The death row inmates roared in unison, "What did you say?!"
Ashe crossed his arms. With a solemn and righteous expression, he said, "To be honest, I am a good person. Nothing would please more than throwing you scum into the lake to feed the fish. How could I ever let you out to wreak havoc on society? Stay here and undergo ideological reform. Do your best to die as soon as possible. Farewell."
"Aren't you a cult leader yourself?!"
"I'm not. I didn't do it. I'm innocent."
"Who would believe that?!"
Ashe scoffed. "How could you not believe an honest, upright, good man like ? I'll rember this. Hmph. I'll be sure to cast a vote for you during the Blood Moon Tribunal."
A tall, slender inmate with refined features stepped forward. "Demon, wait. I may not know your escape plan, but no matter what, I can serve as bait to draw the Heresy Court's attention and increase your chances of escape. You don't have to trust . Compared to you, the court would value more. I'm called Lark Jewel for a reason. I can ease the pressure you face."
Ashe smiled faintly. "Oh, Jewel. I rember you. When Iger was recruiting teammates, you were the first na he ntioned. He said you were powerful, sharp-witted, skilled at healing and escape, and familiar with every black-market hideout in Caimon City, making you an ideal ally."
Jewel returned the smile. "Beautiful Beast, it's an honor."
Ashe snorted. "Which is exactly why he insisted I leave you here to die. When we invited you back then, you brushed us off again and again. Now that the plan is in motion, it's your turn to realize you no longer matter to us.
"Iger is far more petty than I am, and you managed to offend him. I have a feeling that he would use the Sinner's Directory to make you lick the urinal clean before leaving. Hey, does anyone here have diabetes? Maybe that would improve the flavor."
He shoved past the pale-faced Jewel and took only a few steps before the prison guards blocked his way.
Nagu spoke coldly, "Ashe Heath, I know that reason ans nothing to a stubborn, vicious criminal who worships freedom. I have no interest in arguing with you. I only ask that you either kill or remove my restraints. I cannot endure this humiliation."
Ashe blinked. "Humiliation? Isn't this how death row inmates are treated every day? Everyone goes through it."
"But we are not death row inmates," Nagu said, sweeping his gaze across the prisoners. "We should not bear such shackles. And them—"
Ashe replied calmly, "They deserve it, I know. Think of this as a rare professional experience. It will serve you well in the future. After all, how can a guard beco a warden without ever having been a prisoner?
"Besides, these restrictions only prevent you from attacking others, insulting them, or relieving yourself wherever you like. Aren't those rules you should be following anyway? Why resist them so fiercely?
"As for not being able to pee when people are watching, that just ans you're overly sensitive. That has nothing to do with ."
Nagu fell silent.
Ashe stepped closer and whispered into his ear. "Do not refuse to do good because it seems trivial. Do not commit evil because it seems insignificant. I'm not asking you to sympathize with these scums. I just hope you don't beco scum yourselves."
He patted Nagu's shoulder. "Of course, you can also treat this as my revenge against you guards. The next ti you escort death row inmates to the Blood Moon Tribunal, be gentler. Follow the procedure and send them to their deaths. Do not treat prisoners like toys. Once you stop treating people as people, you are not far from becoming them."
With that, Ashe pushed the door open and left.
Nagu stood frozen, his emotions tangled and conflicted.
Tap.
Ashe suddenly rushed back in, turned on the faucet, and washed his hands. "Almost forgot."
Then he left again.
Nagu glanced at the shoulder Ashe had patted, his feelings growing even more complicated.
***
In the central hall, the five notorious criminals had gathered.
Necromancer Harvey spoke first, "At the mont, aside from the five of us, everyone else in the prison has had their movents restricted and has been fitted with death-row-level restraints. No one can interfere with our plan."
Fraudster Iger followed up, "According to the hunters, the transport ship must return to Caimon Lake Port by 7 p.m. at the latest. Otherwise, the port staff will start asking questions. They clock out at exactly 7:30 p.m."
"The transport ship has already been cleared," Gourt Ronna added.
Woodpecker Ronald flashed a grin, his teeth glinting as he gave a thumbs-up. "I've learned how to operate the ship. The five of us et the minimum crew requirent."
"In other words, we can leave at any ti," Ashe said, sweeping his gaze across the group. "The only issue is Fernandez. Harvey, if you intend to kill him, you'll need to delay his death until after 6 p.m. Poison him, bleed him dry, do whatever you like. Either way, we need enough ti to escape."
Harvey tore open a sky-blue square package with his teeth and rolled a milky-white candy onto his tongue. He said slowly, "Or... We could go with that spur-of-the-mont plan."
Ashe narrowed his eyes. Isn't that the Snow-White brand Moon Candy from the advertisents on Caimon Channel One? It's supposedly whiter than snow and sweeter than a princess. And that absurd comrcial. Isn't the model playing the princess rumored to have done a full split in ecstasy after tasting one? Who ca up with this nonsense?
Ashe found it hard not to be intrigued. After all, he couldn't do a split.[1] Did Harvey really have this kind of hobby?
Harvey worked the candy with his tongue, and a faint glimr of vitality slowly surfaced in his otherwise deadened gaze. "I choose the spur-of-the-mont plan."
Unexpectedly, the second vote ca from Iger. "So do I."
His eyes burned with a wild eagerness, leering like a man who had just laid eyes on a rare beauty. "I can't pass up a performance like this."
Ronna took out a nail file and calmly smoothed his nails before saying, "I object. Leaving quietly is far safer."
Ronald smiled. "I agree with Ronna. Sentint aside, the spontaneous plan carries too much risk."
It was two against two, and all eyes turned to Ashe for the deciding vote.
Ashe said, "I'd naturally prefer the original plan. It's safer."
At his words, Harvey and Iger's expressions darkened, while Ronna and Ronald relaxed into faint smiles.
Ashe spread his hands. "But... This is the first ti I've been captured. The first ti I've been sentenced to death. The first ti I've been locked up. The first ti I've attended a Blood Moon Tribunal. And now, the first ti I'm escaping."
His gaze sharpened. "We've already had so many firsts. We don't owe this one to anyone."
A slow smile curved his lips. "Let's use our very first Blood Moon Tribunal to say hello to this twisted country."
1. So this is why he is intrigued!? ☜
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