Chapter 295: There's Honor Among Thieves The next morning, citizens arriving at Rose Iron Prison for visits were surprised to find the prison sealed off. Not only that, but police tape had also been set up outside. "Prison undergoing internal renovations. Visits temporarily suspended. Please return," the guards stationed outside stopped all external personnel attempting to enter. "Visits won't resume until tomorrow at the earliest. The construction work today is quite extensive and potentially dangerous. Please do not approach," the guards persuaded the citizens to turn back one by one. Meanwhile, in the Warden's Office. "Will they really come today?" Veronica asked. "Given these pirates' style, they definitely will. I've studied the Red Shark Pirates' operational patterns. They specifically target large prey and even paint their emblem on the victim ship's sails and deck before letting it return. They are the largest and most arrogant pirate crew in the Serene Sea," Aiden said slowly. "They announced they'd come today, so they most likely will. I've already leaked the news of their announcement to the press; the morning paper already ran the story. Gave us a headline." Aiden picked up today's newspaper and waved it slightly. Newest update provided by novel⚑fire.net "It's also insurance. After all, we've made so many preparations; it would be troublesome if they stood us up. These pirates likely wouldn't want news spreading everywhere that they suddenly chickened out after making an announcement," Aiden replied calmly. "Nearby businesses and merchants also got the news and closed up shop themselves, saving us the effort of issuing a warning." "But if something goes wrong, the responsibility you bear will be even greater," Franda reminded him expressionlessly. "Perhaps even I will be implicated by you in the end..." "Have a little faith in your superior, won't you?" Aiden shrugged. "Learn from Veronica; she hasn't raised any issues." Franda glanced at Veronica, whose face clearly read "I am a soldier and only know how to obey orders," and shook her head. "Truly impossible to learn." "Anyway, let's patiently wait for our guests," Aiden glanced at the wall clock. "By the way, have you two eaten breakfast? I'm planning to get a Jianbing Guozi from the cafeteria to tide me over."(TN: 煎饼果子 (Jiānbing Guǒzi) - Jianbing Guozi, a popular Chinese savory crepe street food. Kept pinyin.) "I'll go too," Veronica immediately raised her hand. Franda couldn't help but recall sharing breakfast with Veronica in the cafeteria just half an hour ago. However, her accumulated life experience stopped her from pointing this out. Instead, she calmly stated, "I've already eaten. I'll head back to my post first." At noon, the pirates appeared. Due to the news spreading from the morning papers and coordinated control by the Inquisition, businesses and shops in the nearby blocks had mostly closed, quickly clearing the streets. Just then, the guards stationed outside on watch duty noticed carriages charging straight towards them—not public coaches, but four freight carriages packed with people. As the guards were about to shout a warning, someone on the carriages raised a flag—a pirate flag bearing a shark emblem. The guards on duty immediately tensed up, quickly ran back into the prison, and bolted the main gates shut. The pirate carriages stopped one after another. Navia Drake disembarked. This time, he wore his usual attire for sea voyages: a tricorne hat, a pistol tucked into his waist belt. The others were mostly dressed as sailors. Today, they came as pirates, not only to rescue the captain's daughter but also to plunder this prison. Simultaneously, the prison's alarm bells rang out. "Board!" Navia drew his cutlass and commanded, receiving an immediate response from his crew. The group charged directly towards the sealed prison gates, but carried neither battering rams nor axes, simply striding towards the gates as if they weren't there. Meanwhile, on the other side of the main gates, three more barred iron gates sealed the passage leading further into the prison. A dozen or so guards on duty gathered warily in the main hall. Then, they watched dumbfounded as, behind the bars, the multiple locks on the inner side of the main gate unlocked simultaneously, as if an invisible person with the prison keys and full authorization was deftly opening the doors. In just two seconds, the main gates swung open automatically before the invaders. The three iron gates also opened in sequence, seemingly welcoming their arrival. The pirates entered the prison interior unimpeded. The guards on duty quickly took cover behind the reception counter and raised their sidearms towards the pirates—an instinctive action. In fact, strict orders had come down yesterday absolutely forbidding them from attacking the invaders first unless attacked, but facing a group of criminals freely entering the prison, they instinctively felt their personal safety threatened. Faced with a dozen gun muzzles, the pirates appeared incredibly calm. Only Navia casually drew his pistol and fired a shot towards the ceiling, causing the guards present to hold their breath instantly. "Try shooting, government dogs," Navia said calmly. Several guards, nerves already stretched taut, reflexively prepared to pull their triggers. Just then, a command abruptly materialized in their minds: "Intentionally harming others, directly or indirectly, is forbidden. Violators shall suffer corporal punishment." The command appeared inexplicably yet carried an authority difficult to resist. Most stopped their actions due to it, but one guard persisted and pulled the trigger. However, at that moment, the pistol misfired. Just as the guard felt bewildered, he suddenly experienced intense pain shoot through his gun-holding right hand, causing him to cry out instinctively and collapse, clutching his hand. Hearing the scream, the pirates immediately burst into mocking laughter. "Hey, what's wrong?" A colleague, also hiding behind the counter, leaned over. "My right hand hurts so much!" the guard who had just fired groaned painfully. His colleague, seeing no blood, felt confused and told him to show his clutched right hand. Then both noticed—there were no wounds on the right hand, only many fine, black thorn-like patterns, like tattoos, crawling all over the hand. "This..." Both were stunned. It looked very much like some powerful black magic curse, but the prison entrance was covered by a magic-sealing ward. How could a curse possibly take effect? "Who told you to fire?" The officer in charge here scolded him. "Rest assured. There's honor among thieves; pirates have their rules too. We don't kill those who give up resistance. As long as no one plays the hero, we can all coexist peacefully," Navia Drake spoke up. "Now, can anyone tell me where my daughter Anne is being held?"(TN: 盗亦有道 (Dào yì yǒu dào) - Lit. 'even thieves have their principles/way'. Idiom meaning there's honor among thieves.) The officer in charge recalled the order passed down early that morning: "Just hold your posts. Do not attack the invaders first when they arrive. If they ask for directions, lead them towards the Core Block." So, he extended his hand from behind the counter, pointing towards the corridor leading to the Core Block.