Mage Manual

Chapter 64: Chapter 62 Damn, he got away with it

“How did you get in? That’s how you’ll get out.”

Ash instantly understood, “You mean… the ship that transports death row inmates?”

The Medical Practitioner nodded. “Shattered Lake Prison is located in the middle of Shattered Lake; apart from ships and flights, there are no other means of transportation. However, the nearby airspace is a military no-fly zone, where all flying objects are scanned and verified, and objects without flight permission are shot down by the ‘Lex Rapid-Fire Cannons’ installed by the prison; while the waters are teeming with Finger Sharks, making it almost impossible for anyone but the Fishman Race—even for Mages specializing in defense—to swim away undetected.”

“The method of escape has always been the same: to leave on the ship that transports death row inmates. Even we and the Prison Guards have to use that ship to travel to and from Shattered Lake Prison, no exceptions. The prison supplies are also delivered during the transportation of the prisoners.”

Although it was clear that the ship would be heavily guarded, making it impossible for death row inmates to hide and escape, at least it provided Ash with the right direction of thinking, preventing him from awkwardly disturbing the Finger Sharks during their feeding time while attempting to dig through the sewer system to escape.

“Is there really no exception?”

Ash asked casually without much expectation, however, the Medical Practitioner, after pondering for a moment, nodded.

“There actually is one: according to the law, if a mayor faces extremely serious allegations during their tenure but similar key evidence like memory evidence isn’t found, the mayor must immediately resign from all posts and be temporarily detained in the nearest Blood Moon Prison—Kaimon City has only Shattered Lake Prison for such purpose—to await isolation until the Crime Hunting Hall’s investigation is completed; thereafter, they either resume their post or are imprisoned locally.”

Ash was somewhat surprised, “If no memory evidence can be found, doesn’t that imply innocence?”

The Medical Practitioner nodded and then shook his head, “Generally, that’s true, but among Mages, there exist Technique Spirits capable of reprogramming memories, such as ‘overwrite’, ‘cut’, and ‘erase’. Even though memory editing is a severe crime, punishable severely whether it involves the Mage or the subject, many unscrupulous politicians and council members reprogram memories; the Crime Hunting Hall can’t immediately differentiate the real from the fake.”

“Thus, for investigations involving significant figures, we usually search the memories of all associated persons as their memories can also serve as evidence for conviction. If no evidence is found, it would mean it’s a false accusation.”

“Has there ever been an incident where a mayor was imprisoned?”

“In history, there are probably three or four instances? I only remember that each time ended with the mayor resuming their position, their reputation greatly enhanced, even winning reelection.” @@novelbin@@

“Does that mean the mayor was innocent?”

“People generally believe so,” the Medical Practitioner said indifferently, “After all, there was no flaw found in the process.”

“But even the best systems are carried out by people.”

“Is that what you told the Hunters when you were caught?”

That topic quickly passed, as the incident of mayoral prison isolation was too rare to be considered in their plan.

Ash then proposed several far-fetched ideas, such as disguising as a Prison Guard, hanging on the underside of the ship, or hiding in a trash bucket; the Medical Practitioner rejected all his suggestions, expressing fear at his last idea.

During their conversation, a bell suddenly rang outside; the Medical Practitioner exclaimed, “It’s already 12 o’clock, you should hurry back to your dormitory. If you encounter a Prison Guard, just say you were delayed by treatment. Don’t take any detours on the way, wandering around at night will deduct your contribution points.”

Ash nodded, pulled on his pair of ‘Shadow King’ series boots, feeling that the cool boots matched poorly with his prison garb. Wearing such fancy boots without a corresponding set of cool clothes seemed unjustifiable.

“Wait,” Ash suddenly realized something, “What time is it now?”

“It’s exactly midnight. That was the bell reminding Mages to enter the Void Realm, as after midnight, the Blood Moon strengthens our connection with the Void Realm, helping Mages recover their soul energy faster during Exploration.” The Medical Practitioner shrugged. “But that has nothing to do with you.”

Ash blinked, a bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

He and the Sword Maiden had planned to enter the Void Realm around ten at night, but now…

…

…

Void Realm, Sea of Knowledge, Inheritance Island.

Zzzzz—

Thunder roared wildly, intertwining with a thunder whip that crushed everything. Free floating electric arcs filled the air, turning the sandy ground into glass crystals!

“With justice hidden and sharp, dreams awaken the mystic link.”

The Thunder Holder chanted a strange and difficult poem in a raspy voice, his bare torso covered in black tattoos resembling mathematical figures, his face hairless, eyes bloodshot, hands wielding the swirling thunder whips like dual thunder barriers protecting him on either side!

Sonia gasped for air, supporting herself on the ground with a wooden sword, her hair still bearing traces of burnt ashes, her face filled with fatigue and fear, her form dim and blurred, as if about to be swallowed by the mist at any second.

‘My first death in the Void Realm so soon, but Felix has yet to die even once, wouldn’t that leave me a bit belittled in front of Professor Trozan? Although Reonie said she faced her first death on her second entry into the Void Realm… I wonder if that’s true…’

Sonia did not fear death; Mages were destined to die in the Void Realm eventually, even Legendary Mage ‘Law Binder’ Metas from the Kingdom of Stars boasted about his twenty-one deaths in the Void Realm, claiming, “Among the Four-winged, I am one of those who died the least.”