Chapter 250: Giving You a Hand "You also want to... go out and help?" Aiden felt slightly surprised, then his expression turned serious. "Stop joking. Do you think this place is a hotel? That You can just go out whenever you feel like it?" He had intended to use her past and Kyle's mission to prick Ophelia's pride, hoping she'd gain a clearer understanding of herself and start behaving properly in prison. However, the effect of this provocation seemed somewhat unexpected. "Don't you always like using inmates as laborers? This Prin—" Ophelia abruptly stopped, forcefully swallowing the word "Princess" and changing her tone, "This time, I'll condescend to give you a hand. Don't be ungrateful!" "Who's being ungrateful?" Aiden found the situation both infuriating and amusing. "Do you think just any inmate can work for me? I have standards for selecting people, you know. Only inmates with sufficiently high discipline scores are even considered. As for you, one escape attempt, another escape attempt plus rioting, and still under observation, you even got into a fight during observation—a truly blemished record. If an inmate like you can just stroll out, I might as well tear down the prison gates and let everyone come and go freely." According to regulations, an inmate like Ophelia, who's still under observation, couldn't possibly leave the prison under the pretext of assisting with a case or external labor, unlike how he had previously taken out Dailey, Priscilla, or Evangeline. His authority within the prison was significant, but not unlimited. Of course, even if it were possible, he wouldn't be foolish enough to easily trust an inmate with such a lengthy rap sheet. Whether for official or personal reasons, he wouldn't make such an unwise move. "Hmph Making so many excuses, you're clearly afraid of me, aren't you?" Ophelia provoked him. "Someone with your limited intellect shouldn't use provocation tactics," Aiden retorted without hesitation. Ophelia immediately clenched her fists, barely restraining the urge to lunge forward and punch the man. "Then at least..." Ophelia lowered her voice, her expression hardening as she proposed another plan, "Take one of my hands with you." "What does that mean?" Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say Kyle needs to turn into bats to search for the scent of human blood on the enemy? I can do that too!" Ophelia said seriously. "One hand, one leg, I can separate it and give it to you. A limb detached from my body can both turn into mist and transform. It should be somewhat useful." "Are you planning an escape attempt in installments this time?" Aiden joked. "I just don't want to sit here like a vase!" Ophelia stated emphatically. "Feeling unwilling? Alright, that's understandable. But how can I guarantee the detached limb will obey? Maybe as soon as it's outside the prison, your hand will strangle me," Aiden questioned, looking into Ophelia's eyes. "Aren't there witches in prison skilled in familiar magic? Engrave a familiar rune on my limb, or directly have a possessing demon attach to it, and you can turn it into a familiar under your control," Ophelia met his gaze without flinching. "Rest assured, I can't possibly control a limb outside while stuck in this magic-sealing dump of a prison. Besides, don't you have the strength to luckily beat me? Are you really afraid of one of my hands?" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI-Fire.ɴet Aiden narrowed his eyes. He understood how black magic worked; Ophelia's proposal was theoretically sound plausible. Taking Ophelia's limb outside the prison, the magic-sealed Ophelia couldn't control it at will, but the limb, powered by its own magic, could act autonomously according to Ophelia's inherited will, it's no different from an independent lesser demon beast. Using familiar magic to control it was feasible and low-risk; and simple anti-blood-kin measures would be effective. Times had changed. Now, possessing the "Return" utterance, he could face even Ophelia at her peak head-on. There was indeed no need to fear a mere detached limb. "Interesting. I don't mind giving it a try. Give me... your left hand," Aiden decided after a moment's thought, a smirk playing on his lips. "But I must advise you again, no tricks. Given your current situation, if you pull any more stunts..." "Spare me your concern!" Ophelia interrupted before he could finish. "Since you've agreed, hurry up! Give me magic permission!" "Inmate 3005, temporarily lifting magic restriction," Aiden said, placing his gun on the table, aimed at Ophelia's heart, supervising as she removed her hand. Having weighed the risks, he decided to give Ophelia a chance. Her volunteering to help suggested his words might have had some effect. If so, he felt it necessary to test it. If this woman still had a chance for correction, he didn't mind using her. Although the search task was assigned to Kyle, having his own enemy-detecting radar would be somewhat beneficial—after all, the enemy had already targeted Rose Iron Prison; it wouldn't be surprising if they came after him at any time. Even without the barrier, the runes on Ophelia's neck would still limit her transformation ability, but this level was sufficient. Ophelia turned her left hand into mist, which then reconsolidated on the table in front of Aiden, forming a left hand wreathed in grey mist. "Inmate 3005, sealing magic permission," Aiden stated again. The mist dissipated. Ophelia frowned, while clutching her forearm. Before her magic was sealed, she had used blood magic to close the wound promptly. The detached, pale left hand lay silently on the table. Aiden picked up the severed hand nonchalantly. "Then I'll accept it gratefully. I'll have Dailey handle it next." "Being touched by someone like you really gives me goosebumps," Ophelia showed a disgusted expression. "Let me be clear first, don't do anything weird with my hand!" "Relax, my tastes aren't bizarre enough to be interested in a severed hand," Aiden swung Ophelia's hand slightly. "Here's to our successful cooperation, then." Ophelia hesitated for a moment, then spoke: "Say..." "Even if I ask you... at least don't let that idiot die..." Ophelia said, averting her gaze. Aiden stared at her for a moment, then smiled. "Alright. I'll try my best." READ 5 CHAPTER AHEAD FREE!!!