Chapter 140: Chapter 128: Let’s Hold a Blood Moon Judgement
Death row inmates roared in unison, “Won’t say anything!?”
Ash, hands on his hips, spoke righteously, “To tell you the truth, I’m actually a good person. I would love to feed you scum straight to the fish. How could I possibly let you out to wreak havoc on society? You just stay put and undergo thought reform, striving to die sooner rather than later – and then I won’t have to see you lot again!”
“But you’re a Cult Leader yourself!”
“I’m not, I didn’t, I’m innocent.”
“You actually don’t believe me, a person as honest as I am? I’ve got my eye on you, hmph, and when the time comes, I will vote against you during Blood Moon Judgement.”
“Wait a second, demon.” A death row inmate with delicate features and a tall stature blocked his path, “Although I don’t know about your escape plan, I can act as a lure to distract the attention of the Crime Hunting Hall, helping to increase your chances of a successful escape. It doesn’t matter whether you trust me, but compared to you, the Crime Hunting Hall would definitely pay more attention to the ‘Lark’ Jewel. I’m sure I can significantly decrease the pressure you’re under.”
“Oh, it’s Jewel, I remember you.” Ash smiled, “Originally, when Igula wanted to find teammates, you were the first he recommended. He thought you were mighty and shrewd, proficient in healing and escaping, knowledgeable about Kaimon City’s nooks and crannies, black sites – a perfect ally.”
Jewel smiled, “I’m flattered by the Beautiful Beast’s affection…”
“—So he strongly requested that I leave you here to await your death.” Ash scoffed, “When we initially came to recruit you, you pushed back and were indifferent. Now that the plan is a success, it’s you who can’t reach it!”
“Igula is so much more petty than I am. You’ve offended him, and I suspect he’ll be using the Sinners’ Catalogue to make you clean the urinals before he leaves. Hey, anyone diabetic here? Maybe you could help adjust the taste for him?”
Pushing aside the distraught Jewel, Ash hadn’t taken two steps before he was blocked by the prison guards.
“Ash Heath.” Nagu spoke coldly, “I know that for a stubborn and vicious criminal of freedom like you, reason is beyond comprehension, so I’m not interested in reasoning with you. I only want you to either kill me or lift my restrictions. I can’t stand this insult!”
Ash blinked, “This insult? Isn’t this treatment just the daily norm for death row inmates? Everyone goes through this—”
“But we’re not death row inmates! We shouldn’t endure these shackles!” Nagu scanned the death row inmates, “And you—”
“They deserve it, I know.” Ash spoke casually, “Think of it as a rare professional experience; it’s also beneficial for your future work. After all, how can you be a warden later in life if you’ve never experienced being a prisoner?”
“And as for these ‘shackles’, aren’t they just prohibiting you from attacking, cursing, and urinating at will? Isn’t this the law you should be following anyway? Why resist it so much?”
“As for being unable to urinate under scrutiny, that’s because you’re just too faint-hearted. That’s not my problem…”
Nagu was at a loss for words, and Ash nudged him aside, whispering in his ear,
“Don’t avoid doing something just because it seems trivially good, and don’t casually commit evil just because it seems insignificant… I’m not asking you to sympathize with this scum – I only hope you don’t turn into scum.”
“Of course, if you prefer, you can assume this is my revenge against you guards.” He patted Nagu’s shoulder, “Next time you take a death row inmate to Blood Moon Judgement, be a little gentler. Just send them to their death as routine; don’t treat the prisoners like toys.”
“When you stop treating people like humans, you’re not far from becoming like them.”
With that, Ash walked out the door, leaving Nagu standing there, his heart a mix of emotions—
Ash suddenly rushed back, turned on the faucet to wash his hands, “Almost forgot.” Then he quickly departed.
Nagu looked at the shoulder Ash had patted, his feelings growing even more complex.
Central Hall, five villains gathered.
The Necromancer Harvey said, “Now, in this prison, aside from us five, everyone else’s movements are restricted and they’ve been imposed with the same constraints as death row inmates, which won’t affect our plan.”
Swindler Igula said, “From the Hunter, we learned that by no later than 7 pm, the transport must return to Kaimon Lake Port. Otherwise, the port will start asking questions — since the port staff must clock off precisely at 7:30 pm.”
Gourmet Lanna said, “Transport ship is cleared.”
Woodpecker Ronald gave a thumbs up, flashing a grin that made his teeth sparkle, “I’ve learned how to control the transport! The five of us meet the minimum crew requirement for the ship!”
“That means we can leave at any time.” Ash scanned the room, “The only issue is, Harvey, if you want to kill Fernand, you’ll have to delay his time of death until after 6 pm, whether it’s poison or bleeding out. We need sufficient time to run away.”
“Or… we could execute that plan we’ve dubbed madcap and wildly imaginative.”
Harvey tore open a sky-blue square packet with his teeth, unfurling a cream-colored candy inside with his tongue. Ash looked closely – wasn’t that the Snow White brand of Moon candy advertised on Kaimon’s first channel? The Moon candy claimed to be whiter than snow, sweeter than a princess, and the wildest part was the Princess-model in the ad popping a candy and splitting joyously in place.
Ash was genuinely curious—after all, he couldn’t do the splits.
But who knew Harvey had such a taste?
Harvey rolled the candy with his tongue into pieces, a hint of vitality slowly emerging in his otherwise lifeless pupils: “I choose the impromptu plan.”
“So do I.” The second vote of approval was surprisingly from Igula, his eyes fervent as if spotting a beauty, “I can’t miss such a good opportunity to perform.”
“I disagree.” Lanna, filing her nails, said indifferently, “Quietly leaving is the safest.”
“I’m with Lanna.” Ronald said laughing, “Whether for emotional or pragmatic reasons, the impromptu plan is far too risky.”
It was 2V2, with the deciding vote in Ash’s hands.
“Naturally, I favor the original plan with higher safety.” Ash’s words seemed to turn Harvey and Igula’s faces sour, while Lanna and Ronald smiled.
Ash spread his hands, “My first time being arrested, first time as a death row inmate, first time in jail, first time participating in a Blood Moon Judgement… and now, my first escape.”
“With so many firsts already, I don’t owe one more.”
“Let’s use our very first Blood Moon Judgement to bid farewell to this sickly nation.”