《The Warden of The Witches》


 Chapter 1:

    Chapter 1:


    <b>This is My Escape Route</b>


    Late at night, Silver City, Iron Rose Prison.


    In the woods outside the prison, a slender pale hand bursts through the rocky soil from below.


    "I''ve dug through! Hahaha, I finally dug through! I''ve escaped!"


    The pale-faced woman digs open the hole and desperately crawls out of the dirt,pletely disregarding the mud covering her prison uniform.


    "Aiden, you idiot, you thought you could keep me locked up? This is my escape route, and in terms of wit, you can never surpass me, Ophelia!"


    The vampire princess Ophelia, is one of the top-priority criminals closely monitored by the Iron Rose Prison.


    Despite her power being sealed, she secretly dug for a whole two years, and finally today, she sees the light of day... no, the light of the moon!


    Ah, this is the full moon outside the prison, this is the air of freedom beyond the prison walls...


    After Free from the seal of the Iron Rose Prison barrier, the power belonging to the Night Kin once again fills her entire body.


    Ophelia stands beneath the night sky, takes a deep breath, joyfully spreads her arms and raises her head letting out a triumphant cry to the round moon in the sky: "Wryyyyyyyyy!!"


    "You haven''t even gotten far in your escape and you''re making such a fuss. Are you afraid I won''t find you?"


    Azy male voice suddenlyes from behind her.


    "You jailbreakers seem to be getting worse every time."


    Ophelia is startled, her whole body shivering, and she quickly turns around.


    With a sharp click, a brilliant white light dazzles Ophelia eyes.


    She instinctively closed her eyes, and when she reopened them, she saw a young man in uniform half-kneeling on the ground, holding a camera aimed at her.


    "You''re quite slow. I''ve been waiting for you for a while." The young man greeted her calmly.


    "You! You you you you... Aiden!?" Ophelia screamed in horror.


    "Call me Warden. It''s been two years since i''ve transferred from the Inquisition bureau, and you still don''t remember the rules?"


    The young man stood up unhurriedly, and dusting off his pants.


    "Why on earth are you here!?"


    "Of course, I came here specifically to take you back. It''s my job, after all. Ophelia, you still have ny-eight years left on your sentence," Aiden replied matter-of-factly.


    "Why... how did you find out I escaped?" Ophelia stared at him in disbelief.


    Aiden smiled, "Well, actually, two years ago, when you first started secretly digging this tunnel under your restroom, we already knew about your escape n. And have been monitoring your progress."


    "That''s impossible!"


    "Please use your brain a little. You''re a vampire, you don''t need to use the restroom at all, yet you spend over two hours in the restroom stall every day. Were you digging a tunnel or having a midnight snack in there? How could we not suspect you?"


    Aiden shrugged


    "Every day when you go out for some fresh air and throw away the rocks you dug up, we would go to your room to check how far your tunnel had progressed."


    "Then why did you wait until now toe and arrest me?" Learning that her two years of effort were all in vain, Ophelia felt a bit overwhelmed.


    "First, to teach you a lesson, of course. Second, for a bit of fun." A sinister smile crept onto Aiden face as he waved the camera in his hand towards Ophelia.


    "Look, the Proud Blood Princess digging holes underground like a groundhog, covered in dirt. It''s truly a sight to behold!"


    "You bastard, I''m going to kill you!" Ophelia was infuriated and embarrassed, and a vast wave of killing intent erupted from her crimson eyes.


    "Oh? Your escape n has already been exposed, and you still want to try and break through by force?" Aiden narrowed his eyes slightly.


    "Don''t forget who caught you in the first ce."


    In an instant, the fear that deeply rooted in Ophelia memory was awakened. Back then, it was this man who single-handedly captured her and threw her into this heavily fortified and terrifying Iron Rose Prison.


    Just as she wavered, arge-caliber gun was silently pressed against the back of Ophelia head.


    only then she realized there was someone behind her. She slightly turned her head and saw a petite girl standing behind her.


    In her slender left hand, she held a deadly weapon that seemed entirely mismatched with her size, and in the other hand, she held a curved de. Her eyes were calm, like a stagnant water, devoid of any emotion.


    "You''re... Evangeline?"


    Ophelia was taken aback. She recognized this girl ¡ª "Tainted Blood Evangeline," prisoner number 3201, a top-level criminal marked with a dangerous red rating, She was once the world''s top-ranked prodigy assassin, now imprisoned for murder.


    "What are you doing here? Why are you helping this man?" Ophelia felt a bit confused.


    "..."


    Evangeline didn''t speak.


    But, Aiden answered for her, "I selected some capable individuals among the prisoners, negotiated a certain degree of amnesty for them. In return, they assist me, helping maintain order in this prison."


    More figures emerged from the woods. Ophelia surveyed her surroundings and suddenly felt a chill down her spine.


    The Witch Daley, necromancer Arsena, and including Evangeline, a total of three female prisoners, they are all prominent and dangerous red-alert level criminals in the Iron Rose Prison.


    "Damn it, why are you all acting aspdogs for this man? Are you really content to spend your entire lives in this prison?"


    Ophelia shouted,


    "If you have even a shred of pride as the strong, join me in killing this man and reim our freedom together!"


    However, no one responded to her. In the end, it was Aiden who spoke,


    "Don''t waste your breath. Each of them willingly signed a demon pact with me.


    If anyone tries to escape, I can execute them on the spot with a flick of my finger.


    On the other hand, if they assist me, I can ensure their treatment in the prison."


    Ophelia was dumbfounded.


    "So, vampire, what''s your choice... to obediently return to your cell, or are you prepared to face us?" Aiden stared at Ophelia.


    "I, I..." Ophelia suddenly panicked.


    The likelihood of breaking free from the three women whose strength matched her own, while also dealing with the man who once defeated her at the peak of her strength, was extremely slim.


    However, yielding to the tyranny of this man was akin to throwing her dignity as a Blood Princess into the gutter.


    Giving up the freedom right in front of her, bowing down as a prisoner of humans, how could she swallow this bitterness?


    Freedom or death! Damn humans, don''t underestimate the determination of the Blood Princess!!


    After a struggle within her heart, she raised her face to meet Aiden gaze, gathered her energy, and prepared to speak with conviction¡ª


    "If you dare to make a move, after I catch you this time, I''ll tie you to a cross, stuff your mouth with garlic, and leave you out in the sun for a day." Aiden suddenly added.


    "I just came out to enjoy the moon and I''m going back, why threaten me like this!" Ophelia expression instantly changed, adopting a pitiful and helpless look.


    Forcing a breakthrough was indeed too much of a stretch. It was better to back down for now and strategize for the long term.


    Keeping the hills green is more important than burning the firewood, this was purely for strategic considerations and definitely not because she was scared...


    Aiden stared at her for a while, then rolled his eyes and let out a sigh.


    He raised his hand and pointed to the hole she had dug, "Get in by yourself, don''t waste any more time."


    "Oh..." Ophelia shrank back a little, slowly moving towards the hole, reluctantly starting to crawl inside.


    "Hurry up, if you don''t get in soon, I''ll pour holy water in there!" Aiden urged, frowning, while also making a gesture towards Evangeline.


    Evangeline nodded in understanding, raised her foot, and gave Ophelia a kick right in the butt, sending her straight into the hole.


    As Ophelia disappeared into the hole, Aiden turned to Dalia beside him and instructed, "Fill in this tunnel and seal it."


    "Yes, Warden."


    The enchanting witch with a wide-brimmed hat elegantly saluted, then waved her wand to start casting the spell.


    "Warden, this is thest prisoner attempting to escape today." Theposed necromancer pushed up her sses on her nose and calmly reported to Aiden.


    "Very well, let''s do one final inspection of the cells and then call it a day."


    Aiden methodically picked up his military-style hat, matching his uniform, and led the female prisoners towards the direction of the prison.

 Chapter 2:

    Chapter 2:


    <b>You''re Always There</b>


    As the intricate mechanisms were unraveled one by one by the female prison guard, the heavy iron door blocking Aiden finally swung open.


    Before him stretched a long corridor, with neatly arranged cells on either side.


    The Iron Rose Prison of the Silver City, widely recognized as the strictest and most fortified women''s prison on the continent, housed the most dangerous female criminals.


    Aiden was the warden in charge of managing this prison.


    This was the core area deep within the Iron Rose Prison, where the most dangerous witches in the world were held. As the warden, Aiden took time every few days to personally inspect this area.


    Walking alongside Aiden, the head of the cell block, Franda, entered through the gate and confidently shouted, "Line up in front of the door! Behave, the warden is here for an inspection!"


    At her words, dozens of cages immediately stirred.


    "Aiden''s here?" The female prisoners gathered in front of the cell door, peering down to the corridor through the iron bars.


    "How have you beentely,dies?" Aiden waved to everyone with a smile, just like a star actor in an opera house when greeting their fans.


    This statement immediately set the entire prison abuzz. In an instant, there was an uproar of cries and howls, a passionate disy of "affection" for the warden.


    "You, damn it! Someone, feed the esteemed warden some shit!"


    "Aiden, you son of a bitch,e in and face me one on one If you have the guts!"


    "Haha! Our big shot warden''s here for another visit. Must be feeling unsatisfied. Come over and kiss my feet!"


    "Aiden, you stupid jerk! Come and take a punch from me!"


    A torrent of vicious curses filled with murderous intent surged, but both Aiden and Franda who apanied him, were already ustomed to this.


    They walked along the corridor without much surprise, systematically counting the prisoners in their cells.


    In the deepest part of this core area, only one type of criminal was primarily confined, those with outstanding strength, mostly beings beyond the capabilities of regr prisons.


    They included various species like vampires, demons, witches, evil dragons, and even some indescribable entities... The diversity was enough to form a biological museum.


    Most of these witches were ruthless characters who trampled on rules with their formidable power, making them the most dangerous elements in this prison.


    it was possible to roughly gauge the length of their stay in this prison, From the different reactions of the female prisoners.


    The ones who jumped around and shouted the loudest were actually the neers who had been recently imprisoned in this prison. Their spirit hadn''t yet been crushed, and their initial reaction upon seeing the Warden was still a strong desire to exact revenge.


    Next were those who had been imprisoned for a while, after having tasted bitterness a few times they subsequently restrained themselves somewhat.


    While their edges were still present, they no longer had the urge to unleash impotent rage.


    Take Ophelia, for example, who had recently escaped and was recaptured.


    "Well, well, Groundhog Princess." Aiden stopped in front of a cell, looking at Ophelia, who red at him with a face full of resentment.


    Ophelia turned her face away in annoyance.


    "Because of your escape attempt, your sentence is going to be extended," Aiden teased.


    "Whatever, I already had a hundred-year, so one more year changes nothing!" replied Ophelia defiantly.


    "Starting tomorrow, you''ll be in solitary confinement for a month..."


    "No big deal, I''ve used to slept in a coffin before!" Ophelia scoffed.


    "I''ll use the picture during your escape as promotional material, for everyone here to see," Aiden added.


    Ophelia faltered, this time. Aiden had captured the moment when she turned around in shock while covered in mud.


    If other inmates saw this, it would be akin to a public execution. She''d likely be the butt of jokes among the prisoners for a long time.


    Aiden deliberately waited until Ophelia climbed out of the prison before closing the. His main objective was to humiliate her and let the other inmates see how the escapee danced in the palm of his hand, the warden. This was to truly serve as a warning for others.


    Sometimes, pride was a more effective restraint than self-interest. Many prisoners didn''t mind the punishment, but they cared about losing face.


    "Suit yourself!" Ophelia gritted her teeth, squeezing out these defiant words.


    "And also, your treatment level will be lowered. Starting from tomorrow, your daily ration will be just half a cup of blood."


    Now Ophelia couldn''t hold back any longer. "Wait a minute, giving a princess like me a pig''s blood to drink is already too much. Are you trying to starve me to death now?"


    "What princess? You''re already a prisoner. Please have some self-awareness. If you want to restore your treatment, then behave and follow the rules. Viting the discipline again won''t result in just a reduction in treatment." Aiden smirked.


    Ignoring Ophelia''s furious curses, the two continued walking. The corridor in the deepest part was much quieter than the front. Most of the prisoners gathered at the railing were very cooperative. Some even greeted Aiden on their own initiative:


    "The warden is here too today."


    "The warden got a new haircut? Looks handsome!"


    "Warden, when are you taking me out for some fresh air!"


    .....


    Aiden waved to them with a smile, but Franda, who was following behind, didn''t rx for a moment. She knew very well that most of these seemingly cooperative prisoners were long-term serious offenders.


    Having spent extended years in the Iron Rose Prison and undergone Aiden personal training, they hadpletely assimted into prison life.


    Compared to the seemingly ferocious neers at the front, these experienced ones were actually more cunning and dangerous. And the most powerful group of witches in this prison are among them.


    Of course, there were asional exceptions.


    "Oh, Aiden-sama! I''ve missed you so much!" The enchanting subus waved enthusiastically at Aiden through the iron bars, even blew him a flying kiss.


    "Oh, it''s Feier," Aiden nodded out of habit and continued walking.


    After a few steps, he suddenly realized something was amiss. He furrowed his brow, retraced his steps, and stared intently at the subus in the cell.


    "Why are you still here? I remember you were released on parole justst month!"


    "Ahaha, well..." Feier scratched her face, awkwardly averting her gaze.


    Aiden figured out what was going on and turned to Franda beside him, asking, "When did she get back in?"


    "Today. The Same old reasons, illegal operations and a safety ident, privately organizing other subi for the old trade, but without restraint, leading to arge number of men being hospitalized due to sudden weakness," Franda replied expressionlessly.


    "Why is it always you during these crackdowns?" Aiden rubbed his temples, his face heavy with concern.


    Considering his tenure as warden, this was already Fei''s fifth time being sent here.


    Could this woman here intentionally provoking him?


    As a subus, Fei and herpanions had the ability to induce erotic dreams to the others and absorb their life force during the opportunity.


    So, they opened a shop, charging clients for dream services. As the leader of this group of subi, Fei became the madam of this establishment.


    This line of work wasn''t explicitly prohibited, but due to Fei and herpanions''ck of restraint, they often excessively drained their clients'' life force.


    This led to clients being hospitalized due to life-threatening weakness during their sleep.


    And so, all these subi were thrown into prison due to operational idents, and the shop was shut down.


    However, Fei disyed an extremely resilient spirit. in this regard. Even after losing her license to operate the shop, she managed to gather herpanions and secretly resumed her previous line of work after being released.


    But these insatiable subi had absolutely no capacity for learning from their mistakes.


    They were soon caught for the same reasons again. And thus, with each repeat of their old ways, Fia became a frequent visitor to the Iron Rose Prison.


    Under normal circumstances, someone with her level of power and criminal record would bepletely ineligible to bepared to the other inmates in this area.


    But as a high level subus, Fei not only could use magic to pass through walls but could also charm ordinary people with just a gaze.


    Regr prisons simply couldn''t contain her, so she could only be thrown into the core area of the Iron rose Prison.


    "I''ve only made a tiny, little mistake, yet they dare call me a repeat offender and sentence me to a whole year. It''s so unfair! Aiden-sama, could you please find a way to help reduce my sentence? I''m willing to do anything..." Fei pouted and coquettishly appealed to Aiden.


    "Oh?" Aiden suddenly seemed intrigued. He nced around, then leaned in closer to Fia, asking her in a mysterious tone, "Really... anything?"


    "Of course, absolutely anything," Fei eyes gleamed with excitement, seeing signs that he was taking the bait.


    "In that case..." Aiden licked his lips, paused for a moment, then smiled warmly.


    "Can you promise me you''ll truly reform? Promise me you won''t engage in illicit activities again, alright?"


    "Huh?" Fei was momentarily stunned, then quickly forced a smile. "Yes, yes, I promise. I''ll definitely do it next time. But for now, can you find a way to help reduce my sentence? I''ll make sure to serve you well at night..."


    "You''ve got the nerve to talk to me about reducing your sentence? I''ve tolerated you for long enough!" Aiden''s expression suddenly turned stern.


    He kicked the iron railing, eximing, "Every time, you make my workload increase over such trivial matters. Do you think this ce is an inn!?"


    One of the most important aspects of being a prison guard was to never fully trust the inmates. The most dangerous aspect of subi was their ability to charm their targets when they let their guard down, thereby gaining control over their minds.


    Furthermore, Fei had a long history of offenses. Even the clients who were merely recipients of her dream-inducing spells ended up in the hospital, requiring emergency treatment.


    If he directly epted her temptation..... It was possible that he would die on the spot.


    Frightened by Aiden''s fierce demeanor, Fei shrank back, stammering, "I was just... just..."


    "Shut up. If youe in here again, I''ll lock you up with the corpse witches," Aiden threatened with a cold, icy re.


    "No, please, those undead beings smell terrible!" Fei paled with fear.


    Aiden didn''t pay any further attention to this peculiar subus. He continued with his subordinates to recheck the headcount.


    Finally, Aiden stood at the entrance of the corridor again, took off his hat, and addressed the prisoners, "I''m pleased to see you all still cooperating with our work. Until next time,dies. I hope you''ll strive to reform and start anew here in the iron Rose Prison."


    Amidst a chorus of curses from the female inmates, Aiden closed therge gate once more.


    Today, it was once again a peaceful day, in the Rose Prison.

 Chapter 3:

    Chapter 3:


    <b>Death Row Inmate</b>


    <i>(TN : rose iron prison -> rose prison)</i>


    <i></i>


    The next day, in the warden''s office.


    "Warden, all the cell blocks have been inspected, and everything seems normal," Cell Block Supervisor Franda respectfully saluted Aidan, who was seated behind his desk.


    "Alright," Aiden nodded while immersed in processing documents.


    "These are the letters that were delivered to the warden''s mailbox today. I''ve brought them for you," Franda handed over a neatly bundled stack of envelopes.


    "Why there''s so many today? Are any of them with official stamp?" Aiden looked up for a moment.


    "No, they''re all regr letters."


    "In that case, set them aside for now. I''ll look at themter," Aiden gestured with his pen towards the corner of the desk.


    Warden mailbox at the Rose Prison was open to the public, epting not only work-rted letters but also deliveries from the public to gather feedback.a practice Aidan had established since taking the office.


    However, it was rare for the general public to send letters to the prison. Most of the ordinary mail came from inmates'' rtives, friends, or other relevant individuals, and their contents varied widely.


    These letters had a lower priority in terms of work and were usually dealtst.


    "And this is the suggestions submitted by inmates from the Core Area yesterday. I havepiled it, please review it," Franda presented another report paper.


    The provision allowing inmates to regrly submit suggestions to the warden was also newly added after Aiden took office.


    In the old Rose Prison, it was unimaginable for inmates to have amunication channel with the wardens.


    "Just read them out to me," Aiden instructed without lifting his head.


    "Room Two Tiger BeastMan, Felipa, requests permission to purchase a hairbrush, stating it''s for grooming during shedding season..."


    "Approved."


    "All inmates in Room Four apply for the addition of theplete series of the novel ''The Dominering Duke of Hell and Little Witch'' to the reading room."


    "Do they really manage to read that trashy novel? Approved."


    "Room Six Katherine, applies to buy a dagger, iming it''s just for warding off evil."


    "Denied. Tell her not to take the guards for fools."


    "Also from Room Six, Anna... She left ament on the application saying she''ll hang you sooner orter, and then hoist the body onto the mast of her gship."


    "Denied. Have that pirate''s meals changed to her least favorite dried radishes for the next couple of days."


    "Room Thirteen Subus Fei applies for a sentence reduction, promising to thank you in a special way..." ¡¥??_?(? ??¡ã? ???? ??¡ã?)?_?/?¡¥


    "Denied. Let her know that any simr applications in the future will result in solitary confinement!"


    ...


    Aiden responded one by one to the applications read out by Franda, while efficiently managing his workload. Franda couldn''t help but show a hint of admiration for her superior.


    Apart from Aiden himself, no one knew how he could handle this job so skillfully.


    This was mainly because he had work experience that didn''t belong to this world.


    Beforeing to this world, he had gone by another name, working diligently as a prison guard in a world without magic and fantastical species, until he passed away due to illness.


    Then, inexplicably in this world, he transmigrated into the body of a young police officer who was assassinated in the outskirts and started a new life.


    The "Aiden" before him, was a senior investigator proficient in marksmanship, swordsmanship, and even ck magic.


    He belonged to an enforcement agency called the Inquisition Bureau and had personally apprehended many dangerous criminals¡ª including yesterday''s escapee Blood Princess Ophelia.


    Of course, this had also earned him numerous enemies.


    After inheriting the memories of his predecessor, he immediately realized a serious problem¡ª with his level of experience, it was likely he wouldn''tst long on this role in his second life.


    Fortunately, he soon discovered that in this world, he had the opportunity to transfer to other judicial departments.


    Following the principle of loving what he did, he did everything he could to transfer himself to a prison job, just like in his previous life, bing a prison guard.


    In just a few years, he had used the umted work experience from his previous life to steadily rise to the position of warden.


    Although he didn''t have any peculiar "cheats" in the traditional sense, the experience from his previous life proved useful, and he was generally satisfied.


    After finishing his current tasks, Aiden lifted his face and was surprised to see Franda still standing in front of his desk. He asked, "Is there anything else?"


    "All the new inmates are scheduled to be brought in tonight, and I wanted to report this to you," Franda replied.


    "What kind of inmates?"


    Aiden knew this wouldn''t be an ordinary inmate. Normal inmates wouldn''t require a special report to the warden. They would only be briefly mentioned in the weekly reports, like yesterday subus illicit trade.


    "She''s a senior officer from the Mounted Police, named Veronica Wolfie, twenty-two years old. She''s been sentenced to hanging for the murder of a civilian, and the execution date is set for the twelfth of next month. It''s been requested that she be transferred to the Core Area."


    "Why does she need to be transferred to the Core Area?" Aiden asked again.


    Murderers in the Rose Prison were by no means considered rare. If it wasn''t for dangerous individuals that other prisons had difficulty containing it, there was no need to send them to the Core Area of Rose Prison, nor was there any need to specifically report it to him.


    "She''s a pureblood werewolf," Franda added.


    "I see," Aiden understood.


    Werewolves are endowed with the ability to transform into wolves due to a curse, they also suffered from a symptom where they would lose their rationality and be controlled by a bestial urge to kill upon seeing a full moon.


    Pureblood werewolves, on the other hand, refers to those whose entire bloodline had been cursed and being born with the werewolf curse.


    Their beastly state was even stronger than that of regr werewolves. Of course, their uncontroble state was also more terrifying.


    Normal prisons found it difficult to contain werewolves. These powerful creatures, after transforming, could easily break chains with their bare hands and could easily take guards as hostages. This was the primary reason why this inmate would be transferred to the Core Area of Rose Prison.


    "For a werewolf to be an officer in the Mounted Police, it''s either due to outstanding abilities or some sort of backdoor deal," Aiden remarked casually.


    As a judicial officer, Aiden had a certain understanding of the internal culture of the police force. Werewolves were feared by the public due to their risk of losing control, and department leaders who were afraid of taking responsibility would never be willing to recruit or promote them.


    "Judging From her record, her personal abilities are indeed exceptional. She scored full marks on the police selection test at seventeen, apprehended two A-level wanted criminals, and even received a second-ssmendation for her outstanding performance during a catastrophic level monster disaster. She was apreciated because her outstanding performance, but this incident made her superior who promoted her facing disciplinary action."


    "The rising star of the police force has bing a death row inmate, it''s quite interesting," Aiden nodded. "When will the transfer be?"


    "Tonight."


    "Then schedule another inspection for tomorrow morning. I''ll meet with the new inmate."


    "Understood," Franda was about to leave when she noticed that Aiden''s cup was empty. "I''ll get you a refill of tea."


    "No need to trouble yourself..."


    "It''s okay, it''s just a small gesture."


    Franda graciously took the tea cup and left the office, heading to the tea room.


    "Good morning... Oh, isn''t this the warden''s cup?" Another colleague who came to pour tea greeted her.


    "Yes, just serving tea and water for the boss," Franda replied as she poured tea.


    "That''s right, this service is necessary. Without the boss here, how could we have the good days of leisure tea breaks?"


    The colleague shook her head with a nostalgic tone.


    "Thinking back to the days when I was so busy, I couldn''t go home for days. My husband almost divorced me."


    "Alright, enough with the ttery. How about you take charge of pouring tea for him from now on?" Franda smiled.


    They both were considered veteran prison guards at Rose Prison. In terms of seniority, Aiden was far behind them.


    When Aiden was first transferred to Rose Prison, he was barely in his early twenties. Many people were worried whether this youngd could handle the job here.


    You see, Rose Prison contains almost all the most dangerous witches on this continent. Incidents of demonic mayhem were frequent, and prison breaks and riots were like everyday urrences.


    Compared to the Thorn Prison, a male equivalent prison, Rose Prison has always received less attention. The shortage of funds and manpower has made management very difficult.


    Even the previous warden from ten years ago was killed by inmates in arge-scale riot.


    After that, anyone who took over either resigned voluntarily or tried every means to transfer out. It wasn''t until Aiden, with his outstanding performance, was promoted to this position.


    Upon taking the office, Aiden immediately implemented a series of reforms to address the prison''s dilemma.


    He established a system of inmate treatment levels, used various rewards and punishments to train inmates, utilized privileges to incentivize capable model prisoners, set up an educational rehabilitation department, and introduced a library and sports facilities to alleviate the prisoners'' suppressed emotions.


    Through these measures, he quickly turned Rose Prison from the worst prison in Silver City into a model prison that receivedmendations year after year.


    After discipline and performance improved, the work of the prison guards became much easier.


    Everyone was deeply grateful to this young and promising warden. No one knew how he came up with so many methods. In the eyes of everyone, this boss had both strategy and an iron fist, someone worth attaching oneself to.


    "Oh, by the way, you didn''t forget to report about that death row inmate, did you?" a colleague reminded while pouring tea.


    "How could I forget such a big deal?" Franda shook her head.


    "I heard that not only did that guy injure the colleagues who came to arrest her, but she also tried to attack the judge during the trial. It''s really terrifying. Just because the other side said a few nasty words, she went over in the middle of the night and killed them," a colleague remarked, holding a tea cup. "Letting a werewolf be a police officer, I don''t know what the Mounted Police were thinking."


    "These types of death row inmates are the most troublesome. I can''t even imagine what kind of trouble she might cause. Honestly, I''m a bit worried,"


    Franda furrowed her brows slightly.


    "Before the execution date, we have to keep this monster for over a month. The prison''s wards can only seal magic, and there''s no way to deal with this kind of werewolf."


    "In a situation like this... the warden should be able to handle it, right?" another colleague said, expressing some concern.


    "Well, let''s hope nothing unexpected happens."

 Chapter 4:

    Chapter 4:


    <b>Please Change My Room</b>


    On the following day, Aiden once again arrived at the core area.


    "Where was the werewolf assigned?" he asked Franda beside him amidst the usual torrent of curses.


    "Room thirteen," Franda replied.


    "Isn''t that..."


    "Yes, ording to the prison admission order, she was assigned the same room as the subus, Fei," Franda nodded.


    Aiden walked silently to the door of room thirteen, and immediately a figure rushed to the cell door.


    "Aiden-sama! You''ve finallye!!" Fei''er cried out to Aiden from behind the iron bars.


    "Quickly, please change my room. I don''t want to stay with that murderer! She''s too terrifying. She just stares at me all night, and I''m to afraid to close my eyes!"


    "Shut up."


    A threatening, icy voice came from behind Fei, causing her shoulders to tremble, and she immediately fell silent.


    Aiden paid Fei no mind, and slightly tilted his head to peer into the cell.


    The death row inmate, Veronica, sat on her bed with one hand propped on her knee, her back Leaning against the wall, and she stared fixedly at the cell door.


    She was a somewhat pretty girl with shoulder-length hair, but at this moment, her eyes filled with ferocity,pletely disrupted that beauty.


    "You''re prisoner 3308, right? There''s no need to be so tense. Your roommate is just a subus withoutbat ability," Aiden said, smiling at her.


    "What does it have to do with you?" Veronica retorted without hesitation.


    "I''m the warden here, Aiden," Aiden says while adjusted his hat.


    "Oh, it''s the honorable overseer of this den of scum, my apologies," Veronica raised the corners of her mouth mockingly without concealing her sarcasm.


    "It seems we have another difficult one to deal with," Aiden raised an eyebrow.


    "Prisoner 3308, mind your tone when you speak. You''re in a prison now," Franda interjected with a stern face, issuing a warning to Veronica.


    Veronica showed no sign of restraint, her face still bearing a mocking smile.


    "I won''t be alive much longer. So you''ll have to forgive me for my attitude in what little time I have left."


    Franda eyebrow twitched, and after a moment of silence, she spoke, "Because you can''t contain your animalistic nature, someone has already died by your hand. Since you can''t undo that, at least repent in the little time you have left."


    Veronica blinked in surprise, and the smile on her face vanished as if a tide had erased it.


    She began to re fiercely at Franda. Several seconds passed before she spoke "Shut up."


    "Shut up? Who are you talking to? Do you think you''re still a mounted police officer?" Franda met her gaze without flinching, "Understand your position. You''re now prisoner 3308, just a murderer!"


    Before Franda could finish speaking, Veronica suddenly let out a chilling roar.


    "I didn''t kill anyone," Veronica said with a tense face, her lips trembling.


    "Most of the prisoners here im the same thing," Franda remained unfazed, "Regardless of how you protest, the fact remains that you''re a murderer¡ª"


    "Shut up, aaaaah!!"


    Without waiting for Franda to finish, Veronica let out a terrifying scream.


    The next moment, she lunged forward, crashing violently against the railing, the reverberation echoing down the corridor.


    Fei screamed and managed to dodge just in time, narrowly escaping harm.


    "Don''t act like you know everything! If you''re going to execute me, then spare me the talk! Just do it!!"


    Veronica gripped the railing and roared, a bestial growl emanating from the depths of her throat. In an instant, her ferocity wasid bare, sprouting wolf ears and a mouthful of sharp teeth, her two dark yellow beastly eyes ring with malice.


    This fierce appearance instinctively caused Franda to take a step back, while Fei cowered in the corner of the cell, trembling too afraid to make a sound.


    Only Aiden remained unmoved, standing in front of the cell, meeting Veronica''s gaze at close range.


    "Prisoner 3308," Aiden stared at the menacing Veronica, and calmly said, "Step back."


    In response, Veronica''s forcefully hit the railing and her wild beastly roar echoed from the depths of her throat.


    Aiden turned to the cell opposite and called out, "Daley, temporary unseal the spell casting permissions,e lend a hand!"


    "Very well, my dear warden." The witch Daley, who lived in the opposite cell, appeared with a smile at the railing, extending her hand through the bars and waving her wand. She murmured incantations, "¡¾My shadow, I''m swamped, lend me a few hands!¡¿"


    As soon as she finished speaking, the shadow beneath her feet suddenly surged like it was boiling. And Then, several jet-ck ws extended from the shadow, stretching out like the tentacles of an octopus.


    Aiden quickly stepped aside, allowing the ws to pass through the bars and grabs Veronica''s limbs and neck, forcibly pushing her back into the cell and pinning her against the wall.


    Veronica struggled and roared in fury, nearly breaking free from the grasp of these dark ws several times.


    "Oh my, this little sister has so much energy, she can''t even be restrained by the Shadow Demon''s ws," Daley marveled.


    "Don''t indulge in futile rage. Isn''t it embarrassing?" Aiden looked at Veronica and calmly advising.


    Veronica seemed to calm down slightly, stopping her movements and gasping for breath as she leaned against the wall and ring at him.


    "Aiden, you saw it all. Please help me change rooms!" Fei''er approached, trembling with fear, "This person is a death row inmate, a death row inmate! What terrible things might she do before she meets her end? If you don''t help me change rooms, I might end up with my neck bitten off by her today."


    "Wow, why not just donate some money and turn this ce into a resort? Choose whichever room you want and add two hundred servants?" Aiden mocked without hesitation.


    "I have the money, I can give you a thousand gold pounds. Just help me change the rooms!" Fei pleaded, gripping the bars and hopping in agitation.


    "Is that for real!?" Aiden eximed instinctively.


    He knew Fei had earned quite a bit from her shady activities, but he hadn''t expected her to be so rich that she could casually offer an amount that could sustain someone for most of their life.


    "Warden!!" Thanks to Frenda timely stern reprimand, Aiden snapped back to reality.


    "I''m just... surprised," Aiden cleared his throat, then turned to Fei with a stern expression, "Do you think this is an inn? And can change the rooms when You want? Just stay put!"


    Fei was a habitual offender, epting her bribe or sumbing to her seduction was equally as foolish, as it would be the same as voluntarily handing over leverage. It was definitely not a wise move.


    "Aiden, do you really think that if I die, you''ll be rid of a huge burden? You''re so ruthless, Lord Aiden! Sob... Even though I''ve been with you like that, they say a night together is a hundred days of gratitude. You''ve yed with me for so many days, and yet you treat me like this..." Fei suddenly began to wipe away tears with a woeful demeanor.


    "You can eat the food however you want, but you can''t talk nonsense. You''re ndering thew enforcement officers in front of him. do you find your current amodations toofortable and wish to spend a day in solitary confinement?" Aiden couldn''t help but give Fei a disdainful look.


    The calmed down Veronica nced at Aiden and sneered, "Heh, quite the impressive feat, Warden. No wonder you can manage so many scum. Turns out you''re the cream of the scum yourself!"


    "Do you believe everything others say?" Aiden shot her a sidelong nce.


    "Hmph, how about you Warden, you believe I''m guilty just because the Judicator said so? Why don''t you just let me go?" Veronica retorted.


    "Do you want to im you''re wrongly used?" Aiden sneered, "Isn''t that just your word against theirs?"


    Veronica fell silent, turned her face away, seemingly uninterested in continuing the conversation with him.


    Aiden observed her for a moment, confirming that she wouldn''t cause trouble anymore. He then gestured to Daley to retract the spell.


    Afterward, he turned to Fei, who was still sobbing, and lowered his voice, "Keep an eye on her. If she attempts suicide or does anything inappropriate, call for help immediately."


    "I have to watch her!?" Fei stopped feigning tears, widened her eyes at Aiden, "Sir, please don''t joke with me. I''d be grateful if she doesn''t kill me. Please, just change my room!"


    "This emotionally unstable death row inmate must be supervised. It may be a bit challenging, but cooperating with our work can lead to a reduced sentence, you know,"


    Aiden said with a kind smile, patting Fei shoulder.


    "Then I''d rather serve out the full year! Who wants to risk their life for a sentence reduction!" Fei put on a mournful face.


    "You''re so quick to object. I''m not negotiating with you," Aidenughed heartily, "This is an order from the warden. Just obedientlyply and spare me the nonsense."


    With that, he turned and walked away. Franda quickly followed, leaving Fei leaning on the railing while shouting, "No...! Lord Aiden, don''t leave me alone with her! Don''t go!!"


    "Later,pile all the information you can find on this wolf-woman. I want to take a look," after leaving the core area, Aiden suddenly hid his smile and instructed Frenda beside him.

 Chapter 5:

    Chapter 5:


    <b>Doubts</b>


    "The victim was a 28 years old proprietress of a tavern in the Lower City District. The initial conflict with the perpetrator stemmed from a counterfeit sales case.


    On March 26th, a guest reported to Officer Veronica, who was patrolling the streets at the time, that the tavern was selling fake wine.


    After Veronica conducted a preliminary investigation of the tavern, she ordered it to be sealed and brought the owner of the tavern - the victim''s husband - back to the police station.


    The next day, upon learning of this, the victim came to the station to protest and directly insulted Officer Veronica, leading to a confrontation between the two."


    In the warden''s office, Franda read out information about Veronica to Aiden.


    "Then, at 12:20 AM, someone heard gunshotsing from the tavern where the incident urred.


    Subsequently, the victim''s body was discovered, with a gunshot wound to the back that pierced her heart, causing instant death.


    Investigators on the scene found a shell casing that matched the caliber of the gun issued to the mounted police.


    Officer Veronica, who had shed with the victim earlier that day, was listed as a suspect.


    The investigation team then retrieved Veronica''s issued gun from the mounted police''s armory and found one bullet missing from it..."


    "Wait a moment, did she actually return the used gun to the armory?" Aiden raised his hand to interrupt.


    "Yes, the person on duty at the armory that day testified that Veronica returned the gun in a hurry in the early hours. His testimony, along with the missing bullet from the gun, became crucial evidence for Veronica''s conviction."


    "But when returning an issued gun ording to protocol, it should undergo inspection. If it had been fired, it would have been discovered on the spot, right?" Aiden raised a question.


    Franda nodded. "That''s also mentioned. The person on duty at the armory that day was a neer who had received guidance from Veronica before. He imed that he didn''t inspect Veronica''s issued gun at the time."


    "It does sound a bit strange," Aiden rubbed his chin.


    "What''s wrong?" Franda was puzzled.


    "ording to this, inmate 3308 killed the victim out of personal resentment. So, she should have been in an emotionally agitated state when shemitted the crime, right?"


    "Yes, that''s how the courthouse also ruled. Werewolves are more prone to emotional instabilitypared to regr humans," Franda affirmed,


    "After all, under normal circumstances, if she had a bit of rationality left whenmitting the murder, she wouldn''t have used a police-issued gun.


    If it wasn''t for her using the issued gun tomit the murder, the investigation team wouldn''t have found her so quickly."


    "When I was in the Inquisition Bureau before, I handled some cases of werewolf assaults.


    When a werewolf attacks someone, it''s mostly with bare hands or by throwing nearby objects.


    And When a werewolf gets angry, they unconsciously exhibit signs of transformation.


    While the transformation of female werewolves isn''t as pronounced as males, their fingers still thicken, and they grow ws,"


    Aiden demonstrated the motion of firing a gun with his hand, "Wouldn''t it be less convenient to use a gun in that state?"


    He retained the memories of the previous Aiden, the former ace investigator of the Inquisition Bureau.


    Comparing the violent werewolf cases in his memory with Veronica using a gun to kill, it indeed seemed unusual.


    "But, Warden, suspect 3308 is a mounted police officer. She should be very proficient in using firearms. Even if it''s a bit inconvenient, if she had an issued gun at hand, instinctively drawing and shooting wouldn''t be impossible, right?"


    "Then how do you exin her actively returning the issued gun aftermitting the murder, and not turning herself in?


    If she nned to deny the crime, why voluntarily hand over the evidence that could convict her to the police?


    Even if she couldn''t figure out a way to rece the bullet, she should have at least disposed of the issued gun, and then im that her gun was stolen,"


    Aiden raised his hands, "After all, she''s a police officer herself, and judging from her record, she''s not the type to make such a foolish move, right?"


    "Well, perhaps... it''s because she was too flustered aftermitting the murder?"


    Franda hesitated for a moment, then looked at Aiden with some confusion, "Sir, you don''t really think she''s been wrongfully used, do you?"


    "I''m just considering the possibility," Aiden shrugged.


    Franda sighed, "Sir, over seventy percent of the inmates here will try to argue that they''ve been wrongfully used, and many of them are caught red-handed. You have to understand, the most important thing in our line of work is..."


    "Don''t trust the criminals easily," Aiden finished her sentence with a smile,


    "I know, I know. I don''t actually believe her. It''s just that there are indeed some strange aspects to this case. From the verdict being handed down to the execution of the death penalty in less than two months, it''s quite mind-boggling."


    Franda recalled, "I heard it''s because the incident of a mounted police officer killing someone has tarnished the reputation of the police force, so the higher ups ordered to deal with it as soon as possible."


    "A Pressure from higher-ups, I can understand. After all, this can be considered a major scandal for the mounted police force," Aiden nodded.


    At that moment, someone suddenly barged in without even knocking.


    "Warden!" a female prison guard shouted in a flustered manner towards Aiden, without having time to salute, "Just now... there''s a fight among inmates in the bathhouse!"


    "Don''t panic. Take your time and exin. Which inmates were involved in the fight?" Aiden asked calmly.


    "It''s two inmates from Cell 6 in the Core Area, and two from Cell 13," the female prison guard reported nervously.


    Aiden and Franda exchanged a nce. The two inmates from Cell 6 were the female thief Katherine and the pirate Anna, while the inmates from Cell 13 were Fei and Veronica. It was surprising that Veronica, the werewolf, had caused trouble so soon after being transferred.


    "What''s the current situation? Have the personnel been brought under control?" Aiden turned back to the female prison guard.


    "They''ve all been subdued by the riot squad and have been transferred to the medical department. Inmate 3307 from Cell 13 suffered a head injury and is unconscious, but there''s no immediate danger. The two inmates from Cell 6 also sustained some injuries."


    "What about Inmate 3308, the one on death row?" Aiden inquired again.


    "3308..." The female prison guard paused, then shook her head, "She doesn''t seem to be injured."


    "Why did the fight break out? Was anyone able to get information out of them?"


    "Not... not yet. When I heard themotion and went in, there was only the death row inmate standing in the changing room. She had her hand around someone''s neck and looked quite fierce... so I called the riot squad toe and subdue her."


    The female prison guard answered cautiously, clearly worried about facing reprimands from her superiors.


    "Were there any other people present at the time?"


    "No, the other inmates had already finished showering and were gathering outside. There were only the four of them in the changing room."


    "So, the death row inmate gave the others a beating, right?" Franda sighed, rubbing her forehead.


    "Lead us to the scene," Aiden said after a moment of silence, gesturing for the female prison guard to lead the way.

 Chapter 6:

    Chapter 6:


    <b>Banter and Confrontation</b>


    Aiden pushed open the door to the prison infirmary and locked eyes with Veronica, who was seated across from the door. restrained by handcuffs, shackles, and two loops of belts, securely fastened to the chair as a temporary control measure.


    She had just been in a fight, and still in her transformed state, the sight of her gritting her teeth with a twisted expression was rather intimidating.


    "Warden!"


    The four guards watching over Veronica all saluted Aiden in unison ¨C it was a necessary number for guarding a werewolf.


    "Long time no see," Aiden greeted Veronica as he approached with his hands behind his back.


    "At this rate, we could have a meal together every day before your execution."


    Veronica turned her head away, seemingly disdainful of speaking to him.


    "Oh, it hurts so much! This damn bitch broke my nose. Warden, why don''t you hang this murderer already?" a sharp voice rang out from the other side of the room.


    Aiden nced in the direction of the voice and saw the thief Katherine, her face was bruised and swollen, angrily pointing in their direction.


    Not far away sat the pirate Anna, her face also marked with injuries. the prison doctor was standing by, tending to them.


    Aiden gave the doctor a questioning look, the doctor waved his hand. "They''re fine, just external injuries."


    "What about the other person?" Aiden inquired about Fei condition.


    "Prisoner 3307 is lying inside, still unconscious, but it''s nothing serious, just a mild concussion," the doctor gestured inside.


    "Prisoner 3308, do you make it a point to cause trouble every day?" Franda stood before Veronica with a dark expression, tapping her own palm with an iron rod.


    "You weren''t even there, how can you be so sure it was me causing trouble?" Veronica lifted her face challengingly, as if taunting.


    Franda took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and turned to Aiden to suggest in a low voice, "Warden, this person is a ticking time bomb. If we leave her unattended, she might end up killing someone again. While she''s caused trouble this time, let''s lock her up in solitary confinement and assign someone to watch over her. It''s just for a month anyway."


    Franda proposal was a rather experienced approach. Prisons always had troublesome inmates, and when they were housed with others, it was easy for conflicts to arise.


    Generally, wardens would try to find ways to transfer such inmates elsewhere, either by separating them from others or providing special arrangements.


    In Silver City, aside from here, there was no women''s prison equipped to amodate pure-blooded werewolves.


    They couldn''t transfer Veronica, so the most stable solution was to confine her in solitary before the execution ¨C of course, there needed to be a valid reason for solitary confinement, and getting into a private fight was a convenient justification.


    Veronica''s two beast-like ears twitched. Although Franda voice was low, she still heard it clearly ¨C werewolf''s ears had far superior hearingpared to humans.


    She sneered at the remark, but said nothing.


    Although the pair with visible injuries On the other side unable to hear, they could still deduce from the warden''s demeanor that a punishment was impending for Veronica. They both wore a sly grin, unconsciously.


    However, Aiden shook his head upon hearing Franda suggestion. "No need to rush things. Let''s first get the facts straight. Separate all four individuals involved and question them individually. Franda, you go talk to the two in cell six, and I''ll speak with the two in cell thirteen."


    It was basic interrogation technique to interrogating multiple suspects separately, scrutinizing every detail of the incident, and then cross-referencing testimonies to pinpoint lies. If the suspects hadn''t coordinated their stories beforehand, it was easy to catch discrepancies.


    Veronica looked at Aiden in surprise, and the pair from cell six also showed signs of concern.


    Franda hesitated briefly but ultimatelyplied. "Alright, understood."


    "Wait a moment, Warden! Why should we, who got beaten up, undergo interrogation?" Katherine protested loudly.


    "Isn''t this tant favoritism? It''s so great when having a pretty face, you can do whatever you want. After all, Warden, you''re also a man, right!" Anna chimed in, tauntingly.


    "Both of you¡ª"


    Franda was about to reprimand them sternly, but Aiden raised his hand to stop her, then addressed the two calmly, "Prisoner 3294, Prisoner 3295, are you nning to teach me how to do my job?"


    The two were momentarily taken aback, but then shamelessly burst intoughter.


    "Oh my, how frightening. Is the Warden going to punish us without any reason?"


    "The Warden casually using his authority to trample on prisoners'' rights, how dignified! If this were exposed to human organizations rights, I wonder what they would say."


    They became even more brazen in their mor. One used to be a bandit leader, the other a pirate captain, both were ruthless characters used to living on the edge, finding amusement in defying enforcers, and were unfazed by standard punitive measures.


    Having spent time in numerous prisons, they were well-versed in the extent of a prison guard''s authority. This insolent behavior was their specialty, and they can torture guards until they lose their temper.


    This was their first time in this Rose Prison, and they intended to assert their dominance over the warden using this tactic.


    However, Aiden showed no signs of anger, simply smiling at them,


    "Rest assured, I''m a fair person. If there''s no reason, I certainly won''t punish you.


    But I can still arrange for a room change.


    On Cell no three, ''Mad Harlow,'' is quite solitary. Since you''re so eloquent, why not share a room with her?"


    Upon hearing this, the color drained from the faces of the two.


    "Mad Harlow" was a notorious troublemaker in the core area of this prison. She was a wildly erratic cult priestess, never exhibiting any signs of normalcy. she Often would burst into fits ofughter while dancing around as if no one was around.


    Moreover, this individual was fond of sacrificial rituals for her cult. She would draw strange runes with blood in various ces (including on other people''s bodies and beds), and conduct ceremonies by herself.


    At times, she even attempted to gouge out the eyes of others while they slept, intending to use them as offerings.


    What''s even more terrifying is that she was bestowed with some kind of "blessing" by the malevolent deity she worshipped.


    Anyone who inflicted violence upon her would immediately suffer equivalent harm, and the madwoman herself seemed happy with the pain.


    In other words, ordinary people couldn''t touch her, they could only tolerate her.


    No one could endure being roommates with this lunatic for more than a day. Thest female prisoner assigned to share a room with her nearly hung herself.


    "There''s also Room Ten ''Rampaging Dragon Carmi,'' Room Eleven ''Tainted Blood Evangeline,'' and Room Neen Corpse Witch Sylvain..."


    Aiden casually recited a series of names that made most of the inmates in the core area shudder.


    He looked back and forth at the two, "Which one would you like as your new roommate? I can let you choose."


    Just a minute ago, the two were loudly defiant, but now they fell silent like a winter''s night.


    Seeing them cower in the face of adversity, Aiden smirked, "Don''tpare Rose Prison with the ''hotels'' you were in before.


    The core area houses hardened criminals, and even picking one at random, their level will far exceeds yours.


    I have no trouble getting along with them. I''ve tamed so many troublesome witches, and yet you think you can challenge me? If I need to make arrangements, I don''t need your consent.


    Cooperation with my work keeps everyone safe. If you insist on crossing swords with me..."


    He deliberately paused here, ncing at the two, his eyes carrying a hint of coldness, "Beware of meeting your end at my hands!"


    Katherine instinctively averted her gaze, while Anna clenched her lips and red at him, but couldn''t utter a word.


    Aiden knew that dealing with these hardened criminals required a certain level of ruthlessness.


    They saw thew as nothing, believing only in the rules of the jungle. The best way was to use even more ruthless criminals against them.


    His main concern was finding a way to contain the most troublesome batch of inmates.


    "Take them away!" Aiden turned back andmanded Franda behind him.

 Chapter 7:

    Chapter 7:


    <b>Don''t Push Your Luck</b>


    After separating Franda and the two prisoners from Room Six, Aiden moved a chair and sat down across from Veronica. "So, I suppose you''ll cooperate with my work right?" he inquired.


    Veronica looked at him with a strange expression, her eyes had a mix of curiosity and caution.


    "Why are you looking at me like that? Isn''t it basic procedure to investigate before taking action? You''ve been a police officer yourself, so nothing too surprising about it right?"


    Aiden began asking questions on his own ord. "Now go ahead and tell me about what happened, the more detailed the better."


    Veronica remained silent, while still staring at him.


    After a few seconds of eye contact, Aiden sighed. "What''s wrong, don''t want to talk? Is there not a single person willing to cooperate with me today?"


    "I... don''t like taking showers with those criminals," Veronica suddenly spoke up.


    Aiden was slightly taken aback, but quickly focused on listening to her.


    Veronica continued expressionlessly, "So, I deliberately waited until everyone else had finished before going in. Then, halfway through my shower, I heard voices in the changing room¡ªwerewolves have much better hearing than regr humans, so I heard clearly.


    Those two, in the changing room, were extorting the subus. They demanded money from her, or else they would find a chance to maim her."


    Aiden nodded slightly; this exnation was quite made sense.


    The barrier of the Rose Prison could seal magic, making prisoners like Fei, who had no abilities beyond innate spellcasting, powerless here.


    More importantly, she was wealthy. To Catherine and Anna, the seasoned bandits, she was like a walking money bag.


    "Then you went over to stop them?" Aiden asked with an amused smile. "Quite the sense of justice you have."


    "I just found them annoying," Veronica frowned.


    "And then you fought them? Who made the first move?" Aiden squinted.


    This was the crux of the matter. Normally, scoundrels like Catherine and Anna, who were quick to exploit the weak and fearful of the strong, would not willingly provoke Veronica.


    Not only was Veronica a pure-blooded werewolf, but she was also a death row inmate who would soon face execution. It would be easy for her to kill them, without worries about the consequences.


    Franda immediate assumption of Veronica''s guilt was based on this fact. Frankly, if Veronica had said they attacked first, Aiden wouldn''t have believed her either.


    However Veronica shook her head. "When I warned them in the changing room, they pretended to calm down. But when I returned to the bathroom to continue my shower, I heard them fighting in the changing room. So, I went back and saw those two beating up the subus with all their might. I couldn''t stand seeing them go so far..."


    "And you took action?" Aiden smirked knowingly. "Alright, ording to your ount, it was them who knocked Fei unconscious?"


    Judging from the result of this fight, Fei injuries were much serious than Anna and Catherine. To determine the responsibilitiy, this matter must be rified.


    "......."


    "No...., it was the soap," Veronica answered after a moment of silence.


    "Sorry?" Aiden didn''t quite catch that.


    "When I started to fight those two, the subus tried to take advantage of the chaos to escape. But she stepped on the soap I had dropped, slipped, and hit her head on the cab. She fainted on her own, it was just an ident."


    "Oh? You''re being surprisingly honest,"


    Aiden remarked, feeling a bit surprised. If that was the case, then the responsibility for Fei concussion would fall on Veronica''s negligence. Veronica had surprisingly admitted it outright.


    "I have a clear conscience," Veronica said calmly.


    "If that''s the case, why didn''t you rify things from the beginning? you didn''t even say a word in your defense" When Franda said something you.


    "If I told you, would you have believed me?" Veronica''s expression was nk.


    Aiden considered for a moment. "Whether I believe you or not, I''ll make my own judgment after I''ve asked everyone. But if you don''t speak up, others won''t even have a chance to believe you, right?"


    After saying that, He stood up gestured to the prison doctor, and heading to the room to check on Fei condition.


    Just as he ced his hand on the doorknob, he heard Veronica''s voice behind him: "Thank you."


    Aiden paused, turning around in slight astonishment. "Why are you Thanking me? I just gave you a chance to speak, that doesn''t mean I already believe you."


    "Just thanking you for giving me the opportunity to talk," Veronica said, sitting on the chair with her back to him. "Not many people give me a chance to speak, just because I''m a werewolf."


    "Is that so..." Aiden couldn''t say anything more. Each word Veronica said carried an unusual weight, leaving him momentarily unsure how to respond.


    He opened the door and saw Fei lying on the central bed.


    "How much longer until she wakes up?" he asked the prison doctor, approaching the bedside.


    "I don''t know, but if Warden wants her to wake up immediately, there''s a way," the doctor said, handing him a silver needle used for stitching wounds.


    "Poke her with this?" Aiden frowned. "Seems a bit inhumane."


    "No, what I mean is, Warden, you prick your own finger with this, then feed her a few drops of your blood," the doctor exined professionally. "Subi can absorb magic from a man''s body fluids to heal themselves."


    Aiden nced at the doctor with suspicion, but the doctor nodded confidently.


    After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally chose to prick his own finger with the silver needle.


    Then, he brought his finger close to Fei lips and squeezed out a few drops of blood.


    Fei immediately reacted, moving her eyebrows and then extending her tongue to lick the small amount of blood on her lips.


    The next moment, she suddenly sat up, taking Aiden''s finger into her mouth and eagerly sucking on it.


    Aiden was startled and instinctively tried to pull his finger away.


    But Fei grabbed his wrist without letting go, her mouth still half-mumbling, "Ambrosia! There''s the taste of ambrosia here!"


    Aiden decided to pull out his firearm from his waist, pressing it against Fei forehead. "There''s No ambrosia here, but I can give you a taste of lead if you want!"


    Fei was shocked and opened her eyes, locking gazes with Aiden.


    After blinking a couple of times, she suddenly forced a smile, looking awkwardly at him. "Lord Aiden, what are you doing? Why are you pointing a gun at me? I''m scared..."


    "keep pretending!" Aiden hit her head with the gun handle.


    "Ow, that hurts!" Fei pouted, covering the spot where she''d been hit with her hand.


    "Since you''re awake, answer my question! What exactly happened in the changing room?"


    Aiden couldn''t be bothered with small talk and went straight to the point in his interrogation.


    upon hearing this, Fei immediately realized the situation. She began to tearfully recount, "Wahhh... Lord Aiden, let me tell you, those two bitches extorted me in the changing room, and they evenid their hands on me! I was so scared!"


    she moved towards Aiden, As she sobbed. Aiden sternly pressed the gun against her head and pushed her back, saying, "Don''t push your luck. If you try that again, I''ll consider it an attack on a prison guard and take you out on the spot!"


    "I get it, I get it..." Fei pouted and then settled down.

 Chapter 8:

    Chapter 8:


    <b>Dream Heist</b>


    "...So, you''re saying Anna and Catherine from Room Six cornered you in the changing room, demanding control money, is that what you mean?" Aiden began his questioning with his arms folded.


    Fei vigorously nodded. "Yes, yes! They said if I didn''t give them the money, they''d break all my fingers. I told Them, Lord Aiden wouldn''t just stand by, but they said what can that piece of shit do¡ª"


    "First of all, I warn you not to exaggerate. If I catch you spreading rumors and insulting me, you can expect to be put in solitary confinement," Aiden interrupted sternly, ring at her.


    "Al-alright, I got it..." Fei pouted, settling down reluctantly.


    "Anyway, they were really threatening me in there, very aggressively," Fei added, shrinking her neck.


    Aiden nodded, finding this statement was consistent with Veronica''s.


    "And what about Veronica?"


    "She..." Fei thought for a moment. "She was originally showering alone inside, I don''t know how she heard, but she suddenly rushed out to warn those two not to go too far. They then started to attack her, and the death row inmate fought back against them."


    "They''d be foolish to provoke a death row inmate willingly, wouldn''t they?" Aiden stared into Fei eyes. "You better not be making things up, or..."


    "I-I must''ve remembered wrong!" Fei quickly waved her hands. "Those two bitches were scared off by her warning, but as soon as she left, they turned all fierce and started attacking me. Then the death row inmate came back to rescue me and a fight broke out."


    "If those two were so afraid of the death row inmate, how did they find the courage to attack you before she left?" Aiden squinted in suspicion.


    "Who..who knows? They''re bad people, and bad people are capable to do anything," Fei said, subconsciously averting her gaze.


    "You''re really trying to tell me you didn''t provoke them and push them to the point where they couldn''t help but attack you?" Aiden asked with a cold smirk.


    "H-how could I?" Fei chuckled nervously.


    "......"


    Aiden looked at her in silence.


    "Alright, alright, I''ll tell you the truth!" Fei surrendered, feeling ufortable under his gaze. "I saw that they were so afraid of the death row inmate, so I just teased them a little..."


    "So, you counted on Veronica to help you, and used her to deal with those two from Room Six," Aiden nodded, teasingly.


    "Impressive, very clever. Driving the tigers to devour the wolves, and saving on bodyguard fees."


    "What bodyguard fees? Wh-what are you talking about?" Fei eyes darted around.


    "Stop pretending. Even if Veronica didn''t help you, you would have paid other inmates to deal with those two idiots. You''ve been getting by here using this method all along, haven''t you?" Aiden bluntly exposed.


    Veronica was still unaware that she had been manipted by Fei. Although Feickedbat ability, she was quite cunning.


    As the richest woman in the core area, when she encountered trouble, she would choose to bribe other big shots in the prison to settle things for her. And because she had been in and out of the prison multiple times, she had built up quite awork here.


    Inmates who knew her wouldn''t dare to cause trouble for her. It was only the naive neers like Anna and Catherine, who had just been transferred from other prisons, would be foolish enough to extort her.


    "How could it be? I''m such a straightforward person..." Fei tried to y innocent.


    "Someone who''s running a brothel iming to be straightforward is like a lion iming to be a vegetarian," Aiden scoffed.


    "Final question, how did you faint?"


    Fei tapped her chin with her hand, pretending to reminisce. "I don''t know, when they started fighting, I was about to run, and then someone hit the back of my head..."


    "Are you sure it wasn''t just you slipping on soap and hitting the cab, knocking yourself out?" Aiden probed.


    "If you already know, why ask me?" Fei puffed up her cheeks.


    "So, the soap was dropped by Veronica, and you''re trying to cover for her?"


    "She did help me out after all. I''m a person with integrity," Fei said, crossing her arms and looking resolute.


    "You''re talking about integrity even after being in prison..." Aiden found it both amusing and exasperating.


    "Alright, I''ve got a grasp of what happened. Since you''re fine now, go back to your room with the guardter."


    Fei final statement matched Veronica''s. From this perspective, Veronica was likely telling the truth.


    Just as Aiden was about to get up, Fei suddenly stopped him. "Wait a moment, Lord Aiden."


    "What is it? Don''t tell me you''re feeling unwell and want me to stay with you here. I''m busy now, don''t cause trouble for me!" Aiden stared at Fei warily. This girl always found ways to be a nuisance.


    "No, it''s not that!" Fei pouted in dissatisfaction. "I just wanted to tell you, that guy... might not be a murderer."


    "How can you be so sure? Just because she helped you once?"


    "I was in a room with her yesterday, and I couldn''t sleep from fear. It was the first time I had to interact with someone so terrifying. I didn''t have a clue what to do, so while she was asleep, I tried to explore her dreams..."


    "aren''t your powers sealed?," Aiden furrowed his brows.


    "I still have a tiny bit left. While I can''t charm or absorb life force anymore, I can still peek into other people''s dreams." Fei exined to him.


    "Dreams sometimes reveal a person''s subconscious. I was trying to see if she had any psychological weaknesses."


    "Aren''t you quite the psychological master?" Aiden chuckled.


    "I''m serious!" Fei huffed. "We often delve into people''s dreams, studying their desires and preferences. Experienced subi like me have a certain understanding of human psychology."


    "What did you see in her dream then?"


    "Lord Aiden, could you please grant me a bit of spellcasting authorization so I can show you with an illusion?" Fei requested.


    Aiden immediately became suspicious.


    "I won''t try any tricks, I don''t want to die!" Fei eximed, patting the bed.


    "Fine." Aiden nced at the nearby prison medic. "Keep an eye on her, and if anything seems off, call the riot squad immediately."


    "You really don''t trust me at all," Feiined.


    "Anyone who trusts you would be the biggest fool in the world," Aiden retorted.


    "Alright, hurry up. Inmate 3307, temporarily unseal spellcasting authorization."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Fei felt a portion of her magic power suppressed by the barrier return.


    "Alright!" She sat up energetically on the bed, reaching towards Aiden''s temple to begin casting the illusion.


    Aiden felt a sh of white before the surroundings changed. He found himself sitting in the spectator''s seat of a courtroom. And The solemn pronouncement echoed from above:


    "...The defendant, as aw enforcement officer, abused their authority, using a firearm to kill a civilian.


    This act constitutes dereliction of duty and murder. Furthermore, during the process of apprehension, they maliciously attackedw enforcement officers, severely damaging the reputation of thew enforcement agency.


    The defendant has been unanimously convicted by the jury on charges of dereliction of duty, murder, and obstructing official duties. The court sentences the defendant to death."

 Chapter 9:

    Chapter 9:


    <b>There''s only one Truth</b>


    "This is... Veronica''s trial?" Aiden realized.


    "Yes, in her shattered dreamscapes, this scene appears most frequently." Fei sat beside him, handing over a bag full of popcorn.


    Aiden didn''t take it. He still wasn''t sure if this subus might take advantage of him. Maybe while he was eating in this dream, he was actually gnawing on a pillow in the infirmary back in reality.


    This was a very peculiar trial. The judge, prosecutor, and jury members were all giants over three meters tall. These giants had no eyes or ears, leaving only noses and enormous mouths, making them look incredibly bizarre.


    The only two living beings in the spectators'' seats were them. The others sitting in the seats was just a faceless puppets.


    After the judge pronounced the verdict, the hands of these puppets seemed to be lifted by invisible threads, and they started apuding.


    "Execution! Execution! Execution!" The puppets shouted in unison, echoing the judge''s verdict. They had no vocal cords or mouths, but they still produced sound, as if there was an invisible puppeteer behind each one, ventriloquizing in unison.


    "Why do these people all look so strange?" Aiden scanned the surroundings.


    "This is her dream, dreams are inherently strange. The appearances of these characters have evolved based on the impressions in her subconscious." Fei replied while munching on popcorn.


    "Is this how she sees herself?" Aiden pointed to the defendant''s stand.


    A girl with wolf ears, bearing a striking resemnce to Veronica, stood on the defendant''s stand, nervously scanning her surroundings, tears streaming down her cheeks.


    "Many people dream of their childhood when they feel insecure," Fei exined calmly.


    "In their memories, childhood is when they were the most vulnerable. Once they experience feelings of helplessness or injustice as adults, they link those feelings to memories of their childhood."


    After hearing Fei exnation, Aiden understood a little bit.


    This was the impression left in Veronica''s heart by that trial: in this trial, the prosecutor using her, the judge and jury who was judging her were all giants she couldn''t resist. These giants were blind and deaf, unable to see the facts or hear her defense.


    The spectators were all foolish puppets, cheering and rejoicing for the end of the "evil werewolf cop," but unaware that they were being deceived and manipted.


    As for herself, even though she was born with the formidable strength of a pure-blooded werewolf, she was still a small, helpless girl in the face of the entire society''s opposition.


    "Execution! Execution! Execution! Execution!"


    The judge, jury, prosecutor, and the puppets in the gallery all shouted in unison, extending a hand with a thumbs-down gesture.


    In the past, when the barbaric practice of ve diator fights still existed, the audience would collectively vote on the life or death of the loser after a deathmatch.


    Thumbs-up meant they allowed the defeated to live, while thumbs-down urged the victor to execute them.


    Veronica opened her mouth in distress, but not a sound came out of her throat. It was as if an invisible barrier enveloped her, blocking out all her sounds.


    The courtroom resounded with the deafening cries for her death, yet she could only wave her hands in a futile attempt and open her mouth, like she was performing on a silent movie.


    Aiden watched this absurd scene in silence. In reality, countless people feared Veronica as a pure-blooded werewolf;


    her ferocity and formidable strength instilled fear in both prison guards and inmates. It was likely that her fellow citizens and colleagues who knew of her lycanthropy felt simrly.


    However, in Veronica''s own subconscious, everything was turned upside down. Here, everyone wanted to kill her, but she was utterly powerless to resist.


    But Aiden remained cautious, "Just based on this, can we conclude she''s innocent? I''ve met many criminals with twisted minds, who believe their criminal actions were justified, viewing legal judgment as persecution."


    "But, I''ve seen many scenes in her dreams, and I haven''t found one rted to hermitting murder. If she cares so much about being sentenced to death, how is it possible that she has no profound impression of killing someone? This is very unusual."


    Fei raised a finger with confidence, and even conjured a detective''s hat and pipe with magic. "So, there''s only one truth, she''s been wronged!"


    "Alright, I understand what you''re trying to convey." Aiden nodded thoughtfully. "End the illusion."


    Fei snapped her fingers, and in the blink of an eye, Aiden''s consciousness returned from the illusion to reality.


    At this moment, Franda pushed open the door from outside and saluted him. "Warden!"


    "What did you find out?" Aiden responded, turning around.


    "Their initial statements during the first interrogation didn''t match at all, so I asked them again. Here are the transcripts." Franda respectfully handed over the transcripts.


    Aiden quickly skimmed through them. Anna and Catherine initially pointed their fingers at Veronica, but many details contradicted each other.


    It was clear there was an issue¡ªhowever, it could be understood.


    Veronica''s sudden attack on them was apletely unexpected situation. They didn''t have a chance to coordinate their stories from getting beaten up by Veronica to being restrained by the riot squad.


    Then, in the second interrogation by Franda, their statements became slightly more credible.


    They admitted to the extortion of Fei, and most details aligned with what Veronica and Fei had stated.


    The only contradiction was that they both used each other of being the mastermind behind the extortion, iming they were coerced aplices.


    "These two are quite loyal," Aiden sarcastically chuckled, returning the transcripts to Franda.


    "Both of them will be in solitary confinement for ten days, and their treatment level will be lowered to the minimum. The extortion case will be filed separately, and they can congratte themselves on an extended sentence."


    "Understood, but what about the death row inmate... Veronica?" Franda asked cautiously.


    After realizing she had nearly falsely used Veronica, her attitude had be more cautious.


    "Put her in solitary confinement for half a day, and tomorrow morning, send her back to her own room," Aiden immediately gave instructions.


    "Does she... also need to be put in solitary?" Franda hesitated.


    "Stopping the duo from Room Six can be considered as an righteous act and won''t be pursued. But she is partially responsible for the ident caused by the soap she dropped on the ground, so she must bear some of the me. We have to follow the regtions," Aiden smiled.


    "Alright, I understand. I''ll assign someone from the night shift to watch over her," Franda replied.


    "No need, I''ll go personally," Aiden waved his hand. "It just so happens I have some questions to ask her privately."

 Chapter 10:

    Chapter 10:


    <b>The Understanding Warden</b>


    The solitary confinement cell in the Rose Prison was a room with an area of less than three square meters. The only facilities were a squat toilet and a basin with water.


    There wasn''t even a bed, the inmates had to lie on the floor next to the squat toilet and cover themselves with a nket to sleep.


    The room had no windows, only a food port on the iron door and a small grille on top formunication with the outside world.


    For a prisoner in solitary confinement, everything from eating, drinking to using the restroom and sleeping had to be done in this cramped space of less than three square meters. Everydays was truly felt like years.


    Compared to this, a regr cell would feel like paradise, which is why the prison used solitary confinement as a disciplinary measure for inmates who vited rules.


    Aiden personally led Veronica into the solitary confinement cell, closed the iron door, and then went outside to fetch a chair to sit by the doorway.


    "Why are you sitting here?" Veronica stood in front of the iron door, frowning and staring at him.


    "The solitary confinement cell is supposed to be supervised. If a prisoner were to harm themselves in there, it would be a big problem," Aiden replied calmly.


    "At least get a female guard. If you sit here, how am I supposed to use the restroom?" Veronica red at him harshly.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll leave after a few words," Aiden said, cing a wax-paper package in the food slot. "Hungry?"


    "What''s this?" Veronica didn''t immediately take it, but she could already smell the fragrant aroma emanating from the wax-paper package¡ª a werewolf''s nose is much more sensitive than that of an ordinary person.


    "You''ll find out when you open it."


    Veronica skeptically opened the wax-paper package, and a burst of hot air carrying the intense aroma rushed out. Inside the wax paper were several pieces of roasted chicken wings and thighs.


    Veronica instinctively swallowed her saliva. In thete night, the smell of grease, spices, and honey roasted by the fire was particrly enticing.


    But she still restrained herself, watching Aiden warily. "You''re not trying to slip something weird, are you?"


    "You can spare me. I don''t want to lose my job yet," Aiden smiled disdainfully. "The food''s are here. Eat it if you want."


    Veronica hesitated for a moment, then finally took the wax-paper package and turned around, leaning against the iron door to sit down.


    "What exactly do you want?" she asked through the iron door.


    "I''ve told you, I just want to chat with you. Monitoring the mental health of inmates is also part of the warden''s job."


    "Mental health? What nonsense are you talking about?" Veronica looked puzzled.


    "I''m not joking with you. I''ve established a position for providing psychological counseling to inmates in this prison," Aiden said with a serious tone.


    "asionally, I also have face-to-face conversations with inmates, being an understanding warden for a moment."


    The addition of a psychological correction position was something Aiden had learned from his previous life''s experience.


    Before he became the warden, he had already implemented this measure. The prison system in this world was still quite rudimentary. While there were already psychologists outside, no one had ever thought to focus on the psychological issues of the criminals.


    "But what do we have to talk about?" Veronica rxed a bit.


    "There are plenty of things, like our interests, hobbies, and annual ie..."


    "Are you trying to set up a blind date with a death row inmate?" Veronica understood his joke and also cracked a smile.


    "Then, let''s talk about your thought process behind the murders."


    "I didn''t kill anyone." The smile vanished from Veronica''s face in an instant, and her voice became heavier.


    "Then tell me how you were wronged," Aiden seamlessly continued.


    "You..." Veronica was momentarily stunned. "Do you... believe that I''ve been wronged?"


    "How could I?" Aiden answered without hesitation. "This is a prison, filled with thieves, robbers, fraudsters... and murderers. While I won''t say there are no genuinely good people here, there are only a handful of them.


    Rarely does a criminal face their own guilt seriously. Each one believes they''ve been wronged. In our line of work, the biggest Taboo was trusting inmates too easily."


    "Then why are you asking me?" Veronica''s eyes dimmed.


    "Although I currently don''t believe you, I''m willing to listen," Aiden calmly stated, leaning back in his chair. "I''ve reviewed your case, and there are indeed some thing that can''t be exined."


    Veronica fell into a long, long silence, to the point where Aiden wondered if she had fallen asleep.


    Finally, Veronica spoke, "When you ask me like this, I don''t even know what to say. If I had actually killed someone, there would be plenty for me to confess. But the fact is, I didn''t kill anyone.


    That day, I was patrolling just like any other day, and I went home after work, just like always. Then the next day, I was inexplicably arrested."


    "I read in the case file that on the morning of the incident, you had a conflict with the victim. Is that true?" Aiden asked methodically.


    "Yes, they were selling counterfeit alcohol in their shop, so I arrested the owner. Then the family came to the police station to cause a scene, which happens often." Veronica calmly recounted,


    "That person cursed at me and even tried to obstruct my work. I was prepared to detain her as well, but my colleague stopped me."


    "How did she curse at you?"


    "I don''t remember the specifics, but the most offensive thing she said was that I was the daughter of a whore who mated with a stray dog."


    "To be honest, wouldn''t that kind of insult make anyone lose their temper?"


    Aiden admitted to himself that hearing such an extreme insult was bound to be infuriating.


    But Veronica let out a coldugh. "Hah, if just a sentence like that could drive someone to murder, then I should have started killing people at the age of eight and kept going until now.


    Warden, you''re a normal person, so you probably can''t understand what it''s like to be different from others from birth.


    I spent almost six years in the Mounted Police. There are people there who diligently do their duty, and there are also scoundrels who abuse their authority.


    Even if I don''tpare myself to them, I believe I''ve been very dedicated. But even so, every month, anonymous letters are sent to the police station, criticizing me and hoping that my superiors will dismiss me.


    The only reason is that because I''m a werewolf. The things written in those letters are even more vile than what''s that woman said."


    "Alright, then..." Aiden felt a bit awkward for a moment, quickly steering the conversation back on track. "On that day, when did you return the issued firearm?"


    "Exactly at half-past twelve," Veronica promptly answered.


    "The victim was killed at twenty past twelve, so that''s why you came under suspicion," Aiden nodded.


    "The crime scene was in the area you were patrolling, weren''t you nearby at the time?"


    "Because of what happened in the morning that day, I was transferred to patrol in a different jurisdiction at evening.


    My superiors were worried that I might cause a disturbance when passing by that tavern."


    "But the investigation team still concluded that you quietly went to that tavern tomit murder while on patrol, because one bullet was missing from the firearm you stored in the armory," Aiden brought up the crucial evidence.


    "I honestly don''t know what happened with that..." Veronica lowered her eyes.


    "That day, I only returned the firearm as usual. I even checked it while taking it and didn''t fire it at any point."


    "Are You serious?" Aiden suddenly frowned.


    "I''m telling the truth. Believe it or not, it''s up to you."


    Veronica responded with irritation. Aiden''s sudden suspicion made her feel ufortable.


    "No, I mean, do you really not understand what''s going on? If you didn''t kill the person, then there''s only one possibility," Aiden pointed out.


    "What are you saying?" Veronica perked up her ears in surprise.


    "If what you''re saying is true, then it''s clear that someone on duty in the armory fabricated evidence to frame you."

 Chapter 11:

    Chapter 11:


    <b>Love Letter</b>


    "That..." Veronica was momentarily stunned, then she shook her head. "that''s impossible!"


    "Why are you so certain?"


    "The person who was on duty at the vault that day was a new recruit I had trained before. We got along fairly well, and in the past when he messed up, I helped clean up his mess. He knew I''m a werewolf, yet he still respected me, he¡ª"


    "If that''s the case, then you are really the murderer," Aiden couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "I told you, I didn''t kill anyone!" Veronica emphasized, slightly irritated.


    "If you wasn''t the murder, then hemited perjury. If he didn''tmit perjury, then you are the murderer.


    You''re literally helping someone count their money after being sold out." Aiden spoke with unapologetic sarcasm.


    "Don''t you know why the court sentenced you to death?"


    "Isn''t it because I''m a werewolf?" Veronica asked.


    "Perhaps they do have a slight bias against you for being a werewolf, but to sentence someone to death, how could they do it without concrete evidence?


    I''ve reviewed your case file. The pivotal evidence the court used to convict you was that man''s testimony and the pistol presented as evidence.


    He imed during the trial that you hastily handed over your assigned weapon at half past twelve, and he didn''t inspect your weapon at the time. Is that true?"


    "Well... that part is true. It was rained heavily at midnight that day, and I was in a rush to get back to my apartment to retrieve some clothes.


    Bruce... that new recruit, he let me go ahead and didn''t check my weapon on the spot."


    "Alright, perhaps the testimony could be seen as an unfortunate coincidence. The real issue lies with the gun presented as evidence.


    Think about it, the firearm you handed over to the vault was missing bullets. If someone tampered with it, regardless of who, they couldn''t have done it without getting past the person on duty at the vault.


    It''s as clear as day, how could you overlook something so tant?" Aiden asserted. "You''re a police officer yourself, set aside personal feelings and use your head."


    Veronica want to refute back, but after a moment''s reflection, she was surprised to find that She seemed to have been too caught up in the situation like Aiden said.


    She had worked in the vault before and was very familiar with the tight security of the police department''s vault.


    Instead of entertaining the fantastical idea of someone stealthily bypassing the person on duty at the vault to tamper with the gun, it was more usible that the person on duty might have been involved in the act.


    "My experience working in the prison tells me that anyone, even an ordinary person, can be a criminal in the blink of an eye.


    Anyone can make mistakes, and many criminals don''t look like they''d do anything wrong based on their words and actions.


    If you truly believe in your innocence, then you should be suspicious of anyone," Aiden reminded her.


    "But, why would he do this?" Veronica couldn''t help but raise her voice in agitation. "I once owed him a favor, he had no reason to falsely use me!"


    Aiden pondered for a moment. "Well, perhaps we should first consider who the real culprit might be."


    "The real culprit?"


    "Of course, if it wasn''t you whomitted the murder, then there must be another culprit out there.


    I read in the case file that the investigation team narrowed down the suspect to the Mounted Police after studying the shell casings found at the scene.


    Are the firearms in your Mounted Police department particrly unique?"


    "Yes, the Mounted Police sometimes form honor guards for events like festivals, so our equipment, including the firearms, is customized and different from other departments.


    We just recently switched to a new model of Mauser..." Veronica was in the middle of her exnation when she suddenly grasped the implication. "You mean¡ª"


    "If the real culprit isn''t you, then it''s highly likely to be another member of the Mounted Police," Aiden smoothly continued.


    "With this premise, since a rookie named Bruce was in charge of guarding the vault that day, the murderer should have been another Mounted Police officer.


    If he''s providing false testimony, it might not necessarily be to frame you, but rather to protect the real culprit. That real culprit and the rookie on duty found a way to make you a scapegoat."


    "....."


    Veronica waspletely dumbfounded.


    Since birth, she had faced discrimination because of her identity as a werewolf. She had cursed her werewolf blood countless times, and now, when unjustly imprisoned, she instinctively attributed it all to the curse that had haunted her since birth.


    It was this habitual way of thinking that had limited her perspective.


    From initial anger to enduring blows, and eventually giving up on herself, she had spent each day in prison cursing the unfairness of fate, but had never deeply considered who might have framed her.


    Aiden''s hint couldn''t be described asplex reasoning. As a police officer, she should have grasped something this simple long ago.


    If others treated her differently because she was a werewolf, wasn''t it also a bias to attribute everything to that?


    "I..." After a long silence, Veronica hesitated and spoke, "I want to see that person."


    "It''s not possible," Aiden replied decisively. "Your current status is that of a prisoner. Prisoners don''t get to decide who they meet. They have no freedom."


    Veronica clenched her teeth upon hearing this.


    At this point, Aiden changed his tone. "However, I can go see him on your behalf."


    Veronica suddenly stood up, grabbing onto the bars of the iron door.


    "You... can try..." she choked up, her throat dry from excitement. "Can you try... to clear my name? Can you... try?"


    Veronica pressed her face against the bars, staring at Aiden with an intensity he hadn''t seen from her before - a fervent desire to live.


    "I can''t give you a definite promise, but I can try to help you investigate. If you truly aren''t the murderer, I''ll do my best to clear your name."


    After a long pause, Veronica asked, "Why?"


    "Why?" Aiden countered. "In my prison, I only detain criminals. If you''re not a criminal, I have no reason to keep you here."


    "I mean, why would you be willing to believe me?" Veronica asked earnestly. "Most of the people I''ve met view me like a criminal just because I''m a werewolf."


    "I said I haven''t actually believed you, I was just listening to what you had to say," Aiden shrugged.


    "Alright, I admit, I''m not one to give every prisoner this kind of chance. I''m helping you because there''s a bit of personal bias involved... Hey, hey, don''t give me that strange look all of a sudden. What I meant by personal bias isn''t what you''re thinking!"


    Aiden sighed, and took out a neatly arranged stack of letters from his pocket, and handed them through the meal slot. "You''ll understand after reading these."


    "What are these?"


    "They''re love letter. On the day you were imprisoned, quite a few of these came to my mailbox from residents in your jurisdiction," Aiden exined calmly.


    "Each letter is signed with real names and sent by people in your area. They''re pleading for you, and some of them don''t believe youmitted the crime at all."


    Suddenly, Veronica felt moved. There would always be someone touched by your kindness, someone who supports and stands by you.


    Veronica stared wide-eyed for a moment, then she reached out, carefully taking the letters. They seemed to have been written a long time ago; the paper was already yellowed and fragile, as if it would crumble with the slightest touch.


    "All these people firmly believe you''re a good police officer. I guess they might have sent some to the court as well. Well, I can''t im to bepletely impartial either.


    Honestly, these letters gave me the first impression that you might actually be wronged, so that''s why I paid attention to your case." Aiden put on his hat and stood up.


    "Please remember, perhaps some people do harbor prejudices against you, but there are also those who remember your efforts."


    "Well, it''s about time for a shift change," Aiden said, then walked towards the other end of the corridor, leaving Veronica alone staring at the letters in her hand, unable to find words to say.

 Chapter 12:

    Chapter 12:


    <b>The Day of the Incident</b>


    One month ago, at 12:10 in the afternoon, in the Lower district.


    The Oak Tavern, which should have been open for business, had its doors tightly shut, sealed with two ovepping strips.


    "...No, why are they only targeting us? We''re not the only ones selling the mixed alcohol." the innkeeper stood behind the bar, angrily pounding the table. "Closing down and arresting people in the middle of the night, how are we supposed to continue running our business after this!?"


    "Yeah, that woman, she''s so aloof, even in the police force,pletely disregarding the rules." The obese man sitting at the bar let out a belch, reeking of alcohol.


    He had already drunk quite a bit, and when he lifted his ss, his hand involuntarily shook, causing the strong liquor to spill onto his hand.


    He noticed his wet hand and subconsciously wiping it with the sleeve of his uniform.


    A mounted police uniform.


    "That woman just wants to drive us to our deaths! I''ve heard before, those werewolves, when they kill, they''ll cut pieces of flesh off the victim, torturing them for amusement. These inhumane monsters should be locked up from birth!"


    The proprietress was still muttering through gritted teeth.


    "How could they let a werewolf be a police officer? This world has truly gone mad!"


    "Ah, if it weren''t for the chief always protecting her, how could she stay in the police force?" the man swayed his ss in agreement.


    "Could it be that she slept her way to the top?" The innkeeper sneered.


    The man didn''t respond, but the innkeeper''s words stirred up some unpleasant memories for him.


    "...Women like you have a tough time making it in the police force, but it''s different if you have a patron to support you."


    At that time, he leaned in beside the expressionless Veronica and whispered,


    "You''ve probably heard, my father is Anthony Rowton, the senator. I''m not exaggerating, take a good look at this pocket watch..."


    He took out an exquisitely crafted rose gold pocket watch and held it up in front of Veronica, speaking incessantly.


    "Look at the harpy emblem on it, this is the crest of our Rowton family. My father is the head of the Rowton family, and I am his only son... You understand what I mean, right? I''m also a notable figure in Silver City.


    I can dine and rest at the Crown Hotel in the city center, and it''s all on credit. You''ve probably never been there, right? How about tonight..."


    Fueled by the alcohol, he reached out his hand towards Veronica''s shoulder.


    But at that moment, Veronica''s hand shot up like lightning, gripping his wrist with such force that he involuntarily gasped for breath.


    "So, you want me to be your mistress?" Veronica looked at him coldly and bluntly asked him.


    "No, it''s not like that..." He felt the obvious hostility and began to sweat.


    "I believe you''re the senator''s son, otherwise I can''t imagine you''d have the guts to drink alcohol while on duty."


    Veronica''s voice turned icy as she smelled the alcohol on him.


    "But there are two things I hope you remember. First, I detest drunkards.


    Second, I detest physical contact with others. If you dare toy a hand on me again... I might overreact and crush your hand!"


    At this moment, he suddenly felt Veronica began exerting force. A sharp pain shot through his wrist, causing him to involuntarily cry out.


    ...It''s so vivid in my mind, and my wrist hurts when I think about it.


    Damn it, she''s really an ungrateful bitch. If her face wasn''t somewhat decent, who would give her such an opportunity?


    Thinking this, he drank anotherrge gulp of alcohol in frustration.


    It''s been a few days since he touched a woman. Why not take a stroll in Firework Alley tonight?


    After all, he could use the authority of the mounted police without spending a dime...


    The alcohol surged, making him feel even more lightheaded and dizzy, as if his head was soaked in warm water.


    The proprietress watched as the most expensive bottle of liquor in the shop quickly disappear into his mouth, as if it was flowing into an abyss without end, causing her a twinge of pain in his feeling.


    "I have to ask, can you really help me settle this matter?" the proprietress asked, her face filled with suspicion.


    This man vowed to her that he could resolve the case of their tavern, and get her husband released. That''s why she did as he said, took the money out, and even let him freely drink in the shop.


    Honestly, a few days of her husband being detained is no big deal, but if they can''t find a way to clear their name in the case of the fake alcohol being sold in the tavern, the business won''t be able to continue.


    "If I say I can, then I can. Why do you keep questioning? Don''t you trust me?" The man replied irritably, forcefully cing his ss down. The remaining liquid sshed out, and the alcohol was making him unusually agitated.


    "Who knows? Even if you deceive me, I have no ce to argue." The proprietress was not one to back down.


    Her fiery temperament was evident in her frequent confrontations with drunks in the tavern. The man''s demeanor held no sway over her.


    This troublesome woman...


    Frustrated, the man fumbled around for a while. The alcohol made it hard for him to recall where he had stashed the pocket watch.


    After a while, he finally pulled out the gold pocket watch and held it up for the proprietress to see. "Look carefully. This is the emblem of the Rowton family! Anthony Rowton, the senator, do you know him?


    That''s my father... I have connections. So Helping you with such a small matter is nothing."


    The proprietress scrutinized the pocket watch, still somewhat skeptical.


    She didn''t know much about senators and such, but the gold watch did seem quite valuable...


    Perhaps this police officer in front of her really did have some connections.


    "Alright," the proprietress sighed in relief, cing an envelope on the bar and pushing it towards him. "I''ve put the money here. Make sure you handle this for me."


    With a dark expression, the man took the envelope, struggling a few times before managing to fit it into his pocket.


    What bad luck, encountering such a woman. She didn''t know how to be polite when entrusting someone to do things.


    When he collected money from other shops, didn''t thosemoners all nod and bow to him?


    He didn''t actually need the money; he just enjoyed the feeling of being high and mighty. This dull public position was only worth praising for this small pleasure.


    Speaking of this, the women in Firework Alley are the same. Clearly, they should be grateful when he generously offers his favor, but just because he didn''t pay, they''re in a rush to finish. No decency at all...


    Now that he''s had his fill of alcohol, he might as well go for a stroll... Wait, it seems it''s about time to return the gun.


    That damn ce seems to be in the opposite direction... Damn it, couldn''t they have ced it next to the police station...


    The man''s gaze wandered, stopping at the proprietress ample bosom.


    "What are you looking at?" The proprietress immediately noticed his gaze and gave him a wary re.


    "Well..." The man suddenly had an idea and grinning widely. "I''ve received the money. Let''s talk about the remaining reward."


    Driven by the alcohol, he reached out and grabbed the proprietress hand.

 Chapter 13:

    Chapter 13:


    <b>Even My Father Never Hit Me Before</b>


    "What are you doing?" The proprietress was taken aback, instinctively trying to pull her hand back, but the police officer firmly held onto her wrist and pulled her towards him with brute force.


    "Be honest, you don''t want your husband toe out, do you?" The man impatiently reached for the apron the proprietress was wearing.


    "Let go of me! I''ve already given you the money, don''t be too much!" Realizing the man''s intentions, the proprietress struggled fiercely.


    "Damn it, are you trying to act all high and mighty!" The man was once again reminded of Veronica rejecting him in the past, and he couldn''t help but feel a surge of anger.


    He grabbed the proprietress hair and yanked her down to the ground, then pressed down on her, muttering incoherently,


    "You run this kind of establishment by using your looks to attract customers, don''t you? I don''t even know how many men have been with you... one more won''t hurt... show me some respect, letting me sleep with a woman like you is like doing you a favor!"


    "Get off me, you son of a bitch! Don''t touch me!" Being Insulted by a drunkard like this, the proprietress was immediately furious.


    The smell of alcohol from the man''s mouth made her nauseous. In her anger, she pped his face hard, leaving a dark red palm print on it.


    The man felt a sudden buzz in his head, and thest thread of his already precarious sanity snapped.


    This bitch dares toy a hand on me... damn it, not even my father ever hit me!


    The proprietress cursed as she tried to grab and free herself, struggling to get out from under him. She got up, lifted her skirt, and ran towards the back door, nning to call for help.


    The man, infuriated, tried to get up to pin her down again, but his body unexpectedly felt heavy, and his legs were unresponsive.


    The only thing he could still move was his hand. When he snapped back to reality, he found the gun that should have been hanging at his waist was now in his hand.


    The palm print on his face still burned painfully. In his rage, he raised his trembling hand and aimed it at the proprietress back.


    As He was about to threaten her, the deafening sound of gunshot startled him. The recoil shook his wrist, making it ache.


    With a muffled sound, the proprietress fell forward, as if she had been kicked from behind. She struggled in pain, trying to move her hands, but soon, She stopped moving. A pool of blood gradually spread beneath her.


    The pool of blood partially sobered the man up, and the gun in his hand felt ufortably hot.


    His mind went nk, as if a piece of his memories was forcibly ripped away. He couldn''t remember whether he had fired the gun in a heated moment, or if his finger had twitched and caused it to go off. The only thing clear to him was the body before him.


    I Can''t stay here...


    Fear injected newfound strength into his body that has been weakened by the alcohol. He got up, stumbling as he rushed out of the back door of the tavern. He ran wildly along the dark alley, knocking over a few empty crates near the door.


    Outside, a heavy rain was pouring,pletely drenching him within a few steps.


    A gust of night wind blew, causing him to shiver and suddenly fully awake.


    He looked at the gun in his hand, finally realizing the severity of the situation.


    He had used a police-issued gun to kill someone. The police-issued gun for the mounted police was specialized, and if it was checked, they would quickly trace it back to him.


    How about Going back to the scene now? No, this street had several taverns, and even in the middle of the night, there were still quite a few people around. They surely heard the gunshot earlier... going back now might result in being caught on the spot.


    Gun... I have to deal with the gun... Damn it, if I don''t return the issued gun on time, there will definitely be suspicions.


    He hastily pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time ¡ª twelve thirty-seven, he didn''t have much time left to hesitate.


    He gritted his teeth, his steps feels empty as he headed towards the police station.


    "Mr. Jialong, thank you for your hard work, it seems you''ve also been caught in the rain... what a hardship." Bruce, the rookie on duty in the armory, greeted him.


    After the greeting, Bruce furrowed his brows slightly. There was a distinct smell of alcohol emanating from the man ¡ª though this guy often drank while on duty.


    Jialong nodded with a stern face but didn''t make a move.


    Bruce stared at him for a while, somewhat puzzled. "Um, sir, you... are here to return the issued gun, right?"


    Only then did he stiffly unfasten the gun and hand it over to the rookie.


    Bruce was taken aback as he took the issued gun ¡ª he caught a faint whiff of gunpowder.


    "Please allow me to check..." Bruce tried to keep his voice calm, but his eyes were locked onto Officer Jialong in front of him.


    Seeing the other party start to inspect the bullets, Jialong finally couldn''t hold back, he reaching out and grabbing Bruce''s hand.


    "What are you doing!?" Bruce was startled.


    "Kid, help... help me out!" Jialong struggled to force an awkward smile on his face.


    "You... fired a gun?" Bruce nced at the remaining rounds in the handgun, his voice rising in rm. "Where?!"


    At that moment, several mounted police officers rushed past the other end of the corridor.


    "you guys stop havingte night snack and get on duty now! Someone''s has been shot in the Lower District!" someone shouted loudly.


    Jialong trembled in fear and instinctively reached for the gun in Bruce''s hand, attempting to hide it.


    Bruce realized what was happening. He shot his head up to look at Jialong''s face, his expression filled with terror.


    "You just need to do me a small favor... Help me figure out how to deal with this gun! I''ll repay you! My father is a senator! I have connections to help you get promoted..." Jialong urgently spoke in a low voice.


    "What are you talking about?" Bruce shook his head stiffly. "You used bullets... How can you hide something like this? Go turn yourself in!"


    "Use someone else''s bullets to rece them! Or directly switch the guns with someone else!" Jialong gasped for breath.


    The crisis made his usually sluggish mind quickly start working. Suddenly, a bright idea struck him. "Right! Veronica! Didn''t she have a dispute with that woman this morning? She must have returned the gun. Let''s use hers! Yes, use hers!"


    Bruce''s face immediately changed. "N-no! Senior Veronica... she''s my benefactor! I could never do something like this!"


    He reached for the rm button on the table as he spoke. As long as he pressed it, the on-duty mounted police would swarm into the armory.


    "You!" Jialong hurriedly reached out to stop his other hand, his expression bing somewhat fierce.


    "If you refuse, my family won''t spare you! Understand? You''re a rookie who just joined the force, we can deal with you easily..."


    "No, put that idea out of your mind!" Bruce replied firmly, his hand already near the button.


    "I''ll give you a hundred pounds!" Jialong became desperate, shouting out.


    Bruce''s hand froze.


    After a long while, he asked with a trembling voice, "Are you... serious?"


    Jialong was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized that he had grasped a lifeline.


    "Of course!" he assured.


    Bruce nervously cleared his throat, staring at him intently. "And the money?"


    "Well..." Jialong cursed inwardly at the other man''sck of sense.


    How could a normal person carry so much money with them? But with his life now in the other man''s hands, he could only take out his most valuable possession, a gold pocket watch.


    "Here! This is worth at least fifty pounds. I''ll give you the restter!"


    Bruce''s gaze immediately locked onto the pocket watch. He reached out with trembling hands and grabbed hold of it.


    Seeing this, a sinister smile appeared on Jialong''s lips.

 Chapter 14:

    Chapter 14:


    <b>You''re Still Too Young</b>


    "Thank you for taking the time toe here, Officer Bruce Kane." Sitting in the reception room of the police station, Aiden greeted the young man in front of him across the tea table. He nced at the badge on Bruce''s shoulder. "Oh, by the way, congrattions on your promotion."


    He reviewed the information about the other party in his mind. Bruce Kane, neen years old, a member of the Mounted Police Force, confirmed in position six months ago, and promoted to a first-level officerst week. He was on duty in the storage facility the day Veronica''s case urred.


    "Th-thank you." The young man named Bruce ced his interlocked hands on the table, and nervously rubbed his thumbs. "You''re Mr. Aiden from the Inquisition Bureau, right? I''ve heard about you for a long time."


    "Ah-ha-ha, I no longer work at the Inquisition Bureau. Now I serve as the warden at Rose Prison." Aiden smiled politely.


    Compared to his current title as warden of Rose Prison, the former Aiden''s position as a senior investigator at the Inquisition Bureau clearly carried more prestige in the Mounted Police Force.


    His smooth transition to the Mounted Police Force and meeting with Bruce was undoubtedly due to the former Aiden''s connections within the organization.


    The Inquisition Bureau is aw enforcement agency specifically dealing with cases and disasters caused by anomalous creatures.


    The majority of the monsters in the core area of Rose Prison were apprehended and brought to justice by the Inquisition Bureau.


    To deal with these dangerous creatures, investigators from the Inquisition Bureau are not only allowed to use military equipment but are also granted exceptions to study forbidden ck magic.


    Within the internal hierarchy of this world''s system, investigators from the Inquisition Bureau better fit most people''s image of elites, while prison guards are more akin to positions taken by those who are content with a sedentary life and just want to retirefortably.


    However, Aiden didn''t dwell on this issue. Including his past life''s work experience, he had been working in the prison for over ten years. Mentally, he had long be indifferent to how others perceived his profession.


    "So, Warden, did you specifically seek me out... for something?" Bruce asked nervously.


    Aidan saw his reaction and figured that the other party probably already sensed the purpose of his visit. After all, there was only one prison that could detain Veronica, and that was the Rose Prison.


    "Well, you see, our prison recently received a death row inmate, Veronica Wolfe. She used to be part of your department, so you should know her." Aiden nonchntly opened the conversation.


    "Uh, yeah..." Bruce''s expression tightened noticeably when he heard the name.


    "After she arrived at our prison, she''s been causing amotion every day, insisting she''s been wronged," Aiden feigned a somewhat troubled expression and sighed. "It''s been giving me a headache."


    "Well, her case... hasn''t it already been judged?" Bruce lifted his face and managed to force out a smile.


    "Exactly. I told her the same thing. Without new evidence or a defense argument, she shouldn''t even think about a retrial." Aiden smoothly replied.


    "But she insists that you can testify she''s not the murderer because she personally handed over the firearm to you that day.


    I also think she''s just being unreasonable, but I couldn''t really put her off, so I had toe here and confirm with you, to put her mind at rest. It''s just part of the job, you know. I really had no choice, just following the procedure."


    "Yeah, yeah." Bruce tried to force a smile.


    it''s so easy to handle the Young people, Aiden thought.


    With his authority, he actually didn''t have the right to question Bruce. If Bruce outright refused to talk to him, there wasn''t much he could do.


    He deliberately spoke vaguely, making it sound as if prison guards had a duty to help confirm inmates status.


    Anyway, the other party probably had no understanding the scope of authority of a prison guard. That''s how he managed to coax Bruce into cooperating with his questioning.


    "In that case, I''ll just ask a few simple questions." Aidan smiled and nodded. "During the trial, you mentioned that on the day of the incident, Veronica urgently returned her firearm at around twelve-thirty, and you didn''t inspect the bullets on the spot. Is that true?"


    Bruce hesitated for a moment, then nodded abruptly. "...Yes, it was raining that day, and she said she needed to go home to get her clothes. So... I let her go first."


    Aidan noticed his stuttering and kindly said, "No need to be so nervous, I''m not here to arrest you."


    "Yes, yes." Bruce forced a chuckle.


    "Do you have a good rtionship?" Aidan continued to inquire.


    "It''s... alright. When I was an intern, Miss Veronica was in charge of guiding me."


    "By the way, she often mention that she once owed you a favor? Is there any truth to that?" Aidan brought up the topic as if it were the most natural thing.


    "Uh, well..." Bruce was momentarily caught off guard. "Is this rted to the case?"


    "The case file mentions it, so I''m just asking." Aiden calmly retorted, "Is there a problem with that?"


    "Well, actually...," Bruce answered, trying to appear nonchnt, but his gaze involuntarily lowered.


    "When I was interning, there was one time I made a mistake and let a captured suspect escape. The suspect took a hostage in the street. In the end, Miss Veronica re-captured the suspect and rescued the hostage... and then, she... she vouched for me in the report."


    "Oh, I see. If she hadn''t resolved the situation, you might have lost your job," Aiden smiled knowingly and continued to question, "When did the investigation team retrieve her firearm?"


    "It was... close to noon that day..."


    "By then, there''s a was missing bullets in her gun, right?" Aiden confirmed.


    "Yeah, that was the result of the investigation team." Bruce vaguely answered


    "You were on duty in the vault during that time, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Nothing unusual or strange happened during your shift?"


    "No, everything was the same as usual."


    "Well, it''spletely consistent with what''s in the case file." Aiden nodded thoughtfully.


    "But... to kill someone and casually return a gun with missing bullets to the police station, what was that woman thinking?"


    "Well... who knows?" Bruce said, moving his gaze away, and ufortably raised his hand to scratch his brow.


    "It''s probably just foolishness. I read in the case file that it was your testimony and evidence that sent her to prison, and yet she didn''t realize it at all.


    She even thinks you''ll help her get a retrial. Is she trying to use emotional leverage on you?" Aidan sarcastically chuckled, then nodded approvingly at Bruce. "Not bad, so young and able to be so impartial, quite impressive."


    "Thank you..."


    After Aidan''s somewhat sarcastic remarks, Bruce could no longer meet his gaze, his forehead covered in sweat.

 Chapter 15:

    Chapter 15:


    <b>There Must Be Something</b>


    The shifting gaze, a stiff facial expression, hesitant speech, and the asional face-scratching and sweat-wiping gestures... based on Aiden''s subjective judgment, he could confidently say that the young man in front of him was lying.


    Being a prison guard didn''t mean beingpletely detached from investigation work. Most cases of criminalsmitting crimes within the prison were handed over to the prison for investigation. After interacting with various types of criminals, Aiden had somewhat honed his professional intuition.


    In addition to inheriting the knowledge and experience of his predecessor, the former Senior Investigator Aiden, although he hadn''t reached the level of proficiency where he could do it effortlessly, he believed he had inherited about sixty to seventy percent of his skills.


    Therefore, he had confidence in his own discernment.


    Moreover, this young rookie in front of himcked the counter-surveince qualities needed to deceive him.


    Bruce gave him the impression of being simr to the first-time offenders in the prison.


    Of course, Aidan was well aware that his subjective judgment held no real meaning.


    In order to overturn Veronica''s conviction and grant her a retrial, they needed to challenge the evidence that led to her conviction¡ªBruce''s testimony and the gun with missing bullets.


    Both pieces of evidence could easily be fabricated by Bruce alone.


    However, conversely, if Bruce retracted his testimony, the chain of evidence that convicted Veronica would be iplete.


    In other words, this young man before him was the key to whether Veronica could get a retrial.


    This time, Aiden''s purpose in visiting Bruce was primarily to ascertain what kind of person he was.


    The first impression Bruce left on Aiden was that of a rather straightforward minor character.


    He seemed noticeably uneasy about the matter of giving false testimony and framing Veronica for imprisonment.


    Aside from feeling guilty towards Veronica, he also feared that his act of perjury might lead to his own downfall and evennd him in prison.


    The false testimony Made by this minor character might have some ws that could be uncovered.


    suddenly, The door of the meeting room was pushed open, and a portly man strode in, panting heavily, staring straight at the two of them.


    He nced at the neer with surprise. He knew that when the Mounted Police Force selected members, they had certain requirements for appearance.


    The man in front of him looked to be in his prime, but he already had a noticeable beer belly.


    If he hadn''t been wearing the Mounted Police uniform, Aiden wouldn''t have been able to tell that he was a member.


    "Mr. Jialong!" Bruce seemed startled.


    "What are you doing here?" Jialong looked at Bruce and sizing up Aiden with a wary expression. "Which department are you from?"


    "Hello, I''m Aiden, the warden of Rose Prison. I''m here today because of some work-rted matters and have a few questions for Officer Bruce." Aiden exchanged a brief greeting with the man.


    "What work-rted matters? What intersection could there be between prison guards and us?" Jialong stared at him aggressively. "Don''t casually chat with our people, it affects our work!"


    "Don''t worry, I''ve already asked all the questions I needed to. It''s about time for me to take my leave."


    Aidan sensed the unfriendly attitude and judged that it was best not to linger with this person. So He stood up on his own ord.


    "Officer Bruce, thank you very much for your cooperation. I''ll make sure to treat you to a meal when I have the chance."


    Aiden took the initiative to shake hands with Bruce, then strode out of the reception room, followed by the silent officer named Jialong.


    As Aiden walked from the reception room to the police station''s entrance, he could feel the other person''s gaze fixed on his back, every time he turned around.


    After leaving the police station, Aiden turned into an alley.


    After confirming that there was no one around, he touched an opal ring on his hand. A ck cat appeared from the depths of the alley and rubbed against Aiden''s leg.


    "Have you identified the target, Dailey?" He lowered his head and stared at the ck cat, his lips moving slightly.


    (Tn: the witch Daley -> Dailey)


    "It''s the kid who talked to the warden, isn''t it?" Dailey voice sounded in his ear, as if the enchanting witch were standing right next to him, her breath was sweet and gentle.


    The witch Dailey knew many secret arts. In addition to summoning demons, she could also control ck cats and crows as her familiars, and sharing senses with them.


    In addition, she could use opal stones and crystal balls as mediums to take a glimpse from distant scenes.


    Even if she stayed in prison, she could still carry out tracking and surveince tasks for Aiden.


    "Yes, keep a close eye on him when he leaves the police station after work. Report his movements to meter in the evening." Aidan crouched down and gently patted the ck cat''s head.


    "It would be my honor to serve you. Of course, if I have the opportunity to taste the freshly baked butter berry pie on Seventh Street in the Lower District today, I would be even more motivated," the witch yfully coaxed.


    "Being a warden who rewards and punishes appropriately, a help should definitelye with rewards, right? Anyway, thank you in advance Warden. Although you haven''t said it yet, it surely won''t be nothing, right?"


    Aiden raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the ck cat for a while before breaking into a smile. "You''ve got some nerve, trying to negotiate with me? Very well."


    In the afternoon, Aiden returned to the prison and first went to the Core Area.


    "Room Twelve, Dailey, interview." Aiden arrived in front of Room Twelve, and gesturing for Franda beside him to lead her to the interview room.


    "Hehe, I love you so much, Warden!" Dailey leaned in front of the door happily and winked at Aidan.


    "Alright, alright. Remember to do your job well." Aiden waved his hand and turned to Room Thirteen opposite.


    Through the railing, he saw a scene that he couldn''t have imagined until yesterday.


    Veronica was sitting on the edge of the bed, absentmindedly flipping through a novel. This was one of the few entertainment items allowed in the prison to pass the time.


    Fei was kneeling behind her, diligently massaging her shoulders.


    Seeing this scene, it was hard to imagine that just the day before, Fei had been crying and demanding to be moved to a different room to be separated from this death row inmate.


    "Oh, when did you two be so close?" Aiden joked with them.


    "Lord Aidan, you''vee!" Fei greeted Aiden warmly, as usual.


    "Warden..." Veronica also raised her head, nodding somewhat reservedly at Aiden.


    After their heartfelt conversation yesterday, her attitude towards Aiden had clearly softened.


    "Did you recruit a minion? You seem to have integrated here quite quickly!" Aiden pointed at Fei behind her with a smile.


    "She insisted on getting close to me." Veronica looked somewhat helpless. "I told her to mind her own business and leave me alone."


    "Well, since we are roommates by fate, we should take the opportunity to strengthen our rtionship. The moment I saw you, sister, I felt a special connection!" Fei hugged Veronica''s neck, trying to please her.


    "Let go!" Veronica unceremoniously pushed her arm away.


    "Your talent for talking nonsense without batting an eye is getting stronger and stronger." Aiden shook his head as he looked at Fei.


    He knew that after Fei was convinced that Veronica wasn''t the real murderer, she had actively stuck to Veronica, hoping that Veronica would protect her, like a free bodyguard.


    "Alright, Room Thirteen, Veronica, meeting with the warden." He turned to Veronica, getting down to business.


    "Meeting with the warden?" Veronica didn''t react.


    "It means meeting with me. I have some questions for you," Aiden said, motioning for Franda to open the cell door. "Come out."


    "What about me?" Fei looked like she wanted to take advantage of the situation.


    "Behave yourself!" Aiden gave her a stern look.

 Chapter 16:

    Chapter 16:


    <b>Suspect</b>


    Five minutester, in the warden''s office.


    Aiden sat down in his seat, took off his police cap and ced it on the desk, then looked up to see Veronica still standing with her hands tied. He gestured to a nearby guest seat, "Please, have a seat."


    Veronica nodded and sat down Carefully.


    "Would you like something to drink? Tea? Coffee?" Aiden asked casually.


    Veronica shook her head, looking a bit reserved.


    Aiden stared at her for a moment, unable to suppress a smile. "It feels like it''s only been one night, yet your whole demeanor has changed."


    When they first met, Veronica seemed like a cat on edge, full of distrust towards everyone around her. It felt like if anyone dared to touch her, they''d get a piece of their skin torn off.


    But now, that hostile aura of hers that kept people at bay seemed to have disappeared.


    "What do you want to talk to me about?" Veronica looked at Aiden and asked.


    "I just came back from the Mounted Police Department."


    "Have You met with Bruce?" Veronica widened her eyes.


    "Yeah, I had a few words with him," Aiden nodded. "The kid didn''t admit anything, but personally, I think he''s the one who got you into this mess.


    I Just asked a few questions and he was practically wearing a sign that said ''guilty conscience.'' Now, I''m leaning more towards believing you''ve been wronged."


    Thinking back to Bruce''s pitiful face, Aiden smirked in contempt.


    Veronica fell silent for a moment, gripping her left wrist with her right hand, digging her nails into her flesh.


    "I cared for him like he was my own brother, hoping he''d be an upright officer. How could he... do this?" She squeezed out words tinged with resentment and disappointment.


    "So, that''s exactly what we need to figure out," Aiden tapped the table with his knuckles, reminding Veronica to focus back on him.


    "What?" Veronica snapped back to attention.


    "I can tell, he''s clearly uneasy about betraying you. Whether it''s a guilty conscience or fear of exposure, there has to be a reason for him to betray his benefactor to protect another real culprit"


    "You''re nning to... start with his motive?" Veronica caught on.


    "You''re finally using your brain," Aiden smiled knowingly.


    "Exactly. To make someone take such a risk, the mostmon reasons are personal feelings, self-interest, or coercion.


    The real culprit must possess at least one of these factors.


    From what you know, who does he have a closer rtionship with in the Mounted Police Department? Is there anyone who could make him willingly do something like this to protect them?"


    "No," Veronica shook her head without much thought.


    "To be honest, the atmosphere within the Mounted Police Department... isn''t great. Neers like him, without connections and a timid personality, are bound to face ostracism. It''smon for them to be given menial tasks by the older officers. I''ve already been the one who''s looked out for him the most in the entire force."


    "Workce bullying? So, coercion is a possibility," Aiden mused, his arms crossed. "Does he have any leverage that someone might have on him?"


    "As far as I know, he doesn''t, and... I find it hard to imagine anything worse than this," Veronica thought calmly.


    "Indeed. How''s his financial situation?"


    "Not great either. I''ve heard him talk about it. Hees from a single-parent family; his mother is a textile worker. They borrowed money from all over the ce just so he could attend the police academy. The sry of a probationary officer isn''t high, only a bit over four pounds a month. Their life is considered quite tight..."


    "So, it''s high likely," Aiden rested his chin on his hand in thought, suddenly recalling something. "By the way, do you remember the people who were assigned to patrol during the time frame of the incident?"


    Veronica understood immediately why Aiden was asking this ¨C under normal circumstances, mounted police were only allowed to carry their guns while on duty.


    If the suspect was focused to the Mounted Police Department, then those few mounted officers who were patrolling in the neighborhood at the same time as her on that day would be the prime suspects.


    "I remember, I remember very clearly," Veronica replied with confidence.


    "are you sure? It''s been over a month"


    "After I was arrested, I''ve been recalling that day almost every day," Veronica said earnestly. "Before the mounted police go out on patrol, they have to assemble and form up, so I have an impression."


    "That''s perfect," Aiden snapped his fingers. "Among these people, is there anyone with the capability to pull off something like this?"


    Veronica understood his implication. Providing false testimony and pinning a murder on someone else was no small matter.


    If the real culprit used coercion to force Bruce Kane into doing it, without having any leverage, they must have had some significant background or special tactics.


    If the real culprit used bribery, then they must have a certain level of financial power.


    After mentally going through each of those people one by one, she had an answer. "There''s one."


    "Tell me about it."


    "His name is Jialong Rowton..."


    Veronica had barely started, and Aiden''s brows furrowed. "Jialong?"


    "What''s wrong?" Veronica blinked in surprise.


    "Nothing much, but I think I''ve seen this person at the police station before," Aiden waved his hand. "So, this Jialong, does he have a significant background? Or is he just wealthy?"


    "As for his background, it can be considered somewhat influential. His father seems to be a councilman in Silver City, and he himself used some connections to secure his position in the mounted police.


    Most people in the force know about it, and he often boasts about it," Veronica exined slowly. "As for money, he should have some. He''s known for spendingvishly in the force.


    Besides that, he always carries a gold pocket watch with him, never leaving it behind. The watch bears the emblem of his family, and he often unts it."


    "Sounds like a foolishnd owner son" Aidenented.


    "That''s one way to put it. It''s said that his father became a councilman only in recent years.


    The so-called family he often talks about only gained prominence after his father became a councilman. Calling them political upstarts wouldn''t be an exaggeration," Veronica scoffed, twisting her mouth in disdain.


    "That guy himself is aplete scoundrel, he''s not short on money, but he still goes around extorting in his own jurisdiction."


    "It sounds like you really hate him."


    "I''ve had my issues with him. He once tried to make me his mistress and was rejected by me," Veronica answered with a stern face, clearly repulsed by the memory. "In addition to that, I''ve also reported him for bribery."


    "I see," Aiden recalled the chubby officer named Jialong, who nervously barged into the meeting room, interrupting his conversation with Bruce. He nodded thoughtfully, "This guy, he''s quite a suspect."

 Chapter 17:

    Chapter 17:


    <b>Lapdog till the End...</b>


    In the evening, Aiden arrived at the prison''s interview room. As soon as he walked in, he saw Dailey, the witch he had entrusted with the surveince task, sound asleep with crumbs of butter berry pie still stuck to the corner of her mouth.


    Seeing her sweet sleeping face, Aiden''s eye twitched.


    He turned around and went back to the door, reaching out to the guard outside the interview room. "Can I borrow a baton?"


    Once he had the baton in hand, Aiden returned to the table, stared at Dailey for a moment, then forcefully mmed the iron table with the baton.


    A loud bang echoed, and Dailey woke up with a sharp scream, and her body shot up straight like a spring.


    "Good morning, Dailey. Did you sleep well?" Aiden stared at the witch in front of him with a half-smile, while tapping the palm of his hand with the baton.


    "Wa-warden?" Dailey only realized who had woken her up. She took a breath, her shackled hands clutching her chest. "Don''t scare me like that, my heart nearly stopped."


    "wipe the corners of your mouth After you finish eating" Aiden pointed to his own mouth as a reminder to Dailey.


    "Oh dear, you saw me in such an undignified state," Dailey stuck out her tongue, trying to lick the corners of her mouth, but there was still a bit she couldn''t reach.


    "You didn''t clean it all. Use your hand to wipe it," Aiden frowned.


    "Then, Warden, can you help me?" Dailey pouted at Aiden, extending her fair neck and lifting her face towards him.


    "Alright, sure."


    Aiden revealed a "kind" smile, and his right hand slowly lifted, rising higher than his shoulder, as if preparing to deliver an earth-shatering p.


    "Okay, I''ll do it myself, I''ll do it myself!" Dailey quickly changed her tone, and wipe the corners of her mouth with finger.


    "If my memory serves me right, I entrusted you with the surveince task, didn''t I?" Aiden''s expression turned serious.


    He sat down in the seat opposite Dailey, cing the baton menacingly on the table.


    "I allowed you to keep your spell-casting privileges alone in this interview room for the entire afternoon. I even went out of my way to buy you some snacks, and what do I find when Ie in? You asleep on the table. You better not cking off or else....."


    "How could that be possible!" Dailey quickly forced a smile, poking her index finger, cautiously exining.


    "I was just too tired, you know? Using magical spells for an extended period really drains my energy, and I can''t keep an eye on the target right now."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I can only possess an animal to monitor him, but he entered a ce I couldn''t ess," Dailey shrugged helplessly.


    "Where?"


    "A nightclub called Midnight Rose in Firework Alley. He was led in by a chubby man..."


    "Hold on!" Aiden immediately reacted. "Say that again."


    "He went to a nightclub called Midnight Rose..."


    "Not that, the other half!" Aiden''s gaze bore into Dailey.


    "He went with a chubby man."


    "Was it the mounted officer with a mustache who kicked me out of the reception room this morning?"


    "Um... it seems to be him," Dailey thought for a moment and gave a definite answer.


    It was Jialong Rowton, Aiden was now certain.


    "When did they meet?" Aiden pressed on.


    "Around 8:30 in the evening, I think it was the chubby guy who invited the kid out."


    These two were actually involved together. It seemed like his initial spection was on the right track.


    Based on the information provided by Veronica, Jialong Rowton was currently the most likely real culprit of the murder. And Bruce Kane, in order to protect him, got rid of the evidence and framed Veronica.


    If this reasoning was correct, then these two were undoubtedly aplices. If one of them was under investigation, the other would definitely be nervous.


    Today, when he arranged to talk to Bruce, Jialong hurriedly arrived at the meeting room to interrupt their conversation. Andter in the evening, he arranged to meet Bruce privately... Was he trying to warn him?


    If so, how did Jialong manage to make Bruce provide false testimony?


    Was it through bribery, or using his authority and background to coerce him... or perhaps, abination of both.


    In order to find the w in Bruce''s false testimony, this point was crucial.


    "Tell me about that kid''s schedule today," Aiden instructed Dailey.


    "I''ve written it down on the paper, please take a look," Dailey handed over a report paper ced on the table.


    Aiden took it, then suddenly frowned and shook the paper, "Why is this paper wet?"


    There was arge wet mark on the report paper, and a small portion of the ink-written words had smudged.


    "Well, um...," Dailey pursed her lips, a bit embarrassed, "I identally spilled water while drinking..."


    "It''s probably drool from when you were sleeping!"


    Aiden bluntly pointed it out, thenid the paper t on the table and started to carefully read the contents.


    "At two ten in the afternoon, he left the police station for patrol in the Upper City. While passing by the Royal Opera House, he queued outside to reserve two tickets... Hmm?" Aiden pondered, "I remember the tickets there aren''t cheap, right?"


    The Royal Opera House was the most luxurious theater in the entire Silver City. If a popr show was on, a ticket would cost at least a dozen <i>shilings</i>.


    In terms of Aiden''s original world, it wasparable to a regr ticket for a star''s concert that was almost a thousand bucks, and it would even double in the hands of scalpers.


    "It''s probably for a date with a girl, Chief Warden, you''ll see if you keep reading," Dailey smiled meaningfully.


    Aiden continued reading, "He returned to the police station at five o''clock, left work at five thirty, and went to the Queen''s Hotel, he sat at a window-side seat.


    Around six, a femalepanion arrived, they had dinner until seven..."


    He lifted his face and asked Dailey, "How old did the femalepanion look?"


    "About twenty years old, young for sure."


    "Lovers?"


    "There''s a subtle difference, in my opinion, the kid is probably pursuing her," Dailey said with a knowing smile,


    "If you look further down, after dinner they went shopping. The young man even bought the girl a coat, but he didn''t hold her hand the entire time."


    Aiden once again fell into contemtion. The Queen''s Hotel had an average per-person expense of around ten <i>shilings.</i>


    roughly equivalent to the per-person expense of four or five hundred in Aiden''s previous world, a bit on the pricier side.


    Considering Bruce''s sry as a probationary officer, it was probably just over a pound per week.


    Even if he recently received a promotion, the increase wouldn''t be that significant. If we must insist, the difference in economic strength wasn''t that differentpared to those office workers earning four or five thousand a month.


    If Bruce came from a middle-ss family, this level of expenditure could be understood. However, ording to Veronica, this guy seemed toe from a rather humble background.


    If that was indeed the case, him spending money so extravagantly to pursue a girl...


    "He''s either struck gold, or he''s apletepdog," Aiden muttered.


    Hearing this, Dailey showed a yful smile to Aiden, "Actually, I''m also yourpdog, woof woof!"


    She gestured with her hand in the shape of a dog''s paw, striking cute pose.


    "Heh, you..." Aiden raised an eyebrow at her, "You should be considered myckey."


    "Ah, I''m heartbroken. After all, someone has such a strong affection for you," Dailey yfully slumped onto the table, pretending to be heartbroken.


    Aiden ignored her and continued to focus on the report paper.


    When it came to prisoners saying things like this to him, he would never believed it.


    In his eyes, there was no emotion between him and these female inmates he used, only transactions based on interests.


    After all, the most Taboo thing in this line of work was to easily trust a prisoner.

 Chapter 18:

    Chapter 18:


    <b>A Wealth of Talent</b>


    The next morning, the main gate of the core area swung open. Supervisor Franda, apanied by several prison guards and a whole squad of riot control officers, marched down the corridor, shouting, "Core area, time for work!"


    As soon as the words left her mouth, the cell doors in the core area began to open, the inmates came out one after another, forming two lines on either side of the corridor.


    In the Rose Prison, as long as a prisoner had the ability to work, they were generally required to participate inbor reform on workdays. This applied even to the witches in the core area, who were the most difficult to manage.


    This kind ofbor waspulsory, and prisoners could only earn a meager amount of pocket money from it. Any excess earnings would be taken by the prison to cover operational expenses.


    However, even so, the big shot in the core area were generally quite cooperative.


    First because a long-term cooperation inbor reform and outstanding performance could lead to sentence reductions and an improvement in their treatment level within the prison.


    Second, they wouldn''t want to offend a warden who frequently employed cunning methods over such trivial matters.


    Franda walked down the corridor, counting the number of people. As she went, she suddenly frowned.


    The number was short. No one emerged from cell 13.


    As a death row inmate who would soon be executed, Veronica naturally didn''t need to participate inbor reform. However, it was different for Fei, who shared the same room with her.


    Franda arrived at the door of cell 13, and shouted inside with a dark face, "Inmate 3307, why are you still lying in bed? Get ready to work!"


    Fei stilly on the iron bed fixed to the wall, wrapping herself in a nket like a cocoon. She blinked sleepily at Franda and waved her hand, "I can''t do it, Supervisor. I still feel a bit dizzy from the collision the other day. Please allow me to take a sick leave."


    "Are you kidding me? You were just fine yesterday, and today you''re suddenly not feeling well?" Franda was exasperated by this pest, and she couldn''t help butugh.


    "Without the approval of the prison doctor, no one can take sick leave! If you cause any more trouble, I''ll have the riot control teame and drag you to work! Hurry up!"


    Veronica, who had just finished washing up, nced at Fei who was stillzing in bed, shook her head, and sat back at her own spot to read a book, indifferent to the situation.


    At this moment, Aiden''s voice echoed from the other end of the corridor, "Just let her stay."


    "Warden? Why..." Franda turned around in surprise, seeing Aiden striding down the corridor from the direction of the main gate. The guards stationed near the gate all saluted him.


    Unlike the usual scenes of chaos andmotion when Aiden came for inspections, this time as Aiden walked down the corridor, the inmates standing outside their cells appeared quite disciplined. The most they did was shoot him resentful nces or mutter curses under their breath.


    The inmates who usually cursed Aiden weren''t foolish. They knew that while they might get away with some mischief in their cells, in situations where they could have direct physical contact with the guards, any slight misstep could immediately be ssified as an assault on a guard, and the riot control team''s batons woulde down hard.


    Aiden didn''t pay attention to the lined-up inmates and walked to cell 13, saying, "Let Inmate 3307 stay in her room for now. I need to talk to her about something. Franda, take the other inmates to work first."


    "Understood!"


    Franda didn''t hesitate to follow the order. She directed the other guards to form the inmates into rows, then led them to different work areas.


    "Hehe, as expected, Lord Aiden cares about me. He knows how to let me sleep a bit longer!" Fei lying on the bed, greeted Aiden with a yful smile.


    "In your dream!" Aiden responded bluntly. "I''m just asking you a question. Once you answer, get to work!"


    "Ugh, nooooo i don''t wannaaa!" Fei protested, dragging out her words.


    "If you keep talking back, I''ll give you extra overtime." Aiden didn''t hesitate to add, promptly quieting Fei down.


    "Warden." Veronica, seeing Aiden at the door, set her book aside. "Um... is there any news?"


    She tried hard to make her expression and tone appear calm, but her eager eyes betrayed her emotions.


    Aiden sighed when he saw her like this. "Though I understand your feelings, I need to give you a reality check. In terms of procedure, your case was considered closed when you were sentenced to death. Reversing it won''t be easy."


    "I... I already know that," Veronica lowered her eyes.


    "Let''s gather as many leads as possible first. I also have something to confirm with you." Aiden got down to business.


    "I''m asking you, this young man named Bruce, does he have a lover or someone he''s pursuing?"


    "He doesn''t have a lover, but he did try to pursue a girl. She''s a prominent hostess at a tavern in the Lower District. However, it hasn''t been going very smoothly," Veronica recalled.


    "Oh? Why hasn''t it been going well?" Aiden became a bit more interested.


    "That girl is quite materialistic. I''ve seen her on patrol, going on dates with men who looked rather wealthy, several times. At least with three different men.


    Every time Bruce tried to ask her out, she turned him down. I advised him to give up, but I''m not sure if he took it to heart," Veronica exined.


    "I see. It seems that the kid did made some money..." Aiden rubbed his chin and muttered, "But he''s still a devoted puppy, isn''t he?"


    "May I ask, is this rted to the case?" Veronica asked cautiously.


    "Yes, you''ve provided valuable information," Aiden nodded with a smile. He then turned to Fei, "Fei, I have a question for you too. I remember you used to own a shop in Firework Alley, right?"


    "Yes," Fei confirmed.


    "Did you have a good reputation there?" Aiden inquired.


    "Of course, I was the Night Queen who reigning over Firework Alley. If my shop dared to im it was only the second-best in performance, no one would dare say they were the best!" Fei suddenly perked up, sitting up and bragging.


    "So you not only ran a business but also had a sense of superiority as a madam?" Aiden was both amused and exasperated by this girl, "Alright, alright. Do you know a ce called ''Midnight Rose''?"


    "Just wait a moment! You''d rather go to that expensive and trashy ce than ask me for help?" Fei jumped up from the bed angrily.


    "When I was doing business across from that dump, they couldn''t attract a single customer for a whole night. If it weren''t for my shop being closed down, they would have gone bankrupt long ago!"


    "Don''t talk nonsense! Look at how Veronica''s gaze towards me has turned icy!" Aiden quickly defended himself, "I was there for an investigation!"


    Veronica, along with Fei, looked at him with a touch of disappointment this time. "Lord Aiden, this excuse of yours... it''s not very convincing."


    "I... am... being... serious!" Aiden emphasized, tapping the iron railing. "I want to inquire about two individuals who entered that nightclub yesterday. That''s why I want to go ask around!"


    "That seems difficult. Those kinds of ces don''t casually reveal their guests'' privacy, and Lord Aiden, you don''t have the authority to investigate," Fei blinked her eyes a couple of times.


    "That''s why I''m asking if you have any connections!"


    "Oh, that''s easy." Fei suddenly disyed exceptional confidence and raised her hand, "Give me paper and pen! I''ll write you a referral letter, and with a signature, I guarantee that the people there will listen to you unquestioningly."


    "You have that much influence?" Aiden was a bit surprised.


    "I''ll threaten them that if they don''t listen to you, once I''m out of prison, I''ll personally oversee their shop and drive away all their customers, leaving them begging for scraps outside of Firework Alley!" Fei grinned maliciously, showing her sinister side.


    "Alright, it looks like you''re finally useful for something," Aiden nodded appreciatively.


    "Um... can the useful person maybe get a small reward?" Fei batted her eyshes at Aiden.


    "I can let the fact that you''re cking off today slide. If this referral letter proves to be effective, I''ll consider upgrading your treatment levelter," Aiden thought for a moment.


    "Great! Leave it to me!" Fei suddenly became enthusiastic and clenched her fist.


    Veronica looked back and forth between the two of them in daze, not knowing what to say.


    This prison really does seem to produce quite a few talents.

 Chapter 19:

    Chapter 19:


    <b>The Night Queen</b>


    "Well, this is indeed the handiwork of Miss Fei''er. Haha, I wonder what kind of rtionship you have with her?"


    The man in striped tuxedo wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and greeted Aiden with a smile.


    "Are you the owner here?" Aiden scrutinized the man before him.


    After presenting Fei referral letter to the reception at the "Midnight Rose" nightclub, Aiden was promptly led to avishly decorated private room that exuded a distinct rustic opulence. Waiting for him, there was the middle-aged man who seemed to be in charge.


    "Yes, yes!" The owner of the nightclub nodded vigorously.


    Judging by the location and standards of the establishment, "Midnight Rose" was considered one of the top-tier venues in the fiercelypetitive Firework Alley. The owner of this ce was undoubtedly a quite wealthy individual, and to run this kind of business, they would likely need to be a shrewd and well-connected figure to thrive in the long run.


    Yet, before Aiden, this owner not only personally came out to greet him but also disyed an attitude that was remarkably approachable... to the point of being almost ttering.


    "You don''t need to be so nervous. I''m just here to ask a few questions," Aiden reassured him with a smile.


    "You can rest assured. Since it was Miss Fei who introduced you, we will definitely cooperate," the owner replied, sitting up straight and respectful.


    "Hmm, is that woman really so influential here?" Aiden couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow.


    "What are you saying? Miss Fei''er is the undisputed industry goddess of Firework Alley!" The owner''s face showed a hint of solemn reverence. "With just a small shop here, she directly attracted over half of the customer traffic in Firework Alley. Her daily performance surpasses thebined weekly earnings of other shops!"


    "So, about this..." The owner rubbed his hands together and smiled, trying to please Aiden, "If you have any requests, please feel free to tell me. Also, please convey to her in the future to be merciful...


    Oh, by the way, can you help me ask if Miss Fei has any intention of forming a partnership? I wonder if we might have the privilege of coborating with her, we can discuss the terms!"


    "I know, I know."


    Aiden listened calmly, but inside, he was truly amazed. The troublesome subus in the prison, who only seemed to know how to be a nuisance, was actually a influential figure here. It was something that anyone would find hard to believe.


    However, the nightclub owner sitting across from him had a different thought in mind.


    Aiden didn''t wear his uniform today, as a prison guard''s uniform wouldn''t bring any investigative advantage and might even increase the risk of damaging his reputation if people saw him entering such a ce in uniform.


    But when the owner watching this mysterious young man effortlessly take out the introduction letter from Fei, and addressing him so casually, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of inexplicable awe.


    Could this young man be... Miss Fei''s lover? No, judging by his demeanor, treating that nightclub queen like a mere underling, he seemed more likely to be the big boss behind Fei.


    Such a figure could easily turn Firework Alley upside down with a snap of his fingers.


    It was best not to underestimate someone like him!


    "Would you like a drink? How about a special collection of mine...?" The owner hospitably offered.


    "No need, I''ll be on my way after I get the information I need," Aiden waved his hand.


    "At around ninest night, two customers I know entered your establishment. One was a plump man in his thirties with a mustache, and the other was a young person around twenty. Can you find out who attended to them?" Aiden inquired.


    "Of course, I''ll find out for you right away."


    The owner promptly rang the bell on the table, summoning the person who was responsible for receiving guestsst night. He then ryed Aiden''s question.


    "Ah, are you asking about... Officer Jialong Rowton?" The attendant immediately had an answer.


    "Yes, that''s him," Aiden nodded.


    "That scoundrel..." The nightclub owner muttered a curse under his breath, then his face froze as he realized he had made a mistake. He hurriedly exined to Aiden, "Oh no, I just... um, sir, you''re not friends with him, are you?"


    "Don''t worry, strictly speaking, we''re not exactly on good terms," Aiden reassured him, gesturing to rx.


    "Oh, that''s good, that''s good," the owner let out a sigh of relief, patting his chest.


    "Ah, Officer Rowton, in Firework Alley, he''s notorious for being a swindler. He uses his identity as a mounted police officer to rack up debts at various establishments, and in turns charges them some kind of fees.


    He''s quick to threaten to cause trouble for the establishments. Tsk tsk... he''s really a headache to deal with!"


    Clearly, Jialong Roton was not a well-liked figure here.


    "So, what did he do here yesterday? Did he say anything to the young man he was with? Please tell me everything you know," Aiden continued his inquiry.


    "Please wait a moment, I''ll bring the girl who served them drinks," the attendant bowed to him and left. It didn''t take long before he returned with several heavily made-up girls.


    Aiden questioned each of them in turn, gradually piecing together the activities of Jialong and Bruce at the nightclub yesterday.


    ording to the attendant and the girls, the two didn''t have any particrly notable actions in the club.


    They watched a performance near the stage first, then requested a private room where they drank and enjoyed themselves with the girls untilte into the night.


    However, the only piece of information that sounded valuable was from one of the girls, who mentioned overhearing Jialong speak sternly to Bruce just before they entered the private room.


    "It seemed like he said something like ''I''ve given you everything, don''t let me down''," the girl recalled, looking at the others for confirmation.


    The other girls nodded in agreement.


    "What did he give to the young man? Did you catch that part?" Aiden asked, his tone serious.


    "I''m sorry, we were on the other side of the door, so we couldn''t hear very clearly," the girl replied in confusion, shaking her head.


    Aiden looked at the other people, and the other girls also shook their heads.


    "Why are you all so useless! Ah?" The nightclub owner couldn''t help but feel a bit anxious, afraid of offending Aiden because of this.


    "I''m sorry, boss!" The girls quickly lowered their heads.


    "It''s alright, it''s alright," Aiden raised his hand to defuse the situation, then turned back to the girls. "Well... is there anything else worth mentioning? Tell me everything."


    The girls, fearing another scolding from the boss, racked their brains and tried to recall. Suddenly, one of the girls remembered something. "Ah! Mr. Rowton seemed to have changed his pocket watch."


    "Yes, he changed it to a silver one..."


    "Before, when he drank too much, he always showed off his gold pocket watch, saying how powerful the family crest was."


    The other girls chimed in, each adding their own input.


    "A pocket watch?" Aiden furrowed his brows.


    "Oh dear, why bother with such trivial matters? Don''t waste the guest''s time!" The nightclub owner mmed the table in frustration.


    "I''m sorry, boss!" The girls lowered their heads even further.


    But Aiden couldn''t help but smile. He pped his hands in approval. "No, no, you all did great. You provided very useful information."


    The girls and the nightclub owner exchanged puzzled looks, unable to fully understand the young man''s reaction.


    "Is there anything else?" Aiden asked onest time, looking at the girls. After confirming that they couldn''t provide any more information, he stood up. "Alright, thank you very much for your cooperation. I''ll take my leave now."


    "I''ll escort you," the nightclub owner offered, standing up politely.


    "No need, you can go about your business," Aiden waved his hand and left the private room directly.


    The owner signaled to the attendant, to hurriedly followed to see Aiden off at the door. Then he quickly returned and asked in a hushed voice, "Boss, who exactly is that kid?"


    "No matter who he is, from now on, if this persones to the club, treat him with the highest level of hospitality! Notify me immediately if I''m around! If anyone neglects him, I won''t spare them!"


    The owner''s gaze was sharp as he issued hismand.


    Previous Chapter


    Table of Content


    Next Chapter

 Chapter 20:

    Chapter 20:


    <b>A Personal Vendetta</b>


    Sitting in the swaying public carriage, Aiden once again sorted out the gathered information.


    From what he had learned so far, after Veronica''s case, Bruce Kane suddenly began indulging in extravagant spending that waspletely disproportionate to his ie. It seemed like he hade into a windfall.


    From this point, we can boldly specte that Jialong Rowton had enticed him tomit perjury, primarily through financial incentives.


    Moreover,bined with the lead provided by the hostesses of the "Midnight Rose," it was probable that Jialong had given him more than just money.


    "...He carries a gold pocket watch with his family crest on it, and he often takes it out to unt it."


    Aiden hadn''t forgotten this detail that Veronica had told him. But At that time, he had merely brushed it off.


    However, when those hostesses told him that Jialong had exchanged the watch, he immediately thought of a possibility.


    The investigation team had taken less than a day from the start of the case to arresting Veronica. Assuming Jialong was the murderer, then bribing Bruce to destroy evidence and frame Veronica must have been an urgent process.


    The incident happened in the middle of the night, and there were no banks open. When he hurriedly went to find Bruce, he couldn''t have possibly had enough money on him to bribe the other party.


    By logical deduction, for something as significant as providing false testimony in a murder case, a mere verbal promise wouldn''t be enough to make someone act on the spot.


    So, what he could have handed over at the time was likely just that pocket watch he carried with him.


    In that case, the watch was either still in Bruce''s possession, or he had already sold it¡ªeither way, it hadn''t returned to Jialong''s hands.


    This lead might serve as the breakthrough to deal with Bruce Kane.


    Thinking this, the public carriage had already brought him to the vicinity of the Mounted Police Station.


    Aiden entered the police station with his cane, identified himself to the reception officer, requested to meet Bruce Kane, and was then led to the reception room, just likest time.


    Aidan decided to try to intimidate Bruce a bit. He would tell the kid that Veronica had actually requested a retrial a long time ago, and that the investigation team that had been set up had made progress, pointing in his direction.


    Then, he would unexpectedly reveal that they had already obtained information that Jialong Rowton was the real culprit, and that he had epted Jialong gold pocket watch.


    He would then tell him that timely surrendering and entering a plea deal was his only way out.


    From the impression he got, even though the young man was a mounted police officer, he was ultimately just a rookie andcked a strong anti-interrogation mentality. He had been deeply uneasy about giving false testimony and had been on edge.


    As long as Aiden could break through Bruce Kane''s psychological defenses, there was a possibility he would confess the truth.


    With his testimony, initiating a retrial and forming an investigation team would be a natural course of action.


    Aiden''s intimidation could turn into reality¡ªinterrogation techniques asionally involved bluffing towards the suspect or prisoner, and as a prison guard, he was adept at this.


    This was the most direct way to breakthrough at the moment. They didn''t have much time, Veronica''s execution was only about a month away.


    They needed to submit a retrial application as soon as possible within the deadline, and a valid reason was required.


    After waiting for several minutes in the reception room, someone finally opened the door.


    Aiden looked towards the neer and was slightly surprised.


    The person entering was not Bruce Kane, but Jialong Rowton.


    Aiden had a vague sense that something was amiss. Just as he was contemting how to start the conversation, Jialong spoke first, in a blunt and impolite manner: "How many times will this annoying fly bother me? Are you trying to clear that woman''s name?"


    The straightforward and rude words felt like a sharp jab with a sword, and the hostility from the other party was evident.


    Seeing this, Aiden decided to be equally frank. He looked directly into Jialong''s eyes and pointed out, "Given your level of nervousness, it seems quite likely that you''re the one who murdered the person."


    "You''ve investigated thoroughly, but I advise you not to waste your efforts. The trial has already concluded." Jialong sat across from Aiden, the corners of his mouth lifted in an undisguised sneer.


    "I''ve already told that kid, as long as he keeps his mouth shut and says nothing, no one can touch us! He won''t see you again. Use your brain and think, what reason does he have to help you with this, have a sudden conscience awakening? Don''t be ridiculous, that thing will onlynd him in prison!"


    Aiden stared at Jialong in silence. He was well aware that there was a reason for the other party''s arrogance.


    If he were a detective who had uncovered the truth and was tracking down the murderer, then when Veronica was wrongly sentenced to death and the whole case was closed, he had already lost to the murderer.


    Moreover, he was just a prison guard, without even a bit of investigative authority.


    What Jialong said was the truth. If Bruce didn''t testify, trying to clear Veronica''s name would be an incredibly difficult task.


    However, Bruce Kane couldn''t easily retract his testimony. After all, providing false testimony and epting bribes were serious offenses.


    On the night of the incident, Jialong and he were merely engaged in a transaction of bribery and being bribed. But now, they had be aplices in an unbreakable partnership.


    Aidan''s intimidation might have a chance at intimidating Bruce, but it would be difficult if Jialong continued to influence him.


    "You, don''t be so thankless. Keeping that wolf in the world would be a hazard. Sending her to prison was doing a good deed," Jialong said while spreading his hands, continuing to mock.


    "Understand your role, will you? You''re just a prison guard. Your job is to carry out the sentences handed down by the Judicature. If the Judicature orders you to execute the woman, then you do it obediently! Is there any point in these unnecessary actions? Huh?"


    "Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?" Aiden responded to this remark, narrowing his eyes at Jialong.


    Jialong was momentarily taken aback, then he smirked and taunted, "What can you do to me?"


    "Officer Rowton, I''ve been a prison guard for a long time. I discipline criminals every day, and I''ve developed two upational hazards.


    One, I really dislike outsiders trying to teach me how to do my job.


    Two, I tend to hold grudges.


    If a prisoner challenges me in front of my face, I''ll make sure to find a way to make their life in prison worse than death¡ªonly then can I establish authority among the prisoners. And you, you embody both,"


    Aiden looked into his eyes and said calmly, "Although I oversee the women''s prison now, you probably won''t have a chance to end up in my hands. But I know the wardens of the other prisons in Silver City. Whether you''re sentenced to death or life imprisonment in the future, I guarantee I''ll find every means to make sure you suffer in prison."


    After working as a prison guard for so many years, I won''t let an uncaught murderer dare to teach me how to do things!


    If investigating Veronica''s case was initially out of a sense of duty, now his fiery temper and desire to bring down the other party was his personal choice.


    After hearing this, Jialong''s cheeks twitched a few times. He was about to retort when Aiden suddenly stood up, picked up his cane, and walked towards the door.


    As he passed by Jalon, he nced at him and left a remark, "Now it''s a personal vendetta, fatso."

 Chapter 21:

    Chapter 21:


    <b>Inmate 4001</b>


    evening, in the warden''s office.


    "Ah, I see..." After listening to Aiden''s ount, Veronica lowered her head and said, "It seems the chances of a retrial are quite slim for now."


    Once again she was brought to the warden''s office to talk with Aiden, and listened as he exined the current situation.


    "At least for now, I can''t think of any way to break this deadlock," Aiden sighed.


    Veronica fell silent for a moment. Suddenly, she let out a breath as if finding some peace within herself, then forced a smile and said,


    "It''s alright, Warden. You''ve done your best. I''vee to terms with it. I''m an orphan, without family or friends, so there''s not much for me to hold on to. Meeting a kind-hearted warden like you in my final moments is already a good thing."


    Aidan furrowed his brow and stared at Veronica for a while, then suddenly remarked, "you just have been here for a few days and already gone a bit daft?"


    "Huh?" Veronica was bewildered.


    "No, I mean, how can you possibly take this situation lightly? Being wrongly used and sent to the gallows, how could you not seek vengeance? You must have those responsible for this to pay, even if it means haunting them from beyond the grave!" Aidan red at her.


    "At the very least, prepare yourself for filing a retrial application, even if tomorrow was the day of the punishment!"


    Once he waspletely certain of Veronica''s innocence, he was determined to help clear her name.


    Having devoted two lifetimes to being a prison guard, he still had some feelings for his profession. The duty of a prison guard was to manage and rehabilitate criminals, and having an innocent person endure punishment was as unbearable as swallowing a fly for him.


    Furthermore, today this antagonist had the audacity to mock him, trampling over his dignity. Anyone with a bit of temper would absolutely not stand for it.


    "But..." Veronica was stunned by this unpredictable man, momentarily forgetting her destion. "You said you couldn''t think of a way. Even if we don''t give up, what can we do?"


    "Just because I can''t think of a way, doesn''t mean others can''t," Aiden sped his hands together. "I know a ''person'' who might know what to do... Since you''re at a loss too, I''ll have to try asking her for help."


    "Who?" Veronica blinked.


    Aiden nced at her. "It''s a secret."


    "You... You''re not saying this to me just because you''re afraid I mightmit suicide in prison, are you?" Veronica looked at Aiden with suspicion. "Please, don''t give me false hope only to leave me in despair again. This kind of thing... not many people can bear it."


    "I''m just telling the truth, and let me tell you first. I have no obligation to take care of your feeling


    I''ve done my best to help you. This is your fight. Regardless of the oue, sticking it out to the end is your duty,"


    Aiden said as he stood up and put on his hat. "Go back to your room now. I''m going to meet that person. We don''t have much time to waste."


    After assigning a prison guard under hismand to escort Veronica out, Aiden made sure the corridor was clear on all sides, then returned to his office and removed a painting from the wall, revealing a safe embedded in the wall.


    This safe was used to store some of the more confidential documents in the prison, and only the warden had the authority to open it. Aiden only used it asionally.


    However, this time, Aiden didn''t intend to open this safe.


    He took out three different keys, inserted them into a row of keyholes, and turned them.


    Then he began to operate thebination lock on the safe, entering a password that waspletely different from the usual one.


    A click sounded, and the safe silently slid to one side, revealing a hidden passage below. Inside the passage was a spiral staircase leading down to the dark depths of the underground.


    Aiden took back the key, scrambled thebination lock, and rece the hanging painting. Then he took attern on the shelf, lit it and walked into the secret passage.


    As he Descending into the secret passage, Aiden casually pulled a lever on the staircase wall, causing the floor tiles to slide back into ce, sealing the entrance


    Aiden holding antern, continued down. The underground space dominated by darkness, was quiet and still. Only the echo of his footsteps reverberated here, as if there were another transparent figure following him.


    Finally, arrived at the bottom, a huge dark room with nothing except for a door can be seen.


    A massive cell door, crafted from mithril, upied an entire wall.


    It was adorned with various defensive measures, and inscribed with several kinds of forbidden runes.


    All of these were offensive runes, meant to detect the moment a prisoner inside broke containment. They were designed topletely destroy the said prisoner and this underground space, burying her along with this dungeon.


    This dungeon was located directly below the warden''s office. Frankly, Aiden had serious doubts about the rationality of this design.


    Even though the higher-ups at the Inquisition Bureau emphasized to him that this ce''s foundation and the dungeon itself were reinforced just as much, that even if the dungeon exploded, the prison above would be fine. Aiden was still worried that one day when he sitting, doing some work like usual, suddenly there''s a loud noise and huge explosion sting his ass.


    What''s more, he believed that these so-called forbidden techniques most likely wouldn''t be enough to kill that woman.


    The mere existence of the prisoner locked inside was already a taboo in itself.


    He undid the locks on the door one by one, and finally, he pricked his finger and smeared the blood into a groove on the door¡ªa door that only he had the authority to open in this prison.


    With the sound of gear turning, the door made of mithril openedyer byyer, and the strongest Cell of the rose prison finally appeared.


    The entire cell was made of mithril just like the door. The woman with floor-length hair was bound to the execution frame at the end of the cell. Strange-shaped long nails pierced her palms, the tops of her feet, and the joints of her hands and feet. She tilted her head, eyes tightly shut, and appearing serene as if she were a lifeless corpse.


    The moment Aiden stepped into the cell, the slumbering woman slowly opened her eyes.


    "Good evening, Inmate 4001," Aidan greeted her expressionlessly.


    "You''ve finallye to see me again, my dear warden."


    Inmate 4001 smiled at him, her silver-gray eyes reflecting the figure of Aiden holding thentern.

 Chapter 22:

    Chapter 22:


    <b>The Goddess of Conspiracy</b>


    Inmate 4001, Mephilia Hughes, Inquisition file codename "Saint".


    The maximum capacity of Rose Prison is four thousand inmates, and the file numbers only go up to 4000.


    Inmate 4001 is considered an "extra inmate" here. Her file is not kept in this prison, but rather sealed in the headquarters of the Inquisition bureau, not far from Rose Prison.


    She was transferred here from the Inquisition bureau, the unit where Aiden used to work before.


    This cell was built six years ago, a secret modification of a part of the dungeon that had been abandoned and buried in Rose Prison.


    The funding for the renovation was provided by the Inquisition bureau.


    It is almost entirely made of mithril, and was embedded deep underground. the cost of both the Cell and theplex engineering was astronomical. The financially strapped Rose Prison would never have been able to afford it.


    Strictly speaking, this cell belongs to the Inquisition bureau. Mephilia herself has little to do with Rose Prison. The Rose Prison simply provides the location for housing this inmate.


    Before Aiden was transferred here, there''s no guard in the rose prison who knew about this Cell, let alone the authority to open it.


    The Warden''s office directly above the cell Was also moved after Aiden took office.


    Before that, the room had been used by the Inquisition bureau as an archive, iming to borrow it from the heavily guarded Rose Prison to store some surplus records.


    The higher-ups from the Inquisition were willing to let go of Aiden, the ace investigator, and agreed to transfer him to work in the Rose Prison. Mainly because of Mephilia they needed someone who knew about Inmate 4001 existence to regrly monitor her confinement.


    Aiden and Mephilia share some kind of connection.


    "When was thest time we met?" Meliphilia spoke slowly, still not fully recovered from her deep sleep.


    "About half a month ago." Aiden sat down at the interrogation table in front of the execution tform and took off his hat, cing it beside him.


    "It''s rare for you toe here,e let''s y chess with me" Meliphilia made a request.


    "Alright, what kind?"


    Aiden brought a box from beside the table and opened it. there were various homemade chess pieces and a chessboard Inside.


    "Ludo" Mephilia answered without hesitation.


    "You really do enjoy games that rely mostly on luck."


    As Aiden spoke, he sorted out the flying chess pieces from the messy boxes and drew the parchment paper for the chess board, which he made by himself.


    As a Transmigrator, he hadn''t forgotten the excellent tradition of promoting and poprizing his world''s culture in the new world.


    After entering the Rose Prison, Aiden once tried to promote some cultural and sports activities from his past world here, including some chess, cards and simple ball games. These games were very popr with the prisoners and became a way to stabilize the mood of the inmates.


    The downside was that some games became so popr that even the prison guards started getting hooked, forcing Aiden to repeatedly instruct his subordinates not to neglect their duties by indulging in games during work hours.


    Mephilia also enjoyed card and board games. As she''s not allowed to leave her cell, apart from her deep sleep, there are very few ways for her to pass the time.


    Of course, the only person who ys chess with her is Aiden.


    "you''re bound to lose If we ying a games that require brain. Games with no suspense are just too boring. Games with variable probabilities like this are much more interesting." Mephilia looked at Aiden calmly as he set up the board.


    Aiden didn''t argue, what Mephilia said was true.


    Mephilia possessedputational abilities surpassing humans. If Aiden were to evaluate it, she might be on par with the artificial intelligence of his previous world. In games like chess, which relied entirely on strategy, an ordinary person would never stand a chance against her.


    "Shall I go first or you?" Aiden picked up the dice after setting up the board.


    "I''ll go first." Mephilia replied.


    As soon as she finished speaking, the dice floated up from Aiden''s hand and rolled onto the board. Even though most of her power was sealed by ten holy nails, she still retained enough psychic ability to move the dice and pieces.


    "Hey, hey, you rolled a six on the first try. You''re not cheating, are you?" Aiden watched as she confidently moved the first piece to the take-off area.


    "Each to their own abilities." Mephilia looked pleased with the opening result.


    Aiden also made his first move, but only rolled a one.


    "Seems luck isn''t on my side." Aiden sighed.


    "So, what did you want to ask me this time?" Mephilia asked while rolling the dice.


    "The way you say it, it''s like every time I approach you, it''s with an ulterior motive."


    "I''ve long learned how indifferent you are, Since you ced me here. Besides regr checks, I can count on one hand the times you''ve willingly apanied me.


    Each time, it''s because you need something from me." Mephilia stared at the board and spoke slowly,


    "Let''s make a deal. y chess with me until dawn today, and I''ll grant you inspiration."


    "Looks like it''s going to be a long game." Aiden took out his pocket watch and nced at it.


    "This deal seems quite worthwhile, doesn''t it?" Mephilia smiled, "You won''t be getting any sleep tonight." (? ??¡ã? ???? ??¡ã?)


    "Alright, then let me be straightforward."


    Aiden picked up the dice, ying chess with Mephilia while recounting Veronica''s case.


    "...So, basically, all we need to do is instigate the witness and make him admit his perjury?" Mephilia summarized after listening to Aiden ount.


    "That''s right."


    "Isn''t that quite simple? Just make those two aplices fall out with each other."


    "How do we go about this?" Aiden realized she had a n in mind.


    "Let''s say, if the murderer fears the witness might suddenly have a change of heart and confess, and sends an assassin to silence him, but the assassin identally slips up..." Mephilia wore a dark smile on her face,


    "the escaped witness of the murderer will realize that the murderer trying to silence him and their rtionship will fall apart."


    "But, the murderer might not necessarily do that," Aiden raised a question, "for the murderer, the witness is a very manipble figure. He doesn''t have any need to kill him at this point."


    "It doesn''t have to be the murderer who sent the assassin out. As long as we make the witness believe that, isn''t that enough?" Mephilia''s smile grew wider, "Besides, you have quite a few useful pawns in your hands, don''t you?"


    Aiden''s hand hesitated for a moment as it reached for a chess piece. He looked up at Meliphilia, "To do something like that..."


    "Is it against the rules?" Mephilia raised an eyebrow, mocking Aiden, "For a Dominator, the rules of mere mortals hold no meaning. You should know very well what kind of oue you''ll get if you pray to me for wisdom, right?"


    Aiden fell silent for a moment, then continued to move a piece, "You truly live up to the title of the Goddess of Conspiracy. Your schemes are just as devious."


    "The so-called conspiracies and schemes are ultimately just definitions of mortals," Mephilia said after rolling the dice, then moved the final piece to the finish line, "Well, I''ve won. Let''s start the next game."

 Chapter 23:

    Chapter 23:


    <b>Golden Fist</b>


    <i>(Tn : Evangeline is -> evansha (in raw) but i Will keep using Evangeline cause it''s cooler and more familiar)</i>


    "I''ve already said it, right? It''s past six o''clock. Spare me, I still have work to do today." Aiden nced at his pocket watch and let out a big yawn.


    In fact, he had started pleading for mercy a little after four, but Mephilia showed no intention of letting him off.


    From Ludo, Texas hold''em, to ckjack, he yed The game with Mephilia all Night long, with more losses than wins.


    his eyelids began to fight In theter part of the night, and now he wasn''t as tired, but his head still felt heavy. It seemed impossible not to doze off while working today.


    "Alright, with your current state, continuing to y won''t be enjoyable anyway," Mephilia finally relented. "You shoulde visit me often. It''s quite boring just sleeping all the time."


    "I''ll do my best." Aiden gathered the cards and chess pieces on the table, put on his hat, and turned to leave.


    "Try to live a little longer, ''Aiden''," Mephilia said, watching his retreating figure. "I spent so much effort to summon you from another world. Don''t end up as short-lived as your predecessor."


    "I also want to live a bit longer. Go tell your followers that." Aiden sighed.


    He stepped out of the cell and closed the door again. With the sound of iron chains and gears, the mithril-made door swiftly shut.


    The door closed tightly,pletely separating the two of them.


    Aiden subconsciously touched his chest, there was a twisted scar underneath his uniform.


    The previous Aiden died from this fatal wound that prated His heart. The person who killed him was a fanatic follower of the God sealed in Mephilia body ¡ª the founder of that cult.


    After the previous Aiden died, it was this same God who summoned the current "Aiden" into this world. When Aiden first met Mephilia, she openly admitted to it.


    To this day, he still hasn''t figured out why Mephilia summoned him, for what purpose?. But at least, she hasn''t shown any obvious hostility towards him.


    For now, he could only temporarily see Mephilia as one of the prisoners he managed, treating her like any other inmate. This was the most appropriate rtionship between him and the prisoners in his mind.


    After returning to the office, he first called the prison guard on duty for the day and instructed them to bring the two inmates from Room 11 and Room 12 in the core area to his office when it was time to leave for work.


    Two hourster, the guard brought both Evangeline from Room 11 and the witch Dailey from Room 12 to the warden''s office and knocked on the door. "Warden, the inmates have been brought."


    Aiden, who was napping on the desk, woke up in surprise, quickly wiped his face, and called out, "Let them in!"


    The guard opened the door, letting the two female prisoners into the office, and then closed the door.


    Normally, high-risk inmates with a red alert level would not only need to be handcuffed and shackled when being transported, but also apanied by a whole team of riot police.


    But Evangeline and Dailey were exceptions. it was an open secret among the guards that they are a model inmates specially selected to assist the prison guards. Of course having said that, the only one who can call Them was Aiden.


    Other prison guards like Franda, who served as the head of the core area, also had this authority to some extent. Aiden allowed her to deploy these model inmates to handle some unexpected emergencies. However, unlike Aiden, other guards generally tried to avoid contact with these inmates as much as possible¡ªthey were well aware that even if these inmates were fitted with cors, they were still extremely dangerous beasts at their core.


    "Have a seat. What would you like to drink?" Aiden gestured to the guest seats beside him.


    "ck coffee!" Dailey smiled.


    "Milk tea." Evangeline said expressionlessly.


    Aiden had someone to prepare hot tea and coffee, and also ced a small pot of fresh milk and a jar of sugar on the table.


    Dailey didn''t add anything and simply picked up the ck coffee, while Evangeline added fresh milk to her ck tea and then poured sugar into her milk tea.


    "Hey, aren''t you afraid of giving yourself diabetes!" Dailey was shocked by Evangeline generous use of sugar.


    "Don''t worry about her. Her sense of taste is damaged, if the sweetness isn''t strong enough, She won''t be able to taste it" Aiden said while sitting behind the table.


    Dailey turned to Aiden. "So, Warden, do you have any special tasks for us today?"


    "In your case, the mission was the same as before, keep an eye on the target, starting from the afternoon until the evening, I''ll arrange itter. Wait on standby until then." Aiden didn''t waste words with her and straightforwardly exined the task at hand.


    "Understood," Dailey smiled sweetly, and gave Aiden a meaningful wink. "Warden, ''that'' should also be avable, right?"


    Aiden stared at Dailey for a moment and sighed, "Alright, what do you want?"


    "This time, I''d like a slightly different reward," Dailey said, ying with her jet-ck, silky hair. "I''d like to request a hairstylist to help me with my hair. It''s been getting quite splittely."


    Aiden nodded firmly after hearing her request. "Alright, after taking care of your hair, I''ll arrange for you to have a soak in the luxurious bathhouse, then assign the best masseuse to give you a one-hour massage. Finally, you''ll get to sleep soundly in the deluxe suite at the Baihe Hotel."


    "Really!?" Dailey looked pleasantly surprised.


    "What do you think?" Aiden looked at her with a half-smile.


    "Well..." Dailey face froze, and then she reacted, "umm, sorry, i got carried away!"


    "You should still exercise some restraint." Aiden put away his smile.


    After all, prisoners were still prisoners. The prison was a ce of punishment, and even if the management involved a mix of carrot and stick, thetter had to remain dominant. Being too indulgent with these inmates would quickly lead to them taking advantage.


    "Just the cream cake from the Seventh Street will do," Dailey pointed her finger and made another request.


    Evangeline had been quietly listening to their conversation and sipping her milk tea. She asked in a soft voice, "Um, what about me?"


    "Your task will be in the evening, outside the prison. I''ll exin the details to youter," Aiden said.


    "Understood." Evangeline nodded.


    "Oh, how nice! You get to go outside the prison. It seems like there''s another situation that requires our ''Golden Fist'' to step in and resolve it."

 Chapter 24:

    Chapter 24:


    <b>Emotionless Killer</b>


    Late at night, in the lower district, within the pitch-ck alley.


    "...The whole process is roughly like this. Do you find it eptable?" Aiden held a set of clothes he had bought and exined to Evangeline, who stood before him.


    "No problem," Evangeline replied tly.


    "What i''m asking is not whether you can do it, but whether you are willing to do it" Aiden emphasized with a serious look.


    His question brought a hint of confusion to Evangeline normally stoic face. "Why are you asking for my opinion? Didn''t you say in the prison that as long as we follow orders, it''s enough?"


    "That''s indeed the rule in the prison. But this time, it''s a personal request from me. To put it bluntly..." Aiden paused. "I''m abusing my power a bit. You can refuse if you want."


    "I''m not quite sure I understand." Evangeline tilted her head. "So, should I refuse or agree?"


    "I''m asking for your opinion, so if you just ask me back, it''s pointless," Aiden said.


    Aiden couldn''t help but rub his forehead. Even though he had been interacting with Evangeline for two years, there were still some quirky aspects of her that he found challenging to handle.


    Evangeline pondered for a moment. "Is there a reward for doing this?"


    "Of course, but it can''t vite the prison''s regtions," Aiden exined.


    "Then, can I ask for that?" Evangeline pointed towards the disy window of a shop across the street from the alley.


    Aiden turned around and looked over. Many shop has already turned off their light , and he could barely see what was in the window.


    Across the street was a toy store, and in the disy window there was a giant plush teddy bear.


    "You want that? It''s possible." Aiden considered, "but ording to the rules, there''s a possibility that inmates could hide contraband inside it. So It would need to be inspected daily. If you''re okay with that..."


    Evangeline remained silent for a moment, as if imagining her plush toy being opened and inspected by prison guards every day. She shook her head and said, "Never mind, I''ll stick with Dailey."


    "You want some cake too?"


    Evangeline nodded.


    "Alright, I''ll buy it for you tomorrow," Aiden promised.


    "Then, let''s start the mission now."


    "Please." Aiden handed the clothes to Evangeline, then scratched the ground with his cane.


    A small cloud of mist spread through the alley, enveloping Evangeline figure.


    This is the knowledge of the ck magic that Aiden had inherited from His previous body owner. Although he can''t use it as skillfully as the original, he can still use it to make some tricks.


    Making a prisoner disappear from view was a taboo, especially for someone as dangerous as Evangeline.


    But Aiden decided to respect her privacy. He wasn''t particrly concerned about any untoward actions from Evangeline, this not out of naive trust, but because he held Evangeline life in his hands.


    After a rustling sound, Aiden heard a hoarse, gender-indiscernible voice from within the mist, "Done."


    As Aiden dispelled the spell, the mist dissipated, revealing a transformed Evangeline. Her stature had grown taller, surpassing even Aiden by a head. Making her look like a giant. She had donned the attire provided by Aiden, wrapping herself in a ck robe and concealing her entire face behind a full-cover mask.


    The now towering Ivansha reached out and handed her smaller prisoner uniform and the windbreaker jacket to Aiden.


    This was Evangeline special ability, not an illusion or a deception, but a genuine physical transformation of her body size.


    as an orphan adopted by a killer organization. She has been subjected to various cruel human experiments since what she can remember, and was finally made into a human weapon with various special skills.


    However, as a price, she lost part of her senses and her lifespan was also significantly shortened.


    "good, now let''s go." Aiden nodded in satisfaction. "Follow the n, the target will leave the opera house and head home. we will Strike when he''s alone."


    Evangeline crouched and leaped, using the walls on either side of the alley to quickly ascend. She moved gracefully, as if she had sprouted wings, and soon disappeared into the night.


    "Now..." After watching Evangeline leave, Aiden smirked, leaning on his cane as he headed towards the end of the alley. "Time to put on a show for that kid."


    At this moment, Bruce Kane was walking alone on a nearby street. His steps were a bit erratic due to his excitement.


    The tickets to the Royal Opera House night show that I spent a lot of money to buy turned out to be of some use. Today, when the opera entered its climax, I finally seeded in holding Miss Mary''s hand.


    (Tn: simp ¡¥??_?(? ??¡ã? ???? ?¡ã?? ?)?_?/?¡¥)


    If things continue progressed like this, we will be able to estabilish a rtionship soon and the "savings" he had obtained earlier would still have some left...


    Being Lost in his own world, he didn''t notice the tall figure quietly approaching him from behind.


    "Bruce Kane?" When Evangeline was close enough, she called out to him with a disguised voice.


    "Huh?" Bruce reflexively turned around when Hearing someone call out his full name in such a deserted area at night.


    Before he could react, a Sharp dagger was already pressed against his neck, causing him to feel a twinge of pain.


    "Don''t turn around, don''t shout, and don''t move," Evangeline threatened in a tone devoid of any emotion. "Otherwise, I''ll have to slit your throat and then talk to you again."


    "You..." Feeling the threat to his life, Bruce''s scalp tingled, "What, what do you want?"


    "Don''t me me, I''m just following orders," Evangeline continued with the lines Aiden had taught her. "My employer wants your life, but before that, he has another request."


    "What are you talking about? I''m telling you, I''m a police officer! If you kill me, you won''t get away with it!" Bruce shouted.


    "I told you not to shout." Another dagger appeared in Evangeline other hand, instantly positioned less than an inch in front of Bruce''s eyeball.


    Evangeline tone was not ferocious. Not only was it not ferocious, but it was also dull and a bit mechanical. However it was this kind of inhuman and mechanical coldness that made people shudder the most.


    Aiden designed a script for Bruce. In this script, Evangeline role is positioned as an emotionless killer, but she does not need to y this role deliberately because she is such a killer herself.


    Bruce fell silent instantly. The cold and mechanical demeanor of the other personpletely exceeded his understanding. He had never encountered a criminal like this before.


    A criminal of Evangeline caliber was well beyond the scope that the mounted police could handle.


    "My employer wants you to return the gold pocket watch he lent to you. If Put it this way you should understand, right?" Evangeline said calmly.


    "Hand over the item, and I can spare your life. Otherwise... you''ll surely regret the way you die."

 Chapter 25:

    Chapter 25:


    <b>Life is a y, All Depends on Acting</b>


    "p-pocket watch?"


    Bruce was momentarily stunned, then his mind conjured up the gold pocket watch with the intricately carved harpy that he had held in his hand that day.


    "Y-you, you mean..." he swallowed, his throat dry from nervousness, "Jialong hired you?"


    "Now, it''s my turn to ask questions. Say one more unnecessary word, and watch out for your eyes," Evangeline continued to threaten.


    "But I''ve already sold the pocket watch!" Bruce''s voice grew sharp with fear. "Didn''t I already tell him? Why is heing to me for it again!?"


    His mind was in turmoil. As far as he could see, the only person who woulde to demand the gold pocket watch from him was Jialong - in fact, after Veronica''s arrest, Jialong had indeed found him and proposed to buy back the watch with money.


    However, after the watch hade into his possession, he had sold it off the very next day. He didn''t think too much about it at the time. He didn''t have the nerve to use the gold watch to extort Jialong, and at the same time, he was worried that Jialong might change his mind. So, he simply exchanged the watch for cash right away.


    At that time, when Jialong heard about it he was a bit frustrated, but he didn''t do anything to him. So why was he suddenly hiring an assassin toe after him now?


    He quickly remembered that day when the warden came to visit him, and afterwards, he deliberately arranged to meet him to warn that there might be someone conducting a case review. He warned Bruce to keep his mouth shut.


    Could it be... because of this?


    Because someone had started to investigate, Jialong was worried that Bruce might spill the beans, so he decided to take drastic measures...


    "Since you can''t give me what I want..." the assassin said coldly, "then I''ll have to take your life instead."


    "W-wait! Let me meet your employer! Let me talk to him! I''ll exin everything to him. I absolutely won''t reveal his involvement! Please don''t kill me!" Bruce pleaded incoherently.


    "I only received the job of silencing. A dead man''s mouth is the most reliable," the assassin''s voice grew darker.


    Bruce, gripped by despair, foresaw the imminent surge of blood from his own neck. "St-stop¡ª"


    "Stop!" a deep male voice from behind interrupted, halting the assassin''s movement. "Harm him, and I''ll shoot right away."


    At this moment, the lead actor entered the scene.


    "H-help! Help me!" Bruce instinctively pleaded to the mysterious figure.


    Evangeline sheathed her de, using her free hand to grab Bruce and turn him around, facing the mysterious figure.


    After being forcibly turned around, Bruce blinked, tears of fear welling up in his eyes. He finally saw the person who came to rescue him. "You are... Mr. Aiden?"


    "The thing I feared the most has happened," Aiden sighed gravely, pointing his gun at the assassin behind Bruce. "Release the hostage quickly. You''ll be surrounded soon, surrender now!"


    The assassin didn''t speak, but instead used his free hand to grab Bruce''s cor, effortlessly lifting him up with a strength that Bruce couldn''t fathom, using him as a shield.


    Bruce was choked by his own cor, struggling to breathe for a moment, and could only kick and squirm desperately.


    "Don''t make any reckless moves!" Aiden warned sternly. "I said release the hostage. If you kill him, you''ll be shot on the spot!"


    The assassin''s movements hesitated for a moment, then he moved the de away from Bruce''s neck and held it up.


    "That''s right," Aiden pretended to be relieved.


    Seizing on this moment of distraction, the assassin suddenly exerted force, throwing Bruce towards Aiden.


    Aiden was caught off guard and stood frozen in ce. He was collided into by Bruce.


    Both of them fell to the ground together. When Aiden pushed Bruce away and got up with the gun in hand, the assassin had already vanished without a trace.


    "Damn, he got away!" Aiden pretended to grit his teeth in frustration.


    Bruce sat on the ground, legs was weak, and his face filled with lingering terror.


    "Are you okay? It''s a pity we didn''t catch that guy," Aiden put away his gun and reached out to help him up.


    Bruce finally reacted, staring at the spot where the assassin disappeared, a sudden shiver running down his spine. His life had just been targeted, and the assassin was still lurking in the shadows.


    "Why didn''t you catch him?" He got up from the ground, his emotions running high as he red at Aiden, demanding an exnation. "If you let him escape, I''ll die!"


    Aiden paused for a moment, then couldn''t help butugh at the boy''s attitude. "Is this how you treat your lifesaver? Well, it''s understandable, considering you even betrayed Veronica, who has been looking after you."


    "What did you say!?" Bruce was struck dumb.


    "It''s about time we have a frank conversation, kid. Aren''t you curious why I''m here?" Aiden gave a meaningful smile.


    "Why?" Bruce subconsciously followed Aiden lead.


    "Because I''ve been monitoring you," Aiden nting his cane firmly on the ground and stated. "Officer Bruce Kane, we suspect you of taking bribes and giving false testimony to frame others and hide evidence in the case of Officer Veronica Wolfe murder. You are now a suspect."


    "I... I didn''t!" Bruce waspletely caught off guard and shook his head frantically.


    From almost being assassinated to being used face-to-face by Aiden, he had no time to think rationally.


    And Aiden had no intention of giving him a chance to catch his breath. He went straight to the point, "Don''t rush to deny it. Let''s talk about the gold pocket watch that Officer Jialong Rowton gave you, shall we?"


    Bruce was petrified on the spot.


    "Now you should understand how far we''vee," Aiden stared at Bruce. "Let me tell you the truth. I''m currently assisting Officer Veronica Wolfe''s case for reexamination. Her application for reexamination has been approved by the prosecutor''s office. They already have many crucial leads, and now they''ve traced it back to you, which is why I''ve been following you."


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about!" Bruce wanted to be evasive, but he was drenched in sweat.


    "Has someone told you that as long as you say nothing, you''ll be fine? Do you still believe that person now?" Aiden calmly pressed him. "Do you have no clue where that assassin came from just now?"


    This statement sent a shiver down on Bruce''s spine.


    After Aiden had talked to him, Jialong specifically invited him for a conversation. In addition to intercepting a meeting that Aiden had requested, Jialong had kept him isted from the investigator.


    Then, he encountered the assassin, and it was Aiden who saved him...


    Was all of this part of Jialong''s design? Because the prosecutor''s office had them in their sights, did that guy rush to silence him!?


    The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.


    "Mr. Bruce, I mentioned this to you because I considered that you were being coerced," Aiden patted Bruce''s shoulder with a solemn tone. He spoke with eloquence, "Assist us, and apply for witness protection. This is your only way out. If you remain stubborn, you''ll inevitably be silenced sooner orter."

 Chapter 26:

    Chapter 26:


    <b>Tricking This Kid into a Corner</b>


    "Witness protection..." Bruce muttered, his eyes unfocused, as if in a daze.


    "Yes, as long as you''re willing to testify for Veronica Wolfie''s case, and identify the real culprit, you can apply for witness protection from the prosecutor''s office. Only then can you ensure your personal safety," Aiden patiently advised.


    "But... I''ll still end up in prison!" Bruce trembled all over.


    Aiden silently chuckled to himself. Bruce''s slip of the tongue was practically an admission of guilt.


    "Isn''t your life more important?" Aiden leaned in closer to Bruce''s face, speaking earnestly. "Take a moment to recall the assassin you just encountered. That assassin managed to escape from my grasp. Without professional protection, how do you n to survive against him?"


    Bruce''s face changed, the pressure of the sharp knife against his throat returning once more.


    He had experienced firsthand the prowess of that assassin. The assassin exuded a suffocating aura of terror from head to toe, capable of conjuring a deadly de like magic, and possessed an unnatural strength, able to lift an adult man with one hand¡ªnone of this was something an amateur could feign.


    This was also why he hadn''t even considered the possibility of being duped. After all, a professional assassin like that wasn''t something you could just stumble upon. Someone had gone to great lengths and expense to hire a professional to take him out. that exnation was the most usible.


    However, in reality, he had been yed by Aiden. He had no idea that Aiden as the warden, happened to have such a talent at his disposal.


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    "You have to protect me, Mr. Aiden!" He suddenly grabbed Aiden''s arm, his voice filled with excitement. "You won''t just stand by and let them kill me, right!? Right!?"


    "I have to protect you? What obligation do I have to protect you?" Aiden''s response was almost like he had heard a joke. "I have my own job, I''m just temporarily assisting in the re-investigation. I can''t possibly be your personal bodyguard 24/7, can I? If you want protection, go plead your case to the prosecutor''s office. But they need a reason to protect you, don''t they? Without your testimony, there''s no way to initiate the witness protection program."


    Now Bruce waspletely ensnared in Aiden''s trap, believing he was backed into a corner. Confessing to the prosecutor''s office would undoubtedly lead to his downfall. But if he didn''t do it, the "assassin hired by Jialong" would take his life.


    Next, all it would take was a gentle push from behind.


    "Why did he have to be so ruthless!" Bruce fell to his knees, his fingers digging into his hair, and he screamed in despair. "He killed people, and I did everything he asked me to do! It''s all his fault... he''s the one who caused all of this, why does he want to kill me now?"


    Aiden lowered his head to look down at him, a hint of disgust evident on his face. "Don''t act like you''re some kind of victim. Ever since the day you chose to betray Veronica, you should have known you might end up here. Do you think Jialong won''t kill you and everything will be fine?


    Think about it, why does he want to kill you? That''s because the prosecutor''s office has already got you in their sights! Face the reality, you''ve long run out of escape routes. But, fortunately, you still have a choice..."


    Bruce slowly lifted his head.


    "Go be a tainted witness. I can help facilitate it for you. Although the prosecutor''s office already has their eye on you, if you start cooperating with us now, we can create a process where you voluntarily turn yourself in.


    For safety''s sake, it''s best not to mention being chased by the assassin. Just tell the prosecutor''s office that you confessed out of your own guilty conscience. They should be able to negotiate a lighter sentence for you," Aiden''s tone softened slightly. He bent down and patted Bruce''s shoulder.


    "You were just deceived and took the wrong path. The prosecutor''s office will surely understand that. Go use the real culprit. Your life has already been ruined by him. Are you willing to die at his hands without a fight?"


    "You''ll help me, won''t you? You''ll definitely help me, Mr. Aiden!" Bruce clung to Aiden, his eyes filled with pleading.


    When pushed to a corner, people will try every means to grasp onto any lifeline. In Bruce''s eyes, Aiden was now the only person he could rely on.


    "Of course, why not? Tonight,e with me to my workce. The prison is absolutely safe ce," Aiden smiled warmly. "Tomorrow morning, we''ll apply for witness protection at the prosecutor''s office. When the timees, I''ll handle the other procedures for you, aside from cooperating with the questioning."


    "Please, sir, I can only rely on you now!" Bruce''s excitement brought tears to his eyes.


    He couldn''t fathom that he had been so thoroughly deceived by Aiden. In fact, the prosecutor''s office hadn''t even received the request for re-evaluation, let alone found him guilty.


    Of course, as long as he followed Aiden''s advice and turned himself in to the prosecutor''s office, the request for re-evaluation would naturally follow. With crucial testimony from a key witness, the application for re-evaluation would be epted.


    However, this wasn''t enough for Aiden. His goal wasn''t just to clear Veronica''s name, but also to put the real culprit, Jialong, behind the bars. He believed a man must keep his word, and he had vowed to take down Jialong, a vow he wouldn''t break.


    So, Aiden suppressed the urge to smile and continued to y his part. He helped Bruce to his feet, cing a hand on his shoulder, and spoke sincerely, "Of course I''ll help you, but to negotiate a plea deal for you, we''d better provide as many bargaining chips as possible."


    "What... do you mean?" Bruce hadn''t quite caught on.


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    "It''s best if we can provide evidence of Jialong bribing you. For example... that gold watch he gave you!" Aiden whispered. "If you can provide that watch, your testimony will be highly valuable, and we''ll have room for negotiation."


    Veronica''s case and the usation against Jialong, although closely rted, they were independent in terms of legal procedures.


    To reopen Veronica''s case, all they needed was Bruce''s testimony to discredit the evidence against her.


    But to bring a new case against Jialong Rowton, the prosecutor''s office would need additional evidence to be presented in court, to verify Bruce''s testimony. After all, Bruce had personally destroyed the evidence of Jalon''s murder.


    That gold pocket watch was the most suitable piece of evidence. Finding that watch would be the key to victory.


    "But if he ims I stole the watch... what should i do?" Bruce was a bit uneasy.


    "He''s a police officer. Isn''t it suspicious if someone steals something so valuable from him and he doesn''t report it?" Aiden reassured him.


    "But I already sold the watch..." Bruce couldn''t meet Aiden''s eyes.


    "Who did you sell it to? We might be able to trace it through the channels," Aiden inquired.


    "That might be difficult. I sold it... to an unofficial store," Bruce admitted, avoiding Aiden''s gaze.


    "Did you sell it on the ck market?" Aiden raised an eyebrow. "How much did you get for it?"


    It wasn''t surprising, considering the gold watch had distinctive engravings. With Bruce''s courage, he probably wouldn''t have dared to try selling it to a legitimate jewelry store.


    It would be challenging to trace items that flowed into the ck market, which was why Jialong Rowton hadn''t been able to use his authority to retrieve the gold pocket watch.


    However, Aiden did have some connections in this regard.


    "Th-Thirty-five pounds..." Bruce mumbled quietly.


    "Did Jalon give you any more money afterwards?"


    "After that... he gave me sixty pounds in installments as hush money," Bruce answered, trembling slightly.


    "Ny-five gold pounds... So, you sold out your benefactor for two years'' worth of wages?" Aiden looked at Bruce, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.


    "I... I was really short on money..." Bruce tried to defend himself.


    But Aiden sharply cut him off, "Short on money to spend on women?"


    Bruce fell silent.


    Aiden mentally calcted, realizing that Bruce had essentially been bribed with about a hundred thousand dors. This guy had dared to take such a morally reprehensible action, in Aiden''s view, Veronica would bepletely justified in shooting him dead.


    "Alright, let me escort you to the Rose Prison," Aiden said, retracting his disdainful gaze. He ced a hand on Bruce''s shoulder. "Rest assured, at least for today, I will ensure your safety."


    He casually nced around, finally catching a faint glimpse of the assassin on a nearby rooftop - now back in his original form and changed into different clothing, Evangeline waved to him.


    "Mr. Aiden?" Bruce looked at him with confusion, then followed his gaze.


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    There was no one on the rooftop.


    "It''s fine, let''s go." Aiden picked up his cane, pushing Bruce''s shoulder and walked in the direction of the road''s other end.


    (Tn: Don''t forget to rate the novel on NU If you like it)

 Chapter 27:

    Chapter 27:


    <b>Everything Was Ready</b>


    "Tonight... I''m supposed to stay here?"


    Bruce looked a bit bewildered as he gazed at the small room before him.


    After being led to the Rose Prison by Aiden, he was assigned this room and told to "make do for the tonight".


    The single room seemed a bit narrow, but overall, it was rtively clean. There was a single bed fixed against the wall, a cab, and a small partitioned toilet. The setup didn''t seem much different from the dormitories in a police station.


    The notable distinctions were the iron bars on the door, which could only be opened from the outside, and even the windows were sealed off with iron bars.


    This was essentially a single-person prison cell.


    "Any problems?" Aiden asked, well aware of what he was doing.


    "This is... a prison cell, isn''t it?"


    "Don''t overthink it. It''s just for one night. Compared to the rest area for prison guards, this cell has a moreplete setup." Aiden patted Bruce''s back with a smile, then added with a hidden meaning, "And... you''ll end up in one sooner orter. It''s not a bad idea to get used to it now."


    "But...," Bruce still couldn''t quite get past the mental hurdle.


    "How about I go outside and book a hotel for you? It''s really not a big deal...," Aiden gestured in the direction outside, "but I''m not sure if I''ll even see you in one piece the next day."


    "I''ll stay here," Bruce nodded decisively.


    he had a vague feeling that someone was secretly following him and Aiden All the way here. There were even a few times he catch glimpse of a mysterious figure quickly disappearing into an alleyway or around a corner when he turned around.


    That assassin might have been keeping an eye on him, and for all he knew, the moment he stepped out of the prison, someone might shoot him in the head from the shadows.


    Inparison, the prison was actually the safest ce.


    "This entire area consists of empty cells. You can rest assured, if you need anything, just let the guards know," Aiden said in a seemingly "friendly" manner as he locked Bruce in the cell, then quickly left the cell block and returned to his office.


    "Have everything been destroyed?" he immediately asked Evangeline, who was waiting inside the office.


    "The clothes have been burned and then buried," Evangeline, now back in prison attire, nodded.


    Bruce didn''t feel overly paranoid about being followed along the way. In fact, Evangeline had indeed been trailing behind them, following them back to the prison.


    "Good job, thank you for your hard work. Go back to your room now," Aiden nodded, then called a night shift guard to escort Evangeline back.


    Next, he promptly searched through the filing cab in his office, extracting a few prisoner files to peruse. And noted down their identification numbers.


    He then summoned a night shift guard. "Bring these three prisoners here. I have some questions for them."


    Several minutester, the three summoned prisoners were gathered in his office, standing in an orderly row.


    These three prisoners were all ordinary offenders from outside the core area, ranging in age. Each of them looked tense, evidently worried that being called out by the warden might mean receiving a punishment or a notice of transfer.


    "You don''t need to be afraid. I''ve actually called you out today for something good. I have an opportunity for you to earn merits," Aiden said with a calm smile towards them.


    "The three of you were imprisoned for illegal transactions or possession rted to gold. Recently, the prosecutor''s office has been investigating a stolen item and they want our assistance.


    It''s a rose gold pocket watch, sold on the ck market on the afternoon of March 27th.


    It was received by a small shop in the Lower district Grayfinger Alley called ''Golden Disk''.


    We don''t know where it''s ended up now. Do any of you have connections to retrieve it? If not, that''s fine too. If any of you have connections who can get the people from that shop to testify, that works as well."


    He finished looking at the three prisoners back and forth. "If we manage to sessfully recover it, I can upgrade that person treatment level by one and even try for a reduction in their sentence."


    The faces of the three prisoners visibly softened. Aiden''s offer was quite generous.


    However, after a few seconds, none of them raised their hand.


    Aiden gazed at them for a while, then let out a sigh. "Is that so? No leads, huh? Well then..."


    He knew that he couldn''t always find someone with relevant connections in his prison. After all, the types of criminals in the women''s prison were not as diverse as those in the men''s prison.


    But at this moment, the oldest among the prisoners, an elderly woman, spoke up. "Warden, I''d like to ask first, if the stolen item is found, will the buyer be held ountable?"


    Aiden was momentarily taken aback, then quickly realized that this person might have potential. He immediately responded, "As long as you actively assist in the investigation, there won''t be any ountability."


    "In that case, perhaps... I have a connection," the old woman spoke slowly. "My son is currently involved in some of the gold business in Grayfinger Alley, and ''Golden Disk'' is actually one of the shops we handle... If it''s a well-crafted rose gold pocket watch, we usually wouldn''t casually melt it down. It might still be in his possession. If needed, I can have him find someone to testify."


    Aiden realized that simr stolen items received by many ck market shops sometimes ended up in the hands of a few powerful operators who controlled more channels.


    He picked up the file of the elderly woman and examined it carefully, then suddenly nodded in realization. "So that''s how it is. You took on all the charges yourself in the past, allowing your son to continue with the ck market business... No wonder you receive so much monthly allowance."


    "Warden, this won''t really affect my son, will it?" the old woman still appeared somewhat worried.


    "As long as he cooperates in the investigation voluntarily, there won''t be a problem. However, he might need to proactively and withoutpensation hand over the stolen item."


    "That''s not an issue. I''ll make it clear in my letter to him. Warden, if the treatment level is raised, can the number of visitation sessions also be increased?" the old woman asked cautiously.


    "Of course," Aiden gave an affirmative response.


    "Then I will cooperate, I will definitely cooperate!" the old woman nodded repeatedly.


    For these incarcerated individuals, treatment and rights were more substantial than money.


    Treatment level not only determined the quality of a prisoner''s life in the prison but also decided how many times they could receive visits from family and friends in a week.


    Furthermore, those with higher treatment levels could even apply for temporary leaves for family visits. As the warden, Aiden held control over these resources, that are more valuable than money.


    Now that the issue of evidence was beginning to make progress, all that remained to prepare was a retrial application written by Veronica.


    Everything was ready. It was time to take that final step towardspletely defeating the opponent.


    Aiden opened the door and instructed the guard on-duty outside.


    "Notify the core area to bring in prisoner 3308 from Cell 13,"

 Chapter 28:

    Chapter 28:


    <b>You''re Going to Make Headlines</b>


    Two dayster, in the afternoon, at the Mounted Police Division.


    "He didn''t ask for a leave? Then where did that kid run off to?" In the office, Jialong grumbled, twirling his mustache and narrowing his eyes.


    "Who knows, he hasn''te to the police station for two days," his colleague nced at the attendance sheet.


    Jialong faintly sensed a hint of crisis.


    Damn, this brat. What''s the meaning of absenting himself without reason at a time like this?


    Ever since he discovered that annoying prison guard was investigating Veronica''s case, he had been keeping an eye on Bruce movements.


    That kid is really unreliable. Maybe a slight scare was all it took for him to spill the beans. That''s why he''s been giving him a preventive shot these past two days.


    Logically speaking, by now, Bruce should understand his situation, after all, they''re like crickets tied to the same string.


    But Jialong never expected Bruce to be such a coward, to the extent of cowering at home out of fear. Doesn''t he realize how suspicious that looks?


    I really feel like finding someone to take care of him once and for all!


    "Help me find out where that kid lives, I want to go check on him," Jialong requested his colleague.


    "When did you be so close with him?" His colleague looked somewhat surprised.


    "Stop the nonsense and just find it for me..." Jialong impatiently clicked his tongue.


    His colleague was a bit displeased with his attitude, but it was somewhat expected. Jialong Rowton''s position in the police force wasn''t particrly high, but he was well-known for his bossy demeanor, thanks to his influential politician father.


    Most of the senior members in the division didn''t take his nouveau riche senator dad seriously, but they also didn''t want to pick a fight with him over trivial matters and sour the atmosphere.


    As Jialong colleague was about to reach for the personnel files in the drawer, the office door swung open, and five men in uniforms entirely different from those of the Mounted Police Division stormed in.


    The middle-aged man at the forefront scanned the two of them with sharp eyes and asked, "Which one of you is Jialong Rowton?"


    "That would be me..." Jialong felt somewhat puzzled by these unexpected visitors. "Which unit are you from? What do you want with me?"


    "I''m Tiege Olsen from the Prosecutor''s Office." The man pulled out his identification and waved it. "I''m here specifically because we need your assistance in reviewing a case. Pleasee with us."


    "What case?" Jialong''s face changed in an instant.


    In addition to reviewing cases and filing prosecutions, the Prosecutor''s Office was also responsible for supervising otherw enforcement agencies.


    For instance, if there were cases of dereliction of duty or bribery within the police force, it would fall under the jurisdiction of the Prosecutor''s Office.


    If the Prosecutor''s Office hade solely for a case currently being handled by the Mounted Police Division, there was no need toe all the way here with such a grandiose manner, especially since Jialong wasn''t currently in charge of any cases.


    This brash disy... it looked very much like they were here to apprehend someone.


    "We''ll exin everything when we get there. Pleasee with us," the prosecutor said in an official tone.


    "Wait a minute, you have to follow proper procedures. This is so sudden... it will affect our department''s work. I still have dutyter..." Jialong tried to make his voice sound calm.


    "You don''t need to be on duty. We''ve already spoken to your superiors. Here''s the paperwork." The prosecutor coldly interrupted him, showing a hint of impatience. "Pleasee with me."


    "No, how can I go with you when everything is so unclear? Since when does the Prosecutor''s Office abuse its power like this?" Jialong put on a show of bravado, trying to stall for time.


    "Let me tell you, my father is Anthony Rowton, a city council member. Have you heard of him? He might even know your superiors!"


    The prosecutor rolled his eyes, seemingly having finally lost patience. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo to show Jialong.


    Jialong fixed his gaze on it, and instantly bing as motionless as a statue.


    The evidence photo clearly disyed a golden pocket watch, with a rose gold cover engraved with the image of a harpy.


    He distinctly remembered that desperate evening when he had given this trinket to Bruce Kane, only for that fool to turn around and sell it on the ck market.


    ...It wouldn''t be so strange if officers from another police division had found it on the ck market, but for it to end up in the hands of the Prosecutor''s Office was beyondprehension.


    The seasoned prosecutor leaned in closer to Jialong and whispered in his ear, "You need to have some sense in yourself. Making a scene will only make things more embarrassing for you. Juste with us quietly, it''ll cause slightly lessmotion."


    Jialong''s heart sank in an instant. He caught a glimpse of his colleagues in the office giving him strange looks, as well as the other mounted police officers gathering in the corridor outside.


    Before he could react, the people from the Prosecutor''s Office had already surrounded him, briskly leading him out of the police station.


    Jialong walked along in a daze, his thoughts was jumbled in mess.


    He couldn''t fathom how the Prosecutor''s Office had gotten hold of that pocket watch. Could it be that Bruce had voluntarily turned himself in? And was that watch something he had been secretly holding onto all this time? It didn''t make sense.


    He had warned him, so why would he do something so foolish? If he had even an ounce of conscience, he wouldn''t have been so easily bribed in the first ce...


    He was escorted out of the police station and onto the street, his face immediately washed in a harsh white light.


    He looked over in astonishment, seeing several cameras pointed at him. At some point, a group of reporters had gathered at the entrance of the precinct.


    And the moment they saw him being brought out, the reporters became instantly excited, their camera shes going off one after another.


    "Why did you bring the media into this too?" Jialong instinctively shouted at the prosecutor beside him. "Aren''t you here specifically to target me?"


    "I... I have no idea what''s going on either..." The prosecutor also looked bewildered. The entire operation to apprehend him at the Mounted Police Division had been kept strictly confidential. There shouldn''t have been any leaks to the press. The fact that a bunch of reporters had managed to ambush them here was beyondprehension.


    "Hurry up and get him on the carriage!" The prosecutor ordered his subordinates.


    Jialong suddenly realized¡ªwhile the Prosecutor''s Office had its sights on him, the media had also caught wind of it. This wasn''t as simple as Bruce Kane voluntarily surrendering. There was someone scheming behind the scenes!


    Before he was pushed onto the carriage, he subconsciously looked around.


    Finally, as he stepped onto the carriage, his gaze passed over the besieging reporters and onlookers, and he saw a street corner in the distance.


    Under the streetlight at the corner of the street, a young man in a prison guard uniform leaned on a cane, was looking at him with a slightly smug smile on his face.


    In the instant their eyes met, the young man reached up to tip his hat in a farewell gesture.


    "It''s you!?" Jialong Rowton roared in that his, his face contorted in rage.


    Apanied by a series of shutter clicks, his twisted expression was captured by numerous reporters'' cameras. The people from the Prosecutor''s Office quickly pushed him into the carriage.


    "Thank me, Officer Rowton. You''re about to hit the headlines soon. I haven''t forgotten to make it clear to the reporters that you''re a councilman''s son, after all, it''s your favorite thing to boast about, isn''t it?"


    Aiden stood at the street corner, watching the departing carriage with immense satisfaction.


    "However, with things blowing up like this, I doubt your councilman dad will be able to save you. He might have trouble saving himself, for that matter."

 Chapter 29:

    Chapter 29:


    <b>You Can Cry a Little Louder</b>


    A few dayster in the afternoon, Aiden sat in his office, dealing with paperwork.


    He came across an application for temporary leave submitted by the elderly woman who had helped him acquire the gold pocket watch that had flowed into the ck market. She wanted to temporarily leave the prison for a day next month, apanied by a guard, to attend her son''s wedding.


    It was this inmate who had helped Aiden write a letter to her son, who was involved in underground gold trading in the ck market. This letter had enabled Aiden to quickly trace the whereabouts of the gold pocket watch, providing crucial evidence for the prosecutor''s office to arrest Jialong Rowton.


    Temporary leave for family visits wasn''t something every inmate could apply for. They not only needed to provide a legitimate reason for their personal presence outside the prison, but also had to have an impable record within the prison¡ªpreferably withmendable achievements.


    No wonder this family had worked so hard for the old woman''s treatment level, they willingly handing over valuable goods for free, even providing testimonies to prove the source of the evidence. It was all so that old woman could attend her son''s wedding next month...


    After some consideration, Aiden stamped the approval on the old woman''s application and signed it before setting it aside.


    He then leaned back in his chair, preparing to take a brief rest in the midst of his busy schedule.


    Speaking of which, Veronica''s request for a retrial had been submitted for quite some time now. Aiden wondered when it would be approved.


    From persuading Bruce Kane to voluntarily surrender to the prosecutor''s office, to facilitating the acquisition of evidence and its source behind the scenes, to the ultimate capture of the real culprit Jialong,


    and with Aiden''s discreet assistance as the "mysterious informant" in the background, the news of the city councilor''s son killing someone and framing another, quickly dominated the headlines of major newspapers.


    In short, he had done everything he could, and the development of the situation had unfolded exactly as he had anticipated.


    However, the retrial process indeed required time, and Aiden had been waiting for a response these past few days.


    Naturally, Veronica was even more anxious than him.


    ording to Fei, who shared the same room with Veronica, these days Veronica either paced restlessly in the cell, or leaned against the iron bars, staring intensely in the direction of the main gate.


    Especially when Aiden personally came for his routine inspection of the core area, Veronica would inevitably press herself tightly against the iron bars, almost wishing she could squeeze her body through them, her eyes fixed on Aiden, eager for any sign of a response regarding the retrial application.


    In Fei words, "This gal''s practically turning into a ''Waiting-for-Husband'' statue in front of the prison gates."


    Aiden understood the girl''s emotions. After all, it was a matter of life and death for her. But for now, all they could do was wait.


    At that moment, someone knocked on the office door. Aiden called out, "Come in." The head of the core area, Franda, hurriedly entered, and handing over a file folder.


    "Warden, it''s from the prosecutor''s office. They request Veronica Wolfie''s personal presence!" Franda said while panting.


    Aiden immediately jumped up from his chair, strode around the desk, and briskly examined the file folder.


    "Let''s go, to the core area!" He took the lead, striding out of the office.


    "Hurry up!"


    Prompted by Aiden, the guards on duty released the various security measures on the main gate of the cell block.


    Subsequently, Aiden entered the core area and headed straight for Cell No.13. The female inmates in the front rooms who saw Aiden pass by didn''t even react, rushing forward to berate him as they usually would.


    "Warden!?" Veronica heard themotion of the gate opening and appeared in front of the door in an instant, her eyes fixated on him as if trying to see through him. "Has it arrived?"


    Aiden didn''t say anything, just shook the file folder in his hand, then thrust it through the bars as he reached the door. "Hurry and take a look! You need to open this yourself."


    "Oh! It''s really came." Fei, who shared the room, also jumped down from her bed and eagerly came over. "Are you getting out from here?"


    "Let''s see if the application was sessful," Aiden calmly replied.


    The retrial process in this world was somewhat simr to his previous life''s world. From the content of the response to the retrial application, one could generally discern the final oue.


    Re-Trial, to put it bluntly, is aimed at overturning the previous court''s verdict, so it''s scrutiny is extremely strict and cautious.


    If the application for re-trial is approved, it basically means that there were ws in the previous judgment. Conversely, the application for re-trial will be unequivocally rejected.


    Veronica swiftly grabbed the file folder and tore it open. Just as she was about to pull out the papers, her movements suddenly halted, her face showing a hint of hesitation.


    "What are you doing?" Aiden was taken aback.


    "Quick, take a look!" Fei urged from the side.


    Veronica looked up at Aiden, His throat slightly tight with nervousness. In the end, she extended her trembling hand and handed the file folder to Aiden. "Could you... take a look for me?"


    "Do you think this is a lottery draw?" Aiden didn''t mince his words, taking the file folder and extracting the documents from inside.


    Veronica turned away and took a few steps towards the cell, closing her eyes, waiting for Aiden to tell her the result.


    The psychological shadow caused by her wrongful imprisonment had notpletely faded. Now, with thoughts swirling in her mind about what to do if she saw "rejected" written on the document, everything seemed to spin around her.


    Aiden quickly scanned through the repetitive introductory part and went straight to the result. "...The applicant''s reasons for re-trial are sufficient. The applicant''s re-trial request is epted."


    "Hey, it''s approved!" He raised his head and shouted towards Veronica with enthusiasm.


    The approval of the re-trial application basically meant that Veronica had a chance to reverse the case.


    But Veronica still stood silently with her back to him, not moving.


    "Veronica?" Aiden called her with some confusion. "I said it''s been approved."


    "Yeah, I heard...," Veronica nodded slowly, her voice barely audible.


    Aiden frowned. This response seemed a bit too nd. After all, this was the result Veronica had been eagerly anticipating.


    He gestured to Fei, who was in the cell, to go and check.


    Fei understood and stealthily went over to Veronica.


    She took a nce at Veronica''s face, then looked a bit startled, and then quietly returned to the cell, smiling at Aiden.


    "She''s crying! Sobbing so hard!" She whispered to Aiden.


    Aiden blinked, then let out a sigh and smiled at Veronica. "If you want to cry, cry out loud. It''s not something to be embarrassed about."


    "Uh-huh..."


    Veronica choked out a response. Then she lifted her face, as if she wanted to let out all the pent-up grievances from these days, and burst into tears.

 Chapter 30:

    Chapter 30:


    <b>Personnel Transfer</b>


    Half a monthter, at the core area of the Rose Prison.


    "Hey, it''s the Shitty Warden!"


    "The Prison Chief is here again today. Yourplexion doesn''t look too good, is your health not doing well?"


    "If you''ve got the guts,e here, you brat. Watch me twist your head off!"


    ...


    Apanied by Franda, Aiden walked leisurely through the corridor, inspecting the noisy core area of the prison as usual.


    "Wait a moment, Lord Aiden!" When passing Room 13, Fei, leaned on the railing as usual and said in a coquettish tone, "I have something important to tell you!"


    Aiden immediately gave her a cold look. "What, don''t tell me you''re also going to im you''re innocent and want me to clear your name for you?"


    "Huh? How did you know?" Fei, who had her line stolen, was a bit puzzled.


    "After five times in and out from here, how could I not know you? I can tell what kind of crap you''re going to drop just by the way you pout!" Aiden retorted impatiently. "Want me to clear your name? Don''t even think about it!"


    "Lord Aiden, it''s not fair. We''re so familiar with each other, can''t you give me a chance? You helped that wolf girl the first time she came in." Fei pouted unhappily.


    "Don''t think just because your roommate is gone, you have a chance. When have you ever not been in trouble for real?" Aiden kicked the cell door. "Now you''re living it up in a double room all by yourself, don''t act all innocent."


    After saying this, Aiden left Fei behind and continued to patrol deeper into the corridor.


    "It''s been a week, hasn''t shee back to see you?" Franda, who was following behind, casually asked.


    "No, let alone a meeting, i didn''t even receive a thank-you letter. She''s really an ungrateful woman." Aiden shook his head.


    A week ago, Veronica left the prison to attend a retrial.


    Considering the high likelihood of her case being overturned, Veronica said goodbye in advance to Aiden, who came to see her off.


    At the time, she said that if she could get out, she would definitelye back to thank Aiden in person.


    Then, after the trial, she was released on the spot.


    "I don''t think she''d want any more ties with this ce. The prison isn''t a ce worth remembering for prisoners, especially for those who were wronged.


    I''ve been here for over a decade, and I could probably fill the entire cell block with the wrongfully used who told me they''de back to visit, but not a single one has ever shown up." Franda sighed.


    "As long as it doesn''t mean more work for us in the prison, anything is fine," Aiden said, then turned around. "Alright, the patrol is over, let''s go back."


    After returning to his office, Aiden brewed himself a cup of tea and sat in the soft chair beside the tea table.


    On the table, there was a copy of the "Silver City Daily news" brought over by other prison guards. The headline of the newspaper was reporting, "Shocking nationwide case of police killing, rogue officer Jialong Rowton sentenced to life imprisonment."


    "This guy didn''t even get the death penalty?" Aiden sneered.


    Veronica was sentenced to death without a second thought when she was arrested. Now that her case has been overturned, the fact that the more heinous Jialong was only sentenced to life imprisonment makes me think that Senator Rowton must have worked tirelessly to save his son''s life before he was dismissed from office.


    Of course, this guy''s own political career is also over. The headline of the newspaper''s second edition reads, "Senator Anthony Rowton Under Investigation, used of Using Backdoor to Secure Public Office for Rtives."


    This isn''t surprising. The Rowton family wasn''t originally a well-established political family, and this scandal is devastating to them.


    In addition, the headline report also briefly mentions Bruce Kane, who was tried alongside them. This guy was only sentenced to two years, which is somewhat lenient.


    Under Aiden''s instigation, Bruce ultimately didn''t reveal that he had been pursued by a killer. He told the prosecution that he had voluntarily turned himself in due to a guilty conscience. This way, Aiden''s little maneuver wouldn''t be investigated, and Bruce managed to secure a lighter sentence.


    However, Aiden didn''t n to let these two off easily. From the reports, it seems that these two have been transferred to the Thorn Prison in Silver City.


    He ns to write a letter to the warden of Thorn Prison, asking him to "take care" of these two new inmates.


    It just so happens that Thorn Prison recently has been wanting to visit his unit for a learning experience, so they will most likely agree to do him this favor.


    If they were continuously targeted in the prison, it''s likely that death penalty would be a more merciful optionpared to life imprisonment.


    He casually flipped through the newspaper and unexpectedly came across Veronica''s interview report in the back, "Veronica Wolfe, the Flower of the Police Force, Struggles on the Brink of Death and Finally Receives Justice."


    The report first roughly recounted Veronica''s journey from wrongful imprisonment to being released on retrial.


    It listed her past achievements and included interviews with some of the residents in her jurisdiction. It described how she fought relentlessly from the moment of her arrest to her incarceration.


    Throughout the entire positive report, Veronica was almost depicted as a saint. Not a word was mentioned about her lycanthropic heritage.


    Aiden remembered seeing a journalist''s snapshot of Veronica''s fierce expression when she resisted arrest in the "Silver City Daily news" back when he first started paying attention to her case.


    At that time, the headline of the newspaper read, "Murderous Rogue Cop Falls into the Net of the Law, Transforms into a Malicious Wolf to Resist Arrest."


    Aiden carefully scanned through the report and finally found a part in Veronica''s interview that mentioned him.


    "Thanks to the Warden of the Rose Prison for going to great lengths on my behalf, allowing me to be vindicated," it was the only mention of him in the entire report. The reporter probably thought he just helped deliver Veronica''s retrial application.


    "After all that fuss, my ''role'' turned out to be so little." Aiden sighed as he held his teacup.


    Regardless, that girl really seemed a bit unreasonable. Even if she didn''t want toe back to the prison, she could have at least privately thanked him or At the very least sent a letter....


    He continued reading, and saw Veronica talking about her future career ns: "...The Mounted Police have reinstated my position and informed me that I can return at any time, but other agencies have also extended invitations to me."


    After this incident, the image of the Mounted Police took a nosedive, but Veronica herself, as the victim, gained widespread attention.


    If she chooses to return to the Mounted Police, they might offer her apensatory promotion, to eagerly restore its image.


    If she has intentions of transferring to a unit with better conditions, there should be many agencies willing to take advantage of the opportunity for some publicity¡ªoverall, her future looks bright.


    there probably won''t be much interaction In the future... Aiden thought to himself as he put down the newspaper.


    At that moment, someone knocked on the office door.


    "Come in."


    As soon as the words were spoken, Franda pushed open the door and handed him a document. "Sir, this!"


    "A personnel transfer request? What''s this, someone wants to transfer out again?" Aiden immediately noticed the document''s headline.


    "No, someone is applying to transfer to our unit. Take a look at the name!" Franda urged.


    "Hmm?" Aiden followed her gaze to the section with the applicant''s name, and was momentarily stunned. Then, he burst outughing. "This girl..."


    Under the section for the applicant, his very familiar name was boldly written¡ªVeronica Wolfe. The handwriting was exactly the same as the signature on the retrial application he remembered.

 Chapter 31:

    Chapter 31:


    <b>The Imprisoned Deity</b>


    "did my ne in handy This time?"


    "Indeed, thanks to your help, all is well that ends well."


    In the secret underground mithril prison, Aiden and the inmate 4001, "Saint" Mephilia, sat several meters apart, ying a simplified version of Monopoly on a small table while chatting.


    This time, thanks to the secret strategy provided by Mephilia, they were able to sessfully clear Veronica''s name.


    Therefore As promised, Aiden visited her in the dungeon again, and it happened that it was the time for the regr duty of monitoring her.


    "So, I wonder if there''s any extra reward for me?" Mephilia grinned.


    "Didn''t we spend the entire night ying gamesst time?" Aiden nced up at her.


    "Is that supposed to be enough to dismiss me? You''re not this harsh with any other inmate from the above right?."


    "What, you want to take a stroll outside? You''re different from them. you''re not a prisoner of Rose Prison, so the rules of management don''t apply to you." Aiden responded calmly. "Just a touch of your sacred nail is enough tond me in jail."


    "At least I''m a deity. Don''t I deserve some respect here?"


    "In my eyes, you''re just a prisoner. Where''s the respect for prisoners?" Aiden gave her an unabashed look.


    "If you ask me, the thing that sets you apart the most from everyone else in this world is yourck of reverence for the gods."


    "Unfortunately, I happen toe from a world where gods don''t exist ¨C well, at least that''s what I believe," Aiden stared at the chessboard.


    "Speaking of which, I don''t see much reverence for you from the people in this world either. Otherwise, how would they dare to lock you up in prison?"


    "It''s precisely because they''re afraid that they''ve locked me up. Every human whoes to see me, whether they''re here to monitor me or to worship me, covers their face and wouldn''t even dare to breathe in my presence. Only you dare to be so bold in front of me." Mephilia moved the chess pieces with her telekinesis.


    "I''m thinking, since you''re willing to clear the name of an innocent person, why not help me fight for my freedom?"


    "You?" Aiden lifted his face. "You want to im you''re innocent? I have the memories of this world, and the crimes your cult hasmitted here are too numerous to count. Not to mention, the body you''re using now, it cost a life."


    Mephilia was discovered and apprehended by the former Aiden and the elite members of the Inquisition when they destroyed a cult base called the "Blood Red Full Moon."


    She is the deity revered by the Blood Moon Cult. However, Mephilia is not the name of the deity, but the name of an ordinary girl who was abducted by the cult''s followers as a living sacrifice to summon this deity.


    Due to certain circumstances, she took on the form of a girl named Mephilia and descended into this world.


    As a result, the memories and personality of the girl, Mephilia, werepletely devoured by this deity.


    "If you must insist, all the criminal activities were carried out by my followers. I never asked them to do anything... summoning me to this world was no different.


    I was merely interested in their prayers and rituals. In the end, it was I who grew tired of them and helped you destroy the cult. Yet you treat me with even harsher than ordinary criminals. Don''t you find this unfair?"


    "Not at all," Aiden shook his head without hesitation.


    "Oh dear, you humans always talk about ''equality before thew.'' I thought you valued justice," Mephilia expressed surprise.


    "You may have a slight misunderstanding. Human rules, orws, have never been about equality and justice.


    Sometimes, a country may enactws that harm other nations to protect its own interests, and ruling sses may exploit other sses using thew.


    Thew is a tool to uphold the interests of the ruling ss. It can sometimes be noble and just, but it can also be contrary to morality.


    However, if you look at it from the perspective of all humanity, all the rules set by humans, whether legal or moral standards, fundamentally serve only one thing - the stable order upon which people rely for survival. And order isn''t always just and fair."


    "Order?"


    "Yes, there are too many humans. If there''s no order to maintain the operation of the group, individuals cannot survive. Let me ask you a question first, would you be willing to abide by the rules set by humans?" Aiden looked into Mephilia''s eyes.


    "Of course not," Mephilia answered bluntly, then countered, "If you found a group of ants on the ground, would you be willing to abide by the ants'' rules?"


    "That''s right. You wouldn''t be willing to follow human rules. In this world, your concept of ''order'' for human groups is a significant risk factor.


    Thew upholds order, and the existence of gods poses a great threat to human order. In other words, the existence of gods is inherently sinful for mortals," Aiden exined his theory.


    "This may go against morality, but upholding one''s own survival is the primary justice for any race seeking to survive."


    "The Original Sin of the Gods?" Mephilia raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes, if a god were to appear in the human world, the safest course of action for humans would be to lock it up in prison.


    Only fools would take it out to worship, unless doing so could truly minimize the cost of the god not disrupting human order.


    If a god can show goodwill, not disrupt human order, and even work to maintain it, humans might consider not restraining it, or even hold reverence for it out of moral considerations, thereby minimizing the risk.


    But you''re clearly not that kind of god. From what I know about you, if you had a button that could destroy half of humanity, you''d probably press it just for fun. Letting a god like you loose? That won''t happen unless I''ve gone mad."


    "Oh dear, strangely enough, I find what you''re saying kind of makes sense..."


    "But to be honest, I''m more concerned about your followers than you." Aiden sighed heavily. "You simply ignore humanws for the sake of amusement, but those fanatics will target thew and anyone who uphold it."


    "If ''he'' finds out I''m here, he might juste to bring me out," Mephilia grinned widely.


    "Please don''t, I really don''t want to get shot in the chest again," Aiden said with a helpless expression.


    The cult "Blood Red Full Moon" has indeed been destroyed, and even the deity revered by the cult has been imprisoned. However, the founder of the cult is not only still atrge, but their true identity has not been exposed.


    From the inherited memory fragments of Aiden, it seems that the previous Aiden most likely died at the hands of the mysterious founder of that cult.


    Aiden didn''t really have any "vengeful" intentions. After all, he and the previous owner of this body couldn''t really be considered the same person.


    But he was also well aware that in this world, that unidentified fanatic posed a threat to him.


    "If you''re afraid, I can help you. As long as you''re willing to pull out the sacred nail for me, I can give you a little ''blessing''," Mephilia urged in a seductive tone.


    "My principle is not to easily trust criminals," Aiden decisively refused. "By the way, what reason do you have to choose to help me instead of your own worshippers?"


    "The respect of mortals is useless to gods. Compared to ordinary chess pieces that only move ording to the yer''s will, I''m definitely more interested in unpredictable pieces like you that run around the chessboard on your own," Mephilia looked at him with interest.


    "So, is this the reason you summoned me to this world?"


    "Who knows?" As usual, Mephilia revealed a mysterious smile.

 Chapter 32:

    Chapter 32:


    <b>Neer Arrives</b>


    In April, a familiar face appeared in Aiden''s office.


    "Neer, Veronica Wolfe, reporting for duty!"


    In the warden''s office, Aiden looked with interest at the "neer" saluting in front of him.


    Unlike before, when she was in the prison with disheveled hair and hazy eyes, this time Veronica looked radiant. Her uniform was straight, and her shoulder-length brown curls were neatlybed back, giving her a striking appearance.


    "Oh..., i almost didn''t recognize you" Aiden chuckled, nodding.


    Veronica smiled in response.


    "I really can''t understand you. If you stayed in the mounted police unit, you''d probably get promoted quickly."


    "Although the chief tried to persuade me to stay, I no longer want to remain in the mounted police unit," Veronica admitted.


    It was only natural for her to feel disillusioned with the unit after being unjustly used by colleagues and sent to the prison for no reason.


    "If you''re nning to transfer, you can choose a more rxed role in city administration, or if you want to be an elite, you can go to the Inquisition Bureau. You didn''t mistakenly choose the unit, did you?" Aiden teased knowingly.


    "I''ve already said that I wille back to thank you in person," Veronica confessed, "and I genuinely believe that working under your leadership would be a good choice."


    "So, is this your way of repaying me? Being my gofer?" Aiden raised an eyebrow.


    "I didn''t say it had to go that far," Veronicaughed.


    "With your current rank and work experience, if you transfer here, you should be able to directly lead the riot squad" Aiden said, looking back and forth between the personnel file in his hand and Veronica''s information,


    "but we''re a bit short on staff for the core zone surveince position... How about this, you''ll be on duty in the core zone in the future, and also serve as the captain of the fourth riot squad. How does that sound?"


    This prison was Aiden''s foothold in this world, and he was determined to run it well. With Veronica''s abilities and background, Aiden had no reason to refuse such a talented individual under hismand, especially since the Rose Prison was indeed short-staffed.


    "Handling two roles?" Veronica was taken aback.


    "Sorry, but we''re a bit short on manpower here. It''s normal for one person to oversee two areas," Aiden smiled. "Since you''reing here to work hard, I definitely won''t hold back!"


    "Really, Warden? Are you serious?" Veronica''s face showed a hint of reluctance. "If it''s too demanding, I might request a transfer again..."


    Aiden waved his hand, signaling her to rx. "Don''t be so nervous. The workload here isn''t as heavy as you might think. The working hours haven''t changed much, and the duties at individual posts are actually lighter than in other prisons. But you might not be very familiar with the prison''s operations, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Then for the next few days, you''ll follow me. I''ll familiarize you with the operations here, consider it new recruit training," Aiden snapped his fingers.


    "Alright," Veronica responded, realizing a bit toote, "Wait, Warden, are you personally giving me new recruit training?"


    The warden was the highest-ranking official in the prison. Generally, something like new recruit training could easily be handled by any senior prison guard.


    There was no need for the highest-ranking leader of the unit to personallye down and give hands-on instruction, and the police chief wouldn''t go to the grassroots level just to apany one or two probationary officers.


    "Do you find it strange?" Aiden noticed Veronica''s doubts. "Actually, it''s like this. After I took office, I implemented a lot of reforms in this prison. Some of them haven''t been fully implemented yet. Everyone is still adapting to some new procedures and regtions.


    Sometimes, even the veteran prison guardse to me with questions about operations. So, I''ve taken it upon myself to handle new recruit training temporarily.


    Besides, if you really think about it... I''m one of the least busy people here. Taking some time to train a new recruit is no big deal."


    "I see," Veronica nodded.


    "Then I''ll take you to the core zone first to get familiar with the daily management of the inmates. After that, I''ll exin to you the responsibilities of each of your positions. And it Just happen that It''s almost time for work,"


    Aiden said, standing up from his chair and leading Veronica towards the core zone.


    When they arrived at the core zone, the zone supervisor, Franda, was directing the inmates to line up for work.


    "Warden!"


    Upon seeing Aiden personally inspecting, Franda and the other prison guards saluted him together, and Aiden nodded in acknowledgment.


    Then, Franda nced at Veronica behind Aiden. "Is the neer being transferred to our section? wee."


    "Please guide me in the future," Veronica replied politely, giving a salute.


    "It''s quite an experience to have inmates i used to oversee be colleagues. After being a prison guard for over a decade, this is the first time I''ve had such an experience," Franda remarked teasingly.


    "Let''s not bring up those times,"


    Veronica self-deprecatingly chuckled. The memories of her past harsh words towards Aiden and Franda while she was in the cell still made her want to crawl into a hole.


    Now that the incident was in the past, everyone has tacitly let it go. After Aiden uncovered the truth, Franda also started showing a bit more consideration towards Veronica.


    "Alright, let''s get the roll call done quickly," Aiden waved his hand.


    Franda led the group down the corridor, starting the headcount.


    "Except for holidays, the inmates have to work at this time every morning, doingbor in different work areas," Aiden exined to Veronica.


    "Back then you were on death row, so you didn''t have to do any work."


    "Inmates have holidays too?" Veronica was a bit surprised.


    "Yes, they have some basic rights. The inmates work long hours every day, and life in the prison is inherently oppressive. If we put too much pressure on them for an extended period, they''re likely to develop rebellious feelings," Aiden exined.


    "So, we need this many people to supervise the work every day?" Veronica nced back at the riot squad behind her.


    "Other sections don''t require it, but the core area is a must. The reason... well, you''ll understand if you look ahead," Aiden paused. "Take a look for yourself."


    Veronica looked ahead and nodded in silence.


    The core zone was filled with witches whosebat abilities surpassed even hers, a pure-blooded werewolves.


    Even though their magic was sealed by a barrier, standing confidently in front of this group of dangerous individuals without arge group of guards backing her up was still quite daunting.


    At this moment, Franda furious shout came from the front, "Inmate 3307, I warn you not to cause trouble anymore. Get out of the cell immediately!"

 Chapter 33:

    Chapter 33:


    <b>Training</b>


    "Here we go again." Watching the all too familiar scene, Aiden let out a sigh as if he couldn''t bear it anymore.


    Veronica squinted and looked in that direction, vaguely recognizing the prison cell facing them... it seemed to be the same one she had stayed in before.


    Speaking of it, prisoner 3307... wasn''t that the subus who shared the same room with her back then?


    "Oh dear, Supervisor, I''m really not feeling well today! My head is pounding!"


    Sure enough, the voice of her very familiar "roommate" echoed from the room.


    That person was still the same, whenever they lived together, she would seize any chance to bother the prison guards.


    "You''ve been living with Fei for half a month. You should have seen how to handle this kind of situation, right?" Aiden pointed over there, "Come on, consider it a little internship test. Get that guy out."


    "Understood!" Veronica didn''t hesitate and took the order, striding confidently over.


    At this moment, Franda was about to warn Fei when Veronica arrived by her side, and whispered, "Supervisor, let me handle this."


    Franda looked at her in surprise, then nced at Aiden who was not far away. She immediately understood the situation and nodded in agreement, "Alright, give it a try then."


    After Veronica finished speaking, she stood at the door of the cell. At this time, Fei was still wrapped in her nket, curled up on the bed, not noticing her.


    "Prisoner 3307, you say you''re not feeling well?" Veronica initiated a conversation with Fei.


    "Huh?" Fei heard the familiar voice, turned her head while lying on the bed, "big sis, why are you back again? Did you get in trouble again?"


    "Don''t talk nonsense, open your eyes wide and take a good look." Veronica said expressionlessly.


    Only then did Fei notice the prison guard uniform on Veronica.


    "No way, you actually work here!?" She suddenly smiled brightly, "That''s wonderful! Then you have to remember our friendship and take care of me."


    "Cut the crap, and get to work right away." Veronica didn''t give her a chance to butter her up.


    Fei immediately threw a tantrum, rolling on the ground. "Oh my, I''m not feeling well! You should¡ª"


    "Alright, in that case, you don''t have to work today," Veronica interrupted before she could finish. "I''ll take you to see the doctor right now. But let''s get one thing straight, if the doctor confirms you''re really sick, then it''s fine. But if the doctor says there''s nothing wrong with you, I''ll personally pluck every strand of your hair."


    "Ahaha, sis, you''re joking..." Fei chuckled nervously.


    "I''m not joking with you." Veronica''s face remained cold, and she pressed her knuckles together, "Or do I need to pull out a few strands for you to believe me?"


    "I suddenly feel better, I''ll go to work!" Fei sprung up from the bed, neatly folding her nket and lining up outside the cell.


    Veronica turned around and saw Franda nodding approvingly at her, "Well done, rookie, you have a bright future!"


    Veronica also smiled. During the days she spent in the cell, she had observed up close how the guards dealt with these persistent inmates and learned a few tricks.


    "You did well," Aiden praised as he walked over. "In the prison, there are many inmates who like to use feigning illness as a tactic. Even with habitual feigners, you still need to exercise a certain level of caution¡ªafter all, if one day the inmate is genuinely in need of medical attention and it''s not provided in time, it could be troublesome. Of course, you can''t be too lenient either, or the inmates will take advantage."


    Veronica nodded and watched as Franda directed the guards to take the inmate to a different work area.


    She scanned the surrounding cells again and was surprised to find that there were still a few scattered inmates left in their cells, but the guards seemed to be ignoring them.


    "Sir, are all those inmates left in their cells a death row inmates?" she asked Aiden.


    "No, it''s not Only death row inmates and the sick are exempt from work duty. Some inmates who are incapable ofbor are also excused," Aiden exined, pointing to the solitary cell in the distance.


    "Like over there, ''Mad Harlow'' in Cell Three, she has an unstable mental state and can''t handle regr tasks. Normally, we keep her in her own cell."


    Veronica followed his gaze and saw a disheveled woman standing in front of Cell Three, muttering to herself while repeatedly banging her head against the bars. Her expression kept changing, sometimes crying, sometimesughing, giving off an eerie and unsettling vibe.


    "She does look quite creepy..." Veronicamented.


    "Well, this ''madwoman'' used to be a priestess of a cult. It''s said that she had a spiritual encounter with her deity and lost her sanity after hearing the voice of that god," Aiden sped His hands behind his back, and nodding.


    "Although she can''t work and taking care of her is troublesome, she''s actually quite useful. If any inmate gives us trouble, we just have to threaten to put them in the same room with her and they will usually behave."


    "I''ve seen this before," Veronica recalled the scenes where Aiden threatened the thief Katherine and the pirate Anna.


    "In addition, you should be aware that she has a special ability to rebound physical damage. If she causes trouble, never resort to violence. Just use restraining methods to control her," Aiden added,


    "Most of the inmates in the core area have extraordinary skills or rather peculiar traits. I''ll provide you with a listter."


    "Oh dear, little sister, do you still remember me?" At this moment, Dailey, the witch from Cell Twelve, also approached and greeted her behind the bar.


    Veronica nodded somewhat puzzled. She remembered, during her time in the cell, it was this witch who used magic to subdue her.


    "Inmate 3110, Dailey , is a witch skilled in summoning demons. She''s ssified as a Red Alert level offender, so be extra cautious," Aiden introduced her.


    "That''s unfair, making me sound like some dangerous monster," Dailey protested to Aiden.


    "She doesn''t have to work either?" Veronica asked in a hushed voice.


    "She''s one of the model inmates I specially selected to assist me in managing the other inmates in the core area. I usually assign her to other tasks," Aiden exined.


    "Selecting inmates to manage inmates?" Veronica widened her eyes.


    "Yes, it''s the most efficient method," Aiden nodded.


    "I''m the warden''s loyal hound, you know." Dailey waved to Veronica with a proud look, as if wearing her status as an honor.


    "Before, when I helped clear your name, I put in quite a lot of effort. You should thank me."


    "Don''t pat yourself on the back too much. If we''re talking about effort, Evangeline probably did more than you," Aiden said, gesturing towards Cell Eleven with his thumb.


    Veronica instinctively followed Aiden''s gesture towards Cell Eleven and saw a young girl curled up on the bed, resting against the wall.


    "They keep such a young child in the prison!?" She widened her eyes in disbelief.

 Chapter 34:

    Chapter 34:


    <b>Tainted Blood Reaper</b>


    Upon hearing Veronica''s exmation, Aiden calmly nced at her. "She''s been living next door to you all this time, and you only just realized?"


    Veronica looked at the young girl, who was huddled in the cell, her face filled with astonishment. When she was imprisoned as a deathrow inmate, she never paid much attention to the other inmates.


    Back then, she had no desire to interact with these criminals, so she never noticed there was such a young girl living next door ¨C appearing to be no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, wearing the smallest-sized prisoner''s uniform, with bandages wrapped around her face and hands.


    Evangeline also felt Veronica''s gaze and turned to look, her expression as calm as stagnant water. "Is Something wrong?"


    "N-no..." Veronica instinctively shook her head.


    Evangeline mechanically turned her face back and continued to gaze at the wall across the bed.


    Veronica had an instinctive feeling that this girl exuded a very peculiar aura. From the girl''s tone and demeanor, there was not a hint of warmth nor emotion, carrying an extreme calmness that seemed to erase all the feelings, just like a machine.


    "Her situation is quite unique. She hasn''t reached working age yet, and she''s also one of the inmates who help me with tasks. So, she doesn''t need to go out forbor. She only needs to receive corrective education at scheduled times, and someone will pick her up for ss at 8:30 every day," Aiden exined to Veronica.


    The prisonws in this world aren''t as detailed, and there aren''t specialized institutions for juvenile offenders. How to manage juvenile offenders like Evangeline is a challenge for most prison administrators.


    But for Aiden, this wasn''t particrly tricky, as he had past-life experience to draw upon.


    "She''s helping you too? What can such a young child do?" Veronica was surprised.


    "Don''t underestimate her. This child is my ace" Aiden smiled.


    Veronica was taken aback. "Ace?! This child..."


    "She''s a Red Alert-level repeat offender," Aiden nodded.


    "Have you heard of the ''The Blood Reaper'' apprehended by the Inquisition two years ago?"


    "Of course, isn''t that an S-ss wanted criminal?"


    "That''s her," Aiden said nonchntly.


    Veronica looked at Aiden in utter confusion. After a few seconds, Aiden nodded at her. "It''s true."


    This time, Veronica''s expression froze inplete shock.


    Back when she was a Mounted Officer, Veronica had heard of the name "The Blood Reaper."


    The "Blood Reaper" was said to be the undisputed king of assassins in the underground world. He had started his activities about four years ago and had been active for less than two years, but the number of people who had died at his hands was in the three digits.


    Without exception, they were all influential, wealthy, or other top-tier criminals. He had aplished many legendary assassinations alone, leading to a ridiculously high bounty being ced on him.


    About two years ago, the Inquisition announced that their elite forces had captured the "Blood Reaper." However, all records about him were sealed by them.


    Most people still believed that the "Blood Reaper" had been secretly executed, while a portion of the popce thought that this king of assassins was just a fabricated urban legend.


    Veronica couldn''t have imagined that the legendary king of assassins was actually in the prison where she had been transferred to work, and... she was such a young child.


    "When I helped with your case earlier, she also lent a hand. I won''t reveal the details, but if you want to thank her, you can buy her some food. Just make sure the other inmates don''t see," Aidan whispered a few words to Veronica''s ear. "Alright, let''s move on to the next ce."


    After leaving the core area, Aiden took Veronica to the work zone where the inmates participated inbor.


    "This is where the inmates work. Our prison has three main work areas: one is the textile workshop, another is a garden for cultivating flowers, and the third is for assembling children''s toys. We mainly supply some of the flower shops and clothing workshops in Silver City..."


    "Prisons also run business?" Veronica was somewhat surprised. This was the first time she had heard of such a thing.


    "Yes, each prison has different industries. Over at Thorny Prison, they have a quarry and a carpentry workshop. With hundreds to over a thousand inmates in each prison, they''re all a source ofbor.


    There''s no reason to let them idle around ¨C they''re not here for a vacation. Having them work not only helps subsidize some of the prison''s operating costs but also allows some of the idle inmates to learn a trade and gain some work experience.


    Besides the work zone, inmates are also responsible for prison cleaning and various odd jobs," Aiden exined.


    Veronica nodded. She began to observe the conditions in the textile workshop. There were about fifty workstations in a small workshop, and the inmates sat in front of sewing machines, handling the fabric with precision. Only two prison guards were supervising their work.


    "On workdays, inmates assemble for work at exactly seven, then start at around seven-thirty, and end at four-thirty. Overtime ismon here.


    After work, the schedule is simr to what you''ve experienced before ¨C scheduled meals, recreation time, and showers. The remaining time can be spent in the room or, in the reading room if requested.


    At eight-thirty in the evening, a headcount is done, and lights out at nine ¨C it''s roughly like this," Aiden exined the inmates'' weekday schedule to Veronica.


    "I understand," Veronica responded quickly. After all, she had experienced the schedule in prison herself, except for the details of work.


    "The textile work area usually has one workshop paired with two surveince posts. If there''s any situation, one person deals with it while the other stays behind.


    Every hour, batches of inmates are organized to visit the restroom along the assembly line. There''s an hour for lunch and outdoor break at noon," Aiden finished exining,


    then turned and waved his hand. "Let me take you around to the other work areas and tell you what to pay attention to at each post."


    They left the textile work area and entered the main building of the prison, preparing to go to other work areas.


    As they walked down the corridor, they encountered an elderly inmate wearing handcuffs and shackles, escorted by two prison guards, approaching from the opposite direction.


    "Oh, Warden, what a coincidence," the old woman smiled kindly at Aiden.


    "Inmate 1081, oh yes, you''re ''going out'' today," Aiden recalled something and nodded, then tipped his hat towards the old woman. "Take care on the way."


    "Alright, alright," the old woman nodded, then nced at Veronica for a moment. "The youngdy looks unfamiliar."


    "She''s new," Aiden casually replied.


    "Very good, very good, and quite handsome," the old woman''s eyes narrowed in a smile, "youngdy, you must work diligently."


    "Um... thank you," Veronica nodded in a daze.


    "Alright, it''s about time. You should head out too," Aiden pointed to the other end of the corridor.


    "Yes, farewell, Warden," the old woman lowered his head slightly towards Aiden and slowly walked towards the other end apanied by the guards.


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 Chapter 35:

    Chapter 35:


    <b>The Gourmet in Prison</b>


    As the old woman gradually walked away, Veronica whispered to Aiden, "Is this prisoner about to be released? She seems quite friendly. What crime did shemit?"


    Aiden turned his head and nced at her, remaining silent for a moment before speaking, "She''s not being released. She''s a death row inmate. And Today is the day of her execution. She''s headed to the execution grounds."


    Veronica was suddenly stunned for a moment.


    When the old woman said "farewell," she didn''t think much of it. After all when prisoner leaves the prison, whether the prisoner herself or the guards who supervised her, no one would want to her return. Even saying farewell here could be considered a fitting goodbye.


    "This olddy used to live in the southern suburbs of the city. She rented out her house to others, gained their trust, then poisoned and killed them, and took their belongings.


    She used this method to kill six people. It can be said that she deserved her fate. There''s nothing worth pitying," Aiden exined calmly.


    "Unlike you, she was caught with solid evidence, and she confessed on the spot."


    Veronica still couldn''t quite process it. "But she doesn''t seem look like..."


    "Not like that kind of person, right?" Aiden smoothly continued, "Yes, it''s true. People here often don''t look like the criminals they are.


    The human heart is inscrutable. So, remember, the most important thing here is not to easily trust the inmates. There''s not many Rare specimens like you, who falsely used and brought here."


    Veronica fell silent. This was still quite shocking for her.


    Aiden then took her to visit other workshops where the inmates worked and introduced her to some of the prison''s facilities. Soon, it was lunchtime, and Aiden led her to the staff cafeteria.


    "Do we have to eat in the cafeteria while working?" Veronica asked cautiously.


    "Yes, during working hours, guards are generally not allowed to leave the prison..." Aiden thought for a moment and added, "Except for me."


    "Is this within the rules?" Veronica looked at Aiden skeptically.


    "The regtions state that you must report to your superior if you leave your post during working hours. But I don''t have a superior here, so I report to myself," Aiden said with a smile.


    (Tn: Genius!!!!)


    "We have to eat in the cafeteria," Veronica sighed.


    "You look very disappointed," Aiden observed with interest.


    "When I was a mounted police officer, I could grab a meal outside while on duty..." Veronica didn''t hide it, seeing that her superior had already noticed it.


    "Whether it was at the police academy or in the police force, the cafeteria food was always terrible."


    "You don''t need to worry about that. Our cafeteria is actually quite good," Aiden said confidently.


    Five minutester, Aiden and Veronica each carried their meals and sat down facing each other.


    "There seem to be a lot of dishes I''ve never seen before," Veronica eximed with curiosity as she inspected the contents of her te. "What is this pile of red sauce?"


    "That''s called Sweet and Sour Pork. It''s a pork tenderloin that is cut into cubes and marinated, then coated with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, then deep-fried and stir-fried with a sauce made from fruit vinegar, tomato paste, and sugar," Aiden exined to her.


    Veronica cautiously picked up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth.


    "It''s delicious!" she eximed, covering her mouth in amazement. This was a cooking method she had never tasted before. "And what''s this one called?"


    "Kung Pao Chicken."


    "What?" Veronica didn''t understand the name of this dish.


    "Basically, it''s diced chicken and peanuts stir-fried with a bunch of spices. Give it a try."


    Veronica used a spoon to take a bite and was immediately impressed. "How did the chefs heree up with such amazing dishes?"


    "I taught them," Aiden replied.


    "Sir, were you a chef before?" Veronica asked wide-eyed.


    "No, I just know the recipes."


    "Then where did you learn them from?"


    "It''s a secret," Aiden said with a smile.


    In his previous world, human culinary culture had already undergone globalization and market testing. Although he wasn''t a professional chef, he could still recall many well-known recipes from His memory.


    As a bonafide Transmigrator, after arriving in a different world, of course, he had to promote the culinary culture of his own world. After all, in order to embark on a new life in this world, he had to satisfy his own appetite.


    The level of development in this world wasn''t considered backward, but inparison, the culinary culture of themon people seemed somewhat barren.


    The restaurants on the streets were passable, offering both home-cooked dishes and top-notch delicacies.


    However, when it came to the cafeteria''smunal meals, they became abysmal, offering little more than sustenance.


    After Aiden became the warden, he brought about a transformation in the prison''s cafeteria. Hepiled some recipes based on the ingredients and seasonings avable in this world and taught them to the chefs here.


    Although doing so only elevated the quality of the meals here to the level of an average unit cafeteria in his previous world, it was still a significant improvement. Moreover, for the people of this world, these dishes brought a new level of novelty and vor enhancement.


    You see, the first time Aiden had a meal in the cafeteria of this world, he felt a strong sense of rejection looking at the dry bread, a few slices of smoked meat, and a lump of mashed beans on his te.


    The improvement in the prison cafeteria also raised the inmates'' food standards. Although the meal standards for inmates were definitely not up to par with the guards, it was much betterpared to the times when they were served a piece of bread and two or three blobs of strange-colored, unidentifiable substances on a te.


    As an added benefit, the discipline of the inmates also saw some improvement.


    Commotion caused by inmates being dissatisfied with the food used to happen, with inmates wielding trays and utensils to fights in the cafeteria.


    But after Aiden took over, such incidents werepletely eliminated.


    "By the way, Commander, what do you have there?" Veronica suddenly asked.


    "You mean this?" Aiden shook the two slender wooden sticks in his hand. "These are the utensils I''m used to. They''re called chopsticks. Is there a problem?"


    "Do these things really work?" Veronica looked at them curiously.


    "Of course, they work." Aiden demonstrated by skillfully picking up some food from his bowl and showed it to Veronica.


    "It''s really amazing." Veronica looked around. "I see many guards using the same utensils as you. Did they learn it from you?"


    "Yes, if you ever join us for a hotpot meal, you''ll want to learn too."


    "Hotpot? What''s that?"


    "You''ll get to experience it when we have a chance for a group meal. You''ll love it."


    Veronica nodded in agreement, feeling fortunate in her heart to be assigned here. She looked at the contents in Aiden''s bowl and curiously blinked,


    "This is the first time I''ve seen someone eat noodles in soup like this. What are the ingredients?"


    "Pickled sour vegetables, and pork offal."


    "What kind of offal is this? I''ve never seen it before." Veronica pointed to a circr piece of offal.


    "Why don''t you try it first?" Aiden revealed a mysterious smile and used a pair of chopsticks that hadn''t been used yet to pick up a piece for Veronica.


    Veronica curiously put the food in her mouth, took a couple of chews, then widened her eyes, "I''ve never tasted this texture before. What part is this?"


    "I''ll tell youter. If you want more, you can go to that window."


    "And what''s this called?"


    "Pig powder," Aiden said with a meaningful smile.


    Based on his experience, it was probably best not to tell her right away that she had just eaten pig intestines. after all, Convincing the cafeteria chefs to deal with this kind of ingredient was quite a challenge.

 Chapter 36:

    Chapter 36:


    <b>Petty Tricks</b>


    In the afternoon, during the free time.


    Aiden brought Veronica outdoors, observing the prisoners on the courtyard through the iron railings.


    The prisoners moved around in twos and threes on the courtyard, somezily squatting and chatting on the side.


    "After lunch, the prisoners have about half an hour of free time. it''s a bit longer On rest days. Two prison guards are stationed under the courtyard, and each watchtower above is manned by one guard. The watchtowers are equipped with shotguns.


    During this time, the riot squad patrols nearby and can respond promptly," Aiden exined the positions for managing prisoner''s free time to Veronica.


    "Hmm?, The courtyard here feels like it''s covered by something," Veronica raised her head, and vaguely noticing a hemispherical barrier enveloping the entire area.


    "This is an alchemical barrier that suppresses magic, the same as the one in the core area. This small courtyard is specifically for the use of prisoners from the core area, and they are managed separately from the prisoners in the regr section.


    The prisoners in the core area are more dangerous to those in other sections, and some of them have a stronger influence over regr prisoners. Mixing them together can lead to trouble," Aiden exined carefully,


    "There are four levels of alertness for the prisoners, distinguished by the color of their tags and uniforms, ranging from white to red. It''s based on their own level of danger and cooperation. Most of the prisoners in the core area are either yellow or red."


    At this moment, a female inmate noticed Aiden standing outside the railing and suddenly approached with a mischievous grin.


    Veronica keenly noticed her and immediately became wary.


    However, the female inmate then made apletely unexpected move - she faced Aiden, swiftly lifted her prison uniform, and then just as quickly put it back down.


    Then, the female inmate stuck out her tongue at Aiden with an arrogant expression, "Hey, Boss, enjoy your bonus! Got a little excited, didn''t you? Too bad you can see but not touch! Hahaha!"


    (Tn: took this Comment from the raw)


    (As a reader, I am very dissatisfied with the author''s casual treatment of this scene. I urge the author to provide a more detailed description of what was under the clothes.)


    A few female prisoners who were closer also joined in with someughter.


    Veronica looked cautiously at her superior beside her, unsure of how he would handle the situation. This flirtatious behavior was an obvious provocation, but it was also somewhat tricky to respond to.


    Aiden, with a puzzled expression, squinted at the female prisoner for a moment, then suddenly spoke sharply, "What''s going on!? How did a male prisoner end up in this prison?"


    As soon as the words fell, the expression of the female inmate who taunted him immediately froze. The other prisoners were momentarily stunned, then burst intoughter.


    Then, Aiden seemed to finally recognize her, and nodded in realization, and waved his hand, "Oh, it''s you, prisoner 3319, my mistake."


    The surrounding prisonersughed even more joyously, but prisoner 3319 face turned as red as a beet.


    "Screw you! Are you blind? I''ve got breasts, can''t you damn see?" She cursed loudly while gesturing to lift her clothes again.


    At this point, the prison guard who noticed the situation blew the whistle.


    "Prisoner 3319! Do you think guards are pushovers? Causing trouble here, looking for a bullet, huh!?" The guard warned loudly, and at the same time, the guards on the watchtower aimed their shotguns in this direction.


    The atmosphere plummeted to freezing point, and prisoner 3319''s movements stopped - she had only wanted to taunt Aiden and establish some reputation among the inmates, and certainly not to risk her life challenging the guards'' limits.


    "Stop gathering there, what''s the point? If you like it so much, how about you all cram into a solitary confinement cell? Huh?" The guard continued threatening the other inmates who were standing there.


    Soon, the inmates dispersed, and prisoner 3319 walked away indignantly, muttering curses at the warden and the guards.


    "Hmph, a petty trick, bringing shame to yourself," Aiden sneered dismissively.


    "Are there many inmates like this?" Veronica couldn''t help but think of the chaotic scenes in the core area every time Aiden patrolled there.


    "In the regr sections, they''re rare, but there are quite a few in the core area. New inmates often have strong oppositional emotions towards enforcers and will try various ways to humiliate and provoke the guards," Aiden exined.


    "How should we handle situations like this?" Veronica sought advice from her superior.


    "It depends on the situation. For most cases, just strictly follow the regtions. If it doesn''t warrant a vition, then ignore her. She''ll realize she''s not getting anywhere and will naturally tone down.


    Of course, there are some inmates who get more spirited the more you warn and punish them. In those cases, you might need to step on their pride a bit, and dampen their spirit.


    You Can Use some non-viting methods to humiliate and embarrass them in front of other inmates. This way, they''ll understand that going against the guards only leads to humiliation.


    These types of inmates often don''t care about punishment, and in fact, they see it as a way to establish a tough image among the prisoners.


    They often value their reputation more, so humiliating them is more effective than simply penalizing them," Aiden exined.


    "It feels... quite challenging," Veronica admitted.


    "These are little tricks learned through experience. You don''t need to remember all of this right away at the beginning. Just manage things strictly ording to the rules. You don''t need to tame every single inmate, just maintain order in the prison. And not all new inmates have that demeanor," Aiden said, looking out at the yground.


    At this moment, a tall female prisoner approached along the track, nodding with a smile towards Aiden, "Good afternoon, Warden!"


    Aiden nodded back, watching her pass, then turned to Veronica and said, "She just arrived yesterday. asionally, we do get inmates who are more cooperative right from the start. However, we can''t let our guard down. The prisoners in the core area are all dangerous."


    Veronica nodded and continued to scan the yground, suddenly noticing Evangeline sitting in the corner.


    She saw Evangeline crouched in the shade, lowered her head, and staring at the ground.


    "What is that child doing alone?" Veronica asked casually.


    "She''s observing ants. That''s her interest," Aiden answered casually.


    "She''s always alone?"


    "Yeah, she is. She has a generation gap with the other inmates, and..." Aiden paused,


    "she''s the ''Tainted Blood Reaper,'' don''t forget how she got that title. A drop of her blood can easily poison an adult, and there''s no antidote for it.


    Although she''s undergone some purification treatment for her blood, she''s still very dangerous. Honestly, when I get close to her, I''m a little afraid too. But you shouldn''t have to worry too much, werewolves have a stronger resistance to poison than regr people."


    "To be honest, I''m still can''t believe it," Veronica said, somewhat dazed.


    "It''s true. Even if the Inquisition Bureau were trying to deceive, they wouldn''t go to such extremes. She really is the genuine ''Tainted Blood Reaper,''" Aiden said in a subdued tone,


    "She was trained by the assassin organization from birth, forged into a lethal weapon by someone''s hands."

 Chapter 37:

    Chapter 37:


    <b>Ant Queen</b>


    In the evening, the warden office.


    "...Anyway, it''s roughly like this. If you go to the riot squad, they probably won''t assign you to the factory''s surveince post. They''ll only trouble you during free time and when the prisoners are on working"


    Aiden sat in the office and handed two documents to Veronica.


    "This one is the new set of internal prison management regtions I''ve introduced, and this one is the chart of prisoner treatment levels, also formted by me. Take a closer look when you get back."


    "Understood," Veronica saluted earnestly and took the documents.


    "By the way, can you do night shifts?" Aiden asked seriously.


    "Yes, in fact, I''m quite used to working the night shift," Veronica smiled.


    Werewolves have some physiological characteristics of nocturnal animals. They have excellent night vision but are more sensitive to strong light than regr humans.


    They are more alert at night, enjoy moonlight, and dislike intense sunlight. When she was in the mounted police force, she often worked the night shift.


    "That''s great!" Aiden pped his hands happily. "Actually, the night shift is much quieter than the day shift, but we''re still a bit short-staffed. Many guards are unwilling to do night shifts, especially those with families."


    He picked up the duty watch and looked at it. "So, starting the day after tomorrow, you''lle on duty at five in the afternoon, alright?"


    "No problem."


    "Then today, you officially reported in the morning. You can check out at the designated time. Thank you for your hard work today."


    "It''s me who should thank you," Veronica smiled.


    Aiden nodded and looked at Veronica, but he noticed that she didn''t seem to have any intention of leaving the office.


    "What''s wrong? Is there anything else?" Aiden took the initiative to ask.


    "Well..." Veronica hesitated, "I''m actually a bit curious about that prisoner, 3201, the Tainted Blood Reaper."


    "Oh, no wonder you seemed a bit distracted this afternoon. Alright, if you have any questions, feel free to ask," Aiden straightened up.


    "What''s the deal with that kid? How old is she exactly?" Veronica asked, staring earnestly into Aiden''s eyes.


    "I don''t know... don''t look at me like that, it''s true that nobody knows. She couldn''t even provide her own age during the interrogation and examination when she was arrested. But based on the results, she was probably not more than twelve years old at the time."


    "So, you mean, she hasn''t even reached fourteen yet!?" Veronica widened her eyes.


    Initially, she had suspected that Evangeline might be a few years older than she looked. After all, the active underworld assassin queen was a child not even in her early teens, which was hard to believe.


    "Yes, that''s why she couldn''t be sentenced to death. Otherwise, with Tainted Blood Reaper''s record of killings, who knows how many times she would have been sentenced to death," Aiden exined.


    "How did she end up like this?" Veronica frowned. "I remember you mentioning before... that she was raised by the assassin organization from birth. Can training alone lead to that level of skill?"


    Veronica had heard of the fearsome reputation of the Tainted Blood Reaper. It was said that she could freely alter her appearance, possessed master-level hand-to-handbat skills, and had monstrous strength capable of effortlessly snapping an adult''s neck. She was proficient in nearly all lethal weapons, including firearms, des, whips, ropes, clubs, concealed weapons, and explosives.


    What Even more terrifying was the rumor that her blood carried a deadly poison, a mere shallow cut with a weapon coated in it could be fatal.


    Veronica couldn''t fathom what kind of training could make a child reach such a level in just a few years.


    "Yes, she was groomed by the assassin organization as a tool. But what she went through wasn''t just training, it also involved many extremely inhumane experiments," Aiden stated expressionlessly.


    "What kind of experiments?" Veronica inquired.


    "I''m sorry, but I can''t give you the details. The Inquisition Bureau does have some information, but it''s all ssified. Basically, it involved ingesting and injecting alchemical elixirs, as well as making demonic pacts. Her monstrous strength, shape-shifting ability, and toxic blood were all acquired this way. But the cost was substantial."


    "The cost..." Veronica was taken aback.


    Aiden remained silent for a moment before speaking again. "Her sense of taste is impaired, she doesn''t have any sense of pain, she has memory impairments for certain things, and her lifespan... ording to the doctor''s examination, even if she continues to receive blood purification treatment, her remaining lifespan won''t exceed twenty years, unless there are new breakthroughs in medicine in the future."


    Veronica gasped, "What kind of organization could be so cruel?"


    Meanwhile, in the prison''s small courtyard, after dinner, the core area prisoners were brought out in batches to breathe fresh air and await their turn for showers.


    Evangeline was among them. As usual, she returned to the same spot she had spent the afternoon, crouching down to search for traces of ants. She had recently discovered what seemed to be an ant nest nearby.


    She quickly found a row of ants, and to her surprise, there was an unexpected find at the end of the ant line - a butterfly with damaged wings, covered by a densely packed swarm of ants.


    The butterfly still appeared to be alive, but its time was running out. It no longer had the strength to struggle or resist the bites of the ants, its damaged wings asionally fluttering weakly.


    Just as Evangeline was engrossed in this sight, someone approached her from behind and spoke, "Are you observing the ants?"


    Evangeline turned around to see a tall female inmate, bending over and smiling at her - a new face, someone who seemed to have recently arrived in the prison.


    "Hmm..." Evangeline responded then turn her face back.


    The fact that this inmate initiated a conversation with her was a bit surprising. In this prison, very few inmates would approach her like this.


    However, she didn''t really pay much attention to others.


    But the female inmate didn''t back down due to her coldness and continued to chat with her, "Ants, though small, are the top killers among insects. Almost any other insect that ends up with a swarm of ants on them is facing certain death."


    Evangeline didn''t respond, but the female inmate carried on, "I''ve heard that all the ants in a colony are the children born to a single ant queen. But for the queen, these children are nothing more than tools."


    The female inmate paused for a moment, speaking with a nostalgic tone, "You still like this, Vanee."


    Vanee...


    Upon hearing this name, Evangeline snapped her head around as if shocked, staring directly at the female inmate.


    In her memory, there was only one person who called her by that nickname.


    The female inmate wore a loving smile on her face, squinting her eyes as she said to Evangeline, "It''s been two years since west met, you''ve grown a bit."


    As if a part of her memory that had been forcibly disconnected was now being reconnected, something began to surface in the depths of Evangeline mind, aligning the initially unfamiliar face and voice before her.


    She suddenly remembered!


    "Mom?" She stared nkly at the person in front of her.

 Chapter 38:

    Chapter 38:


    The Children of Meiliu Jienu


    (Tn: ÃÀÁð¼§Å«" (m¨¨i li¨² j¨« nu) is a transliteration of the French name "Melusine". It is the name of a legendary figure who is half-woman and half-serpent. In some stories, she is a benevolent fairy who helps humans, while in others she is a malevolent creature who brings misfortune.)


    (For now i Will use Meiliu Jienu than melusine)


    "Meiliu Jienu children?" Veronica''s face showed some surprise.


    "Yes, Meiliu Jienu, an S-ss wanted criminal, codenamed ''Ant Queen'' by the Inquisition bureau. Meiliu Jienu is her alias in the underworld, and she''s been active under this name for nearly twenty years. On the surface, she acts as a middleman for the assassin guilds.


    But in reality, all the assassins under her employ are ones she has personally trained since childhood. She considers herself their mother, and they are collectively known as ''Meiliu Jienu children''. Evangeline, the ''Tainted Blood Reaper'', is one of them."


    Aiden recounted the information rted to Evangeline and her connection to the Inquisition bureau from the knowledge he inherited.


    "So, this Meiliu Jienu, she adopts orphans and turns them into assassins?" Veronica asked.


    "The origin of the children isn''t entirely clear. It''s possible she adopted them through some channels, or they might have been abducted. There are even rumors suggesting that some of them might be her own offspring.


    In any case, she indoctrinates these children from a young age, conducting human experiments to enhance them, personally teaching them the art of killing, and using them as pawns to establish her foothold in the underworld," Aiden exined.


    "Are the other children all like Inmate 3201?"


    "No, Meiliu Jienu has trained many assassins, but Evangeline is her masterpiece. While the other ''Meiliu Jienu children'' who have been apprehended arepetent assassins, nonee close to Evangeline level of excellence.


    ording to the alchemists and doctors'' estimates, the overall survival rate of the human experiments Evangeline underwent is unlikely to exceed five percent.


    It''s safe to assume that significant resources were invested in this endeavor. Additionally, by logical deduction, if there were another ''Tainted Blood Reaper'', they would have already made a name for themselves in the underworld after Evangeline arrest."


    "And such person is still on loose?" Veronica struggled to contain her anger.


    "Yes, unfortunately, she''s still alive and well. The Inquisition bureau has been unable to gather detailed information about her personally. They can only collect peripheral intelligence through informants," Aiden sighed.


    "How is it possible that there''s no information at all? If she regards those children as her own and personally raised them, they should know a lot about her," Veronica pondered. "Could it be that Inmate 3201 herself refuses to divulge anything?"


    Aiden shook his head. "It''s not that she doesn''t want to speak, but rather, she can''t."


    "What do you mean?" Veronica didn''t quite understand.


    "The Inquisition bureau employs a secret method involving demon contracts. After voluntarily signing such a contract, if the person attempts to disclose ssified information to unauthorized individuals, they will immediately suffer harm.


    If they try to speak, their tongue will split on the spot. If they attempt to write, their fingers will break. In the most severe cases, it could lead to the signer''s heart rupturing. Meiru Princess possesses a simr method, and her techniques are even more sophisticated."


    "What kind of technique is that?"


    "She uses ck magic to block the assassin''s memories. If an assassin attempts to confess information rted to her, their impression of her will be forgotten¡ª notpletely erased, just temporarily forgotten. Have you ever experienced putting something aside, only topletely forget it the next moment?"


    "Of course," Veronica admitted without hesitation.


    Most people have had simr experiences. Something that just happened bes a vague memory, and no matter how hard you try, you can''t recall it.


    "It''s simr to that feeling. This ck magic erases the impression the caster has in the minds of others. If the person tries to reveal information about the caster, the spell takes effect.


    Once it does, the affected person will develop specific memory barriers. They might have a vague impression of the caster, but they simply can''t remember it.


    Even if the caster stands in front of them again, they wouldn''t be able to identify her, unless the caster voluntarily lifts the spell," Aiden exined.


    "In that case, the child... she''spletely a victim, isn''t she?" Veronica lowered her gaze.


    Evangeline background was even more tragic than she had imagined.


    "A victim... yes, that''s an urate way to put it," Aiden agreed.


    Raised as a tool by the assassin organization from birth, forced to undergo human experiments, her body riddled with scars, her emotions and identity had been erased.


    Her hands stained with blood, she became the queen of assassins in the underworld only to end up imprisoned. While she still had a life, it had been utterly ruined.


    "How was the child''s sentence determined?" Veronica asked cautiously.


    "The Judgment Hall gave her an indeterminate sentence," Aiden said slowly.


    "Indeterminate sentence?"


    "That means the Judgment Hall assigned a range of punishment, and then, based on regr observations and reports from the prison, they adjust the convict''s sentence within that range when appropriate," Aiden exined to her. "The range given to her by the Judgment Hall starts at eight years, but there''s no upper limit."


    "So, after eight years, if she behaves well, she might have a chance at parole?"


    Aiden remained silent for a long time before speaking again, "Literally, yes, that''s what it implies for an ordinary convict.


    In reality, it''s just a semantic game yed by the Judgment Hall. The true intention of the Judgment Hall is to sentence her to life imprisonment."


    "What!?" Veronica''s eyes widened.


    "When she was sentenced, she was too young for the Judgment Hall to directly give her a severe sentence, so they chose this way. In truth, even if she behaves like a model prisoner for eight years without a single mistake, if I were to submit a report proposing her release, it would undoubtedly be rejected,"


    Aiden looked into Veronica''s eyes and said, "It''s almost impossible for her to be released from this prison."


    "Why would they do this? She''s clearly a victim too..."


    "But her level of danger is objectively real. She''s a highly skilled assassin, and killing is as natural to her as breathing. Give her a makeshift weapon, and she could potentially take out half of the inmates in the core area.


    And she''s not even fourteen yet. She still has room to grow, which means her level of danger will only increase," Aiden exined, spreading his hands.


    "For someone like her, why would the Judgment Hall be willing to easily release her? She''s kept in prison not primarily because she''s guilty, but because she''s too dangerous."


    Veronica was at a loss for a moment.


    "I heard you said about being an orphan before, and how you were treated differently because of your lycanthropic bloodline" Aiden continued, folding his arms. "Did you sympathize with her because you thought of your own experiences?"


    Veronica didn''t respond, she simply lowered her head. Aiden had indeed hit the mark. When she saw Evangeline huddled alone in the corner at noon, it reminded her of herself ying alone in the orphanage, isted.


    "That child is different from you. Despite your difficult upbringing, you still have a chance," Aiden said slowly. "But that child, from the moment she was born, she never had that kind of opportunity."

 Chapter 39:

    Chapter 39:


    You''re Really Capable


    The next day, Veronica arrived at the Rose Prison for work as usual.


    After clocking in, she went straight to the locker room, put her personal items in the cab, and then started to take off her clothes to change into her uniform.


    A young female prison guard who was changing clothes in the next locker nced at her and suddenly widened her eyes, "Oh! Miss Veronica? Your locker is right next to mine."


    "Ah, yes." The sudden conversation caught Veronica off guard for a moment.


    She looked at her colleague beside her, feeling a sense of familiarity, but couldn''t quite remember.


    She had just started working at the prison yesterday, and following closely behind Aiden. She had seen a few core area guards in between, but couldn''t be sure if she had crossed paths with this person.


    Seeing the other''s demeanor, it was clear they knew her. If they had introduced themselves to her and she couldn''t remember, it would be quite embarrassing.


    Fortunately, the female prison guard sensed her awkwardness in time and smiled at her, "You probably don''t remember me. I''m Isabe, I work at the core area surveince post. I''m in charge of letting the prisoners out for exercise and showers. I was the one who restrained you The day you got into a fight in the bathroom."


    "Oh, haha, nice to meet you, senior." Veronica shook hands with her politely.


    "No, no, just call me by my name! I''ve only been here for three months myself. You''re different,ing in with your rank. Your position will definitely be higher than mine once you''re assigned a post." Isabe nudged her with her elbow. "I''ll have to rely on youter on."


    "Haha, you''re... too kind." Veronica nodded. She wasn''t particrly adept at social interactions, but she didn''t mind the warm greeting from a colleague.


    Considering that the guards in the core area dealt with various dangerous criminals all the time, they probably wouldn''t be too wary of her being a werewolf.


    "I saw you were with Chief Warden all the time yesterday."


    "Yes, he was giving me newbie training."


    "I had that too." Isabe nodded, "Thank goodness for having such a big shot backing us up. Honestly, when I found out I was assigned to Rose Prison after passing the exams, I was in despair.


    I heard this prison was a mess, and even the Chief Warden was killed by rioting prisoners before. But aftering here, I unexpectedly found it quite rxed, and the food in the cafeteria is good too."


    "Yes, I feel the same way." Veronica replied politely.


    At this moment, an unpleasant voice came from behind them, "Of course, you find it easy now that you''ve just arrived. You don''t know how troublesome it was during the reform."


    Both turned around to see a female prison guard in her thirties with short-cropped hair standing behind them, putting on her uniform while giving them a sidelong nce.


    "It''s just a case of a new boss trying to make a name for himself. These young kids always want to show off, without considering whether the people below can adapt. Only you young girls might think he''s doing alright."


    Isabe didn''t say anything. She felt a bit ufortable with the sudden interruption, but the other party was an older prison guard with much more experience than her. It would only cause trouble if she offended her.


    However, Veronicapletely disregarded the other''s intentions. After staring at the old prison guard for a while, she retorted, "At least he''s actually achieving results. If you think you''re better, why haven''t you been promoted?"


    Veronica''s direct confrontation left Isabe stunned on the side.


    The old prison guard furrowed her brows slightly, "Why doesn''t this new recruit understand the rules?"


    "What, you want to teach me?" Veronica stared back directly. Her sharp eyes naturally gave off a somewhat fierce aura.


    After a few seconds of staring, the old prison guard couldn''t hold on any longer, but she didn''t want to lose face just like that. She gave a cold chuckle and shifted her gaze away.


    At this moment, someone peeked out from the other side of the locker - it was Franda, the supervisor of the core area. She had been changing clothes in front of the other locker and happened to hear themotion.


    "What are you all doing? Why are you arguing so early in the morning? Get to work!" She shouted towards them, then nced at the old prison guard named Megan, "Megan, it''s almost time for the shift change, why haven''t you opened the factory yet?"


    In terms of position, Franda outranked everyone here, and Megan, the old prison guard, didn''t dare to challenge her. She fastened her uniform buttons, said nothing, and left the locker room.


    Isabe looked at Veronica and gave her a thumbs-up without saying a word.


    "What''s this for?" Veronica was puzzled.


    "When I give this gesture, it means you''re really something!" Isabe said seriously, "Impressive, no wonder you stood up to even the chief warden!"


    "I was just annoyed that she came at me out of nowhere..." Veronica felt a bit embarrassed by Isabe''s praise.


    "Don''t mind it, Megan isn''t targeting you. She''s had issues with the chief warden since before," Franda walked over and talked to them.


    "Supervisor." Isabe and Veronica saluted her at the same time.


    "Supervisor, why does she have issues with the chief warden?" Veronica asked bluntly.


    "Megan ispetent in her job, but she''s a bit greedy. Back when she managed the regr cell block, the prison administration was quite chaotic, and she had a lot of opportunities for personal gain.


    When she was in charge of the factory, she would casually make the prisoners work overtime, then sell the materials from the factory on the side. And when she managed the cells, she once hinted to the prisoners to bribe their way out of issues,"


    Franda exined slowly, "Now that the new chief warden has taken office and demands the transparency in the factory''s finances, he also moved her to the core area. And now that she can''t make extra money anymore, naturally, she''s not happy with the chief warden."


    "Why keep someone like that around?" Veronica frowned.


    "There''s No choice, the prison is short-staffed," Franda shrugged, "Besides, it''s not easy to dismiss people in the department. She''s also quite slippery, it''s not easy to catch her red-handed."


    Veronica didn''t say much after hearing this. Workce issues could be found anywhere, andpared to the Mounted Police, the atmosphere here was already much better.


    She changed into her clothes and once again entered Aiden''s office, ready for training.


    "...Have you gone through the materials I gave you yesterday?" Aiden asked when he saw her.


    "I''ve read them all. You can quiz me anytime." Veronica replied confidently.


    "Oh, very diligent. I was expecting it to take you a couple of days," Aiden nodded approvingly, "Then take a look at these when you have time."


    "Criminal profiles... and a list of contraband?" Veronica took the materials and nced at them.


    "Yes, although these aren''t as crucial as the ones you received yesterday, they''re still important to remember."


    "Huh?" Veronica suddenly puzzled "ying card is also contraband?"


    "Yes, it used to be allowed, butter on, the prisoners started using those things for private gambling, and it got bigger in scale, so we banned it," Aiden nodded,


    "Now, prisoners are only allowed to y in the card room under the supervision of guards."


    "But..." Veronica hesitated for a moment.


    "Oh?" Aiden noticed something and narrowed his eyes at her.


    "Ah." Veronica realized she had let something slip.


    "Very well, it seems like it''s time to organize a surprise inspection," Aiden revealed a sinister smile.

 Chapter 40:

    Chapter 40:


    <b>Surprise Inspection</b>


    "Noooooo!" In the core area of the prison, Cell 13, Fei cried out in despair.


    "Well, well, well. I never would''ve known if we hadn''t checked. You''ve been hiding so many good things," Aiden said, standing with his arms crossed, eagerly inspecting the contraband from Cell 13,id out in front of him by the other guards.


    cards and dice for gambling, cosmetics, hairpins,rge banknotes, small particles of precious metals, forbidden books, vibrating crystals... The items found in Fei personal belongings actually ounted for a third of the list.


    (Tn: Vibrating crystals (? ??¡ã? ???? ??¡ã?) )


    If it weren''t for Veronica''s reaction when she saw the list earlier, Aiden wouldn''t have thought to conduct a surprise inspection today.


    When Veronica asked him with a surprised look on her face, he guessed that Fei must have taken out the contraband cards and yed with her before.


    "Traitor! I took such good care of you when we shared a room before! Now, as soon as you get promoted, you sell me out! I misjudged you!!" Fei stared at Veronica behind Aiden, loudly using with a face full of grievance.


    "I... didn''t mean to, I''m sorry," Veronica looked apologetic, watching Fei pitiful appearance as if wanting to write the word "tragic" with blood. She couldn''t help but feel sympathy.


    "Don''t apologize to prisoners casually, this one brought it on herself," Aiden turned to Veronica and educated her with a stern expression.


    Then he turned to Fei, as he was about to speak, Fei suddenly lunged towards his thigh, and said "Lord Aiden!"


    Fortunately, Aiden had anticipated that she might try this, so he swiftly stepped back, then grabbed Veronica''s shoulder and pushed her in front of him as a shield.


    "Ehhh?" Before Veronica can react, Fei was already hugged her thigh, nearly tripping her.


    "Tsk." Realizing she''d grabbed the wrong target, Fei quickly let go of Veronica and turned her gaze back to Aiden.


    "If youe at me again, I''ll leave a shoe print on your face." Aiden, was prepared this time, and lifted one foot as a warning.


    If Fei managed to grab his thigh, this stubborn troublemaker would definitely not let go easily.


    Fei immediately wore a pitiful expression and pleaded with Aiden, "I didn''t know these were contraband, please show mercy this time, I¡ª"


    "You''re willing to do anything, right?" Aiden interrupted her, pretending to clean his ear, "My ears are about to callus from hearing that. If you''re willing to do anything, just behave and follow the rules, don''t give me trouble. This is your fifth time in here, are you trying to fool me by saying you didn''t know these were contraband?"


    "It''s true..."


    "Confiscate the items, handle them properly. Put the money and precious metals in the personal storage, you''ll get them back when you''re released. Also You''ll be in solitary confinement for a day, and your treatment level will be adjusted back. That''s it," Aiden announced the n in a calm tone.


    "Nooo, please, I don''t want this! Why are you treating me like this!!" Fei started throwing a tantrum on the ground.


    Aiden was unfazed by this and turned to the riot squad, saying, "Take her away."


    The two members of the riot squad seemed ustomed to this scene, lifting the struggling Fei from both sides and dragging her towards the solitary confinement room.


    Then, Aiden turned to another inmate in Cell 13¡ªprisoner 3340, a neer who had recently been assigned to this room. She looked to be in her thirties, tall and graceful.


    Veronica recognized her as the friendly-looking female inmate who had greeted Aiden in the courtyard yesterday.


    "Warden." As soon as she made eye contact with Aiden, she put on a pleasing smile.


    "You too, Inmate 3340. I thought you were a rule-abiding person," Aiden said, picking up a small ss bottle containing some pills.


    "I''m very sorry, I have rhinitis, and I also have trouble sleeping, so I brought in a little bit of the medicine I usually take..." Inmate 3340 obediently lowered her head.


    "You''re sick? Then go to the prison doctor. There are so many people here who want to fake illness just to get out of work, but you seem quite proactive about treating yourself," Aiden turned his head and stared hard at her lowered face, "Getting something like this in here shouldn''t be easy. Who helped you bring it in?"


    "This, I had my family secretly hide it in my personal belongings and bring it in... I''m truly sorry, I would never do it again," Inmate 3340 lowered her face even further.


    Aiden nced around, noticing that many female inmates who had been pushed into the corridor due to the surprise inspection were now concentrating their gaze in this direction.


    Lowering his voice, Aiden issued a warning to Inmate 3340 in her ear, "Your sentence seems to be only a few months, there''s no need to cause such a fuss in this prison. Don''t even think about causing trouble for me, understand?"


    Inmate 3340 nced at Aiden, and for a moment, her eyes sharpened.


    But in the end, she nodded in agreement, "I don''t quite understand what Warden is saying, but since I''ve done something wrong, no matter the punishment, I will definitelyply."


    "Very well." Aiden stood up straight, casually giving out the consequences, "Dispose the medicine, then five days in solitary confinement."


    Inmate 3340 lifted her face, with a hint of surprise in her eyes.


    Even Veronica looked at Aiden with surprise¡ªthis punishment was clearly much harsher than the one given to Fei.


    "Do you have any objections?" Aiden looked at Inmate 3340 expressionlessly.


    "None." Inmate 3340 obediently lowered her head again, then followed a guard and left, heading towards the main gate.


    As they passed Cell 11, she nced at Evangeline standing in front of the cell.


    Evangeline stared at the inmate in confusion, feeling that the other person looked somewhat familiar, but couldn''t quite remember.


    Sincest night, her mind had been fuzzy, constantly forgetting things... It was strange.


    Yesterday evening, in the small courtyard.


    "Mom?" Evangeline widened her eyes, looking at the female prisoner who suddenly spoke to her¡ªthis woman''s appearance and voice, were all clearly her "mother" Meiliu Jienu who had raised her. She had been standing beside her for quite some time, but Evangeline had just remembered.


    "Why are you here?" Evangeline looked at her "mother" in astonishment, looking at her prison uniform and number¡ª3340, it seemed she had just arrived not long ago.


    "Of course, I''m here to rescue you, my dear Vanny," Meiliu Jienu said affectionately, "You''re the child I cherish the most, how could I bear to see you imprisoned?"


    Rescue me...?


    Suddenly, Evangeline had a question in her mind.


    Why? When her previous brothers and sisters were caught, her mother had always been indifferent.


    "Although I really want to take you away from here right away, i still need some time to prepare. Until then, please be patient," Meiliu Jienu reached out and patted Evangeline''s head, "Being able to see you like this now already makes me very happy."


    Evangeline felt the warmth through her hair ¡ª exactly the same as before.


    Then, her memory went nk.


    When she came to her sense, there was no one in front of her.


    "I''m..., what was I doing?" She stood there in a daze.


    Was I daydreaming while watching ants...


    She lowered her head again and saw the butterfly dissected by the ants, as well as the ants returning to the anthill in formation, carrying their spoils.

 Chapter 41:

    Chapter 41:


    <b>Contraband</b>


    "Why was that female inmate sentenced to five days of solitary confinement for hiding just one bottle of drug?" Veronica asked Aiden as they left the core area, carrying a tray loaded with contraband.


    During this surprise inspection, they discovered quite a few things. Most of the people caught only had one or two forbidden items hidden. Only Fei, on the other hand, had imed nearly a third of the list with her "goods." Yet even so, Aiden only sentenced her to one day of solitary confinement.


    But inmate 3340, who had only hidden one bottle of medicine, was being ordered by Aiden to endure five days of confinement, which seemed a tad biased.


    "You''re asking this question, which shows that you have the intention to proactively understand. Very good," Aiden praised Veronica before turning around.


    "I only showed you the list, but I haven''t had the chance to exin to you yet. In reality, different contraband items have different levels of danger, and correspondingly, the punishments will vary."


    "Danger level... Are drugs considered more dangerous than des?" Veronica was somewhat surprised.


    During this inspection, they found one inmate who had hidden a carving knife, but even in her case, Aiden only sentenced her to two days of solitary confinement.


    "The rules in the core area are a bit different from those in the regr sectors. Tools of that degree can''t even be used as weapons in the core area. Just think about it, when you were in prison, if someone threatened you with a carving knife, would you be scared?"


    Veronica thought for a moment. "I''d probably break their nose first..."


    With the overwhelming physical strength of a pure-blooded werewolf, it''s futile for an ordinary person to wield even a legitimate knife, let alone a mere pen knife.


    "That''s right, the core area is mostly popted by dangerous individuals. A single ded tool won''t cause much of a stir, but even so, contraband items still need to be strictly regted. However, when ites to drugs, regardless of the sector, they are considered highly dangerous. The issue with them is much moreplex than other forbidden items."


    "How should I put this?"


    "Firstly, drugs can be used for poisoning, or even ingested to fake an illness¡ªthis is harder to detect than using tools.


    Secondly, there are some magic potions that provide magical power. When sealed magic users in the core area consume them, they can temporarily regain some of their strength.


    Lastly, there are many inmates in this prison who are addicted to drugs. Some medicines, for them, not only serve as currency, but can also be a means of control. The drugs that 3340 had with her happen to be addictive, it''s hard to call that a coincidence," Aiden exined slowly. "Do you know why inmate 3340 was arrested?"


    "Why?"


    "illegal trafficking, she was selling drugs she had produced herself."


    "Selling counterfeit drugs?"


    Aiden shook his head. "No, they were genuine drugs. The ones she made were all real, and some even had special effects, with purities sometimes surpassing those produced by pharmaceuticalpanies.


    But a portion of the drugs she sold was controlled, and she couldn''t produce any permits. So, she was caught, sentenced to six months¡ªthree for illegal trafficking, and another three for possessing untraceable ck magic."


    "She''s... a witch?"


    "She confessed to being a wandering alchemist, but it''s highly likely she''s a witch, and a skilled one at that, specializing in magic potions."


    In this world, while magic wasn''t exactly rare, it wasn''t something everyone could learn, especially the ck magic regted by treaties. Generally, only armed institutions like the military and organizations like the Inquisition Bureau had the authority to teach and use them.


    The astrology and blessings that witches studied were not prohibited, but it was the ck magic and magic potions they dabbled in that drew the attention of the Inquisition Bureau.


    A typical figure in this prison was the witch Dailey, skilled in summoning demons, and the necromancer Arsena, who delved into necromancy and spiritmunication.


    This was also the reason why inmate 3340 ended up in the core area.


    "So, she''s very dangerous?" Veronica still seemed somewhat puzzled.


    "Have you noticed that when I was questioning inmate 3340, many other inmates were looking over?" Aiden suddenly interjected.


    "Indeed..." Veronica recalled, then had a sudden realization. "They''re paying attention to the person who managed to bring drugs into the prison!"


    "That''s right. The supervision level for drugs is very high, but that woman still managed to bring them in. This indicates she has some sort of channel or method. Mixing drug powder into food or items, and then re-preparing it using professional techniques.


    This makes it very hard to detect, and we can''tpletely restrict the flow of items inside and outside the prison. This shows she has the potential to be a ''drug lord'' here. It''s a very formidable resource in the prison,"


    Aiden exined, making a counting gesture with his hand. "A resource that is more effective than money. With this, she can cultivate her own influence within the prison."


    "But her sentence is only six months..." Veronica murmured softly.


    She couldn''t quite fathom why someone who only needed to stay in prison for half a year would go to such great lengths, as Aiden described.


    "Even if it''s just one month, we can''t let our guard down," Aiden said seriously, especially towards the inmates in the core area.


    After interacting with so many inmates, Aiden had umted a considerable degree of professional intuition. Though it was just a gut feeling, he sensed that the seemingly polite woman was not a simple character.


    Herpliance and politeness carried a touch of elusive smoothness. In truth, Aiden didn''t care much about how the inmates treated him. He had encountered too many inmates who would curse his ancestors to the eighteenth generation.


    Whether they were polite or foul-mouthed, what he cared about was whether the inmates followed his rules.


    And inmate 3340, who started testing the boundaries right after arriving, instinctively made him a bit wary. This surprise inspection was originally targeted at the habitual offender Fei, so discovering inmate 3340 was an unexpected bonus.


    So, he gave her a warning first, followed by five days of solitary confinement. It was a show of authority and a test.


    "Understood," Veronica nodded, looking enlightened. Then, she suddenly raised another question. "By the way, Chief, why is this considered contraband?"


    Aiden turned his head, then froze¡ªVeronica was holding the vibration crystal she had confiscated from Fei.


    "I found that it can vibrate on its own." Veronica ced it beside the tray and tapped it. The crystal immediately began to vibrate rhythmically. She then grabbed the crystal and squeezed it hard, and the vibration stopped.


    "Um, you..." Aiden put on an awkward but polite smile. "Do you Really not know?"


    "I don''t know, it''s my first time seeing this kind of toy. Is there any danger to it?" Veronica asked innocently.


    "If you have the time, go ask Franda. She''s more familiar with it," Aiden scratched his forehead and casually passed the question on to his subordinate.

 Chapter 42:

    Chapter 42:


    <b>Juvenile Offender</b>


    Five dayster, in Cell 13 of the core area...


    The subus, Fei, sat idly on her bed, reading a novel. Just then, the cell door swung open, and her roommate - Inmate 3340 - was brought in.


    "Sis, you finally came out," greeted Faye.


    "Yeah, i''m finally out. These five days are like a hell. I had to sleep next to the toilet every day," Meirujinu, copsing onto her bed with a sigh.


    "You sure have guts, leaving a bottle of pills out in the open like that," Fei nced at her, "They''re really strict about medication in this prison."


    "I didn''t expect a sudden inspection. I had an understanding with the guards before, but it was no use at all," Meirujinu said with a helpless look.


    "This time it was the warden''s sudden decision. Even if you''re on good terms with other guards, there''s no way to prevent this kind of thing"


    Fei understood what she meant. For inmates like her, who weren''t short on money, they would always find a ways to bribe the guards for some convenience. Although Aiden wasn''t swayed, it didn''t mean that every person under hismand was clean.


    Therge sums of cash and precious metals that she kept hidden were actually for bribing the guards. In the prison, this money couldn''t buy contraband easily and was not considered very valuable among the inmates. However, it could grease the palms of guards who was looking to make some extra gains.


    By bribing the guards, you could get them to assign you easier tasks or get advance notice ofrge-scale inspections. In short, there were many benefits.


    "You really seem familiar with this prison," Meirujinu smiled at Fei, "You must have quite thework here, right?"


    "I guess so," Fei replied casually.


    "Well..." Meirujinu smiled with a hidden meaning, "Are you interested in making some money together in here?"


    "What do you want to do?" Fei asked, looked on alert.


    "When I was outside, I heard some rumors that certain medicines can fetch several times the profit inside the prisonpared to outside. I don''t know if it''s true or not..." Meirujinu said tentatively.


    But Fei, being an experienced inmate, quickly caught on to her intentions. "You''re thinking of bing a ''drug lord'' here, aren''t you?"


    "Just Making some Making money, no shame in that," Meirujinu smiled.


    "Don''t involve me. Let me be clear, I''m not short on money," Fei firmly refused. "Whatever you do is your business, but don''t drag me into it. Let''s keep our waters separate!"


    When her roommate, who imed to be a wandering alchemist named Mary, first arrived, she seemed easygoing. Fei thought she was rtively easy to get along with, but she didn''t have any ns to build a stronger rtionship.


    Firstly, she thought this inmate seemed quite ordinary, not having the high utility value that her previous roommate, the death row inmate Veronica, had.


    Secondly, this new roommate had only half a year left on her sentence.


    But now, it seemed she had underestimated this new roommate. On the day of the surprise inspection, this person was able to take out a concealed bottle of medicine, something even Fei hadn''t anticipated.


    Based on her experience, having such resources at one''s disposal could easily make them a big yer in the prison.


    And it seemed this roommate had that intention as well.


    But Fei didn''t want to attach herself to this opportunity.


    "Just a word of advice, your sentence is only half a year. It''s better to avoid those kinds of moves. The warden here isn''t a fool," Fei earnestly advised Meirujinu.


    Although she always acted cheeky and stubborn in front of Aiden, in reality, Fei knew the way to survive in this prison.


    She could tell that Aiden putting Inmate 3340 in solitary confinement for five days was a warning. If Inmate 3340 continued to act defiantly, it would undoubtedly be a challenge to Aiden. Fei definitely didn''t want to be caught up in the fallout.


    Going against that warden was not a wise choice.


    Meirujinu fell silent for a moment, then finally mustered a smile and nodded. "Alright, I''ve learned my lesson."


    I Thought this subus was rtively naive, but it seems she''s not as easy to manipte as I imagined...


    Her original n was to push other inmates to the forefront, using their connections in the prison to distribute drugs and build influence. But now, it seems that It''s easier to handle things directly.


    Well, having the drugs discovered earlier was a bit unexpected, but it turned out to be a good "advertisement" - soon, inmates in need of drugs wille to her on their own.


    However, she can''t make any hasty moves now. If her actions are too conspicuous, she''s bound to attract attention - the subus is right about this, that warden does seem a bit tricky to deal with.


    She needs to divert his attention with something else.


    Fortunately, the pawns that can help are on their way.


    Meanwhile, in the Warden''s office...


    "...These are the applications submitted today," Franda stood in front of the desk reported respectfully, .


    "Hmm, alright." Aiden casually ced his processed documents aside and looked up at Franda. "How''s our neer doing in the core area?"


    "She''s doing good..." Franda paused for a moment, then smiled and corrected herself, "I should say, this girl is really great!"


    "Oh?" Aiden leaned back in his chair, intrigued.


    "When there was a scuffle before, Inmate 3319 provoked her, and she just picked him up with one hand and hung him on a pir," Franda said with a smile. "Now, whenever she patrols and supervises, the inmates behave themselves."


    "Not bad," Aiden nodded in approval.


    Veronica is learning faster than he thought. Clearly, she has established a certain level of deterrence among the inmates.


    As a pure-blooded werewolf who has undergone standardbat training, her fighting ability is top-notch evenpared to the inmates in the core area. With this, she has unique potential in managing the core area inmates.


    Having such a promising neere in to work is truly like finding a treasure.


    "There''s one more thing to report, two new inmates have been transferred into the core area," Franda said, handing over two files.


    Aiden frowned as soon as he saw the files - they bore the mark of the Inquisition bureau, indicating that these inmates were directly apprehended by the Inquisition and sent here after internal trial.


    "What kind of troublemakers are they again?" He nced at Franda.


    "They''re both juvenile offenders, and their crimes are the same - attempted murder," France said in a low voice. "These two kids seem to be professional killers..."


    Aiden immediately opened the file folders and scanned through the documents, his eyes widening.


    His gazended on thest sentence of the inmates'' files, which was the same for both:


    "...Based on the examination results, it is spected that they are one of the ''children of meirujinu''."

 Chapter 43:

    Chapter 43:


    <b>Gemini Assassins</b>


    Rose Prison, the reformation and education room.


    Newly arrived prisoners were being gathered here, under the watchful eyes of the riot squad and guided by the prison guards about the rules and requirements within the prison.


    Among them were two new Juvenile offenders.


    Veronica stood in the corridor, observing the situation inside the rooms through the one-way ss window. The guards on standby in the corridor could see inside the room, but the inmates inside couldn''t see outside.


    Apart from her duties in surveince, she had also been entrusted with the responsibility of being the captain of the Core Area Mobile Riot Squad.


    At this moment, Aiden strode down the corridor.


    "Chief!" Veronica immediately saluted.


    "You''ve worked hard," Aiden greeted her with a smile.


    Veronica then shifted her gaze to the petite figure beside Aiden - "Tainted Blood, Evangeline" from Room 11. Surprisingly, she was brought here by Aiden today.


    Aiden turned towards the ss window, carefully scrutinizing the two young prisoners.


    The two girls looked like twin sisters, with the same physique and appearance. As for their ages... it wasn''t recorded in the files, but they seemed to be a year or two younger than Evangeline. Their eyes and facial expressions were just as cold and mechanical as Evangeline.


    "These two are said to be killers raised by Meirujinu, just like you. Do you recognize them?" he asked Evangeline beside him.


    Without hesitation, Evangeline shook her head. "No, I''ve basically never had any interaction with other ''siblings''. These two, I''m seeing them for the first time."


    Learning that there were others like Evangeline, "the children of meirujinu" who had been transferred to this prison, Aiden brought Evangeline here out of caution, hoping to gather some information.


    However, it seemed that Evangeline wasn''t too familiar with the other assassins either.


    In fact, while the Inquisition has been unable to catch Meirujinu, the "children of meirujinu" who serve as the executor of assassination have asionally been apprehended. However, these cursed killers are unable to provide any information about Meirujinu.


    And Currently, there are a total of four captured assassins, including this new pair of offenders.


    Two male prisoners are held in the Thorny Prison, and one teenage girl who, due to the bacsh effect of a demonic pact, died half a year after her capture.


    Only Evangeline was transferred to the Rose Prison.


    These two new female assassins identally failed in a joint assassination and were subsequently captured.


    Since the Inquisition couldn''t extract more information from them, it was deemed reasonable to expedite their trial and then transfer them to the Rose Prison.


    Aiden carefully reviewed their files. The danger of these twin assassins lies in their demonic pacts, where each sacrificed a hand in exchange for a demonic w imbued with immense strength and cursed power.


    The older sister has it on her left hand, and the younger on her right. For this reason, the Inquisition fitted them with specially crafted sealed shackles on their wrists.


    In terms of abilities, they are far from being as extensively modified as Evangeline.


    "Keep an eye on them. Whether they approach you voluntarily or do anything noteworthy, make sure to report it to me," he instructed Evangeline.


    "Understood," Evangeline nodded.


    In this prison, obeying Aiden''s orders was the new code of survival she had learned here.


    Veronica watched Evangeline, who followed Aiden''s orders without hesitation, from behind. Her expression became somewhatplicated.


    "Chief..." she cautiously addressed Aiden.


    "What''s wrong?" Aiden turned his head.


    "I have some questions I''d like to ask you privately. After the surveince work here is finished, may Ie to your office?" Veronica quietly requested.


    "Of course," Aiden readily agreed.


    Meanwhile, in the small courtyard, the core area inmates who had eaten lunch early were herded here, moving within the limited space like a flock of sheep.


    Meirujinu sat quietly on a bench, looking around.


    She didn''t see Evangeline figure... Had she been taken somewhere?


    At this moment, a female inmate approached quietly and cleared her throat before saying, "The weather has been quite dry recently. One could easily catch a cough."


    Meirujinu nced at her and replied nonchntly, "Yes."


    The female inmate then nced at the guards in the distance and suddenly lowered her voice, "You''re the alchemist, Mary, aren''t you? I wonder... do you have any cough medicine here?"


    Meirujinu smiled faintly upon hearing this. "I just came out of solitary confinement. It''s possible that I''m being watched right now. So Bringing in medicine is a bit risky..."


    She was well-versed in pharmacology and knew that many cough remedies could be addictive. This female inmate''s request for cough medicine was likely not straightforward.


    This was the fourth person today who hade to inquire about medicine.


    "Of course I won''t let you have it for nothing!" The female inmate understood her meaning and said, "As for the reward... we can negotiate."


    "No problem. Everyone needs help from time to time. Even if you can''t offer a reward, you can owe me a favor," Meirujinu said with a smooth smile.


    "Of course! If there''s anything you need help with, just tell me!" The female inmate nodded vigorously, as she was currently in need of a favor from Meirujinu.


    Meirujinu was quite satisfied with this. Through her pharmaceutical skills, she had already gained some influence here and quickly started building connections.


    Now, she should gather information as much as possible.


    "Speaking of which, that warden is really ruthless. He locked me up for five days just for a few pills. It''s infuriating," Meirujinu said, crossing her arms. "That guy must be quite unpopr here, right?"


    "Which prison warden isn''t hated by the inmates...," the female inmate responded, "But that guy is indeed formidable. Not many dare to go against him."


    "Isn''t there any formidable inmate in this prison who harbors a deep grudge against him? I feel like I can find somemon ground with someone of that caliber," Meirujinu inquired.


    "If you''re looking for someone to cover for you, it''s best not to look for that kind of person. Almost all the inmates targeted by the warden end up in a sorry state, without exception," the female inmate advised kindly. "Have you seen that woman over there in the shadows?"


    Following the guidance, Meirujinu looked over and saw a pale-faced woman sitting in the shade, hugging her knees.


    "A vampire?" She immediately recognized the woman''s race.


    "That woman is a prince-level vampire. She spent two years digging a tunnel for an escape, but she didn''t realize she had already been targeted early on.


    After being caught and brought back, she was treated miserably," the female inmate sighed.


    "Even someone of her level had a hard time. It''s better for us small fries not to make too much trouble."


    "Oh? Escape?" Meirujinu became interested, squinting her eyes, and stared intently at the vampire princess in the distance, like a carnivorous animal locking onto its prey. "Sounds like a very gutsy inmate."

 Chapter 44:

    Chapter 44:


    <b>The Blood Princess</b>


    In the evening, with a sound whistle blowing, the prisoners in the core area of the small courtyard were assembled and escorted in batches to the showers.


    The prisoners in line stood beneath the horizontally ced long pipes, cold water flowing "hissingly" from a row of lotus showerheads.


    The female inmates applied soap to wash their bodies, then immediately returned to the changing room after finished.


    The prison only provided cold water for Bathing. Even in winter, the water is only heated to a lukewarm temperature. In this ce, bathing is simply a procedure for cleaning the body, without any enjoyment to speak of.


    The vampire Ophelia meticulously wiped her body with a towel. As an undead, she doesn''t sweat, she just doesn''t like getting dust on herself.


    "You''re the renowned Blood Princess Ophelia, aren''t you? I never thought I''d be in the same prison as such a big shot one day." At this moment, someone stood beside her, washing their hair and striking up a conversation with her.


    Ophelia nced at her, recognizing her as the alchemist who had been locked in solitary confinement by Aiden for five days.


    She withdrew her gaze without saying a word, ingnoring him.


    Meirujinu, undeterred by the cold reception, and continued, "I heard you spent two years digging a tunnel for escape. What a pity."


    This time, Ophelia finally gave a slight response.


    "An ordinary humaning over here to mock me, do you think their life is too long?" She issued a warning, without even looking at Meirujinu.


    Meirujinu smiled, continuing to ingratiate herself, "Don''t misunderstand, I''m not mocking you. I actually admire your spirit of resistance. In this prison, people who still retain their dignity like you are far too few¡ªuh!"


    Before She could finish her words. Ophelia suddenly reached out and grabbed her throat, pressing her firmly against the wall.


    "I haven''t stoped so low as to be pitied by someone like you. Do you think I''m afraid to touch you?" Ophelia tightly held Meirujinu neck, staring at her intensely from an extremely close distance.


    The cold water poured down from above, and the jet-ck curls sticking to the pale snow-white skin of the vampire. The only vibrant color on this vampire was her blood-red eyes, which were now radiating an unmasked icy intent to kill.


    The few remaining female inmates in the shower only nced over before leaving. Such minor conflicts weremonce in the core area. Even if the two really started fighting, it was a matter for the guards to handle. If they got involved, it would only cause trouble.


    Meirujinu sensed the extraordinary strength conveyed by the fingers of the other person. Despite strict control over her diet and the sealing of her magic, the vampire before her still possessed strength beyond that of an ordinary human.


    But she wasn''t panic. Seeing that everyone else had left the bathroom, she got straight to the point: "I want to help you."


    However, Ophelia sneered, "You think you can use me with just that? If you really want to help me, why not give me your blood? I''ve been hungry for a long time. Even if I drain you, you wouldn''tin, would you?"


    With that, Ophelia grabbed Meirujinu shoulder, then brought her face close to the other''s neck, gently parting her lips. And The sharp fangs of the vampire quickly touched Meirujinu neck.


    The closer the lineage of a vampire is to their supreme ancestor, the higher their status and the upper limit of their magic. Their appetite also increases. Providing a prince-level vampire with a full meal is something an ordinary human couldn''t afford.


    But Meirujinu not only wasn''t afraid, she giggled, "Don''t scare me, my princess. If you take a sip of my blood, the curse mark on your neck will make you wish for death." She paused and added, "However, I can help you remove this level of restraint."


    "Do you understand this spell?" Ophelia''s eyes changed.


    On Ophelia''s neck, there was a circle of seals imposed by the Inquisition bureau. As long as she swallowed human blood, this seal would activate, causing her to feel the burning pain of the sun.


    Because of this restriction, she could only drink the beast blood provided by the prison.


    "I not only understand, I am an expert in this field!" Meirujinu smiled, gently stroking the seal on Ophelia''s neck, then extending her fair neck closer, "This is a gift. Give it a try, the taste human blood after such a long time."


    Ophelia only felt a slight prickling sensation, as if tape was being ripped from her neck. She skeptically stared at Meirujinu for a while, but in the end, unable to resist the temptation, she sank her teeth into the other''s neck.


    The Warm and rich blood flowed onto her tongue, down her throat, like rain on long-parched soil.


    Ophelia immediately began greedily sucking. It had been far too long since she tasted human blood.


    "Even though it''s a ''greeting gift,'' you''re not very polite," After a while, Meirujinu tried to push Ophelia away, but found that she held onto her shoulder tightly. "Don''t forget, if I can remove the curse mark for you, I can naturally put it back on."


    She tapped the back of Ophelia neck and the seal on Ophelia neck immediately lit up.


    Ophelia opened her eyes in agony, clutching her neck as she coughed. The blood she had just swallowed spilled from the corner of her mouth.


    "Now, do you believe I have real skills?" Meirujinu said lightly. The wound on her neck was still bleeding, but it was immediately rinsed away by the cold water. "It seems like you''ve been hungry for too long. A dignified Blood Princess, cored like a dog. Doesn''t it feel stifling?"


    "What exactly do you want?" Ophelia managed to recover somewhat from the pain of the curse mark, staring at Meirujinu intensely. "Or perhaps, I should ask, who are you?"


    To be able to break the seals imposed by the Inquisition bureau, this woman was certainly not just an ordinary alchemist.


    "Who I am is not important. What''s important is ourmon enemy," Meirujinu smiled.


    "Common enemy?"


    "The warden. You want to leave this prison, and coincidentally, I also want to take someone out of this prison. We have the same goal, and people with the same goal should cooperate." Meirujinu spread her hands.


    "What do you want me to do?"


    "I have a way to obtain a special potion that can help you regain your strength in this prison."


    "You n to use my strength to forcibly break out of this prison?" Ophelia listened and smiled bitterly. "Unfortunately, even if I were restored to my full power, with my strength alone, it''s still impossible."


    "This doesn''t sound like something a Blood Princess would say. Even if you were defeated by that man before, with help, your chances should be quite high, right?" Meirujinu crossed her arms. "I''ll arrange for manpower."


    "No matter how you arrange manpower, you won''t be able to beat him. He has better pieces in his hands," Ophelia replied with unwavering certainty.


    "What do you mean?"


    "In this prison, there are other dangerous inmates who serve him, just like me." Ophelia spoke slowly.


    "As far as I know, there are three of them. The necromancer in Room 15, the witch in Room 12, and the ''Tainted Blood Evangeline.''"


    "Evangeline?" Meirujinu face changed slightly. "Can you tell me more about her?"

 Chapter 45:

    Chapter 45:


    <b>The People Who Can Only Survive in Captivity</b>


    There was a knock on the door, and Aiden responded, "Come in."


    Veronica pushed open the door and entered the office, saluted respectfully to Aiden. "Chief."


    "Tell me, what do you want to ask?" Aiden sat in his chair, looking at his subordinate and asked, "Is it about Evangeline?"


    "You... figured it out?" Veronica was somewhat surprised.


    "When I was talking to her earlier, I could always feel your gaze. You really do care a lot about that child."


    "Chief, I heard before that you had asked inmate 3201 to help you?," Veronica asked cautiously.


    "Yes."


    "What kind of tasks do you usually assign her?"


    Aiden thought for a moment. "I mostly give her responsibilities to suppress prisoner riots, or capture escapees. And sometimes, like today, I have her keep an eye on other prisoners. As I told you, she''s my ace in the hole."


    "But isn''t this the responsibility of the riot squad?"


    "We''re short-staffed. You''ve joined the riot squad yourself, so you should have seen it. The number of prisoners in this prison exceeds two thousand, and how many people are in the riot squad?


    Moreover, the core area requires more riot personnel than all the other sectionsbined. Without using prisoners to help out, you might not even get a wink of sleep."


    "But to be honest, I feel that assigning such tasks to such a young child is a bit... not quite appropriate," Veronica carefully chose her words.


    "If we''re talking about danger, the tasks I assign to her are probably many times less dangerous than herself. In my evaluation, the tasks I give her are not overly difficult for her," Aiden replied calmly.


    "Forgive me for being blunt..." Veronica cleared her throat, mustering up the courage to speak her mind. "Aren''t you... using her as a tool?"


    "That statement is not entirely wrong. Objectively speaking, I am indeed using her as a tool," Aiden nodded without hesitation, admitting it straightforwardly.


    Veronica''s eyes widened. Aiden''s "frank" responsepletely caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless.


    After a while, she managed to find her words. "So, how is this...


    "how is this different from Meirujinu who used her as a killing tool¡ª is that what you''re implying?" Aiden answered for her.


    "There''s a big difference. Meirujinu using her as a tool for killing is illegal. Me using her as a tool to maintain prison discipline is legal," Aiden continued for her.


    "Is this reasoning really justifiable?" Veronica still couldn''t quiteprehend.


    "It''s not the best approach, but it is indeed workable," Aiden responded calmly. "In the end, a prison is a ce for administering punishment to criminals and teaching them how to abide by thew and survive. That child can only understand how to survive as a tool. So, I''ll teach her how to be a tool that thew can tolerate. Both involve exerting violence, but society won''t tolerate criminals, whilew enforcers can."


    "But, can''t we give her a chance to learn to be a normal child? She''s not even fourteen yet, there''s still room for rehabilitation, isn''t there?"


    "This might be useful for ordinary juvenile offenders, but it''s meaningless for her." Aiden stared at Veronica for a long time before saying softly,


    "Veronica, we provide rehabilitation education for prisoners to give them opportunities, not to appease ourselves. Everything has to start from the prisoner themselves."


    Veronica was taken aback.


    "I have a friend who once dedicated himself to a job, which was to educate delinquent youth. He believed that these kids had gone astray due to issues in their character and morals. As long as he sincerely influenced and corrected them, they could recognize their mistakes and be virtuous individuals," Aiden calmly recounted.


    "So, he established an institution where he gathered these children and provided them with sses on ethics and other subjects."


    "Isn''t that a good thing?"


    "But on the first day, he was ridiculed by those kids. Many of them mocked him, saying he didn''t understand anything and only knew how to preach. As a result, very few children were willing to cooperate in the education courses he conducted."


    "Why did that happen?" Veronica was quite surprised.


    "Because he never deeply pondered the root causes of why these kids went astray. In reality, in that institution, only a small portion were truly like what he envisioned.


    Most of these children came from problematic backgrounds. Some of them had parents who were absent and couldn''t provide guidance, some had suffered from domestic violence since childhood, and there were even cases where the parents themselves were criminals, forcing their children into begging and stealing from a young age.


    Some people have always lived in twisted environments. Even if their mindset is corrected, it won''t change the environment they''re in. Yet, he believed that his preaching alone could cure them. In the end, it was just him assuming things," Aiden exined.


    Aiden''s expression remained emotionless as he recounted these experiences from his two years working in a juvenile detention center.


    Seeing Veronica, he thought back to his younger self.


    "In the end, my friend realized that instead of forcefully correcting juvenile offenders with his own beliefs, it''s more practical to simply make them understand that doing wrong will lead to punishment, and teach them how to live in society in a normal way¡ªjust notmitting crimes is enough. This approach is the most practical for those kids," Aiden concluded.


    Veronica blinked thoughtfully. She herself was an orphan, and if it weren''t for being taken in by a decent orphanage, she might have also ended up on the wrong path.


    She carefully considered the depth of these words and asked cautiously, "So, what you''re saying is... Evangeline..."


    "Evangeline ispletely different from an ordinary person. She will never be able to live like a regr person again in her lifetime. Trying to correct her mindset to be like a normal child would be meaningless for her," Aiden said seriously.


    "As long as her skills in killing remain with her, it''s almost certain that this society will never let her leave this prison. There will always be people outside wanting to use her as a killing tool.


    She... can only be allowed to survive in this prison. The only thing I can do is teach her how to survive in this prison," Aiden added.


    "That''s so unfair to her, isn''t it? She''s not given any chance,"


    Veronica said with a touch of sadness, lowering her gaze.


    As a werewolf, she still had the chance to change her fate through effort, but Evangeline life was a one-way road to despair¡ªeither be a killing tool or be a prisoner.


    "She was born into a world without opportunities, as I told you," Aiden pondered for a moment, then suddenly added, "Unless..."


    "Unless what?" Veronica raised her face again.


    "Unless her handler Meirujinu is caught," Aiden sped his hands together. "If there''s anyone in this world who could give Evangeline a chance to be a normal person again, at least for now, it would be her."

 Chapter 46:

    Chapter 46:


    <b>Good Girl</b>


    The next day, at noon, during the free period.


    Ophelia sat alone on a bench at the edge of the courtyard. It was overcast today, with thick dark clouds covering the sky. It was a rare asion for her to be able to move around in broad daylight.


    Meirujinu stood about two meters away from her, leaning against the wall with her arms folded.


    "On the east side of the courtyard, the woman wearing a gown and a wide-brimmed wizard hat, sunbathing, is the witch Dailey," Ophelia''s lips moved slightly as her eyes focused on the two prison guards patrolling below.


    "Dailey..." Meirujinu squinted her eyes, "Is it the witch Dailey who lives in the Shadow Ruins?"


    "I''m not sure. I don''t know much about her background."


    "Then, is she very skilled in summoning demons?" Meirujinu inquired.


    "Yes, she uses a short ebony wand. I''ve seen her summon three different kinds of demons before."


    "Then it seems it''s indeed her," Meirujinu affirmed.


    "Do you know her?" Ophelia asked.


    "No, I''ve only heard her name. She''s a prominent figure in the ''Witch Gathering,'' but it''s been many years since I''ve heard anything about her. I didn''t expect to find her here."


    "So you are indeed a witch too" Ophelia nced over at Meirujinu.


    When Meirujinu helped her undo the curse mark on her neck, Ophelia had already suspected that Meirujinu had a witch background.


    "I should say, I used to be," Meirujinu let out a sigh.


    Yes, she was expelled from the "Witch Gathering" a long time ago.


    She was once quite famous in that world, excelling in potions, demon contracts, and sealing spells ¡ª She uses these methods to train those children into formidable killers.


    "Does she not have to wear a prisoner''s uniform in this prison?" Meirujinu asked.


    "That''s a privilege for inmates with high-level treatment. They''re allowed to keep a certain amount of their own clothes," Ophelia exined. "By acting aspdogs for the warden, they can secure better treatment levels."


    "Where is that necromancer you mentioned?"


    "Arsena, she''s not here right now, but you''ve probably seen her. She''s the librarian designated by the warden."


    "The girl who always sits there buried in a book and wearing sses?" Meirujinu recalled.


    "Yes, that''s her," Ophelia paused for a moment, adding, "a rather dull woman."


    "Do you know her?"


    "We had a slight acquaintance before being thrown in here," Ophelia said indifferently, "and then, thest one, the Tainted Blood Evangeline..."


    As she spoke, she shifted her gaze to the small figure in the corner of the courtyard.


    But Meirujinu interrupted her, "You don''t need to tell me about this one, I know her."


    better than anyone else...


    After all, that child was the one she had personally nurtured.


    "I only know of these three. There might be others, but I believe it''s unlikely," Ophelia said in aposed tone, "living people would find it very challenging to bear too many demonic contracts."


    "So, that means..." Meirujinu''s lips curled into a faint smile, "as long as we turn them against each other, the warden will end up all alone?"


    "But the premise is that you can truly lift the death contracts from them," Ophelia added, "can you really do it?"


    "In this regard, I''m somewhat confident," Meirujinu responded nonchntly.


    "When are you nning to take action?"


    "I''ll let you knowter. You have to give me some time to set things up."


    "Then I''ll patiently await your good news." Ophelia got up and headed towards the dormitory building.


    If any of the more perceptive prison guards were to see the new inmate alone with her for so long, they might be suspicious. Their n is still in the preparation stage and they must be cautious.


    Meirujinu turned to look at Evangeline in the corner, staring at her for a while. Then she turned to check the movements of the guards before heading towards the corner of the courtyard.


    "Vanee." Standing behind Evangeline, she called Evangeline nickname in a low voice.


    Evangeline turned her face in surprise, and Meirujinu took the opportunity to unseal her memories.


    Seeing the "mother" from her memories standing in front of her, Evangeline widened her eyes. It was only then that she recalled the fact that her "mother" had infiltrated this prison.


    She actually forgot such an important thing!


    Just as she was about to say something, Meirujinu raised a finger, making a "quiet" gesture.


    Evangeline immediately closed her mouth, swallowing back her words. Obeying the woman in front of her was a deeply ingrained reflex from her childhood.


    "Mom heard about it," Meirujinu''s lips curled slightly, but there was no amusement in her eyes, "You''re working for others, aren''t you?"


    In that moment, Evangeline face lost its color.


    The Memories of being with her "mother" for many years told her that the current "mother" was angry.


    Speaking words that angered "mother" would bring a punishment worse than death.


    As long as she pleased "mother," she would be loved.


    Never defy "mother"¡ªthis was the survival rule she had repeated countless times and summarized.


    But now, Meirujinu reached out and gently touched her head, speaking in a tender tone, "You''ve suffered, being forced to work for others... that damned man actually threatened you with your life."


    Evangeline stared nkly, not reacting for a moment.


    Meirujinu took the opportunity to sense the demonic contract ced on Evangeline.


    "But rest assured, this level of restraint won''t trouble Mom," Meirujinu smiled, "soon, I''ll take you away from this wretched ce, and you''ll be free in no time."


    "Leave... from here?" Evangeline suddenly showed a bewildered expression.


    In an instant, the words Aiden had once said echoed in her ears: "This is the only ce you can seek refuge, leaving this prison will have you hunted to the ends of the earth. In this world, there''s no corner left for you to live freely."


    "What''s wrong?" Meirujinu sensed the other''s party unease, "Are you Doubting Mom''s words? That''s not like you at all."


    "But, Aiden said..." Evangeline said stiffly.


    "Are you going to repeat what others say to Mom? Is this how I''ve taught you? Or Have you already forgotten?" Meirujinu suddenly stopped smiling.


    A bone-chilling coldness surged through her body, and Evangeline tongue seemed to knot up.


    Even though she had lost the ability to feel pain, those painful memories from the past were deeply etched into her soul.


    Finally, she mechanically opened her mouth, and answering with a lifeless voice, "No."


    "Good Girl." A smile once again appeared on Meirujinu''s face.

 Chapter 47:

    Chapter 47:


    <b>Mass Outbreak</b>


    In the evening, Aiden, apanied by Franda, patrolled the core area as usual.


    "Haha, Chief Warden is here to get scolded again!"


    "Oh, oh, Warden, do you have a masochistic tendency?"


    "Do you want me to wear high heels and step on you?"


    "Aiden, you son of a bitch!"


    ...


    They were greeted by the usual flood of curses.


    But at that moment, a sudden cough echoed from the duty room near the main gate.


    In an instant, the entire corridor fell into an eerie silence, not a sound to be heard.


    Aiden turned his head in surprise and saw Veronica standing upright at the entrance of the duty room, with hands behind her back, smiling and nodding slightly towards the two of them.


    The one directly opposite Cell 1 was not another cell, but the duty room where the on duty officer was stationed. The prison guard on duty inside monitored the entire corridor through the wide-angle mirror next to the door.


    Today, it was Veronica''s turn to be on duty here.


    The next moment, the prisoners finally realized how embarrassing their reaction had been. In order to conceal this shame, they cursed even more vigorously.


    "So it''s your shift today," Aiden nodded towards Veronica and smiled, "Looks like you''ve managed to establish some authority among the prisoners. Well done."


    The prisoners in the core area, in fact, were a bunch of paper tigers. However, it took a bit of skill to intimidate them with just a cough ¨C it required a certain level of assertiveness to instill fear in the minds of the inmates.


    Clearing his throat would make the prisoners instinctively quiet down. Aiden was actually capable of doing this level of intimidation, but he had grown tired of ying that game long ago.


    But Franda is different. After all, she''s just an ordinary human. As a veteran jailer, she''s well-versed in prison affairs, but when ites to intimidating the inmates, she falls a bit short.


    Someone like Veronica, who can reach this level in just a few days, proves that her previous methods of disciplining the prisoners were indeed effective. She truly hasn''t squandered her natural talent as a pure-blooded werewolf.


    "Chief, there''s something I need to report to you," Veronica saluted in a serious manner. "Tonight, there was a situation in the core area. Eight prisoners simultaneously exhibited symptoms of fever and diarrhea."


    "So many?" Aiden furrowed his brow. "Were they taken to the infirmary?"


    "They were. I''vepiled a list for your review," Veronica submitted the report.


    Aiden nced at it. "Hmm? The twins are included too?"


    The identification number of the twin assassins previously brought to this prison was prominently listed.


    "Yes."


    Aiden''s expression grew slightly more serious. It couldn''t be a coincidence that so many inmates were showing symptoms at once.


    Food poisoning... or an epidemic?


    "Have the cafeteria sealed off. And send the leftover meals from tonight, along with the ingredients and kitchenware, for examination,"


    Aiden was about to instruct Franda when Veronica interjected, raising her hand.


    "No need, chief. I''ve already asked Isabe to handle it. Originally, she was going to report to you after she went there, but you came here first."


    Aiden paused, then disyed an approving look. "Well done, very efficient."


    He then turned to Franda. "Let''s quickly count the inmates, and then head to the infirmary."


    "Understood."


    Under Veronica''s watchful gaze, Aiden and Franda proceeded deeper into the corridor.


    "Although i''ve already said this many times... but this kid really is well-suited for being a prison guard," Franda whispered softly, filled with admiration.


    "She used to be involved in apprehending criminals, so she does have some experience," Aiden said calmly.


    "But in the end, the Mounted police are primarily dealt with the residents, while prison guard have always dealt with the prisoners. There''s still a lot she needs to learn in this regard."


    "How does it feel to be taking on an apprentice?" Franda teased.


    "You should quickly familiarize yourselves with the new regtions and procedures. It''s not right to always have the Chief Commander babysit the neers," Aiden smiled.


    As they passed Cell 13, Fei suddenly rushed to the railing. "Lord Aiden, let me tell you¡ª"


    "Shut up," Aiden turned his head and cut her off immediately.


    "I haven''t even said anything yet!" Fei widened her eyes.


    "It''s definitely not something serious. Instead of listening to your nonsense, it''s better to just keep quiet," Aiden responded coldly. "I''m busy right now!"


    "You''re bing more and more unreasonable towards me!" Fei pouted, then smiled yfully and threw a wink. "But I like it, heh!"


    "Good day, Warden," at this moment, Meirujinu approached the railing and bowed politely to Aiden.


    Aiden nodded expressionlessly and prepared to continue walking forward.


    But Meirujinu stopped him again. "Warden, Please wait."


    "What is it? Get to the point," Aiden nced at her.


    "Warden, it seems like many prisoners have fallen ill just now. Are you nning to visit the infirmary to check on the situation?" Meirujinu said respectfully. "You can take me with you; perhaps I can be of some assistance."


    "You?" Aiden frowned.


    "Well, I do have some knowledge on pharmacology," Meirujinu said respectfully. "I''ve heard that, Warden, you''re not particr about who helps you here, and some prisoners are already working for you. I also hope to have the honor of contributing in my own small way."


    "Who told you I have prisoners working for me?" Aiden looked puzzled.


    While it wasn''t a secret that he asionally had prisoners do tasks for him, he hadn''t publicized it.


    Even prisoners like Ophelia, who didn''t interact much with others, only found out about it after being here for two years, up until the day of their escape. And Meirujinu had only been here for less than a month.


    Meirujinu sensed Aiden''s probing and adjusted her facial expression, pretending to be surprised as she replied, "Oh? I heard it from other prisoners when they were chatting... Is it just a rumor?"


    Aiden stared at her for a while, unable to discern anything. He replied in a t tone, "No, I do asionally have prisoners help me out, but I have certain criteria for choosing these individuals."


    "What kind of criteria?"


    "You don''t need to know. You''ve been here for less than half a month, and I don''t even know much about you," Aiden stared at Meirujinu intensely.


    "And do you think I would allow a prisoner to casually handle medicines in the infirmary? Do I look like such a foolish person?"


    "I''m very sorry, I overstepped," Meirujinu immediately lowered her head humbly.


    "Don''t bring up requests like this again," Aiden said and continued walking forward.

 Chapter 48:

    Chapter 48:


    <b>Conspiracy</b>


    "Are there any other symptoms?"


    In the infirmary, Aiden frowned at the prison doctor.


    "No, there aren''t any other specific symptoms, just a slight fever." The prison doctor gestured towards the inmate lying on the bed behind him.


    "But didn''t they alsoin of diarrhea?"


    "They imed it, but I checked and everything seems fairly normal. Even though they all say their stomachs hurt, when I asked about the pain, each person described it in a different location and interval. It''s practically impossible to diagnose if they''re actually sick." The prison doctor shrugged.


    Aiden understood the doctor''s implication.


    Experienced prison doctors often suspected that inmates were feigning illness. In the prison, it wasn''t umon for inmates to pretend to have a headache or stomachache to avoid work, and the seasoned doctors had a bit of an eye for this.


    To the prison doctor, these patients with abdominal pain and diarrhea were no different from those pretending to be sick.


    "But there is indeed a fever, right?" Aiden furrowed his brow slightly.


    "Yes, that''s why I find it strange. Usually, there would be some other symptoms."


    "How about the blood test results?" Aiden inquired further.


    "So far, I haven''t found anything conclusive. At least I can confirm it''s not a known infectious disease."


    "What about the food testing result in the cafeteria?"


    "No issues found there either. I''m afraid it''s unlikely to be food poisoning..." The prison doctor pondered for a moment.


    "All the inmates in every block eat from the same cafeteria. There''s no reason why only the inmates in the core area would be collectively affected."


    Aiden thought for a moment, then lowered his voice and asked the prison doctor, "Could it be a reaction to drug ?"


    "Drug?" The prison doctor looked surprised for a moment. "It''s possible, but with our resources here, we wouldn''t be able to detect it. And... the inmates shouldn''t be able to get hold of that kind of drug in the prison, right?"


    "That''s hard to say..." Aiden immediately recalled the incident of finding drug in Room 13.


    "So, what should we do about these inmates?" The prison doctor sought guidance from his superior.


    "Apart from giving them some fever-reducing drug temporarily, I can''t think of any other solution at the moment."


    "Let them stay here for now. After all, they do have symptoms. Even if we suspect something, we have to follow the protocol," Aiden shook his head.


    "I''ll bring some people over to help you keep an eye on them."


    "Alright."


    After briefing the guards, Aiden turned to Franda and instructed, "Go to the core area, organize a surprise room inspection!"


    Fifteen minutester¡ª


    Franda and Veronica returned to Aiden at the end of the corridor, shaking their heads.


    It meant they didn''t find anything.


    Aiden wasn''t particrly surprised.


    If so many inmates were simultaneously affected due to a drug reaction and caused suchmotion, anyone even remotely cautious would have hidden the drugs somewhere else in advance, or at least disposed of the remaining drug in a timely manner to avoid getting caught.


    "Weren''t we just searched not long ago? Why this again?" one of the inmates grumbled in dissatisfaction.


    This remark ignited a spark, and soonints erupted among the inmates.


    "Yeah, isn''t this an abuse of power!?"


    "Exactly, acting like a king in his castle here..."


    ...


    The inmates were moring in protest. Aiden listened for a few seconds, then finally spoke up, "Do you think you''re in your own homes?"


    In an instant, the prison fell silent.


    "The prison has the authority to search inmates'' rooms, and there''s no frequency limit in the regtions," Aiden said expressionlessly.


    "Not finding contraband is the norm. Are you trying to challenge me with this? Did Each one of you thinks you can teach me how to do my job?"


    ...


    Less than an hour ago, these new inmates were hurling insults at Aiden, but now, none of them dared to challenge him.


    Anyone with even a bit of insight could see that the current Aiden wasn''t as tolerant. Although they took pleasure in provoking the warden on normal days, there were actually no people who dared to repeatedly test the boundaries of death.


    Aiden felt a bit restless as well. The intuition developed over many years of experience told him that someone was causing trouble in his prison.


    The most likely suspect was undoubtedly Inmate 3340, but this time he hadn''t been able to catch the person in the act.


    The duty of the prison guards was to maintain order in the prison, which often left them in a passive position when dealing with inmates attempting to challenge that order.


    That night, he could only let the feverish patients continue to stay in the infirmary, achieving nothing. He then instructed Franda to strengthen supervision in the core area.


    The next day, in the prison''s gardening workshop, the female inmates were gathered to repot flowers and deal with pests in the greenhouse.


    "Yesterday, those who fell ill, was that your doing?" Vampire Ophelia approached Meirujinu, holding a flowerpot and speaking in a hushed tone.


    "Yeah," Meirujinu replied as she worked on the transnting. "I gave them a special medicine that causes a fever without any other symptoms."


    "It''s quite satisfying to see Aiden unable to find anything," Ophelia smirked. "But using the drugs we worked so hard to get for something like this?"


    "The infirmary is far from the core area, and the security there is rtively weak. It might be a suitable point of breaktrough," Meirujinu said calmly.


    "I have my people among the patients. I had them take this opportunity to gather information about certain parts of the prison''syout."


    "By the way, how did you manage to bring the items in?" Ophelia asked.


    "At the greenhouse entrance, there''s a guard named Megan. She''s someone who''s open to a little extra ie. Besides the workshop, she also handles the inspection of materials brought in from outside. Give her some money, and she''ll turn a blind eye to what ends up in my hands."


    "Bribing a guard? That''s not exactly a creative approach."


    "Regardless, it works. Look here." Meirujinu carefully pulled out the flower branches along with the soil from the flowerpot, showing Ophelia the bottom of the pot.


    Ophelia quickly spotted various small packets without a doubt containing the drugs Meirujinu brought in. After learning a lesson, she had discreetly distributed them in the greenhouse.


    "Do my things happen to be in there too?" Ophelia asked her most pressing question. Meirujinu had promised her a magical potion that would restore her strength.


    "They''re not here, they''re somewhere else. Stop looking at me like that... I''m not ying you. When the time is right, I''ll naturally give them to you."


    "How much longer do I have to wait?" Ophelia grew a bit impatient.


    "Don''t rush. I still don''t have enough of the drugs I need at the moment," Meirujinu said in a low voice.


    "Once my next batch of drugs arrives, I''ll distribute all of them. To seed, we need to cultivate more inmates willing to cooperate with us..."


    "What exactly do you intend to do?"


    "I heard that about ten years ago, the warden of this prison died in a riot caused by the inmates," Meirujinu hinted at something in her words.


    "You''re not thinking..." Ophelia''s eyes widened slightly.


    "It''s time for another one,"Meirujinu said, extending her hand and flicking an ant off the flower leaf.

 Chapter 49:

    Chapter 49:


    <b>The Assassin Rules of Survival</b>


    Killing a person is a simple matter.


    Slit the throat with a sharp de, pierce the heart with a bullet, strangle the windpipe with a rope, snap the neck with your bare hands, or pierce the eyes with a long nail... Or perhaps, just use a drop of your own blood.


    Countless techniques of murder have long been etched deep into the bones.


    Just like a lumberjack felling a tree, like a fisherman hauling in a of fish, taking a person''s life is the job of assassin.


    From the moment i can remember, the only pathid out before me has been this.


    "Vanee, this is today''s target."


    "Alright, Mom."


    "Good girl."


    All I needed to do was listen to Mom, and it used to be the only rule that allowed me to survive in this world.


    "Don''t kill me, please! I can give you money! I''ll pay you double whatever your employer is offering¡ª"


    Target, eliminated.


    Any obstructing individuals, was also eliminated as well. Mom always gave me this instruction.


    "The killer is here! Protect the target!"


    The bodyguards protecting the target, eliminated.


    "Please, don''t kill my son... I''m begging you!"


    The family members standing in front of the target, eliminated.


    "It''s the ''Tainted Blood Reaper''! Kill him and split the bounty!"


    The bounty hunters attracted by the reward, eliminated.


    "Tainted Blood Reaper, you''re surrounded! Surrender immediately!"


    The pursuing police officers and investigators, eliminated.


    The only thing that needed to be done was killing. It was a repetitive survival method, washing away the stains with fresh blood, until I fell into the ambush and ended up in the cage.


    After being thrown into prison, I was once at a loss ¡ª there were no more orders from "Mother," and for a moment, I didn''t know what to do.


    "Nice to meet you, Inmate 3201. I never imagined the infamous ''Tainted Blood Reaper'' would be such a young child. I am the warden here, Aiden. Inmate 3201, I''d like to ask, would you be willing to work for me?" The man said to himself who was wearing handcuffs and shackles, separated by the iron table.


    "Is this an order?" She instinctively replied.


    Following Mom''s orders was her own way of survival.


    But now, "Mother" was gone.


    This man in front of her seemed to be intending to rece "Mother" in giving her orders ¡ª that was her initial thought.


    However, the man said somethingpletely unexpected: "It''s not an order, I''m seeking your opinion. It''s just a proposal, you can refuse."


    "So should I refuse?" She didn''t understand the meaning of this mand."


    "It''s not exactly that..." The man seemed a bit helpless. "What I mean is, you can make your own choice."


    After thinking for a long time, she asked, "Just like deciding how to kill someone on my own?"


    "Uhhh... yeah, something like that" Aiden sighed. "I personally rmend that you work for me. After all, you''re likely to spend a long time in this prison. To survive here, you need to learn the rules of the prison."


    "Are the rules here different from outside?"


    "Yes, they are."


    "Alright, then I can do it." She agreed without much thought. "Who do you want me to kill? That''s what I know how to do."


    "Now, the first rule I''m going to teach you is that you can''t kill anyone here." Aiden suddenly became serious.


    "I can''t kill anyone?"


    "That''s right, you can''t. If you don''t kill or break the rules, you can live a peaceful life here."


    "Alright, I will obey."


    And so, the rules of survival changed. It went from obeying Mom''s orders to following the rules that Aiden taught her.


    Aiden didn''t deceive himself. By obeying the new rules, she indeed lived a peaceful life.


    No need to kill anymore, and she wouldn''t be hunted down either.


    Until, once again, "Mother" appeared before her...


    "Prisoner 3201!!"


    The sharpmand snapped Evangeline out of her reverie.


    Standing before her was the prison guard who usually taught her.


    "are you daydreaming again? ss is already over. Why are you still standing there?" The guard, with a stern expression, stood by the door and knocked. "Hurry up, it''s time to go back!"


    Outside in the corridor, underage inmates like her had already formed a line, and the twin siblings were among them.


    "I understand." Evangeline stood up and followed them outside.


    Ever Since "Mother" appeared, her mind had been in turmoil, like a tangled mess she couldn''t make sense of.


    This was a feeling she had never experienced before. All along, all she needed to do was obey, whether it was the orders from "Mother" or the rules taught by Aiden. Those were Evangeline rules of survival.


    Leaving this prison was "Mother''s"mand.


    But the new rules taught by Aiden were absolute: she could not leave this ce.


    As someone whose survival was based on obedience, she was now plunged into a logical contradiction.


    If i leave the prison, i Will have to go back to my old life and continue to kill people under mothermand.


    Staying here means continuing what Aiden calls a "peacefull life" without killing anyone, and no one wille to her.


    She was left with a choice of her own, wasn''t she?


    Her own opinion... what was that?


    "I''m not giving orders, I''m seeking your opinion," Aiden seemed to frequently say this to her.


    Just like deciding the method to kill a target on her own ¡ª that was something she used to decide on her own.


    "Sister."


    The low voice from ahead brought Evangeline attention back.


    The one who spoke to her was the older sister among the twin killers who were raised by "Mother" just like her.


    Evangeline looked at the twins before her, remembering that Aiden had once instructed her to pay attention to the twins'' movements.


    From her observation, the twins hadn''t done anything out of line yet. They attended sses like her and lived by the prison''s rules.


    The only thing worth noting was that the day before yesterday, these two had a fever, and spent the whole day in the infirmary, and only returned to ss today just like usual.


    "Do you need something?" She responded indifferently. She had no extra feelings towards these twins who shared the same mentor.


    As the most perfect creation of Meirujinu, she had never interacted ormunicated with her other siblings.


    Assassination was always a done alone. Her less skilled aplices would only be a hindrance.


    Mutual training andpetition were even more out of the question. None of her siblings could touch the soles of her feet.


    "This is, Mother''smand." At this moment, the younger sister among the twins also turned her face towards Evangeline.


    "Command?" Evangeline was slightly stunned.


    Were these twins here to ry a message from "Mother"?


    But in the next moment, the ws of the demon, which bound by bandages and shackles, swung towards her, the tips aiming straight at her eyes.

 Chapter 50:

    Chapter 50:


    <b>Turn of Events</b>


    "Another brawl among the inmates? Who''s involved this time?"


    Aiden, seemingly unperturbed, continued his paperwork while inquiring about the incident.


    "It''s inmates 3201, 3361, and 3362," the guard replied, wiping sweat from his forehead.


    "What?" Aiden finally paused, setting aside his work to look up, "Give me the details."


    As the head of the prison, he could easily recall details about inmates based on their file numbers, especially those he focused on, like inmate 3201, Evangeline, and the recently arrived twin killers, inmates 3361 and 3362.


    The guard began recounting, "When they returned to their cells after sses today, inmates 3361 and 3362 suddenly attacked 3201, attempting to poke her eyes with their hands. However, they failed, and inmate 3201 retaliated, injuring both of them."


    Aiden wasn''t surprised by the oue. Although trained by the same organization, the twin killers were no match for Evangeline, even in a surprise attack.


    "What''s the current situation?" Aiden inquired further.


    "Inmate 3361 has a fractured rib, while inmate 3362 was hit on the jaw and was unconscious for five minutes. Right now both of them are in the infirmary, and inmate 3201 is cooperating for questioning."


    "Did you find anything during the interrogation?"


    "Nothing significant. Inmate 3201 ims she has no idea why they attacked her, and the twins remain silent. Warden, what do you think?" The guard cautiously sought Aiden''s opinion.


    Aiden rubbed his temples, feeling a bit uneasy with the consecutive events.


    The recent mysterious outbreak in the core area made him suspect illegal drug cirction among inmates, but he couldn''t pinpoint the source.


    Although he suspected inmate 3340''s involvement, without evidence, he couldn''t take any action.


    As he struggled to unravel these mysteries, a new incident unfolded one after another.


    When the twin killers entered the prison, Aiden had a vague sense of unease.


    Assassins trained by the same organization usuallycked individual will.


    Could they have attacked Evangeline on a directive from theirmon trainer, Meirujinu?


    But, Aiden couldn''t fathom Meirujinu''s motive for targeting Evangeline.


    With the secret technique to erase memories, there was no need to silence Evangeline, the assassin under hermand.


    Furthermore, those twin were no match for Evangeline, a fact Meirujinu herself must have understood.


    After contemting for a while, he spoke, "I''ll go check it out. Take me to see inmate 3201."


    Meanwhile, in the prison library.


    "I want to borrow this book."


    Hearing the familiar voice, Arsena who was engrossed in her studies, looked up.


    The Blood Princess Ophelia stood before her, cing a thick book in front of her.


    "Okay." Arsena adjusted her sses and extended her hand, signaling for him to hand over the library card.


    "I really can''t stand your speaking style. Would it kill you to say one more word?" Ophelia was somewhat displeased with her attitude.


    Arsena didn''t respond to herint, and continued registering on the library card, then raised her face and said in a businesslike tone, "The return period is within two weeks. Don''t forget."


    "You''ve really assimted into the role of a librarian, or should I say, you now resemble a literary girl?" Ophelia mocked Arsena in a low voice.


    "After all, you''re a ruthless character who killed your own teacher. How did you end up like this?"


    "Killing their teachers and student ismon for Necromancers ¡ª He also wanted to kill me back then," Arsena replied casually.


    Unlike other wizards and witches who delves into ck magic, necromancers specializing in death magic rarely took apprentices.


    Most necromancers mentored someone for one purpose: that is to kill the apprentice at the right moment ¡ª the soul and body of a necromancer''s with strong death power were excellent materials for other necromancers.


    Of course, from the apprentice''s perspective, it was the same.


    "Please don''t disturb me while I''m reading." After saying this, Arsena continued to immerse herself in her books.


    "I can release you from the demonic contract on your body," Ophelia suddenly said coldly. "You should be interested."


    "You can''t do it." Almost simultaneously, Arsena responded.


    "I can''t, but someone here can," Ophelia said softly.


    This time, Arsena finally lifted her face.


    "What exactly do you want?" She stared directly into Ophelia''s blood-red eyes over her sses.


    "I''m nning... to leave this ce," Ophelia grinned, revealing her fang-like teeth used for sucking blood.


    A few minutester, Ophelia, holding the book, arrived in the reading room and sat beside Meirujinu.


    "How did it go? Did she agree?" Meirujinu asked in a hushed tone.


    "She said she''ll decide after meeting you," Ophelia responded in a low voice, pretending to flip through the borrowed book.


    "A cautious decision; at least she''s interested." Meirujinu seemed satisfied with the oue. "Next is Dailey. I''ll trouble you with that."


    "Do I have to persuade her too? I have no rtionship with her, unlike you. Don''t you know her better," Ophelia questioned.


    "She might not wee someone who was expelled from the ''Witch Gathering.'' If she directly questions me about the details, it would be awkward. Don''t worry, I''ll handle persuading thest person," Meirujinu replied confidently.


    "Having those two is enough. No need to involve that little devil, her mind is a bit off, and she only listens to the warden. She might spill our secrets," Ophelia opposed.


    "No, I''m confident I can handle her. Just follow my instructions," Meirujinu responded confidently.


    "How''s the n for the potion?"


    "Very smooth. We''ve already controlled quite a few of the less intelligent underlings. They will be the vanguard to cause the chaos. The next batch of potions will arrive tomorrow."


    "If the actions are too conspicuous, he''ll catch onto your tail. He''s definitely investigating your channels," Ophelia whispered a reminder.


    "What does it matter? I''ve given him some trouble to deal with. The current warden should be overwhelmed.


    By the time he regains his senses, there won''t be a chance to control the situation," Meirujinuughed.


    Bribing the scum among the prison guards to provide channels, turning the warden''s dogs against him, and using drugs to control the minions... the prison that carefully cultivated by the warden is about to crumble in my hands.


    This is the cost of casually manipting someone "daughter," Warden.


    Evangeline is mine.

 Chapter 51:

    Chapter 51:


    Consecutive Emergencies


    In the interrogation room, across an iron table, Aiden asked Evangeline. "Are you injured?"


    "No," Evangeline shook her head.


    "That''s good. Any idea why they attacked you?" Aiden continued.


    "They said it was Mother''smand," Evangeline answered expressionlessly.


    "As i thought", Aiden was convinced it was indeed Meirujinu Order.


    "Why do you think Meirujinu wouldmand such a thing?" Aiden decided to seek Evangeline opinion.


    Evangeline shook her head again, "I can''t imagine."


    It was also an expected response.


    "Alright, go back to your room," he concluded the questioning promptly.


    "Meirujinu motives remain a mystery. The only certainty is that she intentionally sent the twin assassins into Rose Prison."


    "Is that all?" Evangeline tilted her head.


    "Yes, that''s enough. The guards can testify they initiated the violence, and you just defended yourself. You bear no responsibility here," Aiden pointed to the door. "Go back."


    Evangeline looked at Aiden with a hint of confusion and didn''t move immediately.


    "What''s wrong?" Aiden casually asked.


    "Nothing," Evangeline stood up from the chair.


    She felt a strange sensation, as if she had something to tell Aiden just a moment ago, but the words slipped away, like trying to recall a thought before falling asleep.


    As she was about to leave, Aiden added, "By the way, you don''t need to keep an eye on those sisters anymore. I''ll assign someone else. Since they''ve targeted you, I''ll try to keep you apart as much as possible."


    "I have no problem with that," Evangeline replied calmly.


    It wasn''t just politeness, that was genuinely her sentiment.


    Dealing with the twin sisters was easy for her.


    "Don''t worry, it''s not your fault. It''s a mistake in my arrangement that needs fixing. Just carry on as usual," Aiden patted her shoulder.


    Evangeline remained silent, nodding in acknowledgment.


    This was her way of interacting with Aiden¡ªfollowing his rules allowed her to live peacefully here, which was unchanged since they first met.


    After escorting Evangeline to her cell, the guard who had reported the incident approached Aiden, asking, "Warden, should we go to the infirmary next, or should I bring the injured here?"


    "They''re all injured, so I''ll go there. Let''s go," Aiden instructed.


    When they arrived at the infirmary, they found three inmates waiting outside, with another guard overseeing.


    "Warden!" The guard saluted.


    "What''s going on?" Aiden furrowed his brow.


    "These three got injured by sewing machines during work. I brought them here for treatment," the guard pointed to the two inmates beside him. "But the doctor is busy, and suddenly several patients developed a fever in there."


    "A fever?" Aiden tightened his brow.


    Another outbreak during this critical time!


    ording to protocol, they would have to lock down the cafeteria for an investigation and assign more personnel to watch the infirmary.


    With dinner and outdoor time approaching, If they want to lock down the cafeteria, they would need to notify the inmates in the workshop area to return to their cells and wait.


    As Aiden pondered, the guard approached him and whispered, "Uh, Warden, I feel something''s off with these three."


    "Hmm?" Aiden subconsciously nced at the three female inmates.


    Upon closer inspection, he realized all three were from the core area, and inmate 3319, who had openly taunted him on the exercise field, was among them.


    They leaned against the wall, pressing handkerchiefs against their wounds.


    But oddly, their gazes were vacant, and they seemed lost in a trance.


    This state likely caused their injuries during work.


    "Inmate 3319?" Aiden called out, raising his guard.


    But the inmate just shook her head slightly, nced at Aiden, and then chuckled, "Ah, it''s the chief Warden!"


    She appeared drunk, but there was no scent of alcohol on them.


    They were on drugs.


    Aiden''s immediate reaction was to notice the ckened pupils and significant reflection in their eyes¡ªtheir pupils were dted to varying degrees.


    "They Most likely took something strange. After bandaging, have the prison doctor examine them immediately!" he ordered, furrowing his brow.


    Whether it was dealing with the twin assassins, the sudden outbreak among inmates, or the three inmates suspected of drug use, they all needed immediate attention.


    The sudden session of incidents overwhelmed Aiden, especially considering Rose Prison was already somewhat understaffed.


    He sensed that something was amiss.


    as if an invisible hand was stirring up trouble in the carefully managed prison, trying to clouding his vision.


    His suspicion that the inmates'' sudden ilness was due to drug reactions, strengthened with the appearance of these three likely drug users.


    So, were the twin assassin attacking Evangeline under Meirujinu orders just a coincidence?


    No, something wasn''t right! He suddenly remembered that the twin sisters were also in the infirmary the night the inmates had a collective fever.


    If the outbreak was caused by drug reactions, the twins must have willingly taken the drugs.


    The mysterious drugs, unseen and intangible in his suspicions, threaded through all the sudden events.


    In other words, someone was already spreading drugs in the prison, and on arge scale at that.


    This amount...., It couldn''t be casually brought in through everyday items. Without the help of insiders, it would be challenging...


    Among the guards, there were some individuals epting bribes andmunicating with inmates.


    Aiden was not entirely unaware of such activities, as he couldn''t guarantee the cleanliness of every person under hismand.


    With this deduction, he gradually realized that one of the intentions behind the person "stirring the water" in his prison was to taint it.


    This prison was his territory; he couldn''t let the other party continue to run amok within it.


    However, facing so many sudden situations, and the scarce manpower, he himself was a bit overwhelmed.


    But he thought of a solution.


    "Veronica seems to be on duty today. Go and call her over," Aiden turned to the guard beside him. "I have something to instruct her to do immediately!"

 Chapter 52:

    Chapter 52:


    <b>Drug-Sniffing Dog</b>


    "Am I inspecting items for the prison?" Veronica stood outside the infirmary, pointing at herself with a puzzled expression.


    "Yes, the items brought into the prison today will undergo a concentrated inspection in the evening and then be handed over to the inmates at night. It''s almost time, and I hope you can help check them," Aiden nodded.


    In prison, inmates also receive items from the outside¡ªmostly brought by their family members, some are self-purchased, and a small portion donated from external sources.


    ording to regtions, all items must undergo inspection by prison guards. Items that don''t meet the prison relief requirements won''t reach the inmates hand.


    Veronica who was assigned to surveince and the riot squad, was handling this inspection task for the first time.


    "Understood," Veronica responded, then asked, "Is it because there aren''t enough people for the inspection?"


    "No, there are enough staff for the inspection. I just want you to conduct an additional check.


    Someone in the core area is spreading drugs, and it''s not a small-scale operation. I suspect that the personnel conducting the inspections may be involved.


    Initially, I nned to investigate it myself, but I can''t leave at the moment, so I''m entrusting this to you," Aiden said in a hushed tone, leaning closer to Veronica''s ear. "I trust you."


    "Got it. But sir, forgive me for being blunt. I''m just a neer. Do you really trust me this much?"


    Veronica, having spent several years at the police station, had some understanding of workce dynamics.


    For leaders in high positions, internal investigations are usually entrusted only to trusted individuals,monly referred to as... confidants.


    "I don''t need trustworty worker, I just need someone who is professional. You approach your work with seriousness, and I can see that.


    You''ll carry out your responsibilities diligently¡ªthat''s my judgment," Aiden responded calmly, handing her a signed note. "I''ve already signed this. Go ahead!"


    The prison operates on order and rules, and as long as the prison guards fulfill their duties within the rules, the prison''s management structure will runs smoothly.


    In Aiden''s view, a good subordinate is someone who simply fulfills their responsibilities well. whether they respect or dislike him is irrelevant.


    He doesn''t need to cultivate trustworty confidant, he just needs subordinates who doesn''t be a thorn in His side.


    Veronica didn''t respond, she just saluted Aiden and headed to her designated post.


    Upon reaching the room for inspecting the items, she noticed a somewhat familiar face.


    "Neer?" Megan, the Veteran prison guard turned to face her, with hands behind her back. "What are you doing here?"


    She was directing two younger guards in moving stacks of bundled nkets onto a cart.


    "The warden asked me to inspect items brought into the prison." Veronica waved the note signed by Aiden.


    "Normally, they don''t assign this task to neers," Megan said with a hidden meaning. "Looks like you''ve managed to please the boss."


    Veronica had heard from other guards that positions in the prison were divided into those with "perks" and those without.


    Managing the workshop where inmates worked was a lucrative position, and some guards would manipte internal affairs to line their pockets with some of the workshop''s benefits.


    Apart from that, inspecting iing items was also a lucrative assignment. Sometimes, those in this position had the opportunity to receive bribes from inmates or their families.


    Therefore, some experienced guards who understood these dynamics tended to be particrly eager for such assignments and rarely handed the opportunities to neers.


    "The warden ordered me to do a recheck," Veronica responded straightforwardly.


    "What does that mean?" Megan furrowed her brow.


    "Literal meaning: I need to reinspect the items here," Veronica exined inly.


    "No need; I''ve already checked most of the stuff here," Megan repliedzily. "How about this: send out what''s been inspected, and you can take your time with the rest."


    "The warden''s order is for aplete recheck, all of it, again!" Veronica emphasized expressionlessly.


    "Look, you''re just running errands for the warden. Don''t let the position get to your head, a neer trying to throw their weight around?" Megan shot her a disdainful look.


    "You''re the one throwing your weight around. The warden ordered a recheck, and now you''re making decisions here?" Veronica argued logically.


    "Alright, alright, no need for this! Normally, one check is enough. Why bother checking twice?" Megan impatiently waved her hand, signaling the other two to take the cart away,pletely dismissing the neer.


    However, just as the two young guards were about to follow the order and push the cart out, Veronica suddenly stepped forward, blocking the doorway. Simultaneously, she raised her fist and mmed it hard against the door, creating a loud crack that fractured the thick wooden panel.


    This thunderous sound left Megan and the two young guards frozen in ce.


    "I''d like to see who dares to take anything out through this door!" Veronica stared intently at everyone present.


    Her naturally stern face carried an intimidating presence, enhanced by the force she exerted in cracking the door, instantly silencing the room.


    The two young guards didn''t move, after all, none of them had the confidence that their bodies were sturdier than the door panel.


    Megan also felt a bit cornered, she hadn''t expected the neer to be this assertive.


    "Oh, young people, don''t be so impulsive. It makes everyone ufortable..." She softened her tone, attempting to smooth things over.


    Unfortunately, Veronica wasn''t having it. "It''s ufortable for you, not for me. Besides, you brought this upon yourself."


    Megan felt a twitch at the corner of her eye but managed to maintainposure. "I mean, with so much stuff, if you recheck everything, when will you finish? It''s just not practical."


    "Don''t worry; I''m more efficient than you guys." Veronica approached, pushed Megan aside, and began inspecting the nkets on the cart.


    She was well aware that Aiden had specifically chosen her for this task for a fundamental reason.


    She knew that items hidden within nkets were the most likely to be overlooked. Sometimes, guards had to open them up, flip through the cotton inside, and then resew the nkets.


    However, Veronica only casually flipped through the topyers of nkets, moving them aside.


    But when she reached the bottom beddings, her movements paused.


    Then, she brought her face closer and sniffed carefully.


    "Leave this one, take the rest," Veronica said sternly, pointing at thest nket.


    Megan''s face gradually lost color.


    Before she could react, with a rip, Veronica had torn open the outer fabric of the nket.


    "There it is." After searching through the cotton inside, Veronica spoke in a low voice.


    In the clump of cotton, several yellow paper packets emerged.


    The heightened sense of smell inherent to pureblood werewolves told Veronica that these packets contained drugs that strictly controlled outside the prison.


    "Now, what exnation do you have for this, madam?" She stared fiercely at Megan.

 Chapter 53:

    Chapter 53:


    <b>You Hit The Muzzle Yourself</b>


    "In light of today''s events, Megan, how do you n to exin yourself?"


    In the office, Aiden tapped the desk with a poker face, questioning the prison guard Megan, who kept her head low at the desk.


    Or should i say, former prison guard.


    Upon hearing the "good news" brought by Veronica, Aiden''s immediate response was to suspend Megan for investigation.


    "Well, you see..." Megan was already sweating when she was brought in, she forced a smile under Aiden''s interrogation.


    "I apologize. It was my oversight... inadequate ability. I somehow missed the contraband hidden by the inmate. Thanks to the insightful warden, it was promptly rectified."


    Veronica, who was leaning against the office door monitoring her, cast a disdainful nce at Megan.


    Having been obstructed by Megan before, she knew this person was now full of nonsense. However, since Aiden was the one questioning, she remained silent, her primary duty being to oversee the interrogation, and only speaking when Aiden needed additional information.


    "You Missed it?" Aiden raised an eyebrow. "A nket, a box withpartments, even the biscuits in the iron bucket are mixed with powdered medicine. How many pounds do all these drugs weigh collectively? You missed all that? Are those two things on your face ss marbles?"


    "Yes, yes, you are right," Megan nodded repeatedly, wearing the standard corporate apologetic smile when scolded by the boss.


    "A seasoned prison guard, yet so unprofessional. Doesn''t sound convincing, does it?"


    "I was negligent. I am willing to ept any punishment."


    Smoothly attempting to downy the situation, Megan sought to transform the essence of the matter into a simplepse in duty, perhaps just criticism and self-reflection, or a pay cut. Even dismissal, for her, would be a stroke of luck.


    But if we delve into the issue of her epting bribes, the nature of the matter changes entirely.


    Aiden stared at her for a while, then slowly spoke, "Alright, after facing the consequences, you must learn from this. Be more attentive in the future and ensure incidents like this don''t happen again."


    "Yes, yes," Megan quickly nodded and bowed, simultaneously breathing a sigh of relief.


    Given the severity of her actions, internal disciplinary measures were akin to a p on the wrist.


    Fortunately, this young man was rtively easy to fool¡ªMegan thought so, but Aiden suddenly changed his tone, "...you think that''s what I would say?"


    Megan''s face suddenly changed. She looked up in surprise, meeting Aiden''s cold expression.


    "When I first entered this prison, I heard about your reputation. Megan, many people know what you''ve been doing. Franda knows and too I know it.


    I''ve wanted to deal with you for a long time, just haven''t found enough evidence to pin you down."


    Aiden stared at her and said hauntingly, "Unexpectedly, this time you hit the muzzle of the gun yourself, and quite hard at that.


    Colluding with inmates to bring in so many contraband drugs into the prison, even without bribery, this alone couldnd you in there for quite some time."


    Megan''s heart raced, but years of experience in the workce helped her maintainposure.


    "Ahaha... Warden, what are you talking about?" She awkwardlyughed, spreading her arm, "It was just apse on my part! Is it necessary to take it to this extent? You... don''t have to target me just because you don''t like me, right?"


    "I don''t go after anyone just because I don''t like them. I''m a fair person. I only go after those who try to go after me." Aiden coldly watched her act,


    "Recently, there''s been a cirction of drugs in the prison under my management, causing chaos. Now, looking at it, it seems you''re the one who introduced the drugs. Isn''t this you trying to go after me?"


    "I... I admit, I admit I took some small advantages before. But now I''ve changed!" Megan raised her hands, taking a step back, "I can handle big matters properly, I¡ª"


    However, Aiden cut off her sophistry with a single sentence, "Enough, both under yourmand have already confessed. You confiscated the bribes from the items, gave them a small portion to keep quiet, and then put the items containing drugs untouched into the already inspected basket."


    "They... they¡ª" Megan stammered, but finally came up with an excuse, "They''re trying to shift all the me onto me! They are¡ª"


    But Aiden didn''t let her finish, "You were in charge on-site. If you persist, I''ll have Veronicae over and search you. If you''re innocent, there shouldn''t be the same bribes on you as they confessed to, right?"


    Megan froze on the spot.


    "Face reality, Megan, you''re done for." After a long silence, Aiden spoke softly, "Whether or not you know what the inmates hid is irrelevant. epting bribes and allowing contraband drugs to circte is enough to convict you.


    You''re a prison guard, you should understand that. Don''t struggle, it''ll only make you more embarrassed."


    He stood up from his seat, circled the desk, and looked directly into her eyes, "Honestly, I don''t sympathize with you at all. But someone is causing trouble in my prison, and I don''t want to spend too much time dealing with a small pawn like you. If you can save me some time, I can help you negotiate a surrender plea with the prosecutor."


    This time, Megan couldn''t hold on any longer.


    Her mouth trembled for a few moments, and finally, she put on a mournful expression.


    She copsed on the ground, holding her head, and began to wail.


    "Enough, you''ll have plenty of time to cry in prison." Aiden looked down at her without mercy, "Answer me, who bribed you to bring in the drugs?"


    Several minutester, after the interrogation concluded, Aiden had Veronica call other guards to take the lifeless Megan away.


    Later, Veronica, who had returned to the scene, saluted Aiden with admiration, "Chief, you really yed this well. The source of the drug influx has been cut off."


    "It''s nothing, just happened to catch on." Aiden waved his hand.


    Realizing that drugs were the core of a series of unexpected events, Aiden, relying on experience, sensed that these events were merely smokescreens to divert attention.


    The influx of arge quantity of drugs must have a channel. Cutting off this source could solve a series of problems, known as pulling out the roots.


    "I mean, you actually thought of using my nose to sniff out the drugs." Veronica, somewhat embarrassed, pointed to her own nose, "It''s the first time someone utilized my unique skill in this way."


    (Tn: (? ??¡ã? ???? ??¡ã?) )


    "After all, I used to work in the Inquisition bureau." Aiden chuckled nervously.


    Relying on the inherited memories, he knew that werewolves'' sense of smell wasparable to that of hunting dogs.


    However, the idea of using Veronica''s unique skill to check for drugs came from his past world, where anti-narcotics police officers used certain animals to inspect customs shipments.


    it''s better not to mention this kind of thing...

 Chapter 54:

    Chapter 54:


    <b>Taking Action Ahead of Time</b>


    At six o''clock that evening, in the locker room.


    "The medicine hasn''t arrived?" Ophelia, who was standing in front of her locker and about to take off her prison uniform, startled.


    "Yes. ording to the schedule, I should be able to get the next batch of drugs tonight." Meirujinu, standing beside her, whispered, "But it seems there might be a problem now."


    "What do you mean?" Ophelia hadn''t quite grasped the situation.


    "I had arranged for three inmates who were taking the drugs to bring them in with their belongings, and I even bribed the prison guards in the process." Meirujinu lowered her voice, staring at her own locker.


    "But just before the lockdown was lifted, someone tipped me off that those three were taken away by the guards directly. I''m afraid... the items might have been intercepted."


    "Didn''t you prepare a diversion?" Ophelia widened her eyes.


    "Yes, I did. I never expected the warden to counter so swiftly..." Meirujinu''s expression became serious. "I''ve been outyed."


    As the drugs spread within the prison, the warden must have sensed something amiss and be alert.


    To divert his attention, she had deliberately orchestrated a series of diversions to disrupt the guards.


    She not only arranged for several prisoners to ingest drugs that raised body temperature, creating a fake outbreak, but also instructed the twin assassins to attack Evangeline, causing a sudden injury event.


    However, what she didn''t anticipate was that Aiden not only saw through her n but also managed to urgently uncover the batch of drugs despite limited resources.


    "Isn''t this a disaster for you?" Ophelia grew nervous. "If those people reveal your involvement¡ª"


    She had now boarded Meirujinu''s ship, and if Meirujinu''s n failed, she would undoubtedly face repercussions.


    But Meirujinu calmly interrupted her, "Don''t worry, they won''t confess anytime soon. They were also involved in the riot n, and the severity of a riot far outweighs trafficking prohibited drugs. Besides, they have signed a contract with me."


    "What contract?"


    "It''s my unique technique, a binding spell thatpels them to keep silent about any information regarding me."


    By Relying on the magic potion brought in beforehand, Meirujinu could temporarily restore her magical power and cast spells.


    She wielded a secret technique capable of blocking memories, a method she had long used to control the assassins she trained, ensuring they could never disclose her information.


    This time, she employed the same method to control the inmates who sought drugs from her.


    "But even if they don''t expose you, Aiden has been suspicious of you for a while now," Ophelia realized the problem.


    "Now that he''s confirmed the existence of the drugs, you''ll surely be closely monitored."


    "You''re right," Ophelia responded. "So, we have to act ahead of schedule."


    "Are you serious about it?" Ophelia''s gaze became sharp.


    "With the channels for drug inflow cut off, time is no longer on our side. If we can''t continue expanding manpower with drugs, waiting further just gives the guards more time to react. It''s better to act sooner, catching them off guard,"


    Meirujinu exined as she removed her prison uniform and discreetly handed something to Ophelia.


    Looking down, Ophelia found a small vial containing dark red liquid.


    "A magic potion made from the blood of several magical beasts, it can cause a rapid surge in vampire magical power for a short period of time," Meirujinu whispered.


    "When?" Ophelia confirmed the n with her.


    "Prepare for tonight. I''ll distribute the drugs to others. You go to the necromancer, pretend to inform the warden, and lure him to the interview room"


    Meirujinu repeated quietly. "Then, I''ll create chaos in the infirmary. When the riot squad concentrates there, we seize the opportunity to break out of the cells."


    "Didn''t you say earlier we should break out from the infirmary?"


    "No, the manpower there is all expendable. The real escape route is in the interview room."


    "Are you nning..." Ophelia slightly widened her eyes.


    "Yes, we need to gather all the strong individuals to jointly ambush the warden. That''s the only way we can get the key to leave the prison," Meirujinu squinted.


    Late at night, 11:30 PM, Warden''s office.


    "Can''t find anything?" Faced with the report from his subordinate, Aiden''s reaction was slightly shocked.


    "Yes, we''ve tried every method," Franda answered with a serious expression. "They just refused to talk."


    "Did these guys mess up their brains with those drugs?" Aiden couldn''t help but sneer.


    After Veronica sessfully discovered the drugs hidden in the iing items, Aiden immediately began investigating from these items.


    However, contrary to his expectations, the owners of the items containing drugs were not the inmate 3340 he had been suspecting.


    These items were brought in from the outside, intended for three different female inmates. And these three female inmates, without exception, were drug addicts.


    ording to Megan''s confession, the three of them were the ones bribed to bring in those items.


    The interesting thing about these drugs sent in was that, ording to the prison doctor proficient in pharmacology, the powder hidden in the items was more akin to raw materials for drugs.


    It required a series of processing and preparation before bing consumable drugs.


    Of course, further testing was needed to determine what drugs could be formted. However, in the hands of those unfamiliar with the field, these things were practically garbage.


    They could only be useful when handled by someone proficient in pharmacology, and these three female inmatescked that background.


    In other words, the "drug lord" who was spreading the drugs in the prison didn''t personallye to bribe Megan for supplies this time. Instead, they used drugs as bait to make their underlings, the small fry, do the job.


    These small fry, driven by their addiction, wouldn''t refuse the drug lord requests. After obtaining the raw materials, only the drug lord had the expertise to formte them into usable drugs.


    As the drug lord, that person had no need to worry about these small characters embezzling these things.


    Aiden noticed that this time his opponent seemed unexpectedly cautious. Even though he had already removed the corrupt elements within the prison guards, and exposed the small fry responsible for bringing in the raw materials, he still couldn''t find the identity of the person causing trouble in the prison.


    Although he strongly suspected Inmate 3340 was the mastermind, he couldn''t take action against her without sufficient evidence.


    He managed the prison by adhering to the rules, order was the foundation of his role as a manager. From his standpoint as a manager, he couldn''t actively break the game rules.


    As an interrogation method, Aiden still trusted Franda, the experienced prison guard. If she couldn''t get results, it would be difficult to extract information from them in the short term.


    However, he found it hard to believe that a few small characters addicted to drugs could maintain such high loyalty to the drug lord who supplying them.


    At this moment, a prison guard knocked on the office door and saluted Aiden when she entered.


    "What''s the matter?" Aiden asked.


    "A prisoner ims to have information about the flow of drugs within the prison and wants to personaly report it to you in the interview room," the prison guard respectfully replied.


    "Which prisoner?"


    "It''s Inmate 3100."


    Inmate 3100, precisely the number for Arsena, the necromancer working for Aiden.


    "Arsena?" Aiden frowned, thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, bring her to the interview room. I''ll be there shortly."

 Chapter 55:

    Chapter 55:


    Sorry, to bother you. I just want to share my story a bit.


    So, yesterday I bought a used bike, I was really happy because it''s my first bike. I didn''t see any problems when buying it because, you know, I''m not familiar with these things.


    After a few days of using it, issues arose, so I took it to the workshop. Turns out, the inside of the bike was rusted, and the mechanic said the condition was really bad and can''t be fixed.


    Can you imagine my expression when he said that?...


    It was Like this ??????


    I just bought this bike, and now it''s broken!!!!


    I bought it for 700,000 IDR or 44.82 in USD, which is half of my sry, HALF OF MY SALARY!!!! And now, he says the bike is broken.


    I think I''m gonna cry ????????


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    <b>Magic Potion</b>


    Meanwhile, in the infirmary...


    The prison doctor was busy in theb. she hadn''t rested properly for the past two days.


    Since the night before yesterday until this afternoon, the core area of the prison had experienced two unexined outbreaks. The inmates'' temperatures rose collectively, but no other symptoms were detected.


    Subsequently, two underage inmates, attempting to attack others, but ended up injured and had to be brought here for treatment.


    Almost simultaneously, several inmates suspected of taking drugs were sent to the infirmary for examination, making her particrly stressed on her duty day.


    Now, almost every bed outside was upied by inmates. Naturally, there was a considerable number of prison guards and riot squad members in the room, making the entire infirmary overcrowded.


    Fortunately, the actions of the Warden were rtively quick. And the source of the drugs was immediately identified. Unfortunately, she had to temporarily handle the testing of these drugs.


    "If we get through this wave, I''ll definitely apply for a raise," she silently resolved in her mind.


    While thinking this, she reached into the warm water basin and pulled out a test tube. Half an hour ago, she had added some substances to the testing reagent, and now the reaction results should be ready.


    The liquid in the test tube exhibited a red fluorescence.


    "Magic reaction?" The prison doctor was stunned on the spot.


    Substances with magical reactions usually originated from materials found on powerful magical creatures.


    The drugs concocted from these materials were known as magic potion.


    Simr to ck magic, magic potion was strictly regted in this world. Few people dared to dabble in magic potion, except for witches wanted by the Inquisition bureau.


    The prison doctor suddenly felt a chill running down her spine. This batch of drugs was not ordinary contraband!


    In terms of danger,pared to magic potion rich in magic power, those addictivemon drugs were nothing.


    In Rose Prison, there were several powerful witches whose magical abilities were sealed by the prison''s barrier, preventing them from unleashing their full power.


    If these witches obtained magic potion capable of temporarily boosting their magic power, they could temporarily regain their strength within the prison and break through the containment.


    If the drugs circting in the prison were not only addictive substances but also this kind of magic potion...


    The person who introducing these drugs into the prison probably had a more significant agenda than just bing a drug lord here.


    Allowing high-risk criminals to regain strength within the prison could empower them to overturn the entire facility!


    This matter must be reported to the warden immediatly!


    Realizing this, the prison doctor immediately stood up, preparing topile a report to be delivered to the Warden.


    At that moment, a prison guard opened theb door. "Doctor, a prisoner fell and hit their head. Can youe take a look?"


    "If it''s just a superficial injury, have her sit and wait. I have more important matters at hand!" The doctor impatiently waved her hand.


    "What''s more important?" the prison guard blinked, asking again.


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    Just as the doctor was about to reply, someone in the infirmary''s lobby suddenly shouted, "Now!"


    The prison guards and the doctor were momentarily stunned. It was the same prisoner who had been brought in earlier, they didn''t know why she suddenly shouted.


    "What are you doing? Trying to get yourself killed!?" The prison guard immediately turned to scold the prisoner.


    However, the next moment, other inmates who heard the prisoner''s voice suddenly rose from their beds, collectivelyunching an attack on the guards present. This included inmates 3361 and 3362, the twin assassins brought in by Meirujinu.


    The demonic ws, attached to their forearms instantly expanded, breaking the shackles imposed by the Inquisition bureau.


    Meirujinu had long ago unsealed the restraints on them, keeping them hidden until now was precisely for this moment, to strike against the guards.


    They lunged forward like carnivores, targeting the two guards closest to them.


    Inmate 3361, the older twin, was a beat behind slowed by broken ribs from the previous encounter.


    The prison guard instinctively dodged, narrowly avoiding the swing of her demonic ws.


    However, the other prison guard was not as fortunate. Despite his instinctive evasion, he was scratched on the arm by the younger twin. As he prepared to draw his gun for retaliation, he found his entire arm''s muscles stiffening, rendering him immobile.


    She Instinctively, nced at his right hand, and shocked. His right hand had turned into a gray-ck stone, and the petrification symptoms were spreading slowly towards his shoulder.


    The demonic ws transnted onto the wrists of the twin assassins carried a curse that gradually turned the flesh and blood of living beings into stone.


    Chaos erupted in the infirmary as guards and inmates shed.


    "Don''te out, call for help!!"


    The guard who had just brought in the prisoner abruptly closed theb door, locking the doctor inside, while he guarded the entrance.


    She knew well that the doctor had no weapons; getting involved in the melee would likely lead to her demise.


    The doctor stood helplessly in theb, listening to the sounds of themotion outside.


    Two secondster, she suddenly reacted, reaching to press the red button set on the wall.


    Instantly, the rm bell at the infirmary''s entrance red, rapidly spreading throughout the entire prison.


    In Room 12 of the core area, the witch Dailey sat on the bed, gently caressing a bottle in her hand.


    Several hours ago, the vampire Princess Ophelia and the inmate 3340 found her in the library''s reading room, handing her this bottle.


    "Inside this bottle is a magic Potion that can temporarily restore your magic power."


    "I can help you break the demonic contract on you."


    "We''re going to act tonight, kill the warden, and leave this prison."


    "If you want freedom, join us, or continue wearing the cor and be a dog in this prison."


    ...


    The other party proposed a quite tempting deal.


    She could now feel that the demonic contract imposed by Aiden, that constantly threatening her life, had disappeared.


    When Ophelia first suggested cooperating to leave the prison, she didn''t take it seriously.


    But now, it seems that the conditions offered seemed genuine.


    The this magic potion is probably not fake.


    If that''s the case, there''s only one choice for her.


    Meanwhile, in Room 8, the vampire princess Ophelia also sat on the bed, holding an identical bottle, eagerly awaiting the right moment.


    Finally, the distant sound of the rm bell from some corner of the prison reached this section.


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    The guards monitoring the core area In the duty room raised their eyebrows in confusion upon hearing the rm.


    In Room 13, under Fei curious gaze, Meirujinu approached the door while smiling. She grabbed the railing and shouted to the room diagonally opposite, "It''s done, my princess. time to go home."


    Hearing these words, Ophelia, who had been waiting, immediately opened the bottle in her hand and consumed its contents.


    Advance chapter

 Chapter 56:

    Chapter 56:


    <b>Breaking through the Core Area</b>


    The potion with a mixture of herbal and blood flowed down into Ophelia''s throat. Within seconds, she felt a scorching warmth rising from her abdomen, spreading through her limbs.


    The violent magical energy within the potion surged through her body, and the feeling of forcibly replenishing magic power was far from pleasant.


    Despite the difort, she sensed her magic, previously suppressed by a barrier, skyrocketing in an instant.


    The power of her Night kin returned.


    Subsequently, she approached the door, beginning to pound on it with her bare hands, attempting to attract the attention of the prison guards.


    The loud sounds echoed in the corridor, awakening the inmates who had already retired for the night. Disturbed by the sound, they began to loudly curse her.


    The prison guards on duty, that was focused on the rm bell ringing from the medical room, were now disturbed by themotion. One of them emerged from a nearby cell and angrily shouted in the direction of Room Eight, "What''s going on? Quiet! I told you to stop, do you hear?!"


    Ophelia not only didn''t cease, but intensified her assault on the cell door.


    "Are you looking for trouble?"


    The overseeing guard cursed and reached for the nearby pull rope, preparing to call the riot squad to drag the inmate to solitary confinement.


    The riot squad arrived a few minutester than expected. As the cell door gradually unlocked, five fully armed members stormed in.


    "Which inmate is causing trouble?" one of the riot squad members inquired upon entering.


    "Room Eight," the prison guard pointed towards the end of the corridor.


    As the riot squad members Approaching, Ophelia seized the opportunity, biting into her fair wrist.


    Crimson blood gushed out from the wound, transforming into a suspended red de. With two swift shes, she severed two bars, and taking advantage of the chaos, she burst out of the cell, appearing in the corridor.


    In fact, she could have effortlessly broken through the cell door, the moment she regained her magic. However, she deliberately waited for the guards to summon the riot squad, relying on them to open the main gate.


    The destruction of the cell door triggered the rm in the core area.


    Witnessing a red-alert level inmate suddenly rushing out, the riot squad members were dumbfounded¡ªthey hade to deal with unruly inmates and had never anticipated encountering a princes-level vampire who had recovered his magic power.


    Ophelia was about to take out the guards before they could close the gate again, but suddenly, the shadows behind these guards seemed to boil and surged like a frenzy.


    The guards, still focused on Ophelia, hadn''t drawn their guns yet when countless dark ws emerged from their own shadows, grabbing their limbs and suspending them in mid-air.


    Ophelia was startled for a moments, She recognized this spell¡ªit was the specialty of the witch Dailey, and those ck ws were the familiars shemanded.


    "You made a wise choice," Ophelia remarked, turning around.


    Dark ws stretched out from the inside of Room Twelve, grabbed the railing and bending them asunder. Witch Dailey calmly stepped out between the broken bars.


    "With such a golden opportunity before me, I naturally couldn''t resist," Dailey replied with a slight smile.


    She waved her fingers, and the shadow familiars controlled by her ws stuffed the guards into the monitoring room. She then closed the door, and broke the lock.


    "Perhaps you guys should release me first before indulging in conversation," interjected Meirujinu who was standing in room 13.


    Although she excelled in magical potions, demonic contracts, and sealing arts, shegged slightly inbat.


    She couldn''t break the sturdy cell door, but she knew Ophelia wouldn''t leave her behind.


    The prison break n was orchestrated by her, and she alone knew the entire scheme.


    "Step back," Ophelia instructed as she used her de to cut through the bars,


    allowing Meirujinu to walk out calmly. Meirujinu nced back at Fei, the subus who was sitting on the bed, dumbfounded.


    "Interested in joining me? Miss Subus," she casually extended an invitation.


    Fei remained silent for a long moment, then nervouslyid t on the bed, and covering her head with a nket. "I... I''m already sound asleep, i didn''t see a thing."


    Her short sentence implies she won''t be involved in this prison break n, given her short one-year sentence.


    She''s a subus with nobat prowess; she''d probably be toast if things got heated.


    Meirujinu casual suggestion wasn''t pressed further, and she turned to Ophelia, gesturing towards Room Eleven, "let her out too".


    "Are you sure she''ll help us?" Ophelia still had some reservations, especially concerning Evangeline among the three inmates under Aiden''s influence.


    Dailey and Arsena were moremunicative, but Evangeline''s thoughts remained a mystery.


    "Rest assured," Meirujinu replied confidently.


    After a brief consideration, Ophelia manipted the blood des to cut open the bars of Room Eleven.


    Evangeline appeared at the door, not immediately stepping out but scrutinizing the trio outside with caution.


    At this moment, Meirujinu approached her with a smile and extended her hands. "Come, vanee!"


    In an instant, memories flooded back, and Evangeline seemed to awaken abruptly. "Mom?"


    "Come...., it''s time to go home," Meirujinu opened her arms towards her.


    Evangeline, looked at Meirujinu in daze, and hesitated for a moment.


    The notion of her mother taking her out of this prison was bewildering.


    And she faintly remembered Aiden''s admonition not to leave the prison.


    Seeing her indecision, Meirujinu extended her hand, and deepening her voice, "I''m letting you out, vanee."


    In that moment, a hint of fear shed in Evangeline''s eyes.


    Never defy her mother ¡ª the obedience that has been deeply ingrained in Evangeline since childhood, prompted her to reflexively step out of the cell, cing her slender but scar-ridden right hand on Meirujinu.


    "Good girl!" Meirujinu smiled with narrowed eyes.


    "Oh, so you''re the witch Meirujinu," Dailey, holding her hands behind her back, and spoke softly from behind.


    Though she was unfamiliar with Meirujinu, she knew a bit about her¡ªa once-renowned witch expelled from the "Witch Gathering," turned into underworld figure, cultivating adopted children into assassins and bing the ndestine queen of the assassin world.


    Evangeline was Meirujinu most prized creation.


    "Let''s not dwell on these minor matters for now. The important thing is to escape this cage," Meirujinu said, leading Evangeline out of the cell.


    "Someone''s breaking out!"


    "Boss, wait up!"


    "Take me with you!"


    Ignoring the other inmates'' shouts to save time, the four proceeded to leave the core area.


    Evangeline mechanically walked alongside Meirujinu, her eyes clouded with increasing confusion.

 Chapter 57:

    Chapter 57:


    <b>One Against a Hundred</b>


    Just a minute before Meirujinu and her group left the core area, the infirmary where the riot had just erupted, echoed with rms as if trying to rupture eardrums.


    The prison guards left in the infirmary struggled to suppress the inmates. In terms of equipment, they overwhelmed the prisoners, and a considerable number of them were even wearing shackles.


    However, the inmates'' attack exceeded their expectations, catching thempletely off guard.


    What was even more terrifying was that the twin assassins with demonic ws became the backbone of the rioting prisoners.


    Using their petite figures, they slipped under beds like cats, darting along the floor and asionally emerging to attack the guards'' shins.


    The petrifying curse attached to their demonic ws meant that just a scratch would render the victimbat ineffective within minutes.


    Soon, they had taken down several guards, and the side of the rioting prisoners quickly gained the upper hand.


    As a guard just about to pulled out his gun to shoot a prisoner in the leg, he was immediately knocked down from behind with a stool.


    The attacker, was the Pirate Anna, she leaned over and skillfully disarmed him.


    Not far away, the bandit Catherine was using the iron chain of the shackles to forcefully strangle another guard from behind whileughing, "Squeak, youpdog police! Aren''t you usually very arrogant?"


    The inmates incited by Meirujinu to participate in this riot weren''t just drug addicts who followed her obediently for the drugs. There were also those, like them, who held grievances against the prison guards, especially the Warden Aiden.


    As soon as they heard about Meirujinu n tounch a riot for escape and to kill the warden, they joined without hesitation.


    However, they were still unaware that they were just pawns arranged by Meirujinu to attract the main force of the riot squad.


    At this moment, someone forcefully kicked open the infirmary door, with such ferocity that the door panel separated from the frame and flew into the room.


    The inmates cheered simultaneously; they were the ones initiating the riot and naturally enjoyed the chaos. The more violence unfolded, the more excited they became.


    Seeing the medical room''s door meet its end under the force of violence, they instinctively thought it was the big shots from inside the prisoning to join in¡ªa notion Meirujinu had indeed assured them of beforehand.


    However, as the intruder rushed into the medical room, the inmates were immediately stunned.


    It was indeed a familiar face, but it''s not a fellow prisoner; it was Veronica, the new captain of the fourth riot squad.


    (Tn: the inmates be like why did i hear a boss music)


    Veronica quickly surveyed the inmates and swiftly assessed the situation. She had taken the lead in rushing to the infirmary, leaving the other member of the riot squad behind.


    With her sprinting speed, ordinary humans couldn''t hope to catch up.


    Normally, someone as reckless as her wouldn''t survive for long. The vanguard charging into enemy lines usually met a gruesome end, being hacked to death by chaotic des, unless she have the strength capable of taking a hundreds.


    However, Veronica wasn''t afraid.


    Because she indeed was a formidable force capable of taking on a hundred.


    Before the inmates could react, she took action, charging towards the nearest one. And struck out with an uppercut and left an afterimage that swept across their jaw, immediately rendering them unconscious.


    Another inmate rushed at her, throwing a punch, but she caught them and executed a shoulder throw.


    Veronica then swiftly leaped onto a hospital bed, evading a lunging attacker and kicking them in the face, sending a few teeth flying.


    At that moment, Veronica caught a glimpse of Pirate Anna raising a gun aiming at her, She immediately taking cover under the bed to evade the shot.


    Anna aimed again, but Veronica had already rolled to the other side under a different bed.


    Veronica rose from under the bed, relying on her strength to lift the entire bed in an instant, and tossing it directly at Anna.


    The bed blocked Anna''s view, forcing her to step aside to avoid it.


    as soon as she dodged the metal bed, a gunshot rang out, making her ears ache. Veronica, having quickly risen and pulled out a gun, fired a shot without hesitation.


    Anna felt a blunt impact, causing her to copse to the ground, She felt her arm numb and her shoulder in intense pain.


    In a matter of seconds, Veronica regained control of the situation.


    She had experience in chaotic brawls from her days as a mounted police officer dealing with inner-city gangs and clearing out rural bandit hideouts.


    Of course, among the inmates, there were those familiar with such situations as well.


    While Veronica focused on dealing with Anna, the bandit Catherine, armed with a stolen police baton, silently approached her from behind.


    When Veronica fired her gun, Catherine, using the cover of the gunshot, leaped and delivered a fierce blow to Veronica''s head.


    Catherine was originally a leader of bandits, engaged in skirmishes with mounted police was amon urrence for her. Therefore, she harbored a stronger aversion toward Veronica, who hailed from the mounted police.


    Her swing was lethal enough to break an adult''s neck,


    yet Veronica merely staggered, tilting her head to the side. And Without hesitation, she turned around and delivered a punch directly to Catherine''s face, breaking her nose.


    Catherine felt a sh of stars before finding herself on the ground, blood streaming from her nose.


    She stared at Veronica with a disbelief expression writen all over her face.


    "Werewolves have sturdy bodies," Veronica retorted, ring at her. Pointed wolf ears had sprouted on her head, and her wild, aggressive eyes reflected the nature of a wolf.


    Before Catherine could react, Veronica''s foot descended, and everything went ck.


    Veronica barely had time to catch her breath when she sensed a mysterious figure darting from under the bed, attacking her legs.


    She instinctively kicked, sending the assant flying.


    As the small figure collided with the wall, Veronica realized her opponent was a young girl.


    No, it''s two young girls.


    The other girl, who had somehow leaped onto a nearby medicine cab, lunged out, wielding ws and aiming for Veronica''s head.


    The girl who previously kicked to the wall limped back and rushed over again.


    Veronica reacted swiftly, dodging the strike aimed at her head and seizing the girl''s foot. With a powerful swing, she mmed the girl into the approaching one.


    The twins collided and tumbled.


    Veronica not only possessed exceptional werewolf physical abilities but also had policebat training and extensive battle experience. Although the demonic ws of the twin assassins were dangerous, theirbat skills fell short.


    Watching the two children bravely stand up, ready for another round despite their injuries, Veronica felt a momentary twinge of reluctance.


    However, the next moment, she thought that if Aiden were present, he wouldn''t show mercy to these twin assassins.


    "Surrender, or I won''t hold back!" Veronica hardened her resolve, issuing a warning to the twins.


    The twins didn''t hesitate, with their cold and mechanical expressions. Once again, they charged at Veronica.

 Chapter 58:

    Chapter 58:


    <b>Intercept</b>


    Meirujinu led the way, briskly walking down the prison corridor, pulling Evangeline along. followed closely by Ophelia and Dailey.


    "This seems a bit too easy, not a single guard in sight" Ophelia looked on their surroundings.


    "The chaos in the infirmary drew the riot squad away. With all the attention focused there, our path is naturally clear." Meirujinu voice carried a hint of pride


    Dailey, who had recently joined their escape n, inquired, "So where are we headed now? Can you finally tell me?"


    "We''re heading to the corridor''s west corner near the interview area. We''re going to intercept the warden there," Meirujinu replied.


    Dailey questioned, "How are you so sure he''ll be there? He usually roams around the prison, doesn''t he?"


    "We sent Arsena ahead to find him, pretending to have valuable intel. And lead him to the interview room. With the infirmary incident, he''ll undoubtedly take that route, and we''ll be waiting for him," exined Ophelia, her crimson eyes gleaming with excitement.


    Aiden, the one who had apprehended her, was coincidentally also the warden that in charge of overseeing her after she was sentenced to Rose Prison.


    From the Inquisition bureau to the Rose prison, Having endured years of humiliation under his authority, she, a proud vampire princess, was finally releasing her pent-up frustration today.


    She wanted to use his blood to cleanse all the humiliations She had suffered over the years!.


    Dailey pondered, "So Arsena has been swayed by you as well... It seems the warden''s days are numbered."


    "Hmph, He may be a formidable force, but he won''t survive, being surrounded by so many." Ophelia sneered coldly.


    "After killing him, what''s next? Are we going to the infirmary to rescue the other?" Dailey asked.


    "No need. The warden has keys and magic items to lift the enchantments. Once he''s gone, we can leave directly through the main gate. No need to take the long detour," Meirujinu replied.


    "The riot squad should be focused on the infirmary. It''s unnecessary to sh with them. And The Inquisition Bureau isn''t far from here. If we miss the timing, even with ourbined strength, we won''t get far."


    Meirujinu was well aware that even with the fourbat-proficient witches (except her), breaking through the prison''s riot force would take time.


    And If they moved slowly and faced the elite forces of the Inquisition Bureau and the mounted police, their escape would be jeopardized.


    Abandoning the disposable pawns in the infirmary, including the twin assassins she had personally sent to prison, was the best choice.


    Evangeline looked surprised at Meirujinu decision, "Are you really giving up on them?"


    She knew that the twin sisters were in the infirmary, as she had sent them there for recovery after beating them herself.


    She understood that they were sent into this dangerous prison on the orders of the "Mother" to facilitate her escape.


    But "mother" is now mercilessly abandoning them, just like throwing away a trash.


    Meirujinu looked back at her indifferently, "Two years have changed you, vanee. You never used to question Mother''s decisions."


    Evangeline instinctively avoided Meirujinu gaze, she was puzzled about Meirujinu descision for leaving the twins behind but insisting on taking her away. However, shecked the courage to confront her directly.


    Meirujinu turned back and softened her expression.


    "Don''t worry, vanee. You''re different from them. You''re Mother''s most outstanding child. I won''t abandon you."


    "It Should be the most outstanding tool, right? Even someone as ruthless as you wouldn''t easily discard such a useful killing tool, would you?" A deep, cold male voice unexpectedly interrupted.


    Aiden, leaning on his cane, appeared at the corridor junction ahead, apanied by the necromancer Arsena.


    "Prison corridors aren''t meant for strolls," Aiden fixed his gaze on Meirujinu.


    "Good evening, Warden," Meirujinu greeted Aiden with a friendly smile, reminiscent of their encounter on the courtyard.


    "Good evening, Inmate 3340," Aiden returned the greeting without expression. "Or should i call you the Witch Meirujinu?."


    "You already know my identity," Meirujinu smiled, creating an atmosphere as if they are engaging in a tea party.


    "The twin you sent in was deliberately injured, and was sent to the infirmary. Simultaneously causing a disturbance with the drug-addicted inmate.


    Even if I were foolish, I should have figured out that the cirction of drugs within the prison was orchestrated by you the ''Ant Queen'' ," Aiden slowly remarked.


    "The records of the Inquisition Bureau state that the children raised by Witch Meirujinu have undergo a long-term drug modifications. It seems your proficiency in pharmacology and magical drugs is indeed well-deserved."


    "You are indeed clever," Meirujinu nodded in acknowledgment.


    "No, I''m not clever enough. If I were truly smart, I would have suspected you when those twins took drugs and entered the infirmary for investigation. In that case, I could have exposed you to the Inquisition Bureau earlier," Aiden self-deprecatingly smiled.


    "On the other hand, if it weren''t for the idental discovery of contraband while investigating the subus Fei, I probably wouldn''t have immediately suspected you."


    In the intricate maneuvering between inmates, prison guards, as overseers, often found themselves in a passive position. They could only act when inmates caused trouble.


    For instance, in the recent riot, the guards could only suppress the inmates after the unrest had begun.


    Aiden wasn''t a irvoyant detective but an experienced prison guard. His only capability was toy preventive measures early on, which Meirujinu, unfortunately, didn''t give him the time for.


    Just as he intercepted the drugs, before he could expose the perpetrator, she decisively implemented her riot n in advance, catching him off guard.


    I have to say that this woman is indeed a ruthless character. Fact have proved that her unexpected move really worked.


    "Your goal is to break out of prison and take Evangeline with you," Aiden surveyed the scene andmented. "Ophelia, it seems you''ve also fallen under her influence."


    Ophelia retorted with a cold smirk.


    Aiden didn''t show much surprise when he saw Ophelia, but When he saw Dailey standing at the back, he furrowed his brow slightly. "Dailey, what are you doing here?"


    "As you can see, Warden," Dailey flirtatiously threw him a nce. "I simply made a wise choice."


    Support me and get advance chapter

 Chapter 59:

    Chapter 59:


    <b>Kill Him</b>


    "a wise choice you say..." Aiden stared intensely into Dailey eyes, "are you referring to this kind of betrayal?"


    "Of course, when there are benefits, I see no reason to refuse it," Dailey elegantly smiled.


    "Fool, do you think you still control the situation? The demonic contract you ced on them has been lifted!" Ophelia couldn''t hold back any longer and mocking Aiden loudly.


    "Lifted?" Aiden pondered for a moment, then widened his eyes as if realizing something.


    As he turned slightly, he saw Arsena holding a staff with a long handle pointed at his back.


    "That''s precisely it," Arsena pushed her sses.


    "I''ve done a lot of research on non-summoning demonic contracts. You shouldn''t be unaware, right?" Meirujinu followed with a smile, "I''m taking my daughter with me, so there''s no way I''d allow her life to be held in your hands."


    Demonic contracts, as the name suggests, are pacts signed between spellcasters and demons from another world. Sacrificing to gain rewards, it''s a convenient method to obtain power, with the only drawback being the hefty cost.


    Dailey excelled in summoning contracts, after offering sacrifice, she gains the qualification for summoning andmanding demons.


    While Meirujinu specialized in power contracts. after sacrificing, the demons will directly bestowed their powers upon the caster. Abilities like the petrifying ws of the Twin Killer and the shape-shifting prowess of Evangeline were acquired through this method.


    Aiden also employed thetter type of contract used against Dailey and the others, but his purpose wasn''t to gain power after the contract''spletion; rather it was the contract itself.


    He set himself as the dominant figure in the contract, with the sacrificed hearts being those of the three prisoners.


    Once he activated the contract, Dailey and the others would die instantly due to heart rupture. What Aiden valued was the contract''s deterrent effect on the prisoners.


    However, now this contract had been lifted by Meirujinu.


    "Seems like you''ve hit a dead end, Warden." Ophelia grinned widely, "Today, I''ll personally send you on your way and enjoy the taste of your blood!"


    She was ecstatic. she had waited for this day for too long.


    She was captured and interrogated by this man, even when she switched prisons, he still haunted her, thwarting her escape ns and relentlessly humiliating her.


    What made it worse was that this man was ice-cold and disdainful during her initial capture and interrogation. Yet, after bing the warden, he transformed as if into a different person, mocking her to the extremeclearly targeting her.


    This guy was her jinx, the biggest stain in her eternal life. Not a day went by without her imagining how to sever his throat and drain every drop of his blood.


    Aiden leaned on his staff, gazing at Ophelia, "Vampires like you really do linger, huh? Don''t you understand the principle that a trapped beast will bite? Even if I can''t defeat all of you, I can at least try to send one person on the way. Do you really want to leave with me that badly?"


    Despite saying so, Aiden was well aware that with his current strength, forcibly engaging in one-on-onebat or even exchanging blows under siege from several people was nearly impossible.


    The previous owner of this body was undeniably an exceptionally talented and powerful individual, proficient in marksmanship, swordsmanship, and ck magic. Supported with the cutting-edge equipment from the Inquisition Bureau, he could defeat monsters like Ophelia.


    In contrast, Aiden, despite inheriting memories and skills from the previous Aiden, he stillgged far behind in proficiency and experience, even with some practice.


    Moreover, having transitioned to the role of a prison warden, his equipment wasn''t as advanced, and hisbat capability was at most sixty percent of the previous Aiden''s.


    Dealing with somewhatbat-capable individuals like the bandit Catherine or the pirate Anna was still manageable, but facing criminals of Ophelia''s caliber from the Red Alert level was beyond he could handle.


    After arriving in this world without any cheat codes or fortuitous encounters, from the perspective of a transmigrator, he indeed fell into the category of being less ambitious.


    But even so, he was quite adept at bluffing.


    It was a professional habit of hisestablishing authority in front of prisoners, ensuring that at least in terms of presence, he never appeared weak.


    As an elite of the Inquisition Bureau, the reputation of the previous Aiden was quite formidable among the inmates. Aiden didn''t mind using this reputation to intimidate the prisoners; he wouldn''t let go any resources that can be used in the prison.


    This time, Ophelia was also somewhat daunted by him.


    Seeing Aiden''s calm andposed demeanor, his face radiating a "if you want to fight, let''s fight" attitude, she couldn''t help but tone down her arrogance.


    Cautiously, she said to the others, "Just to be safe, let''s go together. After killing him, I''ll drink his blood!"


    However, at that moment, Meirujinu raised her hand. "Let me handle this."


    She then gently pushed Evangeline, who had been staring nkly at Aiden in front of her and saying, "Go, Evangeline, kill him."


    Her tone was remarkably calm, as if asking for help with cooking, while peeling onions or chopping vegetables.


    "Kill..." Evangeline repeated before suddenly realizing, turning to Meirujinu, "Kill him?"


    "Let me see if your skills have deteriorated over the years." Meirujinu ced her hand on Evangeline head, repeating themand, "Kill that man, and then we''ll go home."


    Evangeline looked at Aiden, who maintained a calm expression. "You made a pact with me; you can''t randomly kill people. It''s a rule, whether it''s here or outside."


    Evangeline disyed a bewildered expression, vividly recalling the rules Aiden had taught her. In this prison, she survived by adhering to these rules, adapting to them with considerable effort.


    However, now her "mother" had suddenly appeared,manding her to break these rules.


    She was trained by Meirujinu since childhood as a killing machine, her thinking had been conditioned to be singr and mechanical.


    The machines operate ording to set patterns, and she, like a machine, had lived following the rules. In the past, she followed the "mother''s"mands, and now she adhered to Aiden''s teachings. With conflicting rules to obey, she stopped operating like a machine encountering a logic error.


    Seeing Evangeline hesitating, Meirujinu expression darkened.


    She had noticed a change in Evangeline from the moment they reunited.


    During the two years spent in the prison, it seemed the influence she had imposed on Evangeline mind had significantly diminished.


    This was intolerable for Meirujinu. Evangeline was her masterpiece, meticulously crafted by her own hands. She wouldn''t allow anyone else to interfere.


    Thus, Meirujinu decided tomand Evangeline to personally kill Aiden here. It was the best way to wash away the "negative influence" Aiden had left on her.


    After all, the Evangeline she had nurtured was born to kill!


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 Chapter 60:

    Chapter 60:


    <b>You''ve Been Sold</b>


    "Now, if you resort to killing again, there''s no turning back for you," Aiden spoke, "you''ll only serve as a tool for her murders, hunted by the Inquisition like a rat in the streets."


    "Don''t listen to him, he''s the one using you as a tool," urged Meirujinu, impatiently interrupting Aiden, "he imnted a demonic contract in you, and if I hadn''t helped you break it, he would have surely killed you by now!"


    "That''s right, if the demonic contract were still on Evangeline, I wouldn''t hesitate to kill her. I don''t show mercy to fugitives," Aiden stated expressionlessly, and ncing at Evangeline, "I''ve told you this before, Evangeline."


    Meirujinu was slightly taken aback; Aiden''s frankness was unexpected. She had thought he would make some excuse, but he admitted it so openly.


    "But at least I won''t deceive you," Aiden maintained eye contact with Evangeline, "this prison is the only ce where you can truly survive. Outside, you''ll only live a few years in the lies of this woman, and then die in a miserable way."


    Evangeline widened her eyes; Aiden had once straightforwardly told her she couldn''t leave the prison.


    Her intuition told her Aiden wasn''t lying because she couldn''te up with a counterargument, and Aiden had never deceived her before.


    In the outside world, she was the queen of assassins, with numerous people wanting to use her and countless enemies seeking her head.


    Once she leaves the prison, she''ll have to resume her life of bloodshed, a cycle of vengeance.


    The next time she gets caught, she''ll undoubtedly face the death penalty. Even if she manages to escape the capture, her body, riddled with the effects of magic and demonic contracts, won''tst more than a few years.


    "Don''t listen to his nonsense, hurry up and act now!" Meirujinu urged Evangeline, "Listen to mommy, vanee... I''m the only one who truly loves you in this world."


    "You...? after altered his body that could barelyst thirty years, dare utter such nonsense without a hint of shame. You''re truly rotten to the core, Meirujinu!" Aiden coldly remarked,


    "Face the reality, Evangeline. No one in this world loves you. And You''ll never experience that kind of thing in your life, but at least you have a chance for a stable life without her  the one who''s led you to this."


    A stable life...


    Evangeline felt a stir within. From a manipted assassin to an imprisoned convict, she had never experienced what they called freedom.


    Yet, life here seemed morefortable than the tumultuous past. No need to dwell in the shadows, no more constant fear  as long as she followed the rules and refrained from killing.


    Even without a strong sense of morality, the hidden motive for personal gain told her she should stay.


    drawing from over a decade of experience, Aiden understood that people are driven by self-interest.


    To reform a criminal, it''s more effective to straightforwardly guide them toward awful life rather than relying on elusive emotions.


    In the past two years, he hadn''t intentionally developed any emotional connection with Evangeline. All he did was arranging for her to lead a life in prison as close to normal as possible.


    As long as Evangeline develops a little self-awareness she Will realize her past live is not even as good as a prisoner in here.


    Seeing the wavering expression on Evangeline, Meirujinu sensed trouble. She reached for Evangeline shoulder, but Evangeline abruptly pulled away, creating distance between them.


    "Vanee?"


    Not only Meirujinu but even Evangeline herself disyed a bewildered expression.


    It was a reflexive response that Evangeline couldn''tprehend. In the split second of regaining consciousness, she had instinctively rejected the "mother''s"mand.


    "Well done," Aiden chuckled approvingly.


    At this time, Ophelia, who had been silently observing, couldn''t hold back any longer. "Stop dilly-dallying; the riot squad will be here if we dy any further! Kill this man first, and we''ll figure out what to do next outside!"


    Meirujinu red anxiously at Aiden. In the two-year gap where Evangeline broke free from her control, this man had left a more profound impact on Evangeline than she had imagined. It even led Evangeline to resist hermands.


    Though she wished for Evangeline to personally kill this man topletely eliminate his influence, time seemed to be running out.


    Now, her only option was to have Ophelia and the others take care of Aiden, forcibly take Evangeline away, and then re-indoctrinate her.


    Despite Evangeline rejecting her order to kill, she still held a certain level of fear and respect for Meirujinu, showing no intention of turning against her. The ingrained fear from past brainwashing can''t be easily eradicated.


    "Fine, let''s go" Meirujinu conceded.


    Ophelia stepped forward, controlling the blood that flowed from a wound on her wrist, shaping it into w-like forms at the tips of her right hand.


    Arsena began silently chanting a spell, and a mist-like spirit wrapped around the front of the staff.


    Dailey magic was also ready, and the shadow beneath Aiden began to boil.


    Aiden, looked vignt, and nced around before fixing his gaze on Ophelia.


    "Stop resisting and just die in peace. Even if the little demon refuses to act, how do you n to survive four against one?"


    Ophelia sneered, confident that he was doomed. This man, no matter how skilled he was, he definitely couldn''t handle attacks from three different directions simultaneously.


    Seizing the moment, she leaped forward, and her blood ws extending sharply, aiming directly at Aiden''s throat.


    Simultaneously, Arsena also coordinating her spell, prepared to unleash her formidable offensive necromancy, the "Wail of the Damned."


    However, just as the spell was about to be unleashed, Arsena suddenly raised her staff a bit higher, surpassing Aiden''s shoulder and pointing toward... the leaping Ophelia.


    "Eh?" Ophelia was caught off guard.


    In the next instant, the spiritual form ejected from Arsena staff transformed into a skeletal face, emitting a soul-shaking roar right in front of Ophelia.


    Caught off guard, Ophelia suffered from the unexpected attack and fell to the ground.


    Meirujinu was stunned, but before she could react, the dark ws emerged from the shadow beneath her feet, seizing her limbs and lifting her off the ground.


    "What are you doing!?" Meirujinu eximed in terror, realizing she was caught by the shadow demon summoned by Dailey.


    Dailey looked up, smiling without a word.


    "You''re wrong; it''s three against two," Aiden remarked to the fallen Ophelia.


    Ophelia, still recovering from the surprise attack, looked up at Arsena, her face expressing disbelief, "Why!?"


    "That''s just how it is," Aiden sighed, "you two... have been sold."

 Chapter 61:

    Chapter 61:


    <b>Caught in the Net</b>


    Ten minutes ago


    Aiden entered the interview room, where Arsena had been patiently waiting.


    "So, what do you want to tell me?" Aiden sat down at the iron table.


    ording to the prison guard''s ry, Arsena seemed to have information about the drug flow within the prison.


    However, what came out of Arsena''s mouth next was explosively unexpected: "Inmate 3340 from Room 13 has colluded with Ophelia. They n to incite a riot among the inmates in the infirmary and take advantage of the chaos to escape and kill you. In about two minutes, they will start their move."


    It took Aiden several seconds to digest this information. Then, with a serious expression, he asked, "How did you find out?"


    "They tried to win me over. me being here here was to lure you into the interview room to confirm your location," Arsena said with a poker face.


    She then sinctly exined how Inmate 3340 helped them break the demonic contract and revealed the details of the magic potion that could temporarily restore magical power.


    "So, are you nning to betray them now?" Aiden finally understood the situation.


    "Making a deal with you might be more advantageous. Dailey thinks the same way," Arsena calmly stated.


    ...


    And now


    "I never expected this, truly never expected it. The Inquisition, who couldn''t catch the ''Ant Queen'' for so many years, today she falls into my hands," Aiden said while crossing His arm, addressing the two motionless female inmates before him.


    The noble Blood Princess Ophelia, and the witch Meirujinu who raises the king of the assassin, both could only re at the warden standing in front of them.


    The reason they didn''t attack Aiden or attempt to escape was that their hands and feet were firmly caught by the ws of the shadow demon, and they were suspended in mid-air in an undignified manner.


    On their right, the witch Dailey held a short wand, wearing a gloating smile.


    When Ophelia was caught by the shadow demon, she tried to resist to thest moment. With her Princes-level Blood Vampire power, she could have split her body into a swarm of bats to escape.


    However, a necromancer who understood vampires well, Arsena, quickly added a "Specter''s Grasp" curse before she could move, sealing her magic.


    "Damn it!" Ophelia looked at Arsena, who was standing expressionlessly on her left, and cursed loudly. "Are you brainless? I brought you along for the escape, and you just betray me like this?"


    "With our old friendship, I didn''t want to, but the rewards he offered were too tempting," Arsena calmly replied.


    "I don''t understand!" Meirujinu also looked towards Dailey on the other side. "We were already so close. I''ve already helped you break the demonic contract. Why did you choose to help this man? Isn''t it better to leave this prison?"


    She now realized that she and Ophelia had been yed by these two women. From the beginning, Dailey and Arsena had been nning to ambush them.


    Looking back now, in the core area at that time, Dailey seized the guards before Ophelia and stuffed them into the duty room, she even broke the door lock. Essentially, she was protecting those guardsif Dailey hadn''t intervened, they probably would have died at the hands of Ophelia.


    "You wanting to leave doesn''t mean I want to leave," Dailey shrugged. "There''s nothing wrong with being here. I can continue researching dark magic like before, with someone taking care of my needs. Most importantly, I won''t be bothered by the officials and bounty hunters. And..."


    She nced at Aiden, smiling cryptically. "There''s also a good man like him. Why would I have a reason to leave?"


    Meirujinu was dumbfounded on the spot.


    "Do you think they helped me because I coerced them with a demonic contract?" Aiden interjected, with arms crossed. "Wrong. It''s because they agreed to work for me that they willingly wore the demonic contract. The demonic contract is just an insurance. They work for me because I provide them with benefits. Do you understand why I chose them for the deal?"


    "Why?" Meirujinu subconsciously asked.


    "Because I can offer them what they desire. You trade with them without truly understanding them," Aiden spread his hands. "Dailey used to live in the Shadow Ruins, and Arsena in the Dim Dark Forest. They secluded themselves from society to delve into dark magic and necromancy. Just considering their living conditions, even the prison is better. If I allow them to research spells in the prison, what reason do they have to leave?"


    "Allow... research? But... What they research is forbidden arts!" Meirujinu couldn''tprehend.


    "Yes, they were sentenced for researching forbidden arts because they didn''t have approval from the Inquisition. So, I used my connections to obtain that approval for them. As long as they''re willing to share their research findings with the Inquisition, I can even help them get sentence reductions if the research proves valuable," Aiden smirked.


    This kind of experience is something I brought from my past life, utilizing the prisoners'' expertise to engage in research and invention within the prison, fully maximizing their value.


    Dailey and Arsena were both imprisoned due to their obsession with forbidden arts.


    Aiden possesses a more progressive perspective on prisonerspared to otherw enforcers. While other guards see these individuals as dangerous witches, Aiden recognizes them as rare talents, holding mastery over secret arts even more sophisticated than those managed by the Inquisition.


    Talents, regardless of being prisoners, should be utilized.


    For Dailey and Arsena, continuing to research forbidden arts within the prison is more preferable than living on the run outside. Once their sentences areplete and they have obtained permission for their research, they won''t attract unwanted attention.


    Therefore, they won''t easily betray Aiden, a fact he is well aware of.


    In fact, the only value in Meirujinu''s proposed deal for them is the opportunity to betray her and Ophelia for sentence reductions and rewards.


    "I have to admit, you are quite skilled. In the game of intrigue, I might not be as adept as you," Aiden approached Meirujinu, and slowly stating, "You only failed for one reason: underestimating my methods in managing this prison."


    In the end, his greatest expertise lies in his original field. This prison, which meticulously managed by him, is not easily subverted by Meirujinu''s schemes.


    Meirujinu looked at the man before her, and clenching her teeth in frustration.


    "You, too, have finally made the right choice based on your own thoughts," Aiden turned away, looking at the figure behind him, Evangeline.


    "Is this enough?" Evangeline asked somewhat bewildered.


    "Yes, as long as you avoid making the wrong choices, that''s enough" Aiden smiled. "In the end, the rules of the prison are just that."

 Chapter 62:

    Chapter 62:


    <b>Rescue Operation</b>


    In the infirmary, Veronica directed the riot squad to handcuff thest group of inmates.


    "Captain, should we handcuff these two little troublemakers too?" a team member asked.


    Veronica nced at the unconscious twins on the floor and replied, "Of course, handcuff them. They''re the most dangerous here; make sure their hands are secured behind their backs."


    Thinking back to the recent battle, Veronica still felt a lingering unease.


    Despite their young age, these twins were formidable, they always aiming for vital points with every move.


    If it weren''t for the enhanced strength of the werewolves, Veronica believed she might have ended up like the prison guards initially attacked by them. After a few moves, she stopped holding back.


    The riot squad members looked at their new captain with admiration.


    When the rm sounded, Veronica charged in alone, like an unstoppable warrior.


    They were initially worried they might find the new captain needing to be retrieved, but upon arrival, they discovered Veronica had already subdued most of the inmates. One of the twin assassinsy incapacitated, and she effortlessly handled the remaining one, even knocking out another prisoner along the way.


    With her leading the charge into the enemy ranks, the remaining inmates lost their will to fight. Making the riot squad easily gained control of the situation.


    "Finally, it''s over," Veronica sighed as she watched the turmoil settle. The prison doctor emerged from the examination room, patting her chest.


    "We have quite a few casualties. I''ll rely on you for the medical treatment," Veronica gestured towards her.


    The doctor surveyed the scene and nearly choked, "So many people!?"


    The area was chaotic, with a mix of prison guards initially attacked by inmates and those knocked down by Veronica. There were at least thirty injured individuals. The Rose Prison hadn''t experienced such arge-scale riot in a long time.


    Despite the grim situation, the doctor had to face it head-on.


    "You guys, lend me a hand. Set the inmates aside for now, prioritize treating the guards. Help me assess the injuries, find out who''s seriously hurt... and be careful not to move the injured recklessly. I''ll handle that," the doctor instructed, taking charge of the situation.


    Veronica also examined the situation and quickly noticed something amiss. "Doctor,e over here and take a look!"


    The prison doctor approached and was visibly shocked. Several guardsy on the ground, seemingly conscious but unable to move, their bodies stiff and their eyes are the only part capable of motion. Beneath their torn uniforms, a significant portion of their skin had turned ash-gray.


    "They seem unable to speak, and their limbs are as hard as stone," Veronica reported to the doctor.


    "It''s petrification," the doctor said gravely. "Cut their clothes open, be careful not to injure their limbs... if they break, they''ll be crippled. Let''s pour some holy water on them first."


    She directed riot squad members to retrieve a bottle of holy water from the medicine cab and poured it on the petrified skin of the injured.


    The curse''s spread seemed to slow down, but there was no sign of recovery.


    "This is troublesome," the doctor remarked with a dark expression.


    Petrification curse was a rare ability possessed only by some powerful magical creatures.


    While a simple petrification could be undone with holy water, curses from more formidable creatures were not so easily lifted.


    "What should we do?" Veronica furrowed her brow.


    "We''ll have to continue using holy water to dy it and immediately report to the warden. We need to seek help from the Inquisition Bureau; they might know how to deal with this," the doctor exined.


    That was the only n the doctor could offer. If the petrification reached the brain, even if they managed to undo the petrificationter, the patients would be an unconscious vegetative state.


    "Alright," Veronica said.


    As Veronica was about to leave the infirmary, Aiden stepped in, meeting her gaze.


    "Chief!" She instinctively saluted and quickly reported the situation.


    "Chief, there was just a riot here, and the situation is under control, but we have injured people needing treatment. Some are affected by petrification curse."


    "Yeah, I know," Aiden nodded. "That''s why I''m here. I brought some help."


    He snapped his fingers, and a prison guard behind him pushed in a prisoner.


    Prisoner3340, Merujinu.


    "As you can see, many people are hurt because of what you did," Aiden nced at Merujinu. "Since you''re knowledgeable in pharmacology, lend a hand. You should know how to deal with the petrification curse, right?"


    He had learned about her from the Twin Killers'' files and suspected that the infirmary might already have someone affected by the twin''s petrification curse.


    So he brought Merujinu over.


    Merujinu''s expertise in dark pharmacology could be used for harm or for healing.


    She disyed some surprise on her face, "Warden, you even use a prisoner like me who wanted to kill you?"


    "Many prisoners want to kill me; you''re not unique. I''m asking if you can help those people," Aiden emphasized.


    "I do have a way, but Warden, aren''t you afraid I might sabotage it?" Merujinu squinted.


    "You are clever and you wouldn''t do something so stupid. Don''t forget you''re in my hands and we haven''t settled this debt. If anything happens under my watch, you know the consequences," Aiden replied expressionlessly. "Today, if anything happens to my people, you''ll understand."


    After a brief eye-to-eye confrontation, Merujinu withdrew her gaze. "Fine, get me some paper. I''ll write a prescription."


    Aiden turned to Veronica, "Keep an eye on her. She''s the mastermind behind this incident. If she acts suspiciously, don''t hesitate."


    "The mastermind..." Veronica looked bewilderedly at Merujinu. "Her?"


    "Yes, her. The inmates in the infirmary were manipted by her. She conspired with others to escape and tried to kill me," Aiden briefly exined the situation. "I''ll give you the detailster."


    "And you''re okay with this?" Veronica was shocked.


    "It Just a small scene, a small scene," Aiden replied, feigning ease.


    In reality, even though he knew in advance that Dailey and Arsena might betray Merujinu, he was still quite nervous when confronting her in the corridor.


    In a person''s life, there aren''t many moments facing imminent danger. Despite his many years as a prison guard, experiencing a riot of this scale was a first for him. Fortunately, he managed to hold his ground, partly due to his extensive experience dealing with dangerous inmates over the years.


    The fact that he emerged unscathed until the resolution of the incident was, to some extent, thanks to Evangeline resisting Merujinu''s orders at a critical moment. If Evangeline had chosen to oppose them at that time, even if Dailey and Arsena catch them off guard, whether he could stand here unharmed would still be an unknown factor.


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 Chapter 63:

    Chapter 63:


    <b>Public Execution</b>


    The next day, Ophelia stayed in her own cell, restless and uneasy, disying an anxious demeanor.


    After being caught, Aiden didn''t throw her into solitary confinement but had her escorted back to her own room, Room 8.


    Knowing Aiden, he would never let her off easily.


    Participating in the riot and attempting to harm the warden were not offenses that could be resolved with a few days in solitary and some additional punishment.


    If she could escape this prison through the toilet right now, she wouldn''t mind at all.


    A whileter, she heard the sound of the gate to the core area opening, and her heart sank.


    Forget it, what had to happen would happen. Whether it was good or bad, she couldn''t escape it.


    She made up her mind that no matter what Aiden had in store for her, she wouldn''t even furrow her brow.


    At least, she had to maintain her dignity as a vampire princess!


    So, after a few seconds, Aiden''s voice echoed, "Ophelia, it''s time for settlement."


    Aiden appeared at the cell door, and shouted inside.


    When he saw the scene inside the cell, he fell silent for a moment, then couldn''t help but roll his eyes, "What are you doing hiding under the nket?"


    Looking into the cell, you couldn''t see anyone at all, just a bulging nket, that is slightly trembling, obviously hiding someone.


    "I-I''m not here!"


    Due to being under the nket, Ophelia''s voice sounded muffled.


    "Don''t evade reality. Breaking the ruleses with a price. You were quite bold yesterday; is surrendering to me interesting now?" Aiden, both amused and irritated, opened the cell door, tapped the railing, "Hurry up; is this how a vampire princess behaves?"


    This statement jolted Ophelia once again. Regardless, she couldn''t evade it; dying was just a matter of time. She had just resolved to confront the warden head-on, so why back down so easily?


    Angry thoughts surged within her, and with determination, she threw off the nket, ring at the door. "Come on then, I''m not afraid of you"


    Her words came to an abrupt halt.


    Because she saw Aiden standing casually by the door, calmly pointing to an erected cross. "Very well, go on up by yourself!"


    At this moment, she felt her legs weaken.


    "You... Can you first tell me what you intend to do?" she tentatively asked Aiden,pletely devoid of her previous confidence.


    "Weren''t you clear about what I want to do? I warned you when you tried to escape before," Aiden said, rubbing his hands together as if preparing for something.


    Ophelia then remembered Aiden''s threat when she attempted to escape: "If you dare to resist, once I catch you, I''ll tie you to a cross, stuff your mouth with garlic, and leave you out in the sun for a day."


    Ophelia suddenly felt a chill run through her entire body.


    "You wouldn''t... be serious, right?" her voice trembled.


    "Words should be kept. If I said you''d sunbathe, then you''ll definitely sunbathe," Aiden said, tapping the cross, "You cause trouble so actively, yet when it''s time for punishment, you look so pitiful. It''s hard for me."


    At this moment, Ophelia finally recalled the fear of being controlled by the warden and the humiliation of being imprisoned in the Rose Prison.


    "I don''t want to!!!" In despair, Ophelia clung tightly to the iron bed, disregarding any semnce of dignity.


    "Drag her out," Aiden turned his head, instructing Veronica behind him.


    "Yes."


    Veronica briskly entered the cell, ruthlessly prying open Ophelia''s hands, lifting her up, and heading out.


    "I don''t want to go to the execution ground! No! Let me go! Nooo!! Waaahhh!!!"


    Ophelia struggled with all her might, but without magical support, she had no chance against Veronica in a pure physical contest.


    Veronica effortlessly held her, tying her hands and feet to the cross, treating her like a fattenedmb ready for ughter.


    Then, Aiden shoved a spout of a water jug into Ophelia''s mouth. She Instinctively trying to resist it, but she soon realized that what flowed into her mouth wasn''t some dangerous holy water, but bloodthough it''s not a human blood, just the pig blood she usually drank in this prison, collected from the ughterhouse.


    After a few sips, Aiden removed the water bag, and Ophelia looked at him with confusion.


    "Don''t misunderstand,st meal. I Gave you some blood; so at least you can die satisfied if you can''t endure itter," Aiden said with a smile, "But I think you''ll be fine. Vampires above the count level can resist some sunlight damage. You, as a princess, definitely won''t die."


    After speaking, he put away the blood-filled water jug and pulled out a bulb of garlic from his pocket.


    Ophelia''s scalp tingled. "Hey, you can''t be serious about..."


    "Can''t skip any steps." Aiden took out a bulb of garlic from his pocket and began to peel it.


    A faint smell of raw garlic wafted through, a scent insignificant to humans but a pungent stench to vampires.


    "Can''t you act like a human for once!" Ophelia felt utterly distressed.


    "Quit the chit-chat, open your mouth," Aiden, holding a few peeled garlic cloves, said kindly to Ophelia, "Come on ah"


    Ophelia clenched her teeth and turned her head away.


    "Tickle her," Aiden instructed Veronica.


    "Yes."


    Veronica continued faithfully executing Aiden''smand, reaching from behind to vigorously tickle Ophelia''s armpits.


    Due to her hands being bound, Ophelia couldn''t dodge and could only endure the assault on her armpits.


    Vampires'' sensory perception was not significantly different from humans, and initially, Ophelia resisted for a short while. However, after a few seconds, she began to squirm restlessly. When Veronica increased the intensity, Ophelia couldn''t help but burst intoughter, "Pfft, hahaha... Uh! Uh uh uh"


    Herughter abruptly stopped as Aiden swiftly shoved the peeled garlic into her mouth and sealed it with a piece of tape.


    Even though vampires didn''t need to breathe, at this moment, Ophelia felt a sense of suffocation. The strong smell of raw garlic filled her mouth and nose, nearly causing her to faint.


    But if she were to swallow this garlic, she could anticipate her stomach churning, and the blood she drank earlier would undoubtedly surge back out.


    "Drag her away," Aiden waved his hand.


    Two riot squad members immediately approached, pulling the eye-rolling Ophelia towards the outskirts of the core area.


    The prisoners in the core area stood in front of the gate, silently witnessing this public execution. Even the usually rowdy ones remained silent.


    On this day, the prisoners in the core area fully grasped the ruthless nature of their warden.

 Chapter 64:

    Chapter 64:


    <b>The Assassin''s Desire for a Quiet Life</b>


    "Warden."


    After resolving Ophelia''s issue, Aiden heard Dailey from Room 12 calling him at the door.


    "What is it?" Aiden turned to look.


    "This time, i was assisting you in capturing the escaped prisoner, I wonder..." Dailey paused with a meaningful smile, looking towards Aiden.


    "Well, rules are rules. The benefits thate with it, of course, won''t becking for you all. But..." Aiden also intentionally paused, smiling with depth.


    "Of course, the demon contract that was lifted by Prisoner 3340, I will re-sign it with you," Dailey nodded knowingly.


    From a simple perspective of exchange, Aiden was confident that Dailey and Arsena wouldn''t easily betray him, as this incident demonstrated.


    However, using these dangerous prisoners was akin to dancing with wolves, and he wouldn''t easily release the cors around their necks.


    But this incident with the witch, Meirujinu, exposed ws in the demon contract, especially against more skilled prisoners. Aiden realized he couldn''t overly rely on the binding power of demon contracts in the future.


    "Chief Aiden! Chief Aiden!"


    At this point, Fei from Room 13 also shouted towards him.


    "What now?" Aiden looked somewhat impatiently.


    Based on past experience, he expected this guy toe up with some entric request again.


    But what Fei said next caught him off guard: "Chief Aiden, do I get any rewards?"


    "What?" Aiden momentarily thought he misheard, "No, you basically did nothing in this incident right?. Why would you ask for rewards?"


    "When that woman broke out of the cell, I resisted the temptation and stayed in my own cell!" Fei proudly puffed up her chest.


    Aiden chuckled after hearing this, then nodded "admiringly": "I have to admit, your audacity is truly something. You might as well own the entire prison''s audacity. Your sentence is just one year, but escaping and getting caught again would add at least five more years. How messed up does your mind have to be to escape with them? Staying in the cell should be the most natural thing to do."


    "Chief Aiden, at least I cooperated with your rules properly!" Fei persisted, "Shouldn''t you reward a model prisoner like me?"


    "Reward? Seriously? Going by that logic, prisoners should have the obligation to report any illegal activities within the prison. You share a room with Prisoner 3340, and you didn''t notice anything?" Aiden stared sharply at Fei, "I haven''t even looked into your responsibility for not reporting what you knew."


    "I don''t know anything! I''m just a weak and helpless subus who only knows how to whine..." Fei said evasively, avoiding eye contact.


    This is, of course, pure nonsense. When Meirujinu tried to use her connections in the prison to spread drugs, she not only refused to cooperate but also failed to report it to Aiden. Her survival principle in this prison is self-preservation and self-interest.


    Having spent so much time with her, Aiden naturally understands her character. He doesn''t bother pointing it out, just gives a cold snort and turns to walk towards Room 11.


    Evangeline, as usual, sits calmly, hugging her legs, curled up on the bed as if yesterday''s events had nothing to do with her.


    However, when Aiden appears at the door, she shows a slight reaction, ncing sideways.


    Aiden gestured, and Veronica opened the cell door. "Prisoner 3201, Evangeline,e out."


    Evangeline calmly gets off the bed, walks to the door, and calmly asks, "Are you going to punish me?"


    Seeing Ophelia''s recent miserable state, she was mentally prepared for this.


    "It''s precisely for this reason that I''ve called you out for an investigation. Come out and go to the interview room."


    Evangeline nods and walks out of the cell.


    In the interview room, separated by an iron table, Evangeline sits at one end, looking like a student ready to attend a ss.


    Aiden sits at the other end, with Veronica standing behind him as a bodyguard.


    In the past, when talking to Evangeline, he wouldn''t need a bodyguard. But now, without the protection of the demon contract, he understands the wisdom of not putting oneself in unnecessary danger when alone with a top-tier assassin.


    Aiden wasn''t the kind of person who believed that trust alone could reform a criminal. While he thought Evangeline wouldn''t harm him, he wouldn''t easily let go of his guard against her.


    Their trust was maintained through transactions and rules, not some elusive emotion.


    After a while, Aiden broke the silence, "I don''t intend to pursue your escape yesterday."


    Evangeline looked up, her eyes showing a hint of confusion.


    "Your escape was coerced by Prisoner 3340, Meirujinu. I can testify to that," Aiden exined the details of the deal, "As long as you promise to reveal her true identity when the timees, I can overlook your escape."


    "Reveal her identity?" Evangeline blinked.


    "To prove to the court and the Inquisition Bureau the true identity of Prisoner 3340, your testimony would be the most effective. Currently, under our strict supervision, Meirujinu can''t erase your memory."


    "So, you''re asking me to... betray her?" Evangeline said, somewhat puzzled.


    "I''m asking you to cut ties with her," Aiden corrected, "You don''t owe her anything, so where does betrayale in?"


    Evangeline fell into silence, torn between the fear rooted in her since childhood and the so-called emotions for Meirujinu, making her hesitant about Aiden''s proposal.


    Aiden stares at her for a while, then sighs, "Evangeline, do you ever dream of a peaceful life? Not in prison, but outside, a tranquil life where you don''t have to kill, just obey the rules to live peacefully."


    "Outside? But, didn''t you say before..." Evangeline looked somewhat surprised.


    "Well, before, you were sentenced to a lifetime in prison. But now that Meirujinu is caught, you might have a chance," Aiden tapped his fingers on the table, "But the condition is, you have to cut ties with your past as an assassin. You have to use Meirujinu. This decision has to be yours, and I can help you with the rest. This is your only chance."


    "Make my own decision?" Evangeline still seemed somewhat bewildered.


    "You''ve already learned to make your own decisions, haven''t you? Just like yesterday," Aiden encouraged, looking at her.


    Evangeline recalled yesterday, the sudden thought that made her resist the "mother''s"mand.


    Dreaming of a peaceful life... that was her own desire.


    After a while, Evangeline spoke, "I... agree."

 Chapter 65:

    Chapter 65:


    <b>Giving You a Chance</b>


    One hour before meeting Evangeline, in the interview room, Aiden sat at the iron table, and Veronica standing behind him as usual. However, this time, at the other end of the table, it wasn''t Evangeline who was sitting but Meirujinu, wearing handcuffs and shackles.


    "The prison guards and prisoners you treated are all fine now. Your medical skills are indeed remarkable"


    Aiden stared into Meirujinu''s eyes, his tone ambiguous, mixing mockery and admiration.


    "It seems the warden has a soft spot for talent. I wonder if my abilities can catch the warden''s eye?" Meirujinu smiled.


    "It''s hard for me to cherish a ''talent'' who wanted to kill me just yesterday," Aiden raised an eyebrow, "Moreover, the news of an S-ss criminal like you falling into my hands will likely bring the Inquisition Bureau running to im you."


    "That means you want me dead," Meirujinu sighed but still maintained herposure, "I wonder if the warden is willing to give me a chance at life?"


    After being taken to participate in the rescue efforts in the infirmary by Aiden, Meirujinu realized something.


    This warden had the guts to use high-risk prisoners like her.


    Yesterday, she experienced firsthand the warden''s ability to utilize prisoners.


    The witch Dailey, the necromancer Arsena, both originally S-ss fugitives with a high danger level in the prison, yet the warden used his connections to make deals with the Inquisition Bureau, allowing them to research forbidden arts in exchange for their loyalty.


    In other words, this man was willing to trade with valuable prisoners.


    Meirujinu believed she had valueparable to Dailey and Arsena.


    At the same time, she could sense that Aiden, in talking to her now, had an intention to make a deal.


    This was the only chance for her to survive now, having fallen in Aiden''s hands.


    In the past, she used the assassin she trained to assassinate many peoplesome in high positions, others wealthy or influential, and some reigning over their territories.


    There were now countless individuals who wanted her dead, whether to put her on the guillotine, eliminate her swiftly, or silence her.


    Evangeline served not only as her killing tool but also as her protective shield. She had made numerous enemies, and losing Evangeline meant losing the foundation of her survival in the underworld.


    Even with her skills, it was challenging to cultivate another assassin as outstanding as Evangeline. This was why she took the risk of infiltrating the prison and attempt to rescue Evangeline.


    However, she ultimately fell into the hands of the warden.


    Now her life was entirely in the hands of this man.


    As long as Aiden had Evangeline use her true identity, her death sentence was almost certainunless the warden was willing to broker a deal with her and the Inquisition Bureau to secure a reduced sentence, like he did with Dailey and Arsena.


    "Not only for those who died by your hands but just considering the children you destroyed, your crimes are enough to warrant execution countless times. Honestly, I personally would like to see you dead," Aiden shifted the tone of his words, "However, if you can make a small effort to atone for your sins, I''m not unwilling to give you a chance."


    "How do you want me to atone for my sins?" Meirujinu asked.


    Aiden stared at her for a while and then spoke, "Evangeline."


    Hearing this name, Meirujinu''s expression changed slightly.


    Aiden continued, "Your expertise in dark magic and demon contracts surpasses the dark magic techniques managed by the Inquisition Bureau. Evangeline power is also cultivated by you. If you can find a way to remove the power from her, restore her to a normal person, even if it''s just approaching normal, I can help you seek a reduced sentence."


    Veronica, standing behind Aiden, showed a subtle change in her expression.


    "You want that child to be inconspicuous?" Meirujinu furrowed her brow, feeling some resistance to this proposal.


    She only considered Evangeline as a tool, but Evangeline was, after all, her most exceptional creation.


    Like a cksmith cherishing the sword they forged, she had an extraordinary attachment to Evangeline.


    Aiden''s proposal, to some extent, was akin to destroying her highest masterpiece.


    "In the past, she didn''t have a chance to leave the prison, and I could only teach her how to survive in it," Aiden calmly said, "But now, you''ve fallen into my hands. If you can find a way to make her return to normal, after her eight-year sentence isplete, she might be allowed to be released."


    "Over a hundred lives ended by her hands, and you''re actually willing to give her such a chance?" Meirujinu didn''t quite understand Aiden''s perspective.


    "The responsibility for those hundreds of lives should fall on your shoulders; she was coerced by you," Aiden responded calmly, "Moreover, considering her resistance to your orders yesterday, I believe she has the intention to reform herself. That''s why I''m willing to give her this chance."


    "She has never had her own thoughts," Meirujinu asserted.


    "Now she does," Aiden seamlessly replied. "People can change; don''t think she''s still just a tool at your disposal."


    At this moment, Meirujinu keenly felt that Aiden hadpletely taken away Evangeline, the assassin she had nurtured.


    This was the second time she experienced frustration since falling into Aiden''s hands.


    "If I refuse or say I don''t know, what do you n to do?" she asked tentatively.


    "I''ll hand you over to the Inquisition Bureau, let the court sentence you to death. And I''ll find ways to torture you, Before handing you over and before you go to the gallows" Aiden replied.


    "You n to use extrajudicial methods on me?"


    "Exactly, I''m not one to stick strictly to the rules," Aiden said, reaching his hand toward Veronica behind him. "Give me the baton."


    Veronica respectfully handed over the iron baton.


    Then, Aiden, holding the baton, calmly circled around the iron table and came to Meirujinu''s side.


    While she was still contemting whether he intended to beat her with the baton, Aiden suddenly reached out, pinched the sides of her face, forced her to open her mouth, and then abruptly inserted the baton into her mouth.


    Meirujinu instinctively shivered, realizing that with a slight stir of the iron baton, Aiden could easily break arge number of her teeth at once, causing excruciating pain that would spasm her stomach.


    And she could sense that this man was capable of doing it.


    "I''ll definitely hand you over to the Inquisition Bureau alive, but that doesn''t mean I have to hand you over intact. As long as I report to them that you suffered injuries during the riot..." Aiden said coldly, "Now, let me hear your answer."


    After a while, Meirujinu finally relented. With a slight nod, she made a faint sound as her teeth lightly struck the iron baton.


    Only then did Aiden withdraw the baton from her mouth and handed it back to Veronica.


    Veronica hesitated for a moment, and carefully taking the baton, prepared to clean itter.


    "Why..." Meirujinu covered her mouth, the rough action from Aiden aching her teeth, "are you going to such lengths for that child? Out of sympathy?"


    "I don''t sympathize with her, but it''s our duty to ensure that prisoners can leave the prison and live a good life," Aiden said, while adjusting his hat, "Since she now has hope of release, I''ll do my best to fight for it."


    Support me doing this trantion


    Here

 Chapter 66:

    Chapter 66:


    <b>Transfer of Contract</b>


    "Great news! This way, the child will have a chance to be released in the future, right?"


    in the warden''s office, Veronica looked delighted as she gazed at her superior sitting at the desk.


    "We''ve merely created an opportunity for her. whether she can be released smoothly depends on her own fate," Aiden replied, ncing through the documents on his desk. "Firstly, her behavior in prison must be exemry, and secondly, she needs to n for her future as soon as possible."


    "Future ns?"


    "After her release, she needs a n for how to live. Many inmatesck other job skills and resort to illegal activities. Some long-term prisoners can''t adapt to life outside and may even intentionallymit crimes to return. Even if Evangeline sentence is at its shortest, she''ll be an adult by the time she''s out. She''ll have to support herself. Her previous upation was murder, and I assume you wouldn''t want to see her be a murderer again after release, right?" Aiden nced up at Veronica.


    Veronica nodded thoughtfully. Aiden''s considerations were far-sightedpared to hers. She only thought about giving Evangeline a chance to rebuild her life after Melusine capture, but Aiden was already thinking about what happens after her release.


    (Tn: Meirujinu will be changed to Melusine)


    "Thinking about living a normal life, that child has a long way to go. Let''s focus on the immediate issues," Aiden said, cing the documents down. "Evangeline has two unusual characteristics that must be addressed: the toxicity in her blood and her shapeshifting ability. Once we resolve these two issues, her danger level will decrease to a point eptable to the judiciary."


    Law enforcement agencies are particrly wary of these two abilities in Evangeline.


    Her blood and bodily fluids are highly poisonous. Even if she has no intention to kill, this trait could inadvertently lead to fatalities.


    The issue with her shapeshifting ability lies in its criminal potential and the difficulty of monitoring it.


    Even sanctioned magic users, recognized by authorities like the investigator from Inquisition Bureau, need the highest qualifications to be allowed to hold simr abilities.


    "How does Inmate 3340''s proposal address this?" Veronica craned her neck to look at the documents.


    The information Aiden had been reviewing was, in fact, the general n provided by Melusine to treat Evangeline.


    "In the n Melusine provided, the first part involves long-term intake of specific magical drugs to transform her constitution, gradually removing the toxins from her blood. This process will take at least five years," Aiden exined.


    "Five years?" Veronica widened her eyes.


    "That''s already considered short. It took Melusine nearly a decade to transform Evangeline into her current state. Fortunately, Evangeline sentence is long enough, and if I manage to reduce Melusine''s sentence, she''ll likely be sentenced to life imprisonment. We have enough time. If we sessfully eliminate the toxicity in Evangeline''s blood, her lifespan can be significantly extended. Melusine''s expertise in this area surpasses official medical technology."


    "That''s great... What about the shapeshifting ability?"


    "Well, it seems it needs to be transferred to someone else," Aiden said, ncing at the documents on the table.


    "Is that ability transferable?" Veronica was surprised.


    "Yes, Evangeline''s shapeshifting ability is obtained through a demonic contract, with the cost being the loss of pain sensitivity. Don''t think losing pain sensitivity is a good thing; pain is the body''s mechanism to sense harm. Evangeline often ends up with severe burns because she can''t feel the pain. Also, when she falls ill, she hardly notices until the condition worsens. Additionally, the spiciness people taste in food is also a form of pain sensitivity, which Evangelinepletelycks."


    "I see, it''s indeed inconvenient," Veronica grasped the situation. "Is there a way to restore it?"


    "No, once a demonic contract takes effect, it can''t be undone. Demons aren''t phnthropists; the cost they demand cannot be refunded unless you offer a higher value. However, as long as the person who paid the cost allows it, the beneficiary of the contract can be changed. Melusine can modify the demonic contract and transfer the shapeshifting ability to someone else," Aiden exined, pausing before adding, "But it''s not something anyone can do."


    "Why would you say that?"


    "In official ck magic management, this type of shapeshifting ability has the highest surveince level, ssified as level five. Only individuals with the corresponding qualifications are allowed to possess it." Aiden crossed his arms, contemting as he spoke. "I n to use my connections to inquire with the Inquisition Bureau, but I doubt anyone would be willing to ept."


    "Why not? Isn''t this a windfall?" Veronica was momentarily puzzled.


    Listening to Aiden''s description, Evangeline had already paid the demonic contract cost, and the person receiving the transferred contract essentially acquired a shapeshifting ability for free.


    "ording to official regtions, individuals with this level of surveince on special abilities must report their daily activities to the Inquisition Bureau every three days. Each use of the ability must be reported immediately, and intentionally concealing or not reporting is considered a crime. Moreover, in any case suspected to be rted to this ability, cooperation with investigations and evidence collection is mandatory," Aiden exined with a bitter smile. "You see, this treatment is on par with parolees."


    "Can''t Evangeline acquire the qualifications to possess the ability herself?" Veronica questioned.


    "The Inquisition Bureau''s regtion is that individuals currently serving sentences cannot obtain qualifications for ck magic possession," Aiden shrugged.


    If Evangeline doesn''t get rid of the shapeshifting ability, it''s almost impossible for her to be released early. However, to acquire the qualifications to possess this ability, she would need to be released first, creating an unsolvable contradiction.


    Therefore, Evangeline has no choice but to transfer the ability to someone else.


    "But what if we can''t find someone?" Veronica looked puzzled.


    "It''s okay; I already have a backup candidate," Aiden reassured.


    "Who is it?"


    "Me," Aiden calmly replied.


    "Huh?"


    "I used to be a senior adjudicator at the Inquisition Bureau, and I have level-five surveince qualifications for ck magic possession," Aiden pointed to himself. "Although I''m no longer in the bureau, the qualifications remain. If we can''t find anyone, I can apply to transfer Evangeline''s ability to me." He paused for a moment and added with a candid expression, "Anyway, it''s not really a loss for me."


    Aiden was well aware that even in his changed position, he couldn''t im to be entirely safe in this world.


    This recent riot was a vivid example, and having an additional ability would be beneficial for him.

 Chapter 67:

    Chapter 67:


    <b>Variations in People''s Constitutions Shouldn''t Be Generalized</b>


    In the evening, Veronica changed into her uniform in the dressing room and, as usual, began her duty.


    She first assembled the riot squad member on duty, patrolled the core area and factory, then proceeded to the prisoners'' canteen to monitor the inmates finishing their work and having dinner.


    After nearly a month as a prison guard, Veronica had be quite adept at her job.


    "Veronica, have you had dinner yet?" Isabe, her colleague on duty, approached and greeted her in a soft tone. "Let''s grab a meal togetherter."


    "Sure," Veronica agreed.


    "It feels ufortable supervising inmates on an empty stomach. I was nning to have dinner before taking the night shift."


    "Managing prisoners on an empty stomach is indeed ufortable. I was going to eat after dinner, then I heard from a colleague in the second block that they were serving ''spicy hot pot'' today, so I came straight here," Isabe chatted with her.


    Under Aiden''s modifications as the warden, the Rose Prison''s canteen introduced many dishes that shouldn''t exist in this world, raising the standards topete with outside specialty restaurants. Over time, Veronica, like other prison guards, often opted to stay and eat the work meals inside the prison.


    "Yeah, I quite like that one too," Veronica replied while scanning the inmates who were having their meals.


    "The food in the canteen is good, but recently, I''ve noticed that I seem to be gaining some weight around my belly. It''s easy to overeat here without realizing it," Isabe sighed. "Do you experience that, Veronica?"


    "Not at all," Veronica denied. "I''ve actually lost two pounds this month."


    "How is that possible? I see you eat almost twice as much as I do on a regr basis!" Isabe looked incredulous.


    "Don''t exaggerate. It''s not that extreme," Veronicaughed, giving her colleague a yful shoulder bump.


    "But seriously how did you do it?"


    "I do some light exercise at night when I''m not on the night shift."


    "What kind of exercise do you do? I want to give it a try," Isabe attempted to learn.


    "Five minutes of stretching, fifteen minutes of boxing on a sandbag, and if it''s not a full moon or raining, I run five kilometers on the streets outside," Veronica thought for a moment. "Sometimes, on the night roads, I encounter thugs who want to mess with me. That''s when I get to practice some self-defense moves."


    "Is this for real? You''re a bit too hardcore! This is supposed to be ''light'' exercise!" Isabe was astonished.


    "It''s not that extreme. I used to be more intense when I was in the mounted police. Once, during a raid on a gang stronghold, we had a brawl for an hour and a half. Afterward, I chased fugitives for over ten kilometers through the alleys of the old city," Veronica replied casually.


    "Werewolves and humans have different constitutions; you can''t generalize them."


    "You really are a werewolf," Isabe nodded admiringly, then exaggeratedly raised a finger. "Come on, when I make this gesture, it means you''re..."


    "Alright, enough of that. Stop fooling around. Let''s get back to work!"


    Veronica ushered her colleague back to her position, continuing to focus on monitoring the inmates in the vicinity.


    At that moment, she noticed a petite figure carrying a tray and sitting at a position quite close to her.


    It was Evangeline.


    Veronica couldn''t help but give her a couple more nces.


    When she first took the job, she had paid extra attention to this young girl, because she reminded her of her past self.


    She sympathized with Evangeline''s situation, but there was little she could do.


    Fortunately, after the events ofst month were resolved, Evangeline''s situation took a turn.


    Under Warden Aiden''s request, Evangeline began receiving regr medication and transferred the powers obtained through the devil contract away.


    ording to what Aiden had mentioned, the preliminary negotiations with the judiciary and the Inquisition Bureau went quite smoothly. Given enough time and if Evangeline continued to demonstrate good behavior, there was a chance for her to be released once her sentence wasplete.


    Despite not having much interaction with Evangeline while steadfastly holding her work position, Veronica couldn''t help but feel genuinely happy for her upon learning about the positive turn in her situation.


    Observing Evangeline arranging ss jars containing condiments she had fetched from the food counter  being a top-tier enforcer under the warden''s wing granted Evangeline a rtively high treatment level in the prison, allowing her more choices for meal apaniments and even free ess to condiments.


    Evangeline started by spreading jam on sliced bread, followed by ketchup, then yellow mustard... creating a visually exaggerated and voluminous mixture.


    Veronica watched with a bit of anxiety, realizing that consuming such abination could potentially be lethal for a regr person.


    However, when she saw Evangeline take a bite of the toast, her unchanging poker face revealed a subtle gleam of anticipation in her eyes. Despite the unconventional eating habits, Veronica chose not to intervene.


    Knowing Evangeline''s taste buds were damaged, forcing her to enhance vors dramatically to be able to eat, Veronica recognized the futility of advising her to maintain a more bnced diet.


    Evangeline''s lifespan was destined to be short, and it was better to let her be.


    Just as Evangeline was about to bite into the toast, she suddenly noticed Veronica''s gaze, closed her mouth, turned her face towards her, and locked eyes with Veronica.


    Veronica was momentarily stunned, unsure of how to react.


    "..."


    "..."


    A prolonged, awkward silence ensued as they stared at each other, until finally, Evangeline broke the silence, looking at Veronica and then at the oddly colored slices of bread in her hand.


    "...Want some?" she deadpanned, offering a small piece.


    "No, thank you. Enjoy your meal," Veronica waved her hands, diverting her gaze.


    The inmates sat in the cafeteria, eating in a routine manner, seemingly just like any other day.


    It looks like today will be a peacefull day.


    Just as Veronica thought this, she suddenly noticed a prisoner who seemed out of ce  ignoring the nearby empty seats, the inmate headed directly to the innermost rows of tables, all of which were upied.


    Furthermore, she didn''t carry a tray with food.


    Just as she was about to blow the whistle to stop the inmate, the person lunged from behind at another inmate who was having a meal, tightly gripping their neck with one arm. Simultaneously, the assant produced a gleaming silver dinner knife seemingly out of nowhere and thrust it toward the victim''s eyes, shouting, "Die, Cami!"


    A roar and surrounding screams erupted almost simultaneously. The targeted inmate reacted promptly, seizing the attacker''s wrist, then swiftly stood up, forcefully bending forward, and with unbelievable strength, flipped the assant over their shoulder, mming them onto a nearby table.

 Chapter 68:

    Chapter 68:


    <b>Those with Guns Are Naturally More Powerful</b>


    The long table snapped in half at the waist, and tes crashed to the floor one after another.


    In the blink of an eye, two inmates were entangled in a brawl, while others quickly backed away.


    Veronica promptly blew the whistle and charged forward, shouting, "Stop! I told you to stop!"


    In the core area, when the inmates were fighting, regr prison guards would typically have to call in the riot squad. It was challenging for them to intervene directly, given that many inmates in the core area possessed abilities far beyond those of ordinary people.


    The inmate who had just retaliated was clearly one of them, as the force of his shoulder throw could easily cripple an ordinary person.


    However, Veronica was unfazed, She was not only the captain of the riot squad but also one of those with abilities surpassing the norm!


    The attacked inmates, despite Veronica''s warning, showed no intention of stopping. They continued relentlessly assaulting their assant, seemingly intent on beating them to death.


    Veronica, no longer holding back, grabbed her baton and prepared to strike the back of one of the attackers.


    However, at that moment, the inmate suddenly turned alert, spun around, and threw a powerful punch aimed at Veronica''s face.


    Startled, Veronica instinctively raised her baton to block.


    The metallic baton rang out as it shed with the heavy punch, and Veronica felt a sharp pain in her wrist from the transmitted force.


    After Stumbling backward for a couple of steps, Veronica regained her bnce and looked in surprise at the inmate before her. In the core area, few inmates could match her in hand-to-handbat.


    "Well, well, Officer, you''ve got some skills. Want to spar a bit?" The young female inmate suddenlyughed, provocatively waving at Veronica, her eyes emitting a strange golden glow.


    Veronica recognized the inmate, it was core area''s Room 10 Carmi, the Violent Dragon.


    "It''s really you. I told you to stop, didn''t I?"


    Veronica furrowed her brow, having vaguely guessed the identity when she heard the name shouted during the altercation.


    Carmi, a notorious figure Veronica had heard about during her time in the mounted police.


    She was a member of the "Blood Hand" gang in the old district of Silver City. Known as the ace enforcer of the gang, she was undefeated in gang battles and earned the title of the queen in the old district. A year ago, she was arrested for identally killing a member of a rival gang during a brawl.


    This woman''s strength was rumored to be due to a trace of dragon blood in her ancestry, known as... dragon lineage.


    Witnessing Carmi eyes turning like reptilian in excitement, Veronica felt the rumor might not be baseless.


    "Come on, you saw it too. This trash started it." Carmi pointed behind her with her thumb. "I''m just acting in self-defense, perfectly justified."


    The attacked inmate nowy motionless in the midst of the shattered table, buried under a pile of tes and food, silent and possibly lifeless.


    "Stay aside!"


    Veronica forcefully pushed Carmi away, focusing on first aiding the injured inmate and then dealing with the situation.


    Unexpectedly, Carmi threw a punch without warning. Luckily, Veronica reflexively dodged, letting the fist graze past her nose.


    Veronica retaliated with a swift kick to Kam''s abdomen, forcing her to step back.


    "Are you out of your mind!?" Veronica red at Carmi.


    "It''s rare to encounter an evenly matched opponent. It''d be too boring not to have a good fight! Let''s see if the werewolf or the dragon-blooded descendant is more formidable."


    Carmi stared fearlessly at Veronica, wearing a wild smile, ready for action.


    Veronica recalled from the archives that Carmi was abat maniac addicted to violence. In the past, she had beaten up roommates over trivial matters, leading to her being assigned a solitary cell.


    Just as Veronica found the situation challenging, a figure suddenly leaped from the table behind Carmi, soaring high spinning and throwing A spinning kick targeted at Carmi rear skull.


    It was Evangeline, one of the model inmates appointed by Aiden. Upon witnessing the disturbance, she immediately executed Aiden''s orders to maintain prison order.


    Carmi heard the sound of Evangeline jumping off the table and promptly turned, She using her forearm to solidly block the iing kick.


    "You want to join in, little devil?" Carmi became even more excited, preparing to counter-attack as Evangelinended.


    However, Veronica halted her with a cold voice, "Don''t move! Or I''ll shoot."


    Carmi, surprised, turned her face, directly facing Veronica''s raised gun, Evangeline sneak attack bought enough time for Veronica to aim.


    "Hey, using a gun in a duel is cheating, isn''t it?" Carmi raised her hands in a helpless gesture.


    No matter how formidable one''s physical condition, they were ultimately flesh and blood.


    The pistols issued to the guards in the core area used bullets specifically designed for magical beings. Even a dragon descendant would note out unscathed from a few shots.


    When ites to a duel between a dragon descendant and a pure-blooded werewolf, having a gun in hand naturally gives an advantage.


    "Who said I''m dueling with you? I''ve already warned you!" Veronica red at Carmi.


    Just as she was about to order Carmi to crouch and cover her head, the inmate that Carmi had knocked down moments ago suddenly crawled up from the broken table.


    "Carmi!!" The inmate roared and charged at Carmi again.


    Veronica was startledthis inmate should have suffered enough damage to break several bones for a normal person, yet not only did she get up, but she also had the strength tounch another attack.


    Moreover, this inmate looked extremely eeriedisheveled hair, lifeless gray-white skin and hair, with only her eyes shimmering with a haunting azure light. At a nce, she seemed like a vengeful spirit ready to im lives.


    Fortunately, Evangeline rushed over in time, performed a sweeping leg motion, tripped the inmate, and then pinned her hands from behind, disarming her of the dining knife.


    Veronica finally got a clear look at this inmateSilene, the Corpse Specter, just like Carmi, She was also a well-known figure in the core area, residing in Room 19.


    "Carmi! I''m going to kill you! Kill you!!" Silene struggled while yelling.


    Carmi response was to roll her eyes, "So annoying!"


    Without time to contemte the feud between these two, Veronica quickly shouted to the other guards, "Hurry, cuff them both!"


    After shouting, she turned her gaze back and, unintentionally, made eye contact with Evangeline.


    After a moment of silence, Veronica nodded towards Evangeline, indicating gratitude.

 Chapter 69:

    Chapter 69:


    <b>Physical Transformation</b>


    In the warden office, Aiden stood upright before a full-length mirror, gazing at his uniformed reflection.


    In the next moment, his face transformed strangely, like a ball of kneaded rubber. When it resettled, his features had undergone a significant change.


    With a face now resembling the original but more delicate, hair rapidly lengthening into shoulder-length locks, and his body bing slender with graceful curves, the mirrored image unmistakably presented a female figure.


    "I see..... It''s bing clear," Aiden thought, observing his altered self in the mirror.


    This was the shape-shifting ability Evangeline had obtained through a demonic pact.


    In the end, he was unable to find someone willing to ept Evangeline ability, and had to taken it upon himself.


    Though it might appear self-serving to others, Aiden, at least, felt justified in his decision.


    Considering the approval of this proposal by the Inquisition Bureau, extracting Evangeline ability can indeed significantly reduced the perceived threat she posed to the judiciary. This, in turn, favored her chances of release in the future.


    Even within the confines of the prison, Evangeline, the "Tainted Blood Reaper," remained a substantial hazard.


    It''s not just Melusine who orchestrating the prior riot, but there was the looming possibility of other underworld forces seeking to exploit her assassin talents.


    Diminishing Evangeline capabilities through this peaceful means was advantageous not only for the prison but also forw enforcement agencies eager to mitigate the risks she posed.


    After obtaining this ability from Evangeline, Aiden conducted some simple experiments. While he had gathered information from Melusine and Evangeline herself, practical experience always revealed the true extent of things.


    From his current understanding, this so-called shape-shifting ability primarily focused on bodily transformation rather than mere disguise.


    He couldn''t intricately transform into a specific person but could alter aspects such as physique, height, weight, and apparent age based on his original body. The most extreme change allowed was a gender transformation.


    He could sculpt himself into a muscr figure without exercising, be an overweight individual with excess fat, or a thin, almost skeletal like appearance.


    Reverting to childhood or rapidly aging into a frail elderly person was also within his capabilities. And now, as seen, he could transform into a female version of himself.


    During these physical changes, facial features adapted to the altered physique, achieving a certain degree of disguise for those unaware of his ability.


    For instance, if pursued, he could transform outside the enemy''s field of vision into an old woman or a child, making recognition challenging for the average person.


    However, If the opponent possessed prior knowledge of his abilities and had a discerning eye for faces, recognizing the altered physique wouldn''t prove challenging.


    In the past, when Evangeline operated as an assassin, she consistently wore a mask. However, merely changing physique was sufficient to seriously disrupt investigations and pursuits.


    However, this ability, despite its effective disguise, proved most convenient for flexible adjustments to his own body rather than impersonation.


    First of all, this ability can used as an emergency measure for simple physical injuries.


    For instance, crucial stab wounds or bullet prations could undergo temporary closure and hemostasis through bodily transformation. It also allowed for the somewhat resetting and temporary fixation of uplicated fractures and dislocations.


    Of course, the essential distinction from self-healing remainedthe injuries treated with emergency bodily transformation persisted unless promptly medically addressed. If the ability was lifted, the damages would revert to their original state.


    Moreover, altering his physique allowed Aiden to adjust his body''s condition to some extent. For instance, transforming into a tall and robust man would activate a "Tank Mode," enhancing his body strength and muscle power, but dulling sensory perception and reaction speed.


    Conversely, assuming the form of a child or a slender figure would initiate a contrasting "Scout Mode." Despite diminished strength, visual acuity, hearing, and reaction speed would all see improvement.


    While As an elderly person, although the physical abilities would experience an overall decline, the mental stability would increase. Transforming into this state can swiftly calmed him down when facing panic or mental disturbances.


    Regarding gender transformation, it proved effective in swiftly dispelling enchantment states.


    Of course, this skill had a cooldown period. The maximum duration for a single transformation was approximately two hours. Beyond this limit, like muscr fatigue, the body couldn''t transform for a short period, necessitating an extended rest for recovery.


    Overall, it''s a quite practical skill.


    If there''s any drawback...


    "It''s quite painful," Aiden touched his face. During the transformation, there''s a needle-like pain in the changing parts of the body. It''s bearable but enough to discourage casual experimentation.


    No wonder the cost of this ability is the loss of sense of pain; it''s somewhat fitting.


    Aiden looked down and subconsciously rubbed his face.


    However, self-touching felt as unremarkable as scratching an itch he gave himself.


    So, he lost interest.


    Just then, the office door was knocked.


    "Come in," Aiden straightened up and instinctively called.


    Only when a female voice spoke did he realize something was offhis appearance had changed now.


    Veronica,ing to report, hesitated for a moment upon hearing the voice. However, upon hearing e in," her hand moved before her thoughts, habitually pushing the door open.


    Then, she and the female version of Aiden locked eyes. They stared in silence for two seconds, and Veronica closed the door again.


    Why is there a woman in the office, who looks somewhat like the chief, wearing the warden''s uniform?


    Veronica was caught in contemtion, tangled in thoughts.


    Although she knew Aiden had obtained Evangeline ability, she didn''t have detailed information about the power. She hadn''t considered it yet, feeling a myriad of question marks hovering above her head.


    No, it must be her improper way of opening the door that led to a momentary confusion.


    Sheposed herself, took a deep breath, and then reopened the door.


    There, she saw Aiden sitting at his desk as usual, immersed in handling documents.


    Aiden paused his actions, lifted his face nonchntly, and looked over. "Veronica, anything you need?"


    His expression was calm, his gaze steady, as if nothing had happened moments ago.


    Veronica, with a bewildered expression, saluted. "There''s a fight in the cafeteria... I came to report to you."

 Chapter 70:

    Chapter 70:


    <b>The Vendetta of Matricide</b>


    "Sine and Carmi.... I see. Alright, I understand." Aiden calmly nodded in response to Veronica''s report about the incident.


    Veronica was somewhat surprised by Aiden''s nonchnt reaction and ventured, "Chief, do they... frequently fight?"


    "Yeah, Sine was imprisoned just to kill Carmi," Aiden casually replied. "Usually, I try to keep them separated, but prison regtions make it challenging to entirely prevent their encounters. This time, it seems the surveince at the worksite wasx, allowing Sine to slip into the cafeteria. Let''s deal with the prisoners first."


    He stood up from his seat and headed outside the office, with Veronica following closely.


    "Chief, why would Sine want to kill Carmi?" Veronica asked curiously in the hallway.


    "For revenge," Aiden replied without looking back.


    "What kind of vendetta could they have?" Veronica was puzzled.


    Sine, a thirty-seven years old, was a former textile worker in the old district, while Carmi, twenty years old, used to be a small-time gang member in the past. Veronica found it hard to imagine any connection between the two.


    "It''s a vendetta for matricide. Sine had a son before entering prison, a member of a rival gang under Carmi''s control. In a gang brawl, Carmi killed him, leading to her imprisonment. To avenge her son, Sine took the condolence money from the gang, used her underworld connections to find a necromancer, turned herself into a revenant deliberately by using dark magic, and got incarcerated to seek an opportunity to kill Carmi," Aiden exined as they walked.


    "To go to such lengths for revenge, even turning into a revenant... it''s astonishing," Veronica remarked, clearly shaken.


    The concept of a revenant, essentially a vengeful spirit attached to a corpse, arises from the idea that after death, a lingering spirit, often driven by unfulfilled desirestypically revengeuses necromancy to forcibly return the soul to its original body, creating an undead creature.


    In essence, If you want to turn into a necromancer''s puppet, the first step is tomit suicide.


    "When Sine''s son was killed, she was already seriously ill, with only a few years to live, while Carmi faced an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Sine seemingly calcted that she wouldn''t survive until Carmi''s release outside, so her only chance to get revenge was inside the prison. She took a desperate gamble, transforming herself into what she is now just to have the opportunity to avenge Carmi within Rose Prison," Aiden exined, shaking his head. "Of course, for us, it''s just added trouble."


    From the perspective of prison guards, supporting one inmate killing another is out of the question.


    At this point in the conversation, they had reached the infirmary where the inmates were cared for.


    Upon entering, they found the on-duty prison doctor at a loss, facing Sine, who was strapped to the bed.


    "You''re here, Warden," the doctor sighed in relief at the sight of Aiden. "I can''t handle this type of patient; I only know how to treat the living."


    Sine''s face was covered in bruises, with several joints showing unnatural signs of possible fractures all courtesy of Carmi.


    However, being an undead, Sine couldn''t feel any pain. Despite severe injuries, she struggled on the bed, her eyes flickering with eerie blue mes, ring at Carmi, who sat nearby with her hands bound.


    Sine''s mouth was taped shut by the prison guards, preventing her from cursing her enemy.


    "I didn''t ask you to treat her; I just need a ce to keep her for now," Aiden waved off the doctor and turned to a nearby guard. "Go to the library and fetch Arsena. She knows how to treat the undead."


    The guard nodded and handed something over, saying, "Warden, this is the weapon she used."


    Aiden examined ita silver knife, simr in style to the ones in the cafeteria but noticeably shorter and sharper.


    It seemed Sine had secretly hidden it, and turning it into a weapon, doing this in prison required considerable effort.


    After a sigh, Aiden looked at Sine and then told Veronica, "Once Arsena heals her, lock her in solitary confinement for seven days."


    He had no interest in lecturing Sine, knowing it would be futile.


    Then, he walked over to Carmi.


    Carmi was tied to a chair, surrounded by several riot squad member.


    Watching this scene, Veronica suddenly felt a sense of dj vushe had been on the other side of this treatment when she had beaten up other inmates.


    Aiden stared at Carmi for a while. "Carmi, downgrade her treatment level, and nine days in solitary."


    "Wait a minute, why is my time longer than hers? It was self-defense!" Carmi protested, ring at Aiden. "I was just defending myself!"


    "You''re in solitary not for self-defense but for attacking a prison guard. Youid hands on the on-duty guard; that''s undeniable, right?" Aiden remained expressionless.


    "So what? I thought she had some skills and wanted to spar. Don''t be so uptight!" Carmi shrugged nonchntly.


    "Attacking another inmate and attacking a prison guard are entirely different. Nine days in solitary is lenient; if you had injured the guard, you''d face additional penalties. What''s your motive?" Aiden frowned.


    "Just for fun. I''ve been irritated by you guards for a while. Even though none of you can match me one on one, you always boss me around," Carmi said, ncing at Veronica. "it''s just stupid, If a real strong yer like me has to follow all the rules and y nice with the authorities."


    "Strong yer? a small-time gang member thinking she''s a big shot because she joined the underworld? Do you consider yourself a protagonist?" Aiden sneered at Carmi.


    Carmi rolled her eyes at Aiden, then, after a few seconds of silence, she spat on Aiden''s boot and looked at him provocatively.


    Aiden lowered his head, inspected his boot, and with an expressionless face, wiped it on Carmi''s pant leg.


    "Hey, what are you doing?" Cami was immediately furious.


    "You brought this upon yourself," Aiden calmly replied, "Add one more day of solitary."


    After saying this, he gestured for the riot squad to take her away.


    Watching his subordinates escort the prisoner out, Aiden sighed with his hands on his hips. "None of them are easy to handle."

 Chapter 71:

    Chapter 71:


    <b>Afternoon Tea in the Infirmary</b>


    In the afternoon of the following day, Aiden, having finished his work, strolled into the infirmary.


    He came to check Evangeline medical examination results.


    To cleanse the toxicity in Evangeline blood, he not only had her undergo daily medication but also arranged a weekly physical examination here.


    Despite the treatment n provided by Melusine, he remained somewhat cautious.


    Pushing open the infirmary door, he immediately spotted Veronica, who was sitting by the door, keeping watch over the prisoners.


    "Chief!" Veronica promptly stood up, saluting Aiden.


    Aiden gestured for her to stay seated, and saying, "Oh, it''s your duty today."


    "Yes."


    Aiden scanned the room and noticed Evangeline, who had just finished her examination, sitting on the bed. She held a tea te, casually enjoying a small piece of cake with a dab of snow-white cream on her lips.


    Aiden looked puzzled, "Where did the cakee from?"


    The prison cafeteria, whether for guards or inmates, only provided meals and didn''t serve such desserts. The only possibility was that a guard brought it in from outside.


    Upon hearing his question, Evangeline paused her chewing but didn''t directly answer. She simply turned her gaze silently towards Veronica.


    Aiden followed her gaze towards Veronica, who raised her hand in admission, saying, "Sorry, it was... I bought it for her as a thank you for helping out yesterday."


    "Oh, I see. That''s fine," Aiden smiled. "If prisoners show merit, giving them rewards is reasonable and within the rules. It''s not against regtions. asionally, I offer them some benefits when I ask for their help. If you find yourself overwhelmed with situations in the prison, feel free to let them lend a hand."


    "Is that okay? I''ve never seen the Chief of the Cell Block do that," Veronica expressed some surprise.


    She knew Evangeline, Dailey, and Arsena were appointed by Aiden to assist in managing the prison as model inmates. However, since she took up her position here, she only witnessed Aiden casually ordering these inmates around. other guards, including the Cell Block Chief, Franda, didn''t have much interaction with these inmates.


    Over time, she couldn''t help but feel that these three inmates were only called upon by the Warden himself.


    Aiden shrugged, "There''s nothing wrong with it. I recruited them to assist guards in managing the prison, not to be my personal secretary. Other guards don''t use them because they''re not ustomed to it, and there''s also some hesitation. But I think you shouldn''t worry about these issues."


    Aiden could tell thatpared to other guards who treated the inmates in the Core Zone as dangerous beasts, Veronica seemed to approach and manage them from a more equal perspective.


    Just like how she dealt with Evangeline, other guards viewed Evangeline as a dangerous monster and didn''t dare to have much contact with this child who was a carrying highly toxic blood. Veronica, on the other hand, could see her as a child and sympathize with her.


    After all, Veronica herself was an exception, not inferior to these inmates. She didn''t hesitate to have close contact with them.


    Aiden was keen on nurturing Veronica, gradually imparting his methods of managing the prison to her.


    If Veronica could be a spokesperson for managing the Core Zone in the future, many tasks wouldn''t necessarily require Aiden''s direct involvement, making the workload considerably lighter.


    "Keep an eye on her; I''ll check the results," Aiden said, striding towards the examination room.


    Once inside, he closed the door behind him.


    In the examination room, two individuals stood - one was the prison doctor, and the other, in shackles, was Melusine.


    Melusine left foot was chained with a long shackle, the other end secured to a pir, preventing her from leaving the examination room and initiating contact with Evangeline.


    "Have the blood test resultse in?" he asked the prison doctor directly.


    "Not all of them, but the toxicity identification isplete," the doctor replied.


    "How are the results?"


    "The toxicity has indeed reduced significantly. The concentration of toxic substances has roughly halved, and other physiological indicators show no abnormalities. Based on the current results, this treatment n is quite effective," the doctor affirmed.


    "Halved? It sounds like she''ll be like a normal person in no time," Aiden remarked.


    "The concentration is just a reference point. Initially, the medication shows more pronounced effects, but as we progress, the improvement slows down. The ultimate goal of the treatment is topletely alter the child''s hematopoietic function, and this process will take some time," Melusine interjected, providing an exnation to Aiden.


    Aiden nodded after listening and turned to Melusine, "That''s good; you seem quite honest. I had some concerns before that you might pull some tricks."


    "I''ve resigned myself. I wouldn''t joke with my life," Melusine smiled, raising her hand to shake the shackles. "I''ve already nned to spend the rest of my life in prison. I wonder if the Warden would be willing to give me more opportunities for rehabilitation?"


    Aiden understood Melusine implication  she wanted to be a model prisoner, serving Aiden, and in return, gain privileges in the prison, simr to Evangeline and others.


    "I''m not daring enough to deal with a woman like you, who''s like a venomous snake, especially since I can''t use a demonic contract on you. But as long as you honestly follow the rules, I won''t trouble you. When I need your assistance, we can talk then," Aiden replied earnestly.


    He knew that Melusine indeed had valuable use, but at the same time, she was an untrustworthy femme fatale. Her current honesty was only because shecked the opportunity to resist him.


    With this woman, he had to keep a cautious distance and trade with her only under secure conditions.


    "A truly cautious man," Melusine sighed.


    At that moment, there was a knock on the door of the examination room.


    "Who?" Aiden turned back.


    "Chief," Veronica''s voice came from outside the room. "The Cell Block Chief sent someone to find you, saying there seems to be an issue in the solitary confinement."


    "Solitary confinement?" Aiden furrowed his brow.


    Normally, the Solitary confinement were not a ce where issues arose. In there, inmates were strictly separated, and any problems were usually promptly handled by the on-duty guards.


    Currently, there should only be two inmates in istion: The Violent Dragon Carmi, who caused trouble in the cafeteria yesterday, and the Revenant Sine.


    After a moment of thought, Aiden responded, "Understood, I''ll go there now."

 Chapter 72:

    Chapter 72:


    <b>Haunted</b>


    "Haunted?" Aiden strode down the corridor, and widening his eyes at Franda report.


    "Yes, you''ll see when you get there."


    Following Franda around a corner, Aiden froze upon reaching the corridor near the confinement room.


    The entire corridor was enveloped in ghostly mist-like apparitions, and faint wails echoing through the air. The atmosphere was bone-chilling, akin to the depths of winter.


    The Lighting from the windows seemed drained by some unseen force, casting an unnatural darkness. The whole corridor felt foreboding, sending shivers down one''s spine.


    "It truly is haunted," Aiden agreed with Franda as they took in the eerie scene.


    The entire corridor in the confinement area transformed into a sinister ghost house. It almost seemed suitable to set up a table at one end and sell tickets.


    It looked bearable now, but when the nightfalle, not many guards would dare to continue their duty here.


    In Aiden''s memories as an investigator for the Inquisition, such phenomena were usually associated with theirs of necromancers or haunted houses and tombs gued by vengeful spirits.


    He identified the invisible entities drifting through the corridor as manifestations of resentment released by vengeful spirits. Contact with these creatures would slowly drain one''s life force, posing a gradual danger to the living. That''s why Franda and the others refrained from approaching.


    "These emanated from Cell No. 1."


    Franda pointed to the nearest room, and Aiden recalled it housed the revenant Sine.


    Sine, willingly transformed into a revenant by necromancy for revenge, exuded an intense aura of resentment.


    Without magical seals suppressing her power, she would emitted a powerful wave of anger.


    Although with her magic sealed, she retained some eerie traits. One of them was causing roommates to experience recurrent nightmares whenever they slept, making it nearly impossible to find anyone willing to share a room with her in the core area.


    "Is the sealing barrier functioning normally?" Aiden asked casually.


    "I''ve checked; everything is in order," Franda nodded. "Should we increase the intensity?"


    "No need, for now Let''s call Arsena from the library to handle this. I''ll go check the situation first," Aiden waved his hand.


    Despite the magical seal operating normally, Sine''s vengeful spirit unexpectedly surfaced. The only usible exnation was a sudden surge in her magical power.


    But Sine had been confined in the cell since yesterday, so theoretically, she shouldn''t have had the opportunity to do anything suspicious.


    "Chief, this seems a bit risky," Franda reminded from the side.


    "It''s fine. I can handle this level of threat," Aiden assured.


    After speaking He licked His right index finger and drew a rune on his left hand, this was also another magical technique inherited from his predecessor for basic protection at exorcism.


    Approaching Cell No. 1, he peered inside through the barred window on the iron door.


    At first nce, Sine''s figure wasn''t visible.


    Did she sit down near the door?


    Carefully approaching, Aiden leaned in towards the iron window.


    Suddenly, Sine''s pallid zombie face rose abruptly from below the window, startling Aiden to the brink of a heart attack.


    He tensed up so much and almost screaming."


    This haunted house is truly thrilling.


    "Inmate 3271, care to exin what''s going on?" Aiden tried His best to calm down and asked Sine.


    "Warden..." The revenant Sine, with flickering ghostly eyes, stared at Aiden and replied evasively, "Let me out!"


    "Why do you want out?"


    "I must kill Carmi! She killed my son! I can sense it... my time is running out! I have to kill her now!"


    Aiden sighed. "Stop talking nonsense. I can''t allow inmates tomit murder in my prison."


    "Let me kill her! Can you imagine the pain of having your enemy right in front of you, yet unable to kill her?" Sine pleaded, her voiceced with tears.


    Aiden fell silent, realizingmunication under these circumstances was futile.


    Sine, a formidable undead, was in essence, just an ordinary woman who had lost her son.


    Aiden had read in the records that Sine''s son had joined a gang to raise money for her medical treatment, only to be killed at the age of fifteen.


    "Annoying old hag!, can you tone it down. The atmosphere here is overwhelming! I can''t even sleep!"


    Carmi''s enraged shout echoed from the end of the corridor, along with the loud thud of her kicking a door.


    Aiden turned to see Carmi''s furious face at the far end of the corridor. They deliberately kept these sworn enemies in rooms farthest apart.


    Sine''s vengeful aura didn''t usually reach this far, but with the sudden dispersion of her resentment, even Carmi was affected.


    Despite her strong dragon heritage, the spiritual impact was unavoidable, inducing irritability and tension, causing nightmares when sleeping.


    "Murderer! Give me back my son''s life!"


    Sine screamed at Carmi, her vengeful wails making Aiden''s head ache. And had to cover his ears.


    "Forget it! Didn''t i already in jail, isn''t that enough? Your son was a gangster. It''s normal for someone like him to get killed sooner orter! Don''t go overboard!" Carmi shouted back, aggressively kicking the door.


    At this moment, Arsena, leaning on her staff, approached. Without saying a word, Aiden pointed to Sine''s confinement room.


    Arsena nodded and waved her staff, instantly dispersing the lingering resentment in the corridor. Then, she aimed the staff at Sine, who was still agitated.


    In an instant, the ghostly fire in Sine''s eyes extinguished. She copsed as if unconscious.


    Arsena forcibly suppressed the resurrection magic on her, temporarily interrupting her consciousness like shutting down a machine.


    "Hey, Warden! I can''t take it anymore. Just open the door! Let me kill this old hag, and we''ll be done with it!" Carmi shouted at Aiden, while banging on the cell door.


    "I''m already handling it. Are you blind? Just Stay in your room and behave." Aiden red at her.


    Carmi red back and kicked the door again before retreating.

 Chapter 73:

    Chapter 73:


    <b>Deadline for Revenge</b>


    "This is a normal phenomenon; her deadline is approaching," said Arsena coldly, standing in the corridor outside the confinement room.


    "What deadline?" inquired Aiden.


    "The deadline for the resurrection corpse. A corpse revenant, in essence, forcefully reattaches a departed spirit to a body using necromancy, allowing it to linger in the world fueled by the vengeful resentment. This spell has a duration, usually around a year," Arsena exined, raising a finger.


    "So, she only had a year from the beginning to seek revenge?" Aiden questioned.


    "Yes, the resurrection effect won''t dissipate until she sessfully kills her enemy. However, if the deadline arrives, regardless of her revenge''s sess, the spell will be forcibly lifted," Arsena exined, adjusting her sses.


    "How does this rte to her sudden transformation?" Aiden continued to inquire.


    "It''s a characteristic of the resurrection corpse. If revenge remains unfulfilled, the closer it gets to the deadline, the deeper her resentment for revenge bes. The strength of the revenant is determined by the intensity of this resentment. It''s simr to the st burst of light'' when a dying person may temporarily regain vitality. As the revenant approaches forced departure, its resentment intensifies," Arsena borated professionally.


    Aiden fell into contemtion after hearing this.


    So, Sine''s sudden increase in magical power was merely a trait of being a revenant.


    Sine seemed to sense her impending deadline, and bing more determined to seek revenge against Carmi.


    For prison management, this posed a significant threat.


    Not only was there uncertainty about Sine sessfully killing Carmi with heightened resentment, but the intense aura of malice emanating from her posed a threat to other inmates and guards.


    In theory, strengthening the prison barrier''s intensity could suppress Sine''s power, but that would increase the cost of maintaining the barrierclearly not a cost-effective solution for just one inmate. As the head of the prison, he had to consider the rational allocation of prison resources.


    Managing a prison always involved dealing with such headache-inducing inmates.


    "Is there a simpler way to deal with this issue?" Aiden sought advice from Arsena, the expert in necromancy.


    "The simplest way," Arsena raised her hand, pointing to Sine''s confinement room and then to Carmi''s room in the distance, "is to get rid of one of themeither use necromancy to obliterate the revenant or help her eliminate her enemy."


    Death, a well-trodden path for necromancers ustomed to it, always had that refreshing simplicity. If a problem could be solved by killing, they would most likely opt for it.


    Indeed, the most straightforward solution to a problem is often to eliminate the one causing it.


    However, Aiden clearly couldn''t employ this method.


    "If I could execute criminals to solve problems permanently, there wouldn''t be many left in the core area," Aiden sighed and rolled his eyes. "Please suggest a feasible alternative."


    "I can add an additional seal to the revenant, temporarily suppressing the amplification of her power. When her deadline arrives, and she will naturally disappear," Arsena proposed after some thought.


    "How long would that take?"


    "I can''t say for sure, but judging from the current situation, it shouldn''t exceed two months at most."


    "That''s the only option, then." After a moment of silence, Aiden nodded in agreement.


    His duty was to maintain order in the prison. While Sine''s background and circumstances were sympathetic, he couldn''t abandon his position and allow her to cause trouble in his prison.


    Suppressing Sine''s power, and strengthening her supervision until she passed away with resentment, was the most appropriate course of action from his standpoint.


    After briefing his subordinates on the situation, Aiden returned to his office, preparing to take a short break.


    However, just as he settled into his chair, before his seat had a chance to warm up, someone knocked on his office door.


    Aiden sighed in resignation, "Come in."


    Isabe, the young prison guard responsible for the core area, entered the office, saluting, "Chief!"


    "Isabe? I recall you should be on duty at the visitor reception today, right?" Aiden suddenly remembered. "What''s the matter?"


    The prison received daily requests for visitors to meet with inmates, mostly friends, family, orwyers. Isabe''s duty today was to handle these interactions.


    "Yes, Chief. Just now, a young man came who wanted to meet with a core area inmate. But the situation is a bit unusual, so I came to seek your guidance," Isabe respectfully reported.


    Typically, as long as there were visitation opportunities, rtives, friends, orwyers of inmates could be approved directly.


    However, if there wereplications, it required approval from the prison administration and leadership.


    "Whom does he want to see?"


    "He wants to meet inmate 3271," Isabe said cautiously.


    "Sine?" Aiden furrowed his brow slightly. "Who is he to Sine?"


    "He ims to be the nephew of Inmate 3271."


    "A nephew from the revenant? Where did hee from?" Aiden was mildly surprised.


    He knew Sine''s situation  she was a widow with no siblings, and her only family, a son, had been killed in a gang conflict a year ago.


    "But ording to the visitation records, he hase three times in the past year, and Inmate 3271 has agreed to meet him. He also brought money and items for Inmate 3271," Isabe exined.


    If the inmate on this side refused to acknowledge the rtionship and the visit, the meeting could not proceed.


    So, at least this so-called "nephew" had some connection with Sine.


    "But now, Inmate 3271 is in solitary confinement, scheduled for a week. ording to the regtions, a visit is not possible," Aiden shook his head.


    "I''ve already exined that to him," Isabe''s expression showed a hint of helplessness. "But he insists on meeting the warden; otherwise, he won''t leave. Chief..." Isabe cautiously looked at Aiden''s face and asked for guidance, "Should I have the riot squad escort him out?"


    Aiden pondered for a moment and finally waved his hand, "No need. Arrange a visitation room for him; I''ll go meet him now."


    He suddenly recalled the information Arsena had just informed him  Sine didn''t have much time left.


    If the personing to meet her truly had any familial rtionship with her, as prison guards, he had an obligation to inform him of this fact.

 Chapter 74:

    Chapter 74:


    <b>Prison Visit</b>


    "You''re Sine''s nephew?"


    Entering the interview room with a ss window riddled with holes, Aiden saw a youthful boy, appearing no more than sixteen or seventeen, the only distinct feature being a scar on his face.


    He refrained from taking the seat in front of the window, reserved for prisoners, and had no intention of engaging in a lengthy conversation. As the warden, he typically avoided direct meetings with inmates'' rtives to avoid suspicion.


    "Are you... in charge here?" The young man seemed somewhat nervous.


    "Yes, I''m the warden. What''s your connection to Sine? As far as we know, she doesn''t have a nephew."


    "I-I''m... a friend of her son," the boy stammered.


    Aiden sensed the unnatural tension in the boy''s demeanor, observing the scar on his face. Considering Sine''s son''s background, he suddenly grasped some details.


    "A friend from the syndicate?" Aiden ventured to guess.


    The boy slightly widened his eyes and admitted, "Yes, we''re good brothers."


    As Aiden had suspected, the young man was also affiliated with the underworld. The reason for his evident nervousness likely stemmed from his current attire.


    "So, you''re taking care of her because her son? Quite the loyality. But Sine is currently in solitary confinement. ording to regtions, no visits are allowed. It''s pointless for you to approach me," Aiden stated, crossing his arms.


    "She''s in solitary because..." The boy hesitated.


    "Didn''t the prison guard inform you? She attempted to attack another inmate. Since you know her, you should be aware of the reason she''s in prison," Aiden replied.


    "She still wants to kill Miss Carmi..." The boy lowered his gaze, his voice tinged with mncholy.


    "Hmm?" Aiden sensed something amiss.


    Considering the boy''s connection as Sine''s son''s friend in the syndicate, he should hold resentment towards Carmi, the one who allegedly killed his friend.


    However, his tone and address indicated otherwiseno apparent animosity toward Carmi.


    "Uh..." The young man quickly regainedposure, "So, when can I see her? Also, I brought some money and items..."


    "She''s in solitary for six more days. Come back next week. You can''t bring anything in now, and, well... it doesn''t make much sense at the moment. Just hold on to them," Aiden responded in a business-like tone. "Also I need to tell you something. Her time is running out."


    The boy stood up, rmed. "Execution?"


    "No, it''s her own time limit. The ck magic that transformed her into this state, who was neither human nor ghost, is reaching its limit. She''ll disappear from this world in less than two months," Aiden exined to the stunned youth. "If you still n to see her, it''s better to do it sooner."


    "......" The boy stood there, speechless.


    "That''s it for today. Go back," Aiden conveyed the crucial information and left the interview room.


    "Wait!" The boy hurriedly stopped Aiden, the words spilling out involuntarily.


    "What else?" Aiden turned back.


    The boy hesitated, a look of wanting to say something but holding back. After a while, he swallowed his words. "It''s... nothing."


    Aiden left the interview room directly. On the other side of the ss curtain wall, the boy with a lowered head walked out slowly, the memories was resurfacing in his nk mind.


    "Sis, these are the two guys, caught red-handed sneaking into the warehouse," a man''s rough voice echoed in the dimly lit warehouse.


    In the dim warehouse, several fierce men surrounded two bound teenagers.


    Forced to kneel on the ground, they faced arge wooden crate, and the person in charge sat on the crate, passing judgment from above.


    A high-ranking member of the Blood Hand Gang, Carmi.


    "Daring to mess with what I''ve got my eyes on, these two rookies really underestimate me," Carmi said, a hand-rolled cigarette dangling from her mouth. She leisurely struck a match and lit the cigarette.


    Carmi taunted the two, calmly blowing smoke rings. The teenagers kept their heads down, fully aware that their fate now rested in the hands of this person.


    They were from the "Skull" gang in the old district, a rivals of the Blood Hand Gang, coerced by their cadres to spy on the goods stored in this warehouse.


    Today is the day their great misfortune unfolds.


    To ensure sufficient intimidation, gangs rarely show mercy to members of rival factions who fall into their hands. Having eyes gouged out, losing an ear, or being sent back with missing limbs is amon urrence.


    Alternatively, they might simply evaporate from this world, leaving no trace of their existence.


    From the start, they were discarded pawns within their own gang, mere expendables at the bottom of the hierarchy.


    "You, how old are you?" Carmi asked nonchntly.


    The two teenagers exchanged nces,pletely unaware of the significance of the question.


    "Are you Deaf!?" Carmi impatiently red as both remained silent.


    "Fif-fifteen..." "Fifteen."


    They hastily responded.


    "Hmph, little brats who haven''t even grown proper hair." Carmi disdainfully spat, "ying gangsters here? Do you think being in the underworld is cool? Huh?"


    One boy lowered his head, not daring to speak, while the other hesitated and said, "I just... wanted to cure my mom''s illness."


    "I told you to speak!" Suddenly, Carmi kicked the talking boy''s shoulder, knocking him to the ground.


    "Sis, how should we deal with these two brats?" a gang member asked.


    Carmi, still smoking, looked at the boy on the ground enduring the pain without making a sound. She kicked the other one to the ground as well.


    "Throw them out, let them roll! I have no interest in weaklings. Spending time dealing with these little rodents is a waste," Carmi impatiently pronounced judgment.


    The two fallen boys nced at each other, unable to believe their ears.


    "Trash should know their ce. Go home and suck your mom''s milk! If I see you again, I''ll gouge your eyes out." Carmi finished, tossing the cigarette on the ground and stamping it out.


    When the boy came to his senses, he found himself standing at the prison gate.


    What should he do?


    He wondered in his mind.


    In hesitation, he noticed an iron mailbox ced at the prison entrance.


    "Warden... mailbox?" Staring at the painted letters, the boy froze in ce.

 Chapter 75:

    Chapter 75:


    <b>Sacrifice</b>


    A year ago, in the old city district, members of the Blood Hand Gang and the Skull Gang shed fiercely in the abandoned warehouse area near the docks. The sounds of shouting and fighting echoed relentlessly.


    "Courting death!"


    Carm delivered a fierce side kick to one thug''s leg, then grabbed his hair, forcing his head down and shattering his nose with her knee.


    "Attack! ughter these pups and let them know whose territory this is!" Carm eximed excitedly.


    As a cadre and ace enforcer of the Blood Hand Gang, she personally led her subordinates into battle.


    Lately, the activities of rival emerging gangs had be increasingly troublesome, constantly harassing the Blood Hand Gang''s territory and its affiliated businesses.


    Today, she personally led an ambush, finally catching this group ofckeys.


    The Skull Gang had about a dozen members causing trouble this time. In contrast, the Blood Hand Gang only had five people, but under Carmi''s unstoppable assault, they quickly gained the upper hand. The dozen or so Skull Gang thugs began concentrating their efforts to surround Carm, but they were swiftly knocked down one after another. Soon, only a few dared to approach.


    Carm picked up a brick and swept it across the chin of a burly man, knocking him unconscious.


    "Not a single decent fighter! Isn''t there anyone to give me a satisfying challenge?" sheughed wildly, surveying the remaining thugs.


    The exhration of freely wielding violence filled her mind. At that moment, she keenly heard movement behind her, without hesitation, she twisted her body and threw a punch.


    With a cry, the young man attempting to attack her from behind stumbled backward, clutching his ribs. The weapon in his hand fell to the ground.


    "For heaven''s sake, why is it you again?"


    Carm abruptly recognized the young man before her, the same one who had infiltrated the warehouse she was guarding.


    The one who had pitifully imed to be selling himself to cure his mother''s illness.


    The young man, holding his shoulder, looked at Carmi with fear in his eyes.


    Carm didn''t hold back. A powerful right hook struck the young man''s cheek, sending two bloodied teeth flying.


    The young man, now on the ground, felt the intense pain from his broken teeth, almost rendering his mind nk.


    "Survive only toe back as cannon fodder? It wouldn''t be unjust even if you were beaten to death!" Carm picked up the fallen bat, her eyes filled with killing intent fixed on the young man.


    The young man gasped, scrambling up from the ground and darting away.


    "Trash!" Carm spat, tossing the bat aside.


    At that moment, the sound of galloping hooves approached.


    "The Cops areing!" someone shouted.


    The brawlers immediately stopped, turning to see a squad of mounted police charging toward them, one of the officers firing warning shots into the air.


    "Run!" Everyone scattered in all directions.


    "Damn it!" Carm realized she had been set up, turning and sprinting towards a low wall, vaulting over and escaping.


    Two hourster...


    In the old city district, Skull Gang stronghold.


    "I can''t believe you all made it back," the Skull Gang cadre said, observing the lined-up members in the room.


    Two teenagers stood among them, one with bruised marks on his face.


    "Sixteen against five yet you guys was still lost, embarrassing! You guys look quite clean, were you just spectating during the fight?" the cadre berated loudly.


    "The organization put a 500 bounty on that Dino girl. All you had to do was get her into the hospital, didn''t you want the money?"


    The teenager with bruised marks silently licked his broken tooth root. He had hoped to im the reward set by his gang for attacking Carm.


    "Well, this time there''s still some achievement," the cadre''s tone suddenly softened. "Latest news, the police have caught Carm. A few of our brothers got nabbed too, but it''s worth it. Unfortunately, it''s just a brawl charge. She''ll be out in ten days or so. We need to seize this time to expand our territory, understood?"


    Some more perceptive underlings cautiously nced at the cadre, sensing that maybe the mounted police were tipped off by someone within their own ranks.


    The police have been actively trying to dismantle the Blood Hand Gang, the most influential force in the old district. Carm, being a cadre of the Blood Hand Gang, is a prime target for thew enforcement.


    The cadre, while putting a bounty on Carm, also sent their members to harass the territory she manages. The goal is to provoke conflicts and provide an opportunity for the police to make arrests.


    In essence, these neers are sacrificial pawns used by the gang to distract Carm. The cadre surveyed his subordinates and focused his gaze on the young man with bruises.


    "Billy," he called out to the young man.


    "Yes!" Billy immediately tensed, eyes fixed on his own toes.


    "Among those who returned, you''re the only one with injuries. I heard you had the courage to ambush that woman. Althoughcking experience, you showed some intelligence." The cadre suddenly reached out, patting Billy''s shoulder with a hint of approval. "I say, all of you should learn from him. When it''s time to step up, don''t act like turtles hiding in your shells. Why do I even bother keeping you all?"


    Billy looked up, pleasantly surprised, unsure of what to say.


    "Got beaten by that woman, huh? Seems quite a serious injury..." The cadre asked in a concerned tone.


    "I-I''m fine..." Billy nodded nervously.


    "Youngsters think a few punches won''t hurt, but you might have hidden injuries. You could die without even realizing it." The cadre spoke with apparent kindness. "I know a good doctor; I''ll take you for a checkupter. It was your first fight today, and you did quite well."


    "Th-thank you, big brother!" Billy bowed gratefully.


    "You stay here; I have something to discuss with you privately. The rest of you, go back." The cadre waved his hand, signaling the others to leave.


    The scar-faced teenager left the room with the others. Before exiting, he instinctively nced back at his good friend left in the room.


    Once the door closed, only Billy, the cadre, and two stern-looking bodyguards remained.


    "You indeed didn''t disappoint me. I can tell you''re loyal to the organization." The cadre ced both hands on Billy''s shoulders. "Seeing your performance today, I''ve decided to promote you. I''ve heard about your situationyour mother''s illness and the need for a substantial amount of money, right? Perhaps I can help you with that."


    Billy widened his eyes in surprise and then bowed again, "Thank you so much!"


    "No problem, no problem, it''s only right." The cadre chuckled. "However, in return, I have an important task for you. So, Billy, are you willing to make a sacrifice for the organization?"


    "Sacrifice?" The young man sensed something amiss, raising his head.


    As he looked at the cadre''s eerie smile, a chill suddenly ran down his spine.


    The next day, the young man''s lifeless body was discovered in an alley near his home.

 Chapter 76:

    Chapter 76:


    <b>Anonymous Letter</b>


    "Is it interesting to fight over snacks? Can''t you split them evenly like sensible people? What do you think this ce is?" Veronica crossed her arms and red at the two girls in front of her. "This is a prison, not a daycare! Follow the rules, and if there''s a next time, it''s solitary confinement. Got it?"


    "Got it," the two girls, who strikingly simr in appearance  the Gemini assassins who were thrown into prison by Melusine  answered in unison.


    they seemed unusually obedient, when Facing Veronica.


    The reason? Well..... Veronica had given them a good beating when they caused trouble under Melusine instructions before.


    "Go back to your rooms!" Veronica pointed to the cells behind them.


    The two sisters lowered their heads and entered their room; Veronica promptly closed and locked the door.


    "Thank goodness you were here." Isabe, the officer who was on duty in the prison area, walked over to thank her. "I told them to stop, but they wouldn''t listen."


    In the regr prison areas, it wasn''t a big deal, but when core area inmates fought in their cells, guards could only warn them or call in the riot squad.


    "I never thought being a prison guard would involve dealing with kids." Veronica sighed.


    "But in a way, it''s not all bad. It seems like they''re bing somewhat normal kids," Isabe said.


    When they first arrived, these sisters seemed like an emotionless dolls controlled by Melusine.


    Later, Aiden ordered them to be separated from Melusine, eliminating her influence, and undergo rehabilitation with other juvenile offenders.


    Veronica had confidence in aiden''s methods. The sisters'' situation wasn''t asplicated as Evangeline. Given time, they still had a chance to return to a normal life.


    "Patrol''s over. I''ll go report to the warden."


    Veronica bid farewell to Isabe and headed to aiden''s office.


    "...Thank you for your hard work"


    Aiden replied casually after hearing Veronica daily report, while examining the case file in his hands.


    He had been reviewing it repeatedly since Veronica entered.


    Seeing that her boss was busy, Veronica doesn''t want to disturbing him and turned to leave.


    But Aiden stopped her, "Veronica, when you were a mounted police officer, did you have knowledge of the gangs in old district?"


    "Somewhat...," Veronica turned, surprised at Aiden bringing up this topic.


    "I''ve handled some rted cases before"


    The Mounted police is mainly responsible forrge-scale violence incident, cults, demonstrators and bandit in the suburbs, as well as urban gangs. Those weremon adversaries for the mounted police.


    ncing at the case file number on the desk, Veronica suddenly understood, "Are you looking at Carmi''s case file?"


    "Yes."


    "Do you suspect something fishy in her case?" Veronica looked puzzled.


    when she was wrongly imprisoned, Aiden had reviewed her case file repeatedly, suspecting irregrities on the cases before ultimately helping her.


    "I want to see if there are any discrepancies, but I can''t find any for now." Aiden put down the case file.


    Investigating violence rted to gangs wasn''t his expertise; he was a prison guard specializing in handling inmates. The original owner of this body was knowledgeable about various crimes, but not particrly in-depth about gang-rted activities. The inherited memories didn''t provide much guidance in this area.


    "Why now all of a sudden?" Veronica blinked, puzzled.


    Cami''s case happened a year ago, so revisiting the file after such a long time seemed peculiar.


    "This morning, I received an anonymous letter in my mailbox. The writer ims want to expose the truth behind Carmi''s case," Aiden retrieved a letter from his desk.


    "Take a look. The handwriting is intentionally distorted, but you can still make out the content."


    The letter recounted a gang fight at an abandoned dock in the old district a year ago between the Skull Gang and the Blood Hand Gang over territory.


    In the midst of the battle, a Blood Hand Gang member, Carmi, knocked down a Skull Gang youth named Bailey with a few punches. Soon after, mounted police arrived, dispersing thebatants. The depicted events closely mirrored Carmi''s case file. The youth, who had escaped the scene, died from traumatic shock the next morning and was discovered by a homeless scavenger.


    This young man turned out to be the son of the current resident of the Rose Prison''s core area, the Revenant Sine.


    The issue arose in thetter part of the letter, introducing details not present in the case file: Bailey, upon escaping, didn''t show any major injuries. After returning to the Skull Gang''s base, he was praised by the gang''s leaders for his active participation in the brawl and was kept behind.


    The following day, Bailey mysteriously died in that same alley.


    "Any idea about the source of this letter?" Veronica asked Aiden after reading it.


    The letter raised numerous suspicions; it was anonymous, the handwriting deliberately distorted, making its originpletely unclear.


    The timing was also peculiaremerging a whole year after the incident and notnding in the hands of the investigative authorities but sent directly to the prison warden.


    If there are no unforeseen circumstances, this mysterious letter would likely end up in the trash. However, Aiden is diligently re-examining Carmi''s case.


    Veronica could sense that Aiden might have a lead on the letter''s source.


    "Well, I have a rough idea of who sent this letter," Aiden nodded.


    recalling the gang youth he met in the interview room yesterday.


    The perspective in the letter matched the identity of that young man.


    Given his position, revealing internal gang matters would require a significant level of determination.


    Aiden had informed him of Sine''s condition yesterday, revealing that Sine had little time left and was unaware of the true culprit behind his son''s death. This might have prompted him to send this letter to the prison.


    Having briefly recounted yesterday''s events to Veronica, Aiden sought her opinion. "What do you think?"


    "From my past investigative experience, it''s not entirely imusible. However, for detailed information, I think it''s best to ask the person directly."

 Chapter 77:

    Chapter 77:


    <b>A Scapegoat</b>


    A quarter of an hourter, Aiden and Veronica appeared in the interview room, separated by an iron table from Carm, who had been brought over from solitary confinement.


    "Never thought being in solitary would lead to a something fun. Suddenly calling me to this small room... does the warden wants some excitement?" Carm smirked arrogantly at Aiden, then nced at Veronica. "You even brought along your little secretary too? ying hard, aren''t we?"


    "Watch your mouth, you won''t be able to eat, if all of your teeth break" Veronica coldly retorted, locking eyes with Carm.


    The conversation started with a highly heated atmosphere, but both seemed ustomed to such exchanges.


    Carm, a former mob leader, and Veronica, a cop with a history of shes with the mob, naturally found themselves at odds.


    Aiden, who already ustomed to inmates'' colorful greetings, remained nonchnt and straightforward. "We called you here because we have some questions to ask you..."


    "Can I get a cigarette?" Carm interrupted suddenly.


    "Are you out of your mind?" Aiden remained expressionless.


    Smoking wasn''t entirely prohibited in prison, but there were significant controls over it.


    especially for inmates that have low level treatment and those in solitary confinement. And, Carm seemed to have both.


    "Oh,e on, no need to be so serious. I''m Just kidding..." Carm grinned again, yfully. "You know It''s a torture being in there; a sip of cigarette will fix it. I''ll cooperate Whatever you need!"


    Veronica rolled her eyes. She disliked the maniptive type of seasoned inmates who made investigations tedious.


    However, she wasn''t in charge, and her gaze shifted to her superior sitting nearby.


    Without uttering a word, he took a slender cigarette and matches from his uniform pocket, tossing them over.


    Carm''s face lit up as she eagerly caught them with her shackled hands, expertly lighting up the cigarette.


    Veronica was slightly surprised to find that Aiden, a non-smoker, had a cigarette prepared in his pocketdespite initially refusing Carm''s request, he seemed to have anticipated it and made some preparations.


    Carm took a deep puff, exhaling smoke contentedly. She then frowned while inspecting the cigarette in her hand, "Isn''t this the low-quality stuff they sell in prison?"


    "Did you Expecting me to fetch you a top-notch cigar?" Aiden chuckled coldly. "Now put out the cigarette; you said just one sip, and it''s done."


    "Alright alright, your turf, your rules," Carm retorted with a sharp tone, promptly extinguishing the lit end with her fingers.


    "Today, I called you in for questioning because I received an anonymous letter about your past case..."


    Aiden waved the paper before summarizing the situation for Carm.


    "...So, what''s your take on this?" Aiden stared into Carm''s eyes.


    Carm, showing no change in demeanor, sighed after listening, then raised an eyebrow at Aiden, "Is that it? I thought you brought me here for something big..."


    This reaction surprised Aidenshe seemedpletely unconcerned about the possibility of being framed.


    "So, what''s your stance?" Aiden indicated for her to rify.


    "The letter says so, and that''s probably the deal." Carmi scratched her ears indifferently, "i remember only punching him twice, one in the face and one in the chest. And usually that wouldn''t enough to kill someone.


    "So, it''s really possible that you are Framed ?" Aiden probed.


    "Probably." Carm replied indifferently.


    "But you seem pretty unconcerned."


    Aiden crossed his arms, intrigued by her nonchnt attitude.


    Carm and Veronica, both believing they were wrongly used and imprisoned, had vastly different reactions, with no intention of clearing their names.


    Normally after knowing that she been Framed by His rival gang and imprisoned for so long, she should have been furious, based on His violent and aggresive personality.


    "Yeah, I''ve been thinking I might''ve been set up for a while," Carm shrugged. "These tactics aren''t umon in the underworld."


    "Why not appeal then? If you''re innocent, there might be a chance to turn things around," Aiden questioned.


    "Innocent?" Carm widened her eyes in amusement. "Haha... Mr. Warden, just because I''m falsely used doesn''t mean I''m innocent. Considering my past deeds, even if I rot in this cell for eight years or end up on the gallows, it wouldn''t be surprising."


    She narrowed her eyes, shimmering with a golden glint. "You can Ask your little secretary here; I had a bit of a reputation in the police force before ending up in prison."


    Aiden turned to Veronica, who nodded, "While I haven''t directly handled her cases, I''ve heard about them. Carm had numerous suspicions of intentional injury, robbery, extortion, kidnapping, and uwful detention. If all those cases had solid evidence, it would be a lifelong sentence at least."


    "that''s it; I''m a real scumbag. Don''t You know that, Mr. Warden?" Carmughed shamelessly"


    "That''s true," Aiden nodded lightly, having spent about a year dealing with Carm. Finding someone with apletely clean record in the gang was nearly impossible.


    As a longstanding, highly organized criminal organization, gangs often possessed sophisticated anti-investigation measuresdestroying evidence, bribery, and even framing others. Core members did everything to protect themselves fromw enforcement.


    "But your past crimes probablycked convictable evidence, or else you''d be serving time for them already. Don''t tell me you suddenly wanted to turn over a new leaf and chose to take the fall for this?" Aiden remarked.


    "I didn''t want to, but back then, I didn''t have much of a choice," Carm shrugged. "After all, those cops weren''t all useless."


    Aiden remained perplexed, ready to ask further questions when Veronica interjected, as if a revtion had struck her, "I see. Did you... make a deal with the police?"

 Chapter 78:

    Chapter 78:


    <b>Law Enforcement Deal</b>


    Upon hearing these words, Carmi grinned appreciatively, "as expected of a former police officer."


    Aiden signaled with his eyes for Veronica to provide some context.


    Veronica understood and began to exin, "A year ago, when Carmi was sent to prison, the police force was gearing up to take down the Blood Hand Gang, the most influential force in the old district. The chief personally supervised the project. To dismantle a gang, it''s necessary to systematically break down its key members, and Carmi was on that list. Typically, high-ranking members of a gang carry a lot of suspicion, but convicting them through proper channels isn''t easy. I believe the police force also sensed some irregrities in this case, but..."


    "...but to avoid missing the opportunity to put key gang members behind bars, the police decided to pin this crime on Carmi, right?" Aiden continued.


    Veronica hesitated before nodding, "On the day before the discovery of the body, the police had coincidentally apprehended Carmi at the scene of a brawl. In such a situation, convicting her might be more convenient. Compared to investigating potential mischief within the Skull Gang."


    Aiden finally started grasping the situation.


    So, at the time, when the police found Sine''s son beaten to death, they didn''t immediately conclude that Carmi was responsible for the fatal injuries inflicted the previous day. They also considered the possibility that the Skull Gang killed the boy after Carmi''s involvement, making it a usible scenario to frame her.


    However, for the police at that time, investigating the Skull Gang would likely be an uphill battlecollecting evidence would be difficult, and there was a high probability that some minor figure within the gang would take the me, shielding the actual mastermind.


    In contrast, prosecuting Carmi was easier. After all, she was caught in the act of the brawl, and whether it was the arresting officers or other captured Skull Gang members, they could testify that Carmi had assaulted the boy.


    The police, at that time, were also focusing on dismantling the Blood Hand Gang which Carmi belonged. Therefore to maximize the use of the gangster''s death, the police ultimately choosing to directly pin the me on Carmi, considering her less-than-innocent background.


    The enforcers in this world don''t always stick to the rules.


    Veronica, an elite in the police force, conveyed this with conviction.


    However, it still didn''t exin why Carmi chose not to appeal.


    "Why carry this me then?" Aiden asked Carmi.


    Since it was supposedly a deal, where the police agreed not to appeal if Carmi epted the charges, there should be some benefit for her.


    "They told me that the downfall of the Blood Hand Gang was just a matter of time. The police had already scheduled a n to capture other key members. When the Blood Hand Gang was dealt with, my past crimes would likely resurface. But as long as I admit this charge and serve my sentence, they won''t dig into my affairs again," Carmi exined, recalling the conversation with the police.


    "Do you actually believe that?"


    "I was a cadre in the gang. I knew the situation within. Despite seeming like the dominant force in the old city, the gang was on the brink of destruction. Intelligence within the gang kept getting leaked to the cops, and who knows how many infiltrators and informants were nted. Emerging gangs eyed the territory of the old gangs, but the high-ranking members were still tangled in power struggles..." Carmi''s face showed a disdainful smile, "I was in prison for half a year, and the gang was gone, even faster than I expected."


    In order to swiftly eliminate the Blood Hand Gang, the police seized the opportunity to send Carmi to prison. And To prevent her from continuing to appeal and causing furtherplications, they struck a deal with her.


    After Losing Carmi, their ace enforcer, the pressure on the Blood Hand Gang in its conflicts with other gangs increased.


    The police intentionally weakened the Blood Hand Gang, exploiting internal gang conflicts to suppress their survival space. They gradually used undercover agents and informants to take down the cadre one by one, ultimately leading to theplete demise of the most influential gang in the old district within a short six months.


    However, an unexpected casualty emerged in this eventSine, the mother of the young boy, Bailey. After wrongly identifying Carmi as her son''s killer, Sine chose to transform herself into a revenant.


    "So, Sine did indeed target the wrong person for revenge?" Aiden said softly.


    "Hmph, that idiotic woman got deceived to death and still not realizing it" Carmi said contemptuously.


    Aiden fell silent.


    In Sine case file, it''s mentioned that after her son''s death, the Skull Gang, following the gang rules, provided her withpensation. But Instead of using the money for medical treatment, she took it and, through the introduction of her son''s gang cadre, She found a necromancer who can turned her into a revenant to fulfill her revenge.


    Logically, the cadre she could find was likely someone directly under her son.


    That is, the gang member mentioned in the anonymous letter  in other words, the true culprit not only deceived her into believing Carmi was responsible for her son''s death but also guided her to transform into her current ghostly state for an apparently futile revenge.


    "Do we tell the prisoner 3271 the truth?" Veronica thought for a moment, and cautiously asking Aiden.


    Aiden shook his head, "It probably won''t help. She won''t believe it. Creating a revenant involves transforming the soul into an absolute vengeful spirit, and Sine is unlikely to retain her pre-death rationality."


    The former Aiden''s memories included knowledge about undead creatures. The undead nature of a revenant stemmed from hatred. The necromancer creating a revenant purified the past resentment. In Sine''s case, it meant inscribing a program for revenge against Carmi into her soul.


    Given this premise, persuading Sne to believe that Carmi is not the culprit is practically impossible.


    "That cadre went to great lengths," Aiden remarked.


    "What''s the name of that cadre?" Aiden asked Carmi.


    "Carlo Polpo," Cami answered. "He was the gang cadre responsible forpeting with me for territory back then."


    "Carlo Polpo?" Veronica reacted to the name.


    "You know him?" Aiden turned to her.


    "I''ve dealt with cases involving this man before. He''s a senior member of the skull Gang, a strong candidate for the next gang leader. A genuine scumbag, very cunning. The police have been investigating him, but haven''t been able to catch him," Veronica answered expressionlessly.


    "He''s risen in the ranks. When hepeted with me for territory, he was just a minor cadre. Now, it might be difficult for you cops to deal with him in less than a decade or so, but it doesn''t matter..." Carmi said, a sinister smile appearing on her face, "when I get out, if he''s still alive, I''ll find a way to take care of him."

 Chapter 79:

    Chapter 79:


    <b>A Completely Rotten Person</b>


    "You n to kill after getting out of prison?" Aiden immediately furrowed his brow upon hearing Carm''s words.


    "I chose to honestly serve my sentence because the gang is falling apart. I had to protect myself. But that doesn''t mean I''m going to silently swallow this. That scum not only betrayed me but also sent that foolish woman into the prison to bother me. How could I let him off? Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooththat''s my style!"


    Carm said this with a smile, her eyes gleaming like a child who had found a favorite toy.


    She was indeed an extreme violent person, eagerly anticipating the act of killing her enemies.


    In her eyes, Carlo Polpo was not just a bitter and deep-seated enemy but a valuable prey.


    "The mounted police don''t intend to pursue your past crimes. After you''re released, you''ll be considered a clean person. If you get in trouble again and end up back here, you might spend the rest of your life in prison, dead or alive," Aiden reminded her.


    "Are you worrying about my life, Warden?" Carm replied with a mocking tone. "Unfortunately, for someone like me, who''s rotten from the start, there''s no real life to speak of. Even if I don''t settle the score with that trash, I won''t lead a proper life outside. I''ve been in the underworld since I started growing hair down there. This is the only way of life I know."


    (TC: Can shaving change her back into a good person? () )


    Aiden recalled Carm''s file mentioning an age that''s not even twenty, but her criminal history in the underworld spanned over five years.


    Suddenly, he became interested in Carm''s past, "So, why did you join the gang in the first ce?"


    "There''s no particr reason. It was around thirteen, fourteen or maybe fifteen? I can''t remember exactly and i''ve never had a birthday before" Carmi said while scratching her head


    "Anyway it was during that time that the woman who gave birth to me got involved with the gang. I didn''t care about this thing at first, but one day, the cadre took an interest in me. That woman helped him find an opportunity to lock me in a room with him and letting him have sex with me as he pleased".


    Carmi paused, and smiling lewdly: "then i simply fucked him until he couldn''t get up anymore"


    "What do you mean?" Aiden raised his eyebrows.


    "I beat that man until he was paralyzed, broke all of his finger and finally gouged out one of his eyes." Carmi said excitedly, as if She was recounting some beautiful memories.


    "That couple bitches think i was just a brat and was easy to deal with, but they didn''t know that i had already awakened my bloodline"


    Aiden and Veronica subconciously nced at each other. Carmi story was somewhat horrifying. "Your biological mother actually help your stepfather do this kind of thing?" Veronica looked solemn.


    "The woman who gave birth to me did this." Carm held out a finger with a mocking look. This gesture has a special meaning in this world, "It''s not the kind that makes money by itself, but the kind that is sold to For gangsters who do this kind of business, arge part of the money they earn every day will be taken away by the gangsters. I dont know when she had sex with a customer with a strange bloodline and identally got pregnant, and then gave birth to me. Ever since I can remember She didn''t care about me anymore, To her, I was a burden. At that time, she and the man both thought that I was old enough to make money, but they probably didn''t expect i Will bite."


    Carm spoke calmly, even smiling, as if she was telling someone else''s story: "But beating up the gang leaders like that was a big trouble. Even if it''s just to save face, they have to get rid of me. In order to Save myself, I simply defected to a gang that was hostile to them, and then in turn wiped out that gang. To be honest, I didn''t think there was anything wrong with this. In the old district, being a gangster was a respectable business. Compared to those who can only be exploited, I am lucky to be born with that kind of bloodline."


    Veronica couldn''t help but feel horrified. She was also an abnormal being, but Carmi''s life trajectory waspletely different from hers.


    Aiden once mentioned to her that there are some people in this world whose background is distorted. They are destined to go down a wrong path because they have no choice, and Carmi is obviously this kind of person.


    In such a twisted family, orphans like her are extremely lucky inparison.


    "So, I was born in a heap of rotten people. As soon as I can remember, I learned to steal things. When I was less than ten years old, I became the little king in charge of the gang of wild boys in the old district. Before I joined the gang, I actually have already learned how to control those stores to extort money. By the time I joined the gang, I was already full of evil..." Carm said with an indifferent expression, "I am aplete rotten person. Warden, I advise you to be the best. Its better not to have any illusions about trying to influence me.


    "I know you''re apletely rotten person, and I never thought I could sessfully reform you," Aiden replied expressionlessly.


    "I just realized that merely keeping an eye on a rotten person like you for eight years is enough to wear one down. If I had to watch over you for a lifetime, I might not resist the urge to take you out directly."


    Through his past experiences and studies in criminal psychology, Aiden realized that Carm''s violent tendencies seemed not innate but rather rooted in her past experiences.


    Growing up in a distorted environment, Carm''s distortions might be even more profound than Evangeline to some extent.


    Due to the high-pressure control by Melusine, Evangeline developed a certain resistance to killing and, after experiencing prison life, she yearned for a more stable life.


    On the contrary, Carm was the opposite. In that environment, she utilized her innate violent advantage to protect herself, gaining survival benefits. The continuous positive reinforcement from profiting through violence made her derive pleasure from it and gradually be addicted.


    She became a criminal by her own choice, and reforming such a criminal was no easy task.


    "Well then, Warden, how about you help me deal with that guy?" Carm''s eyes gleamed mischievously, a sudden sly smile appearing on her face.


    "Me?" Aiden furrowed his brow.


    "Waiting for eight years to settle the score is unbearable. If you, Warden, can help me avenge this, I can offer you some benefits..." Carm said with a smile, then suddenly pped her thigh. "Ah, how about this? help me deal with that man!"

 Chapter 80:

    Chapter 80:


    <b>The Elusive Warden</b>


    Carm''s vulgarnguage instantly froze the atmosphere in the room. Veronica''s face darkened, and she snapped, "Hey!"


    "What''s wrong? Are you interested in him too?" Carm turned to Veronica with a mischievous grin.


    Veronica blushed, her eyes widened, but she couldn''t utter a word.


    Aiden, on the other hand remained calm, leaning back in his chair and casually retorting, "who are you Looking down on? You sell yourself for others, did you think I''m that desperate, or do you believe your body is made of gold?"


    Dealing with this level of teasing was nothing new for him; he was ustomed to it.


    Seeing that he was entirely immune, Carm quickly surrendered with a yful smile, and raising her hands, "Just kidding, just kidding. But well..." She suddenly changed the subject, staring seriously into Aiden''s eyes, "I do have a genuine interest in making a deal with you."


    As she spoke, Carm stood up, leaned forward, resting her elbows on the iron table, bringing her face close to Aiden.


    Veronica immediately became alert and put her hand on the gun holstered at her waist.


    Prison guards were wary of prisoners unexpectedly closing the distance. If Carm made any unusual move towards Aiden, Veronica would not hesitate to draw her gun and shoot.


    "Help me deal with that bastard," Carm stared intensely at Aiden, "and I''ll be your dog."


    "What do you mean?" Aiden remained indifferent, confident with fully armed Veronica on the scene, not worried about Carm suddenly posing a threat.


    "Literal meaning, I can give you my loyalty. I''ll do any dirty work you need, handle any inmates in the prison that you want dealt with, and take the me myself," Carm exined slowly.


    Aiden stared at her for a moment, then coldly replied, "Who would dare to keep a mad dog like you? Go back and sit down properly!"


    Carm silently retreated back to her seat.


    "Are you out of your mind, letting a prison warden handle the underworld?" Aiden said expressionlessly, "You''re overestimating me."


    "I genuinely believe you can pull it off," Carm suddenly grinned. "I''m only interested in the strong. In this prison, there are many strong individuals who either serve you willingly or submit to your authority. I''ve witnessed your capabilities; you''re strong enough."


    "ttery won''t work. I''ll handle things my way; I don''t need your guidance," Aiden turned to Veronica. "I''ve understood everything; there''s nothing more to discuss. Take this troublesome person back to solitary confinement."


    "Wait, wait! Let me finish my smoke at least!"


    Carm reached for the matches on the table, but Aiden swiftly took the box away.


    Without mercy, Aiden pocketed the matchbox, stood up, and gestured, "Take her away!"


    Veronica immediately approached, grabbed Carm by the cor, and pulled her towards the exit.


    "Hey, hey, don''t be so rough," Carm lingered at the door.


    "Quit the chatter and move it!" Veronica, losing patience, forcefully dragged her out, delivering a swift kick to her butt.


    "Fuck! I''ll remember this grudge!" Carm grumbled but obediently walked towards the direction of the solitary confinement.


    Veronica escorted Carm down the corridor, ncing back to see Aiden heading straight to his office.


    She wasn''t sure if Aiden was prepared to take action in response to this incident.


    If the clues they had gathered were correct, Carlo Polpo''s actions were truly despicable.


    Veronica, overhearing the details, felt the urge to execute the bastard.


    However, she knew that eliminating the mafia was the responsibility of the mounted police, not the prison guards.


    Aiden wasn''t a superhero; this situation didn''t demand that level of intervention.


    Yet, deep down, she still held a slight expectation for Aiden.


    After all, Aiden had so many magical powers that he was able to turn the tide, overturning her almost certain death sentence, and allowing the "Ant Queen" Melusine, who could not even be caught by the Inquisition, to fall into his hands.


    If Aiden is going to take any action, she also hopes to be his support.


    After escorting Carm back to solitary confinement, she immediately approached Aiden''s office, knocking on the door.


    ...No response.


    Veronica tried knocking a few more times, but the room remained silent.


    Out for a moment?


    Veronica was surprised, recalling Aiden heading towards his office.


    At that moment, the core area''s block supervisor, Franda, passed by with a freshly poured cup of coffee. And spoke to Veronica, "Veronica, is the warden not in his office?"


    "Yeah," Veronica replied. "Have you seen where he went?"


    "I passed by here on my way to the break room just a minute ago and saw him entering his office," Franda thought for a moment. "Check if the door is locked."


    Veronica tried pressing the door handle, "It''s locked."


    "Then he must have left for something," Franda shrugged. "The warden has responsibilities all over, and sometimes he disappears like this; and nobody can find him. You cane backter"


    "Alright," Veronica nodded and prepared to return to her post.


    Suddenly, she remembered something.


    She came from one side of the corridor, but the break room was on the opposite side of the office. Franda saw Aiden enter the office when she passed by to the break room. Then both of them approached the office from different directions, and Aiden had already left. However, neither of them had encountered him.


    Could it be that when the warden walked past the break room, Franda didn''t notice...


    This thought shed through Veronica''s mind.


    Meanwhile, deep in the underground of the warden''s office, in the secret mithril cell of Inmate 4001, Aiden sat at the table ying UNO with Mephilia.


    "So, you want to stir things up for that guy?" Mephilia wore a mysterious smile as she controlled the cards with her telekic powers.


    "Of course. I''ve been dealing with Sine and Carm''s issues these days, and now someone tells me it''s all because of someone''s mischief. Even though it didn''t happen in my prison, it still brought me unnecessary trouble. I must reciprocate to the troublemaker," Aiden said expressionlessly, followed with a Wild card, "Come on, plus four, and change it to red!"


    Advance Chapter

 Chapter 81:

    Chapter 81:


    <b>Cards in Hand</b>


    "So, you''vee again to seek my wisdom?" Mephilia said while ying her cards.


    "Is that not allowed?" Aiden questioned.


    "Of course, to win this kind of card game, you must use every card at your disposal. I appreciate your audacity in boldly exploiting even the divine," Mephilia smiled, narrowing her eyes.


    Though Aiden hadn''t responded to Carm''s proposed deal earlier, he had long harbored thoughts of dealing with the underworld figure.


    He cared little for gang conflicts, and Carm spending eight years in prison due to a rival''s cunning moves was her own affair. However, the situation changed when Sine turned into a revenant and infiltrated the Rose Prison.


    Sine''s son was murdered, and she chose to transform into a revenant intentionally to seek revenge within the confines of the Rose Prison. This caused him and other prison guards considerable distress.


    If Sine''s revenge was merely orchestrated by Carlo Polpo to deceive her into relinquishing herpensation money, then he was the mastermind behind their current hardships.


    In other words, this underworld figure was causing trouble for them.


    Carm had a vengeful nature; if she imed she would kill Carlo after her release, she would undoubtedly follow through.


    Although Aiden hadn''t explicitly said it, he wasn''t one to swallow his pride.


    As he had once told to Jialong Rowton, who falsely used Veronica and sent her to prison, he is a person who hold grudges. If a prisoner caused trouble for him, he would surely give them a taste of their own medicine.


    Now that someone else was causing trouble in his prison, he would undoubtedly reciprocate with interest.


    Moreover, this Carlo Polpo, judging by his extensive experience with countless criminals, he appears to be a thoroughly despicable scoundrel. Dealing with such a character requires no restraint.


    However, Aiden maintains a realistic perspective on himself.


    In this world, he is neither a noble emperor nor a legendary powerhouse capable of world-shaking feats; he is simply a prison warden.


    Even though he holds several Crimson Alert-level criminals under hismand, eliminating a underworld figure or even crushing an entire gang would likely be well within his capabilities.


    But, he cannot afford to take such actions, as doing so would make him the one ending up behind bars.


    Regardless of whether it''s a struggle between underworld forces orwful entities, certain rules must be followed. If a gang were so easily defeated, the police force would have eradicated all the gangs from the old city district long ago.


    "I do have my limits in the cards I hold," Aiden continued to y his cards. "Beyond the prison walls is not my home turf. Running recklessly into someone else''s territory means facing uncertain consequences."


    He understands his dominance within the prison he manages, thanks to the resources at his disposal. Merely underestimating his influence in this prison led Melusine to fall into his hands.


    However, outside the prison, the dynamics change.


    Initiating an attack against an underworld figure might require shifting the battleground to their territory.


    After all, the gangs excel at home-field advantage, with their influence scattered throughout their turf.


    To overturn this disadvantage, the only solution he could think of was to leverage the strategic prowess of the goddess of conspiracy, Mephilia.


    "I advise you not to underestimate the resources you have on hand," Mephilia reminded Aiden as she used her telekinesis to draw cards from the deck. "Look, you currently possess a significant figure who can easily shake the external underworld forces, don''t you?"


    "A significant figure?" Aiden yed a card and subconsciously trying to recall.


    For a moment, he couldn''t think of anyone fitting that description. In his prison, there were indeed some inmates with underworld connections, but they were either insignificant minor yers or had fallen from grace.


    In the men''s prison, you may still be able to find a few big bosses who are still very influential even though they are in prison. But here?, the sample of prisoners in the women''s prison he manages is still too small.


    "Do you need to think so much? It''s the female inmate who recently caused trouble in your prison, the one you recently tamed. I believe her name is...", seeing Aiden struggling to remember, Mephilia bluntly revealed, "Melusine, yes, that seems to be her name."


    Aiden became alert upon hearing this. "How do you know about Melusine?"


    He hadn''t shared information about Melusine orchestrating a riot in the prison with Mephiliaafter all, Mephilia was also a prisoner he had to remain vignt about. He only provided necessary information when he needed to use her.


    Unless necessary, he wouldn''t disclose prison intelligence.


    The name Melusine had never been mentioned in front of Mephilia.


    "Don''t underestimate the insight of a deity," Mephilia smiled as she yed her cards, avoiding a direct answer to Aiden''s question.


    Aiden stared at Mephilia, realizing that she seemed to possess the ability to gather information from the outside world.


    Firstly, the possibility of othersmunicating with Mephilia could be ruled out. This imprable fortress of a prison was nearly impossible to breach, especially without him noticing.


    So, either Mephilia retained the ability to sense the outside world, or...


    Mephilia could directly extract information from him.


    Either way, it was something he couldn''t guard against, but he needed to be more cautious.


    For now, he had to follow Mephilia lead and continue asking, "Melusine is not part of the underworld; she just has close ties. She''s involved in the business of contract killing. What can she do?"


    To deal with Carlo, Aiden initially considered gathering evidence of his crimes and handing it over to the mounted police. He couldn''t see how Melusine would y a role in this process.


    "That''s more than enough. A killer who can easily take down high-profile figures is sufficient to sow discord within an organization," Mephilia calmly stated. "To destroy someone, you don''t necessarily need to rely on their enemies; it can also be... their aplices!"


    Aiden immediately grasped the concept. His mind worked quickly, understanding Mephilia suggestion.


    However, he realized a problem: "In that case, I''ll have to rely on Evangeline power again. But asking her to do something like this isn''t quite appropriate. Besides, her current abilities..."


    "No, you don''t need that young girl. You just need her reputation. Conveniently, you''ve acquired her abilities, haven''t you?"


    "How do you even know about that?" Aiden''s card-ying hand hesitated.


    "Because I''ve been keeping an eye on you," Mephilia said with a smile, then yed the second-tost card. "Alright, UNO!"

 Chapter 82:

    Chapter 82:


    <b>Borrowing Prestige</b>


    "In essence, this is the n. What do you think?"


    Seated in his office, Aiden summoned Veronica and briefed her on the n he had obtained from Mephilia.


    Mephilia advice was indeed a clever move, a n that could only be aplished with the cards Aiden held.


    However, due to its unconventional nature, the n carried significant uncertainties.


    So he was Seeking Veronica''s opinion, considering she, as a member of the mounted police, possessed the most experience inbating the underworld.


    Although Mephilia always seemed fond of Aiden, he harbored limited trust in her.


    Aiden was Mephilia guardian, and while she might assist him on a whim, there was always the risk of her turning against him unexpectedly. Overreliance on her intellect and epting her strategies without careful consideration could pose a substantial hidden threat.


    Veronica widened her eyes, seemingly awestruck by the audacity of the n.


    After pondering for a moment, she cautiously responded, "Perhaps it''s feasible. Among the gangs in the old city, the Skull Gang is currently a primary target for the mounted police. I have some intel; Carlo Polpo holds a prominent position within the Skull Gang and is one of the leading candidates for the next leadership. The police asionally use undercover agents and informants to instigate internal conflicts within gangs... However, would this approach be too perilous for you?"


    "Battling won''t be an issue; I can arrange for Dailey and the others to support me," Aiden replied calmly. "With their strength, facing an entire gang is manageable. At least, my personal safety should be reasonably assured."


    "I can offer support too. If needed, you can take me along, and I''ll protect you from the shadows!" Veronica eagerly pledged.


    "Bringing you along would be pointless; the gang there would undoubtedly recognize you. If you''re exposed, the entire n could bepromised," Aiden reminded.


    He could sense Veronica''s strong sense of justice and her eagerness to assist with his n, but participating on this n wasn''t suitable for her.


    Aiden had researched Veronica''s career history; she had been a cornerstone of the mounted police force, gaining fame in several forceful crackdowns on gangs. In the criminal underworld, she was a "celebrity" whose name wasn''t unfamiliar, several even gangs put bounties on her.


    "True..." Veronica realized, looking somewhat dejectedly downward.


    Seeing her expression, Aiden quickly added, "However, I still hope to leverage your connections. Help me gather more intelligence. If possible, seek assistance from the mounted police; this n could benefit them as well."


    "Leave it to me!" Veronica immediately perked up, saluting with shining eyes.


    Utilizing Veronica''s connections and bridging with the mounted police would be advantageous for implementing this n without any harm.


    The next step is to y the most crucial card.


    "Go bring Melusine to the meeting room; we need to have a serious discussion with her," Aiden instructed.


    Fifteen minutester.


    "The gangs in the old district... If it were In the past, I do have some influence," Melusine remarked thoughtfully.


    Seated at the iron table, Aiden and Veronica faced her on the other side.


    "In the past? Are you suggesting it''s not as effective now?" Aiden tapped the iron table with his fingers.


    "It''s not as potent as before, after all..." Melusine spread her hands, adorned with shackles, in a helpless manner. "My most exceptional daughter ended up in your hands."


    When Evangeline was still active as the top-ranked assassin in the underworld, Melusine held considerable influence over various criminal factions, including several major gangs in the old district.


    ording to the Inquisition Bureau''s investigation, over half of the assassination contracts Melusine took on were rted to the underground struggles of old district gangs. As long as the payment was sufficient, she could eliminate the leader or members of a gang at any time. While she didn''t have territorial control, the gangs held a deep sense of awe for the legendary "Ant Queen."


    However, with Evangeline capture and theplete disappearance of the "Tainted Blood Reaper" from the underworld, Melusine influence plummeted. Some gangs even actively ced bounties on discovering Melusine true identity, aiming to eliminate her and absorb her business and umted wealth.


    This circumstance led Melusine to take a daring move, breaking into the Rose Prison to escape such threats.


    "Well, yes, that''s true..." Aiden nodded in agreement, then shifted the conversation, "But conversely, if the title of the ''Tainted Blood Reaper'' resurfaces, your influence in the underworld would also be restored. Is that the implication?"


    "Oh?" Melusine gaze suddenly sharpened. "And what do you mean by that?"


    "I want one of your ''credentials,''" Aiden bluntly stated his purpose.


    He knew that when Melusine "children" took on assassination contracts, they used a special credential to prove their identity to clients.


    In that world, no one dared to impersonate the name of Melusine, as those who had tried were typically killed by Evangeline when she was still the "Tainted Blood Reaper."


    "Are you nning to use my title for something?" Melusine asked with interest.


    "does it matter?. You are already in prison, and whatever actions I take won''t affect you. People outside only know that the ''Tainted Blood Reaper'' has been silent for a long time; they don''t know that you''ve been captured. Your reputation can still be useful," Aiden stared into her eyes. "Rest assured, this is a transaction, not coercion. If you agree, I can offer you corresponding benefits. If you disagree, I won''t force you."


    "Oh dear, with the way you put it, I owe my life to the mercy of Warden. How could I refuse your request?" Melusine smoothly smiled. "You can take my title; I just wonder, how do you n to revive the reputation of that child?"


    "That, you don''t need to worry about," Aiden replied expressionlessly.

 Chapter 83:

    Chapter 83:


    <b>Library Tea Party</b>


    "I understand your request, but I''m not quite clear, Warden. What benefit do you gain from doing this?" The Witch Dailey sat in her chair, holding a cup of red tea.


    "I don''t fully grasp your motives either," the necromancer Arsena poured tea into a cup with an expressionless face. "In the end, killing that mafia doesn''t provide any substantial help to you, only pure risk. Sine''s revenge target is Carmi, not him. Even if you help her avenge, she won''t find sce as long as she refuses to ept the truth."


    In the prison library''s reading room, Aiden, Dailey, and Arsena held a tea party.


    As part of the exchange for managing the prison, Aiden allowed these two to spend two hours each day continuing their forbidden studies in this library.


    For this discussion, he decided to walk to the library himself during this particr segment of events.


    "I''ll figure out a different way to deal with Sine''s issue," Aiden took the tea Arsena poured, "Is my motive that crucial? Do I need to report my actions to you?"


    Dailey and Arsena exchanged nces, then spoke simultaneously to Aiden:


    "I''m just concerned about you!" Dailey looked genuinely worried.


    "I''m afraid you might go astray in the gutter," Arsena, still expressionless, stated.


    Aiden paused, while holding the tea cup near his lips, and silently looking at the two.


    "While I have great confidence in your abilities, Warden, it''s not impossible for you to get hit by a stray bullet if you''re not focused," Dailey shrugged, "If you die, it''s quite a hassle for us. No one can guarantee the next warden would be willing to make a deal like this with us."


    "If you were to die out there, I''d find it regrettable. You''ve inherited Evangeline body modification abilities, and I''m very interested in your physique. Even if you have to die, I''d prefer your body for research..." Arsena emotionlessly adjusted her sses.


    Aiden couldn''t hold back anymore, cing the tea cup down. "Enough! Why do I feel like you two are taking this opportunity to curse me? Imissioned you to ensure my safety. Okay, admittedly, this task might not have any tangible benefits. But, well..."


    "But?" Dailey prompted.


    "Killing that mafia would make me feel pretty good, that''s all," Aiden raised his tea cup and took a sip.


    Dailey thought for a moment and nodding thoughtfully. "Well, that sounds like a decent reason... But why not just take me along? I can directly help you eliminate the target."


    "Do you think I''m stupid?" Aiden rolled his eyes. "That would justnd me in prison."


    "It wouldn''t be bad, Warden. You coulde in and spend time with us. Maybe we could even share a room..." Dailey teased.


    "Who wants toe in and spend time with you two? Besides, I''m a man. Even if I went in, it would be to the men''s prison," Aiden retorted.


    "No need to worry about that. Actually, among the witches I know from the ''Witch Gathering,'' many can perform long-term gender-changing spells. I''ve even had the experience..." Dailey said earnestly.


    "Experienced? So, are you originally a man or a woman?" Arsena looked at Dailey, her perpetually expressionless face showing a hint of wariness.


    "Well, about that..."


    "Don''t stray off-topic, you two!" Aiden suddenly reacted, knocking on the table with his fist. "I''m asking if you can provide support for me remotely!"


    "Of course, no problem," Dailey and Arsena answered simultaneously.


    "It would have been better if you were straightforward from the beginning," Aiden crossed his arms. "So, what''s the casting distance you can achieve?"


    For his n, he wanted the two to support him without appearing in person. To execute this n, he needed to know their maximum casting distance.


    With his knowledge of ck magic, he knew that the power and precision of offensive magic often inversely corrte with casting distance.


    "You don''t need to worry about that. I can stay directly in the prison to support you, no matter where you go," Arsena calmly replied. "I have no desire to leave this ce."


    "I would like to wander outside the prison, but considering the risk of discovery, I''ll stay here to support you," Dailey added.


    "How do we proceed?" Aiden asked.


    The old district area and here had a considerable distance, far beyond the limits of most ck magic.


    Those capable of casting spells from such a distance were usually involved in reconnaissance-type spells, like Dailey familiars or pre-set demonic contracts.


    "Using summoning spells should do the trick. I can summon a shadow demon to attach to your shadow and then transferplete control to you. It shouldst about three hours. If you force demons beyond that time, they might retaliate, though," Dailey proposed a solution.


    "I can create a guardian spirit attached to you, allowing you tomand it to perform necromancy for a short time. There''s no time limit, but if the spirit''s magical energy is depleted, it will disappear on its own," Arsena calmly exined.


    "So, if I get possessed by these summoned entities, I can utilize your abilities?" Aiden grasped the idea.


    "Considering your own considerable strength, with our abilities added, ensuring your safety and even directly crushing that mafia stronghold would be a piece of cake," Dailey encouraged with a happy expression. "You can try it out first, and if you''re not satisfied, we''ll make it right!"


    "That sounds quite promising," Aiden nodded.


    He didn''t intend to use Dailey and Arsena''s power directly to confront the mafia. Still, to execute a risky n, even if he was stubborn, he needed to prepare to make a clean getaway. After all, if he showed off without any hidden cards, he could easily end up in a predicament.


    "So, what do you want aspensation?" he brought up the topic of the exchange.


    "I''d like you to check out any new pastries on 7th Street. Anything in the baking category is fine," Dailey smiled.


    "For me, I hope you can buy some books that are hard toe by in prison..."


    "What kind of hard-toe-by books?" Aiden raised his tea cup and asked.


    "Novels with themes of romantic rtionships between beautiful boys, as long as they''re newly released this year," Arsena said slowly.


    Aiden''s hand trembled, and tea sshed onto his face.


    After a while, he looked at Arsena. "So, you''re into that kind of thing?"


    Arsena nodded in silence.

 Chapter 84:

    Chapter 84:


    <b>Inquisition Bureau</b>


    Aiden leaned on his cane, standing at the intersection, gazing towards the somewhat aged colossal structure not far away.


    Neatly arranged narrow windows adorned the gray walls, and the spire, reminiscent of a clock tower, was painted in a dark red hue. At first nce, the architectural style didn''t differ much from urban public buildings like the city hall, just a bit darker in color.


    However, the imposing walls, and the sentry posts surrounding the building, also an officers in trench coats with rifles standing at the entrance emphasized the strict atmosphere, warning against the approach of unrted individuals.


    The reason was spelled out on the sign to the left of the main gate: Inquisition Bureau.


    Aiden walked through the gate, and the guards recognized him, immediately greeting him, "Captain, it''s been a while. How about a drink tonight?"


    "No, i still have work to do. Is the old man in the office today?" Aiden replied calmly.


    "He should be, haven''t seen him go out yet."


    Aiden walked straight into the gate, skipping the usual registration procedures.


    This was Aiden''s workce, or rather, the former owner of this body''s workce. The previous Aiden held the position of a senior investigator here, essentially a superior judge.


    In this world, the Inquisition bureau was an armed organization associated with both the military and the police, somewhatparable to the special armed police in Aiden''s previous life.


    Unlike the religious persecution activities of hunting innocent women as witches and burning them at the stake in Aiden''s previous world, in this world where ck magic, magical creatures, and even evil gods existed, Inquisition bureau was a very serious matter.


    The Inquisition bureau is tasked with investigating, suppressing, and apprehending criminal activities involving ck magic and other supernatural forces beyond human capabilities. They cautiouslybat a variety of supernatural powers, maintaining the order essential for human survival.


    Given the nature of the job, serving here often doesn''t guarantee a long life, especially for frontliner, who face a significantly higher mortality rate than other organizations.


    In order to survive in this world, Aiden managed to secure a transfer to work in the prison. However, he couldn''tpletely sever ties with his previous unit.


    Firstly, the nature of the Inquisition bureau meant that the majority of prisoners in the core area of the Rose Prison would pass through here. Secondly, to obtain approval for the transfer, he still acted as auxiliary personnel, additionally assisting the Inquisition with the task of guarding Mephilia.


    After resolving the incident involving the Melusine, Aiden found another connection to his former unit. After Inheriting abilities that was strictly controlled by the Inquisition from Evangeline, he was obliged to regrly report his whereabouts to them.


    While he could have used his past connections to handle these routine procedures through letters, this time he had a reason that required a face-to-face discussion.


    After exchanging greetings with some former colleagues along the way, Aiden reached the door of the director''s office and knocked.


    "Come in," a deep voice emanated from inside.


    Aiden pushed the door open, greeted the office''s upant with a bright smile, "I''vee to see you, Director. How have you beentely?"


    Behind the desk sat an elderly man with gray-white hair, a face with sharp edges that exuded authority without anger. The unnatural murky gray color of the man''s left eye and a horrifying scar running from his forehead through the eyelid to the cheek were overshadowed by the muscles seemingly about to burst out of his uniform.


    Harold, the director of the Inquisition bureau in Silver City, was Aiden''s former boss and, one could say, the professional mentor of the previous Aiden.


    For Aiden, summarizing the elderly man before him in a single sentence would be: a visibly tough guy... no, a tough old man.


    The exaggerated muscles and the role dedicated to eradicating heresy always made Aiden think of those old pdins who could swing a several dozen-kilogram warhammer with a howling wind or martial arts monks who could shout "Great Dragon''s Wrath" while smashing demons with a palm.


    The grizzled director nced indifferently at the enthusiastic young man who greeted him, his expression calm. With a clear and round tone, he uttered a single word, "Leave."


    "Don''t be so harsh on your former subordinates,"


    Aiden replied nonchntly, and sitting down on the sofa without feeling awkward. He had a reasonable understanding of Harold''s tough exterior but soft heart.


    "You''ve already climbed the ranks and made a fortune. Why bother getting close to me now?" Harold retorted somewhat irritated.


    After leaving the Inquisition, Aiden and Harold no longer had a hierarchical rtionship. Especially after Aiden became the warden in Rose Prison, the distinction became even more apparent.


    The Rose Prison and the Inquisition were not part of the same system. Looking solely at the public service rank, the warden of Rose Prison and the director of the Inquisition bureau in Silver City were essentially equals.


    "At least climbing the ranks shows my dedication," Aiden smiled.


    "What''s the problem today? Spit it out quickly," Harold impatiently waved his hand.


    Aiden didn''t waste words, simply handed over the prepared application letter.


    Harold opened the envelope, nced at the contents, and casually tossed the paper aside. "Using control abilities to coborate with mounted police against the gangs? If you''re so free, why note back to your old job?"


    "I have my reasons for doing this, it''s written in the document..."


    Aiden began exining, but Harold impatiently cut him off. "Do whatever you want, I don''t want to deal with it. Just don''t create problems for me."


    "Thank you, Director," Aiden smiled, understanding that this meant approval.


    To execute the n, he needed to inform the Inquisition beforehand to avoid unnecessary troubleter.


    "After you left, fewer and fewer people applied to join. At this rate, sooner orter, I might have to get my old bones back on the front line..." Haroldined while taking out a cigar and cing it in his mouth.


    In Harold''s eyes, Aiden, once a rising star greatly expected by him, seemed to have lost his nerve after being injured in an assassination attempt. A quick move to transfer to the prison for "retirement" appeared to Harold as an act of cowardice.


    "You''re still in your prime" Aiden began.


    "Enough with the smooth talk, disappear. I can''t stand seeing your face," Harold red at him.


    "Then I''ll take my leave," Aiden tipped his hat.


    As he was about to leave, Harold suddenly added, "By the way, if you have the chance, go visit Reba. She''s currently on medical leave."


    "Reba... What happened to her?" Aiden was taken aback.

 Chapter 85:

    Chapter 85:


    <b>The Amnesiac Witch</b>


    Reba, a colleague of the former Aiden within the Inquisition Bureau who had a reasonably good rtionship with him. She joining the unit a yearter than Aiden, she had served in Aiden''s squad and stood out as a prominent investigator among the younger generation.


    Upon inheriting the identity and memories of her predecessor, Aiden naturally assumed the previous interpersonal rtionships. Reba had even assisted in organizing the farewell banquet when Aiden left the bureau for the Rose Prison assignment.


    Investigators from the Inquisition Bureau often faced high-risk missions, dealing with the hunting of dark wizards and other criminal entities, risking injury or even sacrifice.


    When frontline adjudicators took leave for "recuperation," it usually meant recovering from injuries.


    "Justst week, we received intelligence that the S-rank wanted criminal Prisci had relocated to the southern forest of the city. Reba led the team for a surprise raid." Harold struck a match, toasting a cigar as he exined the circumstances.


    "Witch Prisci?"


    "Yes, that''s her."


    Prisci, the witch, was a highly sought-after fugitive by the Inquisition Bureau, designated as an S-rank criminal with a red-level danger rating. Proficient in mental magic and a crucial member of the "Witch''s Gathering," her bounty exceeded even the initial witch, Dailey.


    "Was she captured?"


    "She was. There were someplications during the assault, and the search team got separated in the dense forest. However, Reba pursued Prisci alone and sessfully apprehended her."


    "Quite impressive," Aiden sincerely praised.


    Facing a red-level alert criminal alone was an aplishment achieved by only a few exceptionally skilled individuals, even among the seasoned and skilled higher-ranking adjudicators.


    When Aiden left, Reba had just been promoted to a higher-ranking adjudicator, and in just a few years, she had grown to this extent.


    If Prisci was captured, it wouldn''t be long before she was transferred to the Rose Prison.


    "But she''s experiencing amnesia now," Director Harold said solemnly.


    "Amnesia?"


    "There wereplications during the capture. She fell victim to Prisci''s mental assault, causing partial memory loss. It''s a tricky situation, and recovery seems challenging." Harold lit his cigar, took a puff, and exhaled a plume of smoke.


    "If Prisci has been captured, why not have her try to restore Reba''s memories? She''s skilled in mental ck magic, isn''t she?" Aiden suggested, considering this as a potential solution.


    Harold nced at him with aplex expression and reprimanded, "Only you would immediately think of such a questionable idea. Don''t get too close to those monsters; they''re all criminals!"


    After Aiden left for the prison and became the warden at the Rose Prison, he soon gained another "highlight" that irked Harold deeplyhe was getting "too close" to the criminals at the Rose Prison.


    The Inquisition Bureau functions as a typicalw enforcement agency, characterized by an extremely strict atmosphere. Their primary task is to apprehend formidable criminals, in short they simply view them as enemies.


    Harold was a very typical inquisitor, he held no trust and harbored a significant level of hostility towards the criminals the Inquisition Bureau was responsible for capturing.


    Aiden, on the other hand, as a prison warden, had a different perspective. For him, criminals were his work subjects. The individuals he dealt with had already been apprehended, with most having had their fangs and ws removed.


    Given the long-term interaction with these individuals, he couldn''t maintain a perpetual adversarial stance. Though he shared theck of trust, he would attempt tomunicate from a more neutral standpoint.


    The difference in job nature determined distinct thought processes. In simple terms, Aiden use of criminals, a practice seen by Harold as akin to dealing with a tiger for its skin.


    In fact, when Aiden had persuaded Harold to allow Dailey and Arsena to research forbidden arts and in exchange the result for reduced sentences, considerable effort was expended.


    "Criminals are valuable assets," Aiden calmly responded, "and regarding Reba''s recovery, you shouldn''t be so rigid."


    Harold stared at Aiden for a moment, snorted, and retorted, "Do you think I''ve truly gone senile? If it were possible to attempt, I wouldn''t be unwilling to give it a try. But it''s impossible."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Because the witch Prisci has also suffered amnesia," Harold replied curtly, "and her situation is even more severe than Reba''s. She can''t even remember who she is."


    "How could this happen?" Aiden frowned slightly.


    "Reba still retains some memory fragments of the incident. ording to her report, when Prisci attacked her mentally, she fired a magic bullet at Prisci''s arm before falling unconscious due to the mental impact. However, Prisci also suffered a bacsh from her own magic, wiping her memories."


    "there''s such a thing..."


    "The results of the mental assessment also confirm that Prisci haspletely lost her memory. It''s impossible to rely on her now," Harold said in a subdued tone.


    "Thisplicates things," Aiden couldn''t help but sigh.


    With the witch Prisci losing her memory, not only did it mean one less potential avenue for Reba''s memory recovery, but it also signified that Aiden would have to deal with a prisoner requiring special attention.


    Given Prisci''s identity as a witch, he would likely have to confine her to the core area. However, a woman without memories in the midst of those monsters was akin to amb among wolves.


    "So, when you have time, go check on that girl. She hardly has any recollection of her work at the Inquisition. Contact with people she used to work with might help in her recovery," Harold softly suggested.


    Strictly speaking, Aiden didn''t have much experience working with Reba, despite the memories still lingering in his mind.


    Nevertheless, he agreed, "Alright, once I finish up with this matter, I''ll visit her."


    "With capable people in the bureau bing scarcer, the days ahead might be tough," Harold took a puff of his cigar, sighed deeply, and gave Aiden a meaningful look, almost saying, "Why don''t youe back to work?"


    From Aiden''s inherited memories, Harold had originally aimed to groom the former Aiden as his sessor.


    Aiden thought, "It''s not that I don''t want to help you, but my abilities are limited."


    "Well, it''s gettingte. I''ll take my leave," Aiden excused himself, sensing it wasn''t suitable to stay any longer.


    "Get lost, you brat," Harold chomped on his cigar, letting out a gruff insult from the corner of his mouth.


    Advance Chapter

 Chapter 86:

    Chapter 86:


    <b>The Informant</b>


    A few dayster.


    "Chief, here''s thetest intelligence report." Veronica respectfully handed the report to Aiden in the warden''s office.


    "Thanks." Aiden took the report and carefully read through it.


    Utilizing Veronica''s past connections in the mounted police force, Aiden had sessfully formed a coborative rtionship with them.


    His stated reason was to address the hidden dangers within the prison, and the mounted police force had long targeted the Skull Gang for eradication. Aiden''s proposal was beneficial to them  after all, he bore the risks himself.


    During these days, Aiden had been using the mounted police force''s connections to gather intelligence on the Skull Gang, which had taken over the territory and influence of the Blood Hand Gang in the old district area since the demise of Carmi''s former gang.


    The rise of various factions ensued as they divided the Blood Hand Gang''s original turf and power.


    The Skull Gang, rapidly expanding during this period, the ruthless gang member Carlo Polpo also rise through the ranks. In the process of the Gang''s expansion, Carlo''s cunning tactics and ruthless methods propelled him to the position of a high-ranking official, just a step away from the leadership.


    However, his willingness to betray and exploit even his own people had made many gang members wary. The current leader even suspected him of aspiring to take over the leadership due to his rising influence.


    The rapidly growing Skull Gang and the elevated status of Carlo, had already be targets for the mounted police force.


    The mounted police force has been expanding undercover operations and gathering intelligence through informants within various gangs. Leveraging the temporary coboration, Aiden obtained crucial intelligence from the mounted police force.


    "This seems almost too smooth," Aiden remarked casually as he collected information.


    The more information he gathered, the more he believed in the feasibility of the strategy provided by Mephilia.


    In hindsight, it appeared as if Mephilia had prior knowledge of this information, before providing him with such a n.


    A suspicion lingered in his mind  perhaps Mephilia possessed some form of foresight or a unique ability to gather information from the outside.


    "Yes, the director alsomended your unique approach. He mentioned coordinating internal personnel to assist your actions,"


    Veronica thought Aiden hade up with the n herself, and deepening her admiration for him.


    "Mounted police informants and undercover agents?" Aiden leaned back in his chair, contemting.


    The mounted police force''s strong inclination to cooperate suggested their interest extended beyond Aiden''s advantageous proposal.


    Previously, they had used Carlo to set a trap for Carmi, resulting in her imprisonment.


    However, after Carmi shouldered the me, Carlo exploited the revenge-driven psyche of the young mother, turning Sine into a revenant.


    In a twisted turn of events, Carlo''s cunning maneuvers had caught the mounted police force off guard, turning them unwitting aplices in Sine''s transformation.


    Perhaps driven by guilt, anger, or a desire to rectify the situation, the responsible individuals at the mounted police force likely sought to eliminate Carlo Polpo promptly.


    However, while leveraging the mounted police force''s informants for intelligence was convenient, directly utilizing their resources for a n was a different matter.


    As the primary adversary of the gangs, the mounted police force was the focus of their defenses. If a third party were to intervene, the gangs might not immediately realize it.


    Carlo Polpo was probably still unaware that he had offended the warden of a women''s prison, who was potentially unrted to him, and other gang members remainedrgely ignorant of Aiden''s involvement.


    Aiden possessed a unique advantage as the third-party force, but relying too heavily on the mounted police force''s resources would mean willingly relinquishing this advantage.


    The informants or undercover agents arranged by the mounted police force might have already aroused suspicion among gangs ustomed to evadingw enforcement. Depending entirely on them for strategy could alert the gangs and disrupt the n.


    In response to Veronica, Aiden said, "Let''s wait for now; there might be more suitable candidates."


    "More suitable candidates?" Veronica looked puzzled.


    At that moment, there was a knock on the office door.


    "Come in."


    As Aiden gave the signal, the door opened, and the prison guard Isabe walked in. After exchanging a nce with Veronica, she saluted Aiden and reported, "Warden, the person you mentioned to me earlier has applied for a visit today."


    "Coming to see Inmate 3271?"


    "Yes."


    So it begins.


    Aiden immediately stood up from his seat, "Excellent. Let him go to the interview room. I''ll meet him first, and after our conversation, notify Inmate 3271."


    "Understood."


    A few minutester, Aiden arrived at the interview room.


    On the other side of the ss barrier sat the scar-faced gang youth who had visited Sine in the prison a week ago.


    Today marked Sine''s first day out of solitary confinement, and Aiden had informed the guard on duty in advance. If anyone iming to be Sine''s nephew applied for a meeting with Inmate 3271, they were to inform him immediately.


    The moment the youth saw Aiden, he visibly tensed, but there was little surprise on his face.


    Clearly, he had some psychological preparation for Aiden''s visit.


    "I won''t beat around the bush. You wrote that letter, didn''t you?" Aiden stood with his hands behind his back, getting straight to the point.


    After a prolonged silence, the youth, with a serious expression, nodded.


    "In these past days, I''ve conducted some investigations, somewhat confirming your ims," Aiden said slowly. "But writing to me serves no purpose. Inmate 3271 has be a vengeful spirit; she won''t listen to the truth. Even if she believes it, she can''t seek revenge in her current state."


    The youth remained silent, and lowered His eyes.


    "Did Carlo also y a role in guiding Inmate 3271 into this state?"


    Aiden inquired. After interrogating Carmi, he had subtly probed Sine, confirming that the person who deceived her, leading her to the necromancer, was indeed Carlo.


    The youth again nodded in silence.


    "Are you still under Carlo Polpo''s control?" Aiden asked.


    The youth kept his head down, offering no response.


    "Continuing to work for someone who caused the destruction of your own family, don''t you feel a pang of guilt?" Aiden continued to press.


    "I... don''t have a choice," the youth replied with a defeated tone.


    Aiden stared at the youth without further mocking him.


    Trying to reform people in abnormal circumstances, like Carmi, through a few preachy words, is arrogance.


    The youth was in a gang, and sending that whistleblower letter here, might have been his best effort.


    "Maybe you didn''t have a choice before, but now you have an opportunity," Aiden suddenly said. "You have a chance to bring down the one responsible for your brother''s death."


    The youth looked up, bewildered.


    "I have some connections with the mounted police force. Listen carefully; this is intel I just got from their undercover agent..." Aiden leaned in, speaking mysteriously through the inte hole in the ss partition. "Carlo Polpo is plotting to assassinate the leader of the skull Gang, and aiming to seize the throne."

 Chapter 87:

    Chapter 87:


    <b>Offering a Weapon to the Avenger</b>


    In the afternoon, within the core infirmary room of the prison.


    "Alright, Inmate 3271, you cane in now."


    Upon hearing the voice from within the infirmary, the prison guard escorted Sine, bound in shackles, into the room.


    "Have a seat here."


    The one receiving them inside wasn''t the usual medical staff but Arsena, a necromancermissioned by the warden.


    As Sine''s deadline approached, the resentment within her intensified, and her power grew stronger. Aiden had to implement additional sealing measures to suppress the surging magic within her. During this final period, he assigned Arsena to regrly inspect the seals on Sine.


    Facing Arsena, who had been granted certain spellcasting privileges, the prison guard bringing Sine felt a bit uneasy, especially since the warden wasn''t present.


    Although everyone knew that this necromancer was personally appointed by the warden to assist the guards and was a model inmate, she still held a red alert level.


    Fortunately, the guard soon noticed Veronica standing with crossed arms in the infirmary, overseeing the scene, which eased their concerns a bit.


    Veronica had now be the warden''s de facto secretary, handling many tasks that Aiden used to personally take care of.


    With the temporary spellcasting privileges granted to Arsena, most guards hesitated to give her tasks. Still, Veronica had the courage, given her strength. In a previous riot, she single-handedly subdued the entire infirmary, gaining fame in the process.


    Seemingly aware of the guard''s unease, Veronica looked over and said, "I''m here to watch. You can wait outside the door."


    "Alright." The guard nodded gratefully and stepped outside, closing the door.


    Arsena pointing her staff at Sine''s forehead, softly reciting an incantation. Soon, Sine body which was seated in a chair, twitched as if controlled by invisible threads, her facepelled to lift like a puppet manipted by unseen forces.


    The smoky, ethereal form was forcefully pulled from her eyes, flickering with ghostly glows, gathering at the tip of Arsena''s staff.


    A few secondster, Arsena interrupted the spell, and Sine slumped backward in the chair, His limbs was weak, as if She had exerting tremendous energy. While probing her soul, Arsena had also applied a binding necromantic curse to ensure Sine''s cooperation.


    Arsena waved her staff towards a prepared basin, ejecting the extracted ethereal form from Sine into a magical solution for analysis.


    In an instant, an inky ckness diffused in the colorless detection potion, quickly turning the previously clear liquid in the basin into a pitch-ck substance.


    "In just a few days, your resentment has reached such levels. Your grudge is indeed formidable," Arsenamented nonchntly. "We must reinforce the seal through a ritual."


    "Please, I beg you. I have... no time left," Sine pleaded weakly, her gaze towards Arsena filled with determination. "I just want to kill the murderer who took my son away."


    Despite Lacking knowledge of necromancy, she could still instinctively sense her changing power and the impending deadline.


    When Carmi emerged from solitary confinement, she would only have a few short days for revenge. The fleeting power before the vanishing of the revenant was her only trump card to y Carmi, who bore the bloodline of a dragon.


    However, with the warden''s orders constantly restricting Arsena from unleashing her power, Sine wouldn''t even have a chance to grasp this sole trump card.


    "I''m just following the warden''s orders. Please don''t make it difficult for me," Arsena stated firmly, casting a dismissive nce at Sine.


    "Veronica, can you help move thisatose patient? This one''s quite heavy!" A prison medic treating another inmate in the corner waved to Veronica.


    Veronica nced at the powerless Sine, certain that she couldn''t make any subtle moves, and replied, "Coming!"


    "Oh, by the way, I need someone to assist with my ritual over here," Arsena suddenly added.


    "I''ll help with that first ande back to assist youter," Veronica replied briefly as she headed towards the medic.


    At this moment, Melusine emerged from the inner room, interjecting, "How about I assist Arsena with the ritual? I understand dark magic, and I''m more suitable for this."


    Due to her proficiency in pharmacology, Melusine asionally assisted prison medics in the medical room under supervision.


    Veronica raised an eyebrow at her, disying a face full of distrust.


    "I won''t make any moves; i still want my life," Melusine quickly reassured, raising her hands with a cating smile.


    "I hope so...." Veronica gave Melusine a stern look and then went to help the medic.


    "What do you need me to do?" Melusine turned to Arsena.


    "Wrap these bandages around her, wrists, ankles, and neck, two loops each," Arsena instructed, presenting a piece of bandage with runes written in red potion. She handed a note to Melusine, saying, "Since it''s a ritual, the incantation will be a bit lengthy. After each segment I chant, you sing the corresponding line on the paper."


    "Enhanced Invocation of Spirit Summoning? Got it." Melusine nced over the note and returned it.


    "Have you studied necromancy?"


    "I''ve dabbled in it a bit." Melusine took the bandage. "Is this makeshift ritual tool really okay?"


    "We don''t have specialized shrouds for sealing spirits here. Make do with what''s avable. The most crucial element in the ritual is the practitioner, not the tools. Now, let''s begin," Arsena said, cing her staff in front of her and preparing for the spellcasting.


    Melusine approached Sine, who was already under the influence of the binding curse, and began wrapping the bandages.


    Quietly ncing around to ensure Arsena''s concentration on the preliminary incantations and Veronica''s attention elsewhere, Melusine lowered her voice and spoke to Sine, "It''s truly pitiful. Seeking revenge with the resolve of bing a Revenant, yet being suppressed by that warden, forced to die with resentment... Perhaps, I can help you."


    Sine''s eyes suddenly widened, and a glint of light flickered in them.


    "I have a bit of issue with the warden and i want to cause a little trouble for him. If you can move freely today,e to the library''s reading room. I can provide you with something that could kill Carmi," Melusine whispered.

 Chapter 88:

    Chapter 88:


    <b>The Leading Actor Takes the Stage</b>


    Two dayster, in the evening.


    Aiden stood atop the clock tower in the old district, gazing down at the abandoned docks below.


    "That t-roofed white house is Polpo''s office. Every Saturday night, he handles the ounts brought in from his territory there," Veronica said, pointing it out beside him. "ording to our informants, he''s there now, and there are about a dozen people in and around the office."


    "The antagonist and supporting cast are in position," Aiden nodded, handing his cane to Veronica. "It''s time for the leading actor to make an entrance."


    Unlike other days, today he wasn''t wearing his uniform. Instead, he donned a night outfit, with arge hooded cloak covering his entire body.


    "Are you sure about this?" Veronica expressed her concern.


    "To be honest, I can''t guarantee the sess of this operation, but I can ensure my own safety. Don''t worry; Dailey is keeping an eye on the scene." Aiden reassured, shaking the oval ring on his hand. "If anything happens, she''ll inform you through her familiar, and then you can join the police in the assault."


    "Got it," Veronica nodded.


    "Before the entrance, a bit of makeup is necessary."


    As he spoke, Aiden began to utilize his ability for physical transformation.


    A tingling sensation spread throughout his body as he rapidly shrank, his height quickly decreasing to just below Veronica''s chest.


    Proportionally, his limbs reduced, and his body gradually became slender. The face, however, became slightly rounder, unlike its previous lean appearance.


    In just a few short seconds, he transformed into a child who appeared to be around eleven or twelve years old, bearing only a faint resemnce to his original appearance.


    After numerous practice, he had be quite adept at using this ability.


    Just to be sure, he sought confirmation from Veronica, "How''s this? There shouldn''t be any ws, right?"


    Not only did his appearance change, but his voice now matched the age his new look suggested, no longer retaining its previous depth.


    Veronica stared at Aiden in amazement and then silently gave him a thumbs up.


    "Veronica?" Aiden was a bit puzzled by her reaction.


    "Oh, sorry, sorry." Veronica snapped out of it, quickly retracting her hand and awkwardly smiling. "I think this transformation is perfect!"


    "That''s good," Aiden replied nonchntly.


    This girl... could she be into shotas?


    "I''m heading over; you keep an eye on things here." Aiden grabbed the mask andntern hanging nearby and briskly descended the clock tower.


    At the entrance of Polpo''s office in the abandoned docks, two gatekeepers idly chatted.


    At that moment, one of them caught sight of approaching light.


    "Hey, someone''sing," he immediately alerted hispanion.


    "Who? Didn''t hear the boss mention any visitors," the other one said, puzzled.


    Although they sensed an unexpected guest, neither felt a sense of danger. After all, the personing towards them was alone and seemed somewhat short in stature.


    When the figure approached slowly with antern, the two of them subconsciously nced at each other, and both could read a bit of surprise in each other''s eyes - this "guest" was not even taller than their chests.


    What''s even more weird is that this person is wearing a ck cloak that is so long that it drags to the ground, and there is also a ck mask on his face that is obviouslyrger than his face.


    "Hey, what are you doing?" One of the boys shouted to him.


    "I''m looking for Mr. Polpo. Can you take me to see him?" the mysterious figure, Aiden, responded.


    "A kid?" Both men paused upon hearing the somewhat youthful voice.


    One of them retorted sharply, "This isn''t a ce for little brats. Get lost!"


    After saying that, he menacingly tapped the pier''s concrete floor with the pry bar at his side to intimidate Aiden.


    "I need to see Mr. Polpo," Aiden remained unfazed.


    "Are you trying to get yourself killed?" The other guy grew impatient, preparing to walk over and give Aiden a kick to make him back off.


    asionally, these ignorant youngsters would try to join the underworld, by stumbling upon the gang''s territory through some back alley gossip about the location of a leader.


    Gangs might recruit some fifteen or sixteen-year-old delinquents as enforcers, as they were simple-minded, impulsive, and easily manipted with a few benefits. However, dealing with them was convenient for the gang  they could be easily deceived into risking their lives, and if caught, they made convenient scapegoats.


    Yet, the current kid seemed too young, and his inexplicable attire suggested a questionable mental state. He probably had some misunderstandings about the underworld.


    Most importantly, Mr. Polpo had long climbed the ranks in the Skull Gang''s leadership. In the present, even the recruitment of low-level henchmen could alert him, and beating up the gatekeepers would be considered a minor disturbance.


    However, the guy with the pry bar, full of bravado, took only two steps forward before stumbling and falling. He felt something strange grabbing his ankle suddenly.


    Instinctively, he turned to look at his feet, letting out a terrified shout.


    What Clutching his ankle was a pitch-ck w extending from his own shadow.


    Before he could utter more than a couple of screams, his voice was cut offmore ck ws emerged from the shadow, gripping his neck and limbs, firmly pinning him to the ground.


    The other gatekeeper witnessed this scene was dumbfounded. While ck magic was a widely known existence in this world, it was strictly regted, and ordinary people rarely had the chance to witness such supernatural powers.


    Aiden didn''t give him a chance to recover from his fear. Summoning the shadow demon''s ws from his own shadow, he pressed the second gatekeeper to the ground.


    Dealing with these typical thugs would be easy for Aiden even without using Dailey summoned shadow demon, but Dailey demon added a theatrical touch that shouldn''t go to waste.


    Approaching the two fallen men, Aiden tossed a "coin" in front of them, as if offering alms to beggars. "Recognize this?"


    The two men struggled to focus their gaze and realized it was a coin-sized copper badge intricately carved with a poppy flower. The badge emitted a faint and elusive fragrance, as if coated with a specially crafted potion.


    Though not many in the underworld had seen this item in person, most had heard about it. It was a token used by a group of highly skilled underworld assassins to prove their identity.


    "The children of Melusine?" the two gatekeepers eximed in fear, raising their heads.


    "I''ll say it again; I''m here to see Mr. Carlo Polpo. Could you please show me the way?" Aiden said with a smile. "Rest assured, I''m not here to kill him. I''vee for... business negotiations."

 Chapter 89:

    Chapter 89:


    <b>The Second Generation of The "Tainted Blood Reaper"</b>


    The firm''s gate swung open, and the two gatekeepers, coerced by Aiden, cautiously entered, their necks stiff as if welded, and they afraid to turn their heads.


    Their careful demeanor had a reason, for behind them, a dangerous young devil closely trailed.


    Half a minute ago, this boy in peculiar attire politely greeted them with a set of ck magic, "friendly" introduced himself, and very politely "requested" them to lead him into the office.


    The children of Melusine were a well-known group of killers in the underworld, and among them, the "Tainted Blood Reaper" was a legendary figure in the assassin world, known even to those deeply involved in the underworld.


    So when he presented Melusine token, they immediately gave up resistance.


    Rumors spread that Melusine children all possessed extraordinary abilities. Even the least skilled among them was far from an ordinary person''s match, let alone this boy who had already proven it with his actions.


    Aiden cautiously followed them, concealing his figure behind theirs.


    The gatekeeper led him further inside and and finally arrived in front of the door, as soon as they pushing open the door, a dense smoke smell rushed out.


    Through the gap between the two gatekeepers, Aiden saw a well-lit room where a lean man sat behind arge desk, smoking a rolled cigarette. Three members of the underworld were discussing something with him at the desk, and three bodyguards stood near the entrance.


    "What''s going on with you two?"


    Carlo Polpo, seated behind the desk, was the first to notice the two underlings who were supposed to be guarding the entrance. He not only furrowed his brow but his sharp eyes showed clear displeasure.


    As their leader''s expression darkened, the two gatekeepers face instantly turned pale, they stuttered as they tried to exin, "S-sorry, boss, but, uh..."


    "But someone... someone said they wanted to see you..."


    "What?" Carlo was puzzled.


    At this moment, Aiden spoke up, "Don''t waste time, if you can''t articte, just show Mr. Polpo the token."


    everyone in the room Instantly became alert. The voice was not only unfamiliar to them but appeared abruptlyAiden''s current position was hidden behind the two adult men, making it impossible for anyone to immediately notice.


    However, the voice, with its mature tone and a childlike pitch, sounded eerie.


    One gatekeeper awkwardly approached, facing Carlo''s angry gaze.


    Taking someone here without permission and obediently following that person''smands had already infuriated Carlo.


    However, the gatekeeper had no choice; while the leader''s gaze was intimidating, it wasn''t an immediate threatpared to Aiden''s peculiar ck magic, which could easily take off his head at any moment.


    The gatekeeper nervously ced the badge Aiden gave him on the desk, and Carlo took one nce, drawing in a sharp breath, "Melusine offspring!?"


    As soon as these words were uttered, the already tense bodyguards reached for their holstered guns.


    The mention of "Melusine child," the renowned assassins in the underworld, visiting their base immediately made them think someone had targeted their boss''s head.


    The remaining gatekeeper standing in front of Aiden was so frightened that he eximed and dropped to the ground, covering his head. He was positioned between Aiden and the bodyguards, and with the imminent threat of a shootout, he risked being the first to get caught in the crossfire.


    However, contrary to expectations, a gunfight didn''t break out. Instead, several screams echoed simultaneously as inky tentacles, resembling octopus arms, emerged from the shadows of the six bodyguards. Like the coils of a predatory python, these tentacles wrapped around each person''s arms and body, tightening instantly with brutal force, nearly fracturing a few ribs.


    "Don''t just pull out your guns at every little thing; I''m still just a kid." Aiden, masked, stood at the doorway, chuckling as he shrugged.


    Before taking action, Dailey had previously summoned a shadow demon in prison and attached it to Aiden''s shadow. Within the three hours following the summoning, control of the shadow demon had been transferred to Aiden. Since the casting process waspleted during the summoning, Aiden didn''t need to recite any incantations when using this shadow demon.


    The shadow demon was one of the three demons Daileymanded, and Aiden found it quite handy borrowing its abilities.


    Within a thirty-meter radius centered around Aiden, he could utilize any well-defined shadow within that range as a medium for the shadow demon to manifest into different forms and attack targets. The maximum number of targets he could simultaneously engage was up to fifty.


    What made it even more convenient was that he couldmand the shadow demon to autonomously sense rapidly changing shadow outlines and directlyunch attacks on the corresponding targets.


    In other words, in the well-lit room illuminated by gasmps, every person with a shadow under their feet had already been targeted and locked onto by the shadow demon attached to Aiden.


    When the bodyguards attempted to draw their guns, the shadow demon immediately detected their movements through their shadows and autonomouslyunched attacks against them.


    People who familiar with shadow demons might devise countermeasures, such as immediately breaking the gasmps to eliminate light sources, causing the outlined shadows to disappear. Alternatively, they might pre-emptively eliminate the spellcaster from a distance. Despite the potent power of the manifested shadow demon, its own resilience is weak. It can freely change forms, making it impervious to physical harm but vulnerable to things like holy water that have special effects on demons...


    However, the individuals present at the scene were utterly helpless against this arcane magic, even if they were armed.


    ck magic faced strict scrutiny from the Inquisition Bureau precisely because it often bestowed an overwhelmingbat advantage upon those possessing forbidden knowledge.


    Aiden''s instant defeat of the six armed bodyguards sent shockwaves through everyone present, including the room''s owner, Carlo.


    Cigarette ash fell from his mouth andnding on his thigh, burning a hole in his pants. The pain jolted him up from his seat.


    As a mafia executive, Carlo had witnessed numerous scenes and knew a few individuals proficient in ck magic. After all, he had introduced the necromancer responsible for turning Sine into a revenant, who had ties to the underworld.


    However, none of those individuals could bepared to the eerie boy standing before him.


    "Don''t be so tense, Mr. Polpo. I''m not here to kill you," Aiden raised his hand, mimicking a pistol gesture pointed at Carlo. "If I wanted your life, I could take it right now."


    "What are you..." Carlo''s cheek twitched.


    He had heard about Melusine offspring, but he had never heard of such a formidable figure among them.


    This level of power could almost rival the former King of Assassins.


    "Allow me to introduce myself; I am the Tainted Blood Reaper.''" Young Aiden ced his hand over his chest, responding politely.


    "Tainted Blood Reaper? Wasn''t it already... captured or..." Carlo looked utterly perplexed.


    The Tainted Blood Reaper had vanished without a trace nearly two years ago, and people in the underworld had long heard of the news that the King of Assassins was apprehended by the Inquisition Bureau.


    "Ah...., I am the sessor, the second generation," Aiden smiled, spreading his hands. "The second generation... of the Tainted Blood Reaper!"


    Advance Chapter

 Chapter 90:

    Chapter 90:


    <b>Nothing, I''ll just take a look</b>


    When Aiden uttered the title "Second Generation of the Tainted Blood Reaper," the scene fell into a deathly silence.


    In the underworld, there wasn''t a soul unaware of the name "Tainted Blood Reaper." It was a monster that could im anyone''s head.


    Countless influential figures in the criminal underworld met their end at the hands of this monster. As long as a vengeful party offered enough reward to enlist the monster services, regardless of your influence or the size of your gang, it was challenging to safeguard your own head.


    The heyday of the Tainted Blood Reaper coincided with the peak of the underworld''s enchantress, Melusine. Many mob bosses with ties to her would regrly pay her hired killers a "protection fee" even if there were no assassination contracts, hoping she wouldn''t ept assignments against them.


    After Evangeline imprisonment, Melusine, losing this ace, saw a drastic decline in her influence in the underworld. To the extent that some of the gangs she had offended in the past started putting bounties on her head.


    Under such circumstances, anyone could see that Melusine would spare no effort to cultivate another "Tainted Blood Reaper." However, with so much time passing without any action, people in the criminal underworld had begun assuming that the witch could no longer nurture a uniquely talented monster.


    Yet today, this young man stood before them, dering that he would inherit the title of the "Tainted Blood Reaper."


    This was a title not anyone could bear; the "Tainted Blood Reaper" was synonymous with the king of assassins.


    Next, something even more chilling happenedthey witnessed a sudden transformation in the boy''s body, rapidly expanding into a giant. The once loose cloak now hung taut on him.


    He casually stepped over the nearly terrified doorman, approached the office desk, and looked down at Carlo from above. In an immensely deep voice, he said, "Exactly, that''s the situation. Do you understand now?"


    Carlo found himself overshadowed by Aiden''s presence, feeling cold sweat trickle down his body as if he were a punctured water bag.


    The mobsters standing around the office desk dared not make a move, and the bound bodyguards served as a cautionary tale.


    At this point, no one dared to question whether this boy had the strength to im the title of the second generation "Tainted Blood Reaper." The two most famous aspects of the original "Tainted Blood Reaper" in the underworld were the ability to manipte the body at will and the deadly blood that sealed the throat.


    For the former, the second-generation reaper had already demonstrated the identical ability, and no one present wanted to risk their life to verify thetter.


    This was precisely the effect Aiden aimed to achieve. Although masquerading as "Melusine offspring" felt like taking advantage of the witch, it was the most efficient way to make these mob figures recognize him as a professional killer. The reputation of the "Tainted Blood Reaper" would instill greater intimidation, not only increasing the sess rate of his ns but also saving him from manyplications.


    To make them acknowledge his role, the simplest method was to don a familiar persona.


    Carlo nodded reluctantly and cautiously inquired, "What do you want to do? Is it money you''re after?"


    His initial thought was that this guy came to collect protection money. If Melusine could cultivate a second "Tainted Blood Reaper," restoring their former glory wouldn''t be an issue.


    However, he couldn''t fathom why Melusine would target him. The Skull Gang was a newly emerging faction, and he had recently climbed to a senior position with no significant interactions with Melusine.


    Aiden, who transformed into a giant, emitted a sinisterugh, akin to a corrupt crow. "Yes, money and reputation. I need an assassination mission to establish my name. Mr. Polpo just issued a bounty, didn''t he? I''m here to im that reward."


    "Bounty?" Carlo waspletely bewildered.


    But others in the room shifted their gaze toward himapparently, this assassin was genuinely here to negotiate business with their senior executive.


    "Discussing such matters in public can be challenging; I understand," Aiden nodded as if in great understanding. "Let the others leave; we can have a private conversation."


    "Di"


    Carlo was about to ask, "Discuss what?" but he choked on his words as a ck w, extending from Aiden''s shadow, patted his shoulder.


    "I believe Mr. Polpo is sincere, and not ying games with us," Aiden said with a smile, reiterating, "Come on, have the others step out. Let''s have a good talk, just the two of us."


    Understanding his predicament, Carlo knew his life was now in the hands of the other. He could onlyply with the instructions of this assassin.


    "You guys..., leave," Carlomanded his subordinates in the room, struggling to maintainposure. "Everyone, out."


    Meanwhile, Aiden, controlling the shadow demon, released the restrained bodyguards.


    The crowd hastily shuffled out of the room without a moment''s hesitation, and thest person even "thoughtfully" closed the door.


    Even without orders from the executive, they had no desire to stay in a room with a killer who could take their lives at any moment.


    In the room, only two people remained. Aiden calmly stepped back to a side wall, crossed his arms, and leaned against it. This position made it challenging to snipe him through the door or windows.


    With Dailey shadow demon protection, he was virtually invulnerable in this well-lit room. Even if multiple armed thugs stormed in, ready to draw their guns simultaneously, he could counter all of them in an instant using their own shadows.


    He only needed to watch out for unseen long-range attacks. To counter the typical gunfights in mob strongholds, the walls were thick, and the windows were smallexcellent cover. By carefully positioning himself, he could ensure absolute safety.


    Carlo settled back into his chair, using his experience from years in the mob to reluctantly maintain hisposure.


    After a while, he made an effort to speak calmly to the "assassin" in the room, "I say, is there perhaps a misunderstanding between us? I''ve never"


    Aiden didn''t respond to the question but directly interrupted him, saying, "Bring out the money."


    "What?" Carlo was perplexed once again.


    "Bring out the money. Is that hard to understand? Your agency must have money, or valuable items will do. Bring them out," Aiden continued.


    Sure enough, it''s protection money after all. Why not just say so directly earlier? I could have had one of my guys help carry the money.


    Carlo remained confused, but with his life at the mercy of the other, he had no choice but toply. Money could be scavenged from the businesses on his turf, but once his life was gone, there was no getting it back.


    "How much do you want?"


    "Bring out everything in this room."


    This behavior didn''t align with something Melusine would typically do; it seemed more like the actions of a bandit. However, Carlo dared not question the identity any longer. He reluctantly approached a corner safe, opened it, and took out all the cash and precious metals, stuffing them into a sack.


    "Don''t put it in the bag. Just ce it on the table and put it neatly," Aiden added.


    Carlo turned back, puzzled, "What are you trying to achieve?"


    "Do as I say. Don''t worry, I won''t take it. Just take a look," Aiden replied simply.


    Now Carlo was utterly bewildered.


    Is this guy... perhaps insane?

 Chapter 91:

    Chapter 91:


    <b>Clearing the Doorstep</b>


    As time ticked away, Carlo became increasingly uneasy in his seat.


    Neatly arranged on his desk were banknotes and jewelry, collectively worth thousands of pounds, taken from his safe. However, the assassin remained by the wall, arms crossed, and immovable as a mountain, showing no intention ofying hands on the pile of money that most ordinary people could never earn in a lifetime.


    If given the choice, Carlo almost wished the assassin would take the money and vanish into the distance.


    His current situation was akin to being held hostage by this second-generation "Tainted Blood Reaper," rendering the dozen or so brothers and bodyguards outside useless.


    The arrival of this assassin was truly inexplicable. If Carlo had been aware that some enemy had set their sights on him, he would have at least hired more bodyguards and concealed his tracks a bit. He couldn''t fathom how he had drawn the attention of this assassins'' organization.


    If the assassin hade solely for the money, Carlo could have some understanding, but the current behavior left Carlopletely clueless about the assassin''s intentions.


    From the moment Carlo neatly arranged the money on the table, no matter how he tried to engage the assassin in conversation, there wasplete silence. The fear of the unknown grew in the silence, making Carlo feel a prickling sensation on his back. Even the pendulum of the grandfather clock in the corner seemed to slow down in his eyes.


    Aiden stared at the time on the grandfather clock, waiting.


    He hadpleted the first two acts of the stage, and now he awaited the entrance of the supporting cast for the next scene.


    Confident they would return, he utilized the police force''s informants to keep track of the skull Gang''s internal movements.


    In addition, Aiden had discreetly arranged for an additional actor to join the scene.


    Soon, the mor of footsteps echoed through the floor, and those guarding outside shouted, signaling the intrusion of many guests into the office.


    "They''re here," Aiden immediately became alert. Prepared to cast his spell, he walked briskly to the right rear of Carlo, who wore a bewildered expression, ready to use Carlo and the chair as cover.


    The room''s door was kicked open, and armed thugs flooded into the room, spreading out in a fan formation, quickly covering the entire space with their weapons.


    Following closely behind these thugs was a middle-aged man with a well-groomed beard, dressed like a nouveau riche, leaning on a cane with an angry expression on his face.


    "Mr. Bigg?" Carlo was stunned.


    The person entering with this group of gunmen was the current head of the skull Gang. Although Carlo had climbed to a high position, he still had this boss looming above him.


    While the big boss asionally visited executives, he wouldn''t usually burst into the office unannounced, especially not apanied by more than twenty armed thugs.


    When a mafia leader personally led such an armed entourage, it usually meant either a violent raid or a purge of internal enemies.


    Carlo Polpo hadn''t immediately considered that direction. Despite suspicions within the gang about his rising influence, there were unwritten rules in the mafia, and the official boss had no reason to target him openly.


    Seeing the boss with arge entourage initially left him bewildered, assuming the boss had prior knowledge of some situation and came to rescue him from the hostage situation.


    Feeling pleasantly surprised, he was about to speak when the boss erupted, "You bastard! You actually hired an assassin to take my head?!"


    "What are you talking about?" Carlo was immediately confused.


    "Don''t y innocent when you''ve been caught red-handed!" The boss angrily waved his cane, pointing at Carlo. "Your underlings have quietly informed me!!"


    Aiden nced at the scar-faced youth outside the door, nervously peeking inside.


    Well done, he thought to himself.


    Two days ago, Aiden had discreetly disclosed "secret intelligence obtained by the police informant" to the young man during Sine''s prison visit. ording to the information, Carlo Polpo was plotting to assassinate the gang boss to seize the throne, and tonight at 8 o''clock, he would be conspiring with the assassin in his office.


    "Police informants might be suspected if they report, but you should be fine. Just say you identally overheard it. If you inform your gang leader about this, that guy is finished," Aiden had encouraged him at the time.


    Aiden wasn''t sure if the young man would indeed risk trusting him for the sake of avenging his close friend. In fact, he had already instructed the police informant within the gang to leak this "information" to the gang leader.


    If the young man chose to act, it would undoubtedly make the gang leader of the skull Gang find the information more credible. After all, it was logical to infer that a low-level thug under Carlo''smand wouldn''t dare to target the head of his own gang.


    "Oh dear, Mr. Polpo, the target you mentioned hase to the doorstep by himself. Aren''t youpletely exposed?" Aiden opportunistically took the stage, sighing as if regretful.


    He proceeded to showcase once again his "divine skill" of physical transformation, swiftly shrinking from a giant to a childlike figure, his voice reverting to a youthful tone. "You''re so careless; it''s challenging to cooperate with you!"


    With that, he shed behind Carlo''s chair, making himself elusive to everyone in the room.


    The boss and the armed thugs all had changed expressions. A killer who could freely alter their physique like this was a tale they had only heard about one person.


    "You are..." the boss squinted.


    "you should understand, After seeing this" Aiden tossed a badge of the Melusine. The badge arced through the air towards the entrance, a gunman caught it swiftly and handed it to the boss for inspection.


    "Melusine Offspring?" the boss eximed.


    "The second-generation ''Tainted Blood Reaper.'' Now you should get it," Aiden once again donned this disguise.


    "No wonder it costs so much..." The boss nced at the substantial sum on the table, then shifted his gaze to Carlo sitting on the chair. His expression turned sinister in an instant. "It seems you''ve put quite a price on my head. Well done, well done!"


    Carlo suddenly realized the implications. Therge sum on the table, the top-tier assassin appearing in his room, and now someone informing the boss that he was conspiring to kill and take overall of it seemed to align!


    He had been set up!


    "It''s not my doing!" Carlo sprang up from the chair, pointing behind himself for defense. "It''s him! He inexplicably came to find me!"


    "Oh dear, Mr. Polpo, is it really appropriate to shift all the me to me at this moment?" Aiden calmly chuckled. "I happen to be the only one here who can save your life."

 Chapter 92:

    Chapter 92:


    <b>Paying Back with a ck Pot</b>


    Aiden''s words sent a chill down Carlo''s heart.


    He turned his gaze forward and saw the boss staring at him with icy cold eyes, as if he were looking at a dead man, and the barrel of a gun pointed at him.


    "Your level of cunning can''t even deceive a child. If you want to stay alive, you can only continue to employ me," aiden said, his voice suddenly lowering. "If you can''t understand that, I can get angry too."


    As soon as he finished speaking, a gray mist-like aura emerged from within aiden''s body, floating upwards and condensing into a huge cloak-like ghost.


    The face of the ghost became blurry under the hood, but its eyes flickered with green ghostly fire.


    This was the guardian spirit bestowed upon him by Arsena. This undead spirit was equivalent to a clone of Arsena. Before it''s mana was exhausted, he could use several offensive necromancy spells mastered by Arsena ording to aiden''s will.


    Necromancy was the most forbidden form of ck magic. Coupled with the "fine tradition" of necromancers killing their master or apprentice, the spread of necromancy worldwide became severely restricted.


    ck mages hiding in the world basically only needed to master two or three decent necromancy skills to call themselves necromancers. However, witch like Arsena could master over a dozen advanced necromancy spells.


    Sinister Spirit Roar, Ghost Fire, Evil Ghost Entanglement... Any of these attack methods from the guardian spirit can easily "eliminate" everyone here except for Aiden.


    Both Arsena and Dailey were S-ss wanted criminals before their capture.


    One of the criteria for designating S-ss wanted criminals is their ability to pose a devastating threat to small towns regted byw enforcement and armed forces.


    Their level of danger isparable to that of catastrophic-level monsters.


    In other words, both Arsena and Dailey had the ability to single-handedly defeat an entire gang.


    As Carlo turned around, he saw the enormous ghostly figure almost enveloping him, instantly feeling uneasy.


    He had encountered a necromancer on the road before, butpared to this killer, he was nothing.


    The boss and the gunmen standing at the door werepletely stunned. The gunmen couldn''t even hold their guns steady. Even if they didn''t understand necromancy, they could imagine that ordinary bullets would have no effect on the ghost.


    The assassin was now using the table and chairs as cover, concealing his figure. Even if they attacked simultaneously, they might not be able to hit the assassin. But if the assassin casually used necromancy spells now, they might wipe out everyone!


    "Let me tell you, I''m much stronger than the previous ''Blood Reaper''!" Aiden said softly.


    Although he was only borrowing the name and power of a prisoner under hismand, he couldn''t help but admit that the feeling of pretending in front of others was great!


    Carlo''s heart was filled with fear and anxiety, fully understanding his situation. He had a wolf in front of him and a tiger behind.


    This assassin set him up, making the boss believe that he wanted to hire a hitman to kill him, so he came to ravage the room.


    Although he hadn''t figured out how the assassin set this trap, he had realized that no matter how he exined now, it would be in vain the boss was already afraid of him, and now he had a perfect reason to execute him. He couldn''t be easily spared!


    And this assassin could kill him at any moment.


    His only way to survive was to hire this assassin to solve his problems. Although this guy was basically extorting him, he could only ept this extortion now, or else he was doomed!


    He quickly made a decision, "Then all this money is yours, act quickly!"


    He had always lived on the edge of a de, licking blood. He was well aware that in the underworld, only those who understood the situation and adapted to it could survive until the end!


    At this moment, Aiden suddenly said, "Then you''ll have to pay ten times the amount."


    Upon hearing this, Carlo almost spat blood: Ten times the amount? Why don''t you just go and catch it yourself?


    But upon careful consideration, this guy''s methods were no different from robbery.


    However, he couldn''t possibly produce ten times the money stored in this office on the spot.


    At this moment, Carlo really wanted to teach this assassin the essence of extortion as a senior mafia boss.


    Slowly squeezing the target dry within their tolerance level, that was extortion.


    Only an amateur would resort to such tactics and crush the target.


    He didn''t know yet that this assassin wasn''t here to extort him at all, but specifically to kill him.


    This was Aiden''s n. Since Carlo Polpo made Carmi take the me and deceived Sine with it, Aiden didn''t mind deceiving the entire gang in a benevolent way and making Carlo take the responsibility for murder. The scapegoat of the mafia boss!


    An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a scapegoat for a scapegoat. Using the contradictions within the gang to deal with Carlo without dirtying his own hands.


    He had already spoken to the Mounted Police and the Inquisition in advance, so he didn''t have any worries.


    At this time, the big boss standing at the door spoke: "Allow me to interrupt you, Tainted Blood Reaper. I also understand the rules of a assassin. When assassin takes a job, he mustplete the task and cannot be bribed to switch sides. But now you havent reached a deal with Carlo yet, so I guess theres still room for maneuver, right?


    "Oh? What do you want to say?" Aiden responded.


    "I want to bid!" the big boss said fiercely, "This traitor is my subordinate, you kill him, and when I take back his assets, all of them can be yours! I can still add more money , no matter how much he bids, I can bid higher than him!"


    The big boss had his own n in mind. He brought such a gunman to seize the bag. He thought it was foolproof. But when he got here, he discovered that the killer hired by Carlo turned out to be a monster thatpletely exceeded his expectations - the second generation "Tainted Blood Reaper".


    This second-generation not only inherited the abilities of the previous generation, but was also able to use ck magic. It was really terrifying!


    If Carlo is allowed to make a deal, his situation will be in danger. He must buy this assassin before Carlo does!


    "Oh? You are very smart."


    Aiden burst intoughter. Although he had arranged this show, the performances of these supporting characters were even more exciting than he expected.


    "We, the Skull Gang, are willing to establish a friendly rtionship with the big shot behind you, Ms. Melusine. You just need to tell me how much the protection fee is, and I will have no problem with it." The big boss said confidently.


    "I like to trade with smart people." Aiden smiled and simply borrowed the donkey from Poxia, "Since you are so sincere, sir, we are willing to sell you a face. I only take the money on the table, and I will give him to you." I won''t kill him, Ill leave it to you to handle it yourself.


    "That''s perfect!"


    Carlo, hearing his fate decided so easily, panicked, "Wait, wait!"


    The boss quickly grabbed a gunman''s pistol and shot Carlo in the abdomen, causing him to crash onto a chair with a scream.


    The mob boss, more experienced in the underworld than Carlo, chose to severely wound him in this situation to seal the deal.


    Carlo, clutching his stomach, writhed in pain on the chair. His fate was now sealed. used of betraying the gang, he would be executed by the boss in the cruelest manner as a warning to others.


    Struggling to reach for a gun, Carlo, in agony, seemed torn between attacking others or ending his own life. The boss, swift and decisive, shot him twice more, crippling his shoulder and arm.


    After dealing with Carlo, the mob boss turned to the young man with scars on his face and shouted, "Why aren''t you helping the guest put the money in the bag!?"


    The boy hesitated for a moment, then moved to carefully pick up a sack, stuffing the money and gold bars from the table inside.


    Throughout this process, Carlo, unable to move, continued to groan in pain.


    Taking advantage of the situation, Aiden, hidden behind the chair, lowered his voice and said to Carlo, "Everything you did to Carm and Sine a year ago hase back to haunt you. You''re on your way, scum."


    Upon hearing this, Carlo abruptly stopped screaming. He stared wide-eyed in terror and angrily asked, "Who... who are you?"


    This time, Aiden didn''t answer him.


    The young man finally finished packing all the money into the bag and carefully approached Aiden, holding out the bag.


    "Here, please take it." He handed it over cautiously, clearly afraid of the formidable "assassin" before him.


    "Good job," aiden praised.


    "No, I dare not take it," the young man thought aiden referred to the money, lowering his head in fear.


    "Even though the deal is done, I''ll take the first step!" Aiden dered, initiating his concealed ck magicthe runes on the chair back were already drawn with his hand.


    The room instantly filled with mist. The mist thickened visibly, soon bingpletely opaque.


    the mob boss and the gang members were momentarily baffled by this sudden turn of events, but a few secondster, the fog dissipated.


    "Gone..." the young man stood still.


    The assassin and the money bag disappeared in the mist, leaving Carlo Polpo half-dead on the chair.


    A few minutester, on the outskirts of the old district, under the clock tower.


    "Come on, Veronica, give me a hand; this bag is heavy!" Aiden, back to his original form, handed the sack to Veronica, who came to meet him.


    "Sure, what''s inside?" Veronica took the bag, simultaneously breathing a sigh of relief. Aiden''s safe return meant the n went smoothly.


    "Booty," aiden answered briefly.


    "Huh?" Veronica nced at the contents of the bag, her eyes widening, "So much money!?"


    "They insisted on giving it. I''ll treat it as confiscated loot from the mob and deal with itter."


    "Oh, I see..." Veronica nodded in partial understanding, "Is Carlo Polpo taken care of then?"


    "Yeah, that guy has cooled off for good," aiden grinned happily.


    As he had told Dailey and the others, personally dealing with Carlo Polpo, who added workload to his prison, was indeed a satisfying task.


    "But what about Sine''s matter? How do we handle it?" Veronica asked with concern.


    The undead Sine had targeted Carm, and Carlo Polpo''s death wouldn''t appease her hatred.


    "For her, I''ll find another way to deal with it," aiden put away his smile and replied seriously, "As long as... nothing unexpected happens."

 Chapter 93:

    Chapter 93:


    <b>Liberation</b>


    Two dayster.


    "Carmi,e out!"


    In the core area, Veronica opened the door to the cell.


    "Huh?" Carmi, who was taking a nap, turned over and yawned. "Hey, hey, I just had a meal aftering out of solitary confinement. What do you want now?"


    "When I call you toe out, you bettere out obediently. Why so much nonsense? The warden wants to see you, hurry up!" Veronica knocked on the door frame with her baton.


    "Oh?" Carmi suddenly became interested. "Did that guy really manage to do it?"


    "A girl under twenty calling someone a guy? If you want to know the situation,e out quickly and don''t waste time," Veronica urged.


    "Alright, alright, I''ming." Carmizily got off the bed, feeling heavier and more sluggish than usual. "Sigh, I can''t get motivated after eating today..."


    Just as she stepped out of the door, she froze in her tracks and abruptly turned her head to look towards the depths of the corridor, like an alert wild animal.


    "What''s wrong?" Veronica asked.


    "Hmph, that zombie is staring at us," Carmi sneered.


    Veronica also turned her head and saw Sine standing by the door of Room 19, her eyes flickering with a mysterious glow as she stared intently in their direction.


    "Don''t provoke her. The warden is already handling your situation," Veronica reminded. "Let''s go."


    Carmi wiped her face, trying to clear her groggy head after just waking up.


    But as she took a step forward, she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and the world spinning around her.


    Veronica, who was standing next to her, waiting for her to walk ahead, immediately noticed her pause and urged, "What''s wrong with you?"


    But this time, Carmi didn''t answer. She felt her vision darken suddenly, and soon she couldn''t make out the directions anymore.


    An intense sense of vertigo hit her, and her body swayed. Unable to maintain her bnce, she fell down abruptly.


    "What''s happening?" Veronica quickly reached out to grab her cor, then noticed her rapidly paling face and rapid breathing.


    Carmi''s body quickly went limp, and Veronica could only try toy her down t. She immediately blew the whistle, summoning the on-duty prison guard. "The prisoner is experiencing a medical emergency! I''ll stay here, you go and inform the prison doctor... and the warden! Hurry!"


    The on-duty guard rushed out in a panic, and Veronica crouched down again to assess Carmi''s condition.


    Carmi clearly couldn''t see anything anymore; she was just gasping for breath, like a fish thrown onto the shore.


    Sine, who had been staring intently in their direction from the fence, widened her eyes and twisted her face into a contorted smile.


    At the same time, Melusine, sitting in her own cell, also heard the whistle and slowly raised the corners of her mouth.


    Two days ago, in a corner of the library.


    "With Carmi''s physical condition, even if you were tounch a surprise attack, you wouldn''t stand a chance. Poisoning is the most likely method to seed,"


    Melusine whispered to Sine while pretending to browse books side by side at the bookshelf.


    "But... where can we obtain poison, in a ce like this?" Sine asked in a low voice.


    "We have it right here." Melusine prepared in advance and handed her a book. "This is a good book, I rmend you take a look."


    Sine immediately noticed an unnatural gap in the closed book, clearly concealing something.


    She quietly opened that page and saw a pill the size of a soybean sandwiched between the pages.


    "Be careful, that''s an extremely poisonous substance capable of killing evenrge-scale monsters," Melusine reminded in a hushed voice. "Even a dragon descendant with resistance to poison would surely meet death after consuming it, with no antidote avable."


    The eerie glow in Sine''s eyes suddenly became more apparent. The means to effectively kill her enemies were within reach.


    But then, she realized the problem. "But I don''t have the opportunity to administer the poison. The prison deliberately keeps us separated, whether during work or any other time..."


    "Do you know where that person works?" Melusine asked.


    "It''s in the greenhouse area."


    "I know a prisoner there who is willing to do anything for money. As long as you pay enough, she most likely has the courage to help you administer the poison. The garden area isn''t as strictly supervised as the production lines. Whether it''s drinking water or dinner, she should be able to find an opportunity."


    "How much money? I can transfer all the remaining funds I have to you!" Sine almost raised her voice.


    Killing Carmi was the only purpose she had left in this world, and material possessions like money had almost no use for her, given her limited time remaining.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll do my best to help you," Meluncur replied, taking the book from Sine''s hand. "So, transfer the money, and leave the matter to me. Two dayster, when Carmi is released from the confinement room, we''ll find a way to take action."


    ...


    "No, it''s not working at all. Still no heartbeat!"


    Veronica shouted at the exhausted prison doctor who was squatting beside her, both trying to administer emergency measures to Carmi.


    "It''s toote... There are no signs of life whatsoever," the prison doctor wiped the sweat off his forehead and shook his head despondently.


    "What''s going on?" Aiden finally arrived at the scene and walked briskly over, asking.


    The prison doctor looked wearily at him. "It seems to be a severe reaction to poison. It''s already..."


    "No chance of saving her?" Aiden widened his eyes. "It''s only been a few minutes, right?"


    "The toxicity is extremely potent; this is definitely not an ordinary poison," said the prison doctor with a grave expression.


    At that moment, a burst of maniacalughter suddenly echoed from deep within the corridor, startling them. Sine who was gripping the railing,ughing wildly and banging her head against it. "She''s dead, finally dead!!"


    As a revenant, Sine could sense the presence of her archenemy''s soul. She could now clearly feel Carm''s life slipping away, her heartbeat long ceased, and the aura of death gradually permeating around her.


    Aiden immediately walked briskly to the door of Room 19 and sternly interrogated Sine, "Prisoner 3271, what have you done!?"


    But Sine paid no attention to him, continuing tough uncontrobly. However, in the midst of herughter, she suddenly burst into tears.


    "my child......, I finally... finally avenged you!!" She covered her face and sobbed, choking on her words.


    Then, a faint blue me emerged from her eyes, and a misty spirit-like entity swiftly poured out from her eyes and mouth.


    Her body began to disintegrate, copsing like a sandcastle destroyed by the waves. In an instant, it turned into a pile of dust on the ground, with her prison uniform and shackles buried within the dust.


    The liberated spirit dispersed rapidly and disappeared without a trace. Faintly, Aiden heard a lingering sigh.


    In the moment of achieving her revenge, Sine''s soul finally freed.


    Aiden silently stared at the remains left by Sine for a while, then immediately walked briskly to another cell.


    "Oh, do you need something, Warden?" Melusine, sitting inside the cell, stood at the door, smiling calmly. "You''re not suspecting that I''m involved in this, are you?"


    Aiden gave her a cold nce, then took out the key and unlocked the cell. He pointed with his thumb in the direction Carmi was lying, saying, "The show is over, so what are you still acting for? Hurry up and save her."

 Chapter 94:

    Chapter 94:


    <b>"Died" Once</b>


    Several days ago, when Aiden asked Melusine for a favor regarding borrowing his title...


    "...You don''t need to worry about that," Aiden replied to Melusine at the other end of the iron table in the interview room. He then brought up another topic, saying, "Apart from that, I have something else I want you to do."


    "Please go ahead andmand," Melusine responded.


    "Since you''re so knowledgeable about pharmacology, can you create a drug that can simte death?" Aiden asked.


    "Simte death?" Melusine didn''t respond immediately.


    "I mean a drug that can make the person who takes it temporarily lose vital signs, making it appear as if they are really dead. However, with proper treatment, they can be revived. Do such drugs exist?" Aiden asked again.


    Aiden had read about drugs that could simte death in various fictional stories in his past life, but such drugs didn''t actually exist in his previous world.


    The level of civilization and medical advancement in this world is still somewhat different from Aiden''s previous world. The same applies to overall medical expertise.


    However, in this world, magic and magical medicine exist. Many miraculous magical medicines can achieve effects that cannot be exined by pharmacology in his previous world.


    However, most of the cutting-edge knowledge in magical medicine is held by witches engaged in illegal research, and they rarely share this knowledge with others.


    Melusine is an outstanding researcher in magical medicine, so Aiden has some expectations of her.


    "Well, you''vee to the right person. Yes, I can create a drug that can induce a temporary state ofplete hibernation in the body... But it''s notpletely safe. If an ordinary person hibernates for more than an hour without receiving the antidote, there is a risk to their life,"


    Melusine provided the answer Aiden was looking for. After thinking for a moment, she suddenly realized something. "Could it be that you want to use this drug on Carmi?"


    "I intend to directly resolve the grudge between Sine and Carm," Aiden admitted straightforwardly now that she had guessed it. "Making Carmi ''die'' once is the simplest solution."


    The most effective way to quell hatred is not to persuade the vengeful person but to help them kill their enemy.


    "Just relying on the drug might not be enough, right?" Melusine reminded him. "A revenant can lock onto the enemy''s spiritual state."


    "I can have Arsena handle that matter. She should be able to disguise it. The curse of ''evil spirit possession'' can make the soul of a living person carry the aura of the dead," Aiden suggested.


    "That should work in theory," Melusine agreed, nodding. "But we''ll need to create an opportunity for Sine to believe that Carmi has been poisoned."


    "I n to stage a y," Aiden said, crossing his arms. "Since you can create that kind of drug, I''ll need your help as well. You should have some skills in acting."


    "Oh, Lord Warden, you tter me...".


    "No need to be modest. You were the mastermind behind the riot in my prison," Aiden teased. "Sine is eager for revenge, so it should be easy for you to deceive her, right?"


    "Of course, no problem," Melusine smiled and epted Aiden''s "praise" with ease. "But it would be best if Carmi also participated and cooperated in this n, wouldn''t it?"


    If they carried out this n without Carmi knowledge and she noticed the drugging, the y would fall apart.


    "Don''t worry, she will cooperate," Aiden replied confidently. "Resolving Sine''s issue is also beneficial for her. Besides, she promised to be my dog."


    Aiden had already made a n to take action against Carlo Polpo. Although this action was mainly driven by his personal desires, he had no intention of letting go of the repayment condition promised by Carmi.


    Despite Carmi being a difficult and troublesome individual to handle, she was also a highly useful talent. Utilizing such a notorious figure to govern the other minor characters in the prison sometimes had a more significant impact than pressuring the inmates through the prison guards.


    "Prepare some medicine for meter. I need to conduct an animal experiment first," Aiden instructed Melusine.


    "After I''ve agreed to help you, do you still doubt me?" Melusine feigned disappointment. "What about trust between people?"


    "Don''t talk nonsense. Can criminals like you be trusted?" Aiden replied.


    ...


    Now, the scene shifts to the infirmary in the core area.


    "Cough! Cough, cough, cough!!" Carmi, who had just regained consciousness, leaned over the edge of the bed, coughing intensely. She then sat up on the bed, wiped her nose and saliva, and took several deep breaths. "That medicine almost choked me to death."


    "Alright, Sine has been freed, and you''re one trouble less." Aiden stood beside her with his hands behind his back. "From now on, just serve your sentence obediently as promised. You haven''t forgotten, have you?"


    Carmi pondered for a moment, and said "oh..." understanding his words, she smirked mischievously. "You mean have a go, right? No problem!"


    As she spoke, she began to undress herself, prompting Veronica, who was standing nearby, to roll her eyes.


    "I meant you should behave like a dog!" Aiden corrected her with a stern face and swiftly tapped Carmi''s head.


    "I think the two aren''t mutually exclusive," Carmi suddenly said with a serious expression.


    "Don''t give me that smooth talk. Your business here is done. If there''s nothing else, go back to your cell," Aiden pointed outside the infirmary.


    "Alright." Carmi rolled off the bed and walked towards the infirmary door, with Veronica following closely behind, keeping an eye on her.


    As they reached the door, Carmi suddenly turned back, wearing a mysterious smile. "Warden, I''m serious. I''m still very interested in strong men like you. Think about it seriously in the future, okay?"


    "Hurry up and leave, don''t block the doorway!" Veronica scowled and pushed her out, forcefully closing the door.


    Not long after, the infirmary door reopened, and prison guard Isabe walked in, saluting Aiden. "Sir, the family of inmate 3271 has arrived."


    "Alright, prepare everything. I''ll go over now," Aiden nodded earnestly.


    A few minutester, at the prison''s reception area.


    "This is Sine''s remains. Give her a proper burial," Aiden handed the urn to the scar-faced youth. "Her belongings from the prison and the remaining controlled funds are in that box over there."


    "Thank you very much," the scar-faced youth bowed his head in gratitude.


    Few Days ago, when the youth came to visit, Aiden had informed him of his ns for Sine and asked him toe on that day.


    "I''ve received news from the mounted police. Carlo Polpo is finished. What are your ns for the future?" Aiden asked casually.


    "Thanks to my report, I received recognition from the big boss. He now sees me as a trusted confidant," the youth replied.


    "Congrattions, although it may not be suitable for me to say that from my standpoint," Aiden shrugged.


    "There''s nothing to congratte. After Seeing their fate, I kind of understand. It''s probably difficult to have a good ending in this line of work..." The youth smiled somewhat helplessly. "Anyway, I sincerely thank you for everything you''ve done for us."


    The youth left with Sine''s belongings, and Aiden personally watched him for a while before closing the door.

 Chapter 95:

    Chapter 95:


    <b>No Longer the Same vor</b>


    "The Chief Warden is inspecting, gather at the front gate!" Franda shouted vigorously at the entrance of the core area.


    Once again, before lights-out in the evening, Aiden personally arrived to patrol the cells in the core area.


    Upon hearing this announcement, the inmates in the core area immediately gathered behind their Cell bars. Several new inmates crawled to the front, their gazes fixed eagerly on the entrance.


    "Good evening,dies," Aiden greeted the inmates as usual.


    Just as the typically foul-mouthed inmates were about to speak up, they suddenly heard a cough. Veronica, who was on duty tonight, stood at the door of the surveince room, wearing a fierce expression as she surveyed the various cells.


    Several timid inmates immediately shrunk back. Veronica had repeatedly disyed her prowess in riot incidents and was renowned as the invincible warrior among the prison guards. These inmates held animosity towardsw enforcers, but they also feared the strong. Many of them didn''t want to catch Veronica''s attention.


    However, there were still a few bold inmates who, as usual, took the lead in starting a foul-mouthed tirade:


    "What the hell are you cowards doing? I''ll go first! Aiden, you"


    Bang!


    The door of Cell 10 suddenly made a loud noise, as if it was about to detach from its frame, effectively cutting off the inmate''s curses.


    "Are you trying to die? Talking So loud!" Carmizily appeared in front of the cell door, her golden eyes locked onto the room where the inmate was. "Do you know you''re disturbing me?"


    Now, no one dared to speak anymore, and the entire corridor fell into silence.


    For these new inmates who still exuded a formidable aura, although Veronica was strong enough, she was ultimately just a prison guard who followed the rules. As long as they maintained a certain level of control, they could avoid direct punishment.


    But Carmi was different; her inclination for violence was well-known. She didn''t care about any rules and was capable of secretly retaliating in ces like the bathroom or changing room, where surveince was difficult.


    Under the dual pressure from the prison guards and the unruly inmates, the inmates in the core area became unusually quiet.


    "Oh my, it''s been a few days, and you all have be so well-behaved," Aiden looked around and, apanied by Franda, stepped into the corridor to begin their patrol.


    After taking a few steps, he frowned.


    Usually, when he patrolled the core area, there were always inmates hurling insults at him, creating a lively atmosphere. But now, suddenly, everything had quieted down...


    Instead, it feels a bit ufortable.


    "Carmi," Aiden called out when they reached the door of Cell 10.


    "Heh, what''s up, boss?" Carmi grinned.


    "We don''t need to do this anymore. With everything so quiet, it feels... different, like something''s missing," Aiden said.


    Carmi paused for a moment after hearing this, then smirked teasingly, raising an eyebrow. "Are you saying you developed a masochistic tendency from being cursed by this bunch of trash? If you want to y something exciting, I wouldn''t mind joining in!"


    "You can go and enjoy that excitement by yourself," Aiden replied.


    Aiden and Franda continued walking forward, inspecting the inmates in the cells.


    "Warden, the Inquisition Bureau notified us today. The inmate you mentioned earlier is expected to be transferred here this week. How do you think we should arrange the cell?" Franda whispered to Aiden.


    What Franda said was about the Witch Prisci, mentioned by Director Harold when Aiden visited the Inquisition bureau before.


    "Do we still have single cells?" Aiden asked.


    ording to Harold, Prisci had her memoriespletely erased due to the bacsh from the psychic attack she unleashed when she was captured in the previous operation, where she was hit by a devouring magic bullet.


    If this is true, then Prisci defense capability now is probably even inferior to regr inmates in the ordinary cell block.


    In the core area, the inmates aren''t exactly kind-hearted; there''s no guarantee they won''t deceive or persecute thepletely amnesiac Prisci. To avoid any problems, the simplest solution is to let Prisci live alone.


    "We don''t have single cells anymore, but we still have double cells, though not many," Franda nced at the documents in her hand.


    Unless there are special circumstances, she tries to avoid having a single inmate upy a cell to prevent resource wastage.


    At that moment, they happened to pass by Cell 13, where the subus Fei, lived. As always, she enthusiastically waved at Aiden, saying, "Lord Aiden, look over here!"


    Aiden and Franda stopped in their tracks, turning their heads to look at Fei.


    "Hehehe, have you been busytely, Lord Aiden? Why note to my room for a visit? I''ll give you some special services," Fei beckoned to Aiden while throwing a seductive nce.


    "..."


    "..."


    Aiden and Franda stared at her in silence.


    After a moment, Franda whispered, "How about we put her in a room with our mascot?"


    Compared to other inmates in the core area, Fei can be considered rtively harmless.


    Not because she has a good nature, but mainly because shecks the ability to harm others.


    After a brief moment of thought, Aiden quickly rejected the proposal: "Let''s forget about it. I can''t even imagine what would happen to an amnesiac prisoner, who is like a nk sheet of paper, in the hands of this pimp."


    Franda also imagined the scenario and nodded in agreement, saying, "You''re right."


    "What are you talking about?" Curious about the hushed conversation between the two, Fei interjected.


    "We''re talking about how you''re a seductive slut," Aiden casually replied.


    "Hehe, really?" Fei gleefully held her face, subi have a certain difference in their concept of praise and criticismpared to humans.


    Aiden resumed his pace and said, "Let''s arrange an empty double cell for her to stay in for now. We''ll observe her for a while. Although the Inquisition Bureau conducted a psychological assessment, we still need to be cautious about whether that witch really lost her memory."


    "Do you suspect that the witch might be pretending to have amnesia?"


    "Not exactly, but we have to consider all possibilities. Witches are generally a bunch of madmen who pursue forbidden knowledge..." Aiden nced back at Cell 12, where the witch Dailey was smiling at his back, "Prominent witches usually possess one or two unique skills. Prisci is a renowned witch in psychic magic, so it''s not impossible for her to deceive the Inquisition Bureau through pretending to have amnesia."


    "Indeed," Franda agreed.


    In their line of work, they couldn''t afford to trust prisoners too much. Rxing their guard with dangerous inmates would lead to major problems.


    "By the way, tomorrow morning, I n to go out for a trip. Can you handle the report organizing work for me?" Aiden entrusted the task to Franda.


    "No problem. Is it official business?"


    "No, it''s personal," Aiden replied calmly. "I''m nning to visit a former colleague."

 Chapter 96:

    Chapter 96:


    <b>Are You Serious?</b>


    "Hmm, it should be here."


    Holding a basket of fruit, Aiden stood in front of the apartment door,paring it with the memories he inherited.


    In the memories of the previous Aiden, there was the address of the apartment where his colleague, Reba, lived.


    There wasn''t any particr reason, but it seemed that the previous Aiden''s team would often celebrate their sessful captures of criminals at a nearby tavern.


    Several times, Reba would invite her colleagues to her rented apartment for tea and sobering up, and they would often chat untilte at night before dispersing.


    At least, based on the fragments of memories inherited by Aiden, he could sense that the former upant of this body had a deep bond with his colleagues, including Reba. After all, they had repeatedly faced life and death situations together, entrusting their backs to each other in times of danger.


    However, the current Aiden, although retaining memories of his interactions with his former colleagues, did not inherit those feelings.


    Shortly after inheriting this body, he was transferred to work in a prison and only had a few encounters with Reba. This girl didn''t leave much of an impression on him.


    Nevertheless, since he had promised Director Harold, he still felt it necessary to fulfill hismitment.


    He raised his hand and lightly knocked on the door.


    After a while, no one came to open it, so Aiden knocked a bit harder, ....another Silence followed.


    Just as Aiden began to suspect if the person was not at home, the door lock suddenly made a sound.


    Then, the door cracked open slightly, revealing half of Reba''s face on the other side, cautiously sizing up the visitor.


    This unusual reaction didn''t startle Aiden, as he had already been informed about Reba''s amnesia beforehand.


    He greeted her directly, "Good morning, Reba. I''ve already heard about your condition from Director Harold. Do you remember me? I am..."


    "Aiden Garrett?" Reba''s eyes widened slightly.


    "You remember me, that''s great." Aiden smiled sincerely.


    He was genuinely happy that Reba could recognize him. After all, if she had no recollection of him, it would be quite troublesome to exin their rtionship and gain her trust as an amnesiac. Moreover, Aiden was not the original owner of this body but had only inherited the memories.


    However, he could still sense the slight awkwardness when Reba called him by his full name.


    "Pleasee in and have a seat. I just brewed some coffee." Reba weed him into the house.


    It seemed that Reba have lowered her guard and opened the door. She looked apologetic as she said to Aiden, "I''m sorry, right now I only vaguely remember your face and name..." She looked at Aiden with unease and asked tentatively, "We used to work in the same department, right?"


    "We were part of the same task force. I was the team leader,ter i transferred. And You helped organize the farewell banquet for me." Aiden exined to her. "It seems like you have no recollection at all."


    "I''m really sorry." Reba lowered her eyes with a face full of apology. Her eyes showed signs of fatigue, indicating that she had experienced numerous visits where she couldn''t recall memories of the person in front of her.


    "I''m not ming you." Aiden quickly waved his hand. "Don''t force yourself."


    He was not ufortable with Reba''s attitude... After all, as someone who had only inherited this body, he wasn''t familiar with her to begin with.


    "Pleasee in and have a seat. I just brewed some coffee." Reba invited him into the apartment.


    The cramped apartment didn''t have a separate living room for receiving guests. Aiden ced the fruit on the table and sat directly at the dining table while Reba poured him a cup of coffee by the stove.


    "Would you like anything added?" Reba asked.


    "Some fresh milk and two sugar cubes, please," Aiden replied.


    The amnesiac Reba was clearly not ustomed to the arrangement of her own kitchen and seemed a bit flustered.


    It took her quite a while to find the jar of sugar cubes in the cab, and this dy seemed to make her nervous. As she scooped the sugar cubes with a spoon, her hand trembled and two sugar cubes fell to the floor.


    She hurriedly ced the spoon on the edge of the coffee cup, intending to deal with the fallen sugar cubes. Inadvertently, her fingers touched the overly filled coffee cup and she let out a startled cry from the burn.


    "Don''t worry so much, I''ll do it myself."


    Watching as Reba rinsed her right hand, scalded by hot water, Aidan felt a twinge of guilt and stood up.


    "It''s fine, really! Just stay seated!" Reba waved her hands repeatedly.


    She picked up the coffee with sugar for Aiden again, this time with slightly smoother movements. Holding the coffee cup, she casually stirred it with a spoon, then turned around, forcing herself to appear calm as she held the cup across the dining table, offering it to Aiden. "Please, go ahead."


    "I forgot about the saucer..." Aiden thought to himself.


    But he didn''t want to ruin the atmosphere by pointing it out, so he reached out with both hands, carefully touching the rim of the cup with one hand and grasping the handle held by Reba with the other, identally brushing against her scalded finger.


    Aiden didn''t think much of it at first, but Reba''s expression visibly tensed for a moment, making Aidan also take notice.


    Reba was clearly still adjusting to the presence of a man who seemed somewhat familiar but whose rtionship she couldn''t remember.


    "It''s seems quite inconvenient losing a memory," Aiden brought up the topic proactively, showing understanding.


    "Yeah, it takes some time to remember where I put things that I don''t use often. It''s not a big deal, but it can be quite troublesome," Reba sighed wryly.


    "Going back to work like this would probably be difficult, right?"


    "Yeah, my memories of work... basically only the things that happened when I caught Prisci." Reba sighed. "Now I''m not even proficient with a gun anymore. If I were to go back as a judge, I''m afraid I wouldn''t have the ability to apany them."


    "Mm, I understand."


    Those were Aiden''s sincere words. There was probably no one in this world who understood Reba''s feeling better than him.


    "I originally wanted to apply for a transfer to another department, but the director has been trying to persuade me to stay, saying that I can continue to take paid leave until I recover." Reba''s expression showed some helplessness. "And he even angrily told me that I''m stupid for wanting to go to that kind of department..."


    "What department did you apply to?" Aiden asked as he casually brought the coffee to his lips.


    After he left, the Inquisition Bureau had be even more short of personnel, so Director Harold probably wouldn''t easily let anyone go.


    "The Rose Prison."


    Aiden choked As soon as he took a sip of the coffee.


    "What''s wrong?" Reba was startled.


    "You..." Aiden coughed for a while before recovering. "Are you serious?"

 Chapter 97:

    Chapter 97:


    <b>Swallowing Something Strange</b>


    At noon, Aiden returned to the Rose Prison and took a seat in his chair.


    Franda and the other had already taken care of all the matters they could handle in his absence, leaving a portion of documents that required his personal review neatly stacked on his desk.


    Aiden began to handle the paperwork, and when he came across files rted to personnel, he couldn''t help but recall his conversation with Reba earlier this morning.


    "You''re the warden of the Rose Prison now!?" Reba eximed in surprise.


    "This is something you should have known," Aiden replied calmly.


    "I see..." Reba''s expression became somewhat peculiar for a moment. "But now I really have no recollection at all."


    "Why did you suddenly want to work in a prison?" Aiden straightforwardly asked for the reason.


    "I heard that the work there is rtively rxed. Given my current situation, returning to the frontlines in the Bureau is not very realistic. I wanted to switch to a simpler job," Reba exined.


    "You probably have some misconceptions about the work of a prison guard. Honestly, while it may not be as dangerous as being a frontline judge, it''s not that easy either," Aiden chuckled.


    "Prisons need someone on duty around the clock, and when there''s a shortage of staff, the workload can be quite heavy. Shifts are not fixed, and the content can be a bit monotonous."


    Although Aiden did make the work at the Rose Prison slightly easier through reforms, at best, it only normalized an unbearable work environment.


    In his previous life, he encountered many people with the inherent impression of "rxation and retirement" regarding his work. But in reality,pared to a normal nine-to-five job, this line of work could by no means be considered easy.


    "Anyway, if you''re there, I''ll have a way to transfer over," Reba half-jokingly said.


    "What way? I just need to stamp a seal when someone is transferred in. The key is whether the old man will let you go," Aiden said seriously. "Take some time to think it through before making a decision."


    ...


    Those words still echoed in his ears.


    Reba seemed genuinely intent on transferring to the prison, but honestly, Aiden wasn''t daring enough to take her over.


    Director Harold was already quite displeased with Aiden''s transfer from the Inquisition to the Rose Prison. If Reba, as a rising star, were to be poached by this unit again...


    The old man might personallye to beat his ass.


    Moreover, from what Aiden observed today, the amnesia had a greater impact on Reba than he had imagined. Not only in terms of work but even in daily self-care, she seemed to be affected.


    The prison work, overall, had little room for error, and even a slight negligence could lead to serious consequences. In his evaluation, Reba, in her current state, was temporarily unable to return to the Inquisition, but she also wasn''t suitable for the Rose Prison. She probably needed some time for rest and to adapt to her amnesic condition.


    Furthermore, after meeting Reba, Aiden had been experiencing an indescribable sense of unease...


    At that moment, there was a knock on the office door.


    "Come in," Aiden casually responded.


    Franda entered the office and reported to Aiden, "Warden, someone from the Inquisition has arrived!"


    "What!?" Aiden was taken aback.


    Could it be that old man really came because of Reba''s situation!?


    But he quickly realized that Reba hadn''t formally requested a transfer yet, and she had already discussed it with Harold in the morning. If the old man were toe, he would at least wait until Reba submitted the application.


    "It''s the prisoner you mentioned before, the S-ss wanted criminal, Prisci, who was captured," Franda exined. "The Inquisition brought her over earlier."


    "Now? They only informed us yesterday, so normally there should still be one or two more days," Aiden expressed his surprise.


    "The prisoner seems to be feeling unwell and needs medical attention. They decided to bring her here for an examination," Franda sighed.


    "They''re just pushing this kind of misceneous task onto us," Aiden finally understood.


    They couldn''t neglect the prisoner''s health issues, but for someone like Prisci, an S-ss wanted criminal outside, who would be marked as a high-risk inmate once inside the prison, taking her to the hospital for treatment required significant precautionary measures. It was quite troublesome for the Inquisition bureau as well.


    So they simply decided to send the prisoner to the designated prison in advance since the prison also had some level of medical facilities.


    "Then what are her symptoms now?" Aiden asked for details.


    "She has stomach pain," Franda replied.


    "Stomach pain?" Aiden frowned immediately. This symptom is often used as amon excuse by prisoners faking illness. However, if it''s just a ruse, the Inquisition Bureau should be able to see through it, and there would be no need to send the prisoner over in advance.


    "In my opinion, it seems to be genuine. When the prisoner was brought here, her face was a bit pale, and she was sweating..." Franda described, "When the pain attacks, she can barely stand."


    "Has she been examined?"


    "She has been sent for examination. We are currently waiting for the results from the prison doctor''s side"


    Franda was interrupted midway as the office door was pushed open.


    Aiden and Franda both looked over, feeling somewhat surprised. It''s rare for a prison guard to enter this office without knocking, unless there''s something urgent to report.


    Prison guard Isabe rushed in hastily, "Warden, the new prisoner who was just sent for examination... suddenly started coughing up blood!"


    "Coughing up blood?" Aiden''s face darkened as soon as he heard it.


    It seems that what the Inquisition Bureau pushed over today is not just some trivial matter, but rather a significant trouble.


    After exchanging a nce with Franda, he immediately stood up from his seat. "Take us to see her!"


    Upon reaching the medical room, Aiden''s first sight was the new prisoner lying on the bed, barely conscious and groaning, with a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth.


    "Warden." The prison doctor saw him.


    "What''s the situation?" Aiden asked her.


    "I suspect she swallowed something strange before. Her throat is scratched and showing signs of inmmation. It seems to have been going on for a few days. I guess initially there were no issues, but whatever she swallowed got stuck somewhere and started bleeding today..."


    "Gastrointestinal foreign body?" Aiden was taken aback.


    For a few days...


    In other words, this foreign object was probably swallowed by Prisci while she was detained by the Inquisition Bureau... No, it could have been swallowed even before that.


    The Inquisition Bureau probably has no idea about this, otherwise, they would have definitely investigated what Prisci had swallowed.


    Now that there is gastrointestinal bleeding, it indicates the presence of ulcers. If it perforates, there will be a life-threatening situation.


    "Warden, this situation cannot be naturally expelled. And Surgery is needed. We can''t handle it here; she needs to be sent outside," the prison doctor suggested.


    Aiden pondered for a moment, then turned to Franda. "First, bring prisoner 3340 in for a look."

 Chapter 98:

    Chapter 98:


    <b>obidient</b>


    "Oh my, isn''t this the Great Witch Prisci? I never would''ve thought that you would also be caught."


    Prisoner 3340, Melusine, was brought to the infirmary. With her hands crossed, she looked at Prisci, who was lying weakly on the bed, with great interest.


    Prisci nced at her with a bewildered expression but didn''t respond.


    "Do you know her?" Aiden asked Melusine.


    "It''s impossible not to know her. Just like that woman in Room 12 who uses demons as servants, she''s also a big shot in the Witch Assembly," Melusine shrugged. "What happened to her? Why does she look so pathetic?"


    "It seems she swallowed something strange that got stuck in her digestive tract and can''t be expelled. Can you do anything to treat her?" Aiden straightforwardly asked.


    "She swallowed a foreign object? Just because of that?" Melusine looked surprised. "Can''t she handle it herself?"


    "She has amnesia now and is practically useless," Aiden replied simply.


    "Amnesia... What happened?"


    "This is not something you should be concerned about right now," Aiden interrupted Melusine incessant questioning with a stern face. "Anyway, she started vomiting blood after ingesting something unknown. I came to ask if you have any way to treat her. If you can cure her, I can consider it as your merit."


    When the prison doctor mentioned the need for surgery, Aiden realized the seriousness of the situation.


    The surgical level in this world had only just advanced to the point of knowing the importance of blood type for transfusions. The surgical instruments Aiden had seen in his memory didn''t look much different from torture devices. The idea of using advanced techniques like endoscopy to remove foreign objects was simply absurd, and undergoing major surgery to see if one could survive was akin to gambling.


    Instead of considering the option of sending Prisci to an external hospital for a risky operation and leaving it up to fate, it would be better to first try their luck with a witch who possessed such knowledge.


    Melusine was able to develop a demonic contract that granted people the power to manipte their bodies and concocted a fake death potion that even Aiden''s past world couldn''t create. Her expertise had far surpassed the medical standards of this era.


    In Aiden''s eyes, prisoners were also talents that could be utilized, and the forbidden knowledge possessed by witches held extraordinary value.


    "Oh dear, I feel like you''re starting to treat me as your family doctor," Melusine chuckled.


    "I''m asking you..." Aiden stared at Melusine with an intimidating presence, reminding her.


    "I''ll answer whatever you ask. Yes, I can treat her!" Melusine raised her hands in a cooperative manner.


    "Then let''s examine her quickly," Aiden gestured towards Prisci on the bed.


    "No need. I only need to know the cause of the illness. To be honest, my treatment n may be a bit... unconventional. It might involve some forbidden materials, so I need the Warden''s approval," Melusine said mysteriously.


    "Exin it clearly"


    "I n to prepare a special potion for her to inject, which will partially transform her body into a demonic beast," Melusine began exining her treatment n.


    "Transformation into a demonic beast?".


    Melusine nodded. "Yes, by temporarily transforming her into a snake-like demonic beast, she can expel the object herself. The digestive tract of snake-like creatures has a strong stretching ability, allowing them to swallow and digest prey several timesrger than their own head. They can even regurgitate undigested bones from their mouths."


    "This n sounds somewhat horrifying. Are there any risks?" Aiden inquired.


    "While I can''t guarantee absolute safety, I can assure you of a reasonable sess rate," Melusine confidently replied. "Of course, that is if you are willing to entrust her to me."


    Aiden stared at her for a moment before asking, "What materials do you need?"


    "I will make a list. Some materials may not be avable for purchase, but I know where to obtain them," Melusine said slowly. "If everything goes well, we should be able to gather everything by evening."


    "Then please hurry. She doesn''t seem like she can hold on for much longer," Aiden urged Melusine to make haste.


    "It''s alright, no need to worry. I can prepare some other medicine for her as a temporary solution"


    Aiden nodded silently and gestured towards the dispensary, indicating for her to go and prepare the medicine.


    After Melusine left, Aiden used his gaze to signal the prison doctor to follow and assist her, while also keeping an eye on the medicine Melusine prepared.


    Then, Aiden nced at Prisci lying on the bed.


    "What did you swallow exactly? Are you really not aware?" Aiden asked her.


    In fact, the prison doctor had already asked her this question, but ording to the doctor, Prisci didn''t give any response.


    Prisci looked puzzled as she heard the question, gazing at Aiden, then shook her head weakly and whispered, "I don''t know."


    It seemed like she truly didn''t know...


    In other words, she swallowed it before losing her memory?


    It was impossible for an object that could scratch the throat and cause bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract to be easily swallowed.


    In other words, it was highly likely that Prisci intentionally swallowed the object, rather than it being an ident.


    Aiden had encountered many stubborn prisoners who would ingest contraband or hide it in their rear end to evade searches. Therefore, he felt it was crucial to determine the nature of this foreign object.


    After a while, Melusine and the doctor emerged from the dispensary. Melusine handed a prescription to Aiden. "These are the materials. Collect them ording to the channels mentioned here," she said.


    Aiden quickly nced over the list and indeed saw several materials that were not readily avable on the market. However, Melusine had noted where they could be obtained, mostly in the ck market of the old district area.


    Aiden passed the prescription to Franda and instructed her to take care of it.


    The prison doctor held a silver syringe, ready to administer the hemostatic medicine prepared by Melusine. Currently, it was inconvenient for Prisci to drink water, so oral medication would not be practical.


    Just as the needle approached Prisci, she resisted with widened eyes and eximed, "No, don''t!"


    The sharp needle clearly triggered her sense of danger.


    "It''s okay, it''s okay!" The prison doctor tried tofort her while grabbing her wrist, but Prisci still resisted, trying to break free.


    "Don''t move, we''re trying to save you," Aiden spoke to Prisci.


    He said this casually, not expecting Prisci, who seemed to have no memory of medical procedures, to understand.


    However, to his surprise, after Prisci stared at him nkly for a moment, she inexplicably became obedient, rxing her arm.


    Taking advantage of this opportunity, the prison doctor began to administer the injection.


    Seeing this scene, Aiden couldn''t help but be somewhat surprised.


    This person actually listens quite well...

 Chapter 99:

    Chapter 99:


    <b>Queen of the Potion</b>


    In the evening, after sending people back and forth, the prison finally gathered all the materials requested by Melusine.


    Melusine started directing the scene, "I will prepare the medicine now. Get ready, everyone. Her clothes are not suitable, so it''s best to remove them... Otherwise, she''ll have to change into a dress." When she transforms into a monster, her legs will stick together, forming a snake tail, and there should be no covering between her legs, so any restraints must be removed... Oh, and her underwear must be taken off too."


    "Well then, it seems we should step aside for now," Aiden said, standing up from his chair and gesturing for the other male prison guards and riot squad members to leave. "Franda, you take a look at the scene."


    "Understood."


    As Aiden was about to leave, Melusine reminded him from behind, "Warden, it would be best to have some capable peoplee and assess the situation. This person is not safe."


    "Hmm? How will this operation go?" Aiden turned around.


    "A person who transforms into a demonic beast will bes extremely violent. Given her current mental state, I''m afraid she won''t have the willpower to resist the wild instinct. If something unexpected happenster, I won''t be able to bear the consequences," exined Melusine.


    "That''s the situation." Aiden turned to look at Franda and asked, "Is Veronica here?"


    Veronica had be thebat leader among the prison guards. She mainly worked the night shift. Under normal circumstances, she should have already started her shift at this time.


    "Veronica is on the day shift today, so she has already gone home. Today is..." Franda answered expressionlessly.


    "Ah, it''s a full moon!" Aiden suddenly remembered.


    When a werewolf sees a full moon, their wild nature surges rapidly, making it easy for them to lose control. Therefore, regardless of the country, strict regtions require registered werewolves to abide by the prohibition on the night of every full moon.


    Today happens to be a full moon, and these past two days, Veronica only works the day shift.


    "Then let''s go find someone else," Aiden thought for a moment. "Please inform me once you''re done preparing."


    After more than ten minutes, the infirmary was finally prepared.


    "We''re ready, you cane in now," Melusine called out to the door.


    Aiden opened the door and walked in, followed by the witch Dailey, who was brought from the core area.


    Appearing before them was Prisci, wearing a simple cotton skirt, forced to lie on the operating table like a fish on a chopping board.


    The reason for saying she was forced was because her body and legs were tightly bound to the operating table with iron ropes and straps.


    "What... What are you going to do!?" Prisci looked anxious, as if she wanted to break free.


    But now she was weak and unable to struggle vigorously. Even twisting her body was difficult. These restraints couldn''t be broken with mere physical strength.


    "Prisci!?" Dailey, who entered the infirmary, was more startled, showing a much stronger reaction than Melusine.


    Prisci turned her head and nced at her, with confused expression.


    "Don''t you recognize me?" Dailey was somewhat surprised.


    "You... You seem familiar... Who are you again?"


    Prisci weakly responded, seemingly having a faint sense of dj vu when it came to Dailey, but still unable to remember who she was.


    "She has amnesia," Aiden exined to her on the side, "total amnesia, the kind where she couldn''t even remember her own name at first. Do you know her?"


    "you could say... we have some acquaintance," Dailey quickly regained herposure. "How did she end up like this?"


    "It is said that she identally consumed by a Magic-Eating Bullet from a inquisitor while casting a spell, causing a magic bacsh that wiped out her memories," Aiden briefly exined. "She currently seems to have swallowed something she can''t expel, and Melusine ns to temporarily transform her into a demonic beast using medicine so that she can regurgitate it herself. Your task is to suppress her when she bes aggressive. Understand?"


    "Demonic beast transformation..." Dailey shifted her gaze towards Melusine, who was preparing the potion beside them. "Could it be... ''Lamia''s Beastification Elixir''?"


    Upon hearing that name, Aiden subconsciously searched his memory for any information about Lamia.


    Lamia, the witch known as the "Queen of Potions," had very limited information avable from the Inquisition. This witch''s name had been quite active over a hundred years ago, and many of her legends were still used as inspiration by contemporary writers.


    However, there were still many ims of miraculous potions attributed to Lamia circting in ck markets or underground auction houses. Of course, few believed that the creator of these potions was the Lamia from over a hundred years ago. Most people leaned towards the belief that the current "Lamia," who was still active, had either stolen the name or inherited the title of the Queen of Potions.


    "You seem knowledgeable," Melusine smiled knowingly.


    "Her beastification elixir has barely made its way outside," Dailey pursued further. "Did you figure out the recipe on your own?"


    "Oh no, ''she'' personally taught it to me," Melusine chuckled. "Although it''s an iplete version, this elixir is an authentic form from Lamia''s own hands."


    "You''re Lamia''s disciple?" Dailey looked somewhat surprised.


    Indeed," Melusine confirmed.


    "But Lamia never seemed to have taken on any disciples..." Dailey scrutinized Melusine skeptically.


    "You''re mistaken. She did take on several students, but none of them seeded inpleting their apprenticeship. I was expelled halfway, while the others either died from her experimental potions or were consumed by her," Melusine corrected.


    "Consumed?" Dailey eximed.


    "In terms of imparting knowledge, she was actually a quite exceptional teacher. She would generously share everything with the students she favored. However, her knowledge is extremely dangerous. Some people went insane after learning from her, while others lost control after undergoing beastification. To fulfill her responsibility, she ''disposed'' of each one of them," Melusine exined.


    "I see. It''s definitely in line with her style," Dailey nodded.


    Aiden observed them, realizing that their conversation revealed valuable information. However, it seemed they didn''t have much time for idle chatter now.


    He cleared his throat and interjected, "Let''s begin once you''re ready. The patient is just lying here like a piece of dried fish."


    "Understood," Melusine leaned over and started injecting magical medicine into Prisci. "Rx, you''ll be fine soon."


    Soon after the injection, Prisci began to react.


    "Ugh... it hurts... I feel so ufortable," Prisci groaned, her forehead covered in cold sweat.


    "Your body is about to undergo aplete transformation, so feeling pain is normal," Melusine said in a professional tone. "And it will get even worseter."


    "No... don''t..."


    The sensation of pain seemed to intensify, making Prisci restless. She turned her head towards Dailey and Aiden standing on her left, trying to stretch her left hand, which was restrained by the operating table.


    "What are you trying to do?" Aiden stared at her.


    "She''s hoping someone will hold her hand," Melusine exined from the side, looking at Dailey. "After all, she must be feeling quite uncertain right now."

 Chapter 100:

    Chapter 100:


    <b>Please Hold My Hand</b>


    Aiden quickly understood the patient''s desire to have someone hold their hand; it was not an unusual request, just a seeking of reassurance.


    Prisci had no memories left. She nowy among a group of strangers, uncertain of what these people intended to do to her. Although they had beenforting her and assuring her that they were there to save her, she obviously couldn''t blindly trust them. In this situation, she wanted someone to hold her hand as a guarantee, a promise that they wouldn''t harm her.


    "Warden, may I..." Dailey looked at Aiden and volunteered.


    It seemed that Dailey and Prisci did have some connection. Based on Prisci''s reaction earlier, it appeared that she had some faint recognition of Dailey. Perhaps Dailey was the only person on the scene who could provide her with a sense of security, which prompted Prisci to reach out her hand.


    "Alright," Aiden approved.


    "Don''t worry, Prisci. You''ll be fine," Dailey approached and soothingly reassured her while extending her hand.


    However, Prisci suddenly showed a terrified expression and pulled her hand back.


    "Huh?" Dailey couldn''t help but be taken aback.


    Prisci shook her head fearfully and strained her neck, trying to look past Dailey side and gaze at what was behind her.


    Dailey, seeing the situation, turned around in surprise.


    "I?" Aiden noticed their gaze and furrowed his brows.


    He was a bit confused. Everyone here, including himself, believed that Prisci wanted thefort of someone she had a previous connection with, which seemed to be Dailey. But now it appeared that Prisci was actually asking for him.


    "Please... please stay by my side," Prisci looked at him with a pleading expression.


    "Do you know me?" Aiden instinctively asked.


    Prisci once again showed a bewildered look.


    Aiden nced at Dailey with a questioning look. Prisci didn''t know who he was at the moment, yet she inexplicably specified that she wanted him by her side, as if she subconsciously felt a certain closeness to Aiden. The only usible exnation was that she knew him before losing her memories.


    But ording to Aiden''s own inherited memories, he had very little interaction with Prisci.


    "Well..." Dailey pondered for a moment and replied, "Prisci probably does know you. She has mentioned you more than once in the past..."


    "Oh?" Melusine stared at Aiden, a meaningful smile forming on her face, An expression full of gossip.


    The other people present, including Franda and the prison staff, perked up their ears as well. Dailey words,bined with Prisci''s current behavior, sparked their imaginations.


    However, just as many began to imagine a grand drama involving the S-ss wanted witch and the taboo love for the high-ranking inquisitor of the Inquisition, Dailey words instantly shattered their fantasies.


    "In fact, Prisci was an active advocate of the ''Witch Gathering.'' She consistently promoted the idea that all witches on the continent should unite against the Inquisition of various countries and take the initiative to eliminate individuals who posed a threat to the ''Witch Gathering'' through assassinations. Warden, when you were still a high-ranking inquisitor, she considered you one of her targets. By the way, she even personally issued a bounty on you, encouraging other skilled assassin witches to take you down..."


    Aiden looked at Prisci again, his gaze bing somewhat wary.


    Damn, so she had targeted me!


    But this doesn''t exin Prisci''s current behavior. ording to Dailey words, even if Prisci had a vague impression of him, there should still be caution or obvious distance, not this unfounded closeness and dependence.


    But now, with her memory loss, Prisci was enduring the pain and tearfully reaching out to Aiden, calling out, as if she were a helpless puppy abandoned on the roadside, whimpering for help. It instinctively evoked the phrase "pity at first sight."


    Aiden, on the other hand, was seriously contemting. He was no longer an inquisitor but the warden managing the prison. If using some gentle approach could calm the emotions of a prisoner, he deemed it worth a try.


    With Dailey and other prison guards present, and Prisci''s magical powers sealed and securely restrained to the bed... weighing the safety considerations, Aiden ultimately chose to walk over and, as Prisci wished, reached out and held her left hand.


    This action sessfully visibly calmed Prisci''s emotions to some extent, although she still appeared quite distressed.


    Another wave of intense pain struck, causing Prisci to stiffen her body and instinctively grip Aiden''s hand tightly.


    At this moment, Aiden felt rtively fine, and Prisci''s grip strength was only average for a young woman, not causing him much pain.


    After the excruciating pain subsided, Prisci dress was almost drenched in sweat, clinging to her body and entuating her figure.


    "I... I can''t... I can''t catch my breath!"


    she gasped, struggling and twisting her body, as if trying to turn over.


    Bound to the operating table in this prone position, her chest continued to bepressed, further exacerbating her difficulty in breathing.


    "No, you can''t move! This position makes it easier for you to vomit out whatever you need to. If you were lying on your back, you might choke on your own vomit," calmly stated Melusine.


    Suddenly, Prisci let out a piercing scream, startling everyone present.


    This bout of pain was more intense than any she had experienced before, and instinctively, she tightly grabbed hold of Aiden''s hand, causing him to feel the pain this time.


    His grip seemed to have strengthened...


    Not only that, Aiden also felt an unusual sensation from thumb pressed against the back of his hand.


    Narrowing his eyes, Aiden observed as fine scales began to appear on Prisci skin.


    "Warden," Melusine suddenly spoke, while smiling at Aiden, "She''s about to exhibit symptoms of beastification. I suggest you withdraw your hand early, just to be safe."


    "Why?" Aiden asked, exerting force to try and withdraw his hand but unexpectedly finding himself unable to move. The strength of Prisci grip on his hand rapidly escted, soon causing Aiden to gasp in pain. This strange power... it had already surpassed the limits of a normal human.


    "After beastification, the strength also bes as powerful as that of a beast. Once she goes berserk, she''ll render your hand useless!" Melusine revealed a gloating smile.


    "You should have mentioned this earlier!" Aiden red at her fiercely.

 Chapter 101:

    Chapter 101:


    <b>The Great Witch''s Credentials</b>


    The strength in Prisci left hand further intensified, and Aiden now felt as though his palm bones were about to be crushed. However, Prisci herself remainedpletely oblivious, her attention entirely consumed by the pain, causing her muscles to involuntarily tense.


    With her current monstrous strength, even this reflex alone would be enough to seriously injure an ordinary person.


    "Warden!?" Other prison guards, including Franda, disyed a tense expression.


    In his desperate situation, Aiden had no choice but to utilize his ability of physical modification, attempting to make his hand as flexible and slender as possible. By altering tendons and cartge, he could make his body as supple as a yoga master, surpassing human limitsafter all, he could manipte the size of bones and the distribution of muscle and fat within a certain range.


    Using this technique, he neutralized Prisci abnormal strength and took the opportunity to withdraw his hand. Fortunately, Prisci sweaty palm provided some lubrication, aiding in the process.


    "That was close... I almost lost my hand," Aiden shook his still slightly throbbing hand and then nced at Melusine with a half-smile, "I''ll settle the score with youter."


    "Oh dear, I was only a few secondste informing you. Warden, don''t be so petty," Melusine chuckled, "Someone as magnanimous as you surely wouldn''t bother with A little girl like me."


    "Sorry, but I have a quirk of holding grudges..." Aiden replied.


    Just as the two faced each other across the operating table, Prisci let out another cry, resembling the pain of childbirth.


    Aiden lowered his head and fixed his gaze. The snake scales on Prisci''s body were rapidly spreading, revealing faint gray-brown patterns resembling those of a python.


    The witch''s legs, bound tightly together on the bed, twisted in agony, as if they were merging into one... No, they were indeed merging into one. Her legs deformed and elongated at a visible speed, sticking together. Flesh gradually fused, skin patched together, and snake scales emerged, quickly growing into a snake tail.


    Aiden couldn''t help but recall the Little Mermaid from fairy tales, who, longing for human love, willingly turned into a mute and endured the pain of walking on knives, in order to ask the witch for a potion to transform her fish tail into human legs.


    The witches in this world could create simr potions, but their purpose waspletely different. Their creations were meant to turn humans into monsters, in order to obtain the power of monsters.


    As the transformation progressed, Prisci''s voice gradually distorted, bing hoarse and inhuman. She stared at the people present with hazy amber eyes, her pupils elongating like needles. The corners of her mouth cracked near her ears, and a slender forked tongue slithered out, as if searching for prey.


    After turning into a monster, Prisci, now full of vigor, struggled fiercely on the operating table, abandoning her previous frail and feeble appearance.


    Several straps were on the verge of breaking under her struggles, but fortunately, there were rtively sturdy iron chains. However, her snake tail was far more agile than human legs, and after a few twists, it showed a tendency to break free from theyers of restraints. Some of the prison guards present instinctively reached for their batons and firearms.


    Calmly stepping aside, Aiden spoke, "Dailey, it''s time to act."


    "Understood."


    Dailey chanted an incantation and summoned several shadow demon tentacles from under the operating table, tightly entwining the frenzied Prisci and securing her to the table.


    "The emetic should be taking effect soon too," Melusine nced at the wall clock.


    Seconds passed, and suddenly Prisci ceased her struggles. She made a few strange sounds, then began retching. Soon enough, stomach acid flowed out of her mouth, expelled into a prepared basin.


    She had already vomited a few times since being brought to the prison, and since then, she hadn''t eaten anything. Thus, what she vomited now was only stomach acid, mixed with a little coffee-colored blood.


    After a while, her mouth suddenly erged, far beyond the limits of a human jaw''s opening. Her neck thickened by a circle, and from her abdomen to her chest, her body began to exhibit unnatural wriggling.


    Under the effects of the medicine, she started regurgitating undigested matter from her mouth, just like a snake.


    Melusine crouched in front of Prisci, observing closely, then suddenly eximed, "Ah, it''s out!"


    Something emerged from Prisci''s mouth and was then expelled into the basin.


    Aiden fixed his gaze and noticed that the object seemed to be a multi-faceted diamond-shaped pendant, resembling ck crystal in material and possessing a transparent texture. It was not small in size, and its sharp edges were clearly defined. It was quite astonishing that Prisci could swallow such an item.


    Dailey also noticed the strange object and her eyes widened. She swung her short magic wand and summoned a shadow demon''s w from the shadow, reaching out to grab the pendant.


    "Don''t move, Dailey," Aiden suddenly spoke.


    Aiden''s unusually cold tone made Dailey instinctively halt the shadow demon''s action. She looked at Aiden, who was staring at her without expression.


    "Don''t touch that thing," Aiden said slowly and firmly. "Pull your hand back, now."


    Dailey shivered. Aiden''s words were spoken calmly, but his gaze carried a chilling edge. It wasn''t just amand but also a warning. If Dailey insisted on touching that thing, he would not hesitate to use the demonic contract to control her... or even kill her directly.


    Aiden indeed wouldn''t hold back. Whatever hade out of Grand Witch Prisci''s mouth was likely a magical item with special powers. He wouldn''t allow anyone to touch something potentially risky without his permission.


    "I''m sorry." Under Aiden''s gaze, Dailey obediently withdrew the shadow demon''s w.


    "So, you know what this thing is, right?" Aiden stared at her and asked. Dailey earlier reaction had clearly been unnatural.


    "..."


    Dailey remained silent, which surprised Aiden. Since they had established this trading rtionship, Dailey had rarely resisted hismands.


    "You don''t want to say?" Aiden inquired.


    At that moment, Dailey shook her head.


    "What''s going on?" Aiden furrowed his brow in suspicion.


    "Perhaps it''s not that she doesn''t want to say, but that she can''t say," Melusine suddenly interjected. She was currently administering the antidote to Prisci. "She might have possessed this item before, and the person who gave it to her must have ced a ''forbidden contract'' upon her."


    "So, you have some idea about this thing?" Aiden turned to her.


    "Well, I haven''t seen this item before, but I guess..." Melusine spoke slowly, "it should be the ''Proof of the Grand Witch'' created by Abigail, the ''Apex Witch''."

 Chapter 102:

    Chapter 102:


    <b>Witch Gathering</b>


    "Abigail, the Apex Witch, is the current host of the Witch Gathering, and she is widely recognized as the most powerful witch, without equal. On the first night of the full moon in the autumn, also known as the rising of the Blood Moon, she holds a grand gathering in the Witch Banquet Forest, inviting all the named witches from the gathering to attend,"


    Melusine casually spoke while sitting on a chair, holding a cup of red tea.


    "Even the Inquisition Bureau knows about this... or rather, the whole world knows. However, for some, these things are merely urban legends," Aiden, sitting across from her, also held a teacup.


    They were sitting in the inner room of the infirmary. The room only amodated Aiden, Melusine, and Dailey, who sat silently on the side, drinking tea. Only Aiden and Melusine engaged in continuous questioning and answering.


    Prisci''s treatment had already concluded. After receiving the antidote and a sedative, her condition quickly stabilized. She had returned to her human form from the state of the monster and soon fell into a deep sleep.


    ording to Melusine, Prisci only needed to be injected with a two-day hemostatic drug and consume liquid food for a while to fully recover. Aiden had someone take her to rest on a bed outside, then brought Melusine into the inner room to personally inquire about the information regarding the pendant Prisci had vomited out.


    Regarding this pendant, Dailey seems unwilling or unable to provide information, but Melusine clearly knows something.


    When Melusine mentioned the "Witch Gathering," Aiden immediately began searching for information about it in his inherited memories.


    The so-called Witch Gathering is a loosely organized group consisting of numerous witches and is also an annual event.


    In this world, on the first night of the full moon in autumn, the moon always turns a vivid red.


    On this Blood Moon night, the power of vampires, werewolves, and several types of monsters significantly increases. Moreover, the effects of many dark spells are enhanced, and the production of magical potions bes smoother.


    Then, at midnight on this day, Abigail, the universally recognized strongest witch known as the "Apex Witch," holds the gathering in the Witch Banquet Forest where she resides. She sends out invitations to almost all the witches, carried by bats, crows, and owls. Those who hold the invitations can sessfully navigate through the mist that lingers in the Witch Banquet Forest throughout the day and reach the venue.


    There, the witches trade their research findings and items with each other, and there may even be an auction. As the host and organizer, the Grand Witch Abigail imparts knowledge to the attending witches and distributes special "souvenirs."


    -- These pieces of informatione from the witches captured by the Inquisition Bureau in the past. However, unlike S-ss criminals like Dailey and Prisci, most of these captured witches are rtively unknown and have little influence.


    Although the existence of the Witch Gathering event is almost entirely public, the Inquisition Bureaus of various countries and simr organizations have never consideredunching an attack on the Witch Banquet Forest to wipe out all the witches on that day.


    The Witch Banquet Forest is located in the central region of the southern continent and does not fall within the jurisdiction of any country. Strictly speaking, no country is willing to include this troublesome and practically valueless ce within their territory.


    The forest is constantly enveloped in eerie mist and is inhabited by countless magical creatures. It is said that besides the witches attending the Witch Gathering, no one who enters this forest has evere out alive.


    More importantly, the gathered witches possess the power to rival a small country. Witches are generally quite self-serving, which also leads to the loose structure of the Witch Gathering organization itself.


    Anyone with a bit of intelligence would realize that dealing with witches should involve targeting them individually. Launching an attack openly when the witches are gathered together would be equivalent to dering war on the entire assembly, essentially giving them an opportunity to join forces and eliminate the attacker.


    "That''s right, I also participated in the Witch Gathering before I was emunicated," murmured Melusine. "The scale of this annual event can reach several hundred participants. By receiving rmendations from the witches during the gathering, one can obtain an invitation from Abigail. Of course, there are also witches who receive an invitation directly after causing a stir themselves."


    "So what does this have to do with this thing? You just said it''s the ''proof of the Great Witch''?"


    (TN: great witch credential -> Proof of the great witch)


    Aiden picked up the ck crystal pendant and cleaned it. Only then did he notice a strange mist sealed inside the ck crystal, constantly changing its shape.


    "Yes, among the witches qualified to participate in the Witch Gathering, only the Great Witch selected by Abigail is granted this proof," Melusine replied.


    "So what''s the use of this thing? Is it just a medal, and other witches have to salute her when they see it?" Aiden inquired further.


    It is said that by holding this proof, one can meet Abigail in person," Melusine answered.


    "So, without this proof, you can''t meet her? Isn''t she the host of the Witch Gathering?" Aiden couldn''t help but feel puzzled.


    "She uses alchemy to create replicas of herself to preside over the Witch Gathering. Of course, only a small number of people, including the selected Great Witches, are aware of this. Most of the ordinary witches still believe they are meeting Abigail herself... After all, no one would specifically tell them about this. In the end, the rtionships among most witches are just like that," Melusine exined.


    Aiden turned his gaze to Dailey. In theory, someone of Dailey''s caliber wouldn''t be unaware of this. He had heard Dailey mention some things about the Witch Gathering before, but she had never told him about this particr information.


    Most likely, the Inquisition Bureau also interrogated her about the Witch Gathering, and the information she provided was simr to that of the ordinary "small fry" witches.


    However, ording to Melusine, it seems that Abigail grants certain privileges to Great Witches like herself.


    Dailey caught Aiden''s gaze and sighed. "I owe a debt to Lady Abigail, so unless necessary, I won''t willingly disclose any information about her. Warden, please don''t press me."


    "I didn''t expect you to be so honorable," Aiden couldn''t help teasing her.


    "Even if I weren''t honorable, I wouldn''t dare offend that person," Dailey shook her head.


    "Then how did you find out? Did you have this before?" Aiden turned to Melusine and waved the pendant again.


    "I didn''t have one, but my teacher did," Melusine calmly replied.


    "I remember you mentioning your teacher earlier... "


    "Lamia, the ''Potion Queen'' Lamia. She is also one of the Great Witches selected by Abigail."


    Advance Chapter

 Chapter 103:

    Chapter 103:


    <b>The Pure Witch</b>


    "Is it the one who became famous over a hundred years ago?" Aiden confirmed with Melusine, "Is she still alive?"


    "She''s doing well. Challenging death is not only a topic studied by witches but also by all dark magicians. Necromancy is one of the byproducts of studying this subject," Melusine whispered softly. "Moreover, necromancers only seek to control life and death, while witches challenge death to prolong their limited lives and strive for time to delve into endless knowledge."


    "Heh, so you''re saying witches are merely schrs engaged in scientific research?" Aiden lifted his teacup and took a sip. "It sounds like all of you were innocent when you were arrested."


    He was somewhat dissatisfied with Melusine exnation. Witches indeed pursued forbidden knowledge, but it was wrong to say that all witches were solely seeking knowledge.


    Most witches were imprisoned not only for practicing ck magic. There were numerous cases of witches using forbidden knowledge to engage in illegal businesses, manufacturing and selling illicit drugs, trafficking humans, theft, and robbery to gain profits.


    Melusine herself was the most typical example. She used the knowledge she gained as a witch to train assassins and sell magical potions, thereby gaining power and wealth in the underworld.


    Upon hearing Aiden''s sarcasm, Melusine simply smiled to himself. "Indeed, some witches... including myself, use forbidden knowledge to seek more benefits. That''s why we haven''t gained the recognition of those witches who purely pursue knowledge. My teacher hasined more than once, saying that I am talented but not pure enough. I enjoy worldly power and wealth more than pursuing knowledge as the ultimate goal. That''s precisely why I will always be one step away from bing the great witch recognized by Abigail."


    "Is that why she expelled you from the school?"


    "No, it''s because I used her name to sell magical potions. It''s something witches often do, but it''s explicitly forbidden by the ''Witch Gathering,''" Melusine shrugged. "She was furious, so I got expelled."


    "Alright, so this is a Token that only top witches recognized by Abigail can obtain. If you have it, you can meet Abigail herself..." Aiden tried to summarize the information provided by Melusine, "But how is this thing used? Can it be used to enter the <i>Sabbath Forest</i> and find Abigail''s residence?"


    Aiden realized that he would probably have to hand over this so-called "<i>Proof of the Great Witch</i>" to the Inquisition Bureau, but they would surely demand information about it.


    With Prisci having lost her memoriespletely and Dailey unable to reveal anything, Melusine was now the only rtively reliable source of information. For Aiden, it would be best to rify these details at once and then present everything together. It seemed much easier that way.


    But this time, Melusine shrugged with both hands open, "I don''t know about this matter, nor have I held it. You should ask her."


    Melusine raised her hand and pointed at Dailey.


    "But she can''t speak." Aiden nced at Dailey, then turned to Melusine, "You said she has an ''unspeakable contract'' with her. Can you cancel it?"


    Melusine was not only skilled in potions. She had broken the demonic contract that Aiden had imposed on Dailey back then.


    "In jest, I am indeed skilled in that, but challenging a ''top witch'' would be overestimating my abilities. The contract she signed may still contain some hidden bacsh traps," Melusine said without hesitation. She waved his hand and said, "I''m sorry, but I refuse."


    It seems that obtaining more information is no longer possible, Aiden thought to himself.


    Just then, there was a knock on the door from outside.


    "What is it?" Aiden asked.


    Franda''s voice came from outside the door, "Warden, there''s someone at the reception iming to be a inquisitor from the Inquisition bureau. She says she has an urgent matter to discuss with you."


    "directly to me?" Aiden furrowed his brow slightly.


    He hadn''t reported Prisci situation to the Inquisition Bureau yet. Now, suddenly, someone from the Bureau had arrived. Could it be that someone had suddenly noticed Prisci issue?


    Regardless, they didn''t follow the formal procedures step by step but came directly to me. This person who visited must be someone who knows me.


    "What kind of person is she?" he asked casually.


    "This person didn''t have any official documents or identification, so the receptionist asked her to register her name. She introduced herself as Reba Shawn."


    "Reba?" Aiden was surprised.


    Reba was still recovering from her injuries, so why would she suddenlye to him as an inquisitor?


    Moreover, he had just visited Reba this morning...


    Aiden thought for a moment and replied, "Have the receptionist take her to the interview room. I''ll go there to meet her."


    "Alright."


    Aiden stood up from his seat and nced back and forth between Dailey and Melusine. "Alright, you can go back to your cell."


    There was no useful information to inquire about anyway.


    A few minutester, he personally entered the room where prisoners and visitors meet. Reba was waiting on the other side of the ss partition, looking somewhat anxious.


    "You came suddenly, is there something wrong?" Aiden asked straightforwardly.


    "Aiden..." Reba looked at him solemnly, "I went to the Inquisition today and heard that Prisci was brought here early due to a sudden illness. Is it true?"


    "Forget it, the Inquisition has caused me a lot of trouble. I haven''t even had a chance toin to the old man..." Aiden took a deep breath, then frowned and looked at Reba. "You''re still recovering from your injuries, right? Is it necessary for you toe here specifically for this?"


    "After all, I''m the one who caught her... She also made me lose my memory. The only memory I have of my work is catching her. Isn''t it normal for me to be concerned and follow up?" Reba replied nonchntly, "Prisci, how is she now?"


    "It''s a foreign object in the gastrointestinal tract. Do you have any clues about it?" Aiden asked casually.


    "Um..." Reba hesitated for a moment and shook her head, "Sorry, I really have no recollection of it."


    This is normal. If Reba knew and remembered that Prisci had swallowed something she carried with her when pushed into a desperate situation, the Inquisition would not be unaware of this situation.


    "Since it''s a foreign object in the gastrointestinal tract, it can''t be resolved using the prison''s medical facilities." Reba suddenly asked, "Did you take her to the hospital?"


    "No..."


    Aiden was about to answer when Reba suddenly raised her voice, "Why didn''t you? This thing needs to be dealt with immediately. If there''s a perforation, it could be fatal!"

 Chapter 104:

    Chapter 104:


    <b>Testing</b>


    "Reba?" Aiden was slightly surprised.


    Reba''s face also froze for a moment, then she sighed as if realizing her own outburst, "I''m sorry, I raised my voice too much. But Prisci is an important prisoner we worked hard to capture. It feels a bit... wrong to let her die so easily. You wouldn''t just let her die like that, right?"


    "Of course not, why would you think that?" Aiden sighed, preparing to exin, "Actually..."


    But he suddenly stopped mid-sentence.


    Since their first encounter, he had sensed a vague sense of unease and restlessness in Reba''s facial expressions and behaviorhis professional instincts were still intact to that extent.


    A probing thought emerged in his mind, and after a brief moment of contemtion, he spoke, "Actually, we have already taken emergency measures, and her condition is quite stable. The hospital has been contacted, so you can rest assured."


    "I see." Reba seemed visibly relieved.


    After a brief silence, Aidan called out to her, "Reba."


    "What''s the matter?"


    "Do you have any recollection of this thing?" Aiden suddenly took out the diamond-shaped ck crystal from his pocket and stared intently at Reba''s face.


    In an instant, he caught Reba''s slightly widened eyes and subtle changes in her pupils.


    "This thing, I..." Reba paused briefly and then replied, "I seem to have some impression..."


    "Oh?"


    "But I can''t recall it." Reba shook her head again, "But there is a faint sense of dj vu. What exactly is this?"


    Aiden stared at Reba''s face. He had lied about contacting the hospital and suddenly presented the evidence because he had be slightly suspicious.


    Just as he saw the other party take out this thing without any mental preparation, he did indeed perceive the shock in the other person''s heart from the subtle change in their expression.


    If Reba were to im at this moment that she had no idea what this thing was, he would be certain that she was lying.


    However, Reba''s current response could still be considered usible. She didn''t recognize this thing but had a sense of familiarity, which could somewhat exin her earlier facial expression.


    He couldn''t probe anything, but that sense of unease still lingered.


    "This thing does have something to do with you, but it involves some confidential matters. I can''t disclose it for now..." Aiden vaguely replied, "I will hand this thing over to the Inquisition Bureauter. You can learn more when you go there."


    "It''s confidential... alright, I understand," Reba showed no intention of delving deeper into it, "So, are you going to hand it over now?"


    "No, I can''t leave the prison for the time being," Aiden calmly answered.


    Prisci''s condition had just stabilized, and it was necessary to observe her for a few more hours. During this period, he needed to stay in the prison.


    "In that case, let me help you deliver it to the Bureau," Reba suddenly proposed.


    "No, that wouldn''t follow the procedure."


    "What procedure is not being followed? I am, after all, also an inquisitor..."


    "But not at the moment. You''re currently on rest, and this isn''t an urgent matter. Don''t casually exceed your authority, Reba," Aiden reminded.


    "But..."


    Reba seemed to want to persist.


    "It''s not necessary to be so insistent," Aiden raised an eyebrow in doubt.


    "No..." Reba paused, "I just feel that this thing... might be a clue for me to regain my memories."


    "No need to worry, I will hand this thing over tomorrow. I will handle Prisci''s situation properly. For now, you should go back," Aiden decisively began to see her off.


    After a moment of silence, Reba finally relented, "Alright, thank you then..."


    "Alright, take care."


    After watching Reba leave the room, Aiden''s gaze remained fixated on her until she was out of sight.


    A few minutester, Aiden returned to his office and once again examined the pendant.


    Reba''s sudden visit had heightened his sense of uneasepared to when they first met in the morning.


    Based on the probing just now, regardless of whether Reba was telling the truth or lying, there was one thing that could be determined - Reba had indeed seen this "<i>Proof of the Great Witch</i>."


    In other words, Prisci must have forcibly swallowed this item when she was cornered by Reba and, affected by varying degrees of memory loss magic, the incident remained hidden until Prisci fell ill in prison - this was currently the most usible exnation.


    But why did Prisci swallow this item? Was it to prevent the <i>Proof of the Great Witch</i> from falling into the hands of the Inquisition Bureau?


    Something doesn''t quite add up...


    This action itself has no meaning whatsoever. Even if Reba forgot about the pendant due to memory loss magic, once she fell into the control of the Inquisition Bureau, the pendant would eventually be discovered.


    A fugitive of Prisci''s caliber being taken into the custody of the Inquisition Bureau would undoubtedly involve thorough body examinations, including rectal inspections. If the pendant wasn''t stuck in the digestive system, it would be expelled from the body soon - making it easily discovered by the bureau.


    The fact that the Inquisition Bureau has yet to find it is mainly because the pendant is lodged inside Prisci. Of course, this also led to her suffering today. Once she falls ill, whether it be the bureau or the prison responsible for providing treatment, they will eventually discover this pendant hidden within her. Even in the event of her death, during the investigation into the cause of death, it would be exposed through autopsy.


    From this perspective, swallowing the pendant into the stomach seems more like protecting the pendant and handing it over to the Inquisition as a gift...


    Prisci, the Great Witch, couldn''t have not considered this possibility and let herself suffer for nothing, right?


    Or perhaps, at that time, she simply didn''t have theposure to think about this and impulsively swallowed it?


    After thinking for a while, Aiden ultimately decided to temporarily set aside his thoughts on this matter. It would be more appropriate to report this to the muscr old man at the Inquisition, as both Reba''s abnormal behavior and this piece of evidence fall under their jurisdiction. His responsibility lies with this prison and its inmates, but for now, he must wait for Prisci''s condition to stabilize.


    With that in mind, he prepared to put the pendant back into his pocket.


    However, at that moment, the pendant suddenly trembled unnaturally in his fingertips.


    Aiden stopped and stared at the pendant in his hand.


    The gray mist sealed within the pendant suddenly burst out and swallowed him whole.

 Chapter 105:

    Chapter 105:


    <b>A Quiet and Beautiful Girl</b>


    Aiden sat in the mist, his mind nk.


    What... is going on?


    The air around him grew chilly and damp, and he faintly heard the hoot of an owl, a sound only heard in the outskirts at midnight.


    The thick fog gradually thinned, though his vision remained hazy, allowing him to see a bit of his surroundings.


    His office had vanished without a trace, reced by a space shrouded in gray mist. In the center stood arge solid wood table adorned with stacked pumpkinnterns, and he sat in a tall-backed chair next to the table, attending the meeting.


    Aside from him, there were others seated around the long table, a total of six participants, all enveloped in the mist. Only the woman at the head of the table, seemingly the host, had visible features.


    Aiden couldn''t see her face clearly, but he could vaguely make out that she was wearing a robe simr in style to Dailey usual attire, except without the wide-brimmed witch hat.


    In fact, she couldn''t wear one unless she drilled two holes in the brim of the hat Aiden was surprised to notice that the woman had a pair of sizable horns on her head.


    A demon? Or... possessed by a demon? Aiden spected in his mind.


    He was starting to calm down a bit and began analyzing the current situation quickly.


    The mist from the pendant had transported him to this eerie and inexplicable space. ording to Melusine, the pendant was a Proof distributed by Abigail to the great witches she approved of; possessing this Proof would allow one to meet Abigail in person...


    So, the woman sitting at the end of the long table was most likely the "Apex Witch" Abigail.


    So this is how you use the "Proof Great Witch''s" to meet Abigail.


    It''s not about using the pendant to traverse the mist and find her in the Sabbath Forest, but rather using the pendant to be summoned into this space by Abigail.


    In this space, Abigail is the host, and the other great witches are the guests. Based on the recent situation, this summoning seems to be semi-forced and aplished through the pendant as a "Token." Carrying the "Token" implies agreeing to Abigail''s summons.


    In other words, if Aiden were to throw away the "Token" he is currently holding and keep it far away, he should be able to break the summoning and leave this eerie ce.


    Leave?


    No, since he can leave at any time, there''s no need to rush.


    Aiden decided to observe the situation for now. He became somewhat interested in this magical gathering.


    There were a total of six people here, if Dailey, who was imprisoned and lost her freedom, were counted, then it would be seven people.


    Seven seats for the witches, and Aiden upied Prisci''s position.


    Except for Abigail, everyone else was shrouded in mist. Aiden estimated that he probably looked simr to the others in their eyes.


    Thanks to this mist, he could conceal his figure. Otherwise, as a grown man sitting here, even if his face couldn''t be seen, he would be immediately exposed.


    "Lamia, let me make sure first, you''re not eating, right?" a person from the opposite seat made a vague and unclear sound. "If the mist disperses and you''re devouring a monster''s corpse likest time, I will definitely vomit."


    "Don''t make it sound like I eat everything. I''ve been on a diettely," a hoarseughter emanated from the mist next to Aiden, apanied by a hissing sound like a snake''s hiss. "But, Chimera, if you were standing in front of me, I wouldn''t mind tasting you."


    "Queen of Potion," Lamia, was also present at the table, saying the exact same words as Melusine...


    As for Chimera, the name of this witch, he had never heard of it before.


    This was not surprising, as quite a few witches chose topletely sever their ties with the mundane world and live in seclusion, only interacting with other witches to avoid being pursued and hunted down by government agencies. Among them, there might be grand witches who could rival Dailey and Prisci.


    While they were conversing, Aiden noticed their voices gradually bing clearer, and the mist surrounding them seemed to fade a bit, revealing vague outlines.


    He realized something was amiss. The mist enveloping them was probably just a mechanism of this spell. It seemed like being summoned into this space was a gradual "loading" process. Once the loading wasplete, the mist would thin out, and their figures would gradually be visible.


    Without much time to think, he immediately utilized his ability to alter his physical form, transforming himself into a female and adjusting his height and body shape to resemble Prisci from his memory.


    Soon, everyone''s figures emerged from the mist. Fortunately, Aiden noticed that the participants could only see each other''s vague outlines, unable to discern details such as faces, clothes, and patterns..


    I''m not sure if Abigail, the spellcaster, intentionally caused this situation or if the spell itself can only achieve this level. However, thanks to this situation and his ability to alter his physical form, Aiden seemed to be able to hold on a little longer.


    However, suddenly activating this ability in such an urgent manner was much more painful than the usual process of altering his body. Aiden barely managed to hold back from crying out.


    After recovering, he silently surveyed the people present in the room.


    There were two people sitting across from him, and one person on each side of him.


    When he saw Lamia sitting on his left, he couldn''t help but be taken aback.


    Lamia''s figure was obviouslyrger than an average person, and... she seemed to be wearing no clothes. However, due to the darkness and the faint mist that naturally obscured details, Aiden couldn''t see much.


    But Aiden didn''t feel any regret. After all, Lamia didn''t even have legsshe had a long snake tail coiled around the chair, not sitting on it but rather perched upon it.


    Aiden could faintly see the slender forked tongue protruding from Lamia''s mouth.


    Just as Melusine mentioned before, Lamia had transformed herself into a monster.


    Considering how Prisci looked after taking the Potion, Aiden couldn''t imagine what Lamia''s true form might look like.


    "What''s wrong?" Lamia noticed his gaze and nced over.


    Aiden shook his head and turned his face away.


    He knew he couldn''t make any noise casually. His ability to alter his physical form could change his voice, but to specifically mimic someone''s voice required precise adjustments, which Aiden couldn''t do at the moment.


    To maintain his disguise, he could only be a quiet and beautiful girl here.


    But at that moment, the witch sitting on his right suddenly spoke up and addressed him, "Prisci, what''s up with your clothes? Even if you can''t find good clothes, at least find something that fits."

 Chapter 106:

    Chapter 106:


    <b>Taking Advantage of the Situation</b>


    Upon hearing the voice, Aiden couldn''t help but shudder.


    He had initially nned to remain silent and observe the situation, enduring as long as he could. But unexpectedly, someone initiated a conversation with him right from the start.


    However, it was not surprising. He was currently wearing the warden''s uniform, and his ability to alter his physical form could only change his body shape; he couldn''t transform his clothes like a magical girl with a single button.


    Although others couldn''t see the details of his uniform, after transforming his body shape into female simr to Prisci, it makes the clothes ill-fitting, loose, with sleeves that were too long. It looked awkward no matter how you looked at it.


    Damn it... Shouldn''t these guys be discussing more important topics? Is it necessary to nitpick about clothes? Why this person doesn''t talk about the person on my left, she''s not even wearing any clothes?


    After thinking it through, Aiden chose to turn his head to the side, pretending that he didn''t want to talk to her.


    He would try to get through this, even if...


    "Hey, what''s wrong? Are you getting upset already?" The witch on his right seemed surprised, but she didn''t seem to suspect anything.


    "Alright, Enough with the nonsense. I still have medicine to brew in the pot! Abigail, hurry up discussing today''s agenda and let''s adjourn the meeting!" The small witch sitting next to Chimera on the opposite side impatiently interjected.


    A child? Aiden felt skeptical upon hearing the slightly childish voice from the other party.


    But then he thought, he could also use his ability to alter his physical form to be a child. Perhaps this witch had achieved a simr effect through some means.


    The Great Witch sitting here, disregarding Lamia''spletely alien appearance, sounded so young based on their voice and figure. Normally, a gathering of witches of this magnitude would include several older onesperhaps they used ck magic, demonic contracts, or magic potions to maintain their youthfulness.


    When asked so directly, Abigail, sitting at the head of the long table, spoke slowly, "Well, it''s nothing much. It''s just a routine headcount on the night of the full moon. The situation has been getting increasingly diretely, so I wanted to see if you all are still here."


    "Huh? Just for that?" The petite witch seemed quite displeased. "That''s so boring! Don''t bother calling me if there''s no progress in deciphering the divinenguage in the future!"


    "If you''re not interested, then get lost, Habinis. No one''s stopping you," the witch sitting to the right of Aiden retorted directly across the table. "What progress? Don''t act like you''ve collected some divinenguage or relics to share. You''re just leeching off Abigail''s teachings, aren''t you?"


    "What''s it to you, Vera? So what if I do? Aren''t you too?" came a threefold retort from the opposite side.


    Clearly, the rtionship between these Great Witches was far from harmonious; any disagreement would result in a heated exchange.


    Aiden silently listened to these women arguing, trying to extract any useful information from their conversation.


    Divinenguage... relics?


    What are these things?


    It sounds like these Great Witches don''t hold ordinary academic discussions during their secret gatherings.


    "You two causing such amotion, do you want to be expelled?" Lamia spoke up, attempting to stop their quarrel.


    "It''s not my turn to be expelled, is it?" Habinis sneered. "Dailey has been absent for years now, right? By the way, Abigail, I''m serious about this. Let''s have a serious discussion today and just expel that waste who was locked up in the cell."


    "Wait a minute, she''s not dead, and she hasn''t done anything that vites the rules of our gathering. What reason do you have to expel her?" Vera, the witch sitting to Aiden''s right, started speaking up for Dailey. "Our situation has be increasingly dire, and instead of unity, you want to create internal strife?"


    After speaking, she turned to Prisci and said, "Prisci, say something too!"


    Aiden, who had been listening quietly on the side, was caught off guard. This person was starting a conversation with him again.


    And this time, it seemed difficult to pass by without speaking, as he did before.


    This calm and quiet beauty was just too hard to act as.


    "Prisci?" Vera was puzzled by his silence.


    Damn, they''re starting to suspect something...


    Unable toe up with a suitable solution, he reluctantly spoke with a deep voice, "I think..."


    As expected, his words immediately froze the atmosphere in the room.


    "Huh? What''s going on?" Habinis, sitting across from him, turned her face towards him.


    Not only Habinis, but the other witches also focused their gaze on him.


    "Y-Your voice..." Vera said in surprise.


    After undergoing physical transformation, Aiden''s voice had also turned into a female voice, but it was quite different from Prisci tone. Anyone who knew Prisci would easily detect something was wrong upon hearing this unfamiliar voice.


    Aiden began searching for excuses in his mind, but he couldn''te up with a suitable reason.


    Recent cold? Throat problems?


    No, such childish excuses would be too presumptuous to deceive these Great Witches.


    His disguise had reached its limits...


    Just as Aiden was starting to consider giving up, Vera suddenly eximed with realization, "Could it be... you''ve seeded in developing that spell!?"


    Aiden was a bit confused for a moment - what was this woman talking about?


    Developed spells? Is Prisci researching new spells?


    A spell that can change voices? Or a spell with some sort of voice-changing side effects or cost?


    Although he couldn''t immediately figure out what Vera was imagining, he quickly realized he could take advantage of her words and go along with it. "Yes, indeed, I seeded. As you can see, I''ve already tried it."


    "Oh?" Lamia voice sounded intrigued. "You''ve actually developed such a difficult spell? That''s like reaching the ceiling of the ''Spiritual Tome,'' isn''t it?"


    "That''s great! With this ability, we won''t have to hide and be chased anymore!" Vera sounded very excited. "By the way, why don''t we use this to rescue Dailey?"


    Upon hearing this, Aiden became alert.


    Rescue Dailey?


    Does that mean Prisci''s developed spell can also be used for jailbreaks?


    However, Hasbinis still sneered at this idea. "boring........ Do you guys actually want to y this kind of savior game?"


    "Is there a problem?" Vera confronted her again.


    "Of course there is! Come on, we all gathered here to mutually benefit from finding a way to quickly grasp the essence of the world," Hasbinis contemptuously replied. "Since when did the Witch Gathering turn into such a naive social gathering?"

 Chapter 107:

    Chapter 107:


    <b>Gift</b>


    "It''s because there are too many people like you in the Witch Gathering that we have be divided and fallen to the point of being hunted by various countries," Vera argued against Hasbinis'' mockery. "If we could gather the full strength of the Witch Gathering, they wouldn''t be so arrogant."


    Aiden vaguely understood it. ording to what Dailey had said before, Prisci advocated for gathering the power of the Witch Gathering, uniting the witches to actively assassinate capable inquisitor and bounty hunters from organizations that hunt witches.


    From Vera''s statement, it was clear that she supported this viewpoint.


    Based on the ck Magic Management Convention signed by nearly three-quarters of the countries in the southern continent, Inquisition organizations from participating countries had the authority to issue warrants and capture ck magic witches and sorcerers conducting unauthorized research within their borders, as well as cooperate and extradite criminals.


    The Inquisition organizations of the convention member countries were undoubtedly the greatest enemies of the witches. Many witches had no choice but to operate outside the countries of the convention or even seclude themselves from society altogether.


    In the Witch Gathering, there were actually quite a few powerful individuals. Delving into ck magic was already illegal, and the illegal nature of witches meant they had fewer taboos and restrictions when it came to using ck magic and rted techniques.


    Among the witches present, Aiden had heard of some of their names, while others were unfamiliar. The ones he had heard of were all S-rank wanted criminals, and it was likely that the others were simr.


    Take Dailey as an example, as an S-rank wanted criminal, herbat capability, when converted to well-trained fully armed soldiers, should be equivalent to one or two hundred people. With the enemy having limited knowledge of her spells, this upper limit could be even higher. It would be no problem for her to wipe out a small town''s mounted police and militia, or a medium-sized band of thieves, pirates, or a gang.


    "Whether it''s the specialized Inquisition bureau for witches or bounty hunters, facing this kind of boss requires forming a team to fight. Individuals like the former Aiden, who had the ability to single-handedly take on S-rank criminals, are notmon everywhere.


    If all these witches were to unite, along with the several hundred other witches leading the witch gathering, they would form an armed organization with thebat power equivalent to a small kingdom, posing a headache for any country.


    However, the self-centered and freedom-loving nature of witches makes it difficult for them to ept strict management systems. At best, they can only form small groups of a few individuals and cannot createrge-scale organizations with strict discipline and significant influence.


    Hasbinis is clearly a typical example.


    "Isn''t it inevitable for useless waste to be eliminated? If you don''t want to be caught, then don''t be a witch! It''s enough to have the ability to protect yourself. What''s the use of flocking together like a bunch of small fry? Are you waiting to be betrayed by them?" Hasbinis said disdainfully. "Someone like Dailey, being caught and thrown into prison only shows that she doesn''t have the strength to sit here. It''s better to expel such useless individuals."


    "Narrow-minded! I definitely disagree!" Vera said, then turned to Aiden. "Prisci!"


    Seeing Vera turning to her for support again, Aiden had no choice but to speak up again. "I also disagree. Does expelling Dailey bring you any benefits? Why are you so eager?"


    Normally, Prisci should have the same stance as Vera, and ording to what Dailey said, she and Prisci even had some connection.


    "Alright, enough of your arguments. It''s not up to you to decide," Lamia suddenly interrupted and threw the topic to the person sitting at the head of the long table. "Abigail, you decide."


    "For now, let''s put it aside," Abigail replied casually. "Dailey is a good girl, and there aren''t many people left who are willing to pursue the origins. It''s been many years since I''ve encountered a decent witch..." She paused for a moment. "No, perhaps I shouldn''t say it that way."


    "What do you mean? Have you seen any interesting neers?" Lamia asked.


    Abigail didn''t answer her question but slowly turned her face towards Aiden, who was sitting in his ce. "A fascinating little mouse has arrived. Who exactly are you?"


    Aiden froze on the spot.


    Abigail had already seen through his disguise From the beginning!?"


    Abigail is the owner here, so it''s possible she has privileges that Aiden couldn''t see through. What surprises Aiden is that even after Abigail discovered he had infiltrated from the beginning, she still let him y along for so long... What exactly does this woman want? Does she really not care about internal information leaks?


    Abigail''s words caused the temperature in the room to drop suddenly, and several pairs of eyes focused on Aiden as if a pack of wolves were sizing up a husky that had infiltrated their midst.


    "You''re not Prisci!?" Vera sitting on the right eximed, "Bastard, how dare you deceive me?"


    You should me your own imagination, Aiden thought to himself.


    "Heh, can the token be lent to outsiders? Prisci has already been captured!" Hasbinis sitting opposite shouted mockingly.


    Aiden didn''t respond because there was no need to. Speaking more would only expose his information, and lying would be meaningless because no one would believe him.


    Based on his understanding of ck magic, he shouldn''t have been truly summoned to this space. Itpletely exceeded the scope of personal ck magic and entered the realm of gods.


    This space in front of him was probably just a projection created by the pendant he held. The witches present couldn''t directly attack him unless Abigail did something through controlling the pendant in his hand, but that was most likely impossible.


    If the pendant could cause harm to the wearer, it was hard to imagine that these witches chosen by Abigail would willingly carry it with them.


    Unlike the other witches, Abigail didn''t show any signs of hostility. She just calmly observed him.


    After a moment, Abigail spoke, "It can be considered a kind of fate for you toe here. Let me give you a gift as a memento."


    A gift? Aiden couldn''t help but feel suspicious.


    Abigail paused for a moment and spoke again, uttering a series of eerie noises that ordinary humans could never produce, making people feel ufortable: ""


    In an instant, Aiden felt as if these voices were like a bell ringing loudly in his mind, causing a sharp pain in his head.


    An unprecedented mental impact prated his consciousness, leaving his brain nk. He instinctively screamed, forcefully throwing the pendant out of his hand.


    Advance Chapter

 Chapter 108:

    Chapter 108:


    <b>Mental Contamination</b>


    As the pendant slipped from his hand, the scene in Aiden''s vision immediately twisted along with the surrounding mist, rapidly fading until it disappeared. His office reappeared before his eyes once again.


    Abigail''s voice, which had been pouring into his ears, abruptly ceased, but the words she had spoken continued to echo in Aiden''s mind. They were like an inexplicable melody that suddenly emerged and couldn''t be stopped, repeating over and over again.


    Aiden couldn''tprehend the sound that came out of Abigail''s mouth, yet he could clearly identify it as anguageanguage that no human could possibly utter or understand.


    However, this sentence carried a terrifying power, forcing his mind toprehend it.


    It was like an undecipherable garble forcefully inserted into smoothly running code, impossible to remove, making it difficult for him to think properly...


    Iprehensible... Iprehensible... Error... All errors...


    His head throbbed in waves, and a nauseating sensation surged up from the depths of his abdomen, relentlessly pushing upwards.


    How could this feeling be described?


    It was as if a thousand cockroaches were crawling densely on the surface of his brain...


    It was as if a thousand needles were being slowly inserted into his head, prating deeper and deeper...


    It was as if he was submerged in countless bloody limbs and body parts, with a basin-sized spider pouncing on his face, and an uncountable number of worm-like parasites being poured into his mouth, squirming their way down his throat and roaming through his bodythis mental contamination, which wasparable to such an experience, was piercing his consciousness like a barrage of bullets, leaving it riddled with wounds.


    He involuntarily let out a scream, sweeping his hand to knock everything off the table onto the floor.


    However, this release did not provide him any relief. His thoughts quickly becamepletely entangled in this painful whirlpool, torn apart into fragments.


    Why is this happening... What has happened... What am I doing... I must put an end to this... What should I do... I need to figure something out... I need to find a way to break free... Yes, that''s what I should do...


    When he finally regained some sense, he found himself holding a gun, forcefully aiming it at his own chin.


    A small fragment of his remaining sanity reconnected just in time, jolting him awake, and he quickly ced the gun back on the table.


    What was I just about to do?


    suicide!?


    Aiden suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.


    This eerie voice was disturbing his consciousness and inducing him tomit suicide...


    Stay calm, I must stay calm...


    A strong desire sparked a thought in his chaotic mind, and Aiden grasped onto this lifeline and immediately putting it into action.


    Once again, he utilized his ability of physical transformation to make his body age.


    His hair rapidly turned gray, then pure white in the blink of an eye. Wrinkles deepened on his face, resembling the texture of dried tree bark.


    He felt his body bing dull and heavy, the vitality of life receding like an ebb tide.


    Devoid of passion and energy, he suddenly entered a sage-like state of disinterest towards everything. The surging waves of emotions transformed into a calmke surface, and his thinking became serene and mature.


    This is one of the functions that can be utilized through physical transformation, sacrificing various aspects of the body''s abilities to make the mind clearer to some extent.


    Aiden copsed onto his office chair, gasping for breath and try adjusting his breathing.


    For now, it seemed to have some effect. His consciousness gradually adapted to this mental assault, allowing him to think somewhat normally.


    However, this didn''t mean he waspletely fine. That eerie voice was still echoing in his mind.


    If this state persisted, it would be impossible to close his eyes and sleep.


    Sooner orter, he would reach his limiteither tortured to death or driven insane.


    Aiden couldn''tprehend what was happening.


    Abigail, with just a few words, had inflicted a strong mental contamination on him, almost driving him to the brink of suicide.


    Based on his understanding, this was definitely not a spell of the psychic domain. Rather, it hadpletely surpassed the realm of ck magic.


    ck magic takes the form of spells or incantations, which are ultimatelyposed of humannguage and writing, no matter how obscure or difficult to understand.


    But the "words" spoken by Abigail could never be humannguageafter all, human throats cannot produce such sounds.


    Moreover, thisnguage seemed to carry a dimension that he could notprehend. Whenpelled to contemte the "dimension" contained within this sentence''s power, his thoughts became trapped in a loop, like a system stuck in an endless cycle until it crashes.


    How can he make it stop?


    Besides Abigail, who else knows how to adapt to thisnguage?


    No, wait...


    There is someone, isn''t there!?


    Aiden suddenly remembered.


    During the recent gathering, when Abigail uttered this eerie "incantation," all the other witches present should have heard it too.


    However, they didn''t seem to be affected, which means the witches eligible to participate in that gathering know how to adapt to thisnguage.


    And Dailey was originally one of them.


    With this realization, Aiden immediately stood up from his seat and feeling a sudden ache in his lower back.


    It seems he went a bit too far with the physical transformation that made him old and weak.


    Confirming that he has regained hisposure, Aiden attempted to return his body to its original state.


    Suppressing the difort, he straightened his attire, walked over to the office door, and called out to a passing prison guard.


    "Take a few people and go to the core area to retrieve the prisoner..." Aiden paused for a moment because, while dividing his attention to resist mental contamination, he couldn''t readily recall Dailey identification number. "Go... go and bring Dailey here, right away."


    "Understood!" The person immediately saluted, then hesitated before speaking again, "Warden... you don''t look well! Are you feeling unwell?"


    "I''m fine, no need to worry," Aiden replied, forcing himself to answer, urging, "Go quickly."


    After closing the door, Aiden sat back in his seat, anxiously waiting.


    Time seemed to crawl by, and then the office door was knocked again.


    "Come in!" Aiden called out urgently.


    The door opened, and Dailey walked into the office under the surveince of the prison guard and riot squad.


    Upon seeing the chaotic scene in the office, Dailey hesitated for a moment, then noticed she had stepped on something hard and instinctively looked down.


    The pendant, which served as proof of being a Grand Witch,y at her feet. The mist that had been sealed within it had vanished, and a crack appeared on the surface of the ck crystal. Aiden realized that in the midst of the chaos, he had forgotten to retrieve the pendant.


    "So It has indeede to this..." Dailey nodded suddenly, then turned her face to look into Aiden''s eyes and said, "Warden, have you already heard Abigail''s ''teachings''?"

 Chapter 109:

    Chapter 109:


    <b>Demonic Possesion</b>


    "Do you know what has happened?" Aiden asked, holding his forehead and looking pale.


    While conversing with Dailey, he had been struggling to resist the intrusion of Abigail''s words into his consciousness.


    "When you took the pendant, I knew things might turn out like this. On a full moon night, Abigail can gather the Grand Witches to her gathering through the pendant," Dailey answered with a faint smile. "Although I wanted to warn you of the danger, I couldn''t speak it out due to the existence of the contract."


    "No need for unnecessary talk. Do you have a way to shut off the voices in my head?" Aiden asked directly, not wanting to wait any longer for a solution.


    "Of course, as long as you, Warden..." Dailey said meaningfully, running her finger across her lips, "surrender your body to me."


    "Don''t y games with me in this situation. I''m really losing my patience," Aiden said with a stern face.


    "Oh, you misunderstand. I''m being serious," Dailey smiled. "The simplest way to stop that voice is for you to say that sentence yourself. By using proper artiction, you can adapt to the influence of the divinenguage."


    "Say it? Are you kidding me?"


    Aiden was certain that even a master ventriloquist could never utter this nguage." What Abigail spoke was simply impossible for human vocal cords to produce.


    "That''s why I mentioned surrendering your body to me," Dailey toyed with her short magic wand. "Next, I will summon a possessing demon to enter your body temporarily and modify your throat and tongue precisely to the structure capable of speaking thatnguage."


    "Sounds a bit suspicious..." Aiden narrowed his eyes skeptically.


    A possessing demon was a type of demon that could directly inhabit a living being. It could alter the host''s physical structure, giving them demonic features and terrifying strength, along with some special abilities.


    However, as the possession continued, the demon would gradually erode the host, altering their temperament and synchronizing their thoughts with the demon''s until the demon tookplete control of the body.


    Witches like Dailey, who excel in controlling demons, can not only strengthen themselves by allowing demons to possess them but also manipte specific targets through possessed demons. Handling ordinary people possessed by demons is a routine task for the Inquisition Bureau.


    "To be honest, I am indeed interested in manipting you. But no matter what, I''m not foolish enough to have such thoughts here," Dailey shrugged.


    Aiden pondered for a moment. Indeed, there was some risk in allowing the possessed demon summoned by Dailey to enter his body, but it was still manageable.


    It takes a considerable amount of time for a possessed demon to erode its host. If Dailey made any suspicious moves, he could counter her through the demon contract. Moreover, he knew how to exorcise demons.


    Moreover He also remembered the appearance of Abigail''s horns. At that time, he had suspected that Abigail was in a state of some kind of special modification, which might exin why she could emit those eerie sounds. Dailey''s words had a certain degree of credibility.


    "Then let''s get started. I will unseal your casting privileges," Aiden agreed.


    "Understood," Dailey waved her wand and began reciting an incantation.


    Soon, a dark and viscous substance was summoned out of thin air, quickly transforming into a soft elongated shape, like a small snake coiling around her short magic wand.


    This was the possessing demon. Before finding a suitable host, the true form of this creature was actually quite fragile.


    "Come, Warden," Dailey happily approached, holding her staff in front of Aiden. "Ah..."


    She opened her mouth as if coaxing a child to eat, signaling for Aiden to open his mouth and ept.


    Aiden reluctantly opened his mouth, thinking that he probably wouldn''t enjoy this experience. In an instant, the possessed demon swiftly entered his body.


    "Does it taste good?" Dailey teasingly asked Aiden with a smile.


    "tastes good my ass...," Aiden retorted irritably.


    It felt like swallowing a snot worm...


    He was currently enduring the dual pressure of mental contamination and physiological difort, which inevitably made him a bit irritable.


    "Now, I will proceed to transform your body. Please bear with me," Dailey said, waving her staff again.


    Aiden felt a sudden intense pain in his chest, simr to the pain experienced during physical transformationthe possessed demon was rapidly altering his body.


    The pain spread from his chest, reached his throat, and then arrived at the base of his tongue.


    "Oh, my, you look quite impressive with your demonization," Dailey lightly caressed her cheek, admiringlymented. "Now, please say that phrase."


    Aiden attempted to speak, and he was immediately startled by his own voice.


    The sounding from his mouth was hoarse and eerie, neither human nor beast-like, as if it belonged to some... unknown monster.


    He began to speak the words that Abigail''s voice had been echoing in his mind, imitating them letter by letter. It took him quite some time since many of the pronunciations were beyond hisprehension. Although his vocal cords were capable of producing the sounds, his consciousness struggled to keep up. He could only gradually attempt and adjust the pronunciation.


    After more than thirty attempts, although it was a bit awkward, he finally seeded in uttering the phrase in its entirety.


    As soon as the words fell from his mouth, the echoing voices in his mind abruptly ceased, and an unusually relieving sensation made his head feel somewhat light.


    Meanwhile, the documents and office supplies that had been knocked over on the ground trembled for a moment, then suddenly floated up and returned to their ces on the desk. The files and books were neatly arranged, the office supplies found their positions, and even the pen returned to its holder. The spilled ink flowed back into the ink bottle as if time were reversing.


    In the blink of an eye, the office desk returned to its original state... even more orderly and organized than before.


    "The Divine Language... is it working!?" Dailey widened her eyes, showing astonishment on her face.


    Aiden was not only puzzled by this turn of events but also by the fact that Dailey, who guided him to speak this peculiar "incantation," was now dumbfounded by the effects it triggered.


    Just as he was about to ask a question, he suddenly felt something surge up from his chest.


    Reflexively, he opened his mouth and vomited, only to find that what he expelled was the possessed demon that had entered his mouth earlier.


    The possessed demon wriggled violently on the office desk like a snake scalded by hot water, then stiffened and turned into a pool of ck liquid, quickly evaporating.


    Watching this scene, Aiden couldn''t help but feel dumbfounded.


    The possessed demon had actually died on its own.

 Chapter 110:

    Chapter 110:


    <b>The Language of the Gods</b>


    Aiden looked at the demon summoned by Dailey disapeared, when he looked up he saw Dailey wearing a simr surprised expression.


    "What''s with the surprise? Wasn''t it you who asked me to recite it?" Aiden looked at her suspiciously.


    "Yes.... But I didn''t expect the divinenguage to actually work... Let me confirm it, warden..... You really have no idea what Abigail taught you, right?" Dailey asked earnestly.


    "Of course not, otherwise why would I ask for your help?" Aiden sat down on the chair.


    "This is really strange. I''ve never seen a situation like yours before," Dailey pondered.


    "So, what was that just now?" Aiden asked, "that''s not A ck magic right?"


    finally freed from the torment of that "incantation." He now had the luxury to ask this question.


    He was curious, unavoidably so, because Abigail''s incantation was incredibly bewildering.


    Ordinary ck magic follows the rule that the effectiveness of the spell decreases with distance.


    Abigail resides in the Sabbath Forest, hundreds of kilometers away from Silver City. It would be virtually impossible to use ck magic to inflict a mental attack strong enough to erase someone''s sanity across such a vast distance.


    "I understand your doubts, but that was actually ck magic... Or to be precise, it was the origin of ck magic," Dailey said mysteriously.


    "The origin?"


    "What Abigail told you is actually thenguage of the godsthenguage of the dominators."


    "Thenguage of the gods?" Aiden immediately thought of a certain goddess imprisoned beneath this office. "Is this what you''ve been referring to as the ''divinenguage''?"


    "Yes," Dailey nodded. "Magic is a supernatural power constructed throughnguage. Thenguage of the dominators corresponds to the authority they possess. With just a word, a god can easily change thews of the world within their jurisdiction. Warden, you are aware of the Four Books, the origins of ck magic, right?"


    "The Book of the Mind, the Book of Order, the Book of Life and Death, and the Book of Matter?"


    Aiden recalled. The previous Aiden, a senior inquisitor, was well-versed in ck magic, and he had inherited theoretical knowledge about it.


    These four books were the cornerstones of magic, each containing only a few thin pages. However, almost all existing magic was gradually derived,bined, and assembled using the basic spells recorded in these four books.


    The content of these four books originated from four ancient stone tablets, and there is still no unified exnation for where these tablets came from. However, these four tablets are indeed the origin of ck magic.


    "The Four Books replicate the content of the Origin Tablets. Abigail believes that the magic used by humans, whether it''s the permitted white magic or the strictly controlled ck magic, is essentially a degraded version of the divinenguage. What is written on the Origin Tablets is the residue left behind after mortals have removed the parts they couldn''tprehend and utilize from the divinenguage. The So-called magic is just a crude imitation of the authority of the gods by mortals," Dailey exined calmly.


    "So, she simply skipped studying ordinary ck magic and went straight to studying thenguage of the gods?" Aiden understood.


    "Exactly. She proposed a theory that as long as one masters enough of the divinenguage, they can seize the dominators'' authority with their mortal bodya glorious path to godhood," Dailey expression remained unchanged, but her tone carried a genuine admiration. "She is truly a prodigy in every sense of the word, which is why other witches respectfully call her the ''Apex Witch''."


    Witches pursue forbidden knowledge, and the purer the witch, the more eager they are to seek the ultimate knowledge. Abigail''s research into ck magic clearly surpassed that of other witches. While they were still delving into how to exhaust the limits of mortal ck magic, she had already begun exploring the source of magicthe power of the gods.


    "So you''re saying that I almost went crazy because of the effect of that divinenguage she spoke?" Aiden thought he understood.


    But at that moment, Dailey shook her head. "That''s not entirely urate. The mental contamination you experienced earlier wasn''t strictly caused by the power of that divinenguage. It was merely a side effect."


    "Side effect?" Aiden couldn''t help but be startled.


    "Because thenguage of the dominators ispletely beyond theprehension of mortals. If they don''t adapt through a specific form of expression, the divinenguage will continue to exert a high-level suppression on the affected mortal''s mind until they copse. As you know, some cultists who receive the ''gift of the gods'' often experience mental disorders..." Dailey reminded him.


    "Like ''Insane Hal''? Aiden immediately thought of it.


    (TN: *Mad Hailo)


    "Yes, I believe she probably heard the voice of her worshipped dominator directly and obtained the special power bestowed by the divinenguage, but her mindpletely crumbled along with it."


    Aiden''s face turned dark as he listening. He remembered that Mephilia had told him more than once that if he helped her remove a holy nail, she would grant him a "blessing"...


    That ck-hearted goddess really just wanted to take advantage of him.


    "Well, I guess I''m lucky," Aiden let out a sigh of relief. "If there wasn''t a way to speak the divinenguage, I would have ended up like her, wouldn''t I?"


    "Yes, you must have seen other grand witches at the gathering, right? Abigail only taught the six of us the divinenguage and the method of adapting to it. Only we have researched the ways to express the divinenguage," Dailey said with a smile, "My demon Possesion, Lamia Potion, and physical Transformation magic are all for this ".


    Physical Transformation? Could it be that this kind of technique was developed specifically for expressing the divinenguage? Aiden wondered.


    Melusine, being a disciple of the grand witch Lamia, was not recognized as a grand witch by Abigail herself. Therefore, she was not taught about the divinenguage and instead treated the demonic contract as a means to obtain the ability of physical Transformation for the purpose of training assassins.


    In other words... the ability of physical Transformation could actually transform the structure of the vocal cords into a state capable of expressing the divinenguage. Aiden just didn''t know how to adjust it precisely to that state.


    But maybe now he could do it. Dailey had just used her possessing demon to modify his body, and the memory of that state remained within him. If it fell within the range of physical modification abilities, he might be able to recreate it.


    If that were the case, perhaps he could harness the power of this divinenguage.


    "Since this is just a side effect, what is the actual effect of this divinenguage?" Aiden asked eagerly. "Organizing offices? Exorcism?"


    "Exactly, I believe the divinenguage you were granted is the ''Language of Order,''" Dailey nodded confidently.


    "Language of Order..." Aiden pondered for a moment, then furrowed his brow. "If you know this much, why were you so surprised earlier?"


    Dailey smiled mysteriously. "Well, Warden.... that''s something you should ask yourself."

 Chapter 111:

    <h1>Chapter 111:</h1>


    The Warden of The Witches</a>


    <strong>You''re Just Greedy for my Divinity</strong>


    "Ask myself?" Aiden furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"


    "Divinenguage isn''t something that can be wielded just by speaking it. If it were so easy to steal the authority of the Dominators, there would be gods everywhere," Dailey pointed out, gesturing towards herself. "If I could use the divinenguage, I wouldn''t be content with studying regr dark magic here."


    "So, you''re saying there are conditions for making the divinenguage effective? What conditions?" Aiden asked.


    "It''s divinity. Only individuals with divinity can make thenguage of the Dominators take effect!" Dailey shrugged, and gazed at Aiden. "Just like you and Abigail."


    "What exactly is divinity? Exin it to me," Aiden continued to inquire.


    "You really don''t know?" Dailey raised an eyebrow in doubt, but proceeded to exin to Aiden, "Divinity, as the name suggests, is the extraordinary characteristic that distinguishes gods from mortals. It doesn''t have a physical form but can be attached to all things. To unleash the power of the divinenguage, the presence of divinity is necessary. Abigail has already gathered a considerable amount of divinity; she is a true demigod. That''s why the divinenguage she speaks possesses authority and can even influence the minds of mortals."


    Hearing this, Aiden began to grasp the concept, but to confirm, he continued, "So, how does one acquire divinity?"


    "Normally, divinity should be concentrated in existing gods. However, ording to our research, besides the existing Dominators, some ancient relics scattered throughout the world also contain a significant amount of divinity. There are twomon methods to obtain divinity. One is to be granted by the Dominators themselves, by consuming the sacred bodies and blood mentioned in ancient texts, which metaphorically represents this. The other method is to extract divinity from relics that possess divinity using rituals." Dailey paused for a moment and added, "However, besides these two methods, there is a shortcut."


    "A shortcut?"


    "It''s to kill other individuals with divinity and directly extract it from their corpses using necromancy," Dailey raised a finger. "The body, bones, ashes, even detached spirits can retain divinity. The Dominators also undergo session. When an old Dominator falls, most of its divinity remains in its body. By consuming the remains of a fallen god, one can inherit their divinity. The same applies to individuals with divinity."


    Aiden fell into deep thought.


    He could specte on the source of his divinity. He was summoned to this world by Mephilia, and perhaps she bestowed divinity upon him.


    VvAlthough he couldn''t grasp that person''s intentions, it was likely the reason why he could wield the power of the divinenguage.


    The authority of "Order" corresponded to the contents in the Book of Order, a form of dark magic. The power of Order uses rules to bind things and return them to their "normal" state defined by those rules.


    That''s why scattered objects on the ground would return to their neatly arranged state under the effect of the divinenguage, and the possessing demon invading his body would be forcibly dispelled or even killed by the divinenguage.


    Although it may not appear powerful, Aiden could already sense the strength of the divinenguage.


    Human ck magic affects objects, others, things, and oneself...


    But what the divinenguage influences are concepts.


    ck magic can be used to kill people, but the effectiveness of such magic in killing monsters may vary in terms of power.


    However, if a certain divinenguage possesses the authority of "death," conceptually, it can affect all living beings.


    This is simply a power at a cheat level.


    No wonder these powerful witches would heed Abigail''s call. The authority of gods is indeed something that very few can resist...


    Wait, could it be that the Blood Moon Cult summoned a deity into Mephilia for this reason too?


    "It seems you have some idea about the divinity within you," Dailey squinted her eyes, sizing up Aiden like a cunning cat. "I wonder if the Warden would be willing to share with me?"


    Aiden nced at her. "What do you think?"


    "I guess you wouldn''t casually tell me, after all, even Abigail is only willing to teach us the divinenguage... The biggest obstacle to mastering the divinenguage is not thenguage itself but obtaining divinity. Among the entire Witch Gathering, only Abigail, Lamia, and Chimera possess divinity. Honestly, including myself and the other four, we all dream of having a share. I think each of us has probably considered killing one of those three and taking their divinity..." Dailey leaned on her desk, slowly getting closer to Aiden. "So, Warden, I have a proposition..."


    "What do you want to do?" Aiden became cautious as she approached.


    "Would you be willing to make a deal? I''m willing to pay a price if you can tell me," Dailey leaned in closer to Aiden, her breath gentle. "Even if the price is high... I can ept it."


    After a moment of silence, Aiden finally spoke, "Dailey."


    "Mm?" Dailey smiled.


    "Step back. don''t get so close to me, Without my permission" Aiden replied expressionlessly.


    Dailey suddenly felt her heart tighten as if someone was squeezing it, causing her body to tremble. Aiden was using the threat of a demonic contract against her.


    "Just a reminder, the precondition for paying the price in a trade is to hold the price in your own hands. When we made the previous deal, you had already sold yourself to me, even your life was in my hands. How much more can you offer me as an additional trade?" Aiden coldly stated, "Although this time I do owe you a favor, asking me to repay it with this is impossible."


    This witch clearly only coveted the divinity within him. She might even have had the thought of killing him to seize his divinity.


    The intelligence about this divinity involved the secrets of the Inquisition Bureau and even his own status as a transmigrator. He naturally couldn''t easily disclose it.


    "I quite like your stubbornness," Dailey said with a yful smile as she stepped back. "But you did say you owe me a favor, right?"


    "I''m not so oblivious as to deny that," Aiden sighed. "But don''t make outrageous demands. There are things I can''t do."


    "Don''t worry, helping you is based on my personal willingness. After all, if something were to happen to you, it would be troublesome for me too," Dailey first exchanged pleasantries before getting to the point. "I have just one small request, Warden. Could you let Prisci and me share a room?"

 Chapter 112:

    Chapter 112:


    <b>Speaking Tough After Wiping Someone Else''s Butt</b>


    The next day, at the Inquisition Bureau, in the Director''s Office.


    "The general gist of the situation is this, thanks to you, I spentst night in the prison and only managed to make time toe here this morning,"


    casually lounging in the guest seat, Aiden recounted to Director Harold what had transpired the previous night.


    "So...., within the Witch Gathering, there lies a more secretive core organization. You have indeed brought some significant news, but..." Harold, with a cigar in his mouth, looked thoughtfully at the ck crystal pendant in his hand and then slowly shifted his gaze towards Aiden, "Is it just my impression, or do I feel that your attitude today seems much more arrogant than usual?"


    "No," Aiden innocently spread his hands, "I am just a modest and reserved person..."


    "Then get your feet off from my coffee table!" Harold red fiercely, "That''s not your child''s footstool!"


    "Oh, Director, isn''t it because the coffee table is too empty? Look, you haven''t even had a cup of tea," Aiden casually put his feet down, thoughtfully saying, "You see, you''ve handled all the troublesome matters well, shifting all the me onto your former subordinates. But unexpectedly, after your former subordinates wiped your butt, you''re still so stingy. It''s difficult for you to convice others."


    A vein bulged on Harold''s forehead, but he held back. He walked over, opened the door, and called out to an administrative staff, "Adrian!"


    "What''s up, Director?"


    "I''m sorry, please get this idiot here a cup of coffee!" Harold pointed at Aiden.


    "I prefer tea please!" Aiden raising his hand and corrected with a smile.


    When he came to see Harold today, he was indeed much more assertive than usual.


    Investigating the Proof of the Great Witch swallowed by Prisci should have been the responsibility of the Inquisition. However, after the Inquisition found Priscipletely devoid of interrogation value due to total amnesia, they easily took away the physically unwell Prisci. And was prematurely pushed into the Rose Prison.


    In a way, this could be considered as the Rose Prison wiping the butt of the Inquisition bureau, resolving the dilemma that would have required a risky operation, obtaining crucial evidence, and incidentallypleting part of the investigation.


    He came to see Harold not only to hand over evidence and ry intelligence but also to take the opportunity to ventafter nearly a day and night of effort, he felt somewhat confident.


    After the serving of the tea, Harold locked the door again and returned to his seat.


    "I have no words about pushing Prisci to your side prematurely; it was my negligence, but this..." Harold shook the pendant towards Aidan, looking displeased.


    "Wasn''t it already captured? Did youpletely destroy it?" A crack appeared on the surface of the ck crystal pendant, and the sealed gray mist vanished. Clearly, this "Great Witch Token" had lost its magical properties entirely. It seemed that Abigail, as the producer, upon discovering Prisci token had fallen into other hands, directly activated some form of automatic destruction function.


    In other words, this evidence had somewhat be outdated.


    "You are too harsh. If not for your negligence, this thing would never have reached me. And if I were to evaluate myself, what I did yesterday was impable. If it were someone else, they probably wouldn''t have been able to save their own life," Aiden spread his hands, defending himself confidently, "That godly word can drive one mad. Although it may sound a bit fabricated, I swear, what I say is true."


    the information he told Harold regarding the divinenguage was indeed true, but not entirely.


    He simply concealed the fact that when he speaking the divinenguage it did have an effect, because this matter likely rted to his secret as a time-traveler summoned by Mephilia.


    Although the Inquisition bureau in this world was entirely different from his past life''s Inquisition, it was not such an enlightened organization. Not knowing how he would be treated, he was hesitant to reveal this to the responsible person at the Inquisition. So It will remained a secret.


    He was concerned that Harold might not believe in the power of the divine words. Just one phrase could override the limitations of dark magic, leading to mental breakdown. Without firsthand experience, it was hard to believe.


    However, after tapping off the ash from his cigar, Harold simply replied, "Well, I actually know of the existence of the divine. You don''t need to emphasize it to me."


    "You do?" Aiden was surprised.


    "Don''t underestimate the confidential files kept by the Inquisition," Harold took a drag from his cigar, slowly saying, "We just didn''t know that the Witch Gathering also possessed the divine words..."


    "But I have never heard of"


    "Of course, it''s because your previous authority was insufficient, you idiot!" Harold impatiently cursed.


    "Don''t senior inquisitor have the authority to ess all records?"


    "It''s a document that allows viewing of all current entries. Of course, the most confidential documents won''t even let you know they exist. If you were in my position, you would understand." Harold angrily remarked, "Have you forgotten what we entrusted you to take care of before?"


    "Indeed!" Aiden eximed.


    The Silver City Inquisition Bureau destroyed the Blood Moon Cult and even captured the deity Mephilia. There should not be such a shortage of information about the Dominator.


    "The Dominator is truly a powerful being," Harold shook his head, "If you hadn''t convinced that guy from the start, even if the Inquisition bled rivers, they wouldn''t have been able to contain this monster..."


    "...," this time Aidan remained silent, just sipping his tea.


    Mephilia actually volunteered to be detained by the Inquisition... more precisely, she was persuaded by the former Aiden, who was leading a team to destroy the Blood Moon Cult''s stronghold.


    One of the conditions for Mephilia eptance of shelter was topel her predecessor, Aiden, to keep their conversationspletely confidential.


    So, when Aiden arrived in this world, he did not inherit these memories.


    To this day, the Inquisition still believes that Aiden cannot recall the conversations from that time. In reality, Aiden has no memory of it now.


    What exactly they discussed and why Mephilia willingly detained, bing a secret known only to Mephilia herself after her predecessor Aiden''s death.


    Aiden found it hard to fathom why a powerful ruler would ept such treatment from humans he considered insignificant, even being deprived of freedom.


    "Speaking of which, did we truly manage to detain her?" Aiden set down his teacup, looking at Harold and asking earnestly.

 Chapter 113:

    Chapter 113:


    <b>Holy Nails</b>


    Having personally experienced the mental contamination of the divinenguage and then releasing it himself, Aiden truly felt the terror of divine power.


    From the effects, the divinenguage he used wasn''t particrly powerful, but it did indeed possess the ability to transcend normal magic and alter concepts in a buggy manner. Extrapting this to the scale of Mephilia power, it was simply unimaginable.


    Could such a being really be sealed solely by containment measures created by humans?


    If Mephilia was just pretending to be contained and could actually move freely at any time, not to mention the Rose Prison built above her, the entire Silver City and even half of the continent could be at risk.


    Originally, upon learning the fact of his own divinity, he had some inclination to confirm with Mephilia, but considering this, he instinctively set aside that thought for now.


    "You''ve been personally monitoring her for nearly five years, and only now do you realize this issue? Isn''t it a bitte?" Harold furrowed his brow, casting a gaze at his obtuse student, expressing a mix of anger and dissatisfaction. "Indeed, without her voluntary cooperation, we would never have been able to contain her, but theoretically, our containment measures are effective against her."


    "Do those few nails really seal her power?"


    "Firstly, do not underestimate those holy nails; they are ancient relics containing divinity," Harold replied calmly.


    "Ancient relics?" Aiden was taken aback. "But the records clearly state that they weremissioned by the Inquisition..."


    "The records are false; those items weren''t crafted but were seized from illicit trades of the Esoteric Society in the past. The holy nails are relics imbued with divinity, possessing the concept of ''fixation'' so strong that even water flow can be interrupted. This concept is effective even against itself, and to date, there hasn''t been any method to extract divinity from the artifact itself. It''s an excellent sealing tool, but until we captured the ''Saintess,'' we never found a suitable subject."


    "So powerful?" Aiden pondered, the idea of using divine items to seal a deity sounding somewhat usible.


    "Moreover..." Harold flicked some ash, "Strictly speaking, what we are sealing is not the deity itself but merely the human body she inhabits. The holy nails simply block her control over that body."


    "I see." Aiden rxed slightly. "That puts my mind at ease."


    Indeed, strictly speaking, Mephilia couldn''t be equated with the controller itself; ultimately, she was just a human vessel inhabited by the controller. The term ''body'' was just a tool for the controller to enter this nejudging from the Blood Moon Cult''s method of summoning deities, it seemed that the controller''s entry into this realm was also subject to certain rules.


    They might not be able to imprison the controller itself, but sealing the human body used by the controller was achievable. Ants might not necessarily kill a person, but they could bite off the straw the person extended into their anthill to probe.


    "Rest assured, but don''t let your guard down too much. Without the holy nails, that person could immediately manipte the body freely using divinenguage..." Harold cautioned sternly, but he abruptly stopped midway.


    "What''s wrong?" Aiden noticed the unnatural pause.


    "Someone''sing." Harold gestured, speaking in a low voice. "Quiet."


    Aiden instinctively closed his mouth, recognizing the sensitivity of their recent discussion, which delved into ssified information even senior inquisitor might not be privy to. Harold had confided in him because he had learned about the intel on divinenguage from yesterday''s incident.


    He turned to look at the ss on the wall; Harold''s office featured the typical one-way ss used in interrogation rooms, positioned differently from the interrogation room. It obscured the view from outside into the room but allowed those inside to see the silhouette of someone approaching the door.


    Seeing the person at the door, Aiden couldn''t help but pause it was Reba.


    The door was promptly knocked on, and Harold gestured to Aiden with his cigar-d fingers, indicating for him to go and open it. To prevent any sudden interruptions while discussing ssified information, he had locked the door behind him when he entered.


    "Making the guest open the door...?"


    "You''re closer to the door, hurry!" Harold urged.


    Resignedly, Aiden stood up and opened the door.


    "Aiden? What are you..." Reba, standing outside the door, widened her eyes upon seeing him but then nodded as if she had a sudden realization. "Ah, you''re here to deliver that item, aren''t you."


    "I''ve already handed it over to the director. You came specifically for that, right?" Aiden stepped aside, gesturing towards Harold. "Would you like to take a look?"


    "Director, um..." Reba entered the office somewhat hesitantly, offering a salute to Harold as she raised her hand.


    "I heard about the situation from that smelly brat. Heard you had some impression of this thing?" Harold picked up the pendant, gave it a shake, and casually tossed it to Reba. "Take a look, see if it triggers any memories."


    Reba quickly caught it with both hands, took a closer look, and froze on the spot. "How... did it change like this!?"


    "Ask him," Harold quickly shifted the me to Aiden.


    Reba turned to look at Aiden, and somehow, Aiden could faintly sense a hint of resentment in her eyes.


    "During the investigation, there was a bit of an ident," Aiden shrugged, "but it didn''t have much impact on the appearance. Have you remembered anything?"


    Reba is currently on suspension for recovery and does not hold the authority of a senior inquisitor. Harold didn''t mention it, so Aiden wouldn''t disclose to her about his infiltration of the witch gathering yesterday.


    Reba nced at the pendant in her hand, shook her head, and returned it to Harold. "I can vaguely recall Prisci wearing this thing, but I can''t remember anything else."


    Aiden was somewhat surprised by her reaction. Yesterday, Reba had seemed quite fixated upon seeing the pendant, appearing to sense very clear memory cues. Yet now that she had it in her hands, she only nced at it briefly before dismissing it.


    "This item was extracted from Prisci after she swallowed it. Do you really have no recollection at all?" Aiden inquired.


    "I really can''t remember. If I could, I would have said so by now," Reba shook her head.


    "Looks like you made a trip for nothing today," Harold remarked.


    "No, Director, I came today to discuss another matter with you," Reba looked at Harold.


    "What is it?"


    "I request your approval to transfer from the Inquisition Bureau. I want to work at the Rose Prison like him..." Reba nced at Aiden as she spoke.


    Startled, Aiden hand who was holding a teacup, trembled slightly and almost spilled the tea, just likest time.

 Chapter 114:

    Chapter 114:


    <b>Three Major Illusions in Life</b>


    Aiden turned to look at Reba, inwardly eximing, "Big sister, how did I offend you when I visited you yesterday? Are you here to retaliate against me? Bringing up a transfer in front of two unit leaders, am I not openly poaching the old man?"


    Sure enough, Harold''s face visibly darkened.


    "Oh, is it about this again? This unit is quite poprtely. Should I transfer there too?" he remarked.


    Harold casually nced at aiden seated as a guest, sending a shiver down to aiden''s spine.


    Reba, however, ignored aiden and looked directly at Harold, saying, "I feel that I have no hope of recovering my memories now, and I''m afraid I may no longer be fit for the role of a senior inquisitor."


    "If you can''t handle being an inquisitor, it doesn''t necessarily mean you can handle working in a prison. I told you that you''re oversimplifying the job at the prison," Aiden hastily interjected. "Honestly, I believe you haven''t fully adapted to your state after amnesia. It''s best to take some time to adjust before making any decisions."


    His refusal towards Reba wasn''t just because he feared the muscle-bound old man at the other end of the table, but because he genuinely felt that Reba was currently not up to the standards required for working in a prison.


    "Indeed," Harold chimed in, "Given your current condition, it''s best not to rush back to work. During this rest period, you can carefully consider future arrangements. You''re on paid leave now, something everyone else would envy."


    "But... how would I know if I don''t give it a try?" Reba insisted.


    Harold stared at her for a moment, then pulled out a gun and expertly removed the bullets before tossing it towards Reba with a swift motion, saying, "Catch."


    "Eh?" Reba hesitated for a moment, then quickly reached out to grab the gun. Due to her dyed reaction, the gun almost slipped from her hand, looking somewhat awkward.


    "Now, there''s a rioter right in front of you, aiming a gun. Hurry!" Harold suddenly shouted sternly, his voice booming.


    In response to thismand, Reba clumsily raised the gun in her right hand, pointing it towards Harold.


    Aiden, observing from the side, suddenly furrowed his brow.


    Harold scrutinized Reba, who was holding the empty gun, for a while and snorted, "Your current skill level doesn''t even meet that of a prison guard. The time it took for your reaction just now would have been enough for a criminal to rush over, knock you down, and take the gun from you. With this performance, do you still want to work at Rose Prison? Have you forgotten how many S-ss fugitives from here are detained there?"


    "But in that case, returning to the Inquisition bureau seems even more impossible," Reba reluctantly lowered the gun, looking discontent.


    "If there''s no other way, I can arrange an administrative position for you," Harold suggested. "Working in administration at the Inquisition bureau is much safer and less strenuous than in a prison."


    Reba remained silent with her eyes downcast for a while, eventually sighing, "Then, allow me... to consider this further."


    "Sounds good." Harold nodded, "You can go back today," .


    "I''ll take my leave then." Reba returned the gun to Harold somewhat dejectedly, nodded at Aiden, and left the office.


    The two in the office watched Reba walk away through the one-way ss.


    "Hmph, you''re quite popr, aren''t you?" Harold suddenly remarked.


    "Director, are you upset?" Aiden cautiously assessed Harold.


    "No, why would I be so petty?"


    "Come on, when Reba mentioned the transfer earlier, your cigar was practically crushed," Aiden sighed. "Let''s get this straight, I never once encouraged her."


    "You don''t need to encourage her because she already had a bit of interest in you," Harold said bluntly. "So when she initially suggested transferring to your unit, I thought it might be because of that."


    "Director, what did you just say!?" Aiden widened his eyes suddenly.


    "Don''t act like you had no clue, many people at the office noticed before," Harold casually remarked. "I mean, you, A young man, bing a senior inquisitor at such age, with a high position, decent ie, reliable work ethic, and not bad looks... it''s reminiscent of my younger days."


    Aiden felt overwhelmed by Harold''s teasing remarks, unsure where to retort.


    "I genuinely had no idea... You''re not pulling my leg, right?" Aiden said, partly skeptical.


    Indeed, he truly didn''t know. He had inherited memories but not emotions from his predecessor, aiden. After being transferred from the Inquisition, his past workce rtionships had faded.


    From the memories he inherited, his predecessor didn''t seem to have close rtionships with any girl. Although Reba had shown some warmth towards "him" during their time working together, it wasn''t enough to conclude that she had feelings for him.


    Jumping to conclusions on such matters could easily lead to falling into the "She likes me" illusion among life''s three major misconceptions.


    "I''m not kidding you; the wisdom of the elderly still holds value. Even under the influence of mental spells causing amnesia, certain impressions can linger, making it possible for her to have some fondness for you," Harold said calmly, puffing on his cigar.


    "But even if that''s true, how does that rte to her wanting to transfer to the prison? She only found out about my role there yesterday," aiden recalled his conversation with Reba from the day before.


    "That''s why I said ''initially,'' Iter realized she had even forgotten about that. Insisting on transferring there, she persistently made me feel a bit uneasy," Harold lowered his voice suddenly, and casually crushing the cigar. "I mean, you must have sensed it too, right? Something off about that girl."


    "Oh? Could it be that even Director..." Aiden caught Harold''s implication, his gaze sharpening.


    "Hmph, unlike you who halfway became a prison guard i spent forty-five years at the Inquisition. My eyesight isn''t gone yet!" Harold retorted.


    Aiden nodded; he hadn''t even brought up yesterday''s events with Harold, yet Harold had mentioned them. The sense of discord emanating from Reba was definitely not his imagination.


    The excessive insistence on transferring to Rose Prison, the unusual reaction to Prisci''s pendant...


    In addition, there was something else.


    "Director, if my memory serves me right..." Aiden pondered for a moment, then raised his left hand, mimicking a shooting gesture. "Reba, she''s a left-handed, isn''t she?"

 Chapter 115:

    Chapter 115:


    <b>Dominant Hand</b>


    At noon, Aiden returned to the Rose Prison and headed straight to the infirmary.


    The conversation with Harold this morning continued to echo in his mind.


    "Logically speaking, just experiencing amnesia shouldn''t lead to such a change," Harold had remarked.


    "You originally sent me to visit Reba because of this, right?" Aiden confirmed with him.


    Aiden also agreed with Harold''s assessment. Reba hadn''tpletely lost her memory; the subconscious of her dominant hand should still be intact... No, logically, even if that subconscious were erased, it wouldn''t make sense for it to be directly reced by another hand.


    The body''s memory should align with the impressions in the subconscious.


    When he visited Reba yesterday, Aiden had sensed an extremeck of coordination in her movements. Even pouring a cup of coffee and adding sugar seemed like a fumble.


    He Initially attributing it to nerves from their recent meeting, but Aiden realized the root cause of thatck of coordination when he saw Reba holding the gun... was her dominant hand.


    Reba was a rare left-hander, yet the hand instinctively reaching for the gun was her unustomed right hand.


    Harold had evidently noticed this detail long ago and the sudden act of her wielding the gun was clearly meant for Aiden''s to see.


    "Because she insisted on transferring to your unit, and since you happened to visit me that day, I thought it best for you to personally observe as well," Harold stated.


    "Do you have suspicions about her?" Aiden inquired.


    "Yes, the influence of Prisci on her clearly goes beyond mere amnesia. The top witches and dark magicians sometimes exceed our understanding with their techniquesthat''s been my experience. Though there isn''t concrete evidence pointing to what urred, it''s always wise to stay vignt," Harold admitted candidly. "I''ve had her resting and also stationed someone to keep an eye on her."


    "You''re monitoring her?" Aiden paused.


    "Is there a problem with that?" Harold countered.


    "No," Aiden shook his head, "it''s indeed necessary."


    It seemed that Harold had been keeping tabs on Reba all along, so when Reba suddenly appeared at the Rose Prison yesterday, he was well aware of it.


    While noticing something amiss with Reba, Aiden currently had no ns to take any action regarding her.


    Ultimately, Reba''s issues were beyond his jurisdiction; they fell under the jurisdiction of the Inquisition.


    Since Harold had already identified Reba''s issues and taken measures, Aiden saw no need to intervene further; matters of expertise should be left to the professionals.


    However, in this affair, the individuals behaving oddly weren''t just Reba but also Prisci.


    The scene from yesterday where Prisci insisted on holding his hand remained vivid in Aiden''s memory.


    Prisci''s behavior couldn''t be entirely exined by amnesia alone.


    While matters concerning Reba could be left entirely to the Inquisition, if it involved inmates housed in the prison, Aiden couldn''t remain indifferent.


    While Harold monitored Reba, Aiden decided to observe Prisci.


    Pushing open the door to the infirmary, the scent of medicine immediately wafted towards him.


    "Chief!" Veronica, standing in the room, saluted him as soon as she saw him.


    "You''re on duty here," Aiden nced around.


    The prison doctor seemed to be away for a meal, leaving only one patient in the infirmaryPrisci lying in bed. Veronica, responsible for inmate supervision, was temporarily standing in for the doctor. Today, under the full moon, she was covering the day shift just like yesterday.


    "Are you here to see her?" Veronica gestured towards Prisci sitting on the bed.


    "Yes, what''s in that bowl? Medicine?" Aiden''s gaze shifted to the bowl in Veronica''s hands.


    Veronica was holding a steaming bowl filled with a viscous paste. Before saluting Aiden, she had been stirring it continuously.


    "It''s cornmeal porridge with eggs and milk added, for her to eat. It seems she can only manage some liquid food for now."


    "She can eat now?" Aiden inquired.


    "It seems they mentioned that the active bleeding has stopped. The doctor gave her some water in the morning without any issues, so the cafeteria prepared porridge for her at noon," Veronica exined. "ording to the doctor, barring any surprises, she should be able to go back to the cell tomorrow."


    Quite a quick recovery... Aiden thought to himself.


    To have a patient with severe gastric bleeding go from being unable to eat to consuming food overnight likely required more than just hemostatic injections. The beastification drug administered by Melusine not only altered Prisci''s gastrointestinal structure but possibly also enhanced her self-healing abilities.


    "How are you feeling?" Aiden approached Prisci''s bed, engaging her in conversation in an official tone.


    "I''m... much better now," Prisci sat up in bed. "Thank you..."


    With lowered eyes and a soft voice, she appeared quite reserveda stark contrast to the notorious S-rank witch she was before losing her memory.


    "You haven''t eaten all day. Have your meal now," Veronica offered the bowl. "Need any help?"


    "Well..." Prisci hesitated.


    "If she can eat on her own, let her," Aiden interjected suddenly. "We''re not the inmates'' caretakers."


    As Veronica approached with the bowl, Aiden felt a probing thought emerge.


    "I''m mainly worried she might spill and burn herself," Veronica exined.


    "It''s fine, let her try," Aiden insisted.


    "Alright."


    Veronica handed the bowl of porridge to Prisci. Awkwardly, Prisci took the bowl and clumsily scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blowing on it before putting it in her mouth.


    "Hey, it''s spilling!" Veronica ruefully pointed out.


    "Oh!" Prisci noticed the porridge had dripped onto her clothes.


    Veronica fetched a towel and handed it to her. "Quick, wipe it off."


    "Sorry..." Prisci set down the spoon, took the towel, and cleaned the stain before resuming with the spoon.


    After Observing for a while, Aiden suddenly asked, "Prisci, are you left-handed?"


    "Huh?" Prisci paused, realizing she was indeed using her left hand to hold the spoon. "Oops, I did it again..."


    She then switched the spoon to her right hand and continued eating the porridge, the movement now much smoother.


    As suspected... Aiden confirmed his doubts.


    The conflict of dominant hands wasn''t just with Reba; it was also evident in Prisci.

 Chapter 116:

    Chapter 116:


    <b>A Defining Puzzle Piece</b>


    "Prisci''s research on a new spell?"


    "Yes, I heard a witch named Vera mention it at your gathering... Prisci is researching some new spell that can help wanted witches stop hiding, maybe even rescue you."


    In the evening, inside the warden''s office, Aiden and Dailey sat across from each other.


    "I''m not sure about that. Think about it, how many years have I been in prison? I haven''t had any contact with her during that time," Dailey said calmly.


    "True...."


    The response was just as Aiden had anticipated.


    Even if Dailey knew what exactly Prisci''s new spell was, she wouldn''t disclose it to Aiden. This information held no bargaining value for Dailey, and even if she did reveal it, there wouldn''t be any significant benefit.


    Aiden had no intention of coaxing the exact answer out of her; he was merely making conversation.


    When he infiltrated the witch gathering, Vera''s mention of the spell Prisci was researching had piqued his interest.


    "Warden, how is Prisci doing today?" Dailey suddenly inquired.


    "Much better than expected. The medicine Melusine made is quite effective. By this afternoon, she waspletely pain-free. It''s possible that she might be back in her cell tonight. Just to be safe, we''ll have her on a liquid diet for a couple more days," Aiden replied.


    "That''s wonderful news," Dailey genuinely seemed happy about it.


    With a foreign object in the digestive tract and such severe gastric bleeding, even with the medical technology from Aiden''s previous world, it would require a highly advanced surgery and a period of hospitalization to cure. For the current ordinary medical standards of this world, it presents a rather challenging problem, almost a matter of life and death.


    Melusine beastification medicine and hemostatic medicinepletely cured her within a dayalthough the treatment process was somewhat bizarre, it undeniably proved effective.


    In this world, witches and alchemists treading the line of forbidden research possess knowledge and techniques that surpass their time. However, due to mainstream rejection and their self-serving nature, they rarely share their research with the outside world.


    From Aiden''s perspective as a transmigrator, this is a regrettable situation, which is why he leverages his past experiences to allow inmates like Dailey to earn sentence reductions based on research achievements.


    "It seems like you and Prisci have quite a good rtionship," Aiden remarked casually.


    "For now, we could be considered friends," Dailey smiled. "Even in my current state, I don''t wish to see her bullied in prison. Taking care of her out of gratitude seems appropriate."


    "It''s somewhat surprising. I always assumed that the rtionships between witches were more..." Aiden paused at the right moment.


    "Indeed, the rtionships among most witches are quite distant, even a bit adversarial. But in the end, we simply have a different way of doing things from ordinary folks. If we get along with someone, a bit of interaction is normal, right?" Dailey teased with a smile, gesturing back and forth between herself and Aiden. "Look at how well we, the warden and I, understand each other."


    "Who understands you? Alright, that''s all the questions. Go back to your cell," Aiden waved his hand to dismiss Dailey.


    After the guards and riot squad waiting outside escorted Dailey back to the core area, Aiden sat down on the chair, and fell deep in thought.


    Still couldn''t find the crucial ''piece''...


    he was starting to get a faint idea about Reba and Prisci''s issue.


    From their various abnormal behaviors, it was undeniable that they were far from simply suffering from amnesia.


    Director Harold had noticed this even earlier than him, but unlike Aiden, Harold seemed focused solely on Reba.


    During his conversation with Harold, Aiden could roughly discern his thoughts.


    Harold seemed to suspect that Prisci might have done something extra to Reba during the capture. Prisci, being a powerful witch specializing in psychic ck magic, could have potentially imnted deep hypnotic suggestions into Reba''s consciousness. Therefore, Harold had temporarily suspended Reba''s privileges under sick leave and had her monitored.


    Considering Reba''s unusual behavior, this suspicion seemed reasonable.


    However, the Inquisition clearly overlooked Prisci''s issue. Prisci''splete amnesia led them to prematurely conclude she had no interrogation value, and swiftly transferring her to Rose Prison.


    It was certain that Prisci had done something beyond erasing memories from Reba; the crucial pointy in what exactly she had done.


    If we consider both individuals'' situations together, the scope of "what was done" can be narrowed down instantly.


    The most crucial point is that both individuals exhibited symptoms of using their non-dominant hand.


    Reba is left-handed, but after "losing her memory," she subconsciously started using her right hand, whereas Prisci did the opposite.


    It''s as if their bodies and consciousness had reversed their memories of their dominant hands, which leads to the possibility of a body swap...


    "Indeed, the highest likelihood is a body swap," Aiden thought.


    During the capture that day, in a moment of desperation, Prisci used a spell to directly swap bodies with Reba, erasing Reba''s memories and masquerading as partially amnesiac to temporarily deflect suspicion.


    In other words, the one currently active in the city within Reba''s body is actually Prisci.


    The "Prisci" thrown unknowingly into prison is the real Reba.


    If we start considering things from this assumption, many previous mysteries suddenly be clear.


    The pendant, a symbol of the Great Witch, being inexplicably swallowed by "Prisci," then "Reba" showing intense interest in the pendant but losing interest as soon as its was damaged...


    And also, the insistence of "Reba" on being transferred to Rose Prison...


    Moreover, the spell that Vera mentioned Prisci was researching...


    It all makes sense!


    However, even if it all makes sense, it ultimately remains a highly probable spection. After all......


    A crucial piece is still needed, even if not as evidence but to definitively settle the matter. That''s why he had just tried asking Daileyalthough without much hope.


    "If only there was a way to directly delve into someone''s subconscious..." Aiden suddenly had this thought.


    At that moment, he paused.


    realizing that perhaps... there actually was a way.

 Chapter 117:

    Chapter 117:


    <b>It''s Not Impossible</b>


    In the evening, Aiden, apanied by Franda, inspected the core area.


    "Come at me, you waste! Watch how I skin you alive!"


    "Trash boss, crawl for me!"


    "Strongly demand more food in the cafeteria!"


    Tonight, Veronica was not on duty, and after Aiden had spoken to Carmi before, she had not paid much attention to this matter. The core area had once again returned to its chaotic state.


    But today, Aiden wasn''t concerned about them.


    "Has Prisci been moved to the prison cell?" Aiden asked Franda beside him.


    "Yes, in the evening, the medical office said there was no need for her to continue lying there, so we followed the procedure and brought her to the cell. As you instructed earlier, we ced her in room number twelve," Franda replied.


    Aiden strode through the corridor and arrived directly at room twelve.


    "Ah, Warden, good evening," Dailey greeted Aiden as he stood at the door.


    "Where is Prisci?" Aiden asked Dailey, noticing only her leaning against the gate.


    "She..." Dailey hesitated, turning aside to let Aiden see deep into the cell. "She''s still curled up inside."


    Aiden fixed his gaze and saw Prisci huddled on her bed at the back of the cell, staring warily at Dailey, her eyes full of hostility.


    However, upon seeing Aiden, her gaze noticeably softened.


    "I don''t know why, but since she arrived, she doesn''t want me near her. No matter how I try tofort her, it doesn''t work," Dailey said helplessly.


    "she has no memory after all. Suddenly being locked up in the core area from the infirmary, and sharing a room with strangers, it''s normal for her to be nervous. She''ll get used to it," Franda remarked calmly.


    Perhaps it''s not just for this reason... Aiden thought to himself.


    Dailey was an S-ss wanted criminal that the Inquisition Bureau had spent considerable resources to capture, and Reba, had also been involved in the operation to capture Dailey in the past, so she naturally knew Dailey.


    If the person inside Prisci now was the Reba who had lost her memory, and if deep down in her consciousness, impressions of certain people and things still lingered, then in Reba''s eyes, Dailey would undoubtedly be someone to be wary of.


    This could also exin the unfounded sense of trust that the current "Prisci" held towards him.


    "Dailey, please step aside to the wall, I''ll have a word with her,"


    Aiden gestured for Dailey to move away from the door, then beckoned Prisci.


    Seeing this, Prisci got off the bed and cautiously approached the gate, feeling as if on a thin ice.


    "Um..." She hesitated, unable to recall how to address Aiden in this situation.


    "Call me Warden," Aiden reminded her.


    "Um... good evening, Warden," Prisci greeted Aiden softly, nodding almost imperceptibly.


    It was evident she wasn''t quite ustomed to this title, and she might not even have a clear understanding the concept of the "prison" she was in.


    "Do you not want to stay in this room?" Aiden asked her directly.


    Prisci cast a careful nce at Dailey, who stood with folded arms by the wall, and replied softly, "No..."


    "Why do I feel like she''s unnaturally scared of you..." Franda''s also noticed Prisci''s unease and looked suspiciously at Dailey inside, "You haven''t done anything strange to her, have you?"


    "How could that be?" Dailey sighed, trying to approach Prisci, "Alright, Prisci, don''t be so nervous. I''m Dailey, truly your friend from before. I won''t harm you..."


    She reached out to touch Prisci''s shoulder, but Prisci flinched and pulled away, saying, "Don''t! Don''t touch me! Or else, I won''t be polite!"


    She even made a threatening expression, resembling an angry cat with its fur standing on end.


    "It''s really strange, what could be the problem?" Dailey pondered, unable to figure it out.


    "Please let me change rooms..." Prisci softly requested Aiden.


    "You''ve just recovered from a serious illness, with no memory, living alone is simply not convenient. And It''s rare to find someone willing to protect you here. You''re already lucky. Don''t be too stubborn! This prison area is full of ruthless individuals. Who else do you want to room with?" Franda impatiently advised Prisci.


    "Um..." Prisci thought for a moment, then hesitantly raised her hand and pointed at Aiden.


    "Me?" Aiden raised an eyebrow.


    "I feel like I can trust you," Prisci said confidently.


    "Prisoner 3397, don''t be unreasonable!" Franda immediately reprimanded Prisci.


    "It''s not impossible. Should I let you out now?" Aiden suddenly responded.


    "Exactly!" Franda instinctively agreed, then paused, "Huh?"


    "Warden!?" She turned abruptly to look at Aiden, with a look full of surprise on her face.


    "It''s fine, go ahead and let her out," Aiden signaled for Franda to open the door.


    Franda hesitated for a while but eventually opened the cell door as instructed, allowing Prisci to step out.


    "Warden, what are you..." Even Dailey was a bit stunned.


    "Don''t worry, for today, I''ll take charge of her," Aiden reassured them with a wave of his hand.


    "Wow! Lord Aiden, you''ve finallye around!" a surprised exmation came from room thirteen across the corridor.


    The Subus Fei leaned against the bars, gazing intently at Aiden, her tail wagging excitedly.


    "Lord Aiden, I want toe too! Let me join in!! Since you''ve found one already, why not add me too!!" She grabbed the bars, bouncing up and down enthusiastically, urging Aiden.


    Aiden turned his head, "Well, I was just about to call you. Come out as well."


    "Oh, don''t say that..." Fei habitually tried to be persuasive, but then realized something was off, "Huh?"


    She stared at Aiden in disbelief, her expression one of astonishment.


    "I said youe out too, Franda, open the door for her," Aiden instructed his subordinate.


    "Warden? Are you serious!?" Franda sought confirmation from Aiden.


    "No problem, open the door for her," Aiden insisted.


    Franda, with a head full of question marks, opened the cell door, and Fei immediately sprang out like an arrow, "Lord Aiden!!"


    Aiden swiftly maneuvered behind Prisci as Fei lunged forward and embraced a bewildered Prisci.


    "Tsk! Wrong target!" Fei realized her mistake and roughly pushed Prisci away.


    "Behave yourself!" Aiden warned Fei timely, pressing down on her as she tried to lunge forward again.


    "Got it, got it, let''s wait till we are in your office, right?" Fei said eagerly, "No problem! I can hold back a little!"

 Chapter 118:

    Chapter 118:


    <b>Charm</b>


    "Huh? Eh? Etto...." Dailey standing in front of the door, lost in confusion as she watched Aiden led the two away,


    The other prisoners exchanged looks, unsure what had gotten into the warden today.


    "Wow, lucky that the wolf girl isn''t here tonight, or she''d probably go berserk seeing this..." Carmi muttered to herself, gripping the railing as she watched the scene unfold.


    As Aiden and his group passed by the door, she immediately teased him with a smirk, "Hey hey, Boss, having fun today, huh! How about counting me in?"


    "Oh, there''s no need for you, stay in your cell," Aiden replied nonchntly, without even looking at her.


    "Why not!?" Carmi immediately challenged, "Wait for me! Where am Ickingpared to them!? I can''t ept this!"


    The remaining prisoners was stunned as they watched Aiden walk towards the main gate, including those who had cursed Aiden the most fiercely just moments ago.


    This was supposed to be a perfect opportunity to vent their anger at Aiden, but at this moment, they were all struck dumb, unable to utter a word.


    These cowardly prisoners, who usually bad-mouthed Aiden, did so on the assumption that he would stick to the rules in prison, confident that a few insults towards the guards from behind bars wouldn''t result in serious punishment, giving them the courage to do so."


    However, if Aiden were actually a corrupt tyrant abusing his power, they would instead be wary, each fearing for themselves, afraid of drawing his attention with a momentary verbal jab.


    "Warden, what exactly are you nning?" After leaving the core area, Franda leaned in close to Aiden, and asked in low voice.


    "Don''t worry, I just want to use our mascot''s abilities to verify something," Aiden replied casually.


    "Verify?" Franda was still puzzled.


    In the blink of an eye, Aiden led the two out of the core area and into his office.


    As soon as the door closed, Aiden began to exin to Fei, "I brought you here to help me with something... Hey, listen to me, don''t start undressing! Do you hear me!"


    (TN: (   ) )


    Seeing Fei starting to unbutton her clothes, Aiden immediately stopped her sternly.


    Fei paused, "Oh? Does Lord Aiden prefer me to keep my clothes on?"


    "Forget it! I brought you here for a serious matter!" Aiden scowled at her.


    "Oh my, even at this point, Lord Aiden still pretends to be serious!" Fei teased Aiden, "I''m open to any kind of y you like!"


    "What... What are you nning to do?" Prisci cautiously interjected, looking utterly bewildered.


    Fei turned to scrutinize Prisci, a malicious smile suddenly appearing on her face, "Hmm, I see now. Just by looking at your eyes, it''s clear you''repletely clueless. Lord Aiden, you have a good eye; these naive types are the most trainable."


    She eagerly wiggled her fingers, "Don''t worry, Lord Aiden, give me five minutes, and I''ll make herpletely unable to leave you!"


    "What are you nning!?" Prisci immediately felt a sense of crisis, wariness filling her towards Fei.


    "Hehehe, don''t be nervous, I''ll make you veryfortable soon!" Fei stared at Prisci like a predator eyeing its prey, emitting a lecherous chuckle, "Come on, Lord Aiden, you grab her from behind first!"


    Aiden raised his hand expressionlessly and delivered a p to the back of Fei''s head.


    "Ouch! That hurts!! What are you doing?!" Fei cried, holding her head and tearfully addressing Aiden.


    "Don''t just go wild here by yourself. Who''s in charge here, you or me?" Aiden red menacingly, pointing to a corner of the room. "Go over there! And do not to talk or move till i tell you... And You''d better not even breathe too loudly!"


    After a moment of silence, Fei blinked at Aiden, "Role-y?"


    "No! And, no, talking!" Aiden enunciated each word sternly.


    Fei pouted discontentedly and reluctantly went to stand in the corner.


    Aiden sighed, dealing with a subus who suddenly shifted into high gear was truly exhausting.


    He turned to Prisci and pointed to the recliner by the side of the desk  his usual spot for napping, "Go lie over there."


    "Um..." Prisci nced at Fei standing in the corner, showing a hesitant expression.


    "Don''t worry, with me here, she won''t dare do anything to you. I won''t harm you, trust me," Aiden said earnestly.


    "Okay." Prisci visibly rxed, moving over to the recliner and settling in.


    "Fei, it''s your turn now. Unlock the spellcasting permissions, now use hypnotism to put her to sleep," Aidenmanded Fei.


    Using hypnotism to induce rapid sleep was one of the subus race''s innate abilities.


    Fei furrowed her brow in confusion but didn''t question further. She obediently approached the recliner, reaching out to lightly touch Prisci''s head as if giving her a gentle massage.


    Prisci tensed momentarily, but Aiden reassured her, "It''s okay, rx."


    As Prisci eased into a state of rxation, Fei''s hypnotism quickly took effect.


    Prisci fell under the spell of drowsiness; her eyelids began to droop, and within moments, she drifted into a deep sleep.


    "Alright, shall I undress her now?" Fei looked up at Aiden for approval. "Forgive me for being frank, Lord Aiden, but what''s the point of this lifeless y? Shall I teach you some -"


    "Shut up!" Aiden cut her off before she could continue, "Next, I need you to guide me into her dream. Can you do that?"


    "Ah, got it!" Fei nodded in understanding, "You do seem to enjoy ying in dreams!"


    "Stop your nonsense! If you keep spouting lewd jokes, I''ll throw you in solitary confinement!" Aiden was getting fed up with the subus. "Listen carefully, this prisoner haspletely lost her memory due to a spell, and I hope to use your abilities to explore her dreams for clues. Do you understand?"


    "...." Fei remained silent for a while, then suddenly looked disappointed, "Just that?"


    "Just that," Aiden confirmed.


    "Huh? That''s so boring! I was looking forward to more!!" Fei immediately pouted in dissatisfaction, then began to incite Aiden, "It would be a shame to miss such a rare opportunity. Since time is not an issue, Lord Aiden, why don''t we do something fun first..."


    "Don''t be ridiculous" Aiden started to scold Fei but then froze.


    Fei was staring intently into his eyes, her own eyes emitting a purple demonic light.


    "Hehe,e on..." Fei''s face lit up with a triumphant smile as she exerted her full power, using her advanced subus charm on Aiden.

 Chapter 119:

    Chapter 119:


    <b>Do You Have Any Last Words?</b>


    "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Missing it would be unforgivable!" This was Fei''s current thought.


    Being locked up in prison, and unable to absorb male essence, was truly unbearable for a subus like her.


    Moreover, she could seize this chance to firmly grasp the warden...


    Although the charm effect wouldn''tst long, as long as she could catch his weakness during this period, she could effectively control him in a long-term.


    Even though this time she only had a one-year sentence, looking ahead, she might end up back in this prison multiple times.


    Although taking action against the warden posed significant risks, the anticipated benefits were substantial. Once she controlled this man, whether it was sentence reduction, privileges, or male essence, everything would be within easy reach in this prison.


    This time, unlike the previous encounter in the infirmary, there was no one to interrupt him. The opportunity to be alone with Aiden, while holding the permission to cast spells, might not present itself again.


    A subus''s charm could fully trigger someone unique desires, and it has a strong effect especially on the opposite sex.


    For top-tier subi like Fei, a brief eye contact moment could paralyze a man''s body, and gradually eroding his consciousness. Aiden was already immobilized, and was struggling in his mind, but he likely unable to hold out for long.


    Hehehe, it''s alright, my dear warden. After all, you won''t lose out! A fine man like you, when caught, needs to be thoroughly drained to be considered a qualified subus!


    Thinking of what was about to unfold, Fei couldn''t help but feel ted.


    However, Aiden''s face suddenly contorted as if melting, shocking Fei, who gasped in disbelief.


    Aiden''s features rearranged, his hair rapidly growing as his body underwent a transformation.


    In the blink of an eye, he used physical Transformation to turn himself into a woman.


    "Eh?" Fei was taken aback, and the next moment, Aiden''s hand was around her neck.


    "Alright, Inmate 3307, revoke spellcasting privileges!" the transformed Aiden coldly stated. "You dare to act like this, are you tired of living?"


    A subus''s charm is based on triggering specific desires. Once gender transformation disrupts the physiological effects, even temporarily, the charm effectiveness will diminishes significantly. After the transformation, Aiden immediately regained control over his body.


    Fei keenly felt her magic being sealed once again. Aiden was the master of this prison, and capable of invoking the power of the barriers with a singlemand.


    "Ugh!" While Gasping for air from being choked, Fei frantically patted Aiden''s arm in surrender.


    Only then did Aiden release her. Fei, recovering from the choking, looked at Aiden in disbelief and asked, "Lord Aiden, how did you... turn into a woman?"


    "Do you think I had no defenses against you? I''ve been prepared for your ambush since you entered this room. You didn''t disappoint me," Aiden sneered.


    "Could it be that you did this on purpose?" Fei suddenly realized.


    Aiden''s requests were all legitimate tasks. Even bringing a couple of guards as escorts was reasonable. He could have even transformed into a woman beforehand. However, the warden deliberately arranged this private meeting to test her...


    "After Gaining the ability to resist the charm, i always wants to practice it and also test your honesty," Aiden calmly remarked.


    "Oh, I see, Lord Aiden, you''re really setting a trap here, haha..." Fei forced a smile,ughing awkwardly.


    "Yes, hahaha..." Aiden also put on a "friendly" smile.


    "Ahahaha..."


    "Hahaha... Anyst words?"


    "I''m really sorry!! I won''t dare do it next time!!"


    The awkwardughtersted for a few seconds. Aiden''s expression changed instantly. He picked up a gun, checking the bullets, while Fei immediately prostrated herself on the ground.


    "Thinking of a next time, huh?" Aiden waved the gun in his hand. "Attacking guards in prison, quite bold."


    "I didn''t attack! I just..." Fei stood up, quietly exining with her fingers, "I just couldn''t resist anymore and wanted to do a ''something good''! Just seduction! Seduction isn''t an attack, right?"


    "You sure have a talent for throwing a bulshit," Aiden chuckled, slightly amused. "Regardless, even without additional punishment, what you just did could easilynd you in solitary confinement for over a week. Do you understand your situation now?"


    "I know, I belong to you now, you can do whatever you want to me..." Fei replied pitifully.


    "Don''t start undressing yourself while talking! Are you not done yet?! Get up, I need you to do your job properly, no tricks, understood?" Aiden was on the verge of losing his patience.


    "Tsk..." Fei pouted and reluctantly got up. "Got it!"


    Half a minuteter, they brought chairs and sat side by side next to the soundly sleeping Prisci, preparing to enter Prisci''s dreams.


    When Veronica was imprisoned, Fei had once analyzed Veronica''s subconscious by entering her dreams. This made Aiden realize the potential applications of the subus''s abilities, prompting him to use Fei''s powers this time.


    The subus''s ability to materialize dreams and subconscious thoughts is a remarkably powerful psychological and mental analysis method. However, currently, very few reputable institutions are willing to acknowledge the subus''s talent, let alone utilize it effectively.


    "Come on, Lord Aiden, please take my hand," Fei raised her hand.


    Aiden skeptically examined her hand.


    "Oh,e on, I won''t do anything like that again, you''ve even turned into a woman, what else can I do to you? This is necessary for the spell!" Fei pouted.


    Aiden then ced his hand into the subus''s hand in front of him.


    Fei extended her other hand, and touched Prisci''s forehead, maintaining the contact for over ten seconds. Suddenly, Aiden felt the surroundings darken, and in the blink of an eye, they found themselves in a chaotic space, floating hand in hand.


    In front of them hovered a massive, damaged floor mirror, encased in countless chains that formed numerous seals on its surface. Within this vast mirror, only an extremely blurry figure was reflected, with the rest appearing empty.


    "What is this?" Aiden asked instinctively.


    "Didn''t you say she had amnesia? I directly dove into the deepestyer of her dream, her subconscious. This mirror is the gateway to her memories," Fei calmly replied.

 Chapter 120:

    Chapter 120:


    <b>Memory Fragments</b>


    "Does this mean we can see her memories through here?" Aiden asked Fei.


    "Yes, under normal circumstances, we subi can peek into others'' memories from here, finding what they like or fear and pulling it into the subconscious as material for constructing dreams," Fei'' replied. "But well, it''s impossible to precisely search for a specific memory. The amount of memory stored in a person''s mind is vast. Normally, even invading dreams only allows glimpses of a random small portion. Even the person themselves may have memories stored in their mind that they can''t recall momentarily."


    "Are her memories all stored here? Not erased?" Aiden inquired.


    "Hmm, the memories are rtively intact, just sealed," Fei assessed the mirror in front of her. "I think she might have lost her memory due to some kind of mental spell."


    "She''s Hit the nail on the head..." Aiden thought, realizing he hadn''t told her the reason for Prisci''s amnesia.


    "You can tell from this?" Aiden asked.


    "Of course. If memory loss is due to brain damage or an illness leading to direct memory loss, the memory gateways we see would bepletely shattered. But now, what we see is that the memories are rtively intact, just that their ess has been blocked, unreadable, like this," Fei pointed at the chains sealing the mirror, "These chains are the spell for memory blockade, quite typical."


    The memories are there, just inessibleit sounds much like the kind of spell Melusine used on Evangeline before. Perhaps it''s from the same series of spells," Aiden spected.


    "So, unlocking these seals would restore her memory?" Aiden suddenly felt a glimmer of hope. "Can you unlock them?"


    "Can''t do that. I only enter dreams and materialize things from the depths of consciousness," Fei waved her hands, "This spell seems extremelyplex. The caster is probably quite skilled."


    Indeed, Prisci is a powerful witch known for her expertise in mental spells. Her meticulously crafted unique spells would likely be challenging to decipher with just a subus''s innate abilities.


    "Well then, what about the blurry figure in this mirror? Any insights, Master of Psychology?" Aiden continued questioning Fei


    "That should be her self-awareness," Fei replied without hesitation.


    "Self-awareness?"


    "When one''s self-awareness is materialized, it usually appears as this kind of reflection. After all, most people can only see themselves in a mirror and their self-image is stored in memory in this way," Fei exined confidently. "Her current vague figure indicates that her self-awareness is also blocked. Without unlocking this block, she won''t even remember who she is."


    Aiden turned to look at Fei, and suddenly sizing her up.


    Why are you sizing me up all of a sudden?" Fei noticed Aiden''s gaze, then happily covered her cheeks, "Are you finally starting to think about my body?"


    "Back off! I was just thinking that although you''re quite a headache, you do have real skills. Have you ever considered doing something legitimate?" Aiden said earnestly.


    Listening to Fei professional tone while conducting psychological analysis, Aiden surprisingly found her unexpectedly reliable for a moment.


    "What do you mean by something legitimate?" Fei tilted her head.


    "Such as... a psychologist?"


    "Hmm... if we''re allowed to absorb a bit of the patient''s vitality, then it might not be impossible..." Fei pondered seriously.


    "And how is that any different from your usual line of work?!" Aiden shook his head.


    This dog really can''t change its ways... Looks like she will probably have toe in again after being released."


    "I want to see her memories, any memory will do, as long as it can serve as a clue. Can you do that?" Aiden made a request.


    "essing the blocked core memories is impossible, but perhaps some fragments of memory can still be collected from the subconscious. asionally, people may see in dreams some memories or impressions they can''t recall in waking life. These stem from the scattered memories buried in the subconscious," Fei responded.


    "You can find them, right?" Aiden sought confirmation.


    "Hmph, Lord Aiden, your question is quite unnecessary," Fei confidently puffed out her ample chest. "I am the most powerful subus. In dreams, I am almost omnipotent. How could such a trivial matter be difficult for me?"


    "She''s getting cocky..." Aiden thought, but he didn''tment on it, just waved his hand. "Then let''s get started."


    "No problem." Fei suddenly snapped her fingers.


    The mirror in front of them began to emit a faint light. Simultaneously, in the depths of this chaotic space, scattered shes of light appeared, twinkling around them like stars.


    Fei waved her hand again, and the "starlight" swiftly gathered around them, floating in the air. Aiden then realized that these "starlights" were actually various sizes of mirror fragments, likely the so-called memory shards hidden in the subconscious.


    Randomly selecting a fragment, Fei attempted to read it. The fragment emitted a beam of light from her hand, projecting a blurry and indistinct image like a projection.


    She immediately discarded that shard and tried another, but the result was same.


    "What''s going on?" Aiden inquired.


    "Don''t rush, memories hidden in the subconscious are often very vague. Interpreting them urately is challenging even for the person themselves," Fei gestured for him to be patient.


    After some time, Fei finally managed to extract a memory shard that disyed a clear image. Surprised by what she saw, Fei eximed, "Huh? Lord Aiden!?"


    The image showed a figure that vaguely resembled Aiden, engaged in conversation within the scene.


    Aiden stared intently at the image, thinking that he had finally found what he was looking for.


    The "self" in the image was dressed in the attire of the Inquisition, clearly not a memory belonging to the witch Prisci. The consciousness residing in this body was indeed Reba''s!


    Just as he had anticipated, the amnesiac Reba felt a sense of closeness to him because a vague impression of him was stored in her subconscious.


    Fei continued to try several memory shards, uncovering numerous scenes featuring "Aiden," some engaging in conversation within the image while others observed from the sidelines, showing only profiles or silhouettes.


    "Wow! So many memories about you in her subconscious. Was this woman your former lover, or perhaps just someone who secretly admired you?" Fei pondered.


    "It''s Not me..." Aiden softly replied.


    The person Reba cared about must have been the previous owner of his current bodyand that man was already deceased.


    "That''s enough. End the intrusion now!" After a moment of silence, he instructed Fei.

 Chapter 121:

    Chapter 121:


    <b>Tracking</b>


    That night, Aiden set off from the Rose Prison, and heading towards the Inquisition bureau.


    After confirming that the "Reba" he had been in contact with was actually Prisci, he began to understand many things.


    The "Great Witch''s Token" was most likely swallowed by Reba, who was forced to switch bodies before her memories were sealed, in order to deliver crucial evidence to the Inquisition bureau.


    In a way, this act also saved Reba''s life. After sealing Reba''s memories and swapping bodies, Prisci could have simply killed the Reba trapped in her body to end it all.


    However, after Reba swallowed the token, Prisci''s options became limited. At that time, there was a whole team surrounding Prisci. If she killed Reba and her body fell into the hands of the Inquisition, once dissected, the token would end up with them.


    From then on, Prisci could only hope that Reba''s original body would be sent to the hospital due toplications from ingesting a foreign object, allowing her to use psychic spells to steal the token in transit to the hospitalsomething impossible to achieve at the heavily guarded Inquisition bureau.


    Yet, yesterday, the Inquisition dashed her hopes when they promptly sent this hot potato to the Rose Prison as soon as her symptoms appeared.


    Upon learning this, Prisci could only rely on the Rose Prison to transfer her to the hospital. She might have even monitored the prison for this purposeDailey familiar monitoring spell from before is also a psychic spell. If Dailey could use it, there was no reason why Prisci, who excelled in psychic spells, couldn''t.


    However, in the end, the Rose Prison also disappointed her expectations by showing no intention of sending her to a hospital. Overwhelmed, she had to personally visit the Rose Prison to inquire.


    She could hardly have imagined that the prison had a treatment n more professional than a surgical hospital, to directly removing the token. She even suspected that the prison might be aiming to let troublesome inmates perish.


    It''s no wonder she was so impatientst night, not even caring about her acting... Especially since it was the night of the full moon, the day when Abigail summoned other Great Witches. She probably wanted to use that opportunity to contact other witches for help.


    Furthermore, her reasons for wanting to transfer to work at the Rose Prison could also be fully exined, with two points that Aiden could think of.


    First, to escape from the Inquisition, her archenemy. She couldn''t perfectly impersonate Reba, and to make matters worse, Reba was a left-handed person, making it difficult for her to adapt to the body. Perhaps the initial choice to swap bodies with Reba was due to circumstances  this can be seen from the fact that she couldn''t stop Reba from swallowing the token, Thus, she had to use amnesia as an excuse to cover herself, but Harold still became suspicious.


    The second point was to seize the opportunity to rescue Dailey, who was captured several years ago. She did have a certain rtionship with Dailey, and she had always advocated for the witches at the witches'' gatherings to unite against the Inquisition. Not only that, rescuing Dailey could help her break free from her current situation.


    After confirming the truth of Prisci and Reba swapping bodies, Aiden immediately decided to inform the Inquisition and discuss the n to capture Prisci... which is now "Reba''s".


    While sending another guard out with a letter could ry the message, he had no tangible evidence to provide.


    Swapping bodies using psychic spells was a form of dark magic not documented in the Inquisition records. This was likely an original magic developed by Prisci. Besides, at thiste hour, Director Harold might not even be at the office. Whether to have the staff on duty notify Harold immediately or to persuade Harold to believe his deductions and mobilize forces, it seemed he would have to handle it personally in the end.


    At this moment, he once again felt the inconvenience of living in a world without smartphones. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have to make a special trip out sote at night...


    No..., to mention smartphones seems a bit too much to ask for. Even telephones are not widely used here; remotemunication primarily relies on letters and telegrams.


    Capturing a Great Witch ranked as an S-ss fugitive, such a dangerous task would naturally be best left to the professional at the Inquisition.


    Although the current Prisci, due to various constraints, might find it difficult to reach S-ss in terms of danger.


    Unlike Dailey''s spells, psychic magic is not particrly suited for direct confrontation. Previously, Prisci was considered an S-ss fugitive mainly because she could control dangerous magical beasts with psychic magic as her pets to guard her residence.


    But Now that she was trapped in Reba''s body and forced to impersonate her, inside the Silver City, her overall strength is likely significantly diminishedpared to when Reba led the team to besiege her.


    If they could capture Prisci, and seal her magic, there would be an opportunity to use hypnotism or even the dream infiltration abilities of Subi, to confirm the fact that she had swapped bodies with Reba.


    Of course, if she has not yet realized that her body swap has been exposed, perhaps they could deceive her into going to ces like the Rose Prison or the Inquisition, A locations with magical sealing barriers... or maybe, in her role as Reba, she might even head to the Inquisition herself, at which point they could catch her off guard.


    If only it could be resolved so easily...


    Just as he was thinking about this, Aiden suddenly felt a chill down his back halfway through his journey.


    He turned slightly, the dimly lit street empty under the streetlights.


    But just now, a shadow did sh under a streetlight about thirty meters away; someone was indeed following him.


    Wait, it''s not just one person, but twoone about fifty meters away.


    What was going on?


    Was it a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?


    But he quickly figured out what was happening.


    The one following him was likely Prisci.


    So, the other person should be the one Harold assigned to monitor Reba.


    There wasn''t much distance from the Rose Prison to the Inquisition, just a fifteen-minute walk, crossing two blocks.


    Most likely, they had been watching him since he left the Rose Prison or waiting somewhere along the route.


    In other words, Prisci had her eyes on him.


    Had she realized he had caught on to the truth? No, even if that wasn''t the case, Prisci must have her reasons for targeting him.


    Desperate to transfer to the Rose Prison, Prisci might consider going after him directly as the warden.


    For example... she might aim to seize his body this time and then directly rescue Dailey.


    Thinking about this possibility, Aiden calmed his mind.


    Fortunately... he had kept a card up his sleeve.

 Chapter 122:

    Chapter 122:


    <b>Ambush</b>


    While analyzing Prisci''s intentions for transferring to the Rose Prison, Aiden had already considered the possibility that Prisci might have set her sights on him after repeated setbacks, especially now that he had confirmed the powerful tool she held that can "seize" others body.


    Looking at it from her perspective, Prisci''s current situation was actually quite difficult. Not only had she lost the "Token of the Great Witch," but she also wanted to rescue someone from the Rose Prison while avoiding the Inquisition.


    If Aiden were in her shoes now, holding the weapon that can seize someone body, there were two possible courses of action he could think of.


    One was to find a passerby to swap bodies with and then escape the Silver City without a traceby changing bodies twice in a row, her magical intelligence would almost certainly be leaked.


    The other option was to take a risk, seize the body of the Warden of the Rose Prison when the opportunity arose, rescue Dailey, and then flee.


    In terms of benefits, thetter option was obviously more lucrative.


    If Prisci''s thinking went even further and she realized that he might have caught wind of the truth, then it would be even more imperative for her to act against him.


    Not to mention that the former Aiden was one of the targets Prisci had originally intended to eliminate.


    Of course, even if Prisci had resolved to kill him, it didn''t necessarily mean she had to strike tonight, just as he was about to leave the prison. Truth be told, while Aiden had considered this possibility before his departure from the prison, deep down, he felt the likelihood was not very high.


    Fortunately, he had notpletely overlooked this possibility and had decided to add an insurance policy for himself... no, strictly speaking, two insurance policies.


    Just like when dealing with the mobsst time, he had Dailey''s shadow demon and Arsena''s guardian spirit attached to himself beforehandsince it wouldn''t cost too much, this buff was not to be wasted; when it came to matters of life and death, it was wise to be cautious.


    In fact, the reason he could sense someone tailing him was that the shadow demon attached to his shadow detected a shadow that suddenly elerating towards him, and that shadow demon wriggling by his feet as a warning.


    With these two protections, Aiden estimated that his currentbat capabilities might even surpass Prisci''s. So, upon realizing he was being followed, Aiden remained rtively calm.


    Handing over the task of capturing Prisci to the Inquisition was the safest approach. However, if the situation escted to the point where he had to confront the other party directly, he would try to engage in a battle.


    The shadow demon had not detected the trackers earlier, indicating they hadn''t entered its range. Now that they werepletely within this range, it suggested the trackers were closing in on him.


    If the tracker was indeed Prisci, by now she should have noticed that he wasn''t heading home after work but heading towards the Inquisitionte at nightwhat this implied was self-evident.


    Therefore, this decrease in distance should be seen as a prelude to an attack; generally, dark magic bes more powerful as the distance decreases.


    If Prisci, the target was around thirty meters away, She was within the shadow demon''s range, and he could act to subdue her...


    No, it wasn''t certain yet that Prisci would strike at this distance; herck of action might just be caution.


    Prisci was definitely cautious of him. The tense demeanor she had during his sudden visit yesterday was vivid in his memory.


    Dailey''s shadow demon materialization assault was a purely physical attack method. Prisci, being a spellcaster, was entirely different from the mobs gunmen he had dealt with in the past.


    Gun-wielding thugs were not as frightening because they were limited to using guns. Once subdued on a physical level, they posed no threat.


    However, spellcasters were different. Skilled spellcasters could still cast spells silently even if their throats were gripped, meaning physical constraints did not eliminate their threat... unless they were killed directly.


    But Aiden couldn''t do that. If the tracker was indeed Prisci, then that body belonged to Reba.


    Capturing Prisci alive was necessary to unlock Reba''s memory block and switch bodies back.


    He needed to strike first and render the opponent unconscious immediately.


    As for the investigator Harold sent to monitor Reba, it was unlikely that the person could offer much help. Harold was unaware that the current Reba was Prisci; it was hard to imagine he would assign an elite inquisitor capable of dealing with a Grand Witch to such a task of rotating surveince.


    He had to rely on himself. There was a corner up ahead where he could make his move.


    With his decision made, Aiden immediately quickened his pace.


    As he had anticipated, he soon felt the person behind him also quickening their steps.


    Subsequently, Aiden turned the corner, momentarily vanishing from the tracker''s view. After taking a few steps, he stood against the wall, drew his pistol, and summoned Arsena''s guardian spirit.


    The shadow demon clearly sensed the closer tracker elerating towards him. Meanwhile, the more distant tracker, thoughgging slightly, also started to speed up.


    Here theye!


    Aiden fixed his gaze on the corner, watching as a figure suddenly darted out.


    The streetlight illuminated the person''s face... "Reba"!


    Prisci!


    Upon seeing Aiden pointing his gun at her and the massive spirit materializing before him, Prisci''s eyes widened.


    In a reflexive action, she reached behind her waist, but Aiden, who was prepared well in advance, was much quicker.


    Suddenly, a giant skeletal ghostly face emerged from under the ghostly cloak, opening its mouth to unleash a soul-shaking roar at Prisci.


    The "Specter''s Roar" at close range instantly drained Prisci''s eyes of expression, causing her to lose consciousness on the spot.


    Aiden promptly summoned the w of the shadow demon beneath her shadow, catching her to prevent her from copsing directly to the ground.


    Surveying the unconscious Prisci before him, Aiden breathed a sigh of relief.


    Good, it''s done.


    This sudden tracker catching up was indeed a bit unexpected, but fortunately, he was prepared.


    "Ugh!" A somewhat pained female voice came from Aiden''s direction.


    Aiden emerged from the street corner and, looking over, saw an unfamiliar woman standing not far away. She seemed disoriented, holding her head with one hand and themppost with the other, appearing as if she were dizzy or drunk.


    This woman should be the second tracker, Harold''s underling who was tasked with surveince, someone he didn''t recognize.


    Although still at a distance, she likely had also been affected by the Specter''s Roar.


    "Are you okay?" Aiden shouted to her, confirming her identity right away, "I am Aiden Garrod, the Warden of the Rose Prison and a former senior inquisitor of the Inquisition bureau. You are the person appointed by the Director to monitor Reba, correct?"


    "I''m fine..." The woman seemed to be recovering, cautiously observing the situation. "What was that just now?"


    "Don''t be rmed. My recent actions were to apprehend a suspect..." Aiden exined, ncing at Prisci, who was bound by the shadow demon.


    However, in that nce, he suddenly froze.


    Moments ago, he was facing Prisci directly, but now his perspective shifted to behind the unconscious Prisci.


    At Prisci''s lower back... there seemed to be a gun tucked there.

 Chapter 123:

    Chapter 123:


    <b>Cognitive Dissonance</b>


    A gun?


    Why would Prisci be carrying a gun?


    Aiden was momentarily perplexed.


    "Reba" was currently suspended and under continuous surveince by Harold''s people. Normally, she wouldn''t have had the opportunity to obtain a firearm.


    However, the silhouette revealed under the opponent''s upper garment unmistakably outlined a gun. Prisci had actually concealed a gun behind her, like an undercover agent...


    Wait, was the person he had just dealt with really Prisci?


    In a moment of doubt, the "illusion" unraveled.


    With just a blink, Aiden realized that the person before him had changed.


    Although he couldn''t see her face from behind, her hair color and length werepletely different from the "Reba" who had appeared before him just now.


    He... had actually "misseen"!?


    This hair color was the same as the investigator who had just appeared under the streetlight.


    Realizing something, he reflexively aimed the gun in his hand at the woman who had been standing under the streetlight just moments ago.


    As his vision shifted, the person under the streetlight had astonishingly turned into the "Reba" he had knocked down!


    "You''re two steps toote."


    "Reba," or rather Prisci, stood beneath the streetlight, giving him a triumphant, shallow smile.


    Almost reflexively, Aiden prepared to fire his gun, the situation having escted to the point where he could no longer consider minimizing harm to Reba''s body.


    But in the next moment, his field of vision suddenly twisted into an iprehensible jumble of code, and the sounds around him morphed into unrecognizable noise.


    Although he could still see and hear, his mind couldn''t process the sensory information.


    In the few seconds when Prisci had deceived him, he had fallenpletely under her mental spell.


    He could only instinctively fire the gun, but the demonic bullet that emerged barely grazed themp post. In his momentary mental and sensory disarray, Prisci had already dodged from in front of his gun barrel and swiftly circled around him, taking cover beside the unconscious observer.


    Panicked, Aiden attempted to summon shadow demons and guardian spirits for attack but received no response - his mental connection with these summons had been severed.


    Prisci stood beside Aiden, staring at him as if assessing a piece of fish on a cutting board.


    The "sensory disorientation," which made it impossible toprehend the sensory information, and the "mental block" that sealed off his mental and external sensing capabilities - the two mental spells she had cast on Aiden after closing in on him - rendered him unable to aim with his gun or use any magic beyond self-targeted spells.


    While Prisci was somewhat surprised by Aiden''s proficiency with demonic summoning and necromancy, ultimately, she emerged victorious.


    It was fortunate she had made extra preparations...


    In order to deceive Aiden and the monitors from the Inquisition, she employed a low-level mental spell called "Cognitive Dissonance."


    This spell simply amplifies the cognitive dissonance of "seeing something wrong at a nce" or "mishearing something for a moment." Those affected by the spell will mistake an object for something their subconscious believes they should see or hear instead.


    It''s like cing a cat inside a closed box, where the person under the spell, if they, for some reason, believe that a dog should be inside, upon opening the box, will see a dog. Even if they hear a cat''s meow, they will still misinterpret it as a dog''s bark.


    The effectiveness of this low-level spell is quite weak. Firstly, it requires aligning with the target''s mental habits to take effect. Secondly, as soon as the affected person bes aware of their mistake in seeing or hearing, the cognitive dissonance is immediately corrected. Therefore, it can only substitute simr objects and cannot be directly used face-to-face.


    However, precisely because it is a low-level spell with severe limitations and weak power, its casting range is much longer than those powerful offensive mental spells.


    She had long been aware of being monitored by the Inquisition. The rotating surveince personnel would regrly report back, and any tampering with them would immediately expose her.


    However, this time, when she resolved to make her move against Aiden, she decided to utilize the methods of this monitor.


    Initially, she and the monitor waited near a street close to the prison, using an animal familiar to monitor Aiden''s departure from the prison and his movements.


    Fortunately, the familiar she used happened to be a crow, which when flying over the streetlights, did not cast a shadow on the ground. Even Aiden, equipped with Dailey''s summoned shadow demons, failed to detect the animal surveince.


    Of course, being just an animal familiar, it posed no threat to him whatsoever. To attack Aiden, Prisci had to personally approach him.


    After confirming Aiden''s movements, Prisci set off to track him midway.


    At the right moment, she quickly distanced himself from the monitor, swiftly turning into an alley to conceal himself, and temporarily disappearing from the monitor''s view.


    When the monitor under the influence of the "Cognitive Dissonance" spell hastily caught up, she saw Aiden walking ahead.


    In that moment, she believed that the person she should see after turning the corner was her tracking target. So, under the spell''s effect, she mistook Aiden for "Reba," who Harold had ordered to be monitored, and didn''t search for her hidden tracking target, and instead she following closely behind Aiden.


    As the monitor began to tail Aiden, and closing in, Aiden sensed the pursuer and identified them as Prisci, who was intending to harm him.


    Using simple mental spells, Prisci induced a scenario where both individuals mistook each other for herself, engaging in a battle of wits and ambush. She seized the opportunity to be the hunter after the prey was caught.


    She didn''t have full confidence in confronting Aiden head-on, but she could swiftly close the distance and unleash powerful mental attacks unexpectedly when his attention shifted to the monitor, leveraging his cognitive dissonance.


    As it stands now, Aiden has lost all means of retaliation and is at her mercy.


    Next, all she needs to do ispletely seal his memories, then swap consciousness, and she will im his body!


    Prisci began casting her spell, and suddenly, Aiden felt countless cold, hard chains from the depths of his consciousness, like a swarm of snakes, targeting and entwining his memories, locking them away.


    His Memories began to blur - he realized he was about to meet the same fate as Reba.


    At this critical juncture, he frantically searched for any lifeline in his mind, until the strange divine incantation taught by Abigail suddenly surfaced in his consciousness.


    The divine incantation! Though unsure of the effects of uttering this divine phrase, this unknown effect was his only hope for salvation.

 Chapter 124:

    Chapter 124:


    <b>Divine Incantation</b>


    At this moment, Aiden felt his consciousness turn into a nk te, all other thoughts fading away, leaving only one resolve - to speak that divine incantation.


    His physical transformation naturally kicked in; he didn''t even need to recall it, his body reflexively shaping itself back to the state remodeled by the demon that had possessed him before.


    Somewhere deep in his subconscious, a voice seemed to call out to him, urging him to break free from the shackles of his mortal body and reach out to touch the power of the divine!


    Abigail''s imparted divine incantation surfaced in his mind, etched deeply like a brand.


    Subconsciously, Aiden opened his lips, uttering the words imbued with a power transcending that of mere mortals.


    Prisci, who had previously held the upper hand, suddenly felt this eerie sound infiltrate her mind, resonating like a deafening bell.


    As a great witch acknowledged by Abigail, she immediately recognized this was Abigail''s divine incantation.


    Due to having adapted to expressions through a certain method in the past, this divine incantation did not erode her spirit. Nevertheless, a profound tremor exploded within the depths of her consciousness.


    She could vaguely sense an invisible force attempting to tug at her consciousness, trying to detach it from this body that did not belong to her. Although this force had not grown to that extent, it undeniably existed.


    The extraordinary power contained within this divine incantation was indeed taking effect!


    This was amand, ordering all things in the world to revert to a "normal" state.


    "Sensory disorientation" deactivated, "mental blockade" deactivated, "memory seal" deactivated... In an instant, all the mental spells Prisci had cast on Aiden werepletely dispelled.


    As his vision cleared, Aiden abruptly turned around, fixing his gaze on Prisci.


    The Shadow Demon''s tendrils sprouted in an instant, tightly binding Prisci.


    Just as Aiden was about to call on his guardian spirit for further attacks, Prisci spoke, "I surrender! I surrender!"


    A moment of hesitation passed for Aiden. Eventually, he abandoned invoking the "Spectre Roar" and insteadmanded the guardian spirit to cast a sealing spell, "Ghostly Ensnarement," that capable of disrupting the target''s magical operations.


    He dared not easily believe that Prisci had truly given up the struggle, but he now had the capital to test her. The previous effect had proven that the divine incantation possessed a power surpassing Prisci''s mental spells.


    "The tactics just now indeed favored you, but ultimately, you lost due to luck," Aiden said, looking at Prisci. "Pleasure to meet you, Grand Witch Prisci."


    "So you''ve already found out..." Prisci chuckled mockingly. "About that divine incantation... No, Aiden Galord, why do you possess divinity?"


    (TN: Aiden Garrod -> Aiden galord)


    "You don''t need to know that. You only need to know that you have been captured," Aiden said slowly.


    "Will I be executed?" Prisci sneered.


    "If you are willing to voluntarily exchange with Reba, restore her to normal, and confess your crimes truthfully, you most likely won''t die," Aiden replied calmly.


    "Am I going to be thrown into prison by yourckeys for ten years? Twenty years? Or perhaps a lifetime?" Prisci shot a look of resentment. "Then I might as well go die now, swaping life for life with that damn superior inquisitor! Let her be sealed in that frail body forever, dying with a nk te of memory!!"


    "You really detest inquisitor... I heard you even voluntarily put a bounty on me?"


    Despite Prisci''s radical stance, Aiden remained calm. He had dealt with far more vtile inmates than her.


    Prisci harbored a significant degree of resistance towardsw enforcement, but convincing her to cooperate was necessary for Reba''s prompt recovery.


    While he could have handed Prisci over to the Inquisition for interrogation, personally, he doubted the Inquisition''s ability to approach the situation from the prisoner''s perspective. Additionally, the Grand Witch''s extreme opposition to the Inquisition made negotiations seem unlikely to yield positive results.


    Since he had apprehended Prisci this time rather than the Inquisition, he decided to have a direct conversation with her.


    Legally speaking, Prisci''s "identity" was now imprisoned; she was a prisoner of the Rose Prison. And Bringing Prisci''s soul back from outside the prison and returning Reba''s soul, which should not have been incarcerated, to her body, in some sense, fell within his duties as the warden.


    "You Inquisition are nothing butpdogs for the rulers. Ultimately, the countries that signed the Covenant just want to tightly grip power under government control. They''re so sickening that they''d exterminate anyone pursuing magic knowledge, good or evil, all in the name of justice!" Prisci ranted indignantly, ring at Aiden.


    "As the Grand Witch who aims to unite the Witch Gathering against the state, your ideas are indeed radical," Aiden chuckled. "But the reasons for managing dark magic aren''t as simple as you im. Before the Covenant was signed, the number of cases caused by dark magic was several times what it is now. Although in my opinion, the currentws have indeed swung a bit too far. This eracks inclusivity for witches like you, whose knowledge holds extraordinary value."


    "Now, that doesn''t sound like something aw enforcer should say, does it? Shouldn''t thew be sacred and invible?" Prisci retorted sarcastically.


    "Being sacred and invible is just a slogan to urge people to obey thew. After all, there can be no order without rules. It''s precisely because I''m aw enforcer that I should objectively examine thew. Laws alwaysg behind, and in any era or country, there has never been a truly perfectw. I respect rules but don''t worship them. Rather than sticking to conventions, I prefer to fulfill my will as much as possible within the framework of the rules."


    "Do you really intend to help me?" Prisci furrowed her brow skeptically.


    "I''m Not helping you, I''m nning to... make a deal with you," Aiden said earnestly, looking into Prisci''s eyes.


    "A deal?" Prisci still appeared doubtful. "You expect me to believe you?"


    "I consider myself a decent trading partner; let''s say it''s a rmendation from your friend," Aiden smiled, pointing to the Shadow Demon tendrils entwined around Prisci. "You know this one, don''t you? This is the Shadow Demon summoned by Dailey, at my disposal. She and I have maintained this kind of mutually beneficial transaction."


    Prisci was stunned for A moment


    "Let''s have a good chat in prison," Aiden adjusted his hat, "although I haven''t nned to offer you any other choices."


    12


    00:01:34


    App


    App

 Chapter 125:

    Chapter 125:


    <b>Let''s Make a Deal</b>


    "You are already captured now, and the intelligence about the spells has been leaked. Continuing to resist is not beneficial for either side," in the negotiation room, Aiden sat across from Prisci, separated by an iron table. "Simply put, if you restore Reba''s body and lift the seal on her memories, you can receive a lighter sentence. Of course, if you are willing toter make a deal with me to share research findings, I can also try to negotiate a reduced sentence for you."


    "Causing trouble for you is a great benefit for me," Prisci said, while crossing her arms, disying defiance. "And you want me to hand over my research? Do you know how much effort I''ve put into these studies?"


    "I can imagine," Aiden nodded. "After all, you have even developed such a terrifying spell as permanently seizing someone''s body. If one can freely take over another''s body, they can use that person''s identity tomit crimes at will. This poses a significant challenge to the existing order." Aiden tapped the iron table with his fingers. "By the way, I heard that you researched this spell to help witches evade pursuit by the Inquisition. You haven''t taught this spell to anyone else, have you?"


    "Of course not. This spell is still in a progress," Prisci retorted impatiently. "If it weren''t for the Chief Inquisitor pushing me to a corner, I wouldn''t have resorted to this tactic."


    "It isn''tpleted? It sounds like thepleted spell will be even more formidable than this one."


    "Of course, my goal is to have a spell that, after seizing someone''s body, can perfectly inherit their memories, knowledge, and skills. Unfortunately, there has been no progress beyond this point. If I could achieve that, I wouldn''t be in such a predicament now."


    Indeed, if Prisci could inherit Reba''s memories and abilities, there would probably be no need to use amnesia as an excuse. She could seamlessly portray Reba more naturally and avoid easy suspicion. Transitioning to Rose Prison would also be much easierjust like Aiden did.


    It''s true, Aiden is more familiar with the idea of seizing someone''s body and perfectly inheriting their memories, knowledge, and skills than anyone else.


    Upon hearing Prisci''s words, Aiden quickly began to ponder.


    He was be reborn in this body, inheriting the identity and abilities of the previous body''s owner, all due to Mephilia summoning effect. Mephilia imed to have left an "insurance" on the former Aiden, which brought him to this world.


    Now, it seems this so-called "insurance" is likely the effect of divine incantation. Mephilia''s disyed power is even stronger than what Prisci intended to achieve, as it can inherit even the memories of the deceased and even revive dead bodies.


    Mephilia has always imed to be the goddess of wisdom and conspiracy. Given Aiden''s limited understanding of her capabilities, this dominator should at least possess authority over the "mental" aspect.


    Dailey previously mentioned that human dark magic is essentially a degraded version of divine incantation. The authority corresponding to Mephilia powers is derived from spell deductions recorded in the "Book of Minds"


    In other words, Prisci is trying to use ck magic to recreate the effects of divine incantation as closely as possible... Does she know the relevant divine phrases?


    "Do you know the divine words of mental authority?" Aiden tried to ask.


    "You know as well?" Prisci stared intently into Aiden''s eyes. "No, could it be... you can use that divine incantation?"


    She couldn''t help but recall the divine phrase "Order" Aiden used on her. She had initially suspected that this phrase was taught to him by Abigail, especially considering that the "Grand Witch''s Token" she obtained that morning was damaged. It seemed likely that this man had infiltrated the gathering and been discovered by Abigail. Given Abigail''s inscrutable nature, she might manipte this man using divine incantation.


    However, this spection does not exin the divinity present in Aiden Galord, and from their recent conversation, he seems to have some understanding of the divine words of mental authority...


    Could it be that he has actually mastered the power of divine word all along? And perhaps not just one sentence...


    As Prisci pondered, a thought naturally emerged in her mind: This man is unfathomable.


    And to think about losing due to luck, is he mocking me?


    "While divine word is potent, it is not something everyone can master, but your developed spell is different. Bypletely inheriting the target''s memories, abilities, and identity, using this method could grant you endless life and knowledge. However, it also means erasing the other person from this world. You actually intend to teach this spell to other witches?" Aiden didn''t respond to Prisci''s question, and steering the conversation back.


    "Howe, are you suggesting I''m the one causing chaos?" Prisci sneered. "Trying to preach virtue to me?"


    "There''s no need to beat around the bush. Education and correction are for those who have a chance to reform. For someone like you, it''s more efficient toy out the pros and cons directly. As I said, I''m here to make a deal with you," Aiden said calmly.


    "To be honest, I have no intention of getting involved with yourckeys. Just the thought of it makes me nauseous," Prisci retorted bluntly.


    "You''re not dealing with the organization, you''re dealing with me personally. In my view, you are dangerous, and your skills are dangerous as well. However, I believe you must have other research findings that hold value for a trade. Make a deal with me. If you end up with the Inquisition, you won''t even have the chance to negotiate. What''s the point of a one-for-one exchange with a superior in the Inquisition? The Inquisition loses a senior inquisitor, but the Witches'' Gathering loses a Grand Witch. Who loses and who gains isn''t so clear-cut," Aiden continued to persuade.


    "So, you''re saying there''s a chance for me to get out of prison early?" Prisci inquired.


    "That depends on whether you''re willing to cooperate with me," Aiden replied.


    After a long silence, Prisci finally spoke, "I still can''t trust you. You mentioned dealing with Dailey, so bring her here to meet me in person. I want to confirm with her myself."


    "Of course," Aiden opened the door and issued instructions to the guard waiting outside.


    A few minutester, Dailey was brought into the room.


    "Dailey..." Seeing her long-lost friend, Prisci''s eyes widened slightly.


    "Here she is..."


    Aiden turned to look at Dailey, just as he was about to start a conversation with her, he suddenly felt a hint of confusiondailey expression clearly bore a touch of unease.


    "Warden," Dailey cautiously spoke to Aiden as she entered the room, "Although I do think you are a decent man, for this kind of situation... I would like to take some time to prepare myself mentally first."


    "Huh......" Aiden suddenly confused


    Advance Chapter

 Chapter 126:

    Chapter 126:


    <b>Missed by a Hair''s Breadth</b>


    "When we made the deal, you didn''t mention handing over my body to you. It''s not that I''m absolutely against it, but your sudden approach has me a bit nervous," Dailey hesitated, and ncing at Prisci but not recognizing her. "Is thisdy going with me as well? With four people in a day, Warden, aren''t you indulging a bit too much?"


    Huh?


    What is this woman saying?


    Aiden grew more bewildered as he listened.


    Initially, he had approached Dailey to persuade Prisci, but it seemed like the effect was somewhat....


    Sure enough, Prisci expression darkened visibly at an rming rate. "Is this what you call... a deal?"


    Aiden immediately stared at Dailey, "What the hell are you talking about?"


    "Um, didn''t you, bring that subus across from me and Prisci to your office?" Dailey asked in confusion.


    "You bastard, what have you done to my body!?" Prisci couldn''t hold back her outrage when hearing this, and forcefully trying to break free from the shackles that bound her to the chair. "Enough, I want to leave this ce! Let me out!"


    "Hey, don''t move! Sit down!" Aiden sternly addressed Prisci before turning back to Dailey. "Stop talking nonsense, I have a serious matter to investigate!"


    "Warden, why do you need to resort to such excuses? What investigation requires the use of a subus?" Dailey''s expression turned somewhat subtle.


    "I''m just borrowing her dream infiltration ability. Hasn''t she already returned to her cell? I instructed her to go back and exin things to the other inmates properly!" Aiden frowned slightly.


    "Huh?" Dailey looked surprised. "But what she clearly said was..."


    At that moment, Aiden finally realized the root of the problem.


    "What did she say?" Aiden disyed a "friendly" smile.


    "Eh?" Dailey paused for a moment, then realized what was happening. "Ah, so that''s it."


    "She came back saying, ''I''ll never forget the past hour of my life.''" Dailey covered her mouth with her hand. "She also mentioned that in one hour, you changed positions thirty-six times...".


    In an instant, veins bulged on Aiden''s forehead, who was still smiling.


    ...


    A minuteter, another person entered the interview room.


    Aiden stood with his arms folded, observing Fei who was sitting over with her head down, She tapped her finger at her arm as if counting down the time.


    After a moment of silence, he nodded at Fei. "Well done. It seems I underestimated your audacity for mischief. I must admit, none of the inmates in this prison who have challenged me have ruffled my feathers as much as you have. Last words, make them brief."


    "Hehe, I was just... just trying to boast a little, so I did a tiny bit of artistic embellishment," Fei gestured with her hand, showing "just a little bit." Sign.


    "I feel like I see a gxy between your finger," Aiden retorted coldly. "You''re clearly just stirring up trouble!"


    "Lord Aiden, It''s because you were neglecting me over there" Fei started to look pitiful, and pointing her fingers sadly. "Telling others that I was turned down after bragging up, how can I bear to speak of it? It''s about my dignity as a subus!"


    "You''re going to argue with me now, aren''t you?" Aiden red at Fei.


    "No, no, not at all!" Fei hurriedly showed weakness, and waving her hands repeatedly. "Lord Aiden, look, I helped you out a bit. You didn''t lose out, did you?"


    "My reputation is damaged, I am losing out," Aiden coldly cut her off.


    "But I also helped you earlier with my abilities, so doesn''t that bnce things out? Let''s just pretend nothing happened, okay?" Fei spread her hands and with a smile on His face trying to smooth things over.


    "You want to settle scores with me, huh? I haven''t forgotten your attempt to charm me earlier! Your actions merely offset that, but we still need to settle the matter of spreading rumors." Aiden didn''t let her off the hook.


    "Alright then, I''ll ept the punishment!" Fei sighed as if resigned. "Whether it''s a whip, candles, or a triangr horse, I can handle anything..."


    Aiden looked at her coldly and pronounced each word slowly, "Solitary confinement."


    ..........


    "No!!!!!!!!!" Fei cried out in despair as two riot officers grabbed her, one on each side, and dragged her towards solitary confinement.


    Aiden watched expressionlessly as they moved away, then turned back to the interview room, casually closing the door.


    "Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, let''s continue," he said as he sat down at the iron table, with Prisci and Dailey sitting opposite each other.


    "This prison is certainly lively..." Priscimented with aplex expression.


    "Now, you''re also wee to join our big family. I could arrange for you to share a room with that subus?" Aiden joked.


    "Let''s skip that," Prisci refused.


    "Warden, then why did you call me here?" Dailey lightly touched her lips with her fingertips, smiling alluringly at Aiden. "I''m a bit disappointed to find out it was all just a misunderstanding."


    "Keep pretending!" Aiden chuckled, remembering how nervous she had been earlier. "I called you here to meet an old friend."


    "An old friend?"


    "It''s better if you exin it to her," Aiden gestured towards Prisci.


    "Alright." Prisci turned to the surprised Dailey. "Nice to see you, Dailey. I never expected to reunite with you in prison. I was actually nning to rescue you. It''s me, Prisci."


    After a few minutes of exnation, Dailey finally understood the situation. "So that body actually contained a senior inquisitor, no wonder she resisted me. I didn''t expect you, Prisci, to cast such powerful spells..."


    "I also didn''t expect you to make a deal with that Aiden Galord, letting him ce that demonic contract on you and giving the summoned shadow demon for him..." Prisci asked seriously. "Is he really worthy of such trust?"


    "From my personal assessment..." Dailey nced at Aiden and smirked, "He is a man who follows the rules. At least, I''m quite satisfied with him."


    prisci looked at Aiden, who opened his hands to her. "So, you must be reassured now, right?"


    After much contemtion, Prisci finally relented. "Alright, since Dailey has said so, I''ll give it a try. It''s not entirely impossible."


    "Very well, then let''s proceed to switch bodies with Reba..." Aiden breathed a sigh of relief.


    At this moment, Prisci added, "But I have a condition."

 Chapter 128:

    Chapter 128:


    <b>The Divine incantation</b>


    Late at night, after settling various matters, Aiden arrived at the dungeon beneath the office.


    Upon opening the massive prison door, Aiden discovered that Mephilia was not asleep as usual but was staring at him with her silver-gray eyes wide open.


    "I''ve been waiting for you, my warden," she grinned at Aiden.


    "You knew I woulde to find you?" Aiden wasn''t surprised.


    "Oh, of course, because you and I are connected..." Mephilia said in a teasing tone.


    But Aiden didn''t take it as a joke. "I say, can you read my mind?"


    He had long felt that Mephilia possessed some ability to gather external information and suspected she might have the power to read minds.


    "Don''t worry, mind-reading is indeed one of the powers of spiritual authority, but being sealed by the Holy Nail, I can''t use it now. So as I said, we are just connected in spirit. You shouldn''t be able to see it, right? There''s an invisible red thread between us, hahaha..." Mephilia teased Aiden.


    It seemed she was unwilling to exin any further, but Aiden could at least confirm that there was some peculiar connection between Mephilia and him. This connection might have been established when he was summoned to this world, likely a result of the corresponding effects of divine words.


    He could vaguely sense that even when he was outside the dungeon, Mephilia could still "observe" him through this connection.


    However, from Aiden''s experience, it seemed that Mephilia did not know everything he knew. This "observation" was not at the level of constant monitoring.


    "I can tell you have a lot of questions. So Let''s skip the games today. Ask whatever you want to know," Mephilia calmly brought up a serious topic.


    After a moment of silence, Aiden, who had been through a lot in the past few days, resolving the issues with Reba and Prisci, infiltrating the witches'' gathering, learning about divinity and divine words....., and the Blood Moon Cult....


    He indeed had many questions. But the question he most wanted to ask was, "The divinity on me, it''s from you, isn''t it?"


    "Of course. Happy about it? You''ve always carried my ''initial gift.'' Knowing about divinity also means..." Mephilia narrowed her eyes suddenly, "You have mastered the Divine incantation, right?"


    "Divine incantation? Does that thing actually have such a specific term?" Aiden asked back.


    "Yes, the thirty-six sentences of the Divine incantation representing the authority of dominion, each sentence symbolizing a unique power," Mephilia said joyfully. "The fact That you could master it, truly hasn''t disappointed me."


    Why are you so happy? Why did you give me divinity? Aiden asked bluntly.


    Facing this question, Mephilia just raised an eyebrow, "Have you ever raised a pet?"


    Aiden responded instantly, "i see."


    Mephilia shed a knowing smile.


    Aiden understood that Mephilia intention was simply to nurture him with divinity as one would feed a pet, like humans feeding goldfish, lizards, or insects, treating them with food, considering them lower beings.


    Having been fed divinity, Aiden could sessfully grasp the Divine incantation. For Mephilia, it was undoubtedly enjoyable to observe a pet rapidly grow after feeding it.


    Although this notion was somewhat unpleasant, Aiden did benefit from the situation, so he remained silent. After all, in Mephilia eyes, humans like him were just insignificant creatures; he was well aware of that.


    "So, which sentence of the Divine incantation have you mastered? Tell me about it," Mephilia asked.


    "It''s a sentence that disperses magic and automatically tidies up a things," Aiden answered.


    Aiden chose not to reveal the specific sentence of the Divine incantation, and only briefly summarizing its effects. He wasn''t certain if disclosing it to Mephilia would pose any danger.


    "Ah, I see. It''s the ''Return'' from the ''Order,''" Mephilia immediately understood. "This incantation can return all things altered by external forces to what the dominator deems ''normal.'' However, with your current level of divinity, you can probably only dispel simple magic, repair minor damages, and tidy up a room to some extent."


    "Does higher divinity result in stronger effects of the Divine incantation?" Aiden extracted this information from Mephilia words.


    "You''ve got it half right. It''s more about mastering a greater number of the same category of incantation, which brings you closer to the corresponding authority of those incantation, making their effects stronger," Mephilia exined slowly. "However, the limit of how many incantation an individual can fully master is determined by the level of divinity. For example, even if you were to learn a second incantation, due to limited divinity, you wouldn''t be able to unleash its full effect."


    "This sounds a bit like... skill points?" Aiden drew parallels to simr concepts.


    (TN: sounds like skyrim Fus Ro Dah)


    "Yes, you could say that," Mephilia agreed with the analogy, as Aiden had yed tabletop games with RPG elements with her before. Hence, she could grasp the concept. "Like skill points, you can allocate the acquired divinity to the mastered incantation. The more incantation you need to master within the same category, the more divinity is required."


    Aiden began to grasp the idea. An individual''s divinity was akin to skill points, with each Divine incantation representing a skill. incantation of the same category could form a skill tree, requiring higher skill points to progress deeper into a segment of the tree. Simultaneously, each skill level on that tree would increase. If one could illuminate an entire segment of the skill tree...


    As if reading Aiden''s thoughts, Mephilia continued to provide more information.


    "If one can collect all the incantation of a category, and then meet certain conditions, the individual can ascend to the rank of dominator. How about it? Interested? This is the path to divine ascension and glory," Mephilia suddenly added an encouraging tone.


    "It would be false to say I''m not interested at all, but this whole thing sounds very troublesome," Aiden replied.


    The Divine incantation... divinity...


    The witches'' gathering and the Blood Moon Cult, these two dangerous groups were clearly aiming for this so-called path to divinity. Aiden believed there were probably many simr organizations in this world. Honestly, he wanted nothing to do with such matters.


    "But you''re already deeply entangled in this trouble, aren''t you?" Mephilia smirked slyly. "Don''t forget how your predecessor died."


    "I see." Aiden nodded. "Would that person... also be able to use the Divine incantation?"

 Chapter 127:

    Chapter 127:


    <b>Blood Moon Cult and Witch Gathering</b>


    Two hourster, in the infirmary.


    "This time, I owe you a great deal," Reba bowed her head in self-me towards Aiden, "It''s all because of my inadequate abilities that I was pushed into such a situation by the witch, and causing you so much trouble."


    "You shouldn''t put it that way. If you hadn''t swallowed that pendant, I wouldn''t have been able to catch her," Aiden nced at Prisci, who was sitting up in the hospital bed.


    Prisci turned her face away with a displeased expression.


    This was the truth. If Reba hadn''t swallowed Prisci''s grand witch token, Aiden wouldn''t have obtained it, and he naturally wouldn''t have been able to infiltrate the grand witch''s gathering or receive Abigail''s teaching.


    If it hadn''t been for that word that could turn the world upside down, he would probably have been yed to death by Prisci. Not to mention that if the token had been in Prisci''s hands, she could have sought help from other witchesst night.


    In other words, Prisci''s capture, to some extent, was all thanks to Reba''s desperate struggle at thest moment.


    "No need to be so modest. You caught the criminal I couldn''t catch, that''s a fact. I''ve always seen you as my target. When you transferred to work in the prison and I became the senior inquisitor, I thought I had finally surpassed you. Now it seems that you haven''t lost your touch at all. It''s actually me who has been standing still," Reba expressed her heartfelt admiration as she looked at Aiden.


    "I''m not being modest; I''m speaking from the heart," Aiden shrugged, "Is your body back to normal with no issues? Do you need some time?"


    "It''s fine..."


    As Reba was about to say Prisci suddenly interjected from the side, "Hmph, feeling something is off is also normal. After all, these days I''ve been using your body to lure a man or two..."


    Reba was instantly frightened by these words, her face turned pale, and she instinctively patting herself up and down.


    "Don''t let her lead you astray; she''s deceiving you," Aiden calmly warned, "Her acting skills are so poor that Director Harold has long suspected her and having her monitored."


    "Really?" Reba still seemed a bit unsure.


    "There, the person in charge of monitoring tonight. Once she wakes up, you can ask her,"


    Aiden pointed towards the investigator lying unconscious on another bed.


    "Oh, I remember her... She''s A neer from the Third Squad" Reba recognized the person, "What happened to her?"


    "It''s nothing, just got caught up in the fight between me and Prisci, nothing serious. She should wake up in a few hours," Aiden exined to her.


    "If she''s under Prisci''s mental attack, couldn''t you just release her from it?"


    "Uh... no, it was my idental injury," Aiden scratched his brow somewhat sheepishly.


    If he hadn''t used a powerful move like "Spectre Roar" to strike, this rookie investigator wouldn''t have ended up unconscious in bed for half a day.


    "Huh?" Reba was quite surprised.


    "There was a slight mishap, When I captured Prisci. Don''t worry, I''ll handle it here. Once she wakes up, I''ll exin things to her. Tomorrow, we''ll go to the office to report the situation. So, for tonight, you..." Aiden gave Reba an inquiring look.


    "It''s fine, I can go home by myself," Reba nodded at Aiden.


    "I''ll walk you a few steps?"


    "No need, you''ve helped me enough," Reba waved her hand repeatedly, "I can walk back on my own. After all, I''m a inquisitor. it''s not dignified, If I need someone to apany me on the night road."


    "Alright, take care then," Aiden signaled for a guard to escort her outside the prison.


    When she reached the door, Reba suddenly stopped and turned back.


    "Aiden... no, Senior," she added a touch of respectful tone, "Are you free this weekend? I''d like to... treat you to a meal as a thank you."


    "Sure, I look forward to it," Aiden agreed.


    After Reba left, Prisci immediately spoke to Aiden, "You haven''t forgotten about the promise you made to me, have you?"


    Aiden nced at her, "let''s go to the room inside."


    Aiden led Prisci into a room within the infirmary, and closed the door.


    "So..." Prisci took a seat on a bed, crossing her legs, "Regarding what I mentioned, how much do you actually know? I''ve fulfilled your request. Don''t tell me now that you know nothing."


    "How did youe to know about the Blood Moon Cult?" Aiden stared into Prisci''s eyes and asked.


    Half an hour earlier, Prisci had presented a condition to Aiden:


    "There was a cult that vanished without a trace five years ago, called the ''Blood Red Full Moon,'' which was active in this country at the time. I suspect that the Inquisition here must have had contact with them. I want to know their whereabouts, or any information at all."


    Upon hearing Prisci''s request, Aiden was genuinely shockedPrisci was actually investigating this cult, that deeply connected to him and Mephilia.


    "Hey, you asked me to switch our bodies back earlier, and I did it first. Now, it''s your turn to speak!" Prisci looked displeased.


    "Alright, but I can only tell you what I can. Five years ago, the Inquisition did indeed raid a base of a cult by that name. The cult itself has been destroyed, but its founder escaped and disapeared,"


    Aiden revealed some basic information, avoiding the most crucial and confidential details.


    "Destroyed? No wonder I couldn''t find anything no matter how hard I searched," Prisci pondered.


    "So, how did youe to know about this cult? Why are you looking for them?" Aiden inquired.


    "It''s nothing, this cult had a minor conflict with the Witch Gathering a long time ago. They once attempted to offer a bounty for three key figures in the Witch Gathering. However, after Lamia killed several assassins and bounty hunters sent by the cult, they backed off," Prisci exined lightly, "Abigail once revealed to us that this cult not only knows about the divine nature and divine words but also holds crucial information about ''spiritual'' authority... So I was intrigued and began investigating, but so far, I haven''t found any leads."


    "Oh? How did Abigaile to know about it?" Aiden asked with keen interest.


    Aiden was well aware that Abigail''s information was not unfounded. The Blood Moon Cult had indeed managed to sessfully summon the one who controlled the "spiritual" authority into this world, as that controller was currently imprisoned under his office.


    "Do you think I would tell you?" Prisci snorted, "So, since it was you who destroyed the cult... do they really possess such a thing?"


    "I don''t know. Even if I did, do you think I would tell you?" Aiden replied calmly, his expression unchanged.

 Chapter 129:

    Chapter 129:


    <b>A Body of Iron, a Traveller of Flowing Waters</b>


    Regarding the incident where "he" was killed, Aiden retains a memory of it, but this memory is very vague.


    He only remembers the person who killed "him," wearing the mask of the Blood Moon Sect, and piercing "his" heart with a shot during a fierce battle.


    In the Blood Moon Sect destroyed by the Silver City''s Inquisition, the core figures of the sect eithermitted suicide or were killed while resisting, with the only exception being the mysterious founder.


    The former owner of this body was a powerhouse capable of single-handedly capturing S-ss fugitives.


    At least from Aiden''s impression, the former owner of this body should have resisted at that time, or at the very least did not instantly lose the ability to resist when ambushed.


    Being able to defeat and kill a senior inquisitor like that, the founder of this sect undoubtedly possessed remarkable strength.


    The Blood Moon Sect not only used human bodies to summon dominators into this world but also attempted to target the three core figures with divinity in the Witch''s Gathering. Dailey mentioned that the three prominent figures in the Witch''s Assembly, Abigail, Lamia, and Chimera, all possessed divinity, and one way to acquire divinity was to extract it from the remains of other individuals with divinity.


    From this, it can be seen that the Blood Moon Sect likely also possesses information on divinity and divine words, and is actively collecting and gathering divinity and divine words.


    Therefore, the likelihood is high that the founder of that sect would use divine words.


    "Exactly," Mephilia gave a definite answer, "That person is not so simple; he is a saint who just one step away from the dominator''s authority."


    "A saint?"


    "The thirty-six sentence can be subdivided into the authority of twelve dominators, each with three sentence under them. Mastering all the sentence under the same authority can make one a saint. The power of each sentence can be elevated to the limit achievable by mortals, and that person has mastered the three sentence of the ''Hatred'' authority." Mephilia provided an exnation, "In other words, if you were to encounter him again, you would undoubtedly meet your end."


    "Is his goal to be a god then? Isn''t mastering all the divine words under one authority is enough to ascend to a Dominator? You mentioned earlier that there are additional conditions?" Aiden inquired further.


    "This is the crux of what I''m about to say. After mastering the divine words, one must obtain the corresponding ''authority itself'' to transcend the boundary between mortal and Dominator. To harness the power of the authority, one must fulfill the ceremonial requirements corresponding to each sentence under the authority. He did indeed acquire the authority but did not meet all the conditions for mastering it. And the remaining condition he needs to ascend to Dominator..." Mephilia smirked, "is to kill you."


    Aiden paused at this revtion, "But didn''t he already kill ''me'' once? Shouldn''t he be a Dominator by now?"


    "Of course not. You are here standing alive and well; how could that be considered a sessful kill?"


    Aiden pondered for a moment and suddenly realized, "You prevented his ascension, didn''t you?"


    The previous owner of this body did indeed perish at that person''s hands. However, the identity of "Aiden Galord" did not disappear because mephilia used her power to summon him into this world, and making him reborn within this body.


    In other words, due to his discement through time, "Aiden" continued to exist in this world, and the conditions for the other person to "kill Aiden Galord" were not sessfully met.


    "Misled indeed," Mephilia chuckled.


    "Does this mean he knows I''m still alive and will definitely attempt to kill me again?" Aiden pondered, stroking his chin. "But wait, it doesn''t make sense. So many years have passed, and there has been no sign of him at all..."


    Previously, he had believed that the person killed the former Aiden simply out of frustration after his cult was destroyed and the summoned goddess was taken away.


    After killing the previous Aiden, that person might not have been aware that Aiden was still living well in this city or that Mephilia was secretly ced underground in the Rose Prison, and still being watched over by "Aiden," hence why there had been no further attempts in these five years.


    However, from the information Mephilia just revealed, it was clear that the individual who killed "him" had a more specific and urgent purpose to kill him.


    If the founder of the Blood Moon Sect killed "Aiden" to ascend to Dominator status, upon realizing his ascension had failed after killing the former Aiden, he should have known that "Aiden" was still alive.


    Logically, that person should havee looking to finish the job.


    However, five whole years had passed without a single disturbance, and Aiden had not seen a trace of that person again.


    "There are many reasons, but primarily because he has realized that killing you again would be meaningless," Mephilia provided an answer. "The ''insurance'' I ced on this body is not a one-time deal."


    Aiden paused for a moment, then realized, "Could it be... after I was killed, another traveler would be reborn in this body?"


    "Yes, that''s right," Mephilia affirmed decisively. "Although I wield authority over the spiritual aspect, it doesn''t mean I''m clueless about the divine words under other authorities. In a sense, this body of yours can be considered immortal, just unable to achieve true resurrection. Each time you die..."


    "A new soul takes its ce?" Aiden continued.


    "Quite intriguing, isn''t it?" Mephilia chuckled.


    "Not really... So this was the reason you summoned me here," Aiden replied expressionlessly, thinking to himself, what kind of game is this? A body of iron, a traveler of flowing waters?


    "Mm, not entirely," Mephilia replied mysteriously. "In any case, you now realize your predicament, right? Although that guy may not be able to kill you right away, once he finds a way to permanently dispose of you, he will surelye back."


    "Such an important matter, and you''re telling me now?" Aiden stared intently into Mephilia eyes, feeling increasingly unable to read this goddess before him.


    "Even though I have a soft spot for you and hope you live a bit longer, it doesn''t mean I will hand-hold you through everything. What''s the point of having a pet that would die without its owner pampering it like a nanny?" Mephilia smiled indifferently. "This time, you came to me to learn the divine words of the gods, consider this information as your reward. Here''s a piece of advicemaster the authority of a Dominator, or your future demise will be quite grim."

 Chapter 130:

    Chapter 130:


    <b>Truly Headache-Inducing</b>


    The next afternoon, in the warden office.


    "...That''s the general situation. Prisoner 3397, the witch Prisci, has returned to normal and no longer requires special monitoring standards. The alert level has been reset to red. I will handle the coordination with the Inquisition Bureau. And I have already informed the day shift, through Franda. Make sure to ry this information to the night shift and all members of your riot squad." Aiden informed Veronica, who stood before him.


    Prisci had recovered from her "amnesia" and transformed back into the powerful witch skilled in mental spells. It was essential that this news be disseminated to all personnel in the core area, and Veronica was the captain of the fourth riot control squad responsible for the core area.


    "Understood," Veronica respectfully saluted. "I never expected such a significant event to ur in my absence. I regret not being able to assist..."


    "It couldn''t be helped. After all, it''s been a full moon these past two days," Aiden chuckled warmly. "You should head back to your post."


    "Okay," but instead of leaving the office immediately, she seemed hesitant.


    "What''s the matter?" Aiden sensed that she had something to ask.


    After much hesitation, Veronica cautiously spoke up, "Um, earlier during the patrol in the garden area, I overheard some strange discussions among the prisoners. It seemed to be about you, Chief Warden..."


    "You mean they were talking about me taking prisoners 3307 and 3397 out?" Aiden grasped the situation immediately. "I used Fei abilities to investigate that matter. Any strange rumors are because Fei caused trouble upon her return, leading to her current confinement."


    "Ah... I see." Veronica exhaled in relief, then saluted. "I''ll take my leave now."


    Aiden nodded as he watched her leave the office, and leaning back in his chair.


    After reporting to the Inquisition Bureau in the morning, Prisci''s case hade to a temporary close, leaving only some loose ends. With his own taskspleted for the moment, he could take a brief rest.


    As he settled his mind, yesterday''s words from Mephilia resurfaced in his thoughts.


    "Seize the authority, and be a dominator..."


    Mephilia had given him this suggestion.


    Traversing into a different world, cultivating to be a deity, and ascending in a single step to heaventhese things intrigued him to some extent, but interest aside, the decision to pursue them was another matter.


    Firstly, the path to godhood in this world was undeniably perilous. The fact that inheriting divinity from the remains of other divine beings was involved meant that this path would be fraught with scenarios of killing for treasures.


    As far as Aiden knew, there were two factions rted to this path to godhood: the Witch''s Gathering and the Blood Moon Cultneither of which were benevolent.


    Even now, he was being targeted by a member of the Blood Moon Cult.


    Mephilia had mentioned that individual had touched the "authority of hatred" and to fully wield the power of this authority, he must fulfill the ritual requirements corresponding to each proverb, one of which was to kill Aiden.


    Aiden spected that these supposed ritual requirements likely involved actions like "carrying out a revenge" or "killing an enemy," with Aiden being chosen as the enemy to fulfill the ritual. After all, the cult created by that individual was destroyed under Aiden''smand, and even the goddess he had managed to summon to this world was taken away.


    If Mephilia words were true, Aiden realized that unless he armed himself by walking this path to be a dominator, he would eventually be killed by that individual.


    However, if he attracted more dangerous individuals while attempting to be a dominator, it would be a case of putting the cart before the horse.


    Moreover, there was another crucial point: Aiden was well aware that Mephilia was not trustworthy.


    Although he had guarded Mephilia for nearly five years, the more he interacted with her, the more he found this goddess unpredictable.


    Mephilia seemed to treat him with a game-like attitude, viewing him as a valuable toy or even a pet. She granted him divinity, asionally offered advice, but always remained tight-lipped about the purpose of summoning him.


    It wasn''t until yesterday that he learned from Mephilia that he was summoned not only to serve as a pawn to prevent others from ascending as dominator but also that Mephilia intentions went beyond just that.


    As for the reasons behind Mephilia voluntarily being detained by the Inquisition Bureau and any information about agreements between her and the former Aiden, the current Aiden remainedpletely unaware.


    Despite appearing as the guardian while Mephilia seemed like his prisoner, due to the unequal distribution of information between them, he was actually the one in a passive position.


    epting Mephilia advice blindly, without understanding her true intentions, clearly carried risks. What if her encouragement to be a dominator concealed ulterior motives...


    With these thoughts in mind, Aiden took a moment to steady himself.


    At present, it wasn''t necessary to look too far ahead. Whether worrying about when the founder of the Blood Moon Cult might return or specting on Mephilia true intentions, he found himself unable to take any decisive actions.


    Even if he resolved to be a dominator, obtaining divinity and the divinenguage was no easy taskPrisci and Dailey had both pursued divinity in vain.


    When considering where to begin the search for divinity and the divinenguage, the Witch''s Gathering was the only lead he could think of. After all, whether it was his knowledge of the divinenguage or the technique of speaking it, it all ultimately stemmed from the Witch''s Gathering.


    However, actively seeking to gather divinity and the divinenguage through the Witch''s Gathering was akin to courting death.


    Abigail, Lamia, and Chimera, the three powerful witches, were controllers of the divinenguage. Dailey once described Abigail as being close to godhood. She was likely, much like the individual Mephilia referred to as "that person," who was on the brink of attaining the authority of a dominator.


    Regarding the other two individuals, they were probably no less formidable. After the Blood Moon Cult suffered setbacks against the Witch''s gathering, they quickly fell in line. Not to mention the Blood Moon Cult, even the Inquisition Bureau never harbored intentions of targeting Abigail.


    In addition to them, there were Vera and Hasbinis, who were also grand witches on par with Dailey and Prisci.


    The Witch''s gathering itself pursued the divinenguage and divinity. While the divinenguage could be shared, divinity was limited. If they were to discover that Aiden possessed divinity...


    For him now, the Witch''s Gathering was definitely not an organization to be trifled withalthough, to some extent, he had already stirred the pot.


    "This is truly a headache!" he slumped in his chair, and letting out a deep sigh.


    Is it really this difficult to live well in a different world?

 Chapter 131:

    Chapter 131:


    <b>You''ve Been Targeted</b>


    On the weekend, apanied by Veronica, Aiden brought Prisci to the library.


    "Here is the library, equipped with a reading room. The research room for your studies is in the archive room on the side of the library," Aiden exined to Prisci, who was wearing handcuffs. "Of course, all research findings and required materials must be reported and approved by me first. Surveince by prison guards will be present during research, and experiments requiring spellcasting permission must be conducted in the controlled chambers with myself and at least two riot control officers present." Aiden paused, giving Prisci a meaningful look. "Of course, no funny business during research. Otherwise, I can assure you that your end will be quite unpleasant. I trust you''re not that foolish."


    "The library..." Prisci scanned the surroundings. "It looks decent. I''ve never heard of a prison with such facilities."


    "Establishing this was my personal decision after taking office, adding facilities for the inmates to acquire knowledge and refine their character," Aiden calmly responded. "This library is for the use of the inmates in the core area. On the east side of the prison, there is arger library for the inmates in the three regr zones."


    "Using the prison''s funds for this kind of ce?" Prisci turned her head, looking at Aiden with a puzzled expression, seeming a bit perplexed. "And you still need personnel to supervise the inmates in the library, right? Isn''t this an uphill task?"


    "Regardless of where the inmates are, I always assign personnel for supervision. There''s no difference. As for the funds, indeed, setting up these facilities costs money. However, from a long-term perspective, it can significantly enhance inmatepliance and reduce disciplinary issues. Consider the additional costs incurred in the past decade to suppress riots in the core area; that sum could have easily built three or four simr facilities. If the inmates behave, we also have less trouble."


    "It seems you''ve truly turned into a great Samaritan," Prisci remarked teasingly. "Back when you were an inquisitor, you weren''t exactly gentle, whencapturing us witches."


    "Different rolese with different stances. An Inquisitor duty is to apprehend you all; you and the inquisitor are adversaries, so there''s no room for leniency. But now that you''ve been thrown into prison, to us guards, you''re just subjects of our work," Aiden calmly exined."Is there a difference? You hold handcuffs and weapons to supervise us, prisoners always looking to escape your control. In the end,w enforcers and inmates are still in an adversarial rtionship," Prisci retorted coldly, her resistance toward enforcers not easily swayed.


    "Guards and inmates have to coexist continuously. Hostility benefits no one," Aiden nced at her, shrugging. "But if that''s how you see it, I can''t help it."


    "Warden, that statement of yours is one of the ssic lines of a scoundrel," a faint voice drifted in.


    "Arsena," Aiden turned to the source of the voice. "You were so quiet; I thought you were dozing off."


    "I was just reading with my head down," Arsena replied calmly, while adjusting her sses.


    "Be careful not to break your neck while reading like that," Aiden cautioned. "Are the book archives sorted?"


    "Of course, I wouldn''t want to lose this good position," Arsena replied, shifting her gaze to Prisci. "Do you have a new favorite already?"


    "This is the recently incarcerated prisoner 3397, Prisci, Dailey''s roommate. She might need to use the research room in the future, so I brought her here for a look," Aiden introduced her.


    "I know, I know, Prisci, a big shot in the Witch Gathering," Arsena nodded indifferently. "Are you on a mission to drain the Witch Gathering of its resources?"


    "If all those troublesome witches were brought here, I wouldn''t be able to handle it. Besides, it''s the Inquisition jobs for apprehending them, not me."


    If the prominent figures of the Witch Gathering were captured, they would likely end up in this Rose Prison. However, individuals like Abigail, whom even national agencies hesitate to provoke, are unlikely to be caught.


    Aiden turned to Prisci, "There are people researching in the rooms now; let''s go have a look."


    They entered the research room, the room was divided by a partition. On one side near the door, a guard sat monitoring, while on the other side of the partition, Melusine was conducting experiments at a table, extracting essence from herbs.


    "Oh, Warden, free enough to visit my experiment today? How unexpected," Melusine greeted Aiden upon seeing him, then noticed Prisci standing nearby. "Isn''t this my previous ''patient''? Has she regained her memory?"


    "Carry on with your work; don''t mind us," Aiden waved his hand.


    "Don''t be so aloof; I wanted to discuss something with you," Melusine said with a smile. "I''m thinking of applying to research some Potion. Warden, what do you think?"


    "Don''t even think about it," Aiden outright rejected her. "Don''t get any funny ideas. Obtaining materials for Potion is so difficult, with no prospects for extensive application. If you want to apply for clemency, researching regr medicinal cures is sufficient. Bringing out potion are you looking to incite another riot for me?"


    "Me? How could I have the nerve for that?" Melusine quickly retreated. "I just thought..."


    "No more nonsense. Don''t forget you''ve only had your execution postponed. Are you looking to stay alive or cause trouble?" Aiden bluntly interrupted her.


    "Okay, I understand," Melusine swallowed her words


    "Is she... on death row?" Prisci quietly inquired to Aiden.


    "Yeah, this one is a despicable criminal deserving of no mercy," Aiden whispered back. "But in this prison, there''s a juvenile offender she transformed into a killer. His survival depends on her skills, so I managed to keep her alive. She was Lamia''s student, skilled in pharmacology, possessing advanced techniques that can be used for healing. So, I allow her to conduct research here and applied for her clemency."


    "Even willing to use someone like her..." Prisci turned to stare at Aiden for a while, then spoke, "It seems Dailey was right. You really are someone worth making deals with... even though I personally still don''t like you."


    "I don''t expect you to," Aiden shrugged.


    "Anyway, considering you haven''t deceived me, I''ll give you a warning," Prisci paused. "You might... have attracted Vera''s attention by now."


    "What do you mean?" Aiden was taken aback.

 Chapter 132:

    Chapter 132:


    <b>The Dangerous Outside World</b>


    In the evening, Aiden changed out of his uniform in his dressing room, preparing to leave the prison after work.


    Just as he was hanging up his uniform in the closet, memories of his conversation with Prisci from that morning came back to him¡ª


    "I remember that day when you damaged my Token. You must have sneaked into Abigail''s gathering and then got kicked out, right?" Prisci confirmed with him at that time.


    "That''s about right." Aiden admitted straightforwardly, as it was quite obvious and there was nothing to deny.


    "In that case, Vera should already know that I''m in trouble. I came to trace the Blood Moon Cult. And I had contacted Vera Before moving here. Knowing her temperament, once she finds out that my Token have fallen into someone else''s hands, she''s likely toe here to check on my situation."


    "Is that so? But then, at most, she can only confirm at your base that you''ve been caught by the Inquisition, right? Let me be frank with you, I did indeed sneak into Abigail''s gathering that day, but I was in disguise. I doubt anyone could recognize me at that time." Aiden remained calm at that moment.


    When he infiltrated Abigail''s gathering, he had transformed his body into that of a woman through physical alteration.


    So even though he had stirred up trouble with the witches'' gathering, Aiden wasn''t particrly worried, considering that most of the witches probably hadn''t realized that the woman who infiltrated the gathering that day was actually the former senior inquisitor, Aiden Galord."Well, I''ll be frank with you as well. Vera and I had established a secret emergency contact point. On that day, before I was ready to make a move against you, I had already controlled a bat to bypass surveince and deliver a cryptic note to the contact point. While I can''t send messages across the entire continent like Abigail, sending it from within the city to the outskirts was achievable. If Vera goes to the contact point and gets that piece of paper, she will immediately know everything."


    Upon hearing Prisci''s revtion, theposure on Aiden''s face vanished in an instant. "Where is this contact point?" he inquired.


    "It''s an abandoned guard treehouse on the outskirts of the city, a ce you''ll likely struggle to find, and even if you do, it won''t help you. Vera has been active on this side of the Autonomous State; she could reach Silver City within a day by train. She''s impulsive, so once she realizes I''m in trouble, she''ll likely act quickly. Given the days that have passed, she probably knows everything by now. This is just my spection. After she knows everything, she might seek to retaliate against you."


    "It''s been a few days in jail, and now you''re telling me this?" Aiden questioned.


    "You should be thankful I told you; I could have chosen to say nothing. Besides, what do you have to fear? While I doubt you can catch Vera, with your skills, she probably can''t do much to you," Prisci replied nonchntly.


    ...


    With these thoughts in mind, Aiden was filled with resistance towards leaving the prison.


    Not long ago, he had just learned from Mephilia that his life was still being targeted. Now, with Prisci dropping bombs on him, revealing that the Witch gathering might have also discovered his identity, the situation was bing increasingly grave.


    Upon a brief reflection, it became evident that the cryptic message Prisci had sent out on the day she nned to make a move against him contained crucial information summarized as follows:


    1. My Grand Witch token fell into Aiden galord hands that night. If you encountered any suspicious individuals at the gathering that day, it''s highly likely that he was involved.


    2. This person is now the Warden of Rose Prison. I n to seize his body tonight to rescue Dailey.


    After sending out this coded message, Prisci went silent.


    If the Grand Witch Vera had received this message and realized there was no further contact from Prisci, she should have deduced that Prisci had met her end at his hands.


    Vera was likely to ry this information to other Grand Witches through variousmunication channels.


    From the impressions of that gathering, the Witch Gathering wasn''t a unified organization, but it wasn''t entirely fragmented either.


    Firstly, the organizer, Abigail, held a considerable amount of influence over other witches.


    Secondly, within the Witch Gathering, there existed smaller groups with a sense of camaraderie. Prisci, Vera, and Dailey seemed to form such a group, especially Prisci and Vera, who advocated for consolidating the Witch Gathering into a cohesive force.


    ording to Prisci, leaving aside others for now, Vera was likely to retaliate for this.


    At this moment, Aiden suddenly felt the outside world beyond the prison walls bing somewhat terrifying, with forces targeting his life everywhere.


    Living in the prison wasn''t difficult; in fact, due to the nature of his work, he asionally spent consecutive days within its confines.


    Whether in professional matters or private life,pletely tying oneself to one''s workce was never realistic. He wasn''t about to give up his normal life over uncertainties.


    Tonight, he had a dinner appointment¡ªReba had mentioned wanting to treat him to a meal when she was rescued. Initially, Aiden thought it was just a polite gesture, butter, while coordinating work at the Inquisition, Reba directly approached him to set a time and ce.


    With no reason to refuse, he couldn''t just stand her up.


    After changing into casual attire, Aiden left the dressing room and coincidentally met Veronica, who was also changing into casual clothes to leave work.


    "Oh, Chief!" Veronica reflexively saluted.


    "No need to be so formal after work; rx," Aiden waved his hand. "I''m not that serious."


    "Oh, I''m used to it," Veronica smiled somewhat shyly.


    "You happen to be on day shift today; it''s rare to catch you at the end of the shift," Aiden walked briskly towards the exit along the corridor.


    "Yes, because you, Chief, always have long working hours..." Veronica followed behind him, watching his back for a moment, then suddenly realized something. "Um, chief, have you had dinner yet?"


    "Not yet, I''m about to go out to eat."


    As they conversed, they walked out of the side door designated for prison guards'' entry and exit.


    "Then..." Veronica hesitated, wanting to say something.


    Just then, a figure outside approached them. "Finally, you''re out! I''ve been waiting for you."


    "Hmm?" Aiden nced over and couldn''t help but look surprised. "Reba?"

 Chapter 133:

    Chapter 133:


    <b>Clearly, I Was First</b>


    Aiden was somewhat surprised because he and Reba had originally agreed to meet at the agreed-upon restaurant - the one where their squad often dined together, not far from the apartment Reba rented.


    But now, Reba had suddenly appeared here.


    "Have you been waiting here for me?" Aiden asked.


    "I finished my work at the office early, so I just left. Figured you hadn''te out yet, so I came straight here. It''s on the way anyway, let''s go together," Reba said with a smile.


    "What if I had left early too? You''d have waited for nothing," Aiden chuckled. "Alright then, let''s go together."


    "Sure..." Reba nodded, then noticed Veronica standing somewhat dazed behind Aiden. "And who is this?"


    "She''s Veronica, a prison guard who works with me. She took care of you when you had amnesia before. You should remember her," Aiden introduced timely, then turned to Veronica. "This is my junior at the Inquisition, Reba, the one who swapped bodies with Prisci before."


    "Hello..." Veronica stunned for a moment before greeting the other."I do have some recollection, but I feel like I''ve seen you somewhere before, a long time ago..." Reba blinked a couple of times, then suddenly remembered, "Ah, you''re Officer Wolfie from the Mounted Police, right?"


    She reached out her hand towards Veronica.


    "I am..." Veronica shook hands with Reba, looking puzzled. "How do you know me?"


    "Do you rememberst year''s Warcraft disaster? The nine-headed hydra that crawled out of Zeloro Swamp? The Inquisition and the Mounted Police worked together to capture it! We met back then!" Reba shook hands warmly with her.


    "Ah!" Veronica seemed to recall.


    "What? You two knew each other before?" Aiden nced between them.


    "Have you forgotten? Didn''t the suburban area have a Warcraft disaster in Aprilst year? The Inquisition handled the assault while the Mounted Police evacuated the public," Reba exined to him. "Later, when the pressure was high on our side, the Mounted Police came to support us, and Officer Wolfie also joined us. She was so brave inbat, even more skilled than us inquisitor. The City Council awarded her a medal, and the Chief always wishes we had more talents like her in our department."


    Aiden nodded after recalling, "Seems like there was something like that."


    In April ofst year, he had been in his office and read about the incident in the newspapers - after all, it had nothing to do with his prison.


    The second time he saw it was in Veronica''s file.


    "Huh? How did you end up working in the prison?" Reba suddenly remembered.


    "I got caught up in a murder case, falsely used by people within my unit and sent to prison. The chief overturned the case for me, and then I was transferred here," Veronica quietly exined. She wasn''t particrly adept at socializing, feeling somewhat ufortable with Reba''s warmth.


    "Such a thing happened?" Reba understood, subtly ncing back and forth between Aiden and Veronica.


    "The newspapers mentioned it before, didn''t you see?" Aiden interjected.


    "I''m always on missions, and not as leisurely as you after changing units," Reba pouted at Aiden.


    "My current job is far from leisurely; it''s just that I spend more time in the office," Aiden retorted.


    Many people indeed held the stereotypical belief that prison work was leisurely. "Reba," who was previously impersonated by Prisci, had mentioned this before, and now Reba herself shared that view.


    "Um, you two..." Veronica nervously nced between the two. "Do you have ns for tonight?"


    "Oh, she mentioned wanting to thank me for what happened before, so she''s treating me to dinner," Aiden replied casually.


    "I see..." Veronica''s expression stiffened momentarily upon hearing this.


    She hadn''t even thought about thanking Aiden by inviting him to dinner back then...


    Well, she had considered it, but at that time, she wasn''t that familiar with Aiden. Suddenly suggesting a meal felt a bit... It was obviously me first¡ªwell, just in terms of being saved by Aiden. I always feel like I fall short inparison to others as A person.


    "The Night is falling, we should be going," Aiden took out his pocket watch, nced at it, and said to Reba, "Do you want to wait for the public carriage? You must have walked quite a distance to get here."


    "It''s fine, it just a few steps. Let''s walk; you''re not in a rush, right?" Reba gestured in a direction.


    "Alright then," Aiden turned to say goodbye to Veronica. "Let''s go. Veronica, which way are you headed?"


    "Oh, actually..." Veronica''s eyes lit up suddenly. "I happen to be heading in that direction too. I live on Lc Avenue..."


    "Oh, so you live quite close to each other," Aiden observed the two. "Are you taking the carriage back?"


    "No, I prefer to walk back," Veronica responded promptly.


    "Well, why don''t we walk together then?" Aiden had to go along with this response, given the awkwardness of being acquaintances and walking in opposite directions without acknowledging each other.


    "Sure," Veronica agreed readily.


    Reba nced at her but didn''t say anything.


    The three of them walked along the sidewalk towards the downtown area when suddenly, a man wearing a hat and walking with a cane, approached them. He was heading straight towards Aiden.


    Aiden moved to the left to give way, and the man also shifted slightly in that direction.


    Instinctively, Aiden tried to move to the right, but the man mirrored his movement, creating the awkward situation that asionally urs on the street.


    Aiden was about to stop and step aside, but the man, seemingly provoked, raised his cane and thrust it towards him. The seemingly ordinary cane unexpectedly shed a dangerous silver light at its tip.


    Startled, Aiden reflexively stepped back, his wrist turning as he skillfully wielded his cane in a sword-like manner to parry the man''s thrust.


    Before he could organize his next move, Reba and Veronica, who were nking him, surged forward with uncanny speed and simultaneously kicked the man with force, lifting his feet off the ground and sending him flying back, crashing into amppost.


    "Senior!" "Chief!"


    "Are you okay!?" They both turned back and shouted in unison.


    "I''m fine..." Aiden replied dazedly.


    But the person you both kicked definitely seems to be in a bit of trouble!

 Chapter 134:

    Chapter 134:


    <b>Golem</b>


    Just watching the man fly out and crash into themppost made Aidan wince inexplicably.


    However, his sympathy was not aroused by the man''s plight. The cane was still firmly gripped in his hand, and with a quick nce at the silver de at its tip, Aidan confirmed his suspicions.


    A modified cane with a hidden de, to put it bluntly it was nothing more than a hollowed-out cane repurposed to conceal a spring-loaded knife, amon self-defense gadget among gangsters and thugs, apart from firearms.


    The glint of silver that had shed at the end of the man''s cane alerted all three present.


    honestly, even without Reba and Veronica intervening, Aidan could have handled this kind of ambush. While he might not match up to his predecessor, a former superior inquisitor known for his swordsmanship, Aidan''s inherited skill stillbeled him as a proficient swordsman.


    Aidan couldn''t immediately discern whether this was the work of a vengeful enemy or merely a hothead with a concealed weapon. Despite the blow, the man''s hat remained firmly in ce on his head. Aidan squinted, attempting to catch a glimpse of the face beneath the hat''s brim when the mysterious man suddenly rolled back to his feet.


    Aidan couldn''t help but be surprised. Withstanding two powerful kicks that could send an adult into the air, one would expect broken ribs at the very least. Yet, this man not only rose to his feet but did so without a sound. Was his body made of iron?


    Not only that, but this individual, having just taken a heavy blow, didn''t even groan in pain.The man, gripping the cane, charged straight at Aiden once more. Veronica swiftly stepped forward, executing a lightning-fast leg sweep that knocked the man off bnce. She then grabbed his wrist and twisted it in the opposite direction, resulting in a loud snap as something seemed to break, but the cane remained firmly in his grasp.


    Veronica was taken aback; the man''s arm felt as solid as a block of wood, and despite having seemingly broken his wrist with her exceptional strength, he still held onto the cane, which was virtually impossible under normal circumstances.


    The man attempted to retaliate with his other hand, but Reba reached out and took Aidan''s staff, saying, "I''ll borrow this for a moment!"


    Aiden hesitated for a moment before releasing the staff to Reba.


    Reba grasped the staff, repositioned her hand to the end, and charged aggressively towards the man, swinging the staff with full force aimed directly at his chin.


    Aiden''s staff is an auxiliary prop typically used for casting ck magic by the Inquisition. It was notably heavy, and very suitable for smashing an opponent''s head like a melon¡ªReba''s swing seemed directed at shattering his chin.


    With a resounding crack, the man''s chin shattered like ss, with a spiderweb of cracks spreading across half his face, yet not a drop of blood was shed.


    Beneath the brim of his hat, the man''s face remained expressionless, devoid of any sound.


    "A wax figure?" Aiden noticed that the man''s face appeared to be made of wax.


    Reba, quick to react, delivered another forceful blow, swinging the staff in an arc that struck the man''s temple this time.


    The man''s head flew off this time, along with the hat still attached to it, while the body continued to struggle, attempting to free itself from Veronica''s arm lock.


    "It''s a puppet driven by dark magic!" Reba shouted. "Destroy it!"


    Veronica immediately executed a vicious shoulder throw, hurling the figure to the ground, causing the arm to snap off at the shoulder, and was pulled out from the sleeve by Veronica.


    Indeed, as Reba had said, it was a puppet arm made of solid wood with spherical joints, covered by a glove that was affixed, along with the staff, to the puppet''s hand.


    The puppet, now headless and missing its right hand, still tried to rise, after confirming it was not human¡ªnor a living being. Without hesitation, Veronica grabbed the puppet''s remaining arm, twisted it at the joint towards the knee, then executed a swift spin, mming the puppet hard against an ironmppost. With a loud crack, the puppet''s leg also broke.


    Veronica who possess a strengthparable to arge wild beast, dismantled the puppet with ease, leaving it powerless to retaliate.


    The puppet''s remainsy motionless on the ground, its movements reduced to feeble attempts to roll back and forth.


    Veronica turned to Aidan, asking, "Chief, are you alright?"


    Reba also looked at him with unusual concern.


    "I''m perfectly fine..." Was Aiden only reply.


    What danger could there be in watching others fight from the sidelines? Why not show concern for each other who''s in battle?


    The two femalerades''bat skills were so adept that Aiden never had a chance to intervene.


    "What in the world is this?" Veronica shifted her gaze to the scattered puppet fragments, then picked up the staff that still connected to the puppet''s right hand for examination. "There''s a strange scent on this de.".


    "Poisoned?" Reba frowned. "This puppet is an automaton carved with runes on the doll, enabling it to move on its own. This is a form of dark magic recorded long time ago, but..."


    "It has been lost to time," Aiden continued, as his knowledge database also contained information on such dark magic.


    asionally, some lost forms of dark magic resurfaced in this era, but reviving them was aplex task, requiring expertise only found in specialized researchers such as dark mages or witches.


    "It came for me," Aiden sighed involuntarily.


    The assassination he had long feared hade unexpectedly swiftly.


    A golem relied on instructions from its creator to act. This one had appeared outside the prison and attacked upon sighting Aiden, undoubtedly following its creator''s orders.


    Fortunately, this road outside the prison was rarely traversed by pedestrians, and now, not a soul was in sight, sparing bystanders from harm...


    However, this also meant that the golem''s controller was not nearby.


    "Do you have any leads?" Reba turned to Aiden.


    "Could this be... the witch Prisci mentioned?" Veronica realized, recalling Aiden''s conversation with Prisci, who also had been present that time.


    "Help me survey the area. I''ll call for assistance to secure the scene," Aiden quickly regained hisposure. "We need to inform the bureau to send investigators for this case."


    Incidents involving dark magic had to be reported to the Inquisition.


    Upon hearing this, Reba could only bury the ns for their scheduled meal deep in her heart - with such a disruptive incident unfolding, their nned dinner gathering would undoubtedly have to be canceled.


    "Understood," she replied, clenching her fists quietly.

 Chapter 135:

    Chapter 135:


    <b>A Bit Beyond the Scope</b>


    In the evening, the warden''s office.


    Four seats were arranged near the coffee table. Prisci and Dailey, two witches, sat side by side on one end, while Veronica and Reba sat opposite them. Aiden sat in therge chair behind the desk, his eyes fixed on Prisci.


    After having the remnants of the puppet taken away for investigation by the Inquisition, Aiden began gathering intelligence in his own way.


    First, he needed to confirm if the recent events were indeed the work of the witch, Vera.


    Vera, a powerful witch who rose to fame after Aiden left the Inquisition, was someone he knew little about.


    He summoned two witches who were familiar with Vera - in fact, when he learned from Prisci that he might be a target of Vera, Aiden had attempted to question them.


    At that time, Prisci remained tight-lipped about Vera, while Dailey only mentioned that Vera excelled in alchemy - not the study of potions but rather the traditional art of transmutation with the goal of turning lead into gold. However, she did not provide any information about golems.


    "Well, that was indeed Vera''s handiwork," Prisci nodded in confirmation to Aiden''s question from her seat. "She knows the craft of creating golems.""When I asked you for information about her today, you didn''t say a word," Aiden sneered. "Now you''re cooperating quite well in divulging it."


    "I have no obligation to tell you. Just reminding you that your being targeted is already more than enough goodwill..." Prisci stopped mid-sentence, sensing the unfriendly expressions on the faces of the two opposite her, She wisely choosing to remain silent.


    Veronica and Reba had been wearing grim expressions since Aiden''s was attacked.


    Reba, in particr, asionally disyed a fierce re, looking almost as if she could devour someone - since their dinner with Aiden had been disrupted, her mood had been extremely vtile.


    "What about you, Dailey? You only told me she excelled in alchemy..." Aiden shifted his gaze to Dailey. "Are you deliberately hiding something from me?"


    "How could that be?" Dailey hurriedly smiled. "When I entered the prison, I had no idea she possessed such skills..."


    "Vera indeed specializes in alchemy. And Crafting golems is a technique originally developed by ancient alchemists. Vera recovered this knowledge from ancient scrolls two years ago and improved upon it. Dailey truly didn''t know," Prisci defended Dailey.


    Aiden finally understood why Prisci had suggested he might not be able to catch Vera - if she sent only autonomous golems to kill him, he might not even catch a glimpse of Vera''s presence.


    "When the department brought in that puppet, I took the liberty of asking the forensics team," Reba spoke up. "The puppet''s construction was quite crude; only the wax figure on its face showed some effort, likely a rushed job."


    Aiden nodded. Indeed,pared to the golems made of steel or stone as described in ancient texts, Vera''s use of a puppet was a much simpler version, with only a wax face on its head.


    A golems made of steel would indeed possess greaterbat prowess, but crafting such intricate golems from steel is no easy task. It requires a certain scale of equipment to achieve.


    Inparison, puppets can be handcrafted, and if one could control golems made from puppets to produce more puppets, it might even lead to mass production...


    At this realization, a chill ran down Aiden''s spine.


    "Chief, what''s wrong?" Veronica noticed the subtle change in Aiden''s expression.


    "I was just thinking, could that person sending golems to kill me have more than one?" Aiden furrowed his brow. "Will I have to constantly guard against these puppet assassins in the future?"


    "Ah, indeed." Reba also nodded in agreement.


    As described in ancient texts, golems, once given certainmands, would act autonomously.


    The Grand Witch Vera might currently be hiding in some corner of this city, continuously creating golems, and disguising them as pedestrians near Aiden''s workce and residence, ready to strike upon identifying him as the target.


    Given Aiden''s skills, dealing with these simplistic puppet golems shouldn''t be challenging, but the concern lies in the variety of unpredictable threats.


    "I wonder, can you establish contact with Vera?" Aiden looked at Prisci.


    "Do you want me to persuade her to stop?" Prisci inquired.


    "Continuing like this benefits no one," Aiden locked eyes with Prisci. "Even if you don''t like me, once I''m gone, there won''t be anyone left to help reduce your sentence, will there?"


    Prisci was already in prison, serving a considerable sentence. To seek a reduction in her term, she, like Dailey, had to rely on Aiden to act as an intermediary, exchanging research results in dark magic for a reduced sentence.


    So if Vera killed Aiden while Prisci and Dalia were still incarcerated, they would not reap any rewards, unless Vera could directly free them from prison


    "I don''t mind putting in a good word for you, but now that Vera knows I''m trapped, it''s unlikely she''ll reach out for more information. Even if I manage to contact her, she may not believe I''m voluntarily trying to persuade her," Prisci shrugged indifferently. "Moreover, she currently holds a grudge against you, and your main offense was offending the entire witches'' gathering."


    Aiden couldn''t help but feel a headacheing on. The overall technological development in this world could roughly bepared to the modern society of his previous life. Yet, suddenly facing an opponent capable of mass-producing "intelligent robots" that even his past modern society couldn''t create, he felt a bit out of his depth.


    Furthermore, using such advanced technology not to change the era but to target him seemed like a waste...


    "Senior, don''t worry. I will go to the department tonight and request a team to patrol near your residence, to see if there are any of those things still around," Reba suggested.


    "I will also contact the mounted police unit to strengthen patrols in the area where you operate, Chief. If those puppets are wandering around the city, it could pose a security risk," Veronica added, raising her hand.


    "I feel bad about this. You should all be off work by now," Aiden expressed apologetically.


    "What are you talking about..." Reba chuckled.


    "It''s the least I can do. After all, Chief, you saved my life," Veronica chimed in.


    "I think I''ll stay at the office for the time being to assess the situation," Aiden made a spur-of-the-moment decision, rising from his seat. "Although it''s a bit of a shame... Reba, why don''t you join me for dinner at my workce today?"


    Reba stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then her face lit up. "Sure!"


    Aiden then turned to Veronica and asked, "Veronica, since I unintentionally kept you here sote, would you like to join us for dinner before leaving or..."


    "I''d be honored to ept," Veronica responded promptly, without a moment''s hesitation.


    Advance Chapter

 Chapter 136:

    Chapter 136:


    <b>The Chopstick Sect</b>


    In the cafeteria, Aiden sat on one side of the square table, with Veronica and Reba sitting opposite him. The prison guardsing and going for meals couldn''t help but nce over at them a few more times.


    "Chief, the woman Warden brought in seems familiar."


    Sitting in the corner, the prison guard Isabe spoke to her superior nearby, Chief of the Core area, Franda.(TN: chief of the core area / supervisor of the core area)


    "It seems like a former colleague, the one who had her body swapped by Prisci before." Franda just nced over and continued eating.


    "Isn''t Veronica off duty already? Why did she stay for dinner too?" Isabe remarked.


    "She said she coincidentally encountered an incident outside the prison, so she stayed to help out." Franda calmly continued eating, "Didn''t you see many people being handed over by the warden just now?"


    Isabe nced over again, her interest piqued, and a smile crept onto her lips, "Hey, Chief, do you think¡ª"


    "Youngdy, don''t be so nosy. And Just eat properly," Franda directly cut off the subject.


    Meanwhile, the atmosphere at Aiden''s table was gradually heating up.


    Reba, with a serious expression, looked at Aiden, then at Veronica, and finally couldn''t hold back, and spoke, "Sorry, I really have to ask, forgive my impertinence..."


    She paused for a moment and continued, "What exactly is this dish?"


    In the center of the table sat a thick ceramic bowl filled with a spicy and fragrant medley of spices and ingredients, it was rich in oil, bright red, piping hot, and emitting a surge of heat that enveloped the three seated individuals.


    "Spicy hot pot," Aiden responded calmly.


    Each person''s te held bread as the staple, along with a vegetable broth. The main dish, however, took a sudden turn in presentation¡ªarge bowl of freshly cooked spicy hot pot.


    "Such a strong aroma, is this... a regional dish? I''ve never seen it before," Reba expressed her confusion.


    "It''s a unique dish created by our cafeteria. Give it a try," Aiden casually invited, noticing Reba seemed unsure with her fork. He promptly handed her a long-handled spoon from the pot, "Why don''t you use the spoon to transfer some onto your te first."


    "Oh, okay..."


    Reba quickly took the spoon and then was surprised to see Aiden and Veronica each pull out two thin wooden sticks, deftly picking ingredients from the bowl.


    "What are you using now?" Reba felt like she had stepped into apletely different foreignnd with distinct customs and practices.


    "Eating dishes like this with these utensils is more convenient," Aiden briefly exined.


    "I... I learned from everyone else," Veronica said a bit sheepishly. She was not very adept with chopsticks and struggled a few times before sessfully picking up some food.


    ncing around, Reba noticed several guards dining using simr utensils¡ª this is the result of the cafeteria reform spearheaded by Aiden. As most of the recipes he introduced were Chinese cuisine, a chopsticks was required for easier handling, over time, many guards had learned to use them.


    "Where did you learn this from? I feel like I have some impression of this..." Reba pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized something, "Aiden, you''re not promoting some strange religion here, are you?"


    "That''s a bit rude... Why would you suddenly ask that?" Aiden was puzzled.


    "I remember seeing a documented cult in the historical archives of the Inquisition Bureau. The members of that cult seemed to eat with these utensils,"


    "Hmmm... " Aiden responded casually as he picked up food with his chopsticks, then abruptly stopped.


    He suddenly realized something was amiss, "They eat with these utensils too?"


    "Yes, the book mentioned that ''they would use an extremely skilled technique, holding two wooden sticks in one hand to pick up food,'' supposedly part of their dining etiquette," Reba recalled.


    Aiden was taken aback. What kind of cult uses chopsticks? The Chopstick Sect?


    No, it''s possible that someone in that cult promoted the use of these utensils, which was then misunderstood as a religious ritual by others.


    He hadn''t heard of any other countries in this world that used chopsticks. The "fine tradition" of using chopsticks in this prison was entirely brought over by him, the transmigrator. If there were others in this world unrted to him who also used chopsticks... they were likely his patriots."


    Aiden wasn''t particrly surprised by this idea; he had long suspected that the rulers of this world had the ability to summon souls from other worlds, so it wouldn''t be strange if there were other transmigrators besides him.


    "Which cult is it?" Aiden immediately inquired.


    "I forgot the name; it was around two or three hundred years ago... " Reba tried to remember, "It seems they emerged around the old Kingdom of Reiser, andter got involved in some sort of event and were destroyed. I stumbled upon it by chance."


    Two or three hundred years ago? If hispatriot didn''t achieve ''ascension'' by then, they would likely have passed away...


    This cult, based on the description, was probably something concocted by this transmigrator.


    With numerous religions in this world due to the presence of real deities who seem to undergo session, researching and tracing defunct cults could prove challenging. However, since the Inquisition Bureau''s historical archives contain records, gathering some information should be feasible.


    "I actually heard about these utensils from someone else as well, and I don''t know their origin either. I found them intriguing and decided to give them a try, and surprisingly, they worked quite well," Aiden casually fabricated a story, "Bring me the information on that cult; I''m intrigued to learn more."


    Past transmigrators might bring useful information or even resources that could benefit him. Aiden felt it necessary to pay some attention to such matters.


    "Sure..." Reba replied as she speared a piece of cauliflower with her fork and popped it into her mouth. The intense spiciness exploded on her tongue, apanied by a perfectly bnced aroma that rushed through her nostrils.


    "Delicious!" She instinctively covered her mouth, finding this exotic vor quite refreshing.


    However, Aiden''s reaction was much more subdued. In his eyes, this hot pot was just so-so; the ingredients in this world differed from those in his previous life. Many spices were not widely used, or not used at all¡ªmost notably, there was ack of Sichuan peppercorns. They had to substitute with other spices that fell short of replicating the same effect.


    In essence, this so-called spicy hot pot was only spicy,cking the numbing sensation and soul. Although it was decent, it wasn''t authentic enough for him.


    "Chief," Veronica brought up the topic again, "Are you really going to stay in the prison indefinitely?"

 Chapter 137:

    Chapter 137:


    <b>If the enemy doesn''t move, I won''t move; if the enemy moves, I still won''t move.</b>


    "Of course, since there could be puppets with knives ready to strike me everywhere outside, it''s safest for me to stay in prison," Aiden said calmly after taking a sip of soup. "Even if you manage to identify the puppet she created in the past few days, as long as she remains atrge, my life will be in danger at any moment."


    He had concerns about being targeted, but only out of a desire not topromise his meals. Now certain that the witches'' gathering was preparing to make a move against him, he naturally chose to y it safe.


    "Wouldn''t that be very inconvenient?" Veronica said with some concern.


    "Not at all. The facilities in prison are quiteplete. I can sleep in my own office, which is even more spacious than my apartment. There''s a changing room, a bathroom, a cafeteria, and even a medical room. I''m quitefortable here, and it saves me themuting time," Aiden replied casually. "And this ce is basically absolutely secure."


    For the average staff in the unit, living permanently at their workce without going home might be hellish, but for Aiden, it was no big deal. Why? Because he was the highest authority in the unit. Once he finished his work, he could do as he pleased here, treating this prison as a slightlyrger vi.


    Of course, the most crucial point was that this ce was secure enough. With surveince at all exits, riot squads on regr patrols, dozens of on-duty prison guards ready around the clock, and an alchemical barrier sealing magic in the core area, it was as fortified as a fortress.


    Nowhere else was safer than this; staying here made it nearly impossible for Vera to make a move against him.


    "It seems you have gone soft, after living afortable life here for a few years. You used to be so brave, like when you went straight into that guy''s tomb where Ophelia was hiding before the backup arrived, saying you were afraid she might escape," Reba teased him.


    "That''s called being cautious. nning tactics requires caution. Can you call that being soft?" Aiden defended himself.


    "Tactics?"


    "If the enemy doesn''t move, I won''t move. If the enemy moves, I... still won''t move," Aiden replied calmly. "The witch''s goal is to kill me. As long as I stay inside this prison, she can never win."


    "So, if this witch remains atrge, you''ll stay in here forever?" Reba raised an eyebrow.


    "Isn''t it your responsibility to apprehend her? A malicious witch is targeting the life of aw-abiding citizen like me. Isn''t it the Inquisition''s duty to eliminate heresy and protect the lives of innocent civilians?" Aiden pointed out.


    "What''s with the former strongest inquisitor saying?" Reba couldn''t help butugh. "Alright, I get your point. If you stay here, the witch Vera can''t touch you. The Inquisition can also start from this prison. If she keeps sending golems around here, we can track their source by monitoring the golems'' movements. If Vera tries something big to lure you out and targets the prison, we''ll have a better chance of catching her in the act."


    "Yes, that''s what I mean!" Aiden smiled, ying along.


    "Well said, chief," Veronica sincerely expressed admiration.


    "But what if...?" Reba paused in thought. "What if she''s patient enough to stay hidden? That would be troublesome."


    However, at that moment, the worst-case scenario in Aiden''s mind wasn''t Vera taking unexpected actions but rather other powerful witches starting to make their moves.


    Unlike Prisci, who had her Token taken away at that time, endured continuous surveince, and was forced to y a role, Vera should be able tomunicate with other powerful witches.


    Currently, Aiden has infiltrated the witches'' gathering, and the fact that he survived Abigail''s divine words is likely known to the other powerful witches.


    His most significant threat at the moment is not Vera but the three divine witches, including Abigail.


    While these witches may not have the same active intentions as Prisci or Vera to rescuerades and seek revenge against enforcers, Abigail did indeed use her divine word with the intent to kill him while he was gathering intelligence at the witches'' gathering. No one can guarantee that upon learning that he is still alive, Abigail won''t take real action to eliminate him.


    In such a scenario, his enemies might be the entire witches'' gathering, especially considering that the "apex witch" Abigail is to some extent the leader of the entire witches'' gathering.


    Divine words are triggered by divinity rather than solely driven by magic like dark magic. In other words, the alchemical barier in the core area of the prison, while capable of sealing magic, is ineffective against divine words.


    So far, Aiden only knows that Abigail is a "near deity" and wields the divine word of "Return" that governs order. He ispletely unaware of what the others hold in their hands.


    While these are all assumptions, they are not impossible scenarios.


    Merely staying guarded within the prison is not secure enough; he must gather means of self-preservation as much as possible.


    The divine word of "return" is his only trump card at the moment, but he acknowledges that his understanding of this divine decree is not thorough enough.


    During this time of guarding the prison, he ns to experiment as much as possible with the effects of the divine words and gather information from Mephilia...


    Perhaps, as Mephilia suggested, he should try to acquire an authority... At the very least, learn as much of the divine words as possible to safeguard himself, akin to bing a saint like Abigail or his "archenemy" to preserve his life¡ªespecially now that he has truly offended quite a few formidable adversaries.


    It''s strange how he ended up in this situation unexpectedly, abandoning his inherited profession just to return to his old line of work just to survive.


    With these thoughts in mind, Aiden couldn''t help but sigh.


    Veronica stared at Aiden in silence for a while, hesitated, and then finally spoke, "chief, perhaps... I could stay in the prison to help?"


    "Hmm?" Aiden politely responded, "That''s..."


    "No need for that. Vera can''t possibly infiltrate the prison," Reba suddenly interjected.


    "That makes sense," Veronica couldn''t argue and had to agree with this statement.


    Deep down, Aiden did consider finding someone to act as his bodyguard, as while Vera might not be able to infiltrate the prison, the witches wielding divine words might find a way in.


    However, insisting that subordinates stay permanently at the workce alongside him seemed too dismissive as a superior.


    In fact Even without Veronica, there were always prison guards on duty in the prison, and there were inmates who could be of use...


    In any case, having control over his own power remained the most reliable option.

 Chapter 138:

    Chapter 138:


    <b>Experiment</b>


    Late at night, Aiden stood in the center of his fog-filled office, calmly observing the "anomalies" unfolding within.


    The mist obscuring his vision suddenly dissipated, scattered files on the floor autonomously returned to their shelves, fallen paintings levitated back onto the walls, spilled coffee rewound back into its cup, and the items on his desk resettled into their original positions.


    Moments ago, he had experimented with the "Return" divine incantation he had mastered within his office.


    Though he had firsthand experience of the effectiveness and value of divine incantations from his battle with Prisci, it was only today that he earnestly delved into studying and practicing the effects of this particr incantation.


    Speaking a divine incantation with one''s physical body required transforming the vocal cords into an extreme state. For someone like him, who could manipte his body without experiencing the associated pain, each use of the divine incantation felt like a sharp de slicing through his throat. Thus, he couldn''t casually y with this incantation or use it as a tool forzily tidying up his room.


    Aiden paced back and forth in his office, verifying the effects of the divine incantation.


    The earlier mist, created by dark magic, had also been dispersed by the incantation. This dark magic couldpletely obscure others'' vision, and providing the user with better sight but also subjecting them to significant influences.


    Intentionally disordered items had mostly returned to their original positions, and the floor had be much cleaner than before¡ªAiden had noticed paper scraps on the ground flying into the trash can on their own.


    This reversion effect sometimes surpassed the limits achievable by ordinary human effort. Even ink sttered on paper and coffee spilled on the floor would rewind like time itself, returning to their original ces¡ªyet, he wasn''t too keen on drinking that coffee.


    He then circled back to the front of his desk, carefully inspecting the documents arranged on its surface.


    Among them was a copy sent over for review by the HR department. Aiden reached out to pick up the document but ended up only grasping a fragment.


    Narrowing his eyes, he ran his finger across the paper, splitting it into several pieces¡ªit had always been fragmented, but it was expertly pieced together to appear whole at a nce.


    Before using the divine incantation, Aiden had deliberately torn this document into pieces and crumpled them together. With the incantation''s influence, the document fragments smoothed out and intricately reassembled.


    ncing at the waste basket, alongside this document, several other useless scraps of paper had been torn and crumpled together. Unlike the document, these scraps had not been meticulously reassembled but had all autonomously tumbled into the waste basket.


    Aiden then picked up a kettle filled with boiling water, intending to pour it on the floor, but not a drop flowed from the spout.


    He stared at the clock, maintaining this pose for quite a while, until finally water streamed out of the kettle''s spout, sshing on the floor. Aiden quickly leveled the kettle once more.


    This time, he measured the duration of the divine incantation''s effect¡ªapproximately around thirty seconds.


    Ah, that''s how it is... Aiden felt like he had grasped a bit of the boundary of this incantation''s effect.


    The efficacy of the divine incantation depended on the caster''s subjective judgment. For Aiden, a crumpled paper transformed by the incantation mean the document was useful while the waste paper was not. Therefore, the incantation aimed to restore the document to its original state as much as possible, while all the waste paper was tossed into the bin.


    However, although the document "reverted" to its original position, its damaged state remained unhealed.


    Extending this to dark magic, in the case of this "Revert" divine incantation, it could dispel magic and revert some magical effects to their state before activation. Yet, it likely couldn''t repair the predetermined harm caused by dark magic on the target.


    When Prisci had initially used a sustained form of mental magic on him, once the spell was dispelled, his senses and mind would return to their original state. However, if at that moment Prisci''s spell had inflicted irreversible damage on his mind or she had directly aimed a gun at him, this "return" divine incantation would have been powerless.


    In other words, this divine incantation can only serve as a means of dispelling or purifying during battles and cannot be used as a healing support skill.


    Apart from this, through several previous attempts, Aiden has roughly determined the scope of this divine incantation¡ªit centers around the caster, extending to approximately five meters, within a space that the caster''s consciousness can perceive.


    For instance, the current scope of the divine incantation is actuallyrger than this office, but because Aiden cannot directly sense the state outside the office, the incantation can only take effect within this workspace.


    He had inquired with Prisci about her experience when he previously used this divine incantation on her. Prisci had felt a force attempting to pull her spirit out of Reba''s body, but ultimately, the incantation did not work, likely due to Prisci''s body being beyond the range of the incantation.


    Honestly, this divine incantation that is effective for dispelling dark magic, is quite powerful. To some extent, it could even achieve a "mage killer" effect.


    However, his incantation has limitations in terms of effectiveness, range, and duration. While it may surpass dark magic, it may not necessarily work against other divine incantations.


    In Aiden''s estimation, his chances of winning against an opponent like the witch Vera should be rtively high.


    However, if facing Abigail or "that person"...


    No, he might not even be able to defeat Lamia and Chimera, who also wield divine incantations.


    The Divine words is the authority of the gods, indicating its power surely exceeds this.


    Yet, in his hands, the effect of this divine incantation can only be considered a useful purification spell, likely due to his limited strength as the user.


    Even the sturdiest and sharpest axe, when wielded by a powerless child, cannot chop through a thick tree trunk.


    He remembered Mephilia mentioning that the effects of divine incantations would enhance as an individual mastered other divine incantations under the same authority.


    By mastering three sentence under the same authority, obtaining the corresponding "unique authority," andpleting the corresponding ascension ceremony, one could directly be a dominator...


    Due to his inability to fathom Mephilia true intentions, Aiden remained cautious of her advice. When Mephilia had spoken before, he had not given a direct response.


    However, one thing Mephilia said was true: if he did not find a way to master as many divine incantations as possible, his situation would inevitably be very challenging.


    Mephilia may have ulterior motives, but she seems inclined to have Aiden approach the authority of a ruler¡ªof course, this could be for her own gain, but for Aiden, this maniption could prove advantageous.


    Although he is bargaining with a tiger, at least for now, the tiger is on his side.


    Determined, Aiden picked up thentern and once again opened the entrance to the underground passage.

 Chapter 139:

    Chapter 139:


    <b>Strip Poker</b>


    "Have you finally made up your mind?" These were mephilia''s first words upon seeing Aiden again.


    "I just want to protect myself," Aiden replied expressionlessly. "I''ve encountered some things. Apart from ''that person'' targeting my life, there may be other controllers of divine power..."


    "I know about that," Mephilia interjected, "which is why I suggest you find a way to grasp the authority of the dominator."


    "For a mortal to ascend to godhood, that''s probably not something achievable simply by determination, right?"


    Dailey, Prisci, Vera, and Hasbinis, these four grand witches each possessing unique talents, all aspire to be controllers of divine power, yet they can''t even obtain a trace of divinity, illustrating how hard it is to acquire such a thing.


    In the end, the divinity on Aiden was also a gift from Mephilia, something he had from the newbie starter pack upon crossing into this world.


    "It may be difficult for others, but for you, it''s just within reach," Mephilia said softly. "Because you have me. As long as you pull out the holy nails from me, I can not only teach you the incantation but also share divinity with you... Oh, if you can please me, maybe I could even grant you the sole authority?"


    Aiden gazed at her in silence.


    After a long pause, Mephilia sighed, "Just kidding. Your sense of humor has diminished."


    "From what you''re saying, you hold more than one authority?" Aiden extracted this information from her words.


    "Yes, indeed. Although I am the goddess of wisdom, it doesn''t mean that wisdom is the only authority I possess," Mephilia smiled.


    "What are the other authorities?"


    "This kind of information isn''t particrly valuable to you right now. Don''t you want to ask for more useful details?" Mephilia replied. "Such as the specific steps to be a dominator?"


    Realizing that Mephilia doesn''t want to disclose this information, Aiden was about to ask something else when Mephilia, as if struck by sudden inspiration, spoke up again, "It''s getting boring just giving you free advice all the time. Why not add a game element?"


    "What game do you want to y?" Aiden understood her intention and shifted his gaze towards mephilia''s "toy box."


    "The one with Royal Flush."


    "Texas Hold''em?"


    "Yes, but let''s tweak the rules slightly. No betting or folding, nomunity cards. Each person draws five cards, and before one side calls to stop or the deck runs out, they can swap cards at will. After the call, the other side can swap once more beforeparing hand ranks." Mephilia said eagerly, "If you win, I will truthfully answer one of your questions. But if I win..."


    "What are the conditions?" Aiden, seeing her visibly excited demeanor, couldn''t help but be a bit wary.


    "If I win a round, you remove an item of clothing," Mephilia revealed a meaningful smile.


    Aiden was stunned at her words: "What?"


    "I''ve made myself quite clear, haven''t I?" Mephilia chuckled. "Strip poker, haven''t you yed it before?"


    "...I''ll take my leave," Aiden immediately turned to leave.


    Was this goddess just toying with him?


    "Hey, hey, don''t be so boring!" Mephilia tried to stop him. "It''s just a fun little game to spice things up. You shouldn''t be so timid about it, right?"


    "You, a god, are interested in humiliating mere mortals like this?" Aidan frowned at her.


    "I''m not interested in that part, but I am very interested in seeing how you react in shame once you lose everything," Mephilia bluntly stated.


    "Your sense of fun is truly terrible," Aiden remarked dryly. "I''m sorry, but I refuse. This wager is simply not bnced."


    "Do you find my stakes insufficient?" Mephilia raised an eyebrow. "Just a few items of clothing stand between you and the information to ascend to godhood. Anyone seeking this opportunity could line up from the easternmost to the westernmost part of this continent."


    "It sounds like the closest thing to dominator authority in this world is... But based on these terms, if I lose, I really strip, yet if I win, I have no guarantee the information you provide is genuine," Aiden shrugged. "How can this be considered fair?"


    "Are you implying Ick credibility in your eyes?" Mephilia seemed somewhat surprised.


    "I''m not your follower, but your guardian. How could I easily trust the prisoner I guard?" Aiden spread his hands.


    "You sure know how to negotiate. Fine, I''ll make a concession," Mephilia sighed. "Win a round, and I''ll tell you the specific method to be a dominator. Each time you lose, just take off an item of clothing. How about that? It should work, right? We need to have enough stakes to make this game interesting, don''t we?"


    "Alright," after a brief consideration, Aiden finally agreed.


    With face-down cards recing face-up ones, these rules were closer to Closed Poker than Texas Hold''em, eliminating the psychological warfare of betting and folding. Whoever first assembled a strong enough hand would determine the oue. Luck yed arger role, diminishing the impact of mephilia''s calcting abilities, aligning with her typical gaming style.


    He only needed to win once, while Mephilia had to win several times in a row. Probability-wise, his overall chances of winning were much higher...


    These naive thoughts were shattered when he lost his shirt.


    "Hmm, the muscr lines of your body are quite nice, just my type," Mephilia began teasing him mercilessly. "Once you''repletely undressed, I''ll take a picture tomemorate this moment."


    "Are you cheating?" The bare-chested Aiden, suspiciously stared at Mephilia.


    He had lost his shirt only after losing five rounds, which statistically seemed highly improbable.


    "You doubting me? I take offense to that. Why would I ruin the gaming experience like that?" Mephilia''s face bore a smug expression. "Besides, even though we take turns dealing the cards, you''re the one shuffling and cutting the deck."


    Aiden realized he had underestimated Mephilia abilities; this goddess was certainly more than just a card counter.


    After a moment of contemtion, he changed his strategy, "Forget it, let''s continue."


    "Oh? It seems you''ve got a n," Mephilia squinted.


    Without a word, Aiden shuffled and dealt the cards again. Instead of flipping over the concealed cards to check them, he dered, "Showdown."


    "What?" Mephilia was taken aback.


    "I said, showdown," Aiden insisted.

 Chapter 140:

    Chapter 140:


    <b>Abandoning Dignity</b>


    "You''re revealing your hand without even looking at the cards? Are you giving up on yourself?" Mephilia raised an eyebrow. "Don''t forget, I still have one more chance to change my cards."


    The one who chooses to reveal their hand first will have one less opportunity to exchange cards than the one who revealster. Opting toy down the cards from the start undoubtedly ces all hopes on luck, and statistically speaking, the chances of winning are significantly lower.


    "Enough talk, just show your hand," Aiden insisted.


    Mephilia fell silent for a moment, exchanged two cards, and then revealed her hand.


    Two pairs against a mixed hand, Aiden lost again.


    Aiden, expressionless, lifted his foot onto the table, starting to untie his shoces.


    "Oh? Substituting shoes for pants?" Mephilia chuckled. "But I doubt that canst long."


    Aiden nced at her, then pulled the entire shoce from his boot and tossed it on the floor.


    "A shoce?" Mephilia''s eyes widened slightly.


    "If a shoce can be pulled out and counted separately from the boot, I see no issue," Aiden shrugged.


    "Resorting to such an undignified argument? Are you trying to charm me?" Mephilia teased Aiden.


    "I''m just facing the stark reality of the gap between you and me. Although I''m not sure how you keep winning, the fact that I''ve lost so many rounds proves the vast difference between us. I probably have abysmal odds at this game; all I can do is prolong it as much as possible," Aiden calmly stated. "When mortals challenge gods, to win, one must be prepared to abandon dignity. I''ve been too concerned with appearances. In reality, I should have even unbuttoned my shirt one by one."


    "Interesting. Let''s see if luck will favor you this time," Mephilia gestured to continue.


    Both drew five cards each, and Aiden immediately raised his hand. "Showdown!"


    "Hmm?" Mephilia squinted. "Trying this again?"


    This time, Mephilia changed three cards. After revealing the hands, Aiden lost once more.


    Aiden quietly pulled out... an insole from his boot.


    "I feel like you''re underestimating me a bit," Mephilia remarked.


    "I''ve never been one to show reverence to the gods, and you''ve known me for a while now," Aiden said nonchntly. "Carry on!"


    Seeing that there weren''t many cards left in the deck, he gathered them all back together, shuffled, and cut the deck.


    However, at that moment, Mephilia interjected, "That''s enough, you''ve won."


    "Tired of it?" Aiden paused, his right hand hovering over the deck of cards.


    "No, it''s because I already know I''m going to lose."


    "You''ve predicted the next round''s cards?"


    "I can win the next round, but I can only hold out until the round just before this deck runs out," Mephilia calmly stated. "At that point, I''ll undoubtedly lose."


    "You know the order of the cards in this deck?" Aiden was taken aback; Mephilia words sounded like she could foresee the future.


    "I have an exceptional memory. I remember where each card we''ve used is ced. The first time we went through the deck, I knew exactly where every card I handled and every card you revealed ended up in the discard pile. Shuffling and cutting must be done where I can see. In fact, I vividly remember and analyze every moment of your shuffling and cutting in my mind. After you shuffle, I can calcte the order of most of the cards. The more you shuffle, the more cards I remember," Mephilia said calmly. "Your highest chance of winning was actually in the beginning rounds. Unfortunately, you didn''t win then, and your odds plummeted as the game progressed."


    Aiden began to grasp that Mephilia seemed to have a handle on the distribution of the cards in the deck. The more card exchanges there were, the greater the possibilities she could see and manipte. It wasn''t that Aiden had no chance of winning; it was just that the probability was exceedingly small.


    Therefore, Aidenter chose to reveal his hand directly¡ªalthough the odds were equally low, it was still better than continuing to exchange cards.


    "You actually remember the sequence of the cards. I thought you preferred games with more randomness," Aiden frowned slightly.


    "The so-called randomness ultimately is just the part that observers cannot control. For a fresh deck of cards, I have memorized the arrangement, so what the next card will be for me is a hundred percent certain. Whereas for you, the next card is random, with the probability of any card appearing being one in fifty-four. For an observer, events are only probabilistic if they are unknown," Mephilia exined, a smirk ying on her lips. "As long as one hasplete information, they can control that thing. The difference between a dominator and an ordinary person lies in the fact that the former just knows more secrets of the world than thetter."


    "If that''s the case, there are hardly any truly random things for you, right?" Aiden suddenly realized something. "Could it be that you can even determine the oue of rolling dice?"


    If one could fully analyze elements like the angle and number of rolls when throwing a die, it would indeed be possible to control the oue to a specific number.


    "Well... to some extent, yes. Although my mind can make perfect analyses, the precision in controlling the force is still not always spot-on," Mephilia smiled.


    No wonder this person always managed to roll a six in Ludo... Aiden used to think it was just because dominator had some sort of lucky trait.


    "I really don''t want to y this game a second time," Aiden tossed the cards onto the table and letting out a sigh.


    "Oh? Are you finding the game I proposed vulgar?"


    "No, I disdain the fact that in this game, it''s only men undressing," Aiden stood up to gather his clothes and put them back on. "For me, this game holds no enjoyment whatsoever. Can you understand that?"


    "Don''t say that. With stakes involved, don''t you find the game more thrilling?" Mephilia spoke while using telekinesis to tidy up the ying cards.


    "But you haven''t actually put any stakes on the line. Last time, you suggested I follow the path to bing a dominator. Setting aside whatever your intentions might be, you must have originally nned to fully disclose to me the method of bing a dominator, right?" Aiden settled back into his chair.


    "Well, it seems you still doubt me. But even if I have ulterior motives, you are here because you indeed need power for self-protection, don''t you?" Mephilia grinned broadly. "At least for now, our goals align. And you''ve learned one crucial thing ¡ª to challenge the authority of gods with a mortal body, you must understand the art of sacrificing meaningless dignity. So, rely as much as possible on and utilize the strong individuals around you. Even charming me is permissible; I will mold you into the finest pawn!"


    Advance Chapter

 Chapter 141:

    Chapter 141:


    <b>The Method to Be a Dominator</b>


    "Spirit, Matter, Order,and Life, under these four thrones, each throne has three authorities from top to bottom, each authority corresponding to three maxims. To be the dominator of an authority, one must epass all the maxims under the authority with divinity, then acquire the ''Sole Authority,'' and finallyplete the ritual of the three authorities to thoroughly digest them, thus ascending to be the dominator of the corresponding authority."


    After winning the game, Mephilia began exining to Aiden in detail as she said she would.


    "I remember you mentioned before that mastering a divine word of an authority would require a doubled increase in divinity to continue mastering more divine words?" Aiden casually asked.


    "Yes, if we take the divinity required to master the first divine word as one unit, mastering the second divine word under this authority would require two units of divinity, and mastering the third would require four units."


    "Does that mean after getting seven skill points, then lighting up three skills under an authority, gives a chance to be a quasi-god?" Aiden inquired.


    "Well, up to this point, it''s still rtively simple; you just need to collect divinity and the corresponding maxims," Mephilia affirmed. "The number of dominators of the four major thrones is limited by the number of authorities, capped at twelve. However, there can be many saints among ordinary people. Although the total amount of divinity in this world is limited, once all authorities are filled, there is still a considerable surplus. You can set yourself a small goal, starting from bing a saint under a certain authority..."


    Aiden thought to himself that unsurprisingly, this would probably be his entire life goal. Just bing a saint under a certain authority should be sufficient to contend with "that person" or Abigail.


    "I have a question..." Aiden suddenly raised his hand. "If I have excess divinity, can I learn other categories of divine words? If I have six points of divinity, I can only learn two divine words under one authority, but if I learn all different authorities'' divine words, wouldn''t that allow me to learn six divine words?""I''m afraid, setting aside whether you can ess so many maxims, as a mortal, there are limits to the divinity you can contain and the number of authorities you can touch," Mephilia negated. "Using your recent divinity measurement method, your limit should be thirteen points..."


    "Are you indirectly insulting me?"


    Aiden slightly frowned. Although thenguage differed, the tranted imagery was quite close to the mark, a term he had known as an insult in his previous life with Mephilia.


    "How could that be?" Mephilia chuckled. "Listen carefully, a mortal can only acquire a maximum of thirteen points of divinity, and the maximum number of authorities they can touch is three, and these three authorities havepatibility conditions."


    "Conditions?"


    "Starting from the first authority you touch, the ones you can continue to ess are only the neighboring authorities to the first one or equivalent authorities on other thrones. Taking ''Order,'' which you are currently in contact with, as an example, this is the upper authority under the Throne of Sequence. The other divine words you can continue to learn are only the middle authority ''Bnce'' adjacent to ''Order'' under the Throne of Sequence, along with an upper authority from other thrones, like ''Wisdom,'' ''Existence,'' or ''Life.''"


    "What if I obtain divine words from authorities other than these?" Aiden inquired further.


    "You won''t be able to master them, and if the divine wordse from highly ipatible authorities, attempting to forcefully master them can lead to dangerous side effects," Mephilia softly stated. "So, I strongly suggest that since your first authority has now be ''Order,'' focus on this path, master the authority of ''Order'' first. While mastering maxims under the same authority may consume more divinity, the rewards are significant. As I mentioned before, the more divine words you master under the same authority, the more each word''s corresponding authority will expand and unlock¡ªthis advancement is substantial."


    "Does the effectiveness of divine words have nothing to do with the level of divinity?"


    "It has nothing to do with it. The strength of mastering an authority is only rted to the proximity to the corresponding authority. If you digest the ''Sole Authority'' of ''Order,'' you be the dominator of Order. Anyone using the authority of Order in front of you would be like a novice showing off. Even if my divinity surpasses yours by far, If i''m using the maxims of Order, I would undoubtedly be subdued by you," Mephilia responded decisively.


    "This feels somewhat counterintuitive, quite different from dark magic," Aiden mused, rubbing his chin.


    It''s worth noting that the release effects of most dark magic depend on the caster''s level of magical power.


    "Think of it like putting together a winning hand in a card game¡ªthe more simr cards you have together, the stronger the effect. With the same seven units of divinity, if you distribute them among five maxims under three authorities, at most, it''s like having two pairs and a spare card. But if you use all of it to master the maxims under the same authority, you can form a straight. If you can additionally master the corresponding Sole Authority, that''s a royal flush," Mephilia analogized.


    "I see..." Aiden grasped the concept a bit better. "So, what exactly is this Sole Authority you keep mentioning?"


    "You can think of it as proof of dominion, a validation required for the world to acknowledge you as a dominator," Mephilia exined. "Each authority has only one of these proofs, meaning only one dominator per authority."


    "What does this proof look like?" Aiden couldn''t help but express his curiosity. "It''s not a certificate, is it?"


    "In the absence of an owner, each ''Sole Authority'' exists in the form of an object, invariably ancient artifacts with peculiar characteristics rted to the authority. If someone sessfully ascends to be a dominator, this artifact will merge with the corresponding dominator,"


    "So, if a mortal wants to ascend as a dominator but someone already upies that position..." Aiden suddenly envisioned a scenario.


    "Then they must eliminate the corresponding dominator and seize the ''Sole Authority,''" Mephilia stated calmly.


    "Doesn''t that mean that bing a dominator would attract all the saints aspiring for godhood under that authority?" Aiden realized that even as a dominator, safety seemed elusive.


    "Being coveted by mortals is also a divine duty, and apart from that, dominators alsopete for authorities among themselves," Mephilia chuckled.


    "It truly seems like a one-way street," Aiden sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Well, I guess I don''t need to think that far ahead... I have a good idea of the method now. So... Where should I go to obtain divinity and divine words?"

 Chapter 142:

    Chapter 142:


    <b>Fortune Teller </b>


    "Divinity and maxims, both exist within vessels. Let''s talk about divinity first. Apart from dominator and mortal, divinity can attach itself to other beings and objects. When the dominator of old thrones fell, many divinities were not preserved in their remains but scattered across this ne. So what you need to do is collect individuals possessing divinity and then extract their divinity. The ritual to extract divinity is actually quite simple. Many dark magics of humans are designed for this purpose of transferring divinity. I can teach you directly," exined Mephilia to Aiden.


    "Other beings... Does this mean animals can also contain divinity?" Aiden inquired.


    "Not just animals, nts can also have it. Beings imbued with divinity exhibit unique traits. Some of the legendary creatures you''ve heard of perhaps evolved due to possessing divinity. However, these beings have no possibility of mastering maxims. Therefore, even with divinity, they cannot be dominator."


    "It sounds very dangerous. I feel collecting artifacts would be safer." Aiden decisively chose to give up at the thought of hunting.


    "Can you Show a bit of backbone, please? Artifacts aren''t as easy toe by for you, and the amount of divinity they can hold is minimal. I suggest you directly take from individuals with divinity or dominator, have them willingly transfer it to you, or obtain it from their remains."


    "Isn''t that the most challenging part?" Aiden frowned.


    Even the Great Witch who is an S-rank wanted criminal, cannot easily obtain divinity. Individuals with divinity are unlikely to be simple targets.


    "But this is the most efficient way to do it, and individuals with divinity are also the most convenient for you to find," Mephilia said softly. "You should be feeling it now. After I descended into this body, many rats followed and gathered here, and among them there''s individuals with divinity. I estimate you will encounter them sooner orter."Aiden was taken aback. Indeed, Prisci came to the Silver City to trace the Blood Moon Cult''s whereabouts. Although she herself does not possess divinity, the forces behind her, or the Witch''s Gathering, are connected to this.


    Perhaps other simr forces have noticed the Blood Moon Cult''s activities, and they continue to monitor Mephilia that was summoned by the cult, who also arrived unnoticed in his hands. After all, it''s hard for others to imagine that a dominator would cooperate and be housed by an ordinary person.


    If news of mephilia''s presence beneath the Rose Prison leaks out, all those aiming to follow the path to godhood and targeting Mephilia wille looking for him.


    Thinking about this, Aiden couldn''t help but feel speechless. He initially wanted to smoothly transition into his second life and rece the inherited identity with his original profession, but now he was getting more deeply entangled...


    "What kind of time-travel drama did I get myself into..." he mused inwardly.


    At this moment, Mephilia added, "Of course, when you actively seek divinity and maxims butck clues, I can also offer you some help."


    "How will you help me? Don''t tell me it''s about pulling those Holy Nail for you to grant me blessings or something," Aiden inquired.


    "In the Lower district, at 19 Autumn Leaf Lane on Sunset Avenue¡ªwhen you need it, go to that ce. There''s a rather good Fortune Teller there who can help you uncover clues about divinity and maxims..."


    "Don''t mess with me!" Aiden interrupted before she could finish. He felt that Mephilia was teasing him.


    Sunset Avenue, a street he knew well, was the famous ck market in the Lower district of Silver City. It was a bustlingmercial street lined with small shops from the main street to the alleys. However, a small portion of these shops dabbled in shady or even illicit activities, or their goods were not entirely legitimate.


    Here, a pharmacy might discreetly sell potion products and materials not avable on the market to regr customers. A bookstore might hide scraps or notes containing dark magic knowledge from a witch or dark mage. Precious metal shops might handle stolen goods from thieves or gangs, and some shops might sell firearms without requiring identification...


    Of course, on the surface, this was just an ordinarymercial street. In reality, whether it was peculiar stores or customers with hidden agendas, they were only a small part of the picture.


    In a ce like this, there were fortune tellers set up on the roadside, many of them, mostly women. However, the vast majority were there for some light-hearted entertainment, paying for a few vague words of amusement.


    The ie level in this line of business makes it hard to sustain a store, but there are specialized divination shops. However, most of these shops primarily sell supposedly luck-changing trinkets, using divination as a lure to attract customers. And Some establishments even get involved in scams and cult activities.


    Then there are more extreme cases where so-called "Fortune Teller" operate shops that are fronts for illicit activities involving the flesh trade, falling under unregistered illegal operations, simr to the nightclubs in Firework Alley. Aiden asionally dealt with such criminals here, so he was aware of these situations.


    Ultimately, the official magical knowledge inherited by Aiden¡ªirvoyance, divination, and simr skills¡ªalthough real in this world, hadrgely been lost. It wouldn''t be urate to say they were entirely lost. Historically, true and effective divination techniques were rare and typically secrets known to a select few women. Even if mastered, the sess rate of divination with irvoyance to obtain definite results was low, rendering it of limited practical value.


    And Modern divination has be so diluted among useless practices that distinguishing the real from the fake has be challenging, further diminishing its utility. Genuine Fortune Teller are almost extinct.


    So finding a Fortune Teller in the alleys of the Lower district meant that nine out of ten were likely frauds, with some possibly engaging in unsavory activities.


    When Mephilia suddenly threw this suggestion at him, Aiden felt like the goddess was toying with him¡ªwhy would a dominator like him be involved in such matters when there was a subus above handling these things?


    But Mephilia looked at him earnestly and said, "I''m serious. This Fortune Teller can help you."


    Upon hearing this, Aiden was momentarily stunned and instinctively began, "She..."


    "You just need to know that she can help you, as long as you... are willing to try," Mephilia interjected, cutting off his questioning. "Also, a piece of advice, don''t attempt to investigate her. It''s pointless. She is indeed connected to me, but you won''t uncover it."

 Chapter 143:

    Chapter 143:


    <b>Hair</b>


    The next morning, Aiden sat idle in his office.


    Living directly within the workce did make things considerably easier in some ways. There was no time wastedmuting, and work could be attended to at any given moment.


    This had led him to wrap up most of his daily tasks quite early today, prompting him to make additional rounds to inspect the conditions of several prison blocks.


    He poured himself a cup of tea and delved into organizing the new intelligence provided by Mephilia.


    Mephilia had given him a passphrase, mentioning that if he uttered it to the fortune teller, the individual would assist him.


    Therefore, this fortune teller was likely acting under mephilia''s direction.


    Setting aside whether she was working for Mephilia, it was evident that she was one of the pawns Mephilia could leverage, or else Mephilia would not have brought her up.


    It was apparent that despite Mephilia being confined within the prison walls, she still had operatives or influences at y outside. Involvement of ult practices in underground fortune-telling establishments wasn''t umon, but could it be... remnants of the Blood Moon Cult?


    No, that seemed highly improbable.


    Within the Blood Moon Cult, the only individual possessing divinity and the power of divine words is the founder who''s hidden behind the scenes operating the cult.


    If there were a fortune teller within the Blood Moon Cult capable of predicting divine words and divinity, producing several controllers of divine words should not be an issue.


    But, does a person who can predict such powerful elements truly exist? In a world where many strong individuals seek the ingredients to ascend to godhood without sess, if such a fortune teller were to emerge now, the powerful would likely fight fiercely for her.


    Furthermore, her own status remains a mystery.


    Although the notion of obtaining results through divination is solely mephilia''s im, Aiden believes that the fortune teller likely possesses clues to ascension to divinity.


    Therefore, the fortune teller herself could be a controller of divine words, perhaps even approaching the rank of a saint with authority.


    Mephilia having "pawns" in the outside world is undoubtedly significant, but Aiden firmly believes in mephilia''s assertion that "investigating her would be futile." If not, Mephilia would be unlikely to disclose this information. Her confidence in stating this suggests that reporting this to the Inquisition would likely yield little information.


    Perhaps by the time agents from the Inquisition arrive, the individual may have already vanished.


    Inparison, it might be more beneficial for him to be the first to contact this fortune teller, potentially gaining more intelligence.


    However, he still felt uneasy about this situation, stemming from his realization that he remained in mephilia''s grasp. The rtionship of mutual exploitation between him and Mephilia was tacit, with the issue lying in Mephilia knowing his motives while he remained unaware of mephilia''s true intentions.


    He could only see the information Mephilia was willing to reveal to him, with the rest shrouded in secrecy by Mephilia. Moreover, Mephilia disyed an almost brazen attitude towards this secrecy, almost as if saying, "I won''t tell you, what can you do about it?"


    Aiden truly had no means to counter her...


    However, regardless of this, he still found himself in a state of being confined within the prison, so postponing matters that required him to leave the prison was not a significant issue for now.


    Just then, there was a knock on the office door.


    "Come in," Aiden promptly responded.


    The door opened, and Reba walked directly into the office, waving at him with a smile. "Good afternoon."


    "You''re here. Any progress?" Aiden cut to the chase.


    Aiden had informed the reception desk in advance that agents from the Inquisition mighte looking for him today. Upon seeing the documents presented by Reba, the receptionist had allowed her through and escorted her to Aiden''s office.


    Yesterday, the Inquisition officially took over the heretical incident involving the humanoid golem attempting to assassinate Aiden. The damaged golem was taken by the Inquisition for analysis, and Reba mentioned leading a team to investigate near Aiden''s residence. Her current visit likely indicated some initial progress in the case.


    "As we suspected, we found two golem simr to the previous ones near your residence," Reba sat directly at the side table, "They have been disposed of and sent to the headquarters for examination. Additionally, partial analysis has beenpleted on the runic inscription found on the first doll."


    "Do we have any leads?" Aiden inquired.


    "We''ve unraveled the mechanism by which the dolls target their victims," Reba replied, "We discovered that inside these dolls, a strand of hair was taped to the interior."


    "Hair?" Aiden paused, "Mine?"


    "Yes, the control runes on these dolls contain a curse that can use hair or blood from the target for identification. So, we now suspect there might be some undisclosed secret between you and the witch...," Reba said with a ''serious'' expression, "Pleasee to the headquarters with me to assist in the investigation."


    "Don''t be ridiculous," Aiden chuckled.


    Reba chuckled along and then spoke seriously, "But seriously, I came here this time specifically to confirm with you. Even if the witch Vera had prior information about you through Prisci''s confidential reports, or even if she was monitoring you continuously, it''s highly unlikely she could have obtained your hair, let alone multiple strands, for no reason. Do you have any leads? If not, perhaps she managed to infiltrate your residence at some point."


    "I do have a slight lead on that," Aiden recalled, "The day before yesterday, in thete afternoon when I returned, I happened to have my hair trimmed along the way. I went south on this road to the corner near Wutong Street where there''s a shop I asionally visit; that might have been the moment..."


    "When They get it?" Reba nodded, "That''s quite possible."


    Sometimes, hair salons collect and organize sufficiently long hair to sell to wig makers or craftsmen. asionally, individuals dabbling in ck magic may buy hair for potion ingredients or cursed objects. Hence, in general, most major cities prohibit hair salons from selling hair to individuals without proper certification, but prohibitions don''t eliminate illicit activities. Some cases rted to dark magic within the Inquisition sometimes involve illegal hair sales.


    If Vera acquired Aiden''s hair through high-priced purchases from a salon, then by investigating and pressuring the salon, it might be possible to catch Vera''s tail.


    Reba clearly had the same idea, pping her hands and standing up, "Great! I''ll go check it out now! It won''t be long before that witch is caught, so just sit back and rx!"


    "I''ll await your good news," Aiden nodded, seeing Reba out of the office.


    Her enthusiasm was palpable, especially regarding capturing Vera. She was indeed much more proactive than him.

 Chapter 144:

    Chapter 144:


    <b>Abigail''s Gift</b>


    Several dayster, in the lower district area of Silver City, a narrow alley was cordoned off by the members of the Inquisition Bureau, surrounding a residential building.


    "Your Honor, I truly had no idea that the young woman was actually a witch! She only imed to be a woodcarver, and paid arge sum in advance, so I rented out this old house to her," the middle-aged man, the homeowner, nervously defended himself, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. "I now reside in the upper district area, so I haven''t visited much. I really had no clue she was engaging in such activities in my property!"


    "Enough, I understand," Reba, the senior inquisitor standing before him, raised her hand to halt his further exnations. "You need not worry. Just cooperate a bit with our questioning."


    After speaking, she gestured to another team member, signaling for him toe over and take the man to record his statement.


    Thendlord subconsciously nced to his left, where members of the Inquisition Bureau were moving out wax-faced mannequins from his old house. These mannequins had wide-brimmed hats covering their faces, their bodies tightly wrapped in clothing. At first nce, they appeared human, but upon closer inspection, various details revealed their artificial nature.


    For an ordinary civilian like him, encountering a paranormal event rted to dark magic was something he might never experience in his lifetime. When an inquisitor from the Inquisition Bureau arrived to inform him that his old house had be a witch''s hideout, filled with props crafted by witches, he was utterly bewildered.


    Thinking that the past few days His house was filled with self-moving dolls that wandering aimlessly in his house, sending shivers down his spine.


    He couldn''t help but wonder if the house would be haunted once these dolls were removed. Maybe he should find a spiritual cleanser just in case...Suddenly, one of the dolls, that was being moved by someone, twitched, causing thendlord to tremble, and letting out an involuntary cry of shock.


    Perhaps it was best to burn down this old house - he abruptly changed his mind.


    The investigative team members escorted the shakenndlord away, while Reba shifted her gaze to the front entrance of the house.


    This was the hideout of the witch Vera, discovered by the Inquisition Bureau, a workshop secretly used in the city to craft dolls.


    Vera, a major witch added to the list only in the past two years, had limited information avable within the Inquisition Bureau. Even her mastery of golem technology had only recentlye to light.


    However, in recent days, the Inquisition Bureau''s searches at the Rose Prison, Aiden''s residence, and other ces he frequented had led to the discovery of eight dolls.


    Starting with the investigation of doll-making techniques, the Inquisition Bureau traced back from the barber shop aiden visited to the materials used for the dolls. They not only traced her workshop but also reconstructed her portrait from the testimonies of witnesses who had encountered her.


    Unfortunately, during the raid, they did not seed in capturing Vera herself.


    Reba watched as the investigators carried out thest doll¡ªa remarkably intricate one, quite different from the earlier ones.


    This doll was crafted to resemble a woman, adorned with a wig, its face and fingers made of wax, disying a level of craftsmanship far superior to the others. Vera had left this doll in the house as her decoy, inscribed with illusionary runes and a simple veil of concealment.


    The surveince team, observing from a neighboring house, had seen "a woman" moving inside the house through the window, assuming that the witch Vera was present in her workshop.


    In a surprise move, the Inquisition Bureau organized a raid, seizing all the dolls in the workshop... but Vera was nowhere to be found.


    It seemed Vera only sporadically visited the workshop to infuse magic into the runes of the dolls; she likely had other hiding spots.


    "Captain, the evidence collection isplete. How should we proceed with the scene?" a subordinate inquisitor approached Reba for instructions.


    After a moment of contemtion, Reba replied, "Have the forensic team conduct another sweep, leave some personnel behind, and continue surveince from the opposite building for the next two days."


    "Understood!"


    If Vera were to return to the workshop, continued surveince might lead to her capture.


    However, Reba was well aware of the slim chances of that happening. By setting up a decoy in the workshop to lure them into the raid, Vera likely had contingency ns to monitor the workshop remotely.


    With the workshop now exposed, Vera would likely abandon this hideout¡ª they had tipped their enemy.


    At this point, Reba couldn''t help but clench her fists.


    As the leader of the raid, she felt the full weight of responsibility for failing to capture Vera.


    Perhaps she had been too hasty, overly eager to apprehend the witch who had targeted Aiden''s life, without considering higher-level strategies...


    Reflecting on how if Aiden had led the assault as the captain, he might have anticipated the witch''s contingency ns.


    Clearly, there was still a significant gap between her and him...


    Nevertheless, the raid was not entirely fruitless. They not only dismantled Vera''s doll-making base but also gathered valuable information about her.


    Vera had been in Silver City for less than ten days; ordinarily, she wouldn''t have had time or resources to set up a second workshop. The Inquisition Bureau and the mounted police had joined forces, with patrols and inquiries conducted throughout the city. Vera''s movements within the city would now be severely restricted.


    Even if they couldn''t apprehend her, it would be challenging for her to establish another workshop to craft these murderous dolls. At least for now, Aiden''s safety could be ensured.


    Thinking it over, sheposed herself and called over another team member, saying, "Bring a sketch of the suspect. Let''s go ask the nearby residents if they have any additional clues." .........


    Meanwhile, on another street in the lower district area, in the basement of a small house...


    "Damn it!" Vera eximed in frustration, kicking the table leg, causing the cast-iron crucible to tumble to the floor.


    Despite the Inquisition Bureau discovering her workshop location, that sted Aiden Galord was still alive and kicking.


    Why was he still cowering in the prison cell... Did this man have no pride at all?


    Her methods had been too conservative; she should have yed her ace card from the start.


    "This flowing mercury is the beast I''ve tamed, feasting on bronze and precious metals," she chanted the incantation.


    Simultaneously, the iron bucket in the corner of the basement began to rumble as if boiling.


    Suddenly, a jarring voice echoed behind Vera, "I say, that''s a gift from Abigail to you. Do you really intend to use it?"


    Vera''s heart nearly stopped at the shock, She turned around and finallyy eyes on the inexplicable figure behind her. "Chichimora?!"


    (TN: Chimera -> chichimora / qiqimora / qimora for short)

 Chapter 145:

    Chapter 145:


    <b>The ck Goat</b>


    In the dimly lit underground cer, a gorgeously dressed woman suddenly appeared in Vera''s sight.


    d in a fiery red corseted dress embellished with bright feathers, a shawl adorned with feathers, and a bell-shaped hat with a hairband... Every garment and essory was in eye-catching vivid colors, making her look less like a witch and more like an exaggeratedly dressed fashion model.


    Despite such a striking attire, Vera failed to notice when the woman had appeared behind her.


    "Hey, I found my way here following the address you gave." Qimora greeted Vera nonchntly, "It was quite a tiring journey, traveling through the night."


    "When did you start being here?" Vera eyed her suspiciously from head to toe.


    "About five minutes ago," Qimora replied.


    "I warned you before not to sneak into my workshop like this!" Vera eximed angrily.


    "Sigh, why is everyone here like this?" Qimora leisurely took out a cigarette case, selected a slim cigarette for herself, and lit it. "You can''t stop me froming in, yet you want me to listen to you. It''s too much to ask to have others yield to you. Isn''t that too unreasonable?""Don''t give me that twisted reasoning! And no smoking here!" Vera clenched her fists, pounding the table in anger, causing a metallic sound to emanate from the corner''s iron bucket at the same time.


    "Alright, alright, your turf, your rules." Qimora reluctantly returned the cigarette to the case. She wasn''t actually afraid of Vera; she just dreaded what was inside that iron bucket.


    "You..." Vera scrutinized Qimora up and down, hesitantly beginning to ask a question.


    Before Vera could voice her question, Qimora preempted with her response: "Abigail sent me to find you. I heard that Abigail had previously summoned you separately, but you lost contact midway and kept the token away from you. Is that true?"


    "Yes," Vera replied curtly.


    "What happened? Did you two have a falling out?"


    "I wanted her to take care of Aiden Galord, but she wanted me to abandon my affairs here and go to the outskirts of the Sabbath Forest to help her set up straw men as guards... I just couldn''t understand what she was thinking!" Verained loudly. "Now she sends you... does this mean she''s finally changed her mind and sent you to help me?"


    Vera knew well that Qimora had the ability to infiltrate the seemingly imprable prison. With Qimora''s assistance, the likelihood of sessfully assassinating Aiden would significantly increase.


    But Qimora shook her head in disagreement: "No, she wants me to personallye and persuade you to leave this ce. If you kill Aiden Galord now, you won''t have a chance to rescue Prisci and Dailey from that prison. Instead, you''ll draw the full attention of the Inquisition of the State onto the Witch''s Gathering..."


    "They have been eyeing us for a while, haven''t they!?" Vera interjected energetically before Qimora could finish. "Didn''t you see what I wrote in the letter I gave you? The person who infiltrated the gathering that day was that damned senior inquisitor! Prisci was captured, the meeting was infiltrated, everything has been exposed, and Abigail still ns to sit back and do nothing?"


    Qimora raising her hand, gestured for her to calm down: "Abigail means that we have more important enemies to deal with now. The day you lost contact, she didn''t have time to inform you of what happened that day."


    "What?" Vera frowned upon hearing this.


    "Actually, on the day she summoned you, the Sabbath Forest was attacked by the Battle Nuns from the ''ck Goat'' faction. There were twenty-three of them, and Abigail killed them all," Qimora exined to her. "In fact, sincest year, there have been nuns disguised as witches asionally scouting the Sabbath Forest, seeminglyying the groundwork."


    "So, the priest who likes to sell daughters everywhere finally couldn''t hold back, no wonder Abigail wanted me to help her build fortifications... She''s been targeted," Vera said indignantly. "Why didn''t she help me deal with Aiden Galord first?"


    "She''s worried that by doing this, you might get yourself into trouble. The Witch''s Gathering has already lost two grand witches. they can''t afford any more losses, If they start a war with the ck Goat faction now," Qimora exined.


    "Huh, now she thinks of uniting forces? Where was she all this time? Prisci and I have advised her so many times to consolidate the Witch''s gathering, but she never listened!" Vera mmed the table.


    "Uniting the entire Witch''s Gathering is not an easy task, you know?"


    "That''s why only Abigail can do it! Only with her charisma can she make the Witch''s gathering a cohesive organization," Vera said intensely. "Qimora, are you willing to keep hiding from the Inquisition pursuit, and living like a sewer rat?"


    "I think... it''s not that bad," Qimora smiled. "Don''t forget, I am a ''Hermit,'' after all."


    "Damn You!" Vera couldn''t help but curse.


    "Oh, I''m aware of that," Qimora remained unperturbed and instead tried to reason with Vera. "Come on, calm down and listen to me. Even if we seed in consolidating, do you think it will make the countries bound by the pact fear us and refrain from attacking us? You''re mistaken. By doing so, we will be a target, and next time, it won''t be the Inquisition we face, but the military."


    "You won''t know unless you try, right? It''s better than sitting around waiting to be captured one by one and thrown into prison," Vera insisted stubbornly. "Prisci is already captured, and I am thoroughly disappointed in Abigail! She selected us just to use us as pawns! Wake up, Qimora. The Fertility Cult isn''t after the Witch''s gathering; they''re after Abigail alone. The priest just wants the ''authority'' she holds. We have no reason to get involved!"


    "Silly child, can''t you do the math? I know ''ck Goat'' is only eyeing Abigail," Qimora exined patiently. "But Abigail has agreed that if we kill the priest of the ck Goat, we can share the spoils. Don''t you want divinity? This is your chance!"


    "Killing the priest is advantageous, while killing Aiden Galord only brings risks. Besides, we can''t just watch Abigail in danger, can we? If something happens to her, the entire Witch''s gathering is finished," Qimora reasoned calmly.


    Upon hearing this, Vera finally calmed down. Indeed, despite her many grievances against Abigail, she couldn''t stand idly by if the Fertility Cult targeted her.


    "Fine, I''ll take care of that daughter-selling priest and those damn nuns..." Vera paused, then added with unwavering determination, "But it will be after I have killed Aiden Galord!"

 Chapter 146:

    Chapter 146:


    <b>Makeup Lesson</b>


    "You''re so stubborn... Are you doing this to avenge Prisci, or are you trying to provoke the Inquisition Bureau of the Autonomous Prefecture to force Abigail to consolidate the Witch Gathering?" Qimora looked into Vera''s eyes and asked.


    "Think what you want. Abigail could have made our situation better, but she didn''t. Since she won''t, I''ll do it myself!" Vera insisted. "How about you help me too?"


    "I don''t like doing things without benefit. Killing Aiden galord doesn''t do anything for me," Qimora straightforwardly refused.


    "I don''t need you to act, just help me investigate that prison. It should be easy for you, right?" Vera tried to persuade her. "He''s holed up in that prison and won''te out. The barrier there is tricky, and I want the map."


    "Holed up in the prison and won''te out? No wonder you''re so frustrated..." Qimora chuckled. "Alright, I''ll take a look. If all goes well, maybe I can scout out the prison for you."


    "Don''t tip the enemy," Vera reminded.


    "Don''t worry about that, but...," Qimora pointed to the iron bucket in the corner, "are you sure you want to use that thing?"


    "I should have used it long ago. If I had used it from the beginning, Aiden Galord would have been dead by now," Vera gritted her teeth."But that''s not yours," Qimora reminded.


    "I made that thing..." Vera tried to argue.


    "But it was Abigail who gave it life," Qimora interjected, "If something goes wrong, how will you exin that?"


    "I''ll take care of it myself," Vera waved her hand impatiently.


    "You''re really desperate," Qimora shook her head, "Not only is the Inquisition Bureau, but the city''s mounted police are also patrolling everywhere looking for you... In my opinion, you should leave this city as soon as possible."


    "Shut up!" Vera retorted coldly.


    "Frankly speaking, starting a war with both the ''ck Goat'' and the Autonomous Prefecture at the same time is not wise. ording to my investigation, the ''ck Goat'' is also bing active in the Prefecture. If we can pit the Inquisition Bureau against them, it would be the best scenario for us, but the way you are now..."


    Qimora was about to continue when Vera cut her off, "Enough. Dealing with the ''ck Goat'' is Abigail''s problem. I don''t need to consider her in everything!"


    "It seems I can''t persuade you," Qimora sighed, choosing to give up.


    "Don''t forget what you promised me!"


    "Should I take care of that now?" Qimora, feeling helpless, turned towards the entrance to the basement. "Just make sure you''re not caught by the Inquisition Bureau before I get back."


    "I won''t use those useless dolls anymore. They won''t find me here. But you, make sure no one sees you when you go out."


    "Don''t worry, no one can see me in this city," Qimora smiled, ascending the steps.


    The entrance to the basement was covered with tightly locked panels. Nevertheless, Qimora went straight through the panels as if she were a ghost without substance.


    At that moment, a strange sound emanated from the iron bucket, like a low growl with a metallic ng.


    Vera stooped to pick up the cast-iron crucible from the ground and casually tossed it toward the bucket.


    A dark shadow shed by, snatching the crucible mid-air like a frog''s tongue catching a fly, then pulling it into the bucket, where the sound of chewing abruptly echoed.


    ..........


    Anotherte night at the Rose Prison, in the underground dungeon, Aiden was ying Ludo with Mephilia.


    "You''ve been visiting me more frequentlytely, I''m pleased," Mephilia controlled the dice with her mind and rolled a six.


    "You''re not even trying to hide your dice rolls now..." Aiden watched as she moved all her pieces out of the waiting area.


    "I used to try to manipte the rolls before, just not as seriously as I do now. If you can do something during leisure time and deliberately choose not to, it won''t be as fulfilling," Mephilia pondered. "If you insist on both sides being random, you can roll the dice for me."


    After a brief pause, Aiden shook his head, "Forget it. It would be like ying ludo against myself."


    Mephilia ability to control the dice rolls was fair game and didn''t vite any rules. He lost to Mephilia not because she cheated but because he let her go easy on him, rendering the game itself meaningless.


    "So, what do you want to ask today?" Mephilia cut to the chase.


    "I want to know if there''s a way to prevent mental contamination when the Divine Words take effect," Aiden went straight to the point.


    Lately, while holed up in the prison, he had been studying the effects of the "Return" Divine Word. In this process, he realized that using the Divine Words in the presence of others posed risks.


    When Ordinary people hear the Divine Words, they Will experienced acute mental contamination, severely disrupting their rationality. Without timely intervention to address their mental state or using an appropriate expression to adapt to the Divine Word, the consequences could be severe¡ªleading to either suicide or aplete loss of sanity like "Mad Hailo."


    When he used the Divine Words on Prisci, an investigator from the Inquisition Bureau happened to be present. Fortunately, due to Prisci''s scheme, he directed a "Spectre Roar" at the girl, causing her to lose consciousness.


    Such luck was not always guaranteed.


    However, Mephilia chuckled at his question, "You''re worried about this? Rest assured, normally, using the Proverbs shouldn''t cause mental suppression in ordinary people. Your current experience is just because you haven''t fully adapted to the Proverbs, and confusing about''teaching'' with ''using,'' that''s all."


    "''Teaching''?" Aiden was momentarily puzzled.


    "The Divine Words of the gods only forcefully enter the consciousness of mortals and suppress their minds during ''teaching.'' Divine Words are different from humannguage, incapable of direct textual representation; they can only be disseminated through ''teaching'' and ''inheritance," Mephilia exined to him.


    "Unable to be documented in writing? That doesn''t make sense," Aiden questioned. "Although ordinary people can''t produce those sounds, their ears can discern them. Couldn''t specific symbols be used to correspond to each sound, recording them one by one?"


    "Recording the sounds in that manner would be meaningless; they would just be noise. Have you forgotten everything I''ve told you before? Like the divine, the Proverbs require a vessel," Mephilia sighed, as if regretting the dullness of her student. "It''s time for another lesson."

 Chapter 147:

    Chapter 147:


    <b>Absence of Presence</b>


    "The essence of the Divine Words lies not innguage but in the authority carried bynguage as a vessel. Those who grasp the Words grasp the authority;nguage merely serves as a means to convey that authority," Mephilia said as she rolled the dice. "Be it a phonograph or the creation of written records, they are nothing but cold noise without the power of authority attached. Even if mortals hear them, all they learn is a mere utterance of noise. Only those who wield the authority of the Words can choose to impart them to others."


    "Would the recipients then suffer from mental contamination?" Aiden inquired, joining in the dice-rolling.


    "Indeed, simply voicing the Words does not affect the minds of others. It is only when you attempt to forcefully instill the authority of the Words in someone that interference with their spirit urs."


    "So, the Divine Words can only be passed down orally or extracted from the remains of the wielder?" Aiden pressed on. "Doesn''t that pose a risk of extinction? What if all bearers of a certain Word perish, and their remains are destroyed?"


    "You need not worry about that. The Words, like divinity, are indestructible. If the Words lose all external forms, they will return to their corresponding ''Sole Authority.'' The next individual to inherit the authority will automatically grasp that Word."


    "So that''s how it is. How can I adapt to the Divine Words?" Aiden brought up the main point.


    "There''s no need to do anything. Once you grasp the Words, they will gradually transform you into a state that aligns with them,Mephilia calmly stated, continuing to move her chess pieces.


    "Transform?" Aiden paused, his hand holding the dice halting. "Does mastering the Divine Words have any side effects?""Yes, after mastering an authority, aspects of that authority will gradually manifest in the wielder," Mephilia exined.


    "But I don''t feel anything..." Aiden was momentarily puzzled.


    "That''s because yourpatibility with the ''Order'' authority is very high, so you haven''t sensed anything unnatural yet. Soon, you should start noticing it," Mephilia said calmly. "You are fortunate; your first mastered Divine Word is ''Order,'' which is a suitable authority for you."


    "What characteristics does this Divine Word have?" Aiden asked, rolling the dice again.


    "That''s something you need to explore for yourself; the best way to seek knowledge is through practice," Mephilia smiled. "Adapting to the characteristics of the revealed Words has both positive and negative aspects. The ''Wisdom'' authority, for instance, greatly enhances cognitive abilities. The ''Life'' authority strengthens the wielder''s physical capabilities. The ''Death'' authority makes it easier for the bearer to attract entities like the undead. The ''Void'' authority gradually diminishes one''s sense of presence..."


    "Eliminate presence?" Aiden suddenly became intrigued.


    "Yes, in simple terms, it makes a person very inconspicuous, blending into a crowd effortlessly. Others quickly forget his appearance, even if they standing right beside him; they inadvertently overlook him," Mephilia exined.


    "Then I must have been a saint of the ''Void'' authority in a past life," Aiden couldn''t resist a self-deprecating remark. "Most people in this world are just ordinary, unremarkable individuals, lost in the crowd. This characteristic you describe seems quitemon."


    "No, the presence-erasing effect caused by the ''Void'' authority is much stronger. Even if the wielder is striking in appearance, dressed uniquely or even naked, they can easily be forgotten at a nce. It''s actually a very dangerous authority; with the Words, the wielder can actively erase others'' memories of them and temporarily erase their own existence from this world," Mephilia cautioned.


    "It sounds like a power that provides a strong sense of security, I''m tempted to learn it," Aiden suddenly felt intrigued.


    By erasing his own presence, he wouldn''t be a target. He could evade any danger effortlessly, even if pursued with a knife to his doorstep, he can slip away unnoticed.


    "Show a bit more maturity; most people who wield this authority use it for infiltration and assassination," Mephilia couldn''t help but sigh.


    Meanwhile, in Cell 12 of the core area''s prison block after lights out, Dailey and Prisciy down on their respective beds, exchanging a few words before getting ready to sleep.


    "...Alright, time to sleep," Prisci said.


    "Mm, goodnight," Dailey replied, wrapping herself tightly in the nket and turning over.


    "Goodnight to both of you," a sudden third voice interjected.


    However, neither of them paid much attention at the moment, just responding with a couple of nonchnt "mmhm"s, and preparing to drift off.


    After a while, Dailey felt a nudge on her shoulder, jolting her awake. The voice from earlier wasn''t¡ª


    She opened her eyes and looked towards the edge of the bed.


    "Well, well, look who''s here, Dailey," Qimora sat by her bedside, smiling, and held a slender cigarette in her right hand.


    This time, she was adorned in an extravagant gown, with striking red dancing shoes. Her ensemble included a tiara, ne, earrings, bracelets, rings... every possible spot for jewelry was adorned. If the lights were on, she would probably shine like a crystal chandelier, exuding avish aura.


    "Qimora!?" Dailey''s eyes widened.


    Upon hearing the voice, Prisci also sat up, turning to look and equally surprised. "You¡ª"


    But before she could finish her sentence, she realized they couldn''t attract the attention of the guards patrolling the corridor and quickly lowered her voice, "What are you doing here? Are you here to break us out of prison?"


    "Just dropping by to see you, using my abilities to infiltrate this prison is already pushing it to the limit. Asking me to take someone out would be too much," Qimora replied calmly.


    "That''s true. You''re the kind of person who doesn''t care about our well-being," Prisci said, reaching out to her, "Give me a cigarette!"


    "I''ll give you the whole pack. It''s not easy to get cigarettes here, right?" Qimora took out a pack of cigarettes and matches from her chest, first offering one to Dailey.


    "Not too bad. Back when I was a fugitive, I couldn''t just buy cigarettes either. I had to grow my own tobo... You should give one to Prisci; I can get mine here," Dailey borrowed fire directly from the cigarette Qimora was holding. "Don''t leave the box and matches here; it would be troublesome if they were found."


    "Oh? Sounds like you''re doing pretty well here?" Qimora teased.


    "Ignore her; this one has already been tamed," Prisci quipped at Dailey, then lit her cigarette with the match.


    As she lifted her face, she inadvertently made eye contact with the subus Fei from Room 13 across the way, who was staring at them in shock.

 Chapter 148:

    Chapter 148:


    <b>Two Possibilities</b>


    The subus, Fei, was feeling a bit bewildered at the moment.


    What on earth was going on?


    Initially, she had just been feeling a bit restless at the sight of the shadows cast by moonlight streaming through the iron bars. So she nning to enjoy herself before bed, however she inadvertently looked up and saw three figures inexplicably appearing in the opposite cell.


    At first, she thought she was mistaken. However, when Prisci struck a match to light a cigarette, she distinctly saw three glowing tips on the other side.


    Following Prisci''s gaze, Qimora also noticed Fei and walked up to the railing, smiling at her.


    Fei blinked in confusion.


    A woman she didn''t recognize¡ªshe couldn''t fathom how she had entered this prison cell.


    But one thing Fei was certain of: she was absolutely no match for this mysterious individual who had infiltrated this fortress-like Prison.At this moment, Qimora gestured for silence towards her, then... ran her thumb across her throat.


    Don''t make a sound, or I''ll kill you¡ªfei, understanding the message, was immediately terrified, her face turning pale as she vigorously nodded inpliance.


    "Very well," Qimora mouthed the words.


    Fei, trembling, turned around, and slipping back under her covers, pretending nothing had happened.


    While exposing the intruder could lead to a reduced sentence, she couldn''t bear the repercussions afterward.


    "lord Aiden, it''s not that I don''t want to help you, it''s just that the enemy is too terrifying. I''m just a weak subus who can only cry..." Fei thought to herself.


    Qimora turned back and Prisci chimed in, "you''ve been spotted. Is it okay to just leave her be?"


    "It''s fine.I''ll cast another spell of forgetfulness on her When I leave. She''ll forget about me once I''m gone," Qimora replied nonchntly.


    "This visit isn''t just to see us, is it?" Prisci cut to the chase, "Vera is already in this city. You''re here to find her, right?"


    "Have you contacted her?" Dailey asked in a hushed tone.


    "I just met with her. She asked me toe and investigate the prison''syout because she wants to kill Aiden Galord. It seems like you''re already aware of the situation," Qimora said leisurely, while puffing on a cigarette.


    Dailey hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Maybe you should persuade her to stop."


    Prisci added, "Although I believe with Vera''s skills, the Inquisition here probably can''t catch her, but she still won''t be able to kill Aiden galord."


    "Oh? That''s not necessarily true," Qimora chuckled. "Vera has already resorted to using the gift Abigail gave her in desperation. Even that senior inquisitor won''t stand a chance against her."


    "Abigail''s gift?" Dailey looked puzzled, She have been imprisoned too early to know about this.


    However, Prisci immediately understood, "She''s nning to use the Mercury Golem? That suits her temperament... But even with that, she won''t win."


    "Really? It''s not so certain. I''ve already explored this prison roughly. Although there are sealing magic barriers here, they don''t cover every corner. The warden probably won''t stay in an entirely secure location all the time. Given the opportunity, Vera still has a good chance of winning," chimed Qimora.


    Dailey and Prisci were well aware of this. To control operational costs, the sealing magic barriers of the Rose Prison only covered all areas where core district inmates were active. Other cell blocks housed ordinary prisoners who were clueless about dark magic andcked any exceptional traits, hence not requiring such barriers.


    As the warden, Aiden primarily focused on the core district that needs special attention. Even his officey within the barrier''s coverage, but his activities were not confined solely to the core district.


    Vera''s golem couldn''t breach the sealed magic areas, but infiltrating the prison posed no problem.


    Despite this, Prisci shook her head firmly, saying, "No, even if that''s the case, she still won''t win."


    "Do you trust this man so much? Have you had a history with him?" Qimora teased.


    "I''m serious," Prisci''s expression remained serious. "Aiden Galord is a master of the Divine Language."


    Qimora''s face changed abruptly upon hearing this, "Really?"


    "I was defeated by him using the Divine Language, with the same ''Order'' Abigail often used,".


    "In the letter Vera sent me, she mentioned that the person who infiltrated our gathering disguised as you was him. I remember Abigail used that phrase on him back then..." Qimora recalled, "Could it be at that time..."


    "It was at that time," Dailey affirmed. "He sought my help back then, and I assisted him in adapting the Divine Language through expression, but it ended up working."


    "If the Divine Language was taught by Abigail, where did his divinitye from?" Qimora questioned. "Moreover, if he sought your help, that means he didn''t understand the technicalities of speaking the Divine Language, how did he manage to defeat Prisci using it alone?"


    "I''m not entirely clear on divinity, but in terms of technique... he actually used the demon contract of ''Physical Transformation,'' developed by Lamia," Dailey exined to Qimora. "In this prison, there''s a convict who was Lamia''s former apprentice."


    "Ah, I vaguely remember that. Wasn''t it called... Melusine? The one who was expelled from the witch gathering for impersonating Lamia?" Qimora nodded.


    "Wait, I think something''s amiss." At this point, Prisci voiced her dissent, "During my interrogation by him, he discerned the basis of my research with just a few words, a detail even Dailey wasn''t aware of. This individual''s grasp of Divine Language intelligence is more than trivial... His use of the Divine Language is likely moreplex than merely learning it from Abigail recently."


    Reflecting on the information provided by the two, Qimora fell into contemtion. After a while, she offered her spection.


    "Two possibilities. Firstly, he might have already mastered the Divine Language and divinity. Upon hearing Abigail speak the Divine Language and realizing our knowledge of it, he yed along with Dailey to extract more information, confirming the extent known by the witch gathering."


    Qimora raised one finger and then promptly raised a second.


    "The second possibility is that there''s someone backing him who possesses exceptional knowledge of the Divine Language and divinity, granting him his divine abilities. After initially receiving information from Dailey, he obtained more detailed intelligence from this entity."

 Chapter 149:

    Chapter 149:


    <b>A Useful Man</b>


    After listening to Qimora spection, Dailey and Prisci exchanged nces.


    After being captured, both of them quickly realized that it was nearly impossible to escape from this prison¡ªeven if they did manage to escape, they would be relentlessly pursued by the Inquisition. Inparison, staying in this prison managed by Aiden was a much better option for them. Their situation here was even simr to the days before their arrest.


    Therefore, they soon resigned themselves to their fate, and epting the trade with Aiden as the most sensible choice. At present, they had not yet carefully analyzed the fact that Aiden possessed divinity¡ªbecause analyzing it would be of no use.


    "No matter what, this man is no ordinary person," Qimora took a drag of her cigarette and chuckled. "Quite interesting."


    "Either way, Vera won''t be able to win him over. If she throws the mercury golem in... I can already imagine what will happen," Prisci shook her head. "So, you better advise her, persuade her to leave this city as soon as possible and hide properly. After all, she won''t be able to rescue us."


    "I was actually asked by Abigail to advise her. It''s just that she doesn''t listen. She has quite an issue with Abigail now. Given her stubborn nature, it''s probably not that easy to change her mind," Qimora shrugged.


    "In that case, you can just ry the information we discussed to her. Although she is impulsive, she still has some sense. I''ve been trying to send another letter to the contact point, but it seems she hasn''t gone back to the contact point." Prisci suggested.


    But Qimora tly refused without hesitation: "No, after hearing the information you provided, I''ve be somewhat interested in Aiden Galord. If Vera wants to kill him, then I''ll be sitting in the best seat, watching to see if what you''ve said is true.""What exactly are you nning?" Prisci frowned. "This doesn''t benefit you at all."


    "It wouldn''t hurt for Vera to suffer a setback. She did say she would take responsibility if things went awry," Qimora calmly stated. "I think after losing, she should willingly leave here to go help Abigail, and that way, my task would be consideredplete."


    "Help? Has something happened to Abigail?" Dailey immediately sensed an issue.


    "Oh, it''s about the ''ck Goat.'' That priest couldn''t contain himself any longer and finally made a move against Abigail. The battle sisters of the Fertility Mother Goddess sect have begun harassing the Sabbath Forest," Qimora exined casually to them.


    "Is this leading to war?" Dailey inquired.


    "It seems to be heading that way, so Abigail is making preparations. She asked me to gather information on the ''ck Goat''s'' movements. Lamia seems enthusiastic about this, and Hasbinis was originally hesitant, but she joined after Abigail promised to share the priest''s remains with her. The only one causing difficulty is Vera. Abigail wants her to strengthen the defense of the Sabbath Forest with a golem, but since you two were captured, she''s been at odds with Abigail," Qimora shrugged helplessly. "With both of you missing, our side''s strength has already been significantly affected. This is a time when unity is most crucial."


    "Excuse me. Don''t casually involve us. The ''ck Goat'' is solely targeting Abigail. Abigail is clearly looking to use us, without even bothering to conceal it," Prisci said coldly. "''ck Goat'' desires the ''Sole Authority'' in her possession, while she only seeks the ''Divine word'' from ''ck Goat,'' conveniently eliminating a thorn in her side."


    "Oh, you sound exactly like Vera. However selfish Abigail may be, she wouldn''t be foolish enough to have us serve her for nothing. Let me tell you, there''s profit in this for us. Abigail has agreed to let us share the priest''s remains. Doesn''t she have some credibility?" Qimora said with a mocking grin appearing on her face. "If you two were still out there, you''d probably be eagerly agreeing, especially you, Prisci. Weren''t you the one most desiring divinity? Now that you stuck in prison, you must be regretting it once I leave, right?"


    "Joking aside, even if I desired it, I wouldn''t recklessly gamble with my life," Prisci scoffed. "Facing a ''Saint,'' and being a pawn for Abigail, one could easily be a sacrifice at any moment."


    "To attain divinity, some risks are always needed," Qimora shook her head. "But our bargaining chips are still too few. Perhaps..."


    "Perhaps what?" Dailey raised an eyebrow inquisitively at her pause.


    "Perhaps there''s a chance to use Aiden Galord to our advantage," Qimora smirked. "If he can truly handle Vera."


    "If you want to probe into his background..." Prisci pointed in a certain direction. "his office is right over there."


    "I''ll pass on that. Since you say he''s a divinenguage controller, I''d better be a bit cautious. Until I have some understanding of him, I''ll let vera pave the way and won''t directly engage with him," after Qimora said that she standing up from the edge of the bed and finishing the remaining cigarette in one breath. "It''s gettingte. I have to go."


    ncing around, she was about to toss the cigarette butt into a nearby bin when Dailey promptly stopped her. "Don''t throw it here. It might be discovered. Dispose of it over there."


    Qimora followed Dailey''s indicated direction¡ªit led to the toilet area.


    "Quite meticulous of you," Qimora chuckled, flicking the cigarette butt into the toilet.


    "Take care then. Hopefully, when we meet next time, you both won''t have been hanged".


    After exchanging farewells, Qimora began reciting the Divine word, then walked towards the innermost wall, disappearing through it.


    Simultaneously, in Room 13, the subus Fei, wrapped in a nket, still trembled with fear.


    "I didn''t see anything, I didn''t see anything, I saw nothing at all... My lips are sealed, so please, please don''te looking for me..." She repeated these words in her mind like a mantra countless times.


    Suddenly, her mind went nk for a moment.


    The next instant, she was engulfed in confusion¡ªWhat didn''t I see... What was I trying to do just now?


    Wait, why am I lying down again? What was I intending to do earlier?


    She rose from bed once more, feeling like she had forgotten something.


    At that moment, she noticed the crystal in her hand.


    "Ah!" It suddenly dawned on her.


    Meanwhile, in Room 11 next door, Evangeline who was asleep, pondered a question¡ªWhat is that strange noise from the adjacent room every night?


    (TN: don''t worry Eva it just A massage crystal (? ??¡ã? ???? ??¡ã?) )

 Chapter 150:

    Chapter 150:


    <b>The Flying Noodle Cult</b>


    The next day, Reba visited the Rose Prison once again to report on the investigation to Aiden in his office.


    "...The details are all in this report. We destroyed Vera''s stronghold, but I''m sorry, I couldn''t apprehend her," Reba said apologetically.


    "This isn''t something you should apologize for," Aiden smiled and nced over the report. "Being able to disrupt her workshop where she mass-produced puppets in the city, that''s already quite an achievement. Considering the current situation, she shouldn''t be able to replicate a simr stronghold in the short term."


    From the arrest of Prisci to the appearance of the first puppet used for murder, the time gap was short. Vera probably wouldn''t have had the time to set up a second workshop capable of mass production¡ªnormally, she wouldn''t even have been able to manage two workshops on her own.


    The Inquisition was continuing its investigation into vera, and the mounted police were checking rental properties in each district during their patrols. It would be difficult for vera to make aeback in the short term using the same methods.


    She would either have to stop her activities and hide, or she would have to try to leave the city that was now hunting her down, unless she still had some unused trump cards up her sleeve.


    Aiden decided to continue observing from the prison for a while. The one who should be anxious now was not him but vera.


    "Furthermore, here is the information on that cult you asked me to look into before. I''ve printed a copy for you," Reba pointed to the data that Aiden was holding."Thank you, I appreciate your attention to this," Aiden switched to the next document, carefully reading the information.


    The Cult of the Chopstick Users... It seemed likely to have some connection to the transmigrator. It wouldn''t hurt to learn a bit more about them.


    And then he froze.


    "This seems to be a local cult that started in a vige in the northwest region of the Old Kingdom of Reis over two hundred years ago, it''s name was....." Reba recalled.


    "The Flying Noodle Cult..." Aiden murmured as he stared at the photocopied report.


    "Yes, that''s the name," Reba nodded.


    Aiden blinked rapidly.


    It wasn''t the Chopstick Cult, but the Flying Noodle Cult...


    Although the text in the documents was in thenguage of this world, the meanings roughly aligned¡ªflying... noodles... monsters... cult...


    This was likely not a coincidence. Just looking at the name was confirmation enough¡ªthis cult was definitely founded by some predecessor transmigrator.


    Another unfortunate soul summoned by Mephilia? No, maybe not. Although he had inherited this body through the power of ''Wisdom,'' there was no evidence to suggest that wielders of other authorities couldn''t do simr things.


    Moreover, the being in control of this authority at that time might not have been Mephilia after all.


    "How could you forget such a distinctive name?" Aiden asked Reba.


    Reba immediately frowned, "Well, I''ve dealt with many cases of cult scams when I was a junior inquisitor. Some cult names were truly bizarre. I remember when I first started, there was a cult that imed to promote rapid hair growth, selling in water as a miracle hair tonic, and they made quite a bit of money."


    Aiden was momentarily at a loss for words.


    The previous Aiden had been promoted to a senior inquisitor quickly after entering the Inquisition due to his achievements, so he hadn''t dealt with ordinary cults that were purely about showmanship and deception.


    In this world, where "gods" not only truly exist but also diligently updated, there are countless cults. Reba had likely encountered numerous cases of religious scams, where the entric names of cults were asmon as could be, making the name "Flying Noodle Cult" not particrly noteworthy to her.


    However, for Aiden, the name was impactful¡ªit was an ironic religious entity that had existed in his previous world, now abruptly appearing in this world''s history.


    Aiden continued to examine the information at hand.


    Two hundred and ten years ago, in the Old Kingdom of Reis in the western part of the Southern Continent, a mysterious cult named the Flying Noodle Cult emerged in a small vige. The followers of this cult used two thin wooden sticks as utensils during meals, and various types of long noodles, including stir-fried noodles, noodle soup, and mixed noodles, were considered sacred meals. The founder of the cult was an unnamed witch.


    During that time, the Kingdom of Reis was a theocratic nation where the official religion was centered around the Earth Mother Goddess for bountiful harvests. The royal family and the church held an extremely oppressive stance towards non-believers. However, with the kingdom gued by epidemics and widespread famine due to droughts, the status of the Earth Mother Goddess in themon folk''s eyes plummeted.


    The witch who established the Flying Noodle Cult possessed the miraculous power to make wheat grow rapidly in the fields. She sympathized with the vigers'' plight, helped the vige ovee crises, taught them disease prevention, and agricultural knowledge, earning the admiration of the local vigers.


    The Flying Noodle Cult that she founded rejected the doctrines of praying to the Earth Mother Goddess for prosperity and instead advocated worshipping food that could nourish. They revered the so-called Flying Noodle Monster as their divine entity, contrasting it with useless deities, promoting the worship of sustenance over empty prayers.


    In this tumultuous backdrop, the Flying Noodle Cult, challenging the dominance of the Earth Mother Goddess religion, rapidly spread, causing rm within the royal court. The queenmanded local lords to suppress it, which backfired, fueling widespread discontent against the Earth Mother Goddess and sparking an uprising under the banner of the Flying Noodle Cult.


    The uprising initially progressed smoothly, overthrowing local lords to establish strongholds and engaging in conflict with the kingdom''s counter-rebellion forces. However, with the support of allied nations, the rebellion was ultimately crushed. The witch who founded the Flying Noodle Cult disappeared after the defeat of the rebel forces, leading to the downfall of the cult.


    Could this unnamed witch be his predecessor transmigrator?


    Teaching advanced disease prevention and agricultural knowledge to vigers, establishing a satirical religion to challenge the backward ruling religious beliefs... These were maneuvers that only a transmigrator would likely undertake.


    Aiden attempted to recall scant historical knowledge from his memory but only retained a faint impression. He turned to Reba for guidance: "Reba, how did the Old Kingdom of Reis ultimately meet its end?"


    Reba pondered for a moment and responded, "Well, after the uprising of the Flying Noodle Cult, there were several more prominent uprisings in the Old Kingdom of Reis, leading to a decline in the kingdom''s power. Taking advantage of this weakness, neighboring empires invaded. The queen was assassinated during this period, and allies turned traitorous. Eventually, the kingdom was defeated and partitioned."

 Chapter 151:

    Chapter 151:


    Bountiful Mother Goddess Sect


    Although the Flying Noodle Sect''s uprising failed, the old Kingdom of Reiss waspletely annihted under thebined impact of internal and external troubles.


    After listening to Reba''s exnation, Aiden pondered, "The old Kingdom of Reiss was sandwiched between the Kingdom of Gistas and the Dragonspine Empire, right?"


    "Yes, now it has been divided into three separate provinces, two on the side of the Empire and the remaining one in Gistas."


    "Isn''t that very close to the Sabbath Forest?" Aiden realized something.


    He remembered the location of the Sabbath Forest, which coincided with the northeast direction of Gistas and the southeast side of the Dragonspine Empire.


    "It seems so. The old Kingdom of Reiss at that time was situated on the west side of the Sabbath Forest," Reba nodded in agreement.


    "Then the witches who founded this sect in Reiss Kingdom, the Flying Noodle Sect, might have some connection with the Witches'' Gathering, right?" Aiden hypothesized.


    However, Reba refuted, "Although it is said that the Witches'' Gathering had its rudimentary form a long time ago... but if we were to speak truthfully, the Witches'' Gathering only started bing active in recent decades, after the emergence of the ''Apex Witch'' Abigail.""True," Aiden also nodded in agreement.


    Abigail, the ''Apex Witch,'' is the host of the Witches'' Gathering, an annual gathering held in the Sabbath Forest, which she single-handedly organizes. Because she has made the Sabbath Forest her residence and the venue for the Witches'' Gathering, the forest was renamed as the Sabbath Forest ¡ª before that, it was apparently just metaphorically referred to as the Misty Forest.


    Abigail''s title emerged over fifty years ago, even muchter than Lamia, and it was only after that time that the Witches'' Gathering began to flourish as it is today.


    it is not enough to establish any connection between this sect and the Witches'' Gathering Based solely on geographical location and the fact that the founder of the Flying Noodle Sect was a witch.


    Therefore, delving deeper into the Flying Noodle Sect brought by the ancestor of the transmigrator seems to hold little significance.


    This sect was merely a sh in the pan in history and perished quickly. Even among all the uprisings that urred before the downfall of the old Kingdom of Reiss, it was not the most prominent. The witch who seemed to be the ancestor of the transmigrator did not even leave behind her name.


    However, in Aiden''s view, although the uprising failed, this ancestor still did something remarkable. At least she disyed more ambition than Aiden, who was just trying to live a stable life by rehashing his old business in this otherworldly ce. That, to him, was worthy of respect.


    But then, Aiden suddenly noticed something else, "This page isbeled as an appendix. What kind of file is it attached to?"


    Based on his inherited memories, the contents of these appendices in the files of the Inquisition Bureau often have a certain connection to the main file but not a very tight one; they are included as supplementary information and references.


    "Oh, this is actually an appendix rted to the Bountiful Mother Goddess Sect," Reba answered.


    "The Bountiful Mother Goddess Sect? I feel like I''ve heard of it before..." Aiden mused.


    "It''s an ancient cult that operated in the Dragonspine Empire and Gistas territories, they initially using the banner of Earth Mother Goddess sect to revive the old Kingdom of Reiss. They mainly operated in the three provinces that split from the old Kingdom of Reiss and were deemed heretical by both countries," Reba exined. "Because there have been recent signs of activity in the autonomous regions, the Inquisition Bureau haspiled records, including historical data from thete period of the old Kingdom of Reiss as an appendix."


    "Is this Bountiful Mother Goddess Sect aiming for ethnic independence to revive the old kingdom?" Aiden inquired.


    The old Kingdom of Reiss was a unified nation where the royal family held both political and religious power, closely tied to the Earth Mother Goddess sect. Attempting to revive the national religion on the ruins of the fallen kingdom was seen as tantamount to restoration, hence beingbeled as heretical by the Empire and the Kingdom of Gistas who had partitioned the old kingdom.


    "Yes, there are rumors that the current leader of the Bountiful Mother Goddess Sect is actually a descendant of the old Reiss royal family," Reba replied.


    "A hundred years have passed, and they''re still not giving up?" Aiden chuckled. "Quite persistent, but it seems rather futile."


    Reba nodded in agreement, "Indeed, even before the division of the old Reiss Kingdom, the Earth Mother Goddess sect had lost its standing among themon people. Over the years, the sect''s followers have dwindled, making the revival of this religion practically meaningless."


    "But you mentioned earlier that this sect is active in the autonomous regions. Is it still alive and kicking?" Aiden inquired further.


    "Yeah, to be honest..." Reba hesitated slightly at this point. "It has been developing quite well. The Empire and Gistas have been trying to eradicate this cult, but with little sess. Instead, there has been a trend of growth and expansion in recent years."


    ¡°Why?¡± Aiden was somewhat surprised. "Wasn''t it said that there was no longer fertile ground for belief?"


    "Well..." Reba suddenly faltered, hesitated for a while, and then redirected the question, "I... can''t quite recall. How about you look into it at the bureau yourself? You should still have ess over there in the archives, right?"


    Aiden furrowed his brow slightly, while Reba subtly shifted her gaze away.


    Indeed, Aiden still retained some level of authority within the Inquisition Bureau, and it was rtively high. After all, at this point, he was still tasked with the important duty of guarding Mephilia within the bureau.


    Reba''s reaction indicated that she was not ignorant or forgetful about the matter but rather unwilling to disclose it.


    Deliberately pulling information that interested Aiden from the records of the Bountiful Mother Goddess Sect, Reba had no reason to suddenly suggest that Aiden investigate on his own.


    Could it be that this cult is involved in something embarrassing or difficult to discuss?


    Aiden felt his curiosity piqued - based on his inherited memories, peculiar activities within cults were quite normal.


    Just then, there was a knock on the office door.


    "Come in!" Aiden called out.


    The door opened, and a guard stepped into the office, saluting Aiden. "Warden, a prisoner in Cell Block 2 has reported some issues to us..."


    "What kind of issues? Be clear about it," Aiden urged.


    The second monitoring sector was a standard area where prisoners, unlike those in the core sector, did not dabble in dark magic or possess supernatural abilities. Managing them was akin to handling the inmates in Aiden''s previous life, requiring rtively low management costs. As a result, there were seldom issues that required Aiden''s direct involvement.


    "Well..." the guard hesitated for a moment and then spoke up, "They say... it seems like there''s a haunting in the cell."

 Chapter 152:

    Chapter 152:


    <b>I Can''t Come</b>


    After seeing off Reba, who hade to visit, Aiden proceeded to the second prison block with the prison guard who hade to report.


    "Here is where it happened. The inmate in Cell 4 was the first to hear strange noises, reporting that there were odd soundsing from the toilet." The guiding guard opened the cell in front of Aiden.


    Aiden turned his head, casting his gaze on several inmates standing outside the room.


    "It was justst night, I don''t know what time exactly, but I was awakened by noisesing from the toilet. The sound... it''s hard to describe, like something scrambling wildly in the pipes. I called out to the others, and they heard it too," the first inmate said with lingering fear.


    The others nodded in agreement.


    At this time, most inmates from Block 2 were out for work. To facilitate the investigation, the prison guard had left a few inmates as witnesses to apany Aiden in his questioning.


    "Could it be rodents or snakes running down the drain?" Aiden spected.


    The city already had a fairly decent sewer system, and Rose Prison had its ownwork of pipes. However, several locations in these pipes had thick mesh-like iron grilles, making it nearly impossible for ordinary inmates without special abilities to escape through the sewers. Likewise, under normal circumstances, outsiders were unlikely to sneak in through the sewers.Even rats found it hard to squeeze through those grilles, yet Rose Prison was not devoid of them; they mostly came in withrge batches of materials entering and leaving the prison. While the high-security core areas were safe, in regr cell blocks, situations where rats frightened female inmates into collective calls for help were not umon.


    "But inmates from Cells 6 and 8 reported that the sounds they heard came from the walls between the cells," the guard added.


    Aiden turned his head to look at the other inmates standing together on the opposite side.


    "It''s true. I heard it first because I sleep by the wall, and it woke me up immediately," an inmate cautiously provided testimony.


    "Me too, and that sound... very strange, like... a monster was eating something inside, quite frightening!" added the inmate from Cell 8.


    Aiden furrowed his brow slightly. Although the walls between the cells were not entirely solid, and with no pipesid within, it was practically impossible for animals to enter through the sewer system.


    "Warden, do you think it could really be?" the guard asked Aiden nervously.


    Aiden nced at him. The regtions differed between the regr cell blocks and the core area, and there was minimal ovep in the assignment of guards. Guards from the regr blocks were only temporarily transferred to the core area to assist when the manpower was extremely tight, and most of them had little experience with ck magic or supernatural urrences.


    "Don''t worry. Even if it''s a ghost, it can be dealt with as long as the approach is correct," Aiden reassured.


    In this world, ghosts and undead creatures did exist, but they did not manifest naturally.


    Based on Aiden''s understanding of dark magic, strictly speaking, whether ghosts or undead, they were actually artificial creations. Normally, a person''s consciousness and body are essentially one; when the body dies, consciousness dissipates as well. Only with external intervention can consciousness separate from the body. Ghosts are essentially created using necromancy to strip the remaining consciousness from a deceased body, preserving it with magic to prevent dispersal.


    In other words, without someone practicing necromancy, ghosts or spirits cannot manifest. "Hauntings" and the like may be perceived as terrifying supernatural events by ordinary people, but to those with knowledge of dark magic, they are merely artificial phenomena.


    Aiden asionally felt that the regtions in the "Convention" regarding the management of dark magic, while necessary to a certain extent, might be overly restrictive. If the public could learn some basic theoretical knowledge, it could alleviate their fear of supernatural events, which would be beneficial for promoting societal progress.


    From the situation reported by the guard, it did sound somewhat like an invisible entity such as a ghost was wandering in the regr cell block.


    However, none of the inmates in the regr block possessed knowledge of dark magic, let alone expertise in necromancy.


    It would be challenging to externally drive undead beings to invade this prison. Although the magic-sealing barrier only covered the core area, the prison''s perimeter and entrances had outposts with minor barriers set up solely to detect abnormal magical flows, primarily to prevent core area inmates from escaping.


    Regardless, it would be wise to investigate.


    "Arsena, please take a look," Aiden said to the necromancer following behind him.


    "Understood." Arsena calmly pushed her sses up her nose, tapped her staff on the ground, and began chanting incantations.


    Aiden stood with his hands behind his back, watching. Upon hearing about the "haunting," he had brought Arsena, who worked in the library, along.


    While he could handle simple exorcisms himself with the knowledge and skills inherited from the inquisitor, he preferred to entrust such matters to the most professional individuals.


    Moreover, given the current unusual circumstances for him, it wouldn''t hurt to be cautious and have a bodyguard by his side.


    After about a dozen seconds, Arsena ceased her spellcasting and informed Aiden, "Nothing."


    "Nothing?"


    "There is no trace of any undead presence here; it''s definitely not a haunting," Arsena firmly replied.


    "Well..."


    Just as Aiden was about to inquire further, Arsena added, "I''m not quite sure about other reasons; I focus solely on necromancy."


    Indeed, professionals are professionals, each with their own expertise. At least it could be confirmed that it was not a haunting.


    Whom should he call upon to investigate further? Aiden pondered.


    Suddenly, strange creaking noises came from Cell 6.


    "It''s here!!! this is it!!" The inmate standing at the doorway recoiled several steps in fear.


    Aiden gestured for the guard to take these inmates aside, then approached the cell, motioning for Arsena to follow.


    Despite sensing danger, issues and threats within the prison needed to be eliminated; it was his duty.


    The sound grew clearer, emanating from the walls between Cells 6 and 8. Aiden could vaguely discern that it sounded like a beast gnawing on hard objects, it''s unsettling to hear.


    As Aiden reached the doorway, the sound abruptly ceased.


    Then, the wall cracked open, and quicksilver silver liquid flowed out from the fissure, writhing and pooling on the cell floor.


    Mercury?


    Aiden an became alert, stepping back two paces and shouting to the guards present, "Sound the rm! Evacuate the inmates! And Summon the riot squad from the core area!!"


    He then turned to Arsena, saying, "Get to work; you take the lead!"


    However, Arsena calmly refused him, "I can''t handle this; it''s your turn, Warden. Please allow me to seek refuge first."

 Chapter 153:

    Chapter 153:


    <b>Terminator</b>


    Upon hearing Arsena''s words, Aiden was not only surprised but also puzzled, "What?"


    "This exceeds my capabilities." Arsena said as she distanced herself slightly from Aiden.


    Meanwhile, the pool of mercury began to surge and swiftly transformed into a humanoid figure.


    "Sure enough... There are theoretically only two ways to animate mercury like this. One involves the most delicate alchemy to create a golem that can be driven by it, while the other is to directly imbue metal with life." Arsena exined sinctly, "In the former case, my necromancy is ineffective against an object devoid of life and soul. As for thetter... it surpasses the limits of dark magic entirely. Beings of such high order cannot be killed by necromancy alone. Best of luck to you."


    "Shouldn''t you at least try first?" Aiden nced at her, "And why are you moving further away from me?"


    "It seems to have targeted you. As long as I distance myself from you, I am safe," Arsena analyzed rationally, "Standing too close makes us vulnerable to simultaneous attacks."


    Aiden realized that bringing this necromancer along might have been a misstep.


    The mercury finally coalesced into the form of a woman, her long hair floating as if defying gravity like seaweed in water. Just as Arsena had predicted, it immediately locked onto Aiden, assuming a tense attack stance and emitting a metallic growl.


    It was a golem sent by Vera - Aiden discerned the true identity of this thing.


    The witch unexpectedly revealed a new trump card, a metallic slime - no, it''s much more advanced than that, this thing was essentially a liquid metal robot.


    Seeing the mercury transform, Aiden was somewhat dumbfounded, jumping from a rune-powered crude puppet to something akin to the T-1000 from "Terminator." Wasn''t this technology way beyond the norm?


    It seemed to have infiltrated through the sewer system. This entity could likely navigate through sewer pipes after transforming and breach walls by exploiting gaps in the structure. When the target approached, the golem smashed through the wall on its own.


    After a brief consideration, Aiden decided to try to take it down. Escaping might not be an option, and as the warden here, he couldn''t allow such a dangerous creature to roam freely in his prison.


    He decisively drew his gun and fired. His gun was loaded with demon-devouring bullets, crafted from magic stones which is more precious than most gems. Upon hitting the target, these bullets could seal the target''s magic, earning them the moniker "Mage yer." They were the Inquisition''s tool against spellcasters and magical entity, albeit costly to produce.


    However, as he raised his gun, the mercury golem in the cell also reacted swiftly, morphing its right hand into a shield that deflected the bullet.


    Aiden paused. Liquid mercury couldn''t repel bullets with hardness alone; this golem likely wasn''t purely mercury-made but infused with some special material allowing rapid hardening.


    The next moment, the golem growled lowly and lunged straight at Aiden.


    Aiden dodged instinctively. He had to evade; the density of mercury was over thirteen times that of the human body, nearly twice that of iron. This golem, with a physique resembling that of a slender adult woman, likely weighing over half a ton, charged with the force of a raging bull. Moreover, considering the golem''s ability to potentially infiltrate the body forcibly through the mouth or nose, evading was imperative to avoid being torn apart.


    After a brief hesitation, Arsena, who had already distanced herself, pointed her staff at the golem and unleashed the advanced necromantic spell "Ethereal Ghostfire."


    Green mes immediately enveloped the reshaped golem, but it had no effect on the golem, which didn''t even spare a nce back at her.


    "Well, as expected." With an expression of anticipation, Arsena nodded lightly.


    "Ethereal Ghostfire" was a spell that burned souls, with mes not particrly high in temperature. Heating such arge volume of mercury to its boiling point instantly was unrealistic.


    "Don''t heat it up. Do you want me to get mercury poisoning?" Aiden interjected, "If it''s not useful, retreat to the other side of the gate."


    The golem''s attack hadpletely separated him from Arsena, but this didn''t bother him. He couldn''t rely on the necromancer anyway. Dealing with the golem ultimately fell on his shoulders.


    Aiden remained rtivelyposed. After all, the golem was just a creation of dark magic. Its confinement to the general prison area upon infiltrating indicated it was still bound by the seal''s restrictions. Therefore, the "Word of Order" should still affect it.


    With this in mind, he quickly retreated.


    The mercury golem followed suit, moving in a humanoid form but seemingly not walking on its feet like a human; instead, it wriggled on the ground, connected to arge mass of mercury at its ankles.


    Aiden then turned and ran towards the depths of the corridor, prompting the golem to adapt its movement pattern, bouncing in pursuit.


    The end of the corridor soon appeared, with the prisoners in the cell already evacuated. Once he was sure he had enough distance from the entrance, Aiden began his physical transformation, turning back to face the oing golem and chanting the divine incantation.


    His execution of these actions was seamless. Having spent days in the prison, he had been studying and practicing this particr incantation, his ace in the hole. It was unexpected that he could apply it so soon in a realbat situation.


    The divine incantation took effect swiftly, causing the golem, which was about to pounce on its cornered prey, to abruptly halt its movements and copse into an oval shape, churning abnormally.


    Finally, with an eerie roar, the golem deted like a leaking balloon, slowly dissolving, resembling melting butter. Aiden''s incantation dispersed the dark magic''s effects on this mass of mercury.


    It was done... and because it ended so easily, Aiden momentarily felt a sense of disappointment.


    However, he quickly reflected - the ability to resolve things simply was a good thing. This wasn''t a game; he couldn''t handle the life-and-death pressures of back-and-forth fighting.


    Thinking about Vera''s capabilities, crafting even a "Terminator," Aiden wondered if given time, she could create a magical Gundam as well.


    Lost in his thoughts, he walked cautiously, preparing to bypass the mercury pool and call for cleanup.


    But as he took his first step, the mercury, which had been slowly dispersing, unexpectedly began to regather, startling Aiden - this thing was still "alive"!

 Chapter 154:

    Chapter 154:


    <b>Taming Mercury</b>


    The liquid metal once again gathered into a t sphere and emitting a metallic, iprehensible murmur.


    The Demon Devouring Bullet was ineffective, and now even the Divine Words couldn''t handle it... For a moment, Aiden felt like he was about to meet his end here.


    However, the mercury sphere that had cornered Aiden did not attack him. Instead, it surged violently a few times and then spat out something the size of a cherry. The object shot out, hitting the railing of the cell and bouncing a few times on the ground before rolling to Aiden''s feet.


    Ignoring Aiden entirely, the mercury sphere slowly slithered towards the adjacent cell.


    Aiden sensed that the object no longer harbored any intention of harming him¡ªalmost as if it disregarded his presence altogether.


    After a brief hesitation, he bent down and picked up the object the mercury sphere had expelled.


    It was a ss ball... or perhaps crystal, containing a strand of hair. On its surface were intricately engraved, barely discernible runes, disying exquisite craftsmanship.


    Could this be... the core of the golem?Aiden remembered Reba telling him that Vera''s golems were guided and identified by hair and cursed inscriptions. This ss ball was likely the operational core of the golem, substituting for runes since they couldn''t be engraved on liquid metal.


    Yet, the golem voluntarily expelled this core, likely due to the Divine Words Aiden had just spoken.


    The Divine Words were effective, at least in rendering the core controlling the golem''s actions ineffective, causing the golem to no longer perceive Aiden as a target and expelling the core as an foreign object.


    The puzzling issue was that the golem, now without its core, how could it still move.


    Just as Aiden was pondering this, he witnessed the mercury lump in front of him slowly attaching itself to the cell''s railing, followed by a creaking, chewing-like sound.


    Aiden froze¡ªthis thing was gnawing on the railing.


    It was eating!


    Arsena had just mentioned two ways to drive mercury like this. One involved intricate alchemy to create a golem out of it. If that were the case, Aiden''s Divine Words should have reverted it entirely back to its original form.


    The runes on the ss ball likely controlled its behavioral logic, akin to software.


    The other method, possibly using magic beyond dark arts to grant metal life, it was likely the fundamental reason the mercury itself as hardware moved.


    With these thoughts in mind, Aiden began to form an idea and considered conducting an experiment.


    He retrieved his sidearm, extracted a Demon Devouring Bullet, and hurled it towards the mercury mass.


    Upon contact with the mercury sphere, the Demon Devouring Bullet was immediately consumed, apanied by a crisp chewing sound.


    Following that, the mercury sphere expelled something, catching Aiden''s eye¡ªit was the head of a magic Stone bullet, along with some gunpowder.


    It consumed only the metallic part of the bullet, and the magic Stone did not take effect upon entering its form.


    At that moment, Aiden became certain.


    This mercury golem was a creation of the Divine Words. Neither the Demon Devouring Bullet nor the "return" Divine Words could transform it back into a pure material form.


    ording to Dailey, Vera was unlikely to use Divine Words. The true creators who granted life to this mercury heap were probably among the three witches who wielded the Divine Words, with vera crafting the controlling core.


    Could it be... Abigail? If this effect was produced by a Saint-level opponent using Divine Words, Aiden doubted his status could dispel it.


    Was this the authority of "matter" in the Divine Words? No, it felt more like the authority of "life." Among the three great witches, at least one possessed two to three phrases of "life" Divine Words.


    While Aiden pondered rapidly, the mercury sphere suddenly detached from the railing and began moving slowly towards him.


    Aiden became wary of its movements.


    However, the mercury sphere only slithered around Aiden''s feet, emitting an iprehensible sound without making any overtly aggressive moves.


    After a few seconds, a portion of the mercury sphere extended towards Aiden''s hand that was holding the gun.


    Aiden finally grasped the creature''s intent¡ªit seemed to be begging for food.


    He nced at the railing being gnawed by the mercury sphere, noticing a slight notch. Compared to the securely fixed heavy steel, the mercury sphere seemed to prefer smaller metal objects, probably enticed by the bullets Aiden had just fed it, arousing its appetite.


    Could this creature be specifically attracted to metals...


    After a moment of thought, Aiden took two steps back and holstered his gun.


    The surface of the mercury sphere began to ripple rapidly, emitting a low growl, seemingly displeased with Aiden''s actions.


    Aiden calmly retrieved a few coins from his pocket, disying them by pinching them with his fingers.


    The mercury sphere ceased its growling, then bounced twice and produced a clinking sound resembling a triangle, disying considerable liveliness.


    It seemed to prefer these coins.


    Aiden tossed several copper coins to it, which were promptly engulfed by the mercury, apanied by the sudden sound of chewing.


    While it feasted, Aiden cautiously circled around it, making his way towards the opposite end and taking a few steps towards the gate.


    The mercury sphere sensed his movement and slithered after him.


    It appeared to consider him its caretaker, it''s behaving akin to a domesticated animal¡ªnot hunting wild prey directly but more resembling a tamed stray dog or cat.


    Was this due to its association with the witch...


    A sudden thought shed in Aiden''s mind¡ªperhaps this entity could be tamed!


    At that moment, noisy footsteps approached behind Aiden. Veronica, apanied by the riot squad from the core area, rushed over.


    "Chief, are you alright!?" Veronica shouted anxiously.


    As the mercury sphere appeared in front of Aiden, all the riot squad members froze.


    "Be on guard!" Veronica shouted.


    Instantly, all squad members drew their guns, forming a horizontal firing line.


    Sensing their movements, the mercury sphere growled and transformed into a sea urchin shape, resembling a bristling cat.


    "Everyone, hold your fire! Put your guns away! Step back!" Aiden intervened in time.


    Veronica hesitated momentarily but obeyed without further questions, she immediately holstering her weapon and gesturing for the other team members to do the same.


    The riot squad began to retreat, yet the mercury sphere remained tense.


    After a moment of thought, Aiden disyed the silver coin he had been holding in his hand.


    The mercury sphere paused briefly, then retracted its spikes, emitting a pleasant bell-like sound, trotting over to Aiden''s feet eagerly.


    Witnessing this scene, Aiden chuckled in disbelief¡ªthis creature seemed to have a taste for the finer things in life!

 Chapter 155:

    Chapter 155:


    <b>Qimora</b>


    That evening, Aiden had a meeting room prepared and led the mercury sphere into the room.


    The room was located within the core area, and enveloped by a sealing magic barrier, yet the mercury sphere remained energetic here.


    Afterwards, Aiden had someone bring Prisci from the prison cell to this room and personally questioned her for relevant information.


    Seeing the mercury undting in the center of the room, Prisci sighed inwardly¡ªjust as she expected, it had indeede to this.


    She had some understanding of the operation principles of Vera''s mercury golem. The golem was a metal imbued with life by the Divine Word, but the method of control still relied on Vera''s ancient golem technology, in other words, A ck magic, an effect that would be firmly countered by Aiden''s Divine Word.


    "Let''s be direct - you''re familiar with this thing, right?" Aiden pointed his thumb at the mercury sphere, which was diligently gnawing on a pile of iron scrap.


    "I do. This is Vera''s mercury golem," Prisci answered truthfully. At this point, there was no need to conceal this information.


    "You knew Vera had this thing, yet you didn''t inform me?" Aiden asked pointedly."I didn''t expect her to actually use it," Prisci shrugged, "And even if she did, I don''t think she could kill you. Look, you''re standing here just fine, aren''t you?"


    Her first statement was not entirely false. Although Qimora had informed her of this yesterday, Prisci had genuinely never thought Vera would resort to using such a precious trump card.


    "Since we''re at this point, let''s not hide things from each other anymore..." Aiden gazed into Prisci''s eyes.


    Prisci''s heart skipped a beat: Could it be that Aiden already knew about Qimora sneaking into the prison cell yesterday?


    It didn''t make sense... Qimora infiltrated the prison using the authority of "void," and after she left the cell, the memories of other witnesses, including that subus, should have been erased.


    But what Aiden said next was, "If that person still has any cards up their sleeve, they might as well reveal them all. Although I am quite interested in her inventions, I can''t withstand her creations continuously dismantling my prison."


    It turned out he was simply asking for information about Vera and the golem¡ªPrisci breathed a sigh of relief internally and calmly replied, "She has nothing left. Truly nothing. This is Vera''s trump card. To my knowledge, she only has one mercury golem."


    Aiden pondered this statement for a moment.


    Most likely, this was true. Vera couldn''t create such a golem solely with her own technology, and she probably didn''t have multiple golems like this.


    "Who helped Vera create this golem?" Aiden continued to inquire. "I know the transformation of this mercury is the effect of the Divine Word."


    "Abigail," Prisci answered.


    Abigail¡ªthis time, Aiden''s heart skipped a beat.


    Abigail helped Vera create the mercury golem. Could it be that Abigail also orchestrated the attack of the mercury golem on the Rose Prison?


    If the Witch Queen with "Saint" level had truly set her sights on him, not to mention being trapped in the prison, even if he remained hidden there, safety wouldn''t be guaranteed.


    But then Prisci added, "This was a gift from Abigail to vera to show her appreciation for Vera''s sessful restoration of golem technology. Vera''s part was in creating the golem itself, including the material and the method of controlling it."


    After hearing this, Aiden breathed a slight sigh of relief. The golem was a gift from Abigail to Vera, meaning that Vera hadplete control over its use. The golem''s infiltration of the prison for the attack was likely Vera''s personal action, and It''s not enough to prove that the entire witche gathering had started to act.


    "Abigail, does she hold the Divine Word of Life?" Aiden inquired.


    "Yeah, you really do understand the Divine Word," Prisci nced at the mercury sphere, then back at Aiden. "I mean, are you nning to domesticate it now?"


    "Well, although I can''t recreate the core for control, I am considering trying to tame it. I''ve noticed its behavioral patterns are simr to a domesticated animal; I think there''s value in taming it," Aiden admitted straightforwardly.


    "Typically, people tend to avoid things created by witches, even inquisitor who also wield dark magic..." Prisci teased Aiden. "You really are quite the odd one."


    "I''m someone who harbors a certain curiosity for novel things," Aiden chuckled.


    While he said this, the main reason Aiden entertained thoughts of taming the golem was its strikingly advanced technology. The Terminator and liquid metal robots¡ªthese "toys" surpassed even the technological level of his previous world.


    With the innovative technologies discovered by these witches, given enough time, they might even be able to createrge-scale robots akin to those science fiction Gundam.


    "With such curiosity, why not be a witch yourself and delve into dark magic research? I can help you get an introduction letter to join the witch gathering and even whip up a potion that can change your gender..." Prisci smirked.


    "I''ll pass on that," Aiden waved it off.


    "What a shame, the Witch''s gathering would have weed you," a voice suddenly cut into the room.


    Aiden and Prisci, both present, were momentarily stunned before noticing a third person standing boldly in the center of the room.


    Qimora.


    Once again, she made a grand entrance: a light purple dress adorned withyers of lotus leaf pleats, a whitece cor tied with a red bow, a silver hairband adorned with pearls atop her head, and despite being indoors, she held a splendid parasol.


    Despite her dazzling attire, Aiden strangely didn''t find the woman before him particrly striking, he feels an odd sense of forgettable inness.


    Qimora lifted her skirt, gracefully bowed to Aiden, and said, "Greetings, Aiden Galord, a pleasure to meet you, we technically met at Abigail''s summoned gathering. I am Qimora..."


    Aiden stared at the uninvited guest and silently drew his gun, aiming a shot at her shoulder.


    The bullet passed through Qimora''s body as if through a non-existent projection, hitting the wall behind her.


    Qimora calmly turned to nce at the bullet hole in the wall, then back at Aiden with a smile, "Is this your unique way of greeting around here?"


    "Hmph, seems like it''s no use after all." Aiden nonchntly holstered his gun, but inwardly, he was in a state of panic.


    Why did it not work?


    In the end, the three demon-devouring bullets used today had all failed to hit their targets effectively.

 Chapter 156:

    Chapter 156:


    <b>Small Gift</b>


    "Qimora ... What are you really thinking?" Prisci gazed at the abrupt appearance of Qimora, her face filled with surprise.


    However, Qimora merely nced at her, smiled, then immediately shifted his gaze back to Aiden with interest. "Did you Just testing my abilities? What if you had really hurt me just now?"


    "I am the warden here, shooting an intruder is both normal and reasonable. Plus, I knew you would be fine," Aiden calmly lied, pausing for a moment before turning to Qimora. "It''s the power of ''Void,'' isn''t it?"


    When he first saw Qimora, he was actually a bit startled, but after a brief moment of consideration, he decided to take preemptive action by shooting first. In a prison environment where encountering suspected jailbreakers was not umon, he had every reason to shoot and directly kill the enemy.


    If the other party was there to kill him and had abilities surpassing his own, striking first was his only advantage.


    If the shooting didn''t work, he could y it off as just a test, and if the opponent wasn''t there to kill him and could easily withstand the gunshot, they likely wouldn''t get angry.


    "You figured it out at a nce?" Qimora smiled. "Just like Prisci said, you are quite knowledgeable."


    Bingo..., it truly was the divinenguage of "Void," Aiden thought.This was the core area, covered by a sealing magic barrier. Without his permission and unless someone temporarily exceeded the ordinary person''s magical limit by consuming precious magical Potion, it was impossible to use dark magic here.


    Even if one could use dark magic, infiltrating this prison unnoticed was still very difficult.


    The opponent identified themselves as Qimora - one of the three powerful witches who could use divinenguage, so she most likely infiltrating the prison through the power of divinenguage.


    Mephilia had mentioned to Aiden about the information regarding the "Void" authority. The moment Aiden saw Qimora, he felt that the descriptionpletely matched mephilia''s ount.


    Using the divinenguage of "Void," one couldpletely erase their presence - their form, voice, even scent would not be detected by anyone, making it indeed not difficult to sneak into this prison.


    However, just now, the bullet passing directly through her body without any interference made it seem unlikely that it was the effect of the same divinenguage. Normally, from the moment Qimora voluntarily appeared in front of him, the effect of the divinenguage should have temporarily disappeared.


    Aiden spected that this was likely another authority under the "Void" power - in other words, Qimora probably wielded more than one divine words.


    "Using the ''Void'' authority can really be troublesome sometimes. No matter how outstandingly I dress, no one is willing to spare me a second nce," Qimoramented as she straightened the creases on her sleeve.


    "Enough with the nonsense. What is your purpose here?" Aiden stared at Qimora and asked, "After all that talk and no action, you''re not here to clean up after Vera''s failed mission, are you?"


    Although he maintained a calm facade, he was quite nervous inside.


    The other party was likely closer to the "authority" than himself and perhaps even held one or two other divine words - although it''s not entirely unbeatable, as he himself was a wielder of divinenguage and knew well that despite its potency, the abilities it conferred on mortals had limitations, especially in his prison, which was his domain.


    However, facing an adversary of this caliber without any harm was proving to be quite challenging.


    Fortunately, Qimora softened her smile and said, "Of course not. To be precise, I should say I''m here to clean up after everything Vera did."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Aiden Galord, I have been entrusted by the ''Apex Witch'' Abigail toe here and convey the current position of the Witch gathering to you," Qimora''s tone carried a hint of seriousness. "We apologize for Vera''s unauthorized attack on you and hope that you will overlook her actions."


    Upon hearing this, Aiden was somewhat surprised.


    "So, does this mean... a ceasefire?" he squinted skeptically.


    "Well, technically speaking, we never really dered war in the first ce. Vera''s actions against you were entirely her own doing," Qimora shrugged. "You''ve ''attended'' our gathering; so you should have noticed that not all of us are so friendly."


    "True," Aiden agreed. "So, does it mean you have no objections to my infiltration of the meeting? I assume Abigail didn''t ''teach'' me divinenguage with the intention of truly educating me, right?"


    The imparting of divinenguage can cause significant mental contamination in ordinary individuals. It was evident that Abigail had used the divinenguage on him for this purpose, implying that at least at that moment, Abigail had intended to kill him.


    Abigail''s attitude was currently Aiden''s primary concern. As the organizer of the Witch gathering, Abigail''s stance could to some extent determine the direction of the gathering.


    "That was just a little joke; that''s how Abigail is. She didn''t actually pay much attention to it at the time," Qimora said with an easy smile.


    "That''s indeed quite magnanimous," Aiden nodded.


    "But we never expected you to be a wielder of divinenguage as well," Qimora said, ncing at the mercury sphere nonchntly nibbling on scrap metal in the corner. "Even Vera''s mercury golem was defeated."


    "Are you nning to take this thing back?" Aiden asked.


    Honestly, he wasn''t keen on returning the mercury sphere. Firstly, this object could infiltrate the prison through the sewer system, posing a significant threat to him personally. Secondly, he wasn''t eager to part with such a good toy, and he hadn''t yet receivedpensation for the damaged walls and pipes caused by the mercury golem.


    "No, consider this toy a small gift to you, as it has caused some damage here. We hope you''ll let it go and, of course, show a bit of corresponding goodwill," Qimora smiled.


    "If you said earlier that Vera''s attack on me was her personal action, can we trust your words now?" Aiden was still somewhat concerned and sought confirmation from the other party, "What if she strikes again?"


    "That''s all the more reason to leave this thing here. As you''ve heard from Prisci, the one who gave it life is Abigail, not Vera. And Vera lost the precious gift from Abigail to her, so naturally, she must bear the corresponding responsibility. Rest assured, she will listen to us," Qimora assured him.

 Chapter 157:

    Chapter 157:


    <b>Friendly Bteral Rtions</b>


    "You are quite polite," Aiden said to Qimora.


    "Faced with an opponent like you, Vera continuing to be stubborn won''t yield any results. Instead, she might end up losing. We don''t want to stand by and see further casualties on this side," Qimora calmly replied.


    Aiden gathered some information from Qimora''s choice of words.


    Regarding the mercury golem bestowed with life by Abigail, they presented it to Vera as a "precious gift," even using it as a reason to prevent her from acting against them.


    However, when it came to leaving the mercury golem directly with Aiden, they merely referred to it as a "small gift."


    While there were formalities involved, Aiden could sense that perhaps due to not fully understanding the situation on his side, they had overestimated him, treating him as an equal entity with some backgrounds.


    This was likely the primary reason the witches took the initiative to reconcile with him¡ªan indication that, for now at least, they did not want to make an enemy of him.


    This was a positive development for him."This is the sincerity we can show on our side. Could Your Excellency forgive Vera''s previous offense?" Qimora inquired.


    Although she appearedposed when Facing Aiden, she was actually a little nervous.


    The incident with the mercury golem being taken was within her expectations, and it confirming Aiden Galord possession of the Divine Words.


    Upon seeing her, Aiden immediately discerned the authority behind the Divine Words she held, further validating Dailey and Prisci assessment of him.


    As a wielder of the Divine Words herself, Qimora understood the difficulty in obtaining information about divine powers and divinity. The Witch''s gathering, relying on awork shared by a few grand witches, only acquired a small portion of such information.


    Yet, the amount of intelligence this man possessed seemed to surpass theirs.


    Either he was a discreet "saint" himself, or there was a "saint" or an even higher being behind him...


    Moreover, this individual had intricate ties to the autonomous state''s Inquisition organization. For the Witch''s gathering to be at odds with this man now would be exceedingly perilous.


    Upon hearing Qimora words, Aiden actually wanted to immediately nod vigorously and say, "Of course, I support this." Ensuring that Abigail and even the entire Witch''s gathering did not act against him was something he earnestly desired.


    However, such a reaction seemed too minor and unassertive. After pretending to ponder for a few seconds, he eventually gave a slight nod and replied nonchntly, "Well, since you are willing to take the initiative to admit to this matter, it would be petty of me to dwell on it."


    "It''s really good that you agree." Qimora gracefully nodded in response to his satisfactory answer.


    "However, your casual entry into my prison does make me quite uneasy," Aiden said, pointing towards Prisci. "I suspect you may have met with them in secret before, am I right?"


    It was easy to deduce that since Qimora had the ability to easily infiltrate the prison, she likely first sought out Dailey and Prisci to gather information.


    "Don''t worry, I was just wandering around here casually and happened to explore the prison as well," Qimora smiled. "You should know, mortals have limited use of the dominator abilities. It would be quite difficult for me alone to use the ''void'' ability to break into the prison."


    Truth be told, Aiden didn''t know the extent of Qimora use of the Divine Words, nor had he fully grasped the scope of her abilities. But it seemed like Qimora assumed he knew, so he could only y along.


    "Just wandering around already poses a significant issue. If you wanted to explore the prison, you could have just gone to the reception area. You are not on the Inquisition wanted list," Aiden stated calmly.


    "Well, I''ll try my best," Qimora replied vaguely.


    Aiden knew that the other party likely wouldn''tply. After all, he currently had no way to address Qimora infiltration of the prison; the initiativey in her hands, and this wasn''t something he could resolve solely through words.


    Fortunately, he now at least knew that "someone in the Witch''s gathering had the means to infiltrate the prison," which was valuable intelligence in itself. Knowing was better than being unaware.


    The most critical issue was whether she had discovered the underground cell of mephilia.


    Aiden spected that the likelihood of Qimora knowing was not high. The cell was hidden deep underground, essible only through his office. Normally, without prior knowledge of such a cell''s existence, one wouldn''t suddenly think to explore underground from his office. Unless she had been monitoring him continuously and happened to witness him opening the secret passage to descend underground.


    Considering Aiden''s previous practice with the Divine Words, the effects of the Divine Words were also likely time-limited. Qimora use of the Divine Words probably had simr constraints, so she wouldn''t likely spend extended periods monitoring individuals within the prison.


    If the existence of the underground prison holding Mephilia were to be leaked, it would undoubtedly be a significant issue for Aiden. Forces seeking the "wisdom" authority would likely converge swiftly.


    "Dailey mentioned briefly to me that you seem to treat them quite well. While wandering in the prison, I saw them and other witches conducting research in the library," Qimora suddenly shifted the conversation to a new topic. "You are quite different from the inquisitor I''ve met before. Why did you choose to deal with us witches?"


    "Well, I''m just fulfilling a bit of responsibility, and offering prisoners a chance," Aiden candidly replied. "Personally, I feel that the ''ord'' is a bit too stringent towards you, towards all dark magician. In my view, your research isn''t solely about danger and taboo; a considerable part of it holds value that transcends eras."


    "What an enlightened perspective," Qimora nodded with a smile, then added meaningfully, "In that case, I believe we might have an opportunity to... forge a more friendly bteral rtionship."


    "What do you mean?" Aiden sensed that Qimora bringing up this topic had a purpose.


    "I''ll be straightforward. The Witch''s gathering is about to go to war with the Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult. I wanted to ask if Your Excellency is interested in joining forces with us?" Qimora suddenly fixed her gaze seriously on Aiden''s eyes.


    "The Bountifull Mother Goddess cult!?" Aiden was momentarily taken aback.


    "Yes, you must be quite interested, right? After all, they are ourmon enemy," Qimora raised an eyebrow suggestively.


    "Ourmon enemy?" Aiden was suddenly puzzled¡ªwhen did he be enemies with the Cult of the Bountifull Mother Goddess?


    "No need to hide it, we already know," Qimora smiled, pointing at Aiden. "Your Excellency... you are with the Flying Spaghetti Monster Cult, aren''t you?"

 Chapter 158:

    Chapter 158:


    <b>Abigail''s Instructions</b>


    One hour ago.


    Within the summoning space shrouded in gray mist, across the long table adorned with pumpkinnterns, Abigail sat opposite Qimora.


    "It has been confirmed. Aiden Galord is the wielder of the Divine Word. He used his ''Order'' authority to erase Vera''s golem core, and iming the Mercury Golem for himself."


    "Wasn''t it the ''teaching'' I imparted to him, did he learn it at that moment?" Abigail inquired.


    "ording to Dailey ount, that seems to be the case. However, Prisci information suggests he holds knowledge of other ''Throne'' abilities," Qimora stated. "Moreover, the source of his divinity remains a mystery."


    "Is there someone behind him?" Abigail promptly drew a conclusion.


    "That possibility is the most likely," Qimora agreed.


    "Did anything turn up in that prison?" Abigail asked."Not really, but there was something else intriguing..." Qimora recollected. "In the prison cafeteria, some individuals use utensils that resemble two sticks to eat."


    "Oh?" Abigail seemed intrigued. "Tell me more about it."


    Qimora was somewhat surprised by Abigail''s interest, as she had not paid much attention to this detail initially and had merely mentioned it in passing.


    Since Abigail asked, Qimora responded truthfully: "ording to what Dailey and the others said, it seems to be a practice initiated by Aiden Galord himself within the prison. The cafeteria there also offers some very unique dishes, some of which are more convenient to eat with these utensils."


    "...¡± Abigail fell silent after hearing this.


    "What do you know?" Qimora asked curiously.


    "Eating with utensils resembling two sticks was a religious tradition of the Flying Spaghetti Sect from the Old Reiss Kingdom two hundred years ago," Abigail said slowly.


    "The Flying spaghetti Sect? That doesn''t sound like a serious religious group," Qimora chuckled in response.


    "It was the first religious group to rise against the Great Earth Mother Church of the Old Reiss Reis Kingdom. Unfortunately, the rebellion was quickly quelled, so they didn''t be well-known," Abigail exined slowly. "I thought the sect had beenpletely destroyed..."


    "Rebelling against the Great Earth Mother Church, isn''t that..." Qimora grasped the significance.


    "Yes, for the Flying Spaghetti Sect, the Bountifull Mother Church is their mortal enemy. If that man is truly linked to the Flying spaghetti Sect, then we likely have amon enemy," Abigail nodded. "There is utility in this."


    "It seems like the priest has been infiltrating power into the autonomous region recently, could it be... for this reason?" Qimora suddenly remembered this.


    "The likelihood is high," Abigail agreed with this assessment.


    "So should we propose an alliance to him?" Qimora inquired.


    "There''s no harm in it for us," Abigail replied calmly. "Tell Vera to stop immediately and inform her not to let me intervene."


    "But what if that man has no intention of opposing the Mother Church?" Qimora asked again.


    "He will. I will discreetly hint at his connection to the Mother Church if the priest''s pursuit aligns with him; he will eventually stand with us,"


    Abigail calmly stated, reaching to touch the pendant hanging below her neck. Unlike the token worn by other grand witches, her ne pendant was a white goose egg-sized pebble.


    Behind her, the thick gray fog continued to churn.


    ---


    And now¡ª


    "If you want me to join forces with you... first, tell me, how did the Bountifull Mother Church sh with your Witches'' gathering?" Aiden asked Qimora.


    He could roughly imagine that Qimora must have roamed around the prison and, upon seeing the cafeteria he had reformed, She mistakenly concluded that he was a disciple of the Flying spaghetti Sect.


    the Bountifull Mother Church was inherited from earth goddess church, which was destroyed by the flying spaghetti cult. It wasn''t surprising that they would assume that he have an enmity with them.


    However, he was hearing about the Witches'' gathering preparing to go to war with the Bountifull Mother Church for the first time. It seemed this was the fundamental reason Abigail extended an olive branch to him.


    After a brief consideration, he decided to gather more intelligence first.


    While aligning with the Witches'' gathering would likely ensure they didn''t pose a threat in the future, it also meant potentially making enemies of the Bountifull Mother Church.


    "The Bountifull Mother Church also wields the Divine Word. Baris, and the current leader of the church, aims to extract divinity from the Grand Witch," Qimora replied.


    The response was too sinct¡ªAiden realized the reluctance to reveal too much.


    However, Qimora still provided crucial information: the leader of the Bountifull Mother Church, also a wielder of the Divine Word, and likely held a significant status. Otherwise, with the resources of the Witches'' Gathering¡ªAbigail, a "saint," along with two other Divine Word wielders, and two other grand witches who''s not yet imprisoned¡ªthey wouldn''t need to seek his coboration.


    Of course, it''s also possible that the Witches'' Gathering simply wants to use him as a pawn.


    Aiden had once spected that the unnamed witch who founded the Flying Spaghetti Sect two hundred years ago had some connection to the Witches'' Gathering. He even suspected that this unnamed witch, who might have been his predecessor as a transmigrator, was now Abigail, who controlled the Sabbath Forest.


    However, the era of activity of the unnamed witch and the period when Abigail''s name began to gain prominence differed by about a hundred and fifty years.


    The Bountifull Mother Church imed to be a religious group aiming to revive the Old Reiss Kingdom and the Great Earth Mother Church. To some extent, they held old grievances against the unnamed witch who had once rebelled against the Great Earth Mother Church.


    This suggested that the Witches'' gathering might indeed have some connection to that unnamed witch.


    "Of course, we are also keen on seizing everything from the Bountifull Mother Church," Qimora added. "If you are willing to assist, we are more than willing to share the spoils with you."


    "I can''t fully trust you on this," Aiden crossed his arms. "I need some time to consider this."


    "Very well, we are not in a rush," Qimora anticipated this response. "I wille back for your answer next time."


    "I hope next time you can find me through proper channels at the reception, rather than sneaking in like this again," Aiden sighed.


    "At the very least, can you ensure that you will no longer target the Witches'' Gathering?"


    "I never had any intention to do so. As long as you don''t provoke trouble, we''ll be fine. This ce is just a prison, not a ce for hunting down heretical criminals," Aiden replied calmly.


    "Very well, until next time," Qimora smiled, curtsied, and began chanting the Divine Word.


    The next moment, she vanished from Aiden''s sight without a trace.

 Chapter 159:

    Chapter 159:


    <b>The ck Mountain Goat Priest</b>


    At night, in the outskirts of Silver City, Caldria Autonomous Prefecture, stood a humble cottage.


    "Hurry up, we''re alreadyte!" The man hushed hispanion behind him, urging him to catch up.


    "Oh, what''s the rush? We''re only in time for the final segment. Are you really interested in listening to that priest''s lengthy preaching?" Thepanion remained nonchnt.


    "Fool, arrivingte means only the leftovers for us!"


    "Well, what''s there to pick from? Those nuns all look almost the same..."


    As the two approached the cottage''s entrance, they surreptitiously nced around before the man in the lead raised his hand and tapped the door with a specific rhythm.


    The door creaked open, revealing a young woman in a nun''s outfit behind it.


    The nun''s vacant gaze swept over the two men before she stepped aside.Inside the room, they were greeted by a dimly lit corridor illuminated by candles. The nun who had let them in locked the door behind them, then wordlessly gestured towards the donation box by the door.


    Both men took a few silver coins from their pockets and dropped them in, to which the nun nodded and then silently led them further inside.


    She guided the two followers into a warehouse and opened the entrance to the basement.


    A straight passage descended underground, with irondders fixed to the walls. The nun raised antern to light the entrance for the two men as they proceeded into the basement in sequence.


    As soon as they descended, they heard a deep, resonant voice echoing in the underground space:


    "... She sows seeds to the world, bestowing the miracle of life''s proliferation, allowing countless species to transcend the great boundary of life and death to endure in this world. Praise her, the great Mother Goddess! She is the starting point of all things, thend that receives cultivation, the ck Mountain Goat that nurtures myriad offspring!!"


    The basement had been simply arranged as a chapel, illuminated brightly by countless candles.


    On the pulpit, a priest wearing a ck Mountain Goat mask was preaching, his voice muffled by the mask he wore over his head.


    A robed nun yed the organ beside him, while male disciples sat restlessly in the seats below.


    The two who entered the chapel were pleased; it seemed they had arrived just in time as the priest''s sermon wasing to a close, and the main event was about to begin.


    Just as they found their seats, the priest on the pulpit suddenly raised his arms and eximed, "Offer homage to the great Mother Goddess, sow and proliferate, may her will flow through thend!"


    "May her will flow through thend!!" The excited congregation below repeated fervently.


    At the same time, behind the pulpit, a curtain bearing an inverted pentagram was drawn aside, and several nuns entered the chapel, beginning to undress. This sparked enthusiastic cheers and whistles among the worshippers.


    "Then, offer everything to the Mother Goddess," the priest said tly, before turning and disappearing to the backstage.


    The ck-d nun ying the organ brought the music to a close, then rose to follow suit.


    Behind the curtain was a long passageway leading to another underground room, which also serving as an escape route.


    The priest removed his ck Mountain Goat mask, revealing grey hair and a face that showing signs of aging.


    Ignoring themotion behind him, he left the scene without a sparing a nce.


    "The third team sent to the Sabbath Forest has been wiped out as well," the ck-d nun calmly spoke to the priest.


    "As expected, it''s not easy to find a way there," the priest replied calmly. "Let it continue; there are as many expendable pawns as needed. Once the way is found, the information can be disseminated. There are many forces eager to im the Witch''s head."


    "The ''proliferation'' efficiency may not keep up," the ck-d nun remarked. "Our time is running short."


    "If time is short, then hire some reckless mercenaries and bounty hunters; it won''t cost much," the priest suggested.


    As they discussed, a grey-robed nun holding antern approached.


    "Father," the nun bowed respectfully to the priest.


    "Ah, my daughter," the priest spread his hand and smiled. "Is there something on your mind? You don''t look well."


    "I have some... news," the nun leaned in and whispered something to the priest.


    "Oh?" The priest''s expression changed slightly. "Where did this newse from?"


    "It is a medicine seller disciple who lives in Silver City. He ims to have heard it from a witch who served time in the Rose Prison," the grey-robed nun replied respectfully.


    "A women''s prison, why would..." the priest pondered, "Has there been any investigation?"


    "Not yet."


    "Then arrange for a few to ''go in'' and investigate; we cannot linger here too long. We must find the ''Diviner'' as soon as possible," the priest instructed.


    "Understood," the grey-robed nun nodded and turned to leave.


    However, as she took a couple of steps, she suddenly froze in ce, thentern slipping from her hand and crashing to the ground.


    "What''s wrong?" the priest asked, showing no sign of panic.


    The grey-robed nun suddenly began convulsing, then copsed to the ground, curling up in agony.


    "Father... I... I feel terrible, help me..." she gasped towards the priest, her breath was thin.


    "Your time hase," the priest furrowed his brow slightly, and sighing. "For this generation of the split bodies, you can onlyst less than half a month. Beyond that..."


    "Use her to the fullest before she dies," the ck-d nun standing behind him spoke indifferently. "Even if she is a pawn, we need her, especially now."


    "Father..." the grey-robed nun strained to reach out to the priest by her feet.


    "Don''t worry, you will soon be reborn," the priest watching her closely and reassured her in a gentle tone.


    Then, he uttered iprehensible words, his deep voice echoing in the tunnel like a bell.


    As soon as he finished speaking, the grey-robed nun''s body began to swell, and the frail nun suddenly let out a scream akin to childbirth.


    The nun''s outfit quickly tore apart, and then, the swollen flesh became sticky and slippery like mud, splitting apart as if pulled by an external force, eventually dividing into two halves that reshaped andpleted themselves, forming two full bodies.


    "Cough, cough, cough... Cough!" The newly born nuns, d in tattered garments, coughed as theyy on the ground.


    They bore faces strikingly simr to the grey-robed nun before the split, albeit appearing younger and smaller in stature.


    "Praise your new life, my daughters," the priest said, spreading his hands and offering a loving smile to the two.


    Both women raised their faces simultaneously, their empty eyes mirroring the figure of the priest.


    "Father..." their identical voices ovepped.

 Chapter 160:

    Chapter 160:


    <b>The Purging Cults List</b>


    Two dayster, at the Rose Prison, in the warden''s office, Reba visited once again.


    "Reconciliation with the Witchs'' Gathering? Is that really true?" Reba''s face was filled with astonishment.


    "Indeed," Aiden nodded calmly.


    "This..." Reba hesitated for a moment. "But it doesn''t seem like something you would do."


    "It''s not a big deal. Besides, Vera has already left the autonomous region. Trying to catch her now would be futile. It''s not practical for the Inquisition and the Mounted Police to keep expending so much manpower and resources just for my safety," Aiden replied nonchntly.


    "You should tell the Chief about this," Reba frowned slightly.


    "I''m not that stupid. He would definitely make a scene. So Could you please convey the message for me?" Aiden smiled, while holding his teacup.


    "Don''t use me as your shield," Reba grumbled unhappily. "Anyway, the Witches'' Gathering is still an illegal organization. You, a former inquisitor, getting involved with such a group... isn''t that a bit risky?"ording to the ck Magic Management Convention signed by most countries on the maind, witches and warlocks researching dark magic privately are essentially viting the Convention. In the eyes of many, including Reba, the Witches'' Gathering is seen as arge transnational criminal organization.


    Therefore, Reba couldn''t help but feel a bit worried when Hearing about Aiden''s private reconciliation with the Witches'' Gathering.


    "No, not really. Firstly, what I''m doing is not fundamentally different from the autonomous region and the member countries of the Convention. Secondly, to be precise, the Witches'' Gathering is not an illegal organization; it just happens to have many fugitives among its members," Aiden corrected. "Take Abigail, the apparent organizer of the Witches'' Gathering ; she isn''t even listed in the wanted registers of the Convention''s member countries."


    "That''s because she..." Reba hesitated slightly, "...has been residing in the Sabbath Forest, which is not imed by any country as its territory."


    Aiden shook his head. "Almost any well-known warlock is usually jointly wanted by several countries. The reason Abigail might be spared is because the cost of capturing her far outweighs the necessity. While the countries that signed the Convention all wish for the dissolution of the Witches'' Gathering, if the witches were to unite against the Convention, it would pose a significant challenge for any nation."


    "So, targeting Abigail under the Convention might actually lead the Witches'' Gathering to unite?" Reba grasped his implication.


    "Yes, but the reverse holds true for the Witches'' Gathering as well. If Abigail were to personally unify the witches to resist the ck Magic Management Convention, she would immediately be a target," Aiden nodded. "That''s probably why Abigail has refrained from doing so."


    Prisci and Vera have always hoped that the Witches'' Gathering could be consolidated into a tight-knit organization to oppose the Convention. However, the only figure with such rallying power is Abigail, the organizer, who has chosen not to take that path. While this could significantly improve the situation for all witches, it might bring more harm than good to Abigail personally.


    "So that''s why countries haven''t acted against Abigail, and correspondingly, Abigail hasn''t openly defied the Convention," Reba mused deeply.


    "Yes, so what I''m doing is no different from those few countries under the Convention," Aiden calmly raised his teacup. "When Abigail sent someone to propose a truce between Vera and me, I had no reason to refuse. It would not be wise to make enemies of the entire Witches'' Gathering."


    "But there are organizations that have dered war on them..."


    "Indeed, which is why I asked you to bring me the files of the Bountiful Mother Cult for me to peruse," Aiden shook the file bag that Reba handed to him.


    Aiden decided to gather as much intelligence as possible about the Bountiful Mother cult using the resources at his disposal before responding to the Witches'' Gathering.


    Despite some information revealed by Qimora, Aiden was certain that they were still withholding some details.


    The reasons behind the Bountiful Mother Cult targeting the Witches'' gathering were definitely more than just seeking divinity. After all, the countries that signed the Convention had never considered directly dering war on the entire Witches'' Gathering. How can A religious group attempting to revive itself between the Empire and Gistas dare to do so.


    Moreover, the Witches'' Gathering itself was quite loosely organized. Even among the seven Grand Witches, only Prisci, Vera, and Dailey had a sense of camaraderie. The others mostly operated independently.


    If their focus was solely on the divinity possessed by those three Grand Witches, the best strategy would be to systematically dismantle them one by one, starting with the rtively easier targets like Lamia or Qimora.


    However, from the current situation, Abigail sending Qimora to recall Vera indicates Abigail''s intention to personally organize for battle, even involving Vera, who does not possess divinity.


    This suggests that the Bountiful Mother''s deration of war is aimed at the entire Witches'' Gathering, or at least specifically targeting Abigail herself.


    The Bountiful Mother Cult undoubtedly has deeper motives, perhaps even involving the unnamed witch who founded the Flying Spaghetti Cult...


    "You could have essed this information from the bureau yourself..." Reba remarked.


    "I can''t risk it. If I were caught by the old man now, it would be troublesome," Aiden shrugged.


    Knowing Director Harold , just his unauthorized reconciliation with the Witches'' Gathering would be enough to earn his disapproval.


    That''s why he only had Reba convey this fact, temporarily concealing the Witches'' Gathering proposal for cooperation.


    Reba stared at Aiden for a moment, then sighed, "It feels like you''ve changed a lot since being in prison. Your previous style of doing things was more akin to the director''s."


    "There''s a problem with your statement. What do you mean by ''since being in prison''?" Aiden sighed. "Well, people do tend to change somewhat when their environment changes."


    After all, he had literally be the former Aiden in a new setting.


    "I''ve heard from other task forces that the Bountiful Mother Cult has been increasingly active in the autonomous region recently. I wonder if it''s rted to the Witches'' Gathering?" Reba crossed her arms. "I''m a bit worried. If both sides go to war, I''m not sure if it will spill over to this side."


    "Speaking of which..." Aiden suddenly remembered something. "How exactly is the Bountiful Mother Cult perceived in the autonomous region? Has that cult been included in the ''List for the Purging of Evil Cults''?"

 Chapter 161:

    Chapter 161:


    <b>The Simple Pleasures of Men</b>


    In this world where religions abound, each country and region have vastly different regtions governing religion.


    Religious sects may find themselves on a purge list in a certain country due to activities that vite itsws, but this does not necessarily mean they will face simr treatment in other nations. Sometimes, for political reasons, some countries may favor sects deemed as cults by countries with whom they have strained rtions, building them up as pawns against their adversaries.


    The Bountifull Mother Goddess Sect is the sessor of the Earth Mother Goddess who''s aiming to revive the old Kingdom of Reiss, would certainly be seen as a cult needing eradication by the Dragon Spine Empire and the Kingdom of Gistas. However, this does not mean it is universally condemned in the Autonomous State. Due to certain political and historical reasons, the Caldria Autonomous State in the Southern Continent is now quite a stable neutral zone.


    "This sect isn''t on the purge list, but it''s in the strict security directory," replied Reba.


    "They''re just prohibited from conducting religious activities within the Autonomous State?" Aiden asked casually.


    "Exactly."


    "What sort of religious activities are they engaged in?" Aiden followed up.


    In terms of managing the suppression of religious groups, "strict security" is much more lenient than "cult eradication" in its severity."Cult eradication" is generally directed at religious groups with serious criminal activities, high levels of danger, and a need forplete eradication. Actions are typically carried out by Inquisition or even the military. For example, the Blood Moon Cult was directly destroyed by the Inquisition of the Silver City for their severe vition of thews of the Caldria Autonomous State through human sacrifices. During the capture, those who resisted were all shot on the spot.


    On the other hand, "strict security" targets groups that engage in ordinary criminal activities under the guise of religion, like the "Hair Rapid Growth Sect" that Reba mentioned, which swindles money using fake medicines. These cults are usually dealt with jointly by Inquisition and otherw enforcement agencies, treating them more like ordinary criminals.


    The Bountifull Mother Goddess Sect has the ability to challenge the Witch''s Gathering, and its leader is very likely a "saint." In terms of danger, they may not be as extreme as the Blood Moon Cult initially was, but the Autonomous State only subjects them to strict security measures. This sect likely operates with a significant degree of concealment, although some of their criminal activities are known.


    "Well...," Reba hesitated when faced with the question, "Can''t you just look at the files yourself?"


    Aiden thought to himself, not again with this response. Last time when he inquired about the rapid growth of the Bountifull Mother Goddess Sect, Reba had a hard time opening up.


    "I heard from a prisoner that five years ago, the Inquisition dealt with the Blood Moon Cult, which also shed with the Witch''s gathering, but they quickly backed down. If the Bountifull Mother Goddess Sect dares to provoke the Witch''s gathering, they might not be an ordinary cult, perhaps as dangerous as the Blood Moon Cult. Qimora mentioned that the sect''s leader, a priest named Father Bales, wields some special power. I think it''s necessary for you to pay attention," Aiden reminded. "You should also inform the old man."


    When the Blood Moon Cult was destroyed five years ago and Mephilia was taken into custody, Reba was only a junior inquisitor and did not have the authority to know about Mephilia existence.


    Therefore, Aiden also found it inconvenient to disclose to her the information rted to her divine words. However, by paraphrasing the past, Harold should understand, and it is still necessary to inform the Inquisition of the information obtained here.


    "I understand..." Reba agreed, "You should also be careful yourself. Even if the Witch''s gathering talks about reconciliation, you can''t let your guard down."


    "Of course," Aiden nodded.


    The information provided by Qimora was notplete, but it was highly credible. However, this did not mean the Witch''s gathering was trustworthy.


    At This moment, there was a knock on the office door.


    "Chief, the morning training is done, and I brought back the orb," Veronica''s voice came from outside.


    "Okay,e in," Aiden replied.


    Reba, who was about to get up and leave, looked at Aiden with some surprise. "An orb? Are you starting to keep police dogs here?"


    "Yeah, I''ve got a new pet," Aiden chuckled.


    The door opened, and Reba curiously shifted her gaze over... only to freeze in ce.


    She saw a silver elliptical mercury orb wriggling on the floor, slowly making its way into the office.


    "I''ll head back to my post now," Veronica stood at the door, saluted Aiden, then nced curiously at the utterly astonished Reba before closing the door and excusing herself.


    "Your mouth can now fit an apple in it," Aiden reminded Reba with a smile.


    Reba finally regained herposure and asked in astonishment, "What is this?"


    "This here is Xiaoqiu, the new pet of this prison," Aiden introduced with a smile.


    The mercury orb moved to Aiden''s feet and emitting an iprehensible metallic whisper, prompting Aiden to casually feed it a copper coin.


    Over the past couple of days, Aiden had done some preliminary taming with it. Since Veronica had some experience in horseback riding with the mounted police, he had also tried to have her train it during her night shifts.


    Some progress had been made, as the mercury orb could now recognize its owner and respond to its name and some simplemands. However, at best, it was still just a pet or toy. To train it to be useful, it needed to develop a certain level of loyalty.


    "Where did this thinge from?" Reba inquired.


    "It''s a mercury golem created by Vera. Originally, it sneaked into the prison from the sewers to kill me, and I managed to take it over. After the Witch''s gathering and I reached a truce, they gave me this thing," Aiden casually exined.


    "Keeping such a dangerous thing around..." Reba gasped in disbelief.


    "I''m all about pragmatism now," Aiden replied nonchntly, "If it''s useful, I''ll make the most of it."


    The mercury orb trembled at his feet, emitting a pleasant bell-like sound.


    Truth be told, Aiden secretly hoped that the mercury golem could transform into a technologically advanced humanoid form like when Vera controlled it, but that seemed to be Vera''s unique skill; and he couldn''t replicate it himself.


    For now, the mercury orb was just that¡ªa mercury orb, and it felt quite intriguing. Sometimes, a man''s pleasures are indeed that simple.


    "Is it really safe to keep something like this without reporting it to the authorities?" Reba voiced her concerns.


    "ording to regtions, items confiscated by the prison belong to the prison, so there''s no issue," Aiden shrugged. "Don''t worry, I''ve already learned about this thing''s weaknesses from the Witch''s gathering. Overall, it''s pretty safe."


    He was not willing to easily give up this hard-toe-by toy, not in the slightest.

 Chapter 162:

    Chapter 162:


    <b>Willow People</b>


    In the Sabbath Forest, three gray-robed nuns wielded short-handled sickles and flintlock guns as they walked through the mist.


    They were now nearing the core of the forest. Through the explorations of previous teams, the sect had gradually grasped the knack of navigating through the mist in the Sabbath Forest and the routes to traverse its outskirts.


    At this rate, seizing Abigail''s stronghold and the grand meeting ce of the witches was only a matter of time. For Abigail, the natural advantage of the Sabbath Forest, this fortress, would soon cease to exist.


    Suddenly, the nuns'' steps came to a halt.


    Rustling sounds came from the treetops of the towering trees, prompting the nuns to aim their guns towards the source of the noise.


    In the next moment, a colossal bird-like figure abruptly materialized from the mist and lunged recklessly towards the three women.


    The three firearms simultaneously spat mes. The monster, hit by the bullets, let out a pained roar, but its attacking momentum remained undiminished. It forcefully knocked down abat nun who couldn''t evade it, pressing her under its ws, while violently spreading its wings to push away the others.


    This was a monsterrger than an adult, with a body resembling a hawk but a head akin to a stag. Its mouth curved in a half-smile, filled with razor-sharp teeth.A Deerhawk Beast, a mystical creature said to have a monster-like body but a humanoid shadow, specialized in hunting humans and consuming their hearts.


    In the Sabbath Forest, these rarely seen monsters dwelled densely, with rumors even suggesting that the mist cloaking the forest gradually transformed humans and animals into monsters.


    However, the nuns were well aware that most of these monsters inhabiting the Sabbath Forest were bred and nurtured by Abigail.


    The Sabbath Forest was Abigail''s monster ranch. Therge groups of monsters tamed by Abigail roamed the forest day and night. They were Abigail''s watchdogs, ready to devour any uninvited guests who dared to intrude.


    The nun who was fiercely pounced on by the Deerhawk Beast had several ribs broken on the spot, as the beast swiftly opened its mouth and punctured her windpipe.


    "She gave me flesh, yet bestowed upon me shackles," chanted another nun upon witnessing the scene.


    In an instant, the mortally wounded nun convulsed, and the fresh blood flowing from her neck abruptly transformed into crimson ropes, tightly binding the Deerhawk Beast''s neck and mouth.


    The bound beast immediately pped its wings in an attempt to break free, but the blood shackles firmly tethered it to the nearly lifeless nun, like a ball and chain, rendering it immobile.


    Seizing this opportunity, the other two nuns aimed at the beast''s forehead and fired. This time, the bullets finally pierced the creature''s vital spot. With a muffled sound, the Deerhawk Beast copsed, and the blood shackles that bound it reverted back to blood.


    The two nuns holstered their guns, silently moving the beast''s body aside to check on theirrade pinned beneath.


    The injured nun was unable to speak due to her severed throat, and could only scan back and forth between the two with hollow eyes.


    One nun, without hesitation, raised her sickle and pierced the other nun''s heart deeply, ending her life.


    However, as she withdrew the sickle, a faint blue light shed in the deceased nun''s eyes. Subsequently, the fallen nun slowly rose from the ground, staggering forward with faltering steps.


    With a simple necromancy spell, the corpse was set back into motion. They were all worker bees dedicated to the hive, giving their all even in death to serve its purpose.


    Leaving behind the ined beast, the trio continued their exploration deeper into the forest.


    However, before they could take more than a few steps, loud footsteps resounded from directly ahead. This time, the enemies intercepting them seemed intent on a frontal assault rather than the stealth of the previous monster.


    The nun manipting the bodies controlled herrade''s corpse to lead the way. Within the mist, a giant figure over four meters tall emerged between the towering trees, slowly advancing towards the corpses.


    Under the control of necromancy, the corpses aimed and fired their guns. Their movements were extremely sluggish andcking precision, yet the bullets unmistakably hit the looming figure¡ªgiven its immense size andck of evasion intent.


    However, the bullets had no effect upon entering the ck figure. The giant continued to stride steadily through the mist, and finally revealing its true form before the nuns.


    It was a massive effigy made of willow and thorns, with a hollow interior stuffed with straw. Woven in a grid pattern of willow and thorns, this willow figure appeared like a humanoid cage.


    The willow figure reached out, seizing the nun''s corpse. Simultaneously, its body parts opened like a door, creating an opening into which the corpse was stuffed before closing again.


    Subsequently, the corpse sealed within the willow figure ignited fiercely with the burning straw.


    As the mes surged, the giant woven from willow seemed to awakenpletely, emitting a deep, eerie roar and charging towards the remaining nun with agility far beyond the previous encounter.


    The nuns retaliated, but their efforts were futile. Their equipment was designed tobat monsters, and not such lifeless colossal golems.


    Soon, another nun was drawn into the willow figure and engulfed in raging mes.


    With each additional burning prey within its body, the movements of the willow figure became swifter.


    Amidst the nuns'' agonizing cries, the willow figure began pursuing its final prey. The third nun desperately fled into the depths of the jungle, but with her solitary effort, even if she managed to evade the pursuit of the willow figure, she would inevitably fall into the clutches of the monsters sooner orter. The demise of this trio was only a matter of time.


    Meanwhile, within Abigail''s summoning space, five grand witches gathered around a table, watching this scene through a crystal ball.


    "Hahaha, burn them alive... Truly a spectacr sight, just like the witch hunts long ago," remarked Lamia, chuckling as she gazed at the crystal ball.


    "What''s so funny... You''re a witch too," Vera, who was seated beside her, nced at her, unable toprehend herpanion''s cruel amusement.


    "How did youe up with such an intriguing invention?" Lamia asked Vera with keen interest.


    "This was originally a sacrificial method by the ancient Lulin people to offer to the gods. They would weave cages in the form of animals using willow, cing a livestock inside and burn them alive. Later, they used these to execute heretics. In the process, the priests of Lurin developed a way to animate these willow figures, making them actively hunt down heretics. I simply restored this technique," Vera exined.

 Chapter 163:

    Chapter 163:


    <b>The Tainted Druid</b>


    Around the long table, the grand witches of the Witch Gathering were in the midst of a strategic meeting.


    "Lulin people? Never heard of them." Hasbinis rested her chin on her hand. "With such twisted sacrificial methods, which dark deity do they worship?"


    "That''s no dark deity, but the Wild King who fell five hundred years ago, a divine wolf that embodying the authority of life. Thest tribe of the Lulin people vanished around that time," Abigail answered her query.


    "Are you kidding me? Those who worshipped the Wild King in ancient times, shouldn''t they all be those Druids who love to preach about the harmony of life?" Hasbinis frowned. "I recall these folks were quite tolerant of other religions. Would they indulge in such macabre activities like roasting living creatures?"


    "The ancestors of the Lulin people were indeed Druids, and the most devout among them. They actively sought the traces of the Wild King, wanting to serve their master personally. It''s said they did see him in the end thus receiving the ''blessing'' of the god. Then, these Druids, having achieved their desires, went mad and distorted the Druidic doctrines they once followed, and establishing a new cult tribe in the valleys of the Lulin Mountains," Abigail stated calmly.


    "Hmph, gone insane, haven''t they?" Lamia chuckled.


    Ordinary individuals who directly receive the divine words of the rulers, or who gaze upon the true faces of the rulers after they''ve acquired authority, will suffer varying degrees of spiritual contamination.


    "The Druids'' shapeshifting abilities, when properly utilized, can be used to speak divine words, and their meditation can resist spiritual contamination," Qimora pondered. "But to collectively descend into this level of madness?""At that time, it wasn''t actually them who were truly contaminated, but the Wild King himself. This contamination spread to the followers after they beheld the god they worshipped. Although the Lulin people were undoubtedly a bunch of lunatics, their techniques were indeed formidable," Abigail replied nonchntly, then turned to Vera. "How is the construction progress going?"


    "The workshop currently produces five willow people a day, and the efficiency cannot be increased further. There is a limit to the puppets I can control simultaneously," Vera softly responded after a moment of silence.


    After failing to assassinate Aiden and losing the mercury golem Abigail had given her, she had relinquished her stubborn stance.


    Now summoned by Abigail to one of the venues in the Sabbath Forest specifically used for Witch Gathering, she had set up a workshop here to manufacture golems like the willow people to defend the Sabbath Forest. Together with the magical beasts tamed by Abigail, they hunted down the ck Mountain goat nuns and the bounty hunters hired by the Cult.


    Willow people were incredibly useful guardians. Their production costs were much lower than those of solid stone or steel golems. Although their initialbat capabilities were slightly inferior, they would experience a sharp increase after consuming prey as offerings and burning them. The runes carved on the willow controlled the mes securely within the cage made of willow, preventing the ignition of the forest''s vegetation.


    With Vera continuously creating golems in the Sabbath Forest, the Bountifull Goddess cult temporarily found it challenging to prate deeper.


    "That''s enough; the reproduction speed on the ck Mountain goat side also has its limits," Abigail nodded, then turned to Qimora and Hasbinis. "How is your investigation progressing?"


    Among the grand witches, Hasbinis excelled in fast-traveling flight magic, while Qimora could delve into various ces using divine words. Hence, Abigail assigned them the task of probing the movements of the Bountifull Goddess cult.


    "I found the cult''s missionary outpost in the empire and was nning to interrogate the nuns there, but the guy ended upmitting suicide," Hasbinis shrugged. "However, the useless male followers revealed that a significant number of nuns had disappeared recently, and their whereabouts remain unknown. Since I couldn''t extract any useful information, I simply ughtered them all."


    "Those nuns are ''reproductive'' clones; they only obey the will of the mother body entirely. It''s better not to expect any valuable intel from them," Abigail remarked before shifting her gaze to Qimora.


    "I located their base of operations on the outskirts of Silver City in the autonomous zone, along with Father Bales, who is preaching there," Qimora replied, puffing on a rolled-up paper cigarette. "Simr to his activities in Gistas and the Empire, he continues to amass wealth and connections by selling daughters. I had the chance to witness it firsthand this time, and let me tell you, the scene was quite... unpleasant."


    "Disgusting," Veramented, wrinkling her brow.


    "Have you found the mother body of the nuns?" Abigail inquired.


    "Beside the Father, there is a nun in a ck robe. Her aura is entirely different from that of regr nuns, and she appears to hold a much higher status, wielding a considerable level of decision-making power within the cult. I suspect she might be the Father''s first ''daughter,''" Qimora responded.


    "Oh, I vaguely remember one of the male followers mentioning a Navi nun in a ck robe by the Father''s side," Hasbinis added as if recalling suddenly.


    "Besides the name, do you have any other intel?" Abigail turned to Habinis.


    "Nothing else," Hasbinis shrugged.


    "Your impatience is really ill-suited for intelligence gathering," Lamia chastised from the side in a hoarse voice. "You didn''t even inquire thoroughly before killing them."


    "If you think you can handle it, be my guest!" Hasbinis retorted without backing down.


    Lamia chose not to continue the banter and turned to Abigail for advice, asking, "What should we do? Should we deal with that nun first?"


    All eyes turned to Abigail.


    Lamia''s suggestion was practical. Based on the intelligence they had gathered, Father Bales, as the leader of the cult, was highly likely to be close to the authority of ''reproduction.'' Rather than confronting such an opponent head-on, it might be wiser to clip his wings first.


    Most of the nuns in the Bountifull Goddess cult originated from the same mother body. The ability of the offspring created by divine words is partially inherited from the mother body, and the further down the ''reproduction'' line, the more inferior the capabilities be. Thebat skills and necromancy techniques mastered by the battle nuns deep in the Sabbath Forest are skills inherited from the mother body.


    If they could eliminate the original mother body, thebat strength of the Bountifull Goddess cult would directly decrease by a significant margin.


    "Let''s not rush into action; the situation in the Sabbath Forest has stabilized, and we have enough time," Abigail decided after a brief contemtion. "To be honest, I am curious about their purpose in the autonomous zone. Qimora , any response from Aiden Galord?"


    "Not yet. He''s quite the hesitant man," Qimora sighed.


    "Inform him about the cult''s locations, and let the Inquisition Bureau on his side restrain the cult for now," Abigail suggested leisurely.

 Chapter 164:

    Chapter 164:


    <b>No Time to Rx</b>


    The next day, Aiden stood in the interview room. On the other side of the ss, Qimora, adorned in her usual extravagant attire, sat gracefully in the visitor''s seat, smiling elegantly at him.


    "So, what do you intend to do by bringing me this information?" Aiden asked her suspiciously.


    In the past few days, Qimora had requested to meet him twice through the prison visitation procedures to inquire about his response on joining forces with the Witch gathering to oppose the Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult. Aiden had mostly put off giving a definitive answer.


    This time when Qimora visited, Aiden initially thought it would be the same old discussion. However, as soon as they met, she mentioned having intelligence to share with him¡ªthe location of the Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult''s outpost on the outskirts of Silver City.


    "Of course, I hope you can pass this on to the Inquisition, to take out their outpost. As a witch, even if I''m not on their watchlist, it wouldn''t be quite appropriate for me to directly deal with the Inquisition," Qimora said calmly, "The Inquisition here shouldn''t be so clueless as to not know what the Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult is up to, right?"


    Aiden caught her drift.


    After reviewing the file Reba had brought him, he finally understood why Reba had struggled to disclose the Cult''s information.


    ording to the records, the Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult worshipped the Earth Mother who symbolized fertility and the propagation of all life. They glorified biological reproduction to the extreme and often, under the guise of this ideology, they conductedrge-scale "fertility rituals" with their nuns and followers after routine religious ceremonies¡ªof course, not without costs to the followers.In other words, on the surface, this cult was an illicit organization that wildly amassed funds through such means and expanded its operations.


    (TN: so basicaly it''s segs party (? ??¡ã? ???? ??¡ã?) )


    Even in a world teeming with cults, a religious group as audacious as this is quite rare. The mostmon are the so-called cult leaders who exploit concocted doctrines to deceive innocent women.


    However, such "above-board" actions are already in vition of public order. Even if the Inquisition has not gathered deeper evidence of criminal activity, this reason alone is sufficient to shut down their outpost.


    "If you''re nning to use the Inquisition to eliminate the cult, you might want to reconsider," Aiden warned Qimora, "The Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult is only prohibited from conducting religious activities in the autonomous region, and not on the purge list."


    "Actually, with just a bit of digging, they could easily be added to that list. The atrocities this cult hasmitted are far more numerous than you can imagine. Moreover, their activities in Silver City are targeted at you. Don''t you feel any sense of danger?" Qimora pointed at Aiden.


    Even if Aiden Galord himself is not prepared to directly confront the Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult, relying on hiswork within the Silver City Inquisition to mobilize the autonomous region''s Inquisition to eradicate the cult would be a significant boost for the Witch gathering. This is one of the primary reasons why Abigail sees Aiden as having value for cooperation.


    "You seem so sure they''reing for me. There must be some concrete information you''ve obtained to say that, right? Or perhaps..." Aiden stared back into Qimora eyes, "Are you subtly tipping them off about something?"


    The Witch gathering is currently intent on persuading him to join their unified front. They wouldn''t hesitate to discreetly inform the Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult, for example, that the warden of Rose Prison belongs to the Flying Spaghetti Monster sect.


    "Well, let your imagination run wild," Qimora replied, without much attempt to conceal her intentions, "But the Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult showed signs of activity in the autonomous region long ago. You must have noticed, right?"


    Aiden was well aware of this. Reba had also mentioned that the appearance of Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult files in the Inquisition was due to their infiltration of the autonomous region.


    This made Aiden somewhat suspicious that the other party might be targeting not just the Blood Moon Cult but possibly also Mephilia.


    If that were the case, as the guardian of mephilia, conflicts with the Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult would likely be inevitable.


    "So, make up your mind and cooperate with us, former inquisitor," Qimora once again tried to persuade him, as she had done the previous times.


    "Don''t rush me; I haven''t finished considering it," Aiden replied without hesitation.


    Currently, for him, the Witch gathering, with whom he had been in frequent contact, required more caution than the Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult, whom he had not yet encountered.


    Just the fact That Qimora held the "Void" Divine Language and could easily infiltrate Rose Prison was enough to make Aiden extremely vignt.


    Although Qimora had been meeting Aiden through regr visitation methods these days, Aiden didn''t believe she had refrained from using Divine Language to infiltrate the prison for reconnaissance.


    However, Aiden believed that she probably hadn''t detected mephilia''s presence. If she did, they would likely leverage this information as bargaining chip, demanding his assistance in eradicating the cult.


    Furthermore, there was no guarantee that the Witch gathering, upon learning of this, wouldn''t turn against him directly. After all, when it came to ascending to godhood, Mephilia was a valuable source of information. Individuals like Prisci were investigating the Blood Moon Cult for this reason.


    Therefore, cooperating with the Witch gathering required utmost caution.


    "It''s quite impolite for a gentleman to always be so indecisive with ady," Qimora teased.


    "Dealing with dangerous women requires caution. Being careful isn''t solely a female trait," Aiden calmly replied.


    "It seems I''ll have to return empty-handed today for my response," Qimora sighed and stood up from her seat. "Take care, Mr. Galord. Hopefully, next time you''ll have made up your mind."


    At that moment, Aiden suddenly stopped her. "Don''t leave in a hurry, why not have a chat with your twopanions? I can use my authority to have them meet you here."


    "How thoughtful of you?" Qimora looked surprised. "Aren''t you afraid I might take advantage and abduct them?"


    "Prisoners have the right to receive visitors, as long as it''s within regtions, I won''t arbitrarily deny that. Besides, having you meet them under our watchful eyes is much better than you sneaking into the prison to see them. Please wait here for a moment."


    Aiden walked out of the interview room, then, lowering his voice,and instructed Veronica, who was waiting nearby, "Bring Dailey and Prisci here to meet with her. Try to extend their time as much as possible. But remember, keep a close eye on them, especially the witch who is visiting. No room forxity, not even for a moment."

 Chapter 165:

    Chapter 165:


    <b>The Authority of Propagation</b>


    After Dailey and Prisci entered the interview room and met with Qimora, Aiden officially handed over the task of monitoring them temporarily to Veronica.


    Subsequently, in the corridor, he discreetly took out a pen and a memo from his pocket, writing down "3:12-3:18, Qimora visit" on it. He briefly noted the details of the meeting and the subsequent arrangements.


    Qimora''s divinenguage couldpletely erase her own presence and seemingly even wipe out memories of encounters with others¡ªthis was much more sophisticated than the memory erasure technique that only worked for assassins who had signed contracts with themselves like Melusine.


    To be on the safe side, Aiden made a record in the memo every time he met Qimora.


    He was unsure if Qimora''s divinenguage could erase the written records of encounters with users¡ªif it could, then this divinenguage might have reached a level capable of influencing causality. However, Aiden spected that Qimora was probably unable to do it. While the power of the divinenguage was indeed formidable, if the user was a mortal, there should be significant limitations.


    After confirming through the one-way ss that everything was in order in the meeting room, Aiden left the area and went straight back to his office, locking the door behind him.


    These days, due to his fear that Qimora might be using her divinenguage to monitor him, he had refrained from attempting to verify the situation in mephilia''s cell.


    Qimora is currently meeting with Dailey and the others, with Veronica also on-site monitoring. While it''s not foolproof, for Aiden, choosing this moment to visit Mephilia is rtively prudent.After Opening the secret passage to the underground and unlocking the cell door with blood, Aiden entered mephilia''s secret cell with antern.


    Mephilia opened her eyes and remarked, "It''s been a while. I thought you had forgotten about me."


    "I encountered a witch with the ''void'' authority, so i can''t be careless," Aiden replied truthfully.


    "Oh? Have you already started encountering other wielders of maxims?" Mephilia smiled. "Have you thought about eliminating her to directly take her divinity?"


    "I haven''t reached the point of challenging other masters of divinenguage, given that I only know a rtively powerless divine phrase for now," Aiden calmly responded. "I have something to ask you. Do you know about the Bountifull Goddess Cult?"


    "I do," Mephilia answered almost without hesitation. "Why? Are you getting entangled with them?"


    "Not yet," Aiden replied without pause. "But they are bing active in this city. I want to know if they are after you."


    He was convinced that Mephilia had the ability to sense external events, especially those rted to him. However, Mephilia evidently couldn''t grasp everything, so some information had to be voluntarily disclosed by him.


    "No, I suspect they are primarily after that diviner," Mephilia replied.


    Aiden was surprised. "You mean the one you told me about?"


    "Who else?"


    While Aiden had been diligently studying information rted to divinenguage in seclusion before, Mephilia had given him the contact information of a diviner, stating that the individual could prophesy things rted to divinenguage and divinity.


    If this is true, all factions seeking dominion authority would be highly interested in this diviner. It''s not surprising that the Bountifull Goddess Cult is among them.


    "Are they pursuing the diviner to obtain the ''sole authority''?" Aiden inquired.


    If the leader of the Bountifull Goddess cult was indeed a "saint," they would likely be very eager to attain the corresponding "sole authority."


    "Exactly," Mephilia confirmed.


    "Then the divinenguage held by this cult is..."


    "Are you asking me such a simple question?" This time, Mephilia interrupted him directly, speaking in a tone that guides a slow student. "Don''t forget, wielders of maxims gradually adapt to their respective maxims. To ascend to a dominator, one must also undergo the ritual of the corresponding maxim. By analyzing their behavior patterns, you can discern the authority they seek."


    "Is it the authority of ''propagation''?" Aiden mused.


    Based on the information previously disclosed by Mephilia, within the four Thrones of Life, the hierarchyprises "Life," "Propagation," and "Death" from top to bottom.


    The Bountifull Goddess cult worships propagation and fertility¡ªit is likely the outward manifestation of the cult leader''s preparation for the ritual to adapt to the divinenguage and ascend.


    "Passable," Mephilia grinned.


    "And the abilities of the ''propagation'' authority are?"


    "Well, to my knowledge, the fundamental ability of the ''propagation'' authority should involve controlling organisms to reproduce in various ways¡ªsexual, asexual, oviparous, viviparous... essentially, under the influence of the maxim, this reproductive capability can bepleted in a matter of seconds. The offspring generated can inherit some abilities from the parent and are influenced by the parent''s will. It feels simr to creating one''s own clone, but in most cases, the offspring typically have certain defects."


    "Defects?"


    "If the wielder of the ''propagation'' authority are the god of fertility they can create offspring that areplete and even superior to the parent through their authority. However, if the user is a mortal, at best, they can only create artificial humans at the level of ordinary alchemy," Mephilia stated.


    Information about alchemical artificial humans was present in Aiden''s repository of dark magic knowledge. In this era, alchemy had advanced to the point where some alchemists could partially create humans using blood and bodily fluids, known as artificial humans.


    These artificial humans directly inherited characteristics from their source material, akin to cloning. However,pared to natural humans serving as donors, artificial humans had significant ws. They lived very short lives, typically surviving only a week to two months before organ failure caused their rapid dposition into alchemical materials.


    After the enactment of the "ck Magic Management Treaty," the creation of artificial humans became a strictly prohibited forbidden art.


    The leader of the Bountifull Goddess cult directly wielded such authority. This suggested that the members of this cult¡ªincluding the nuns sold asmodities¡ªwere likely the products of the divinenguage effect.


    "I think it''s about time you visited that diviner," Mephilia suddenly interjected.


    "The current situation... might not be very convenient, right?" Aiden furrowed his brow slightly.


    Currently, with the Bountifull Goddess cult searching for the diviner, even if the'' witch gathering might not be aware of her existence, once they knew, they would likely be interested. If Aiden who was under surveince by a certain faction, recklessly contacting the diviner ,it could expose her, potentially leading to the exposure of mephilia¡ªan oue Aiden must avoid at all costs.


    However, Mephilia, smiled and reassured him, "You can rest assured. That diviner can foresee many things, she will surely foresee you and determine the right time to meet you. She won''t be exposed easily."

 Chapter 166:

    Chapter 166:


    <b>The Phantom Moon</b>


    Silver City, Sunset Avenue, Downtown District.


    Aiden walked down the road, leaning on his cane while looking around vigntly.


    It had been a while since he hade out of prison, and walking on such expansive streets brought an inexplicable sense offort.


    This area was known for its ck market in the old city, where those familiar with the ce could buy various illegal item like magical potions, enchanted items, dark magic remnants, firearms, and ammunition.


    However, on the surface, it appeared to be just a bustlingmercial street, offering everything from clothing, leather goods, medicines, ingredients, books, to sundries. At both ends of the street corners were restaurants and taverns lined up.


    However, Aiden was not strolling the streets aimlessly. His purpose foring out this time was to visit the mysterious fortune teller.


    Information about divine words and divinity, intelligence on the Bountifull Mother Goddess Cult, and the rtionship between the other party and Mephilia... There were too many things he wanted to uncover now. Since Mephilia had vouched that there would be no problem with him meeting the other party, Aiden decided to meet them first.


    Aiden headed straight to Autumn Leaf alley as directed by Mephilia in the past and found the designated store."A jewelry store?" Aiden looked at the sign of this small shop in surprise.


    The location indicated by mephilia''s address led to a jewelry store named "Phantom Moon."


    The sign outside the store mentioned jewelry processing and purchasing... Not a single word about fortune-telling. It appeared that their main business was selling jewelry rather than providing divination services.


    This is quite the opposite of what Aiden knew about fortune-telling shops. Ordinary fortune-telling shops would boldly advertise their services and then sell rtively inexpensive trinkets to customers at slightly higher prices, iming they could bring luck.


    In Aiden''s previous world, those jewelry stores did market magical effects like luck or health benefits. However, as a staunch atheist in his previous life, Aiden did not believe in any of it. If these things truly brought good fortune, the owners of these jewelry stores would probably be rich just by buying lottery tickets.


    In this world, running a jewelry store, even a small one like this, requires a certain level of investment. And it has nothing to do with the low-cost operation of fortune-telling. If someone has the financial means to open a jewelry store, they generally wouldn''t bother with such sideline businesses.


    However, Mephilia shouldn''t resort to such mundane trick on him. After confirming the address repeatedly, Aiden pushed open the door and entered the store.


    "Wee." With the chime of the doorbell as he entered, the clerk behind the counter stood up and greeted him warmly.


    Aiden took a closer look and saw a girl who appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen, with a Tanplexion. She definitely didn''t look like the owner of this ce.


    As Aiden scrutinized her, the girl also gave him a once-over.


    Soon, the warmth on the girl''s face receded like a tide.


    "If you''re just browsing, feel free,"


    the girl casually greeted before returning to her chair and picking up the magazine she had been flipping through, showing no intention of engaging further with Aiden.


    Hey, isn''t this attitude a bit too blunt? Do I look that shabby? Aiden thought to himself.


    "Miss, are you a clerk here?" Aiden inquired.


    "Yeah," the girl answered absentmindedly while flipping through the magazine, "Part-time, just watching the store for someone."


    "What about your boss¡ª"


    "She''s out. She''s usually not here," the girl rudely interrupted before Aiden could finish.


    Aiden suddenly felt this kidcked manners.


    However, he didn''t want to waste time on this. His purpose ining out was to visit the fortune teller.


    It sounded like the owner, who seldom appeared in the store, was likely the fortune teller Mephilia had mentioned. The jewelry store was probably just a cover-up...


    "Well... I''m actually here for a fortune-telling session," Aiden ventured.


    "Fortune-telling?" The girl finally looked up, "Did you... make an appointment beforehand?"


    "An appointment?" Aiden was taken aback.


    "The shop owner only does three readings a day. And This week is fully booked, so you need to make an appointment. Also, it''s one pound per session, and you need to pay half in advance for the booking," the girl furrowed her brow slightly. "You didn''t know that?"


    How would I know about your intricate rules? Is the fortune-telling business here really that bustling? Aiden listened, feeling A bit puzzled.


    With so many clients, they couldn''t all be seeking this fortune teller for divine ascension...


    It seemed the fortune teller also tookmissions from regr clients, and probably had some real skills. If the fees were so high but the predictions inurate, the shop would have been shut down by now.


    "If you want a reading, you need to pay the deposit first, then leave your questions, name, and contact details," the girl said, taking out a pen and notebook. "When the appointment timees, you can return to the store, and I will take you to see her."


    "Can I meet her beforehand?" Aiden asked. "When will she be back?"


    He definitely wouldn''t choose the method the girl suggested to meet the fortune teller. It was not only troublesome but also expensive, and ridiculously so.


    "No, absolutely not!" the girl replied firmly. "The shop owner specifically stated that clients without appointments will not be seen. If you insist, I will have to kick you out!"


    Not even a chance to meet her in person... Aiden felt a bit stuck at the moment.


    "Then pass on a message to her for me and tell her ''I''m here to deliver the second gift from White Oak Treehouse''."Aiden said.


    This was the password that Mephilia had taught him to connect with that Fortune Teller.


    Since he couldn''t meet the fortune teller, he could only ask the young girl in front of him to convey it on his behalf.


    The young girl was obviously stunned for a moment when she heard his words, then her eyes abruptly became sharp.


    Aiden didn''t miss the change in the other party''s expression - it seemed that the other party knew the password.


    He suddenly realized something, and just as he was about to open his mouth, the girl got up, walked around the counter, went straight to the front of the store, hung a "closed" sign on the outside, and locked the door.


    "You should have said something earlier, you''ve made such a big fuss for nothing."The young girl said to Aiden in a mature tone that was very different from the previous one, "I''ve been waiting for you for a long time, let''s talk about it inside."


    "After all of this, so you are the fortune teller?"Aiden looked into the other''s eyes to confirm.


    "Yes, it''s me, you can call me Melissa."A light smile appeared on the face of the young girl - Fortune Teller Melissa, "Wee, Aiden Galord , the Lamb who hase under the guidance of my Lord, the Goddess of Wisdom."

 Chapter 167:

    Chapter 167:


    <b>Your Forehead Darkens</b>


    On a small coffee table sat a white porcin cup filled with freshly brewed ck tea, apanied by a te of scones.


    "I must apologize for earlier. When you first entered, I mistook you for another bored guest, especially since I couldn''t sense any desire to purchase from you. Most of my clients whoe for divination are regrs," Melissa, the fortune teller, said as she sipped her tea.


    "I didn''t realize you were the fortune teller at first nce. You...," Aiden examined her once more, "is it a disguise?"


    At this moment, Melissa, although still appearing as a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl on the surface, exuded a mature demeanor in her expression, posture, and tone,pletely different from the mischievous child earlier.


    "Yes, after all. There are many who wish to capture me," Melissa chuckled. "An extrayer of security never hurts."


    "What about the owner you mentioned earlier?"


    "That would be me. The room next door, supposedly for divination, is actually a confessional. Clients whoe for divination cannot see me. No one here has ever seen the so-called owner. I y both roles."


    "I thought you would recognize me at first nce, after all..." Aiden hesitated for a moment. "Mephilia told me you''re quite capable."ording to Mephilia, this fortune teller could foresee many things, including the most suitable time for Aiden to meet him. Therefore, Aiden had assumed the fortune teller would have a premonition of his visit.


    He even thought that perhaps after they met, before he could utter the passphrase, the fortune teller would preemptively reveal his identity, followed by a mysterious "I''ve been expecting you."


    But they had circled around each other for quite some time before recognizing each other, devoid of that sense of mystery and sophistication, which made Aiden doubt whether the fortune teller truly possessed the abilities Mephilia had mentioned.


    "I did foresee your visit in the near future, but the exact timing was uncertain. This shop does decent business, with plenty of customers every day. It''s too troublesome to confirm each one individually," the fortune teller exined.


    "By the way, is our conversation secure?" Aiden looked around cautiously.


    "Don''t worry, the witch who obtained the ''void'' authority isn''t monitoring you. She''s busy helping the ''Apex Witch'' gather information about their enemies," Melissa reassured confidently.


    Aiden nced at Melissa with some surprise. He hadn''t even mentioned anything about Qimora, yet she already knew...


    "You were doubting my abilities just now, weren''t you?" Melissa chuckled.


    "What exactly is your rtionship with Mephilia?" Aiden asked the question he had always been curious about.


    "I suppose you could say I''m a devout follower of hers," Melissa replied. "It was her will for me to assist those with the password."


    "So, you''re a wielder of the Divine Words?" Aiden inquired.


    "Indeed," Melissa admitted openly.


    "So, did you read my mind?" Aiden asked earnestly.


    Mephilia is the ruler of the "Wisdom" authority, and if her follower is a wielder of the Divine Words, the likelihood of using Divine Words rted to "Wisdom" is quite high, and reading minds is also something that can be achieved with the "Wisdom" authority.


    "You noticed it." Melissa admitted candidly. "Yes, I''ve quietly used my abilities to read your inner thoughts. It''s necessary if you want me to guide your fate."


    Aiden couldn''t help but feel uneasy; having his inner thoughts casually exposed wasn''t a pleasant experience.


    "No need to worry, I won''t harm you¡ªat least not now. I wouldn''t casually damage a toy favored by my mistress," Melissa said, while pointing at Aiden, having noticed his difort. "Let me directly tell you the result of the divination¡ªcooperating with the Witches'' Gathering will allow you to further advance on the path to bing a dominator."


    "Cooperating with the Witches'' Gathering, isn''t that risky?" Aidan asked skeptically.


    "It is, but it''s currently the option with the highest survival rate for you," Melissa continued.


    "Survival rate?" Aiden''s eyes widened.


    The fortune teller''s words made it sound as if he were on his deathbed. Aiden felt like he had suddenly been osted by a fortune teller who solemnly predicted that his forehead darkening would soon be followed by a cmity of bloodshed...


    "You must have realized it yourself. The Witches'' Gathering has already leaked your situation to the Bountiful Mother cult, and they... have their eyes on you," Melissa said matter-of-factly. "Soon enough, you''ll notice their movements. They''ll swiftlye after you, and relentlessly hunting you down."


    "Why? Isn''t their main target the Witches'' Gathering?" Aiden was puzzled.


    Qimora had told him that the Bountiful Mother cult targeted the Witches'' Gathering for their Divine Words and divinity, which he still doubted. After all, waging war against the entire Witches'' Gathering to obtain divinity didn''t seem wise.


    If the Witches'' Gathering had leaked information about Aiden possessing divinity to the cult, it wasn''t entirely imusible for them to target him. However, they shouldn''t have acted immediately. Starting a war against the entire Witches'' Gathering was already unbelievable; in such a situation, needlessly adding enemies would raise doubts about their leader''s tactical acumen.


    "The main target of the Bountiful Mother cult is not actually the entire Witches'' Gathering, but rather Abigail herself, because Abigail possesses something they want to reim¡ªthe sole authority of ''propagation,'' the Egg of Incubation," Melissa said softly. "As for you, they want to kill you not because you possess divinity, but because you''re associated with the past heresy that once resisted them."


    "The Flying Spaghetti Monster Cult?" Aiden blinked. "Seriously?"


    The uprising of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Cult had never threatened the position of the Great Mother Church; it had been suppressed, the cult disbanded, the Nameless Witch vanished. Ultimately, it was the Empire and the Kingdom of Gistas that dealt the fatal blow to the old Kingdom of Reiss. If anyone sought revenge, it should have been the defeated Flying Spaghetti Monster Cult. So why would the Bountiful Mother cult be bent on exterminating them?


    "Of course, because it was she who assassinated the Pontiff of the Great Mother Church and, the Queen of the old Kingdom of Reiss, who also happened to be the witch who created the Flying Spaghetti Monster Cult. It was her actions at a critical moment that ultimately led to the downfall of the old Kingdom of Reiss and the Great Mother Church," Melissa said calmly as she lifted her cup of ck tea and took a sip. "The Flying Spaghetti Monster Cult is their mortal enemy, a threat to their resurgence. They are bound to eradicate it."

 Chapter 168:

    Chapter 168:


    <b>Child-Bestowing Guanyin</b>


    "How could you know about this?" With a hint of suspicion, Aiden asked Melissa.


    "I divined it. Whether you believe it or not is up to you," Melissa said indifferently, while sipping her tea.


    Aiden fell into contemtion. If it was the nameless witch who assassinated the former queen of the Old Reiss Kingdom two hundred years ago...


    Although the Old Reiss Kingdom was already in a state of turmoil at that time, it was the sudden death of the queen at a critical moment that directly led to the neighboring countries, which had been eyeing it,pletely devouring the Old Reiss Kingdom, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Great Mother Goddess Church.


    In that case, was it the nameless witch who had thestugh in that uprising?


    So it was the reason why the Great Mother Goddess Church harbored such strong resentment towards the Flying Spaghetti Monster Church and thus sought to exterminate it...


    No, even without resentment, it would have been the same. From the perspective of the Great Mother Goddess Church, the Flying Spaghetti Monster Church, which should have been extinct two hundred years ago, reappeared in the world. Whether the nameless witch was still alive or if there was an heir, they would inevitably be wary of it.


    Aiden suddenly felt a headache.Was he targeted just because he identally caught someone''s attention when reforming the prison cafeteria?


    just by using chopsticks he would be chased with a knife?, this world was way to brutal....


    No, that''s not entirely urate...


    To say that he has nothing to do with the Flying Spaghetti Monster Church is not entirely urate either.


    Because that witch is most likely to be, like him, a transmigrator.


    In other words, the Old Reiss Kingdom and the Great Mother Goddess Church at that time were brought down by transmigrator. So the Great Mother Goddess Church should also be wary of transmigrator... or rather, be wary of the entity that can summon transmigrator to this world.


    Two hundred years ago, who summoned that witch? Was the destruction of the Old Reiss Kingdom purely the autonomous act of that witch, or was it the will of some entity that summoned her into this world?


    "I have a question: Did the Great Mother Goddess Church acquire the ''proliferation'' divinenguage after the fall of the Old Reiss Kingdom, or did they have it during the period of the Great Mother Goddess Church?" Aiden directly asked the fortune teller in front of him.


    "It was before the fall of the kingdom. The royal family of the Old Reiss Kingdom possessed the ''proliferation'' miracle. In Reiss Kingdom, the queen was also the highest bishop of the church. It is said that couples who couldn''t conceive, as long as they met the queen and received her blessing, could quickly have children," Melissa replied. "Of course, this was the effect of the ''proliferation'' authority."


    This is exactly like the Child-Bestowing Guanyin...


    If the kingdom at that time possessed the divinenguage, it''s possible that those who wanted to be gods or even the dominator themself could have targeted it. The nameless witch and the Old Reiss Kingdom were at odds, perhaps manipted by the dominator behind the scenes who summoned her into this world.


    That dominator... could it be Mephilia?


    "Where did the witch who founded the Flying Spaghetti Monster Churche from? Was she summoned by someone?" Aiden continued to inquire Melissa.


    But this time, Melissa showed a puzzled expression. "Summoned? What do you mean? I don''t know anything about that nameless witch''s background. My divination is useful, but it''s not omnipotent."


    Aiden scrutinized Melissa carefully.


    She could divine so much information, yet she didn''t know about transmigrator? It was quite possible... but not certain.


    Melissa was a follower of mephilia and acted ording to her will. Two hundred years ago, when Aiden asked who summoned the predecessor into this world, Mephilia didn''t admit it, which made Aiden suspicious.


    If the fortune teller was acting entirely under mephilia''s orders, she wouldn''t reveal anything even if she knew something.


    His attitude towards Melissa and Mephilia was actually the same: he could leverage their power to some extent, but he couldn''tpletely trust them.


    Melissa''s general direction for him was to ally with the Witches'' Gathering to confront the Great Mother Goddess Church and seize their divinity, which was still useful to consider.


    "Is the leader of the Great Mother Goddess Church a saint with the authority of ''proliferation''?" Aiden asked.


    If he was going to consider the Great Mother Goddess Church as an enemy from now on, it was necessary to gather information about them in advance.


    "Yes, the ''Sole Authority'' will call upon its suitable master, so saints can sense the location of their corresponding Sole Authority, which is also the reason why the church sought out Abigail," Melissa replied.


    "What powers does the ''proliferation'' authority have?" Aiden asked.


    Melissa pondered for a moment before responding, "Well, the ''proliferation'' authority has three powers. First, it can control reproduction, allowing oneself or other life forms to reproduce offspring in various ways. Offspring produced through asexual reproduction will have defects and be controlled by the mother entity. If produced through normal reproduction, they will be physically normal like ordinary people, but their wills will still be influenced by the mother entity, though they maintain some autonomy. The second power is the control of evolution..."


    "Evolution?" Aiden paused.


    "Yes, the evolution of life, which is based on reproduction. During reproduction, life will diversify, even gradually evolving into entirely new species, and the ''proliferation'' authority can elerate this process."


    "What exactly can it do?" Aiden stillcked a clear understanding.


    "In simple terms, the ''evolution'' authority can modify offspring produced by the ''proliferation'' authority within the scope permitted by gics, changing their appearance, physical conditions, talents, and so on. But the most remarkable aspect of this authority is its ability to allow creatures of different species to produce offspring, creating new species with gic traits from both parents," Melissa exined. "For example, the earliest Dragonkin were born this way."


    Aiden immediately remembered a certain gang member he had locked up in prison. "I remember the legend saying that ancient dragons could shapeshift into human form, and Dragonkin are their offspring with humans, right?"


    "Such fairy tales are hardly credible. Ancient dragons are no different from modern dragons; they''re just powerful magical creatures. If they had intelligence and could shapeshift into human form in the past, they would have established kingdoms and dominated the world long ago. How could they have degenerated into their current state, let alone been hunted to near extinction?" Melissa chuckled.


    "True," Aidan agreed, nodding. "So, what is the third power?"


    "It''s the power of inheritance," Melissa replied. "The wielder of this power can allow their offspring produced through ''proliferation'' to inherit everything from themselves after their death."


    "Everything meaning?" Aiden inquired.


    "Knowledge, skills, and even memories."

 Chapter 169:

    Chapter 169:


    <b>The Inheritance of Authority</b>


    "This feels somewhat simr to the ''wisdom'' ability, except the effects are exactly the opposite," Aiden nodded.


    Aiden understood better than anyone the effect of the ''wisdom'' ability, which could take over and inherit the knowledge and memories of others, as he had experienced it firsthand.


    However, the ''proliferation'' ability was the exact opposite, passing on everything to the offspring¡ªit sounds quite selfless.


    It''s like a beehive, where the queen bee can control the worker bees with pheromones. Once the queen bee dies, the worker bees select newrvae to nurture into a new queen bee. In some species of bees, the worker bees can even transform into reproductive queen bees after the death of the original queen.


    But Melissa shook her head, "Not exactly. Objectively speaking, the effects of both, to some extent, are actually the same."


    "Why is that?" Aiden was surprised.


    "Didn''t I mention before? Through the ''proliferation'' ability, the individual offspring created will have its will influenced, even controlled, by the mother entity. With this effect in mind, if the offspring inherits everything from the mother entity... what do you think will happen?" Melissa guided.


    Aiden pondered, "The inherited offspring... their consciousness will be like that of the mother entity?""Exactly," Melissa nodded approvingly at Aiden¡ªthis gesture inexplicably reminded Aiden of mephilia, "Because of the existence of the ''proliferation'' ability, the consciousness of the mother entity has a significant advantage over the offspring produced. The closer to authority, the stronger this effect bes. Under such circumstances, when the offspring inherits the memories of the mother entity, their consciousness will bepletely overridden by the mother entity. After inheriting the divinity of the mother entity, the offspring will also be able to manipte other offspring just like the mother entity."


    Aiden finally fully understood. This ability is actually quite simr to a major antagonist he once read about in a certain manga, who could summon a parallel version of himself to inherit his abilities and memories whenever he died, achieving a form of pseudo-immortality.


    And with the ability of "proliferation," it not only achieves immortality but also eternal life...


    "So, does that mean unless we eliminate all the offspring of this saint, we won''t be able to defeat him at all?" Aiden furrowed his brow.


    "Not necessarily. After all, there are limitations for mortals who use this ability. Firstly, to make the inheritance effective immediately upon death, one must designate the inheritor beforehand. Secondly, even for a saint, they cannot use the inheritance ability continuously in a short period of time."


    "So, after the opponent uses the inheritance ability, if we immediately locate and eliminate the inheritor, they''ll be done for?" Aiden pondered.


    "Yes, and the inheritance won''t change the physical condition of the offspring," Melissa smiled, "Do you understand what I mean?"


    "Under normal circumstances, they would choose the most outstanding offspring... especially those produced through norma reproduction, right?"


    Aiden remembered what Mephilia had told him before, about how mortals using the "proliferation" ability to speed up offspring production would have various defects simr to those of alchemy-created homunculi.


    The faster the reproduction process, the greater the defects in the offspring. And if they continue reproducing from those offspring, the defects will only amplify, leading to absurdly short lifespans for the final offspring¡ªsomething even the "evolution" ability couldn''t change.


    So, selecting offspring with defects as inheritors undoubtedly weakens oneself significantly. The wielder of the "proliferation" divine power would likely choose normally conceived offspring as inheritors whenever possible.


    Therefore, in reality, as long as we quickly locate and eliminate the opponent''s most outstanding descendant after they use the "inheritance" ability, we should be able to sessfully deal with this saint.


    "The current leader of the Bountiful Mother cult is..." Aiden looked at Melissa.


    "Benedict Bales, a priest who is also a descendant of the old Kingdom of Reiss," Melissa replied.


    "How many children does he have... I mean, the normally conceived ones?"


    "It seems, only one," Melissa pondered, "She''s a nun named Navi Bales, serving as Father Benedict''s right-hand woman in the cult. There are many nuns in the Bountiful Mother cult, the Gray Robe nuns are mostly expendables used for battle, and the White Robe nuns are used for entertainment and fundraising, they all bred from Sister Navi."


    "Well, the target is quite straightforward indeed," Aiden nodded.


    "But for you, simultaneously defeating them is quite difficult," Melissa shrugged, "ording to my divination, without joining forces with the Witches'' Gathering, your chances of winning are only about twenty percent."


    "What about joining forces with the Witches'' Gathering?"


    "About seventy percent," Melissa replied.


    "So, there''s still thirty percent chance of failure," Aiden sighed.


    "You''re being too pessimistic. With a seventy percent chance of winning, it''s the other side who should be sighing," Melissa looked at him somewhat helplessly.


    "Alright, I''ll gratefully ept the information and advice you''ve provided," Aiden felt he had asked enough and stood up to take his leave.


    Melissa stared at him for a moment and suddenly remarked, "It seems you still don''t intend to take the initiative, huh."


    Aiden paused for a moment, realizing that the other party had read his thoughts.


    His recent thoughts were actually to stay in prison for a while, to observe whether the Bountiful Mother cult really had any actions as Melissa imed, and then decide whether to follow her advice and join forces with the Witches'' Gathering.


    "You still don''t fully trust me, but it''s okay. You''ll soon find out that what I said is true," Melissa smiled, "And I''ll give you another piece of advice: bing a dominator isn''t easy. If you keep acting passively, others will seize the opportunity before you."


    "Alright, I''ll keep that in mind," Aiden nodded.


    Passive... It''s true, Aiden thought. After all, he had pursued authority in the first ce out of passive reasons. If he hadn''t known that his life was being targeted by a saint wielding the "hatred" authority, he would have been content just to manage his prison dutifully.


    "I can see you haven''t really taken it in," Melissa chuckled helplessly after reading his thoughts, "I''ll walk you out."


    Melissa stood up and escorted Aiden from the room to the front door of the shop, opening it for him.


    "As the pawn chosen by my mistress, you need to live a little longer. Don''t disappoint her," she stood by the door, looking up at Aiden.


    "I''m not living for her," Aiden felt a bit ufortable with that notion. He nced at Melissa before stepping over the threshold and out.

 Chapter 170:

    Chapter 170:


    <b>Artificial Being</b>


    "Chief you''re finally back!"


    As Aiden returned to the prison, Veronica, who was waiting at the entrance to his office, greeted him.


    "What''s going on? Why the anxious look?" Aiden detected a hint of worry on Veronica''s face, suggesting that something unusual had urred in the prison.


    "One of the inmates who arrived just a few days ago suddenly died," Veronica reported concisely. "They''re in the infirmary now. You should go take a look!"


    Aiden''s expression immediately turned grave.


    In the past, fights and riots were somon at the Rose Prison that the death of an inmate was hardly noteworthy. However, since he took office, discipline in the prison had significantly improved¡ªnot to say that deaths among inmates from non-natural causes had been eradicated entirely, but they had indeed be much rarer.


    Aiden promptly made his way to the infirmary, with Veronica following closely behind.


    Upon pushing open the door to the infirmary, he saw not only the prison supervisor, Franda, and the physician responsible for the core area, but also Melusine.He immediately locked his gaze onto the nearby sickbed, where the inmatey covered with a white sheet.


    With a gesture, he indicated for Veronica to temporarily lift the white cloth covering the inmate''s face.


    Aiden examined carefully. The face appeared rtively young, with the skin turning slightly blue due to coagted blood. He vaguely remembered the face, but it didn''t leave a deep impression. The inmate seemed to have arrived recently, and there was nothing particrly noteworthy about their file.


    "Give me the details," Aiden turned to Franda.


    "Inmate 3624, Bonnie Wells, a necromancer, arrested for illegal grave robbing and sentenced to six months. She was transferred here the day before yesterday and has no contacts outside the prison," Franda reported sinctly. "At around 2 p.m. this afternoon, while working in the textile workshop, she suddenly copsed. We rushed her to the infirmary for emergency treatment, but her condition didn''t improve. By 3 p.m., she had ceased breathing and her heart had stopped. Efforts to revive her were unsessful."


    "Was there any indication of trouble beforehand?"


    "No, I asked others who were present. She showed no symptoms before copsing," Franda shook her head confidently.


    Aiden processed the information. No contacts outside the prison, no previous warrants, and uncertain identity information. In other words, it was possible that the inmate''s identity was false¡ªjust like Melusine had fabricated an identity and willingly entered the prison. Such types of inmates were quitemon in the autonomous state, wandering alchemists and dark magicians; even with an unknown identity, as long as they were caughtmitting a crime, they would be sentenced and sent to prison.


    Necromancers arrested for illegal grave robbing were not umon in both Rose Prison and Thorn Prison. In this world, most necromancers only scratched the surface of the art, barely able to manipte corpses or summon spirits. Those like Arsena, who could directly engage in battles using necromancy like firearms, were extremely rare, and liches who could craft phcteries were even rarer.


    Even though Rose prisons saw about two or three of these mediocre necromancers every month, there was usually nothing particrly noteworthy about their incarceration to report to him as the warden.


    Based on franda''s description, it seemed like this person had suddenly fallen ill and died without any prior symptoms¡ªit didn''t seem like a contagious disease.


    He turned to the prison doctor. "Any leads on the cause of death?"


    "It''s Not... entirely clear yet," the physician responded wearily. "No signs of external injuries or poisoning. But the Symptoms suggest multi-organ failure. I suspect she had some underlying chronic illness, but... we''d need to perform an autopsy for specifics."


    Aiden furrowed his brow.


    In his experience, inmates dying suddenly wasn''t unheard of, and there didn''t seem to be anything particrly suspicious about this case.


    But at this timing... it felt somewhat delicate to him.


    At that moment, Melusine chimed in, "No, it''s not that simple."


    Her statement drew the attention of everyone present. Veronica, Franda, and the physician looked puzzled, while only Aiden asked with utmost seriousness, "What do you mean?"


    "It''s not just multi-organ failure. I''ve had some experience with corpses, and the rate of decay after her death was much faster than usual," Melusine exined, crossing her arms. "I have a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu regarding this phenomenon. The way this inmate died... it''s reminiscent of when an artificial being''s lifespan ends. I''ve learned a bit about life alchemy from Lamia. Artificial beings have very short lifespans, sometimes just a few days, and their deaths are just as sudden."


    Artificial being¡ªAiden immediately became alert.


    Melissa''s words echoed in his mind: "You''ll soon find out that what I said is true."


    When mortals use the power of "proliferation" to create offspring through rapid asexual reproduction, their descendants have fatal ws simr to those of artificially created beings in alchemy.


    The Bountifull Mother Cult might have begun infiltrating this prison...


    "It''s impossible. If it were an artificial being created through alchemy, the problem would have been detected during the physical examination," Franda denied firmly.


    "I also find it suspicious. Just now, I drew her blood for some tests, but I didn''t find any issues. She seemed slightly closer to a normal person than the artificial beings I know..." Melusine nced curiously at the corpse. "To be honest, I''m quite interested, Warden. It seems this inmate doesn''t have any family. Why not... let me handle the autopsy?"


    "Absolutely not. If an autopsy is to be done, it will be carried out by personnel from the prosecutor''s office and the Inquisition. It''s not our ce to intervene," Aiden responded coldly, then turned to Franda. "You notify the prosecutor''s office and the Inquisition, preserve the body ording to regtions, and I''ll write the report."


    "If she really is an artificial being, she definitely won''tst until then. Her body will dpose on its own by tonight," Melusine added.


    "Have someone watch over the body and keep thorough records," Aiden added to hismand, without changing his expression.


    If the body dposed tonight, then it would confirm the origin of the inmate beyond doubt.


    "Warden... do you, by any chance, have some clue about this inmate''s background?" Melusine suddenly sensed something.


    Veronica looked at Aiden in surprise upon hearing this.


    "That''s none of your concern," Aiden nced at Melusine, signaling her not to ask further.


    "Chief..." Veronica hesitated.


    "Veronica," Aiden turned to her, "go organize the profiles of all the inmates who were incarcerated this week andst week. Bring them to my office for me to review."


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