Chapter 273: Looks Like I've Been Feeding You Too Well
"Warden's inspection! Everyone to the front of your cells!"
The Core Area gate opened. Aiden, accompanied by Franda, walked into the Core Area corridor.
"Ugh, such a hassle!""Is the warden too idle?""I was about to go to sleep!"...
Scattered complaints greeted them, but essentially everyone in the cells gathered at their doors.
"Feels much quieter since I last came," Aiden commented, glancing towards the duty office. "Veronica isn't on duty today?" Although there were still quite a few grumbles, compared to the previous tide of foul-mouthed curses, the Core Area inmates were generally much more docile today. Usually, such scenes only occurred when Veronica was on duty.
"Well, the number of inmates disciplined by you, Warden, has increased. Plus, you have this 'toy' now," Franda gestured behind her. The mercury golem followed them closely, matching Aiden's pace. This item obtained from the Witches' Coven had significantly improved Aiden's efficiency in subduing inmates.
"But the biggest reason is probably the recent improvement in inmate treatment," Franda added. "After all, the textile workshop has been doing really well lately."
The improvement wasn't drastic. For the inmates, it mostly meant more variety in meals, new magazines ordered for the library, some additional fitness equipment added to the exercise yard, and access to the high-end sanitary products produced in the workshop... But for prisoners confined and living a monotonous two-point existence, it indeed felt like a breath of fresh air.
Complaining privately about food and facilities had always been an indispensable common topic among inmates. The more resonance such topics found, the easier it was for dissatisfaction to ferment and grow within the inmate population. Conversely, even alleviating some complaints could significantly change the inmates' attitude towards the prison.
"Improved prison discipline is a good thing, but..." Aiden suddenly sighed.
"What is it?" Franda looked at her superior.
"Somehow feels like a lot of the fun is gone," Aiden shook his head wistfully. While the ideal state of a prison was every inmate behaving and reforming, the process of taming arrogant and unruly inmates itself held a unique kind of enjoyment. In fact, ever since Carmilla started quietly dealing with troublemakers from within the inmate population for him, Aiden felt the number of inmates daring to challenge him directly had dwindled. Over the past half-month, Aiden noticed not only had the periodic escape attempts completely ceased, but even opportunities to personally order an inmate into solitary confinement had become rare.
"Lord Aiden, Lord Aiden! Over here, over here!! I'm here!!" In Cell Thirteen, Fei the succubus stood at the cell door, bouncing and shouting at Aiden. "You haven't come to talk to me properly in so long, I'm so lonely!!"
Aiden glanced at her, then turned to Franda. "Why does she seem so much more energetic than before?"
"Probably... also due to the improved conditions recently," Franda replied expressionlessly.
"A full belly leads to... other thoughts," Aiden nodded. "Looks like I've been feeding her too well."
"Lord Aiden, come into my room and keep me company, let's play a little game!" Fei started acting cute.
"Oh?" Aiden raised an eyebrow. "What game?"
"Let's play tag! Lord Aiden, you chase me. If you catch me, I'll let you do whatever you want! Hehehehe!" Fei flashed a suggestive smile.
"Inmate 3307, haven't been disciplined in a while, getting cocky again, are you?" Franda frowned, reprimanding Fei.
But Aiden quickly raised a hand, stopping Franda from continuing, then nodded at Fei with interest. "Seems I have indeed neglected you lately. If you want to play, then let's play."
Fei eyes lit up. But then she saw Aiden turn towards the mercury golem nearby. "Did you hear that? A game of tag. Catch her and put her in a cross armbar. Teach her a lesson." Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novelFɪre.net
Watching the mercury golem immediately head towards her cell upon receiving the order, Fei'er face instantly changed. "Wait, wait, wait! I don't want that mercury monster! I, I... Ahh no, Lord Aiden, I was wrong, I got carried away!! Don't come over here, aaaah!!"
Terrified, Fei retreated to the furthest corner of her room. The golem simply passed through the bars using its unique properties and entered the cell.
Aiden and Franda continued their patrol deeper into the corridor, leaving the succubus's screams and pleas behind.
Opposite Cell Thirteen, in Cell Twelve, Dailey and Priscilla watched fei being chased around the double cell by the mercury golem.
"Dailey, can you analyze this succubus's state of mind?" Priscilla asked.
"To enjoy it this much, one can only say she herself likes it. After all, she's been incarcerated five times without showing the slightest remorse. I guess deep down she's fully aware of the consequences. Perhaps provoking the Warden is a rare pleasure for her?" Dailey commented.
"This... hasn't she developed masochistic tendencies from being disciplined?" Priscilla frowned.
"Who knows? Look, what a beautiful cross armbar!""Indeed. The finished product made by Vera and Abigail has remarkably high control precision."
Both gave high praise to the mercury golem's movements.
In Cell Thirteen, the golem caught Fei and applied a standard cross armbar. By the time Aiden and Franda returned from inspecting the inner section, Fei was already tapping the ground, begging for mercy.
Aiden recalled the mercury golem and asked Fei, "Learned your lesson?"
Fei'er immediately scrambled up from the floor, jumped onto the bed, buried her face in the pillow, and started fake-crying loudly while kicking her legs. "So mean, Lord Aiden! Treating me so roughly! My heart is broken!! The kind that needs comforting to heal!!"
Aiden shook his head, too lazy to deal with this clown further. Sometimes he quite admired Fei; under his discipline and management, no matter how other inmates changed, this succubus remained consistently herself. In a way, that could also be considered a "strength."