"Three-Winged Sanctuary Swordsman, Blood Frenzy Hunter Gerard..."
Ash huddled in the far corner of the cafeteria, observing the radiant white-haired hunter. His thoughts were a whirlwind of unease.
He wasn't the clueless rookie who had just arrived in this strange world anymore. He knew now just how much power this man, who had ruined his crossing experience, held in this city.
In this world, power was measured in wings: One-winged Silver, Two-winged Gold, Three-winged Sanctuary, Four-winged Legend.
Under the starry sky, a Legendary Sorcerer was the pinnacle of power—a lone force capable of commanding nations. Below them stood the Sanctuary Sorcerers, the backbone of society's elite. While Legends explored the Mystical Abyss and delved into arcane arts, Sanctuary Sorcerers oversaw vital matters in the mortal realm. They wielded immense authority, forming the highest level of conventional power.
And if Gerard Westminster was sent to take down the Four Pillars God cult, it only proved how serious a threat Heath's operation had been. To assign Kaimon City's top hunter meant the cult wasn't just a ragtag operation—it was a trophy target, a prize worth the trouble.
But beyond his rank, Gerard's combat ability was the real nightmare. Ash's escape plan had assumed their pursuers would be Two-Winged Sorcerers. Against Gerard? One Three-Winged Sanctuary Hunter could obliterate their entire group in moments.
If their chances of success had been 30% before, now it was zero. The transport ship wouldn't reach Kaimon City in ten minutes, and the prison would certainly discover their breakout attempt in that time. Fighting the hunters was inevitable, and against Gerard, it was hopeless.
Ash sighed deeply. "Well, if it's him, then canceling the plan was the only option. Guess we're just unlucky."
"No," Igula said grimly, leading Ash to the dock. "It's not just bad luck. Look."
Ash's eyes fell on the sleek, bullet-shaped ship. "Looks aerodynamic."
"That's no ordinary ship," Igula explained. "It's a Mobile Prison. And look who's boarding it."
Ash watched in stunned silence as a line of death row inmates marched across the painted yellow line, stepping into the vessel under the hunters' watchful gaze.
One hulking figure paused at the gangway, pumping his fist toward the prison. "Hah! I'm finally out of this shithole!"
"That's 'Black Beast' Took," Ash said in recognition. Around them, other prisoners looked on enviously, but none dared cross the yellow boundary.
"They're the volunteers!" Ash realized. "That recruitment from earlier was for them. This ship is here to transport them!"
"That's the fatal flaw in our plan," Igula muttered, biting his fingernails in frustration. "This kind of thing is so rare I didn't factor it in. This isn't just any transport ship—it's a Pig Cage!"
"Pig Cage?" Ash repeated, the name as strange as it was ominous.
"That ship isn't going to Kaimon City. It's heading southeast to the Lakeview War Zone," Igula said, his tone bitter. "I should have anticipated this. No matter how much the mayor bribes the council, they wouldn't risk sending death row inmates back to the city. That would be political suicide."
"If word got out, the public would riot. The council would be overthrown in the next election. The only place for those volunteers is the war zone, holding back the Abyss!"
As the last inmate boarded the vessel, Ash frowned. "So if we got on that ship, we'd be running straight into hell—going from this prison to a war zone full of monsters?"
"Not that it matters," Igula replied. "We wouldn't even make it aboard. The Pig Cage has its own onboard processor. It scans every passenger's chip. Unauthorized lifeforms like us? The alarm would sound, and our location would be broadcast instantly."
Ash was dumbfounded. "Wait. If all the ships are like that, was our plan ever possible? How were we supposed to escape if we can't even board?"
"No, only specialized ships like the Pig Cage have those processors. Most transport vessels don't," Igula explained.
"Why not? Are those processors expensive?"
"Extremely. They're made by sorcerers, and besides the cost, using them to scan people's chips without permission is a major privacy violation."
"Wait, privacy violation?" Ash blinked, confused. He touched the back of his neck. "In the outside world, scanning chips is illegal?"
"Of course it is," Igula said, giving him a strange look. "It's a serious crime—an invasion of personal privacy."
Ash couldn't help but laugh bitterly. The same society that planted control chips into infants, confiscated memories, and broadcast executions as entertainment, cared about privacy? The hypocrisy was almost laughable.
"Then why does the Pig Cage get away with it?" he asked, dropping the topic.
"It's considered punishment. In the Lakeview War Zone, warriors must periodically explore the Abyss. But the deeper you go, the more the Abyss affects your mind—causing madness, self-harm, or even desertion.
"No one volunteers for those missions, so they send punished warriors in these ships. The processor enforces rules via their chips—no self-harm, no escape, no killing each other. It also detects monsters sneaking aboard, ensuring the crew can deal with them."
"Once they complete their mission, their crimes are forgiven."
"And for transporting death row inmates, even if it seems excessive, the mayor likely insisted on deploying a Pig Cage. He wouldn't take any risks with his political career on the line," Igula concluded.
Ash's respect for Igula grew. "You've scammed people all the way up to mayors?"
Igula sighed wistfully. "I once tricked a councilman. If I'd known I'd end up here, I might have tried for a mayor. Too late now."
Ash shook his head, marveling at Igula's audacity. "So, every part of our plan is now impossible?"
"Only for now," Igula admitted. "The next possible window is the 11th of next month. But with Professor Shilin's connections, I wouldn't be surprised if you get thrown into the Blood Moon Trial on the 1st instead—"
Suddenly, a holographic screen appeared before Ash.
"Good afternoon, everyone. This is Nagu McMillan from the Broken Lake Prison Administration. I have two announcements," the voice declared.
"First, there will be an additional Blood Moon Trial on the 27th. The participant list will be released that morning."
"Second, the hunters will be staying overnight to assist with trial preparations. Please cooperate. Volunteers who help the hunters will be rewarded with contribution points."
As the hologram faded, Ash's mind raced.
An extra trial? Hunters staying overnight?
"That extra trial is probably for the new political prisoners," Igula said ominously. "But if you end up on the list, I wouldn't be surprised."
Ash's expression darkened. "They wouldn't go that far."
"When things go wrong," Igula said coolly, "they'll always go worse than you imagine. That's the only truth I've learned from years of scamming clients."
Before Ash could retort, a shadow loomed over him.
"Ash Heath," a cold voice said. "Staring at the ship like that. Planning to escape?"
Igula silently slid away.
Ash turned and forced a smile at the towering figure. "Who doesn't dream of breaking out of here?"
"Not everyone," Gerard said, his crimson eyes gleaming. "Even scum can repent. Even trash can change. Giving you proper despair—that's the point of the Blood Moon Trial."
Ash tried to retreat. "Uh, if you'll excuse me—"
"Wait," Gerard interrupted. "You heard the announcement, right? You're supposed to assist the hunters. I need your help."
Ash felt a chill. "What kind of help? I'm not exactly useful—I eat, I sleep, I'm basically dead weight. Surely someone else—"
"Perfect. You're exactly what I need," Gerard said with a grin. "There's no room for us hunters to stay, so I'll be bunking with a prisoner."
Ash paled. "I don't know any of the 'flower girls' here, but maybe Igula can help—"
"No need."
Gerard clapped a hand on Ash's shoulder, his smile wicked. "Ash Heath, I'm sure you won't mind sharing your cell with me for the night."