The Warden of The Witches-Chapter 275:
Chapter 275:
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256="">Chapter 275: An RPG Game</ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The next morning, Aiden sat in his office, studying the materials he had asked someone to gather and organize yesterday.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The Dragonspine Empire's capital prison was a comprehensive facility comparable in scale to Thorn Iron and Rose Iron Prisons. Compared solely to the pre-reform Rose Iron Prison, it was even slightly superior. Yet, four years ago, this prison experienced an utterly bizarre escape incident.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->At that time, Anne Drake, a pirate active in the Still Sea, was arrested by the Imperial Navy. After trial, she was sent to the capital prison to serve her sentence. Three days after the sentencing, the capital prison received a threatening letter. The sender claimed to be the Red Shark pirate crew, demanding the unconditional release of Anne Drake within a week, threatening a direct jailbreak otherwise.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The capital prison gave no response to the letter—in fact, given the state of public order in this world, it wasn't uncommon for a prison to receive similar threats from criminal organizations. Moreover, at that time, Navie Drake's Red Shark crew was far smaller than its current size. A major nation's prison, ranking among the most secure on the continent, naturally saw no need to fear a mere pirate crew.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->However, a week later, the Red Shark crew stormed the capital prison. With seemingly unstoppable momentum, they breached layer after layer of the prison's defenses, directly breaking Anne Drake out. They also took some of her crew members also incarcerated there, along with several other dangerous inmates, simultaneously damaging prison facilities and stealing supplies.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->During this process, the capital prison's armed riot squad attempted to engage the jailbreaking pirates. Strangely, however, everyone who tried to attack fainted on the spot before the pirates even retaliated. This information was gathered from riot squad members who clashed with the pirates at the time; recorded testimonies stated they didn't see the opponents make any counterattacking moves at all.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->To this day, the Empire's Heresy Inquisition institution has not determined the specific method used by the Red Shark crew to accomplish such a smooth jailbreak. No traces were left on any of the breached defense facilities. The opened cell doors showed no damage, appearing exactly as if opened with a key. Post-incident checks revealed the barriers, runes, and traps set up in the prison were all perfectly intact, yet they had inexplicably failed during the jailbreak. The Warden of the capital prison at the time was even suspected of accepting bribes due to this incident and underwent rigorous investigation. Although no evidence of dereliction of duty was found, he still received some disciplinary action because of the matter.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"How pitiful," Aiden shook his head, suddenly feeling some sympathy for this unseen colleague. Based on the information provided in the Progenitor's letter, the Red Shark crew's ability to pull off such an incredible jailbreak was clearly closely related to the sole Authority of "Order" held by Navie Drake. Without any knowledge of Authorities, prevention was naturally impossible.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->This also explained why the Empire would unhesitatingly extradite Anne Drake back to the autonomous state to serve her sentence. Even their largest capital prison had suffered a setback, the cause still unknown; other prisons within the Empire would fare even worse.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->As for the Red Shark crew, they unsurprisingly gained fame after the jailbreak incident. More and more pirates flocked to join them. Their scale expanded dramatically over several years, making them the dominant force in the Coral Sea region. They even occupied an uninhabited island as their base, naming it Red Shark Island.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The Imperial Navy and Heresy Inquisition institutions organized several campaigns against Red Shark Island, but all invariably failed. When approaching the pirate port on Red Shark Island or encountering the crew's ships, the Imperial Navy frequently encountered bizarre phenomena, forcing them to break off engagement. These strange occurrences included sudden storms and fog without warning, inexplicable giant whirlpools appearing between the fleets, and guns and cannons inexplicably misfiring. Consequently, a saying circulated in the Coral Peninsula region north of the Empire: the great pirate Navie Drake was protected by the Sea God, and anyone attempting to harm him would be punished by the deity.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->In fact, similar rumors surrounded the great pirate Ryan Gott, revered as the ruler of the seas in the past. Starting from him, several generations of such great pirates had emerged in the Still Sea. The information revealed in Progenitor Azrael's letter offered an explanation. Back then, Azrael traded the <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Codex Anverus<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> to the pirate Ryan Gott, who used it to become the most powerful pirate king of the Still Sea. Afterward, the <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Codex Anverus<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> passed through the hands of various pirate factions—essentially, whoever obtained the <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Codex Anverus<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> became the lucky one blessed by a "god."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Undoubtedly, the Red Shark crew's ability to repeatedly repel naval attacks and miraculously break someone out of the Imperial capital prison relied on the power of the <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Codex Anverus<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->. When no Dominator was present, the sole Authority existed as an object. This object possessed supernatural properties exceeding ordinary black magic, usable even by ordinary people—just a tool.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"I see. This is what the prophecy meant by waiting quietly in prison, and the Authority will naturally come to me,"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> Aiden thought. He now fully understood the content of Melissa's prophecy. The "prophecy" Melissa gave was quite accurate, just slightly different from his interpretation. It wasn't that the Authority would be delivered to his doorstep like a package, but rather that someone connected to the Authority would personally bring the Authority knocking.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->According to The Covenant and the autonomous state's extradition regulations, it would be very difficult for Aiden to refuse this prisoner.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->It was trouble... but also an opportunity. That was Aiden's first impression. He had heard about the <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Codex Anverus<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->'s properties from Melissa; supposedly, one could write a limited number of rules onto it, which would then be forcibly enforced within a certain radius centered on the holder. Stopping an opponent wielding such a powerful item from breaking someone out of prison would likely not be easy.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->But this was undoubtedly the best chance for him, someone who otherwise had almost no connection to pirates, to obtain the <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Codex Anverus<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->. Even the battleground was confined to his home turf.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->However, compared to the Red Shark crew, Aiden was currently more concerned about the fact that Anne Drake was being transferred here <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->at all<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->. Shortly after he received the Progenitor's letter and learned about the sole Authority, the person mentioned in the letter immediately intersected with his path.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->It felt exactly like a pre-scripted RPG game, and he was the character being controlled by some player. Just before the main quest objective popped up, an NPC would always provide crucial information.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->And the player controlling him... had barely hidden their identity at all.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-text-chunk><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
