The Assassin's Desire for a Quiet Life
After resolving Ophelia's issue, Aiden heard Dailey from Room 12 calling him at the door.
"What is it?" Aiden turned to look.
"This time, i was assisting you in capturing the escaped prisoner, I wonder..." Dailey paused with a meaningful smile, looking towards Aiden.
"Well, rules are rules. The benefits that come with it, of course, won't be lacking for you all. But..." Aiden also intentionally paused, smiling with depth.
"Of course, the demon contract that was lifted by Prisoner 3340, I will re-sign it with you," Dailey nodded knowingly.
From a simple perspective of exchange, Aiden was confident that Dailey and Arsena wouldn't easily betray him, as this incident demonstrated.
However, using these dangerous prisoners was akin to dancing with wolves, and he wouldn't easily release the collars around their necks.
But this incident with the witch, Meirujinu, exposed flaws in the demon contract, especially against more skilled prisoners. Aiden realized he couldn't overly rely on the binding power of demon contracts in the future.
"Chief Aiden! Chief Aiden!"
At this point, Fei from Room 13 also shouted towards him.
"What now?" Aiden looked somewhat impatiently.
Based on past experience, he expected this guy to come up with some eccentric request again.
But what Fei said next caught him off guard: "Chief Aiden, do I get any rewards?"
"What?" Aiden momentarily thought he misheard, "No, you basically did nothing in this incident right?. Why would you ask for rewards?"
"When that woman broke out of the cell, I resisted the temptation and stayed in my own cell!" Fei proudly puffed up her chest.
Aiden chuckled after hearing this, then nodded "admiringly": "I have to admit, your audacity is truly something. You might as well own the entire prison's audacity. Your sentence is just one year, but escaping and getting caught again would add at least five more years. How messed up does your mind have to be to escape with them? Staying in the cell should be the most natural thing to do."
"Chief Aiden, at least I cooperated with your rules properly!" Fei persisted, "Shouldn't you reward a model prisoner like me?"
"Reward? Seriously? Going by that logic, prisoners should have the obligation to report any illegal activities within the prison. You share a room with Prisoner 3340, and you didn't notice anything?" Aiden stared sharply at Fei, "I haven't even looked into your responsibility for not reporting what you knew."
"I don't know anything! I'm just a weak and helpless succubus who only knows how to whine..." Fei said evasively, avoiding eye contact.
This is, of course, pure nonsense. When Meirujinu tried to use her connections in the prison to spread drugs, she not only refused to cooperate but also failed to report it to Aiden. Her survival principle in this prison is self-preservation and self-interest.
Having spent so much time with her, Aiden naturally understands her character. He doesn't bother pointing it out, just gives a cold snort and turns to walk towards Room 11.
Evangeline, as usual, sits calmly, hugging her legs, curled up on the bed as if yesterday's events had nothing to do with her.
However, when Aiden appears at the door, she shows a slight reaction, glancing sideways.
Aiden gestured, and Veronica opened the cell door. "Prisoner 3201, Evangeline, come out."
Evangeline calmly gets off the bed, walks to the door, and calmly asks, "Are you going to punish me?"
Seeing Ophelia's recent miserable state, she was mentally prepared for this.
"It's precisely for this reason that I've called you out for an investigation. Come out and go to the interview room."
Evangeline nods and walks out of the cell.
In the interview room, separated by an iron table, Evangeline sits at one end, looking like a student ready to attend a class.
Aiden sits at the other end, with Veronica standing behind him as a bodyguard.
In the past, when talking to Evangeline, he wouldn't need a bodyguard. But now, without the protection of the demon contract, he understands the wisdom of not putting oneself in unnecessary danger when alone with a top-tier assassin.
Aiden wasn't the kind of person who believed that trust alone could reform a criminal. While he thought Evangeline wouldn't harm him, he wouldn't easily let go of his guard against her.
Their trust was maintained through transactions and rules, not some elusive emotion.
After a while, Aiden broke the silence, "I don't intend to pursue your escape yesterday."
Evangeline looked up, her eyes showing a hint of confusion.
"Your escape was coerced by Prisoner 3340, Meirujinu. I can testify to that," Aiden explained the details of the deal, "As long as you promise to reveal her true identity when the time comes, I can overlook your escape."
"Reveal her identity?" Evangeline blinked.
"To prove to the court and the Inquisition Bureau the true identity of Prisoner 3340, your testimony would be the most effective. Currently, under our strict supervision, Meirujinu can't erase your memory." Check latest chapters at Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
"So, you're asking me to... betray her?" Evangeline said, somewhat puzzled.
"I'm asking you to cut ties with her," Aiden corrected, "You don't owe her anything, so where does betrayal come in?"
Evangeline fell into silence, torn between the fear rooted in her since childhood and the so-called emotions for Meirujinu, making her hesitant about Aiden's proposal.
Aiden stares at her for a while, then sighs, "Evangeline, do you ever dream of a peaceful life? Not in prison, but outside, a tranquil life where you don't have to kill, just obey the rules to live peacefully."
"Outside? But, didn't you say before..." Evangeline looked somewhat surprised.
"Well, before, you were sentenced to a lifetime in prison. But now that Meirujinu is caught, you might have a chance," Aiden tapped his fingers on the table, "But the condition is, you have to cut ties with your past as an assassin. You have to accuse Meirujinu. This decision has to be yours, and I can help you with the rest. This is your only chance."
"Make my own decision?" Evangeline still seemed somewhat bewildered.
"You've already learned to make your own decisions, haven't you? Just like yesterday," Aiden encouraged, looking at her.
Evangeline recalled yesterday, the sudden thought that made her resist the "mother's" command.
Dreaming of a peaceful life... that was her own desire.
After a while, Evangeline spoke, "I... agree."