Chapter 2: The Extremely Dangerous Prisoners

In Herbert’s eyes, the other side’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 Wang Cheng, he could uncover the answers through the faintest traces.

Because the other side didn’t even bother to conceal themselves.

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 had come to a world of magic and gods—why should he still fuss over the melodramatic family feuds of royal nobles?

That would be… too pitiful.

The classic revenge tale favored by old Chinese wasn’t as complicated as Western honor duels.

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

That simple.

There was nothing in this world a punch couldn’t fix.

If one wasn’t enough, use two.

Still not enough? Keep hitting until it was.

You strike carelessly and half-heartedly? I’ll strike more brutally, more arrogantly.

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

Normally, no one had the qualification to come here, let alone become one of them.

Since Herbert had come here, he would not let this precious opportunity slip—he must obtain this lineage.

“But as they say, actually obtaining 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 the prisoners.

The Mist Monastery held a unique status and never imprisoned ordinary human heretics; all prisoners here were extremely dangerous alien elites!

Sea witches who destroyed dozens of harbors, dragons that razed towns, fallen elves who slaughtered thousands, demons who incited slave revolts, devils who plotted royal massacres—each was a rare and formidable talent.

For these beings, ordinary torture meant nothing; only time could wear down their wills. That was why the warden’s post had remained vacant until Herbert’s arrival.

Yesterday, under the Grand Abbot’s personal guidance, Herbert had made a preliminary tour and formed initial impressions of each prisoner.

The prisoners varied in temperament; most ignored his arrival, some were willing to talk but spoke indifferently, as if just killing time with idle chatter.

A few expressed their “enthusiasm” for this long-absent warden, pushing verbal aggression to its extreme.

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—on the contrary, it was husky and magnetic, with unique allure.

But the crude vulgarities peppered throughout like commas ruined the beauty, making the whole speech painfully grating.

Herbert smirked, turned, and looked at the tall woman whose face was hidden by messy, 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 used her breath to obliterate four cities of ten thousand souls, finally subdued by the Grand Abbot of Mist Monastery himself.

[The Furious One], [Ashen Calamity], [Demonflame]—Valentina Demonflame

Seeing Herbert didn’t flee and dared to 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 flared, her vertical pupils burning with soul-shaking murderous intent.

She relentlessly used incendiary words to stir Herbert, trying to ignite his rage and awaken memories of past humiliations.

“Kill everyone who deceived you, who humiliated 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 of nowhere:

“Say, haven’t you eaten in a long time?”

“Huh?”

The dragon lady paused, then quickly recovered, sneering contemptuously:

“What, you think food will tempt me? Hehe, do you think I care about such things?”

That’s it?

You’re tempting me with this?

Who wouldn’t be tempted by this!

Who are you looking down on?

But Herbert laughed now, seriously saying: “No, I just wanted to tell you I’m going to eat—hot, steaming food.”

“Huh??”

Without giving Valentina a chance to reply, Herbert strode away, holding the lantern, muttering:

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

“Huh??”

Realizing she’d been mocked, Valentina flew into a rage, screaming after Herbert’s back:

“You! You ** mean what?! You ** come back—”

The prison door suddenly appeared around the corner; Herbert pushed it open and stepped inside.

Thud!

The massive door slammed shut, instantly sealing all sound and aura within.

Herbert staggered slightly, exhaled deeply, and shook his head with difficulty.

He wasn’t afraid of Valentina’s attitude—he’d seen plenty like her in his work, even found it oddly familiar.

But the pressure radiating from her was truly overwhelming.

“Tch… this is dragon aura? Unreal.”

Yesterday, protected by the Grand Abbot, Herbert felt nothing—but today, the experience was intense.

Even with her power heavily sealed, the aura leaking from her remained terrifying; just speaking to her made Herbert feel suffocated.

He’d needed time to adapt before he could even speak—staying longer might have exposed him.

Herbert shook his head, feeling more than ever the weight of his task.

Valentina was placed at the outermost position, the least threatening of all alien prisoners—he couldn’t imagine how terrifying the ones deeper inside might be.

So how could he possibly reform such dangerous monsters?

Appeal to emotion? Reason with them?

Offer power? Tempt with profit?

Hit them with a club, then appeal with sincerity?

Hss…

Every method he could think of seemed unreliable.

(End of Chapter)