Royal Treatment
Disclaimer:
Danganronpa is owned by Spike Chunsoft and Lerche
Many thanks to those who read and reviewed this fic. I really appreciated it and this gave me inspiration to work on the next chapter and here Naegi's situation gradually worsen as the newly-appointed leaders of Novoselic launches a MANHUNT on our favorite LUCKSTER…
Well then, read on and enjoy!
Ch. 44: Shūban part 3
At the police station, Hagakure is being interrogated and he reiterated that he has no knowledge of what happened to the Royal Family and that he has no idea where Naegi is, as he has not heard anything from him since Charming's birthday party ended, which the interrogators were seemingly willing to let him go seeing that they have nothing against the SHSL Fortune Teller.
However, the chancellor arrived and began picking on Hagakure, sternly telling him to reveal where Naegi is hiding, but Hagakure told the chancellor that he really don't know where he is, and said that he believe that the chancellor planned this, saying that Naegi would never do something like this, and if ever Naegi do commit the said crimes, he would not do something stupid like leaving his identification documents behind, saying that it is impossible for him to carry his passport and student ID around like that, and he tells the chancellor that if he finds out that the chancellor planted the evidence, then Novoselic would get a DRESSING DOWN from Japan.
The chancellor is livid and began to grab Hagakure by his collar and shook him forcibly in rage, which Hagakure was quite shaken yet he reiterated Naegi's innocence and refuse to believe that his classmate committed the crimes.
"You will tell me where that brat is!"
"I won't!"
"What?"
"Naegi-chi is innocent!"
"You dare cover for that brat?"
"You're the brat!"
"What? How dare you?"
"See? You really are a brat!"
The police interrogators pry the chancellor away an told him that they cannot hold Hagakure as they do not have evidence against him, but the chancellor insisted that they keep the SHSL Fortune Teller in custody, saying that Hagakure is an accomplice of Naegi because of the two students' connection and threatened to have the interrogators charged, but the police commissioner, who have just arrived after getting word of what happened, began to stood up against the chancellor, threatening of counter charges if he were to threaten any of his men.
The chancellor stared in surprise as the police commissioner reiterated that they cannot hold a person against his will if there are no evidences found to prove it and said that unless there is probable proof and cause, they will have to release Hagakure, and will not let someone like the chancellor influence the police investigation.
"W-what...?"
"You heard me."
"Y-you..."
"Just because of your position doesn't mean you can bully anyone. I am in charge here and I will follow the due process and not violate one's rights..."
"How dare you!"
"I beg your pardon?"
"..."
"Please leave now."
The chancellor fumed before leaving and the police commissioner apologized to Hagakure for what happened, and assured to him that due process is being followed, and once there are no evidences found, Hagakure will be released from custody.
The SHSL Fortune Teller reiterated that Naegi can't be the culprit, and the police commissioner said that it would depend on evidences found, and suggested to Hagakure to find one if he believe that Naegi is being set upped.
"Eh?"
"You heard me. If you think that Makoto Naegi is innocent…then you need a superb lawyer to represent him."
"Well…"
"At this point there's not much I can do. This is the help I can give. If you want, I know some contacts who might recommend an expert lawyer to help your friend…"
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Sure."
"…"
-x-
At the city within the main capital of Novoselic, the shopkeeper of the sweets shop glanced at the blinds of his shop's window where he saw several police cars passing by, sirens blaring, and the other customers are sure that the chancellor ordered the police to conduct a manhunt for Naegi, and they knew that this is bad news because they know how arrogant the chancellor is.
What's even more, the chancellor now has a reason to bully Naegi even more, and uses the incident as an excuse to inflict harm on the innocent boy and make him a political scapegoat that would tarnish his innocence and make him look like a sacrifice.
The shoppers inside the sweet shop are now wondering on what to do, as they know that Naegi would not be given a fair trial given how the chancellor and the prime minister treated Naegi at the royal ball and at Charming's birthday party.
"This is bad."
"Yeah."
"This boy will surely suffer."
"He needs to find a way to clear his name."
"But how?"
"That stupid chancellor has the backing of the prime minister…"
"Maybe we should call the human rights watch…?"
"Huh?"
Suddenly, one of the citizens came inside the shop and approached Naegi, asking him if he is familiar with a person named Hagakure, and when Naegi confirms it, the citizen said that he saw Hagakure being picked up by the police under the pretense that he might know where Naegi is HIDING, and the SHSL Luckster stared in shock, seeing that the chancellor is doing everything just to flush him out.
Naegi said that the chancellor shouldn't have done that because Hagakure is innocent in all this, and there the shopkeeper said that this is why he advised Naegi to stay hidden for now until they can find a superb lawyer who can defend Naegi from this political conspiracy as well as to clear his name from all of this drama.
Another citizen came and tells the shopkeeper to open the TV, and when he does, the TV showed a live news where the prime minister announced that Makoto Naegi is now a subject to an ENHANCED MANHUNT, and deemed him ARMED AND DANGEROUS, in which he said that a SHOOT TO KILL order will be enforced and instructed even the military to shoot the suspect on sight at all cost.
The citizens inside the shop stared in disbelief at what they just saw and heard, and blasted both the prime minister and the chancellor, saying that this is OVERKILL and that it is now clear that Naegi will not be given a chance to defend himself and clear his name.
"Damn it!"
"This is overkill!"
"That prime minister is pulling all the stops!"
"Indeed."
"Now the boy is definitely in danger."
"What should we do?"
"What can we do?"
"…"
This became a trending topic, and moments later a live newsflash on TV showed that military soldiers are seen dragging an already-handcuffed Hagakure by his collar while on the ground, as he couldn't stand up due to being pulled away, and as the SHSL Fortune Teller is loaded into the military van and left, the police commissioner was asked by reporters why is Hagakure being taken by the military, and the police commissioner reluctantly said that Hagakure is being branded as Naegi's accomplice and will be subjected to interrogation.
He even told the reporters that he outright oppose it and told the military soldiers that there hasn't been any proof about that accusation and reiterated that Hagakure be given due process must be given, but the army soldiers said that this is a direct order from the prime minister and the police are off the case, thus they no longer have any jurisdiction here.
The shopkeeper then told Naegi that he has to stay underground for the time being while he'll contact someone from the international human rights organization to help him, saying that both the prime minister and the chancellor intend to make Naegi a political scapegoat in order to make themselves look good to the Novoselic citizens, which the other shoppers agree.
"You heard the shopkeeper, kid."
"You need to hide for the time being."
"Those bastards are intent to pin you down…let alone kill you."
"For your own safety…go and hide."
"Yes…you need help here…and we'll see if we can get you a lawyer…"
"Don't worry about us…"
"You're an important figure in Novoselic now…"
"Right."
Naegi clenched his fists as he could not believe something like this is happening, and felt that he is at fault for Hagakure getting dragged in this scenario because of him, but the shopkeeper urged him not to blame himself for the situation he is in, and advised him not to go venture out, as he is sure that the chancellor would use any means to capture him, and perform discreet means to commit human rights violations without exposing himself.
"Easy, kid. You still need to…"
"But…"
"Believe me. You don't stand a chance at the moment."
"…"
"You need to stay alive…and you need LEGAL help…"
"I can't just stay hidden and…"
"In this case. You do."
"…"
Suddenly, one of the citizens came in, and warned Naegi and the shopkeeper that one of the civilians saw Naegi here and tipped off the soldiers on Naegi's location after the chancellor announced on TV that he is offering a FAT SUM REWARD to whoever point where Naegi is hiding, and there the shopkeeper told Naegi to go use the back exit and hide, saying that some of the citizens here appeared to have gotten swayed by the chancellor's MONEY.
The other shoppers nodded and urged Naegi to go and hide out until international help arrive, and they told him that if possible, escape Novoselic and seek help in order to find a way to clear his name and expose the real culprits, saying that they believe that the chancellor set things up in order to have an excuse to lay his hand on the SHSL Luckster.
"You heard the shopkeeper, kid."
"You need to hide for the time being."
"Those bastards are intent to pin you down…and now they use dirty tactics to trick our fellow Novoselic citizens to catch you."
"For your own safety…go and hide."
"Yes…you need help here…and we'll see if we can get you a lawyer…then we'll let you know…"
"Don't worry about us…"
"You're an important figure in Novoselic now…"
Naegi appeared hesitant but is persuaded to do so after some gentle prodding from the shoppers, and he soon leaves the sweets shop via the back door, and after securing everything, the shopkeeper and the shoppers pretended that business is usual, and moments later soldiers came and with them is the greedy citizen who spilled the beans on where Naegi is last seen.
The soldiers then searched the shop and asked anyone here if Naegi is seen, and the shoppers said that Naegi left minutes ago, and asked why the sudden search, and there the greedy citizen tells them to stop the acting, saying that it is public knowledge that Naegi is wanted for multiple frustrated murder of the royal family.
He told the shoppers that they will be charged for harboring a criminal, but the shoppers answered back, saying that they are unaware of this and said that they believe that Naegi cannot do such a thing, and the greedy citizen urged the soldiers to arrest the shoppers for aiding in Naegi's escape, and the soldiers nodded and began arresting the shoppers, who protested the soldiers' actions.
"Hey!"
"What?"
"You can't do this!"
"What reason do you have for arresting us?"
"This is a violation of our rights!"
"Let go!"
"Stop!"
"You traitors!"
However, the soldiers said that the newly-appointed ruler, Charming, has announced that martial law is proclaimed as a way to find Naegi and justified that they are only following orders from Charming and the prime minister, and the shoppers vehemently protested this and said that their rights are being violated, but the soldiers said they are just following orders and said that those who are said to be harboring the fugitive would be subjected to arrest.
The shopkeeper protested saying that this is not a basis for that, but the greedy citizen told the soldiers to arrest him as well, saying that he is the reason why Naegi escaped, and the soldiers obliged and began arresting the shopkeeper as well, and he, along with the shoppers, protested as they are being taken away and dragged towards the military truck.
"Hey!"
"Damn you!"
"You can't do this!"
"Why are you doing this to us?"
"This is a violation of our rights!"
"Let go! we have a right to get a lawyer!"
"Stop!"
"You traitors!"
Not far, Naegi saw what is happening, and he clenched his fists as he could not believe that the chancellor, the prime minister, and Charming would stoop this low, and now he has to find a way to get help and expose the culprit, and mentally wished that Sonia is alive so that she would help put a stop to this and expose the true culprit behind this travesty of justice.
To Be Continued...
Hope you liked this chapter, as Naegi's LUCK WENT SOUR AS Charming, the prime minister and the chancellor are pulling all the stops to flush the Luckster out, and now his chances are getting grim as even Hagakure and some of the Novoselic citizens are being arrested for aiding Naegi…
Preview:
Naegi's situation in Novoselic intensifies…and something surprising takes place…
See you in 6-8 weeks (probably around late May or early June)…
Reviews are welcomed, but needed…
