NOVEL NEXT Chapter 157
Chapter 157
On the 2nd and 3rd floors, the inmates caused no problems at all.
Amidst some unvoiced worry, Lee Si-hyun and his party let out a sigh of relief internally.
However, Si-hyun thought that the inspection wouldn’t end without any incident.
Considering what happened on the 1st floor, such a probability was quite high.
When they reached the 4th floor, Si-hyun’s group was slightly surprised by the triple-lock system they encountered.
While South Korea also pays attention to the security of awakened inmates, it wasn’t to this extent.
“This is where the A-Class inmates are held.”
Upon Dean’s explanation, Si-hyun and his party nodded in understanding.
Meanwhile, the correctional officer next to Dean began diligently opening the locks.
‘This isn’t right.’
Si-hyun thought.
Before entering this building, he felt a sense of unease.
And he wondered if such feelings would return in this place, but there was no such sensation.
Perhaps.
Si-hyun recalled something in his mind.
If this isn’t where the A-Class is, then the only thing above it is S-Class.
This floor wasn’t yet the top of the building.
There was a good chance another ward was above, and if there was indeed an S-Class…
Si-hyun had yet to meet an S-Class inmate directly.
So he didn’t know how well the Iron-Blooded Guard’s abilities would work against an S-Class inmate.
‘But…’
If it were S-Class, even if it were an inmate, it’s certain that the government would conduct special management.
Logically, it would be impossible to show them to outsiders.
He figured that they didn’t need to take that into consideration yet.
So, he needed to give those Yankees a proper reality check.
That way, they wouldn’t trivialize themselves and their antics any longer.
“Let’s go in.”
As the door opened completely, Dean spoke with a smiling face.
Si-hyun, who had been behind the group, stepped out beside the warden and the security department head.
At that, a hint of relief appeared on the faces of the warden and the security department head.
The faces of the other members also showed signs of being more at ease.
‘Indeed… they are well aware.’
As Si-hyun approached the cell area, he slightly nodded as if he understood.
The seasoned guard’s insight was working diligently.
[Warning: Detected a notoriously notorious individual nearby.]
[Warning: Detected another incredibly notorious individual nearby.]
[Warning: Nearby….]
Warning alerts continued to pop up regarding the notorious A-Class Awakened Beings.
Having gained the insight ability, he had never encountered so many incredibly notorious figures at once.
Not every awakened criminal is notoriously known, after all.
However, it seemed that at least this Alcatraz had a considerably high ratio of them.
Si-hyun subtly turned his gaze towards the American correctional officers.
He sensed something like anticipation coupled with an undercover tension from them.
It was easy to understand why.
They were hoping for the inmates to get a sound thrashing in front of them in an entertaining manner.
And the reason for their tension was obvious.
The most challenging inmates to deal with were precisely those notorious individuals.
Especially when it came to the “incredibly” notorious ones.
Even if they were behind bars, the murderous intent of an A-Class Awakened Being alone could be a threatening weapon that could psychologically impact their opponents.
Even correctional officers were awakened beings, and if a regular person happened to be exposed to such an aura, they could suffer a mental trauma.
That was why Si-hyun had come out beside the warden.
Unlike the security department head, the warden was a regular human being.
And since a warden hardly ever had to deal with inmates directly at the site, even if they had heard about such dangers, they likely wouldn’t take them seriously.
“This time around, it won’t be easy.”
A senior officer muttered quietly.
Bell nodded, as if in agreement.
A-Class inmates were individuals whom even they had difficulty handling due to their long experience.
They were wild beasts incarnate.
Yet, to subdue them instantly like B-Class?
That was a laughable notion.
Even if a hero correctional officer’s grandparent came, it would still be impossible.
‘What will it be like, I wonder…’
Jake stared fixedly at the spot where Si-hyun was, his mind racing.
Having been partially drawn in by Si-hyun after the events on the 1st floor, he found the sight of him instantly overpowering lethal inmates to be incredibly cool.
He imagined it often.
A correctional officer so intimidating that even inmates wouldn’t dare to act defiantly with just a glare.
But that was merely fantasy; reality was just a cesspool.
And now, before him stood a correctional officer who had transformed that fantasy into reality.
Jake secretly hoped that Si-hyun would showcase that same prowess again.
“Hehe.”
The Snake Tattooed Inmate inside the cell crossed his arms, wearing a malicious grin.
He was the very inmate who openly requested porn magazines from Bell and brazenly teased Jake.
“Good. Very good.”
The Snake Tattooed Inmate murmured.
Before Si-hyun’s group arrived, a message had already been sent to the inmates on the 4th floor via the correctional officers.
It stated that the inmate who could successfully dominate the energy of the incoming Easterners would receive special privileges for a month.
It was said that the deputy warden had spoken this directly.
Special treatment, a very enticing offer.
Extra meals, cigarettes, liquor… they claimed they could provide anything desired.
Since it wasn’t just any correctional officer but the deputy warden speaking, it was certainly possible.
Thus, they had no choice but to act.
The Snake Tattooed Inmate’s eyes gleamed with a predatory light as he surveyed Si-hyun and his group.
It was a gaze akin to a beast stalking its prey.
‘What? Just a bunch of idiots?’
The Snake Tattooed Inmate revealed his teeth and let out a sly chuckle.
He recognized at a glance that they were simply a group of lambs.
Humans so weak that he had trampled on them countless times through his life.
‘Guess it’s my lucky day.’
There were cells on the opposite side, yet they were heading this way first.
The sweet fruit of special treatment dangled tantalizingly before him.
All he had to do was reach out and twist to pluck it.
The Snake Tattooed Inmate slowly stood up and approached the bars.
He could feel the Easterners flinch slightly at his actions.
‘Idiots.’
The Snake Tattooed Inmate openly scoffed.
The tense gazes of the Easterners focused on one individual standing in front.
It was as if they had nowhere else to turn for support.
‘Who the hell is this guy?’
The Snake Tattooed Inmate burst into laughter.
Apparently, one of them seemed stronger, but no matter how he looked, he had no aura of a true strongling.
‘Heheh.’
The Snake Tattooed Inmate made his decision.
He would crush that one first.
There was hardly anything more entertaining than watching someone they relied upon collapse pitifully.
“Hey!”
The Snake Tattooed Inmate yelled at Si-hyun with a derisive gaze.
Si-hyun raised a hand to his group, signaling them not to worry.
And with a cold glare, he approached the cell where the Snake Tattooed Inmate resided.
“Oh? You crazy bastard. Why the stern look? Why don’t you smile? Laugh, you bastard! Give us a cowardly grin!”
The Snake Tattooed Inmate bellowed, as if he was done with civility.
It wasn’t just any rant; he was screaming with an intense ferocity.
Even those watching from afar felt their skin crawl with dread.
Yet, Si-hyun approached the bars without even the slightest hint of hesitation.
He reached out, gripped the bars, and faced the Snake Tattooed Inmate head-on.
“You should be the one to laugh.”
Si-hyun uttered in a chilling tone.
“What?”
The Snake Tattooed Inmate looked taken aback for a moment before quickly displaying a furious glare.
“Ah, you bastard!”
The Snake Tattooed Inmate emanated a suffocating aura that exploded forth.
Si-hyun’s group cast worried looks, while Dean and the American correctional officers wore expressions of excitement for what was to come.
At that moment.
Si-hyun yelled like thunder.
“I told you to laugh, you bastard!”
‘…Another loud shout.’
Jake watched the scene unfold and thought to himself.
Indeed, having a bold and commanding voice was a fundamental quality of correctional officers.
However, there were people it would work on and those it wouldn’t.
The Snake Tattooed Inmate was certainly in the latter category.
In fact, going in so strongly had left some correctional officers unable to cope and utterly bewildered.
Yet.
‘Huh?’
Jake’s eyes widened as he noticed something.
The Snake Tattooed Inmate’s pupils shook in fear at Si-hyun’s shout.
It was such an unreal situation that Jake doubted his own eyesight.
An A-Class heinous criminal couldn’t possibly harbor such a look.
Not even a warden would display such a reaction.
Jake shook his head repeatedly and took a step closer for a better view.
“…Hehe, hehehee….”
Suddenly, the Snake Tattooed Inmate began laughing with a pure, innocent expression.
Anyone who didn’t know him would never guess he was a murderer responsible for countless deaths, given his innocent smile.
“You laugh well, huh?”
Si-hyun scoffed as he shot back with disdain.
“Hehe, indeed, indeed. Hehehe. I’ve heard that I’ve always had a good laugh since I was a child. Hehehe.”
The Snake Tattooed Inmate rubbed his hands together and chuckled submissively.
“What the…”
“Wh-what in the world…”
The American correctional officers gaped in shock with eyes wide open, unable to form words.
An A-Class Awakened Being, and also a brutal murderer, was humbly bowing and scraping with an expression that seemed ready to give away his entire soul was shocking beyond belief.
It was a sight that defied even their wildest nightmares.
However, that was just the beginning.
“Don’t you feel good just laughing?”
Si-hyun said with a smiling face while throwing a provocative glance at Dean.
He deliberately laid bare his intentions.
He was determined to repay the Yankees for what they had done.
So they wouldn’t dare to mess around again.
Dean wore a face of utter shock.
He stood there, dazed as if he didn’t know what to do.
“You seem so happy that you can’t even speak. Hmm… well, how about I turn this ward into a ward of laughter for you?”
Si-hyun snickered before turning his body.
Then he started knocking on the cell doors one by one, shouting.
“Come on, laugh! Everyone, laugh.”
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
As Si-hyun knocked on the cell doors, the inmates began to burst into laughter.
“Hahaha!”
“Hehehe!”
“Hehehehe!”
The sight was truly grotesque in itself.
Among the American correctional officers, quite a few shuddered with faces pale from the chill.
Si-hyun’s group, too, looked utterly flabbergasted at the unexpected scene.
Bang! Bang!
“Come on, laugh! Laugh! Smiling brings blessings, you know?”
“Puhahaha!”
“Puhehuhehu!”
The laughter of the inmates became an eerie chorus that pierced the ears.
As sight unfolded before them something they couldn’t even imagine—no, something they couldn’t even envision in their dreams—people could only stand there in a daze, their faces blank.
‘Ah…’
Jake thought with trembling eyes due to the immense shock.
That person truly was right.
A hero, indeed.
He was so moved by this miraculous sight that his body trembled unconsciously.