NOVPUBUnder the watchful gaze of their leader, Hyperion, the three members of the Demon King’s personal guards quickly resumed their cold and unresponsive stance.
But their intent was clear - if Hyperion gave the command, they would swiftly and decisively cut down the warden.
Hyperion moved her gaze away from the guards, her forehead beaded with sweat.
All three were associates of Lanci, and despite the ruthless modifications they had undergone, the ethos of the Hegemony Branch stated that might makes right. There was no such thing as respect for seniority.
Hyperion could feel her demon blood stir in response to Warden Corentin’s provocations, but she’d learned to quell these violent urges within herself.
Becoming violent here would only make things worse.
It’s not about completely eradicating her demon instincts and desires to seem more human, but to conquer and surpass these desires, to become someone who can fully control them.
"What kind of attitude is this?"
Warden Corentin raised his head again, scrutinizing the individuals in his office with a meaningful gaze.
Having dealt with criminals for so long, he was adept at sensing hostility.
If he was not mistaken, these students had actually been contemplating using force against him.
A sixth-order warden like him, bolstered by the prison barrier, could not possibly lose in a fight against these presumptuous students.
Moreover, if these young people dared to act, he would ensure to treat them harshly to imprint respect into their minds for the rest of their lives.
"It seems you still haven’t understood how things work here. Since that’s the case, you shouldn’t be given easy tasks. Enough loafing around. Get back to your duties and ensure I don’t see this kind of attitude again."
Warden Corentin’s voice had hardened considerably.
After he had spoken, he went back to his work heads down, his demeanor suggesting that the students could say whatever they wanted, yet he wouldn’t bother paying attention to them so much as half a moment.
His words were clear and deliberate. They had no intention of sparing any feelings today and were going to be as difficult as they could.
Such is the way of power - he had the right to decide how these intern prison guards were treated.
He’d use every method he knew to put these naïve youths in their place.
"..."
Hyperion’s expression was a mix of worry and tension, not only from the pressure exerted by Warden Corentin but also the intensifying malice from the three priests of the Hegemony behind her.
However, Hyperion did not give in.
She understood that in this situation, any rash decisions would not yield positive outcomes.
For a prison guard trainee, the first act of violence would only earn you a warning and wouldn’t result in punishment.
In other words, the members of the Hegemony understood it as - everyone had a single opportunity to resort to violent means.
Although a part of her longed to just get it over with and turn Warden Corentin’s arrogance into a lesson, considering that a second offense would result in a red card punishment, she decided it was better to keep this valuable option in reserve, especially since she just arrived at the prison.
"Lord Warden Corentin, our Principal, Mr. Rocky McCarthy is engaged in talks with Warden Bacas at the Protoss Royal Magic Academy as we speak. We are his personal students, capable and trustworthy individuals who can handle the most challenging tasks. For the sake of Principal McCarthy, could you perhaps show us some consideration?"
Hyperion smiled, respectfully sharing her thoughts.
"...What’s the use of you saying all this here?"
A hard-to-determine sense of distance resided in Warden Corentin’s gaze.
These words hadn’t softened the warden’s attitude at all, making Hyperion’s sincerity appear laughable.
"You know what? Even Rocky McCarthy would have to bring me a couple of cigarettes if he came here."
Warden Corentin sneered, feeling that Hyperion’s words were questioning his authority,
"Besides, you’re just his student, not his wife. You really think you’re somebody, don’t you?"
These young people still didn’t get one thing.
In this hellhole, a place of idle existence known as Herram Prison, experience far outweighed capability.
Those who were capable had already gone to the lower levels.
Unless you became a warden, or even the Chief Warden, you wouldn’t have any interest in this sub-layer.
Respect for him was of utmost importance, and empty promises or dropping big names won’t intimidate him.
"I’m not your teacher; I have no obligation to teach you about human relationships. But if you fail to grasp this, no matter how exceptional you are at the Protoss Royal Magic Academy, it wouldn’t mean anything."
Warden Corentin continued his sarcastic tirade, his words slow and heavy, each one highlighting the ignorance and cockiness of the interns, acting like a sharp knife slicing at their confidence.
"..."
Hyperion’s face was flushed with embarrassment and anxiety. Under Warden Corentin’s ridicule, she was trying her best to hold back her irritability.
Not only was the pressure from before her tough to handle, the chill from the three priests of Hegemony behind her was also becoming harder to suppress.
The aura of the Rebirth Church filled the office, making the atmosphere even tenser, as if it could explode at any moment.
However, the warden was fearless in the face of such tension; in fact, he looked even more determined. A slight smile played upon his lips, but his eyes held no warmth – only full of ridicule and defiance.
It was as if he was challenging them – dare to make a move.
Just as Hyperion was finding the situation difficult and was about to make a decision, she noticed that the dark-haired, green-eyed Great Love Poet next to her stirred.
It was the mention of Rocky McCarthy by Warden Corentin that seemed to have triggered a reaction. 𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝙤𝙢
After hearing the word, the Great Love Poet, who had been lost in thought like a daydreaming student being called out by their teacher, slowly snapped back to reality and began focusing on the conversation.
Very soon, the Great Love Poet blinked, looking around in bewilderment as if she had just woken up from a dream.
Her expression was innocent and didn’t lose its natural curiosity about the world, which was in stark contrast to the tense atmosphere surrounding her.
She looked at Warden Corentin as if she was puzzled whether he had just mentioned something about social relationships.
The Great Love Poet looked at Hyperion.
She saw Hyperion’s bitter expression.
Instantly, the Great Love Poet’s eyes shone with brilliance, and she seemed to have roughly understood the rules of this place.
Soon after, she looked at Hyperion with great warmth in her eyes. Even though her mouth was obscured by a mask, one could feel her smile. She seemed to be telling Hyperion – Leave the issue regarding social graces to her! Hyperion need not worry!
