The next day, Aedan seemed to be going out for a walk through the neighborhood he was in...before noticing someone approaching him at high speeds.

"Is that..?" Pip asked, before yelping in surprise as Percy closed the distance rather quickly.

"...Can I help you?" Adrian asked, mostly confused.

"I know what you did...and I know you already did." Percy said, as Adrian seemed to internally flinch...before seeing Percy grab one of his hands. "You contacted Cipher and told him to help me, didn't you?" He asked, as Adrian sweatdropped. "It makes sense! After all, I dropped my paper when I ran into you, so you're the only one who'd have the coordinates to give him...To think, my own classmate was buddies with Cipher!" He said, putting an arm around Adrian. "But someone like that who'd be willing to go out of their way to ask Cipher to help must be a pretty good guy, themselves." Percy added.

...How is THIS how it gets blown out of proportion? Adrian thought to himself. "What are you on about?"

"Don't be modest! You're totally in the know with Cipher, and I super appreciate it, because of you, my sister's gonna be okay!" Percy said, playfully slapping him on the back. "Anyone who'd be willing to do that for a stranger is a friend o' mine, so if you ever need help, you just ask, buddy, got it?"

"Uh...Got it." Adrian said.

The first thing he could do is leave me alone... He started thinking, before looking at his phone. I have a hunt, and I can't just go into the Neo-Site with him watching me..!

"So, Adrian! I figured since it's a nice Saturday, Why don't we go to the arcade?" Percy said.

"I'd rather not-" Adrian started, before Percy already started to drag him with him. "Hey!"

Arriving at the local arcade against his will, Adrian seemed to sigh, and put his headphones on his ears.

Well, this isn't how I wanted to spend my Saturday... He thought to himself, annoyed, before noticing all the people already at machines.

"Huh, guess a lot of people had the same idea." Percy commented, blinking. "Oh hey, I think I see the principal's daughter on that DDR machine!" He said.

"Oh, no..." Adrian realized. Last thing I need is to see her here. I already don't like seeing her at school. He thought, before hearing another voice.

"Ad! I didn't know you visited the arcade!" Reina said, going up to him. "Nilam's already here too! Oh, hey Percy!"

"Hey there, Reina. You and the theatre peeps doing stuff here?" Percy asked.

"Nah, the vanguard club is out here having a good time, though." Reina said.

"Please don't-" Adrian started, before sighing as Percy spoke up.

"A vanguard club? Sounds interesting! Can I join?" Percy asked.

Damn it... Adrian thought, sighing.

"Of course! I'm sure the club president's more than ready for new members! After all, I'm sure having Ad join was overjoying!" Reina said.

...No, It wasn't. She clearly doesn't like me. Adrian thought to himself.

"Still, I was a little worried once the group invite was sent that you weren't gonna show up..." Reina admitted, shrugging. "Guess you do care, though! I'm so happy!"

"Looks like I was right to drag you here, eh, Ad?" Percy asked, before promptly receiving an elbow to the gut, as he coughed a bit.

"Don't call me that." Adrian said.

"...Yeah, fair." Percy commented. "Still, damn, for such a stoic principal's daughter, I never thought she'd be tearing it up on DDR of all things...Hey Adrian, you gonna give it a shot?" He asked.

"Hell no." Adrian answered immediately.

"Oh c'mon! I'm sure you're spry enough for it!" Reina said.

"Yeah, what she said." Percy agreed.

...What did I do to deserve this? Adrian thought to himself, before seeing Nilam approach after the game was over.

"So, you showed up." Nilam commented.

"Yeah, what about it?" Adrian asked.

"...Nothing." Nilam responded, shaking her head. "The rest of the group is out and about doing whatever. Do the same if you wish." she said, starting to walk away...before the lights started turning off, as some of the people in the building let out yelps, as Adrian immediately perked up.

A blackout in here? Now? Adrian wondered, narrowing his eyes and exiting the building, only to notice the screens around the city were also off, before displaying an image of a red sword, as crowds were gathering around each possible screen.

"Hello, sheep of the Neo-Site." A distorted voice called out from the screens.

"What the hell?"

"Who are you?!"

"What happened to the idol channel?!"

Adrian looked around at all the crowds people asking their relevant and irrelevant questions alike, as the screen voice continued.

"The Neo-Site corporation has prided themselves with a vanguard environment supposedly free of all flaw, wrongdoing...and crime." The voice started. "Me and my "friends" intend to expose them all. The president of the Neo-Site corporation is hearing this message, so I will speak in no uncertain terms. Reveal to the public what you did 14 years ago, or we will destroy the Neo-Site from the inside-out." The voice threatened, earning large amounts of gasps of shock at the declaration, as Adrian narrowed his eyes at the screen, as a timer popped up. "You have one week to surrender yourself, President." The voice then said, before the screen returned to normal, despite the timer still being there.

"Adrian!" Percy called out, rushing over to him. "What the heck was all that?" He asked.

"I don't know, but it seems like a vendetta against the Neo-Site's founders." Adrian commented.

"Well, you've gotta call you-know-who to deal with this before it gets out of hand!" Percy told him.

"Why should he get involved?" Adrian asked. "The Neo-Site isn't exactly buddy-buddy with him, or me for that matter." he started, before the screen flicked back on.

"Apologies. I had forgotten an additional message, seeing how many of you have been crying out for a certain man to save you. Cipher, whoever and wherever you are...If you get in our way, we'll erase you, and everyone at the Neo-Site corporation, as we know they'll have likely tried to bribe you for help." he said.

EVERYONE at the Neo-Site? Adrian slowly realized, before looking over at the screen with anger. Patrick...He's their top security enforcer, there's no way they wouldn't include them on that list..!

"Oh? Sounds like it got a lot more personal for some reason, buddy." Percy commented, before Adrian walked off, violently dragging Percy by the arm. "Whoa!" he said, being dragged off, while both were unware of Nilam watching the two depart in a hurry...

...Your tone shifted after that last part, Kali. Nilam thought with narrowed eyes.