Chapter 2: The Extremely Dangerous Prisoners

In Herbert's eyes, the opponent's scheming was crude, every move radiating arrogance—anyone with eyes could see it.

Who was the shadow schemer? Did the Princess know? Was anyone in Albert's household involved?

Herbert had no doubt that once he returned to the capital, answers to these questions would surface through the faintest traces.

Because the opponent didn't even bother to conceal anything.

But… why return at all?

Herbert had no urgency to go back and unmask the killer to clear his name.

Things that once mattered deeply to the naive boy now meant nothing to him.

He didn't care.

He'd already arrived in an Extraordinary World filled with magic and gods—why cling to the melodramatic family feuds of royal nobles?

That would be… pitifully weak.

The classic revenge tale favored by old Chinese folk isn't as complicated as Western honor duels.

Cultivate, grow stronger, then return and slap every participant involved with a thunderous blow—problem solved.

That's all it takes.

Nothing in this world can't be solved by one punch.

If one isn't enough, use two.

Still not enough? Keep hitting until it is.

You strike clumsily and half-heartedly? I'll strike more brutally, more arrogantly than you.

The Mist Monastery, existing for over a thousand years, is the oldest monastery in the Southern Continent, preserving a complete lineage of Holy Knights.

Normally, no one has the qualifications to even set foot here, let alone become one of them.

Now that Herbert had come here, he would never let this precious opportunity slip—he must obtain this lineage.

"But… as they say, actually acquiring the lineage… won't be easy."

Perhaps to discourage noble disciples, or perhaps due to sabotage, the monastery's higher-ups assigned Herbert a daunting task—reforming prisoners.

The Mist Monastery holds unique status and never imprisons ordinary human heretics; every prisoner here is an extremely dangerous alien powerhouse!

Sea witches who drowned entire harbors, dragons that razed towns, fallen elves who slaughtered thousands, demons who incited slave revolts, devils who plotted royal massacres—all rare talents.

For these beings, ordinary torture is meaningless; only prolonged time can wear down their wills. Hence, the warden's post remained vacant until Herbert's arrival.

Yesterday, Herbert had already been shown around by the Grand Archbishop himself, forming a preliminary impression of each prisoner.

The prisoners varied in temperament; most ignored his arrival, some spoke but with indifference, as if merely chatting to pass time.

A few expressed their "enthusiasm" for this long-absent warden, unleashing the full force of verbal aggression.

Recalling yesterday's events, Herbert couldn't help sighing—reforming these creatures to gain the lineage would take serious effort.

"Hey! Kid, you've been sighing over there for ages—when are you done?"

A mocking voice came from behind; the evil beings in their cages laughed freely at Herbert's weakness.

"It's only been a day and you're already scared? Want to cry and run home to Mommy? Ahahaha!"

"If you're scared, just ** get out already!"

To be fair, the woman's voice wasn't unpleasant—even sounded husky and magnetic, with unique allure.

But the vulgar interjections peppered throughout like commas ruined the beauty, making the whole speech grating.

Herbert smirked, turned, and looked at the tall woman whose face was hidden by wild, straw-like red hair—she looked like a vagrant who might randomly spawn on some western street, but that was just disguise.

Her true identity? The evil dragon who once unleashed dragonbreath to obliterate four cities of ten thousand souls, finally subdued by the Mist Grand Archbishop himself.

【The Furious】、【Ashen Calamity】、【Demonflame】—Valentina Demonflame

Seeing Herbert didn't flee and dared meet her gaze, Valentina seemed intrigued, grinning and blowing him a whistle.

"Kid, how about reconsidering my earlier offer?"

"Let me out, and I won't kill you—I'll help you get revenge. How's that? Hehe, kill them all! Every last one!"

Her molten-red eyes blazed, her vertical pupils burning with soul-shaking murderous intent.

She relentlessly used inciting words to stir Herbert's rage, trying to awaken memories of the humiliations he'd suffered.

"Kill everyone who deceived you, who shamed you!"

"After all, you don't want to stay forever in this dark, lightless place, do you?"

Herbert listened in silence throughout, occasionally lowering his head in thought, as if moved.

Just as Valentina believed Herbert had been swayed, he suddenly spoke out:

"Say, haven't you eaten in a long time?"

"Huh?"

The dragon lady blinked, then quickly recovered, sneering:

"What? Trying to bribe me with food? Hehe, do you think I care about such things?"

That's it?

You think this will tempt me?

Who wouldn't be tempted by this?

Who are you looking down on?

But Herbert suddenly laughed, serious now: "No, I just wanted to tell you I'm going to eat—hot, steaming food."

"Huh??"

Without giving Valentina a chance to reply, Herbert grabbed his lantern and strode out, muttering:

"Steamed bear paws, steamed deer tails, roasted duck, roasted chicks, roasted goose…"

"Huh???"

Realizing she had been played, Valentina shot up in a fury, cursing nonstop at Herbert's retreating back.

"You! What the ** do you mean! Get back here—"

The prison gate suddenly materialized out of thin air at the bend in the corridor, and Herbert pushed it open and walked straight in.

Bang!

The massive door closed, instantly cutting off every sound and breath of air from within.

Herbert staggered a step, let out a long breath, and shook his head with some difficulty.

As for the Young Lady dragon's attitude, he wasn't afraid of it — he'd seen plenty of it on the job, and there was even a strangely nostalgic sense of familiarity to it.

But the pressure radiating from her was genuinely more than he could handle.

"Tch… so this is a dragon's dragon-might? That's ridiculous."

Yesterday the Archbishop had shielded him, so Herbert hadn't felt a thing, but today was different — the experience was what you'd call thrilling.

Even though Valentina's power was sealed away layer upon layer, the aura still leaking from her was terrifying; merely talking to her made Herbert feel suffocated.

He'd had to adjust for quite a while before he could barely speak, and if he'd stayed any longer he was genuinely afraid he'd have given himself away.

Herbert shook his head, feeling more and more that the road ahead was long and the task heavy.

One had to remember, Valentina was still placed in the outermost position — the lowest threat among all the alien-race prisoners — and one could only imagine how terrifying the fellows deeper inside would be.

So, how on earth was one supposed to tame such a dangerous monster?

Appeal to her emotions, move her with reason?

Lure her with power, sway her with profit?

Threaten her with the big stick, then move her with sincerity?

Hiss…

It felt like none of the methods he could think of were very reliable.

(End of chapter)