Chapter 168: Voluntarily Waived? This Matter Is Suspicious

The electric baton slammed hard against the iron railing, accompanied by a deafening clang, electric arcs scattering, the air filled with the sizzling and crackling of current.

Two prisoners leaning against the fence, secretly smoking during yard time, suddenly convulsed violently all over at this moment.

Their hair stood on end instantly, they lost their balance and fell heavily to the ground. Their eyelids rolled up sharply, white foam bubbled at the corners of their mouths, and they thrashed on the ground.

The surrounding prisoners were startled by this sudden change, their heartbeats accelerating, collectively twisting their necks to look over here.

Once they recognized the assailant as Zone Chief Zhou Hu, they immediately lowered their heads one by one, showing terror on their faces, and hurriedly scattered to flee, as if afraid of being caught in Zhou Hu's wrath.

"Big Brother, what happened?" Ma Xuan strode forward, frowning as he asked, Chang Wei following closely behind, his expression equally grave.

Zhou Hu said nothing, but a gloomy cold light flickered in his eyes as he stared fixedly at Chang Wei, as if trying to see through his thoughts.

Chang Wei had already been somewhat preoccupied, and at this moment, swept by Zhou Hu's sharp gaze, he suddenly snapped out of his daze, his heartbeat involuntarily quickening, and he asked nervously: "Big Brother, what exactly happened?"

Zhou Hu hooked a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, his tone carrying an indisputable question: "You actually dare to defect to the Prison Warden behind my back?"

Chang Wei's face turned pale instantly, terror mixed with disbelief: "Big Brother, what joke are you making? How could I possibly do something to betray you? I've always been loyal to you."

Zhou Hu's brows knotted tightly, deep suspicion showing in his eyes, he let out a cold snort, his tone icy:

"You don't know? Your nephew actually gave up the job and won't come to the prison to report anymore—was this your doing behind the scenes?"

Saying this, Zhou Hu waved his hand violently, slapping the slip in his hand hard against Chang Wei's chest, the force so great it made Chang Wei stagger and nearly fall to the ground.

Chang Wei hurriedly picked up the slip—it was the job application he had submitted for his own nephew. On the bottom line, in the Prison Warden's approval column, where agreement had originally been signed, a large X had been drawn.

Replacing it were two large characters written in red ink: "Rejected."

The bright red color, like two sharp blades, stabbed painfully into Chang Wei's eyes. The reason for rejection was clearly written: The applicant, for personal reasons, voluntarily waived the position.

Chang Wei's face was full of shock; he gripped the slip tightly, his hands trembling incessantly from emotional agitation.

"Impossible, my nephew couldn't possibly give up the job, he..."

Chang Wei took a few deep breaths, staring wide-eyed at Zhou Hu, his shocked expression gradually replaced by fear, and he said in a trembling voice:

"My nephew went out two nights ago and never came home; the phone couldn't get through either. He's been out of contact for two days, and my sister has already filed a missing person report with the Patrol Bureau."

Chang Wei gripped the application slip until it squeaked, bloodshot veins crawling in his eyes, and he said seriously: "My nephew is missing. How can a missing person voluntarily waive the position?"

Zhou Hu was stunned: "Missing?"

Ma Xuan listened from the side, thoughtful.

Chang Wei nodded quickly: "I asked a friend at the Patrol Bureau to inquire. The Patrol Bureau can't spare any manpower lately, and the case has been shelved. However, the Patrol Bureau people told me that missing person cases have been occurring frequently in the Nine Districts lately. Based on their experience, anyone missing for more than two days is likely beyond saving."

Chang Wei's gaze fell back onto the slip again. The four characters "Voluntarily Waived" seemed to burn his anger. He raised his head, angry sparks flickering in his eyes, and raised his voice a few degrees:

"Big Brother, my nephew's disappearance must be connected to the Prison Warden. I only have this one nephew—you have to make the decision for me."

Zhou Hu's bit of anger was instantly extinguished by Chang Wei's stronger anger, and he calmed down completely.

His pupils contracted sharply twice, a hint of hesitation flashed across his face, and then he slowly said:

"Over a trivial job quota, the Prison Warden wouldn't go to such lengths, would he?"

Chang Wei gritted his teeth; reason told him the Prison Warden wouldn't be so impulsive and unwise, but emotionally, the missing person was his nephew.

Ma Xuan suddenly interrupted from the side: "Big Brother, this matter is suspicious, but since it concerns Chang Wei's nephew, why not go ask the Prison Warden for an explanation?"

Zhou Hu thought for three seconds. Don't look at how he had never given face to the airborne Prison Warden, even putting on an arrogant posture of wanting to join other Zone Chiefs to sideline the Prison Warden.

But to actually go alone to the Warden's Office and confront Qian Huan face to face, he still felt a hidden apprehension in his heart.

Not only because the other party held the title of Prison Warden, but also because of the dozens of meters long Laser Corridor leading to the Warden's Office, which brought a tangible, terrifying sense of oppression.

Zhou Hu ultimately took the slip and went.

Warden's Office.

Zhou Hu knocked and entered, looking at the isolated explosion-proof glass wall, a hint of contempt rose in his heart: "This Prison Warden is truly afraid of death."

He completely forgot how, when he had just walked through the Laser Corridor, his back had been soaked in cold sweat.

"Something the matter?" Qian Huan asked, knowing full well.

Zhou Hu organized his words, squeezed out an unnatural smile on his face, and asked:

"Warden, I'd like to ask—what exactly does 'Voluntarily Waived' marked on the list for the person I recommended mean?"

Qian Huan smiled slightly and answered lightly: "Just what it says."

Zhou Hu pursued: "Forgive my dullness, please explain more clearly, Warden."

Qian Huan stared at Zhou Hu, saying word by word: "It means he's not coming."

Zhou Hu frowned tightly and asked again uncertainly: "Did he call our prison himself to say so, or..."

Qian Huan interrupted Zhou Hu's probing and said frankly: "No, I've never seen this person, nor had any contact with him. But I know he's not coming to our prison for the job."

Zhou Hu felt the Prison Warden seemed to admit something, yet also seemed to admit nothing at all. This gave him a very bad feeling.

He asked irritably: "Can't come, or won't come?"

Qian Huan unhurriedly unscrewed his water cup, took a sip, and then said with a half-smile: "Is there a difference? The result is the same—he's not coming. So in my view, it's all considered him voluntarily waiving the position. Naturally, I'll give this vacant quota to someone else."

Zhou Hu's face turned gloomy. He wanted to keep pressing, but saw Qian Huan had already lowered his head, pretending to be busy with office work.

He still asked unwillingly: "Then who told you, Warden, that Chang Qingsen voluntarily waived it?"

Zhou Hu emphasized the four characters "Voluntarily Waived" very heavily.

Qian Huan was very satisfied with Zhou Hu's impatient attitude. That was exactly why he had written it that way on the rejection reason—he wanted Zhou Hu's anger, impatience, and to deepen the latter's fear of him invisibly.

Qian Huan didn't even look up, saying carelessly: "I don't quite remember. You know, I'm the Prison Warden; every day many subordinates report to me about work inside and outside the prison. Maybe someone just mentioned it to me."

(End of Chapter)