Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Suspicious Signs (1)
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July 8th,
7:44 AM.
As soon as breakfast distribution ended, everyone began their meal time. In the midst of it all, Scardi lit a cigarette and pondered something deeply.
Her gaze was fixed on Creep and Crow, who were eating breakfast together. Just moments ago, the two had been separated by a mere guard, so now they were both squatting side by side in one corner of the common area, eating their meals.
Watching them intently, her cigarette burned down noticeably fast. She took a deep drag, tossed it into the ashtray, and pulled out a fresh one.
Rin lit Scardi's cigarette for her from the side. Lighters were among the prohibited items, but no one really cared about that. Everyone kept them well hidden anyway.
"Rin."
"Yes."
Scardi took a puff on the newly lit cigarette and asked her subordinate.
"If the person you loved ended up here, what do you think you'd do?"
"First, I'd report it to you, Boss, and ask for permission to stay together."
"Ah, right. You're that type."
Dissatisfied with the unhelpful answer, Scardi tossed out another question.
"What if that person tried to kill me?"
"Pardon?"
"Just hypothetically. They might hold a grudge against me."
Rin couldn't answer easily. She seemed to be picturing the scene in her mind.
"...I'd somehow make them change their mind. I couldn't just stand by and watch."
"I see."
Scardi looked at Rin with the faintest of smiles. Unless you were right up close, it was nearly impossible to tell she was smiling.
"Alright, thanks. Shall we get started then?"
July 8th,
7:53 AM.
Justice knocked on Lily's door.
Three times, four times.
Before the fifth, the door opened.
"Lily."
It was originally a dorm for three, but now only two women remained.
Perhaps because of that, a strange emptiness and sticky awkwardness hung in the air inside.
"Any progress?"
Justice endured it as best she could and spoke up. It was like watching a middle-aged man in his fifties mustering the courage to talk to his daughter.
"Sorry. Nothing yet."
Lily gave Justice a response with the slightest, bitter smile.
"I'm trying, but my heart just won't cooperate."
"I see. Alright..."
Justice looked up at the ceiling for a moment, sighed, then casually placed a hand on Lily's shoulder, trying to act natural.
"It's not anything major, but there's something I want to ask you."
"What is it?"
Their eyes met.
The atmosphere grew peculiar.
"...You're not keeping any secrets from me, are you?"
Both could feel it,
but neither let it show on the surface.
"No? What's going on?"
"Nothing like that. It's just that weird things keep happening."
As Justice cautiously peered into Lily's room, Lily flashed a bright smile and stood on her tiptoes.
"What's wrong?"
"As you know, there have been too many disappearances inside the Association. I just don't want you getting hurt during the investigation."
"I'm fine. I have you, sis."
Seeing Lily block her view, Justice stepped back. She felt pathetic and foolish for suspecting Lily at a time like this.
"...Okay. Tell me right away if anything comes up."
"Sure."
"Even if you find a lead, tell me immediately. Got it?"
"Sure."
Justice seemed to have left the investigation into Crow to Lily.
July 8th,
9:03 AM.
Creep and Crow arrived at the infirmary and received simple treatment.
Crow, with his superior recovery ability, was treated first and sent out quickly.
Creep followed after.
"Doctor, if I get pregnant, how soon would I know?"
But Creep's casual question startled the other four people in the room.
"Uh, what did you say...?"
"Pregnancy. If I get pregnant, how soon can I tell? My last period was two weeks ago, and lately I've been feeling dizzy, extra tired..."
The medical staff and two guards exchanged nervous glances and whispered. Crow stood among them, blankly staring at the floor tiles while biting his nails.
"Ah, haha... Try a test kit after 14 days post-relation...? Or better yet, after your expected period date for accuracy..."
"Do you have any here? Huh?"
"Uh, um... We don't, since it's only women here... "
July 8th,
9:32 AM.
After being transported to the infirmary with Creep for what felt like perfunctory treatment, Crow was immediately sent to the visitation room.
Naturally, it was Lily who had come to see him. Before he was moved to solitary, she had promised to visit again.
[Oppa.]
As always, Lily appeared impeccably composed, wearing a serene yet sorrowful smile.
"They say the trial starts soon. It'll be two sessions. Don't worry too much. It's just a show trial anyway."
In the short 10 minutes, Lily gave Crow a ton of information. She was his one and only link to the outside world—his last hope.
"The judicial side is already wrapping up the case. Public opinion is pushing for the death penalty, but it won't go that far. Life imprisonment is the most likely..."
"Yeah, it's fine. I knew that already."
Paradoxically, Lily's words offered no hope at all. Ever since being imprisoned in Villain Prison, Crow's expectations were being crushed one by one.
He had started out refusing to compromise with villains, waiting for help from allies.
Now, he had to accept that his own struggle would drag on longer and harder.
"I'm looking for evidence to overturn the trial, but it's not easy. Plus, Justice sis seems suspicious of me, so I'll have to be more careful moving forward."
"...Yeah."
The chances of evidence proving Crow's innocence were slim. No matter how hard Lily tried, his false charges wouldn't clear overnight.
"Actually, something feels off. Like... sis is... Ah, no. It's nothing. I'm just talking nonsense. Am I getting too sensitive?"
Lily already saw through Crow's situation completely. There was nothing left for him to explain to her. If even she was hitting roadblocks, then surely...
"There are too many suspicious things. I went to the person managing the firearms log and the ammo depot officer, but they both disappeared before I could get any info."
The key evidence for proving Crow's innocence was confirming that the gun and ammo used that day had been swapped.
And finding the real culprit who actually shot the Director dead.
All of it was trapped in pitch-black darkness. No matter how much Lily downplayed it with comfort, Crow couldn't help but despair over his plight.
"Oppa, it's still okay."
Even so, Lily maintained her gentle expression and comforted him.
"I have a plan. There are a few more suspicious people, so I'll interrogate them when I get the chance. Don't worry."
"Yeah... Thanks..."
Crow brought a hand to his forehead, his head aching.
Events inside and outside the prison were driving him to the brink of collapse.
July 8th,
9:34 AM.
While Lily was visiting Crow,
Orca received several bewildering reports from the guards.
"What...?"
The guards lined up before her desk eyed each other tensely.
Report of separating Creep and Crow.
Report of Creep wanting to check for pregnancy.
"...Everyone, out for a bit."
Orca's hand trembled uncontrollably. The quick-witted guards grabbed their colleagues and hurried out of the correctional officer's office.
"Hoo..."
She loathed the [emotion] boiling up since morning and eyed the decorative whiskey on her bookshelf. It was a gift from the warden, which Orca had left as mere ornament.
She rarely drank, but now she considered taking a sip.
As she gripped the bottle, frost formed lightly on it. She peeled off the label around the cap and pulled the top slightly—pop, a sharp aroma hit her nose.
Ignoring it, Orca gulped it down hastily. Having rarely felt intense emotions, even drinking felt awkward to her.
*Cough—*
She coughed. The harsh alcohol burned down her throat.
But it calmed her a bit. The high-proof liquor soothed her coldly churning insides somewhat.
She could understand a little why people drank.
*Knock knock—*
As she tried to steady herself with the booze, someone knocked on the door.
She wanted to yell them away right then, but Orca kept her composure and spoke in a low, clipped tone.
"Come in."
One guard entered hesitantly.
It was the one who had lingered by Crow's solitary cell door a few days ago.
"C-Correctional Officer. One inmate requests a meeting."
"Who?"
The guard stood ramrod straight and reported to Orca.
"C Wing Chief, Scardi wants to meet."