Fairy Tail: You said you were just acting, are you serious

"Acquitted?"

Paris looked up at the captain in disbelief, thinking there was something wrong with his ears.

Doronbo, who was standing to the side, was stunned for a moment, then excitedly put his arm around Doronbo's shoulder and smiled happily.

"Great! Paris, you're free!"

He was genuinely happy for his friend, at least he wouldn't have to suffer with him.

However, Paris was not happy when he heard the news. He lowered his head and gave a bitter smile, his eyes revealing self-blame.

"Even if I'm acquitted, what then? Someone like me has nowhere to go back to..."

The Dark Guild member who had raised him since childhood, Dark Night Path, had already been arrested, and he had betrayed his friends, so naturally he couldn't be happy.

He felt that it would be better to go to prison.

Tap, tap, tap~

"Wait, don't be so happy yet."

The captain tapped the table lightly a few times to remind them to focus.

"Although Paris has been acquitted, you still need a guarantor to pay bail and sign it before you can be released."

"guarantor?"

Doronbo looked dumbfounded and then stepped forward to ask the captain a question.

"But Captain, Paris has no family left. Who would be willing to vouch for him?"

"Don't be nervous. Considering the situation, I've already called the guarantor over, and they should be on their way now."

Upon hearing this, Paris paused for a moment, then looked up in surprise.

squeak~

Just as Paris was about to ask who had come, the office door was pushed open.

"Commander, is this the place?"

Just then, a bald middle-aged man was pushed in by a gray-haired boy, which shocked Paris and Doronbo, who were watching from the side.

Only the captain wore a matter-of-fact smile as he questioned the gray-haired boy.

"Ron, you found someone to vouch for you so quickly?"

"That's right, let him be the guarantor."

It was Ron and his longtime employee Weiss who arrived. Weiss, who was being pointed at by Ron, showed a helpless expression.

The captain nodded, then took a document from the drawer and handed it to Weiss.

"Now that the guarantor has arrived, Paris can leave after signing here."

Weiss sighed, stepped forward, picked up a pen, and muttered:

"Yes, I never expected that I would have to be a guarantor while working in a theater troupe."

"Director, I had no idea that the theater was packed every day while you were away these past few days. The scripts you left behind..."

"Alright, let's stop talking about this. Let's go back and talk more."

"Yes, Commander."

After Weiss signed his name and pressed his fingerprint, the captain put away the documents and looked at Paris.

"Alright, you're free now."

Paris stared blankly at the document, her eyes instantly reddening.

He glanced at Ron, then at Doronbo who was laughing happily for him, and suddenly hesitated.

"etc."

Just as Paris was still too afraid to stand up, Ron spoke up.

He tilted his head and looked at the captain with a questioning gaze.

"Captain, I seem to remember that when the council called me here, they asked me to take both of them with me, right?"

Why have you released one so far?

Upon hearing this, Doronbo's smile froze instantly, replaced by a look of shock.

His wide eyes darted back and forth between Ron and the captain, finally settling on the captain, his lips trembling unconsciously.

"Wait, wait! Captain, I... I couldn't walk, could I? What's going on?"

The captain looked helpless and rubbed his temples.

"I hadn't even finished speaking when he pushed the door open and came in with his men. How am I supposed to continue?"

The captain sighed and, under Doronbo's expectant gaze, continued:

"Doronbo, there are other ways to resolve your case besides detention."

Given that you voluntarily surrendered yourself and most of the stolen goods have been returned, the council offers you another option: if you provide compensation to cover the remaining losses suffered by the victims, you can avoid imprisonment and be released now.

Doronbo then gave a wry smile and said:

"Compensation? Yes, but..."

磅~

Ron then took out a large bag of gold coins and placed it on the captain's desk, interrupting Doronbo.

"If you don't have the money, I'll cover it for you first. Is that alright, Captain?"

The captain put away the gold coin bag and said with a smile:

"No problem. I'll let you know if there's anything left after the deductions."

Doronbo turned his head blankly to look at Ron beside him, his eyes also reddening.

"Don't be too happy yet. You still have to pay this debt back. It will be deducted from your monthly salary slowly from now on."

Then Ron patted Dorambor and Paris on the shoulder and said:

"My theater troupe is in the development stage and needs more manpower. Since you have nowhere to go and can't find proper work, then come back and work hard for me. Don't even think about leaving the Pure White Theater Troupe until you pay off all this money."

Paris, fighting back tears, asked:

Why?

Ron smiled, turned his head to the side, and said:

"It's not easy to find a few suitable group members."

Besides, isn't this something friends should do?

"If Gray and Leo hear that I'm not bringing you back, they'll curse me too."

Doronbo and Paris could no longer hold back their tears and began wiping them away with their arms.

"Yes, Commander! We will definitely work hard!"

Looking at the two idiots crying their eyes out, Weiss shook his head helplessly, but couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth.

Seeing that the young commander has started to make new friends, the old commander must be extremely gratified.

"Okay, stop crying here. I have a ton of things to take care of."

The captain behind the desk chuckled and then waved for them to leave quickly.

"Alright, let's go."

Doronbo and Paris wiped the tears from their faces and helped each other to their feet.

They followed behind Ron and Weiss, finally walking out of the gates of the Council branch.

They then looked shocked when they arrived near the theater troupe's tent.

They saw a group of people queuing outside the tent, buying tickets from a little girl with purple hair.

Leqi, who had been wearing a sour face, only managed a slight smile after seeing Ron and the others return.

They finally got things sorted out, and now they have help.

"Ron, Weiss, you're finally here! Come help us, we can't sell all the tickets!"

Ron turned around and smiled at Paris and Dorumbo:

"Alright, you guys still have a lot of things to do."