Chapter 315: Dinner at Osten Prison was much the same as breakfast: bland soup and stale bread, with the addition of a single slice of apple. Though on the verge of rotting, the apple tasted better than the soup and bread.
After dinner, we had free time until lights out.
I sat blankly on the prison floor, forced to revise my plans.
Owen. If that bastard had abandoned his comrades and fled with me, I wouldn't need to rework my plan...
My original plan was to smash through the prison walls, escape with Owen at full speed, and use a Space Transfer Scroll to teleport beyond the prison's territory. Once we activated the scroll, the prison's pursuit would end.
"Sending the Knight Order after just two prisoners is overkill. It's not like they committed heinous crimes like treason or anything..."
The mission itself wasn't difficult, at least not if Owen cooperated.
"Fuck. This is such a pain. Should I just kill them?"
First, I couldn't use the Space Transfer Scroll. The simple reason was that I didn't have enough. I had 10 million AP, but I'd only prepared enough scrolls for Owen and me.
"I have a few more, but they're not calibrated to any coordinates, so they're practically useless."
In other words, if I wanted to bring Owen's comrades along, my original plan wouldn't work.
"If I don't use the Space Transfer Scroll, the Knight Order will be on our tail... Guess I have no choice."
The only way out is rebellion.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As I lay on the floor, dozing with my weary body, the warden approached my cell and pounded on the iron bars.
"Prisoner 756487."
I sat up at the sound of my number.
The warden's usual expression of bored annoyance had been replaced by a grim, serious look as he stared at me and unlocked the cell door.
"Come out."
"...What's this about?"
"I said, come out."
"..."
Sensing the gravity of the situation, I decided to comply for now. The warden shackled my wrists and shoved me forward from behind.
"Move ahead."
"..."
As I moved as instructed, I racked my brain.
Did I do something wrong?
No matter how hard I thought, I couldn't recall any wrongdoing.
I hadn't caused any trouble. I hadn't provoked the wardens. I did break a prisoner's limbs in the exercise yard, but all the wardens present had been bribed. That was already settled.
Did one of the prisoners report my ability to the wardens? Or are the wardens just being greedy?
I glanced back at the warden's face and dismissed the thought. There was a hint of pity in his eyes as he looked at me.
I sighed, feigning frustration, and asked the warden, "What's going on? Can you at least tell me that much?"
"What did you do before you came here?"
"I was arrested over a scandal involving a married woman. Yesterday."
"Ah, right."
The warden's sympathy vanished, replaced by the realization that I was a criminal scum unworthy of his consideration.
"You'll have to bear the consequences of your own sins."
"Huh?"
"Right, not left. Any last words?"
"Last words...? You mean a will?"
"You might die. If you have any messages for family or friends, I'll deliver them. Consider it repayment for the money you gave me during exercise time today."
"...No."
"Very well."
The warden led me to a different building, one that reeked of blood, unlike the others.
As I walked down the corridor, I glanced around. Instead of iron bars, the cells had iron gates, and the place was eerily silent. Through the feeding slots in the gates, I could see the prisoners confined within.
Solitary confinement.
I knew this building was where prisoners were punished for causing trouble. The overwhelming stench of blood likely came from traces of torture.
"We've arrived. Gate 3. Go in."
Following the warden's instructions, I pushed the solid iron door, which had no food slot. The slightly ajar gate creaked open with an unpleasant screech.
As soon as the door opened, the warden shoved me inside and slammed it shut with a thud. Clang! The gate locked from the outside.
Inside the iron gate, torture instruments filled the room: a torture chair, a bonfire, water, thorns, knives, and more. Four men were waiting for me.
Three of them wore swords at their waists, looking like mercenaries. The fourth was someone I recognized.
"Just one day. You have no idea how eagerly I've been counting down to this moment!"
"...Why are you here?"
"Why am I here? For revenge, of course, Rohan!"
Rohan.
The alias I used just before being captured and imprisoned.
And the man standing before me was Koum, the merchant and husband of the woman I had been involved with.
"I warned you! Don't think this is over! I'll spend every last coin I have to kill you!"
Three mercenaries slowly advanced toward me.
"Hah. You bribed the warden well. Did you have to spend your entire fortune?"
"It only cost ten percent of my wealth. That's all you're worth! I won't let you die easily! Pay for disgracing my wife, and then die!"
The mercenaries seized me, grabbing my shoulders, arms, and back as they dragged me toward the torture chair.
"...Huh?"
"What's going on?"
"Shit. Aren't prisoners supposed to wear ability-sealing shackles?"
The mercenaries panicked when I didn't move at all.
"What are you doing?! Move it! If you're getting paid, you better earn it!"
Ting!
With a sharp tug, I snapped the handcuffs off my wrists. The mercenaries recoiled, drawing their swords and backing away.
"You know, I hate it when men touch me. Especially sweaty bastards like you."
Crackling.
Pure white Thunderbolt surged from my body, engulfing the mercenaries. They offered no resistance as they were electrocuted to death.
"Uh... uh..."
Koum stumbled backward in panic. He clearly hadn't realized I was this strong. With such power, there was no reason for me to voluntarily surrender and go to prison.
"Who's torturing who to death?"
"C-calm down and listen to me... Aaaaargh!"
Crackling electricity!
I channeled a controlled Thunderbolt into Koum's body, just enough to torment him without killing him.
"I'm not particularly skilled at torture... but since we have time to kill, I'll play with you."
"Aaaaargh!"
The torture chamber filled with screams.
After nearly two hours of torturing Koum to death, I decided it was time to act. I stood before the Iron Gate.
This gate would likely open around dawn tomorrow.
Should I just break it down?
That wasn't a bad idea, but there was something I wanted to test first.
Lightning Speed.
Electric Body Transformation. My physical body had transformed into pure thunderbolt. In this state, I charged toward the iron gate and passed through it effortlessly.
Just as I expected.
My body had become the thunderbolt itself, and since the iron gate was made of conductive metal, this was possible.
But what if I fail to pass through and revert to my original form midway? Would I get stuck and die?
The thought was horrifying. I resolved never to use this method unless I was absolutely certain I could complete the transfer.
First, I hunted down and killed all the wardens on duty nearby, seizing the keys to the solitary confinement cells.
I planned to free the prisoners in solitary confinement. These men, not only imprisoned but also tortured, must harbor deep hatred for their captors.
I would grant them freedom and weapons.
"It's time for the riot. Heh heh heh."
Boom! Crash! Boom!
Explosions continued to rock the prison. The bombs I had planted throughout the exercise yard were detonating one after another.
"A riot! The prisoners are rioting... Gah?!"
Bang!
A warden shouting at his comrades collapsed to the ground, a finger-sized hole pierced through his skull.
A rifle.
I had unshackled the prisoners in solitary confinement and armed them with rifles and metal cutters. They slaughtered the wardens, destroyed the prison walls, and rallied their comrades.
For the record, I also wielded a sword and sliced through the prison bars myself. With my mastery of sword qi, cutting through metal was child's play.
"I've come to get you, as promised, Owen."
"Y-you mean you caused this riot?"
Owen cried out in shock. The other prisoners scrambled to escape through the gaps in the severed iron bars. Even those who didn't want to join the riot had to flee the building was on fire, and they wouldn't survive if they stayed.
Bang! Bang-bang-bang-bang!
Gunshots echoed relentlessly.
"Starting a riot makes it easier to divert attention. The Warden and the guards will likely have established separate defensive positions."
"What about the Knight Order?!"
"Walls have collapsed throughout the prison. The prisoners will scatter in all directions, diluting the Knight Order's forces. This will make our escape even easier."
"Y-you're insane...! You're using the prisoners as bait to cover our escape?!"
"Using them? I merely gave them an opportunity."
"...That's reckless. Is it even right to do this?"
"Why are you so worried? The lives of these prisoners mean nothing to us."
"...Ah. Right. I forgot for a moment where our loyalties lie, having been in prison for so long."
"Where are your comrades?"
"They're nearby. Hey, everyone! Gather around!" Owen shouted, and four prisoners shuffled over. I glanced at them and sighed. They all looked weak.
Using their sword qi, I shattered their shackles.
"...What exactly are you all doing here?"
"We received an investigation request. Sorry, I'll explain in detail later. Shouldn't we focus on escaping first?"
"True enough. Come this way."
"Where are we going? Everyone else is heading that way."
"Seeing you all, it seems difficult to escape openly. So, I'll move as discreetly as possible."
I led Owen's group into a full-fledged escape.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots echoed incessantly.
"Warden! Warden, come out! I'll kill that bastard!"
The enraged shouts of prisoners reverberated through the prison.
Area 1067, Osten Prison: Successful escape.
Those who remained behind to riot instead of fleeing would be easily subdued by the Knight Order, tortured, and killed. Though I had given them rifles, the Knights primarily wielded sword qi and wore Rank-enhanced armor. Their armor was too tough for mere bullets to penetrate.
In terms of modern weaponry, a Knight was essentially a tank.
Meanwhile, the prisoners were armed with nothing but rifles.
As soon as I left Area 1067, I retrieved an item from my Inventory:
Voice Buried in the Wind
A pair of conch shells.
No matter how far apart the users are, as long as they're under the same sky, they can communicate in real-time.
Rank: A
This was a gift from Elena. She'd said she wouldn't always be available to answer, but would respond when she had time.
I was about to use the conch shells when Owen showed interest.
"Is that perhaps an item with communication capabilities?"
"That's right."
"Mirror! You're contacting Executive Mirror!"
"Stay back."
"Can't I listen too? I'm dying to know what you'll say to the Executive!"
"Fine."
I answered indifferently. Elena had never told me not to contact her in front of others. Besides, I had a feeling Owen would just keep pestering me even if I refused.
I brought the conch shell to my lips and spoke:
"Mirror. Mirror. Can you talk now? It's about the mission."
The signal should have reached the conch shell Elena was carrying. If she didn't respond within a minute, I'd assume she couldn't answer and move on alone.
About twenty seconds later, a voice came from the conch shell.
A clear, feminine voice. It was Elena.
I didn't think it would be this difficult... Contacting me instead of coming to the designated location... Did you complete the mission successfully?
"A variable arose."
A variable?
I explained the situation.
Owen hadn't been captured; he and his comrades had deliberately entered the prison for another purpose. And the actions I had taken to extract Owen and his group.
Ah hah! Hahahaha! You blew up part of the prison with bombs and armed the prisoners to incite a riot? I never imagined you'd go this far! So this is how you handle things? How amusing. What I like most is the thought of Count Osten's face twisting in frustration for the next while.
Elena laughed with genuine delight.
I glanced at Owen beside me. He seemed utterly bewildered that an Executive could have such a personality and way of speaking.
Your reaction is a bit slow. Is someone there with you?
A chill ran down my spine.