The Dark Knight of Aincrad

Chapter 8: Murder Mystery

Shortly after Asuna went inside her house. Diluc was about to go home as well until a message notified him. Checking it, he opened the message box and the sender was none other than Kirito.

Hey, Diluc. Been a while, listen. Can you help us out? Sachi and I had to investigate this mystery where a player tried to kill himself and he did in the middle of a safe zone.
We need your help.
Meet as at Agil's shop

Was all the message that Kirito sent. Diluc, sighing. He then accepted Kirito's request to investigate and went to Agil's shop in Floor 50th in the town called Algade. Walking around the streets of Algade, Diluc saw tons of people who were enjoying the wine that he produced, which honestly keeps him financially stable.

'I wonder... If I were to get out of this world... Can I still make Ragvindr wine?' Diluc asked himself as he continued to walk towards Agil's shop.

When he arrived. The shop itself was closed, Diluc had to knock the door twice until Agil came out of the building itself.

"Ah, Diluc. It's been awhile. Come on, Kirito's here." The Bald-man said.

"Thanks." Diluc said before entering. "Did they brief you on anything that had happened?" He asked.

"Yeah. Turns out that there's a possibility that players could die inside safe zones or villages. I would call that bullshit considering that Aincrad had it's civil war but... Yeah." Agil responded.

"Please, Agil. Speak your mind. There's no need to hold back on my account." The red-haired boy said as both he and Agil entered the room.

Inside, Diluc saw Kirito and a girl who he doesn't know but considering that Kirito messaged him about Sachi. Diluc just thought she is Sachi. The two sat down as Kirito explained everything that had happened again.

"Hmm... Curious. I never heard of a player dying inside safe zones... But, could it be a glitch?" Diluc asked.

"I don't know." Kirito responded. "All we know is that our lead is this sword which Agil was about to use his skills to appraise it."

"Yeah. Yeah. Give me the sword." Agil then took the sword from Kirito and then started appraising it. "Hmm... It's a player-made weapon." Agil said.

"Really?" Kirito asked.

"Who made it?" Sachi also asked.

"Grimlock... Never heard of them... Not any top-ranking blacksmith. I cant tell you that, and there's nothing particular unusual about the weapon." Agil responded.

"Hey Agil, mind telling us the name to it?" Diluc asked.

"Sure... Let's see here... It's called Guilty Thorn, a name meaning Thorn of sins."

Diluc then cusps his chin as he thought of something, the three of them were silent and the atmosphere was different, it felt heavy and the three of them were anxious as Diluc was silently thinking of the sword.

"Thorn of sins, huh? What a dumb name." He said bluntly and everyone else cringed so hard that they turned white ad dropped down to the floor. "What?" Diluc asked.

"Dude, you really have no tact at all do you?" Kirito asked.

"Look who's talking." Diluc retorted. "Hmm... But what about, he Agil. Mind giving me that sword?"