The Fake Prisoners

"Indeed, the lady switched to scene two part six. We should prepare to capture him in case he tries to escape. She said that there was a high probability that he would attempt to flee.", said the one who was acting as an officer.

He explained that a fanatic had come when they heard that they had captured a Seiren citizen, who had been in many places all over the kingdom.

He nodded. He pondered for a moment and chose not to share his conjectures with the officer.

He gestured to the officer and said, "Let's go and tell the others that the show is over." He took the officer to the prison area where their comrades were acting as prisoners.

As they entered the first row of cells, he clapped his hands loudly and shouted, "BREAK A LEG!!! BREAK A LEG!!!" That was the code word they used to end their performance.

The fake prisoners murmured casually. They were not pleased with the abrupt stop. They had been having fun with their roles and wanted to keep playing.

"Is that it?" one of them asked. "No way, that's too short…" another grumbled. "I didn't even get to say my lines…" a third one moaned. "…the heater needs to be fixed, it's too…" a fourth one rambled. "…just because winter is coming, doesn't mean…" a fifth one went on. "Do you think I can try being an officer next time?" a sixth one wondered. They voiced their discontent and curiosity about the situation.

He then said, "Suit up! This is not a drill, we have to go back to our normal shifts, those who are on duty have to watch out for the spy in case he tries to run away. Listen up, don't forget to check the spy's picture in the mess hall!" He told them to change their clothes and resume their regular tasks. He warned them to be alert and familiar with the spy's face.

He spoke with dignity and authority. "Do you hear me?!!!" He wanted them to understand how important the mission was. He did not want any errors or carelessness that could endanger their security. He tried to teach them discipline and obedience.

"Hah! Yes sir!" they all saluted him firmly and simultaneously. They acted like loyal and obedient soldiers. They showed their respect and compliance to his orders. They showed their enthusiasm and motivation for the mission.

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!" he yelled louder. He wanted them to be more convincing and enthusiastic. He wanted them to show their confidence and readiness for action. He tested their loyalty and commitment to the cause.

"SIR!! YES SIR!!!" they shouted louder. They sounded like they were eager and prepared for action. They repeated his words with more force and energy. They tried to impress him with their loudness and fervor.

Two gates away, the spy prisoners heard the enthusiastic loud sound from afar and looked in that direction. They were curious about what was happening. They wondered if something had changed in the situation.

The naked man said, "It seems like we are on a break." He guessed that they had finished their interrogation for now. 

"Already?" The man in chains replied. He wondered why they ended so quickly. 'They should have escorted Moriarty here first, then called us one by one, so we can eat breakfast then walked back here in a bloody mess.' He remembered the usual routine of torture and humiliation that they supposedly had to face.

The red-haired man exclaimed in disbelief. "That can't be true. I didn't even get to say my cool script. Do you know how much I practiced it in front of the mirror!" He was visibly frustrated by the turn of events. He had prepared a witty and defiant speech for his interrogators. He wanted to show them his courage and intelligence. He felt cheated by the sudden interruption of his plan.

The naked man ignored his ranting in the right corner of the prison and said, "Lucky me, do you know how uncomfortable it is in here without underwear, so itchy. Why do I always have to be the one who loses a piece of clothing in every scene?" He scratched his butt as he complained.

The man with an X scar on his back who was lying on the floor, facing down, answered him, "Shush, you should blame the spy, he is the one who came here wearing only underwear. He must be dumb. Besides, you like the script you wrote yourself like 'You should all rest, tomorrow will be a long day.', so dramatic. I almost cried." He said sarcastically, mocking his companion's words.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tsk, easy for you to say, I'm starting to think that one day a prisoner will come wearing nothing at all. What will I be then?! A man with no skin?" He shivered at the thought of being skinned alive for an act.

They all nodded in agreement when the naked man said this. But they agreed not with his complaint, but with the idea that if that happened the prisoner would be terrified and spill everything. They knew how effective their strategy was. They had used it many times before and it always worked like a charm.

The red-haired man changed the topic and said, "I'm curious though." He wanted to distract them from the unpleasant subject.

"About what?" the naked man asked, looking at him. He wondered what he was going to say.

The red-haired man shared his curiosity about the lady who had more authority than the warden. "The Madam… she seems more involved in this mission than the previous ones." He wondered why she was so interested in this case. He had noticed that the lady had been giving them more guidance and oversight than usual.

"Isn't it because it's been months since the last captive? Look at those guys before, they sounded more energetic than before. Do you know that they even took turns to be prisoners?" the man with X scar on his back said. He thought how ridiculous it was that the soldiers of a great fortress all wanted to be prisoners. He guessed that they were bored of their routine and wanted some excitement.