Chapter 33: Finishing Touches

After Alpha died, his consciousness returned.

Using Pressure from a distance was somewhat strenuous, but he also confirmed one thing: this skill’s coverage extended to the entire prison.

“Now it’s really my turn to take the stage.”

Raphael muttered, casually pulling a blanket to cover the unconscious guard.

“No wonder Estina sent you here. You’re way too timid.”

Going downstairs, on his way toward the outer wall, Raphael ran into Estina, who had rushed over.

She was frantic with worry. The moment they met, she pushed Raphael toward the back gate.

“Lord, there’s a prison riot. We’ve completely lost control. Please leave immediately!”

“Calm down, Estina.” Raphael gently pressed down on her shoulder, which helped her settle a bit.

“But Lord, if we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late!”

“If I leave now, what happens to the other guards?”

Raphael’s words took Estina by surprise. Could it be…

“They’re probably already surrounded by the hybrids by now.”

Coming down from the administration building, Raphael could naturally see the general situation inside the prison.

Estina hesitated slightly.

Five years ago, at age sixteen, she was hired as a guard.

Over those five years, she had watched one old guard after another leave, and one new guard after another join.

At age twenty-two, her term as a guard would end.

And she had truly forged deep bonds with the guards under her command.

She couldn’t bear to see those sisters brutally killed, but she had no way to turn the situation around.

Even if she went, what difference would it make?

In the end, reason won over emotion. “No, if that’s the case, going there won’t help either.”

“Lord, please…”

Before she could finish, Raphael pressed a finger to her lips.

“Say no more. Find a safe place to stay. I’ll be back soon.”

Raphael’s tone was extremely calm, yet it stirred up a tidal wave in Estina’s heart.

This man truly had an incredible, inexplicable charm.

When disaster loomed, he chose not to save his own skin but to resolutely march toward an ending that was destined to end in death.

What an exalted character!

Even if the Holy Son were alive, he probably wouldn’t be more than this.

Thinking of her own conscience, which had been buried by so-called “reason,” Estina felt both shame and embarrassment.

Yes, death was terrifying.

But in this world, there were always things that transcended death, even life.

A surge of reverence rose in Estina’s heart, mingling with her feelings for the guards, transforming into sincere gratitude and tears of appreciation toward Raphael.

“Lord,” Estina matched Raphael’s stride, “if everyone is willing to defend to the death, how can I alone survive!”

[Ding—!]

[Detected a significant increase in Estina’s Loyalty!]

[Individual Name: Estina]

[Position: Chief Guard]

[Loyalty: 78 (Faithful and Unswerving)]

[Loyalty Change: 58 → 78]

Seeing the message, Raphael’s grin stretched from ear to ear.

‘Hehehe, so easy to fool!’

‘I’ve gained another loyal minion… subordinate. The prison’s path to greatness is right ahead.’

Just like with Sin Level, Raphael had set a threshold for Loyalty:

Negative numbers went without saying—either kick them out or convert them into sinners.

0 to 30: Not to be trusted with important tasks; assign non-core duties only.

30 to 70: Worthy of focused training.

70 and above: Formally entered the core circle of the team.

After all, Sophia’s initial Loyalty was in the teens, and she turned traitor the moment she got the chance.

This loyalty system wasn’t rigorous at all!

To prevent Sophia’s case from happening again, he had to raise the entry bar.

Soon, the two arrived at the outer plaza, which was completely surrounded by hybrids.

Many hybrids saw him and were about to bare their fangs and leap forward, when an inexplicably terrifying Pressure descended from the sky.

Want to harm the warden inside the prison?

Come on, this is the Prison Rules Creepypasta!

He was about to put on another show to harvest Estina’s goodwill, but a scene in the crowd made him lose his composure.

The guards were all holding sharp iron blades to their own throats.

Tina was jumping around anxiously on the side.

The task Raphael had given her was just to scare the guards a bit, not to kill them all off.

If they ended up committing mass suicide, how could she face Raphael?

“All troops, hear my command! Slit your own throats and return to heaven!”

Raphael frowned deeply.

“What is this ‘death before dishonor’?”

“Collective suicide to die for the cause, huh? The other world really has fierce folk.”

Even so, this at least proved that these guards were worth training.

A fiery temperament was always better than being scared out of one’s wits.

With that thought, Raphael spoke, “Hold on.”

His voice spread rapidly in all directions, amplified by Authority.

Covering such a wide range with Pressure instantly darkened Raphael’s expression.

Sweat dripped from his brow, and a sharp pain shot through his head.

“This is still a bit straining. Let’s finish this quickly,” Raphael muttered.

The effect of the Pressure was obvious. The restless crowd that Tina had barely managed to control instantly fell silent.

It felt as if a heavy iron block had been pressed onto everyone’s heart.

Deep inside, they all sensed a pair of eyes watching them.

Like a predator revealing its ghastly, terrifying fangs through gaps in dense foliage, or like an exalted king casting a weighty judgment.

That feeling made them tremble involuntarily, and the scene fell into a deathly silence.

“I am the warden of this prison. Why are you rioting?”

Even though he already knew the answer, he had to put on a show for the guards and prisoners.

Those hybrids suppressed by the Pressure were naturally unable to answer.

Thus, Tina—acting as the temporary leader of the hybrids—could come out and play a double act with him.

The two exchanged glances, and the performance began.

“Warden… you’re the warden?” Tina asked angrily.

“That’s right. I am Raphael Lancaster, of the Lancaster family—the foremost great family in the Empire.”

“Now, I have been appointed warden of this prison. If any of you have grievances, speak freely.”

“I know you weren’t imprisoned for crimes. I will give you justice.”

The Lancaster name was a thunderclap in the Empire.

The late Old Duke had been one of the few close friends of the current Emperor—the Great Hero Feodora Lancaster.

He had two sons.

The eldest, Raphael’s father, Alexis Lancaster, was the Imperial Finance Minister and Cardinal Minister, with status and power comparable to a Prime Minister in Huaxia.

The second son, Raphael’s uncle, Clovis Lancaster, was the commander of one of the Empire’s three legions—the Northern Legion—responsible for suppressing the Blood Race.

Three talents from one house. Though their foundation didn’t match the Twelve Noble Houses, under the Old Emperor’s favor, their prestige and power truly ranked them as the foremost.

After all, even the lowest hybrids grew up hearing this song:

Angel, sing of the fatal wrath of the hero Feodora,

Bringing cataclysmic disaster to the devils of the Extreme North,

Sending man-eating demons to where the Lord’s light does not reach,

Ushering a millennium of prosperity to the Silver Land.