Y/N POV

I was now walking back to the town where I would be meeting Argo and Asuna again when I got a message from my father.

Y/N,

I noticed something while you were fighting Laughing Coffin. I noticed that you seemed to be enjoying killing. Remember, killing players gives you more experience points, at the cost of your reputation(which is already at rock bottom anyways).

From, Kayaba

Y/N: *growls* Heartless bastard. *sighs* I need to go meet up with Argo and Asuna...

I then started walking back to the town where the incident or performance that happened. When I arrived, I saw them both and Asuna was holding the weapon used to "kill" the guy who was hung outside of the bell tower.

Y/N: Hey, sorry if I'm late.

Asuna: You're Fine. We've been going over the notes and some things match up, some don't. Argo thinks that if we can find out who made this weapon, we will get another clue as to what happened.

Argo: The problem is... we don't have the appraisal skill... nor do any of our friends say for one of Asuna's friends, but they're busy all the time so that's a dead end. I know you wouldn't spend time unlocking it either so we need someone who will be willing to appraise the Weapon.

Y/N: Hmm~...I think... I might know a guy. Let's head to the 50th Floor.

Asuna: Alright.

Argo: Lead the way.

We then used a teleport gate to get the Algade, the 50th floor. We then started walking through the town. When we got to where the shop was, a guy with a spear walked out and I heard Agil's voice

Agil: Thanks my man, come back anytime.

Guy 1: Yeah, Whatever.

I then walked into the shop.

Y/N: Looks like you're still running all those suckers down with those hard deals of yours...

Agil: No way...*looks at Y/N* Y/N? Buy cheap and seek cheap. That's my motto. I'm a businessman, you know that.

Y/N: That "selling cheap" part is a lie though.

Agil: Don't Go slandering my good name*Asuna and Argo walk into the room, causing Agil to panic at the sight of Y/N. Agil then grabs Y/N and pulls him over the counter slightly*

(What we all want to happen)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

(What's really going to happen)

Agil: What the Hell is wrong with you?! You're supposed to be a solo player, man. What are you doing hanging around with Asuna?! I thought you two don't get along! *Asuna laughs nervously while Argo just smiles slightly* Spill it!

Y/N: Alright, Alright. Calm down.

I then explained things to Agil while Asuna and Argo joined in every now and then.

Agil: His HP dropped to zero in a safe zone? You sure it wasn't a duel?

Y/N: No one saw the winner icon.

Asuna: We can also rule out the murder being a sleep PK. He was walking with Yolko before it happened.

Argo: His death was also too elaborate to be a random duel. The PK player had this planned out. We're pretty sure of that.

Y/N: We do have a second theory that this all some charade to scare people, but we're not sure with either one. The reason we're here is because this was the weapon that supposedly killed the man.

Agil picked up the sword and started appraising the sword. After a few seconds, he spoke.

Agil: A Player made this.

Asuna: Really? Who was it? Can you tell?

Agil: Grimlock. Never heard of him... not one of the top blacksmiths, that's for damn sure. Far as I can tell, there's nothing special about this...

Asuna: Yeah, but it's something to go on, right?

Argo: Yeah.

Y/N: Does the weapon have a name?

Agil: You'll love it. Guilty Thorn. There's a name for you... it kinda fits though, don't ya think? *Hands Guilty Thorn to Y/N*

Y/N: Seriously? Guilty Thron?

I then took some time to actually look at the sword

I then held it up in the air with the point facing towards the ground.

Asuna: Is everything alright?

Y/N: Well here goes nothing...

I then went to stab my hand and Asuna freaked out and grabbed the sword before I could even stab my hand.

Asuna: PLEASE STOP!

Y/N: What's the matter?

Asuna: Are you crazy?! What were you thinking?!

Y/N: I was thinking that I would stab my hand to see if It would hurt me in anyway...*has a moment of realization* Oh god what am I doing?

Asuna then took the sword out of my hands.

Asuna: Agil, will you please hold onto this?

Agil: Uh... yeah.

Timeskip to the next day

Asuna, Argo, Yolko, and I were all sitting at a dining table, discussing and trying to figure out what happened but I focused less on what we were discussing and more on how Yolko reacted to everything and Argo immediately noticed, but said nothing.

Asuna: So uh...Yolko...we uh... we were wondering if you ever heard the name "Grimlock"?

I then watched as Yolko's eyes flew into a panicked state, but they then turned to dread.

Yolko: Yes. I have. Actually, until a few months ago, he was in a guild with me and Caynz.

Y/N: Listen, we took the weapon that was impaled into Caynz's to an appraisal. We had him go over it pretty carefully and we found out Grimlock made it...*Yolko's eyes widen and covers her mouth* Can you think of any reason why he did?

Yolko: Yes, I can... I should've told you everything yesterday. It's just...I couldn't. It's something I've been trying very hard to forget. But now, I have no choice. I should tell you about how my guild was destroyed...

Yolko then went on about how her guild was destroyed.

Yolko: When we formed it, Golden Apple was the name we chose for it. Six months ago, we killed a rare monster and it dropped a powerful ring that raised a player's Agility by 20. Some of us wanted to keep it for the guild, others wanted to sell it and split the earnings. We couldn't agree and in the end, we put it to a vote. It was 5 to 3 in favor of selling it. Our leader, Griselda, took it to a large town on the frontlines. She was going to sell it to a broker and was staying overnight. We waited and waited, but she never came back...It wasn't till later that we learned our worst fears had come true. Griselda was dead. To this day, I still don't know how she died.

Argo: No one would leave a safe zone with a rare item like that. Too risky. Do you think someone could've pulled a sleep PK on her?

Asuna: Not if it was six months ago. That method is still sorta new.

Y/N: You're right...but she wasn't a random victim either...The Killer was definitely after the ring. It had to be someone who knew she had it. Which could only mean...

Yolko: The Killer is One Of the seven others in our guild, yes.

Argo: We have our suspects. Now we just have to figure out who didn't want to sell the ring.

Asuna: I doubt the killer waited after Griselda sold the ring. She was killed before she sold it. That's my guess.

Y/N: Probably. Can you tell us what you know about Grimlock?

Yolko: Well, I guess for starters, he was Griselda's husband...oh but not in real life, just in the game. Griselda was a powerful swordswoman. She was beautiful...and smart...Grimlock was kind and I can't remember a day where he wasn't smiling. They made a great couple and they got along as husband and wife. If Grimlock is really the one responsible for murdering Caynz, then he's probably going after the three guild members who voted against selling the ring. Caynz was one of the three who wanted to keep the ring for the guild. I was the other one.

Y/N: Then who's the third one?

Yolko: The other's a tank named Schmitt. And he, the last I heard, is one he front lines with the Holy Dragon Alliance.

Y/N: Schmitt, Huh? I've heard that name before...

Asuna: He's the leader of the defense force of the Holy Dragon Alliance. He's an exceptional lancer.

Y/N: Oh...him

Yolko: Wait. Do you really know Schmitt?

Y/N: I've run into him a couple of times while clearing bosses, so...

Yolko: I need to see him right away. Can you please take me to him? If he's on the front lines, he probably hasn't heard about the murder. He needs to know. For what happen to Caynz before it happens to him.

Asuna: We'll help you get in touch with Schmitt. I know somebody in the Holy Dragon Alliance. He'll help us out. We'll visit their HQ.

Y/N: Right...(Let's hope they don't have any hard feelings about me Killing one of their guild members...*chuckles slightly*).*looks at Yolko* Yolko, you have to stay at the Inn until we return, Okay? Seriously, don't go anywhere until we get back.

Yolko: Alright.

Argo: Let's get going.

Y/N: Right.

We then walked Yolko back to the inn and we then started walking towards the Holy Dragon Alliance HQ.

Asuna: Okay, So how do you think a murder like this happened in a safe zone?

Y/N: I have three ways it could've happened...Right off the bat, it's possible that it was a fair duel. Then there's my second idea, maybe someone took advantage of a bug that combines a bunch of different kill methods.

Asuna: Yeah, I can see that happening...

Argo: Third idea?

Y/N: They used something to bypass the protection of a safe zone...some kind of skill or maybe an item...No. On second thought, that third idea is impossible.

Asuna: What do you mean?

Y/N: Because it's unfair. My father might be evil, but he would never make the game unfair for other players...there's no way murder would be allowed in safe zones (Unless you're me...*insane chuckling* No! Stop! I'm completely sane. I'm nothing like those Laughing Coffin bastards! I'm not crazy and I don't enjoy killing people! I'm not a monster. I'm not a monster, I'm not a monster! I'M NOT A MONSTER..)

Y/N: *looks at ground to hide GIF below* (Oh Who am I kidding? I was born to Kill!)