. "Who the hell is he?" he questioned, clearly thrown off by Cid's sudden confession.
Ordering the knights to proceed, Zenon sternly commanded, "Tie them both up and interrogate them accordingly. We must get to the bottom of this."
As the knights moved to follow the order, one of them, unable to resist the strange turn of events, kicked Cid in the butt to prompt him forward. Cid, with exaggerated flair, winced and acted like it hurt, adding a touch of theatricality to the situation.
Kirito, observing Cid's theatrics, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you some kind of masochist?"
Kirito weighed his options, realizing that escaping might only fuel suspicions. As the knights tightened his restraints, he strategized quietly, "I need to find a way to clear my name and help Princess Alexia without making things worse."
Observing Cid's theatrics, Kirito considered leveraging his friend's bold move. He whispered to Cid, "Play along for now, but we need a plan to expose the real culprit and prove our innocence."
Later that day...
Zenon entered the office of Captain of Crimson Order, Iris Midgar with a firm knock on the door. Iris, engrossed in her work, looked up, her eyes narrowing at the unexpected interruption.
"What brings you here, Zenon?" she inquired, her tone reflecting a blend of curiosity and irritation.
"Captain," Zenon began with a salute, "we've apprehended the most suspicious individuals in connection to Princess Alexia's kidnapping. Currently, we are interrogating them to extract any information."
Iris Midgar's expression shifted to one of seriousness. "Kirito Kuroha. What did he do when he heard about the accusations?" she asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
Zenon replied, "He immediately refused the accusations and attempted to escape. However, our knights managed to stop him."
Iris let out a sigh and got up to look through the window, her expression deep in thought. "I've heard good things about Kirito through Alexia," she said, her voice reflecting a mix of concern and contemplation. "If he's truly involved in this, I'll be the one to deal with him personally."
Zenon nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Captain, should I continue the interrogation and follow the leads we have?"
Iris Midgar turned back to Zenon, her gaze unwavering. "Yes, proceed with the interrogation. We need to unravel the truth behind Alexia's disappearance, no matter where it leads us."
Zenon nodded solemnly, his expression mirroring the seriousness of the situation, and left Iris Midgar's office with a small, knowing smirk.
Meanwhile, Iris Midgar, with a furrowed brow, started examining Kirito's records and the information gathered about him. She pondered the conflicting image of Kirito as someone known positively by her sister and now accused of a grave crime.
As she continued reviewing the details, Iris mused aloud, "This foreigner complicates matters. We still don't know who he is or what his motives might be."
Considering the options, Iris debated internally whether she should directly involve herself in this perplexing situation or let her subordinates handle it.
A few days later...
Kirito sat in the dimly lit cell, his clothes torn, and his face bruised from the previous interrogations. He sighed, feeling utterly bored. "Well, this isn't how I planned to spend my week," he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, echoing through the dungeon, came Cid's unmistakable scream of pain. Kirito winced, glancing in the direction of the commotion. "Is he trying to audition for a tragic play in there?" he wondered aloud.
As Cid's screams continued, Kirito couldn't help but shake his head. "I can't decide if he's brave or just stupid. Turning down my escape plans for him was one thing, but getting himself beaten up for fun? That's a whole new level."
Just as Kirito contemplated Cid's questionable acting skills, the dungeon echoed with the guards' shouts. "Intruders! Shoot to kill!" they yelled in panic.
Kirito's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react, the guards themselves screamed in agony. He listened in silence, the dungeon now eerily quiet.
Then, out of nowhere, the heavy door before Kirito was obliterated, revealing Zeta. She stood there with a smirk, greeting Kirito in a comedic fashion, "Well, well, well! Looks like you're having a party in here, and I wasn't invited! Rude, much?"
Kirito smirked at Zeta's entrance, "Well, Zeta, the party just got more fierce with your dramatic entrance. Guess I underestimated the guest list."
Zeta teased him, leaning against the broken cell door, "Oh, Kirito, I thought you were this good and righteous guy. How did you end up in such a mess? Did you forget to bring flowers to the princess or something?"
Kirito chuckled, "I'm just trying to expand my horizons, you know? Embracing new experiences and all."
Kirito raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, Zeta, I'm genuinely impressed. Didn't know you had the time to rescue me between all your busy schedule."
Zeta huffed, attempting to maintain her composure. "Don't get any ideas, Kirito. I just happened to be in the neighborhood."
Kirito shot her a knowing glance. "Neighborhood? Worried about me, were you?"
Zeta's cheeks flushed slightly, and she retorted, "Absolutely not! I have better things to do than worry about you."
In a swift motion, she threw a dagger in Kirito's direction. However, Kirito, with casual finesse, manipulated his handcuffs, intercepting the dagger mid-air and breaking them in the process.
As the shattered restraints fell to the ground, Kirito looked at Zeta with a playful grin. "Well, looks like you missed your mark. You might want to work on that aim of yours."
Zeta, caught off guard by Kirito's effortless move, scowled but couldn't hide a hint of admiration. "This doesn't change anything, Kirito."
Kirito chuckled, standing up. "I appreciate the timely rescue, Zeta. Now, let's see about getting out of this place."
Zeta smirked, eyeing Kirito with a raised eyebrow. "You know, you could have escaped those restraints anytime you wanted, right?"
Kirito grinned, flexing his now liberated wrists. "True, but I had to wait for the right moment."
Zeta chuckled, understanding him. "Well, Mr. Dramatic, since you're here, might as well know that the Shadow Garden is gearing up for their grand move."
Zeta raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on her face. "You know, Kirito, you really don't have to help. You're not exactly known for being a smooth operator. More like a bull in a china shop."
Kirito, now free from the cell, stretched his limbs and remarked, "Well, that was easier than I expected. But something tells me this night is far from over."
Awful Debtor:
Cid: Let's just say, Kirito's wallet and I have an ongoing long-distance relationship. I borrowed a hefty sum from him, and honestly, at this rate, it's like a legendary artefact – rare, elusive, and no one's sure when I'll decide to 'return' it!
Interest or Dedication?:
Since the day they met, Zeta has been keeping a close eye on Kirito like a cat watching a laser pointer.
Every time they met, Zeta would mysteriously appear, offering her insights and intel. When Alpha finally asked, "Why the sudden interest in Kirito?" Zeta's cheeks turned a shade of crimson, and she quickly replied, "It's strictly mission-related, Alpha!" Sure, Zeta, we totally believe you!
Your Pitiful NPC:
Zeta decided not to help Cid in prison. Why? Well, she firmly believed that Cid, with his sly wits and mysterious ways, probably orchestrated the entire imprisonment as part of an elaborate plan.