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The combination lock wheel, the automatically retaliating magic runes, the hexagram alchemical sealing circle, the spirit monitors… After the female prison guard unlocked each of these complex mechanisms, the thick iron door that stood before Aiden finally swung open, revealing a long corridor lined with cells on both sides.
In Silvertown's Rose Iron Prison, universally acknowledged as the most rigorous and strongest women's prison on the continent, the most dangerous and vicious female criminals were gathered, and Aiden was the warden responsible for managing this prison.
This was the core area deep within the Rose Iron Prison, where the world's most dangerous group of witches was incarcerated. As the warden, Aiden took time every few days to personally inspect the area.
Walking into the gate beside Aiden, the block warden Flandre struck the railing with her iron rod and called out with a strong voice, "Line up at the door! Keep it orderly, the warden has come for inspection!"
Upon her announcement, dozens of cages instantly burst into commotion.
"Aiden has arrived?" The female prisoners gathered at the doors of their cells, peering through the iron bars towards the end of the corridor.
"How has it been going, ladies?" Aiden smiled and waved at everyone, as though a star actor at the opera house greeting his fans.
This remark instantly set the prison ablaze; screams and howls filled the air as the female prisoners expressed their "affection" for the warden with the utmost enthusiasm:
"To hell with you! Someone feed the warden shit!"
"Fuck you, Aiden! If you're so tough, come in and fight one-on-one!"
"Ha! Our darling warden is visiting again, feeling unfulfilled, are we? Come over here and lick my feet!"
"Aiden, you dumbass bastard! Come take a punch from grandma!"
Spiteful curses filled with murderous intent flooded their way, but both Aiden and Flandre, who followed by his side, were well accustomed to this, unphased as they walked leisurely down the corridor, checking off the prisoners one by one.
The deepest part of this core area primarily held one type of criminal: those with extraordinary strength that other prisons found difficult to contain. The majority were beings far superior to humans—blood clans, demons, banshees, evil dragons, and even some other indescribable entities... The variety was so extensive, it could almost form a biological museum.
Most of these witches were harsh characters who trampled on the rules with their formidable power, representing the prisoners that the jail most needed to focus on.
From the different reactions of the female prisoners, one could generally deduce how long they had been in this prison.
The ones who jumped up and down shouting the loudest were actually the newcomers, recently incarcerated, who still hadn't had their edges worn down. Seeing the warden, their first reaction was still a desire to skin him alive and gnaw on his bones.
Then there were those who had been here for a while who had calmed down a bit after a few tough lessons. They still had their edge but had already lost the impulse for such helpless rage.
Like Ophelia, who had just been caught after a recent escape attempt.
"Yo, gopher princess." Aiden stopped in front of a cell, looking mockingly at Ophelia, who lay on the railing glaring unwillingly at him.
Ophelia turned her face away in annoyance.
"Because of your escape attempt, your sentence will be extended," Aiden taunted.
"So what? I got a hundred years; one more year doesn't make a difference!" Ophelia retorted defiantly.
"Starting from tomorrow, you'll also be in solitary confinement for a month…"
"No big deal, I used to sleep in coffins!" Ophelia was dismissive.
"I'll use the photo from your escape to make promotional material, to be circulated among everyone here," Aiden threw in another jab.
That made Ophelia falter—Aiden had captured the moment she turned around, covered in dirt, astonished. If the other prisoners saw this indecorous image, it would be like a public execution, and she could expect to become the laughingstock for quite some time.
Aiden had intentionally waited for Ophelia to crawl out of the prison before catching her, primarily to trample her dignity and show the other prisoners the ridiculous dance of an escapee in the palm of his hand as the warden, a tactic meant to serve as a warning to others.
Sometimes, dignity is a more effective means of control than interest. Many prisoners don't care about punishment, but they care about humiliation.
"Do whatever you want!" Ophelia gritted her teeth, forcing these stubborn words out through her teeth.
"Additionally, your treatment level will be downgraded. Starting tomorrow, your daily ration will only be half a cup of blood."
This finally broke Ophelia, "Hold on a minute! It's already outrageous that you're giving me pig's blood, and now you want to starve me?"
"What princess? You're already a prisoner at the foot of the stairs; could you be a bit more conscious? If you want better treatment, reform properly. Another violation of discipline, and it won't be as simple as just a downgrade," Aiden said, curling his lips.
Ignoring Ophelia's volley of abuse, the two continued forward. The corridor furthest in was much quieter than before, with most prisoners obediently gathered at the railing; some even took the initiative to greet Aiden:
"The warden also came today."
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"The warden changed his hairstyle? So handsome!"
"Warden, when are you going to take us out for some fresh air?"
...
Aiden waved back to them with a smile, but Flandre, who followed behind, was vigilant because she knew well that most of these seemingly cooperative prisoners were long-term, serious offenders. They had spent many years in the Rose Iron Prison and, after Aiden's personal discipline and rehabilitation, had become thoroughly integrated into prison life.
Those who were newcomers at the front, who appeared to be savage, were actually more cunning and dangerous than the veteran inmates. Among them were some of the prison's most powerful witches.
Of course, there were always exceptions.
"Ah, Lord Aiden! Finally, I get to see you again. I've missed you so much!" The seductive succubus waved enthusiastically at Aiden from behind the bars, even blowing him a kiss.
"Oh, it's Fille." Aiden nodded casually and continued to walk.
After a few steps, he suddenly realized something was amiss, furrowed his brows, and stepped back, staring intently at the succubus in the cell: "Why are you still here? Weren't you released last month after serving your time?"
"Ahaha, well..." Fille scratched her face and awkwardly shifted her gaze away.
Aiden sensed something and turned to Flandre and asked, "When did she come back in?"
"Just today. The reason is the same as always. Illegal operations and safety production accidents. She organized other succubi to go back to their old ways without restraint, resulting in numerous men being hospitalized for sudden weakness," Flandre replied with a deadpan expression.
"Why is it that every vice crackdown involves you?" Aiden asked, his expression growing stern as he rubbed his temples.
Since he had become warden, Fille had been incarcerated here five times.
This woman, she wasn't targeting him specifically, was she?
As a succubus, Fille and her companions possessed the ability to induce erotic dreams in their victims and then suck out their spirit energy. They had set up a shop that charged clients for these dream services. As the leader of these succubi, Fille became the proprietor of the establishment.
The nature of the business itself was not explicitly illegal. However, due to Fille and her companions' lack of restraint, they often drew too much of their clients' life force, leading to hospitalizations due to life force depletion during sleep. Soon, these succubi were imprisoned for causing accidents, and their shop was closed.
But Fille showed remarkable resilience in this regard. Even after having her business license revoked, she would gather her companions and secretly return to their trade upon release.
Yet, these gluttonous succubi lacked any ability to learn from their mistakes and were swiftly apprehended again for the same reasons.
In this way, with repeated relapses and engaging in the same old practices, Fille became a frequent guest at the Rose Iron Prison.
Normally, with her level of power and criminal activities, she wouldn't be qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as the other prisoners in this area. But as a higher-level succubus, Fille not only could use magic to pass through walls but could also ensnare ordinary people with just a glance. No ordinary prison could contain her, so she was sent to the core area of the Rose Iron Prison.
"I just made a tiny mistake, and they call me a repeat offender and sentenced me to a whole year, which is so unfair! Lord Aiden, can't you find a way to reduce my sentence? I'm willing to do anything..." Fille cooed flirtatiously at Aiden.
"Oh?" Aiden suddenly seemed piqued with interest. He looked around, then leaned closer to Fille and whispered mysteriously, "Really... willing to do anything?"
"Of course, really! Anything at all," Fille said, her eyes sparkling with excitement upon seeing Aiden taking the bait.
"Then you..." Aiden licked his lips, paused, and then revealed a warm smile, "Can you reform properly? Promise me you won't engage in pandering anymore, okay?"
"Eh?" Fille blinked, then quickly put on a forced smile, "Sure, next time for sure, next time for sure! Just find a way to reduce my sentence this time! I can take good care of you at night..."
"Have you got the nerve to ask me for a sentence reduction? I've tolerated you for far too long!" Aiden suddenly snapped, kicking the iron bars, "Every time it's some petty matter that adds to my workload. Do you think this is a guesthouse?"
The most important thing for a prison guard is never to trust the prisoners here; the greatest danger of the succubi lies in their ability to seduce their targets while their guard is down, thereby controlling their spirit.
Moreover, Fille had a long rap sheet. Even those who simply indulged in her dream-invoking services ended up in the hospital for rescue; to direct succumb to her temptations... there was a chance one could die on the spot.
Fille cringed under Aiden's menacing demeanor: "I just... just..."
"Shut up. If you come back here again, I'll lock you up with the ghoul women," Aiden threatened with an icy stare.
"No, please! Those undead stink!" Fille's face went pale with fright.
Aiden ignored the peculiar succubus and went on to oversee another headcount with his subordinates.
Finally, Aiden stood at the entrance to the corridor, removed his cap, and addressed the inmates: "I am glad to see all of you cooperating with our work. Until next time, ladies. I hope that you will strive to reform yourselves and become better individuals during your time here in the Rose Iron Prison."
Amidst a barrage of curses from the female prisoners, Aiden closed the door behind him.
Today at the Rose Iron Prison, it was still a peaceful day.