Chapter 288: These Reporters Are Faster Than Anyone The next evening, Core Block exercise yard. Ophelia walked slowly in circles around the yard. She rarely came out for recreation time; sunlight was somewhat harmful even to high-ranking Vampires, and the prison didn't arrange outdoor time on rainy days. Today was a rare overcast day. Just then, she heard someone whisper behind her, "Hello there, Vampire Princess." Ophelia turned her head slightly and saw a somewhat familiar but not well-known face—an inmate from the Core Block she had seen before. Judging by the uniform color, she belonged to the lowest danger level within the block. Check latest chapters at novelꜰire.net Seems like that somebody from Cell Block Six... Ophelia couldn't recall the other's name at all, only remembering her as one of those insignificant characters with little ability who constantly darted around the prison. Without replying, she turned her head back and quickened her pace. "Hey, hey, don't ignore me!" The pirate Anna, who had spoken, quickly caught up beside her. "I have good news for you. You've tried to escape twice; you must want out of this dump too, right? We've found an excellent opportunity..." "Whoa, whoa, don't glare at me like that. See, no one here is really afraid of you..." Anna chuckled. "If you, the Vampire Prince, don't get out, you can't scare anyone." Although Ophelia was classified as a red-alert level inmate, she was also the type whose power diminished significantly when her magic was sealed. Crucially, after her two escape attempts, Warden Aiden had tormented her relentlessly. Photos of her capture were even printed in educational materials circulated among the inmates, making her the laughingstock of the Core Block. Even to minor characters like Anna in the Core Block, Ophelia held absolutely no intimidating presence. In the past, Ophelia would have retorted long ago, but this time, she didn't even want to spare the other woman a second glance, simply continuing forward on her own. "Don't be in such a hurry. The organizer this time is much more reliable than the last..." "You really don't learn, do you? Aren't you afraid of being thrown away like a pawn again, just like last time?" Ophelia replied coldly. Anna's eye twitched. She cursed inwardly, Even if you weren't treated as a pawn, didn't you still get caught again? But she suppressed the urge to talk back and put on a grinning face. "Rest assured, this person has a successful track record. She once escaped safely from the Empire's Capital Prison and even took many other inmates with her. This time, she also wants to take as many inmates out as possible. The only condition is that you cause a big ruckus outside after getting out. Nothing else is required of you. It's a sure win for you, right?" "Escaped from the Capital Prison before?" Ophelia frowned slightly, slowing her pace. Anna rejoiced inwardly, thinking her target had taken the bait. In fact, during shower time last night, Anne had discussed more specific details with them. "I've decided. Let's go big. I plan to release all the inmates in this block," Anne had declared then. "Don't. That won't benefit us. Many inmates here have already been broken by that Warden, practically slaves. Others are basically his dogs..." Catherine voiced her opinion. "Inmates with short sentences are even less likely to want to leave. Releasing these people isn't just useless; they might even become obstacles for us." "Obstacles? They don't exist. No matter how many people come, they can't stop this jailbreak. If they try to help the guards hinder us, they'll only suffer the same consequences as the guards," Anne replied confidently and calmly. "My escape method is unique; it makes it impossible for the guards to attack us, though we can't attack them either... But things will be different once we're outside the prison. There must be inmates here who resent the guards, right? Find them all, persuade them to cause chaos after getting out... Arson, murder, whatever. Not only will it utterly disgrace this prison, but it will also help us make a clean getaway." Anna and Catherine exchanged glances, immediately thinking of several candidates. Ophelia was one of them. Twice caught escaping, with an unbelievably long sentence, and harboring a deep-seated grudge against Warden Aiden. Anna believed she would definitely cooperate with their plan. Sure enough, after hearing her persuasion, Ophelia looked seriously towards the patrolling guards standing in the distance, then shifted her gaze back. "Sounds highly suspicious... But tell me more anyway. Who else have you recruited?" Ophelia narrowed her blood-red eyes. Meanwhile, in Aiden's office. Chief Guard Franda of the Core Block held that day's Silver City Evening News with a headache-ridden expression, asking Aiden, seated in his chair, "Warden, could you please explain what exactly this report is about? The guards at reception said several newspaper reporters have already come by today." "Oh? I only had it posted in the early morning, and it's already in the papers? Excellent. These reporters are really faster than anyone," Aiden nodded with satisfaction. The newspaper featured Aiden's reply to a certain pirate, which he had posted on the bulletin board at the city's north landing that morning. The newspaper company was clearly aware of Navia Drake's past deeds in the Empire. Merely from Aiden's publicly posted reply, they had basically deduced the sequence of events, uncovering the fact that the Red Shark Pirates were preparing to break someone out of Rose Iron Prison. They interpreted the wanted poster Aiden posted as his declaration of war against the impending jailbreak attempt by the Red Shark Pirates. "Why would you do something ?" Franda couldn't help but massage her temples. "Provoking criminals active outside offers no benefit, does it?" "They started the provocation first. A criminal sent this incredibly arrogant threatening letter, blatantly intending to break into this prison. As the administrator here, I naturally must clearly state my position," Aiden said righteously, then looked at Veronica standing beside Franda. "Right?" "I also support the Warden's actions. An institution like ours must never fear threats from criminals. We must clearly show our stance to the public. How can police be afraid of criminals?" Veronica sided with Aiden almost without hesitation. "You two—" Franda looked back and forth between the pair who had unilaterally formed a united front, feeling her headache intensify.