October 2, 7:10 PM.
The loyal servant of John Harrison & Co., Linen Manufacturers, who had been entrusted with the care of the Jack of Diamonds, was eliminated the day before. She immediately began planning this great escape.
The news was given to her by her superior, Fang Q, who was hiding in Stellaxis, along with the method of escape. This new superior was very mysterious, and she had never met him before... Oh, maybe it was because she had been locked up in prison ever since her new superior took office.
It didn't matter.
"And this intelligence... Sebastian Linin Bloodoath... such an interesting fellow. It would be a shame not to recruit him into the secret cult. Once we've dealt with the textile factory, if we can't recruit this new member, we'll have no choice but to eliminate him."
VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth lay in the high-security prison of Obsidian Spire, a royal prison,and the most impenetrable prison in Stellaxis. The cell where VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth was being held was one of the most heavily guarded cells. The entire cell was covered with defensive runes and was under the close surveillance of crystal balls 24 hours a day. Even at midnight, there was at least one battle mage watching her at all times, even when she went to the bathroom!
"Hm? At this hour, they're bringing in a new prisoner? Have they noticed something?" VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth was lying on the ground, carving something into the stone slab with a small spoon. She suddenly turned her head toward the iron door, "Impossible. I haven't done anything yet."
Outside the cell, all the runes lit up, exerting a massive suppressing force on VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth, rendering her unable to move. The heavy iron door slowly opened, and a young man with a blank expression was brought in.
VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth and the young man both looked at each other in surprise.
Edrick recalled how just a few days ago, he had rescued a woman with mental disabilities from the dungeon of the Cathedral of Luminous Pragis. Now, only a few days later, he had encountered another one—and worse, she was now his cellmate.
"Isn't it inappropriate for men and women to share a cell?" Edrick turned to complain to the guard, but the latter merely smiled: "Here, we don't judge based on biological gender; we judge based on psychological gender."
"My cellmate's psychological gender is male?" Edrick was utterly shocked. VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth's prison uniform collar was wide open, revealing her fragrant shoulders and collarbone beneath disheveled black hair.
Her grayish cheeks couldn't hide her delicate bone structure,The dried blood at the corners of her lips had been licked into a wicked curve, and the red marks from the handcuffs on her wrists only made her waist look even slimmer.
Even curled up in a pile of straw, her figure was enough to captivate anyone's gaze. This was an absolutely stunning woman—and one who used her beauty as a weapon.
"No, your prison records say your gender identity is female," the guard explained, then gave Edrick a playful look up and down.
"???"
Edrick sensed something was wrong. He never expected Adrian Gray to go this far. Now that he thought about it, Lacus's apologetic expression must have meant she knew too!
The heavy iron door slowly closed, and the flickering runes faded away. Edrick and VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth stood in the empty cell, staring at each other.
VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth pondered the meaning of the prison sending him a cellmate at this moment, while Edrick reflected on whether he should have saved Lacus in the first place.
"So... Cellie..." In order to break the awkward silence, Edrick forced a smile and asked, "What crime did you commit to get you thrown in here?"
After a brief silence of two seconds, VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth revealed a very charming smile: "Terrorist attacks, attempting to overthrow the government, blasphemy against deities, and probably dozens of murder charges.If it weren't for the higher-ups keeping me around for their own use, I'd have been beheaded dozens of times by now."
"Oh, well, that's... quite impressive." Edrick tilted his head.
"And you?" VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth was curious about what kind of criminal his cellmate was.
"Um... I... um... illegal business operations..." Edrick stammered.
"Human trafficking? Or drug dealing?"
"Running a laundry. We were missing the approval for a large steam machine, so I was detained for two days." Edrick felt a bit embarrassed.
"Detained? Here? Obsidian Spire?" VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth felt his intelligence was being mocked. These damn guys sent undercover agents without even bothering to act?
Edrick finally realized where he had been taken. After Adrian's arrest warrant took effect, he was immediately taken away by the police without a trial or notice and brought straight here.
The famous Obsidian Spire was also a legend among the lower classes of the Rust District because even petty thieves like Griff weren't qualified to be locked up here. It was the most heavily guarded place in Stellaxis, and usually only political prisoners or evil people like VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth who conspired to overthrow the country were qualified to be locked up here.
Edrick lowered his head, feeling like a group of rich kids showing off their million-dollar sports cars while he rode by on a children's bicycle.
But soon, Edrick prepared himself mentally. With his current reputation as the Ripper, he was qualified to be locked up here. He would just treat it as a simulation of being arrested.
Edrick had no idea what Lacus and Adrian were planning. Before leaving, Lacus had said there would be no danger, but the target was highly sensitive. The more Edrick knew, the more likely he was to be detected. It wasn't that he didn't trust Edrick's acting skills; it was just that the target had some tricky special abilities.According to the plan, Edrick only needed to stay here for two days. He wasn't infiltrating a dangerous criminal organization or spying on a political rival's confidential information—he was simply here to spend two days in jail.
VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth felt humiliated. She had roamed the dark world for years, committing countless crimes in her life of evil, killing without mercy, and bearing so many secrets that even the royal family couldn't bring themselves to execute her.
Yet, her cellmate was an illegal laundry shop owner!?
This was the first time VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth, who took pleasure in manipulating others' minds, felt such a profound insult.
VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth wanted to kill this man to vent her anger, but killing someone directly was not her style, and in a prison cell where Aether was restricted, she was just an ordinary woman.
VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth looked at Edrick with a murderous gaze: "Do you know who I am?"
Edrick shook his head blankly. He knew that Lacus and Adrian must have their own plans, but he really knew nothing about it, not even the identity of the other party. However, he wasn't worried about his own safety. After all, Aether couldn't be used here, and in terms of hand-to-hand combat alone, Edrick was confident that the Ripper of Rust District couldn't even handle a defenseless woman.
"I am VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth, the Square Piece of the Cult of Entropic Lies," VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth said proudly. The name seemed to have a kind of magical power, and no extraordinary being dared to underestimate someone with such a title.
Edrick was not an extraordinary being, and his knowledge of the Cult of Entropic Lies was limited to what Lacus had told him two days ago. He had never heard of the Cult of Entropic Lies.
"You're very brave, kid." Seeing that Edrick's expression hadn't changed at all, VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth's voice became a little cold.
"That may be one of my few strengths," Edrick said calmly. Now that he knew his opponent was a member of the Cult of Entropic Lies, he felt it necessary to talk to him more. The cult's followers were masters of deception, and sincerity was the best weapon when dealing with such people. "I really don't know why I was locked up here, nor do I know why I met you, beautiful lady."
VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth stared straight into Edrick's eyes. As members of the Cult of Entropic Lies, lying was their instinct, and they themselves had the ability to distinguish between truth and lies. Even this prison couldn't seal that ability. If Edrick was really powerful enough to deceive VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth, then she would admit defeat.
"Who brought you here?" VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth's eyes seemed to pierce through Edrick's soul.
"Adrian Gray. She said I didn't need to do anything, just stay here quietly for two days." Edrick decided not to hide anything and confessed everything honestly. At the same time, he had some guesses about Adrian and Lacus's plan.
Upon hearing that name, VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth's mind raced, and she revealed a look of realization—they knew each other!
"Did Adrian Gray arrest you too?" Edrick remembered a news story from three years ago, which he had specifically looked up at the public library after officially meeting Adrian Gray. The news mentioned that Adrian Gray had been promoted to Golden-ranked Hero for arresting a cult mastermind in a large-scale terrorist attack against John Harrison & Co., Linen Manufacturers.
"That's right... that's right... that woman must be living in luxury now." VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth looked at Edrick with a playful expression, confused by Edrick's honesty and Adrian Gray's intentions. If Adrian Gray was really planning something, why send in such an ordinary person? And she was well aware of VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth's abilities—why would he personally arrange all of this?
One question after another arose in VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth's mind, but it was Edrick who spoke up: "I think it might be related to John Harrison & Co., Linen Manufacturers."
"You know, that textile factory?" VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth disliked this feeling of being out of control. She had always been the one manipulating others, and now this sense of not knowing anything was unpleasant. However, she did not let any of her feelings show on her face.
"Yes, that textile factory is our customer, and my laundry provides services to the female workers there." This was the truth. John Harrison & Co., Linen Manufacturers was an important customer of Snow-White Raven Laundry, even before Edrick acquired the laundry, because it was nearby.
Now that he thought about it, perhaps Lacus had intentionally or unintentionally arranged for him to acquire this laundry?
Edrick knew the other party had the ability to detect lies, so he didn't plan to lie. Instead, he used the truth to guide the other party.
Before learning about Lacus and Adrian's plans, he intended to gather as much information as possible first: "I always felt that place was unusual. At night, you could often hear the sound of looms running, and occasionally see pure white children wandering around the empty factory. And the outhouse there—my goodness,The outhouse there was so stinky, I saw the Nightmen dig a statue of an evil god out of it with their bare hands!"
"A statue of an evil god?" VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth raised his eyebrows, "Someone dug up a statue of an evil god?"
Not only was it dug up, but it was also made into their own idol. Edrick thought to himself, unaware of what VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth was thinking.
VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth closed his eyes and felt it deeply.
"It seems like it's time to begin." VolumeVoid·Yog-Moth seemed to sense something, smiled slightly, and opened his eyes to look at Edrick.
"What is it? What's starting?" Edrick's dazed mind snapped back into focus.
"My great escape plan."