Danganronpa: The Greatest Japanese Hero
Disclaimer:
Danganronpa is owned by Spike Chunsoft and Lerche
The Greatest American Hero is owned by Stephen J. Cannell
First off, many thanks to those who reviewed this fic, I really appreciated it and this gave me inspiration to work on the next chapter and here the current story arc picks up where the last chapter left, where Naegi and Kirigiri arrived in a foreign country, and here thety will commence their search and rescue mission to save Maizono, but first they are going to meet someone, and that's where the story advances, and that's where Naegi would soon get himself involved, so read on and enjoy!
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a sovereign state at the crossroads of Central Europe, Southeast Europe, and the Mediterranean. Its capital city is Zagreb, which forms one of the country's primary subdivisions, along with its twenty counties. Croatia covers 56,594 square kilometres (21,851 square miles) and has diverse, mostly continental and Mediterranean climates. Croatia's Adriatic Sea coast contains more than a thousand islands. The country's population is 4.28 million, most of whom are Croats, with the most common religious denomination being Roman Catholicism.
The Croats arrived in the area of present-day Croatia during the early part of the 7th century AD. They organised the state into two duchies by the 9th century. Tomislav became the first king by 925, elevating Croatia to the status of a kingdom. The Kingdom of Croatia retained its sovereignty for nearly two centuries, reaching its peak during the rule of Kings Peter Krešimir IV and Dmitar Zvonimir. Croatia entered a personal union with Hungary in 1102. In 1527, faced with Ottoman conquest, the Croatian Parliament elected Ferdinand I of the House of Habsburg to the Croatian throne. In 1918, after World War I, Croatia was included in the unrecognized State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs which seceded from Austria-Hungary and merged into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. A fascist Croatian puppet state existed during World War II. After the war, Croatia became a founding member and a federal constituent of Second Yugoslavia, a constitutionally socialist state. In June 1991, Croatia declared independence, which came into effect on 8 October of the same year. The Croatian War of Independence was fought successfully during the four years following the declaration.
A unitary state, Croatia is a republic governed under a parliamentary system. The International Monetary Fund classified Croatia as an emerging and developing economy, and the World Bank identified it as a high-income economy. Croatia is a member of the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN), the Council of Europe, NATO, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean. As an active participant in the UN peacekeeping forces, Croatia has contributed troops to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and took a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 term.
The scene shifts to Zagreb International Airport, where you can see people arriving and departing, and it was full of travelers, tourists and visitors, and it was somewhat a busy airport where there are restaurants, shops and the like, and there you can see Naegi and Kirigiri arriving at the arrival area, having traveling from Tokyo in which they spent 12 hours by plane, and you can see that Naegi is somewhat exhausted, and it was already night time, and there Naegi is checking the itinerary of their trip here while Kirigiri just bought a map which shows the whole country of Croatia, and both are staring at the map, as they are planning out what to do tomorrow morning, seeing that it is already 20:00.
"Okay, Naegi-kun..."
"..."
"What's wrong?"
"I should've figured this out while we're in the plane..."
"It's fine...we should relax our minds while in the plane...you could tax yourself if you keep..."
"But still..."
"Let's focus on making our next move..."
"...fine..."
As the two teens are planning on what to do next, someone is watching them from afar, and the watcher took out a cellphone and is calling someone, and informs the person he is calling that Makoto Naegi have arrived, and there the watcher is told to try following them in order to know Naegi's next move, in which the watcher nodded and continues to observe Naegi, in which the watcher is revealed to be among the cult who is under the Grand Wizard's employ.
Believe It Or Not by Joey Scarbury
(Opening Song from The Greatest American Hero)
Look at what's happened to me,
I can't believe it myself;
Suddenly I'm up on top of the world,
Should've been somebody else.
Believe it or not,
I'm walkin' on air,
I never thought I could feel so free;
Flyin' away on a wing and a pray'r,
Who could it be?
Believe it or not, it's just me.
Just like the light of new day,
It hit me from out of the blue;
Breakin' me out of the spell I was in,
Makin' all of my wishes come true.
Believe it or not,
I'm walkin' on air,
I never thought I could feel so free;
Flyin' away on a wing and a pray'r,
Who could it be?
Believe it or not, it's just me.
Ch. 46: Kaunto to no Deai
As Naegi and Kirigiri are sitting at the lounge to rest a bit, they are discussing on where to begin since they came here to try and find the sword that the kidnappers demanded, and as she is thinking of where to begin their search, someone approached him from behind, placing a hand on his shoulder and addressed him with a different name which Kirigiri slowly deduced whom the person he is referring to and this gave her a break as she is able to come up with a clue on how and where to commence their search as she listens on.
"Ah, there you are!"
"..."
"I found you!"
"..."
"Thank goodness you're okay!"
"Um..."
"Wait...you're not..."
"Um..."
The person who approached Naegi turns out to be the auctioneer who made a bargain with Nagito and the auctioneer realized that he mistook Naegi for someone else and apologized, but Kirigiri approached him and asks him if the person he is looking for is Nagito Komaeda, in which he confirms, and there she noticed that the auctioneer had deep bruises and gashes on his face, and there she asks him if he know anything about a sword that is said to be among the pieces of the sought-after Armour of God, and when he asks her how she know, Kirigiri asks him if he was attacked by druids, and then showed him the ransom letter, surprising the auctioneer and a discussion took place.
"I see...so those druids..."
"They attacked a fashion show...took off one of our friends..."
"Why would they...?"
"They wanted the pieces of the armour...and for some reason they think Naegi has them...and used our friend as a hostage to force Naegi-kun to do their bidding.."
"No way...it's my fault then..."
"What do you mean?"
"The druids came to my place...and I said something by mistake..."
"Tell us..."
The auctioneer revealed that a few days ago, he was drunk a few days ago after getting his commission from the auction and while at his home, several men in druid outfits entered his house and beats him up, demanding who brought the sword in the auction,. And because he was so drunk he couldn't pronounce Nagito's name properly and pronounced Naegi's name by mistake before passing out, and the attackers think Naegi is the one who brought the sword, and he apologized to Naegi after learning that Sayaka Maizono was kidnapped because of her connection to Naegi.
Kirigiri then asks the auctioneer where the sword his located, but he revealed that the sword was already sold to a wealthy European businessman and his daughter and said that they'll have to talk to him though he also said that the wealthy man might be difficult to reason with since he also owns a shield which is said to be part of the five pieces, and yet she said she and Naegi will take the risks and the auctioneer gave her the address of the person they will seek out, and providing the directions through the map, the auctioneer offered the two teens to stay at his place for tonight, which she accepted, and the three of them left the airport, and the spy called the Grand Wizard again and inform him of the events, and he is told to head back to the hideout which he agreed to.
-x-
At outer space, the three aliens are monitoring the events and Cherubi is still apprehensive at what Naegi is going to do next, as he feared that Naegi's presence with the red suit would attract unwanted attention and may compromise everything, but Ophani is confident that things would go well and assured to Cherubi that just because Naegi is in a foreign land doesn't mean he would abuse the red suit, and he questioned on why Naegi is letting Kirigiri order him around, though Ophani stated that they should place their fate on the two teens.
"That boy...!"
"Calm yourself, Cherubi!"
"Why is that boy letting his friend boss him around?"
"She is not...she is acting as his adviser...and she knows how to make Naegi put the suit in good use..."
"But still...!"
"Let's just wait and see how this play out..."
"But Ophani..."
"Trust me, Cherubi..."
Meanwhile, Seraphi is monitoring the events and is rather curious as to what Naegi would do next seeing that this would be another test for Naegi to overcome, seeing that this would be his first experience using the red suit's power in a foreign land and that he is facing an enemy that he is unfamiliar with, and is also somewhat curious at seeing Kirigiri acting as Naegi's "adviser" as she is teaching Naegi the importance on using the red suit for benevolent purposes.
-x-
The next morning, Naegi and Kirigiri are up and are having breakfast as the auctioneer served them food and told them where to find the man they seek, whom he revealed that the wealthy businessman's name as Count Bannon, and told them that his manor is located at Novi Vinodolski, which is a town on the Adriatic Sea coast in Croatia, located south of Crikvenica, Selce and Bribirand north of Senj. The population of Novi is 3,988, with a total of 5,131 people in the city administered area. The city area became a Frankopan property in the 13th century, marking the period to which the most valuable heritage is dated, including the Law codex of Vinodol. City hinterland is dominated by the Vinodol Valley, used for agriculture and winemaking. Economy of the city is dominated by tourist industry, as Novi Vinodolski is well known tourist centre situated in an area largely unaffected by other types of industry and it offers a wide variety of tourist amenities. The Vinodol Valley is also the site of a hydroelectric power plant utilizing water collected in Gorski Kotar reservoirs. Transport links of the city are substantially dependent on the nearby city of Rijeka.
"So that's the place we should go...?"
"Yes...you can travel there by taxi..."
"I see..."
"You can travel there and the roads are safe..."
"And can this man be reasoned with...?"
"Depends on the approach you make...so be careful out there..."
"I see...thank you..."
"You're welcome..."
Kirigiri thanked the auctioneer for his help and hospitality, and there she and Naegi prepare to take their leave and the auctioneer offered them some pocket money knowing that the two teens are going to travel a lot and that they will be staying at various hostel which she thanked him and so she and Naegi left the house and hailed a taxi and the two are heading to their next destination, and as they travel, Naegi asks her why they are going to see this Count Bannon and how this would help in their mission, and she responded by saying that according to the auctioneer, Count Bannon is an avid collector, and since the sword was sold to him through a woman, it is likely where the sword is kept, and she said she would try to talk to him into "borrowing" the sword and use it as bait to try and interrogate the kidnappers into revealing Maizono's location, though Naegi wondered if this would work.
"You think that would work?"
"Who knows...and it'd be better if it works..."
"..."
"If this Count Bannon agrees to our proposal...we can have an easier time luring out the kidnappers...and then we can force them to reveal where Maizono-san is kept..."
"Yeah, but how...?"
"The suit...you will use it..."
"In Croatia?"
"Correct..."
After some time, the taxi arrived and Kirigiri paid the fare and both got off as they stood outside what appeared to be a posh mansion, and Naegi placed a hand on the gate, where it opened by itself and she cautions him not to venture off, which he nodded, as the two are inside, they stood still as they looked around, wondering how to call the guard or butler to let them know that they came here to meet with the owner, but then a huge dog began barking and a startled Naegi fell on his butt as Kirigiri stood still and remained calm and collected, and there the manor's servant, who is holding the dog via a chain, said that there is nothing to be afraid of, and pulled the dog away.
By then the manor's butler came and said to the two to follow him which they did, and as they walked the area leading to the entrance of the manor, Naegi noticed several guard dogs staring at him, and he looked straight at the butler as Kirigiri remained cool and collected, and they both noted that the path towards the manor is somewhat long and they noted that the owner is probably a billionaire, seeing how posh the place is, and after several minutes the two teens arrived inside the manor and the butler led them towards the visitor's hall, which they noted that there are several rooms along the way, and finally they arrived, where they waited until the manor's owner came, who appeared to be a 50-year old man of European descent, and is rather intrigued that a pair of Asian teenagers came to his posh manor.
He then introduced himself as Count Bannon and Kirigiri introduced herself and Naegi and there she went straight to the point on why they came here to see him.
"...so you wanted to borrow the sword that was bought from the auction, you say...?"
"Yes, sir..."
"For what reason?"
"To rescue a friend..."
"Sounds unrealistic to me..."
"It is true...we cam all the way from Japan to find you..."
"And how do I know if you're telling the truth...?"
"Here...the ransom note..."
Kirigiri showed the count the ransom note and asks him if this sword he bought from the auction is the rumored Armour of God and Bannon nodded and explained to her that the armour is said to possess a rumored power to anyone who possess all five pieces, and rumor has it that whoever has all five pieces would receive power, luck and other supernatural feats, which he said that it is an urban legend, which started way back in the medieval times and he wondered why up to this day there are those who are foolish enough to take those rumors seriously.
Bannon said that so far he only has two pieces which are the sword and the shield, but said that the Maizono situation is not his concern, thus he has no intention to sell the two pieces no matter what offer he is given. Naegi is a bit sad that they are facing a roadblock though Kirigiri asks if there is a compromise on how to help in order to save Maizono, but Bannon refuses, however, in a gesture of good will he told the two that they can stay here tonight, and Kirigiri agreed, and as the way went on, Bannon gave the two teens a free tour at his manor until night time came, and the two are staying at a guest room, and as the two teens are sleeping, Naegi groggily puts on the red suit but not the cape, and he slept until morning came, and as he woke up early, he is about to go to the bathroom when the suit's power activated and Naegi gets a holographic image on where the sword and shield are kept, and he went to the location and found it, and took a look, and he wondered why the kidnappers would cause the attack just to get their hands on the two pieces and why they had to use Maizono to force him to do their bidding.
As Naegi picks up the sword, he gets another Holographic image, in which it showed Nagito somewhere within Croatia, but his concentration was cut short when Kirigiri came and asks him what he is doing, and there he told her that he unknowingly came here and got an image of Nagito, surprising her a bit, but as Naegi tries to use the suit's power, his concentration is interrupted when Count Bannon came having a rather disappointed look as he thinks that the two are trying to steal the two pieces, in which Naegi tries to defend himself.
"Oh dear...and I thought you were well-behaved teenagers...I guess I'l have to..."
"Wait...it's a misunderstanding!"
"It doesn't looked like one to me,,,you have the sword and you looked like you're carrying it off..."
"I sleepwalked and ended up here and Kirigiri found me here...!"
"You think you can fool me, boy?"
"I'm not!"
"You left me no choice..."
"Please...we're not here to...!"
As Count Bannon is considering in calling the police, an idea popped onto Kirigiri's mind as she read the ransom note, then she asks the count if the shield and sword are the only pieces he have so far, and when he said yes, she spoke to the count and offered a compromise, reasoning that since the kidnappers only demanded the sword and shield, she theorizes that the remaining three pieces are in the kidnappers' possession, and proposes that she would borrow the two pieces and use them as bait to lure out the kidnappers, and once they find the hideout she and Naegi will find the three pieces and bring it back together at the manor, and thus the count will have all five pieces of the Armour of God.
Though it sound tempting, the count is still hesitant as he do not trust the two teens, prompting someone to come in and asked the Count to reconsider seeing this as a good opportunity to complete the five pieces of armor.
"Daddy..."
"Yes, dear?"
"I say we accept their offer..."
"Oh? Why would I?"
"If what the young lady say is true, then that means you can have all five pieces without spending it..."
"Are you serious, child?"
"Of course..."
"Hmm..."
The person who interjected in the discussion is revealed to be the European beauty who won the auction bidding of the sword and is then revealed to be Count Bannon's daughter, and the count introduced her as May, his only daughter and there May talked to her father and persuaded him to let Naegi and Kirigiri borrow the two pieces of armor as she believes that it would help in acquiring the remaining three pieces, and eventually the count gives in to his daughter's persuasion, and then talked to Kirigiri and told her the conditions of the deal.
"Very well..."
"So then...?"
"I accept your compromise...I'll let you borrow the sword and shield..."
"We appreciate it..."
"But there's a catch..."
"Which is...?"
"My daughter...she will be in charge of the operation...and make sure she comes back alive and well..."
"Very well..."
Count Bannon stated that his daughter, May, would be in charge of their covert operation and that Kirigiri and Naegi must make sure May is safe and that all five pieces of the armor are brought to him when they return, and Kirigiri nodded in agreement and the deal and agreement is made,and throughout the day they all made preparations for the trip as they checked the map and laid out plans on how to confront the kidnappers as Naegi has two days before meeting up with one of he druids in order to deliver he ransom items in exchange for Maizono's freedom.
-x-
At outer space, Cherubi is rather livid seeing that Naegi is wearing the red suit in front of Count Bannon, and labeled Naegi as irresponsible, though Ophani sees that neither Count Bannon or May suspected anything as Naegi wasn't wearing the cape and told Cherubi that things are fine though he sees this otherwise and is rather bothered that Ophani is vouching for Naegi.
"Why are you siding with that Naegi boy?"
"Because..."
"You should know how irresponsible he is!"
"He is not!"
"I do not trust that boy!"
"For the past few months Makoto Naegi has proven himself with the suit!"
"He is a fool!"
"You're the fool, Cherubi!"
Seraphi is also observing the events and is rather curious as to what Naegi is going to do next and patiently waited for the events to unfold, and his two fellow aliens stopped their bickering as they noticed that he is observing the scene and is somewhat calm and collected, and they too decided to wait and see before making their comments on what Naegi is going to do next.
To Be Continued...
Hope you like this chapter, and though there's not much action here, it did show what is at stake here, and Naegi is now in a foreign land, which is Croatia, and that's where the adventure begins...and actions will soon commence.
Nagi gets a break as Kirigiri managed to persuade the count in loaning the two armour pieces and now the wo tns can commence their plan to flush out the druids who are holding Maizono captive.
The three aliens are observing the events, and both Cherubi and Ophani are arguing over Naegi's decision to bring the red suit with him, and now they await what the Luckster is going to do next...
Preview:
Naegi and Kirigiri begins their plan in drawing out the druids. Expect a lot of action in he next chapter...
See you in in 10 days or less...
Reviews are welcomed...
:)