The dungeon warning system wasn't a great technology and didn't use magic, but it was an ingenious piece of sound engineering. As in the past the dungeons were extremely hot and claustrophobic even for the guards, ventilation pipes were built and, as well as ventilating the corridors, another function was given to them. The pipes were made of metal, were wide and intertwined in various parts of the dungeons, so they were perfect for propagating sounds.
So when that first whistle echoed through the corridors, warning of Victor's escape, the ventilation pipes, also known as conversation pipes, propagated the sound through several pipes until it reached a central room on the second floor, where the so-called communication operators were based.
The operators were relaxing while playing cards when the sound of the whistle came. They stood up quickly and began to react. One of them approached a large tube and shouted into it:
"Attention! An alert has been sounded in the dungeons from the pipe on the second floor. It is possible that a break-in or escape has been initiated! I repeat..."
The sound of that operator's voice resounded through all the conversation tubes on the three floors of the dungeons, even reaching Wanda Stillwind's ears.
The chamber Wanda was in was impressive for a prison. With steel columns to reinforce the overall structure of the prison and two levels. The lowest level was where there was the only cell on the entire third floor. This cell was like a cage, where Wanda sat alone in a chair with her hands tied to thick chains on the floor. The other level was where most of the guards were, watching her with bows pointed at her.
Even in the face of the guards' despair at hearing the warning, Wanda didn't seem to react at all. She just kept her head down and her hair partially covering her face.
"Mr. Armek, if the problem is on the second floor, we should immediately order you not to close the gates, otherwise reinforcements won't be able to arrive to help!" said a guard, approaching a green-haired, serious-looking young man who was on the upper level of the floor.
Armek was the man who had interrogated Wanda when she first arrived at the prison. He wasn't very tall, nor was he very athletic, but he seemed to have a higher rank than even Lieutenant Lafbert, who was standing just behind him, at attention.
With narrowed eyes, Armek fixed his glasses on his own face and watched Wanda intently, as if trying to notice any change in her behavior.
After a few seconds, while the beeps resounded and the warning message continued unabated, he finally decided to act.
"Guys, I want you to listen to me very carefully." Armek turned towards the men behind him, a troop of men in white armor with gold details. "The only person on the second floor with enough motivation to try to turn this prison upside down is that woman's father!" Armek pointed at the Rank-S hunter.
Wanda slowly raised her head and looked at the man with a smile on her face.
Armek gritted his teeth. "That man isn't as powerful as she is and our men upstairs should be enough to stop him getting this far! No matter how hard he tries, he won't be able to free his criminal daughter!" Armek gestured like a leader and spoke at the same time with a confident smile on his face.
The men in front of him agreed without thinking. "Yes, sir!"
However, Armek was about to discover that he wasn't as clever as he thought. Suddenly, the message the communications operator was repeating stopped.
"Oh, just a moment, new information has arrived..." Seconds of silence passed, but when the operator spoke again, his voice sounded even more distressed than before. "A-general warning, all units pay close attention! The troublesome prisoner is a man with gray hair and a large build, and he is currently in the outer courtyard fighting! He has already left the dungeons. I repeat, he has already left the dungeons! This is an escape! Mobilize troops to capture him!"
At this point, Armek frowned, a little confused. After all, going to the courtyard was exactly the opposite of Wanda's path.
"He's... abandoning his own daughter?" Armek put a hand to his chin and thought aloud. However, a thought crossed his mind and then he approached the communication tube next door and said, "Hello? Communication room?"
"Yes, Commander Armek?"
"Pay attention, the fugitive's name is Victor Shieldman. He is very dangerous and should not be underestimated. I believe his aim is not to escape, but to take the duke hostage in order to negotiate the release of his daughter! Warn the engine room not to close the doors, and as many units as possible on the three floors should go up to the castle without compromising the security of the prison! Slaughter order fully authorized for this prisoner!"
"All right, I'll communicate that to everyone immediately, sir!"
Thus, a new warning began to echo through the dungeon corridors and the troops began to mobilize to go up to the castle. However, when the first reinforcement troop managed to climb the stairs and reached the outer courtyard, they witnessed a chilling scene.
Dozens of guards were already lying on the ground, some of them moaning in pain, others fainted and many torn to pieces. No one was willing to let Victor pass without resistance, so he went with everything he had.
The trumpets of the wall guards were already echoing loudly, so the whole castle was on alert, but no one could understand how Victor had managed to finish off so many trained men on his own. The idea of anyone doing that was inconceivable until this very moment.
"Out of the way, out!" Lafbert pushed his way through the crowd with his muscular arms.
"What? Are you already here, Lieutenant Lafbert? Weren't you on floor three with Commander Armek?" Someone asked.
"I know this prison like the back of my hand, kid. Of course I took a shortcut. Now, all of you follow me! We're going to hunt an old wolf!"
"But sir? What about the wounded men?"
"If they together couldn't stop a fugitive on their own, they won't be able to do anything when they're injured either! For now, leave them there, the strong will survive and the weak will perish, it's the natural order of things!"
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