Chapter 1: First Episode: Chapter 1 (1/2)
Chapter 1: First Episode: Chapter 1
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
A brief yet powerful storm just hit Damorga. Lieutenant General Moranzo Hanning of the Imperial Guards pushed the huge floor-to-ceiling window in his office wide open, and the intoxicating, fresh air after the rain gushed into his office that was filled with the suffocating smoke of Kuban Cigars. If you were wondering why one would smoke Kuban Cigars so much, then the Captain of the Guards, Vick would definitely tell you this in the most direct way. ”Fuck off, okay! Lieutenant General has had a really bad day today. Do you want to be sent to the labor camp or the ‘coal pit’? If you don’t want that, then fuck off! Fuck off as soon as you can!”
Captain Vick had always had a foul mouth. This was the underlying reason why he did not get promoted in rank even though he had been the confidential secretary in the Lieutenant General’s office for five years now. The Captain did not care too much about this matter. If he really wanted to, he would only need one word from his boss to get promoted into Major or maybe even Colonel. However, whenever his wife complained about this matter to him, he always habitually gave a big eye-roll to his Madame. ”If I wasted this one chance to ask a favor from Sir Lieutenant General on this small matter, then that might as well mean I would have a dull future for the rest of my life!”
Captain Vick’s logic would surely prove its value in the near future. However, if his Boss and he were not able to deal with this emergency in the right way, then everything would just be a wishful daydream. The Sir Lieutenant General and he might as well become the new members of the prison they were managing now. In this case, the convicts would surely be more than welcoming to them.
Being one of the Lieutenant Generals of the Imperial Guards, Count Moranzo Hanning was one of the few generals that had never been to war, yet had made significant contributions to the Empire. But the Sir Count knew it very clearly himself, without the attention, care and favor given to him by His Majesty the Emperor and the good Sir from the East, there was no way he would have the status he had now. Speaking of his contributions towards the Empire, that was simply the official statement in the document. Lieutenant General Moranzo’s true identity was simply a prison warden. He was the prison warden of the largest prison in the Titan Empire, or even in the whole West World. In the sixteen scrolls of the memoirs of this Sir Count, we could clearly see how much pride he held for his prison. Of course, if he could not manage this list in front of him in an appropriate way, his memoirs would not even exist.
Oh yes. It was a name list on top of Sir Count’s red pinewood office desk. To be more specific, it was the name list of people who applied for special amnesty. If this list was put on the table of the Minister of Justice of the Empire, then its fate would be it ending up in shreds and thrown out of the window. However, His Majesty the Emperor of the Titan Empire gave the blank, still empty Amnesty Order, without words to Count Hanning in a rather heroic way in order to compliment the Sir Lieutenant General’s hard work in these past ten few years. At first, Moranzo was truly elated by the great honor of this job. But if he knew this was the situation that he had to face, surely the smart Sir Lieutenant General would plead for His Majesty the Emperor to take back his order no matter what. However, these were simply all the things that were happening in the Sir Lieutenant General’s brain. And the name list was still peacefully lying on the Sir Lieutenant General’s office desk, seemingly clueless of what chaos it might bring to the Titan Empire and Morisette Dynasty.
The Lieutenant General once again lit an extra-large Kuban Cigar. The pungent smoke lingered unwillingly in the air. The chilling, after rain breeze did not freshen up the Lieutenant General’s mind, but instead caused a stinging throb in his head instead. No matter what, he had to finish up this work. Finally, the Lieutenant General’s hopeless gaze fell once again back onto the few pages of paper that had a long list of names on them.
The first was the Number One enemy of the Empire. It was Wozakad Elladan, one of the generals in the Persian Empire in the east that were controlled by pagans. As a soldier, the Sir Lieutenant General was really impressed by this pagan general. But this did not mean that he would forget how dangerous this guy was. The reason behind this was the name of this general. Only the fiercest fighter that was recognized by the Pagan God of Battle could be granted the name of Elladan. Moreover, the Lieutenant General also knew that there were only three to five General Elladans in the faraway Persian Empire. If he let this General Wozakad out, it was basically the same as welcoming ten thousand cavalrymen into the Empire.
”Vick!” Sir Lieutenant General exclaimed. Oh God! This was only the first one.
”Yes! Sir, can I do anything for you?”
”Please help me prepare a cup of coffee. Black!”
”Sir, this is already the fifth cup today!”
”Yes, you are more aware about this than I am. Now Vick, please tell me, if I were to drown in anger and fear, what would happen?”
”Hmmm...Sir, I will prepare it for you right away!”
Vick slipped away in a seemingly embarrassed state. This was because he knew more than anyone that the people on that list...Oh! No, these dudes were not even human! With only one look at them, he would be forsaken by the God of Light Sapriuses.
Then, the second one was Doramy Basinger. Oh My God! It was Doramy Basinger! Wasn’t that the King of Sins? When sorting out his crimes, the Ministry of Justice of the Empire made more than six hundred different allegations. Without exaggerating, he had done all the things that the Titan Code of Law forbade the citizens to do. He was truly the King of Sins in the underworld. Can this kind of guy be let out?
For the third one, an extremely handsome yet strangely earnest face appeared in the Lieutenant General’s mind. It was the young grandson of the fallen family of Prime Minister Crete. He was a trickster by nature. A genius trickster by nature. His most ‘glorious’ trick was organizing an imposter diplomatic corps, going around every country in the west and spouting lies. He almost tricked the princess of the powerful Faran Empire. Could such scum that blasphemed the God of Light with his perpetual lies be let out into the rich, free world?
As for the fourth one, the Lieutenant General had never even heard of such a guy. Fourteen paladins were sacrificed in his arrest. The thing that caused the most trouble to the Ministry of Justice in the Empire was that they could not carry out the allegations against him. This was because all the evidence in his crimes were unclear. Moreover, he had no name, no nationality, nor even religion. There was no one who could prove his existence except for himself. Only his yellow skin and dark brown eyes could prove that he came from the faraway land of the east. It was a great civilization and wealthy land that was always blocked by the dangerous mountains and endless desserts. But this man from the east was not worth the respect of the people as he stained his hands with the blood of at least more than hundred lives. The reason why he was not executed in secret was because His Majesty the Emperor of Titan and a few powerful ministers of high status were interested in him. To be exact, they were interested in his occupation. He was an assassin. A top-rated assassin that came from a certain mysterious country in the east. Should this guy be released into the real world that was full of hot-bloodedness and money?
Alright! The fifth one! The respectable Sir Duke Cara Siva. He was one of the rare convicts that were sentenced to imprisonment in Damorga Prison but still kept their title. Moranzo very much respected this ex-Secretary of State of the Empire and infamous scholar. He could still recall the advice he received from this Sir when he served in the State Council. This was the person the Lieutenant General hoped to release the most in private. But would His Majesty and the Sir that now serves the State Council agree to this?
Then, the sixth one...
...
”Is Brother Oscar here?”
”Who is this?”
”It’s me. Domingo from the labor camp.”
The heavy prison door swung open. Take note - It was swung open from the inside. The one who opened the door was a Madame that had an extraordinarily beautiful face and slim figure. ”Oh, Domingo! Oscar’s been waiting for you. Quick, come in!”
Domingo respectfully saluted the noble Madame, then went into the huge cell. This Madame flashed a smile at the two soldiers who escorted Domingo. Their expressions were flattered.
This cell was at the top floor of the second fortress in Damorga Prison. Every time Domingo paid a visit to his friend, who was also his patron as well, he would exclaim wholeheartedly. This was the life of a noble! This cell was exceptionally huge. The master here even used limestone and planks to separate the cell into four different rooms. The furnishings in the room were all the most trending designs in the city now. The famous paintings on the wall and the exquisite porcelain on the shelf were all screaming of the uniqueness of the master of the cell. Even though this was a cell, this place was as sacred as the Dulin Scott Cathedral in the eyes of the many prisoners in the Damorga Prison!
Domingo respectfully saluted the master. This was Domingo’s habit. He was always polite and courteous, even when he beat up the prison guard that bullied his brothers in here. But the person he was meeting now was definitely exceptional. The one who sat comfortably on the reclining goose feather chair opposite of him that was little Oscar. He was the true King of the Damorga Prison! The boss of the Prisoner Self-Management Committee!
”Boss! I am here as a representative of all my brothers to visit you. Also, I brought you the last wish of one brother before his passing!”
”Ola! Domingo, I have no idea when you are going to stop being so careful around me. Thank you for all the good thoughts from the brothers. Please send my regards to them later. Now, we shall talk about the last wish of that brother, but you don’t have much time! You know, we are leaving this place real soon! There are so many things I haven’t even dealt with yet. Even Sir Count is not as busy as I am now!”
Domingo saw the smile in the young man’s eyes slowly spread. He wanted to be happy with the ‘Boss’ in his heart as well, but he would not dare to do so. The boss’ unpredictable moods and cunning nature were well-known throughout the area. Six years ago, he became the underling of this ‘boss’ who was six years younger than he was. But even until now, he still could not get a hang of his true thoughts and intentions. He could only look for signs of his emotions from some hints. So, he could only keep calm. At least, that was what seemed to be the case.
”Boss, you actually know this brother.”
”Oh?”
The cautious Domingo realized that the good mood of Boss Oscar immediately disappeared!
”Uncle Cage. Uncle Cage had a heart attack last night. He only managed to give his last words before he passed away.”
”Oh, heart attack huh?” Oscar pondered. He thought of his treasure chest. Inside were all the things Oscar had when he was young. He was still unwilling to throw them away even if he had grown up now. With his exquisite craft, Uncle Cage had custom made countless strange yet rare toys for Oscar. This kind uncle who had given his colorless childhood unexplainable happiness had now passed away. Oscar was reminiscing. The only thing he could was to reminisce. Ten years in this prison had made this fifteen-year-old young man lose worldly emotions such as grief, pity, sympathy and more. What he was familiar with were things that were even scarier than death! In comparison, Uncle Cage left this world peacefully.
After taking a deep breath, little Oscar resumed his confusing smile, not showing whether it was pleasurable or hateful. ”Say, what did Uncle Cage wish for in the end?” At this moment, little Oscar was in his usual self: his chubby face brimming with confidence.
”Uncle Cage hoped that you would be able to grant his daughter, Miss Fenrar, her freedom!”
”Well then, my dear Domingo, do you think this request is asking too much?”
Domingo became more cautious. ”Boss! I do not know what you are getting at, but surely you will understand. Uncle Cage did not have any exceptional wit or talent in martial arts. He can’t even get all the letters correct. He cannot be compared to the friends and alliance partners that you have.”
Oscar smiled and waved at this loyal and cautious underling, indicating the end of their meetings.
As the true King of the Damorga Prison and the boss of the Prisoner Self-Management Committee, Oscar knew everything that transpired in this area. So obviously, this hinted at something fishy because he had just received the news of the passing of Cage Donaute, the master craftsman from the Norman Province. This was because there was no report of Cage having heart problems from the monthly health check-up. It seemed that there was a need to talk to Mr. Percy, the doctor in the Prisoner Self-Management Committee. To be specific, he was known as the ”Poison Doctor”.
Welcoming his guests in the same position, little Oscar, for some reason, really liked the reclining chair. As the rumor went, Oscar killed an opponent while he was sitting on this reclining chair in a casual and calm manner during a duel which was observed by the Prison Warden himself, Lieutenant General Moranzo Hanning.