**Rose Iron Prison, Warden's Office**
"Wait, wait a minute, this is my first time. Let me think about it some more," Priscilla said nervously.
"It's okay, it only hurts a bit at the beginning," Dailey comforted her gently from behind, placing a hand on Priscilla shoulder. "I'll be with you."
"Stop wasting time and come over here. You've already agreed, what are you still afraid of?" Aiden, growing impatient, urged her on.
"I'm not afraid..." Priscilla hesitated, retracting her hand.
Aiden couldn't help but roll his eyes. "It's just an oath and a contract binding. Aren't you supposed to be an expert in black magic?"
"This is handing my life over to someone else. Would you be so quick to agree If it were you?" Priscilla retorted.
"If you don't want to participate, you can refuse and continue serving your sentence here. I'd feel more at ease that way," Aiden said indifferently.
Thinking about being the only witch excluded, Priscilla steeled herself and walked to the table, slowly extending her hand.
"That's more like it," Aiden said with a smile, extending his hand and beginning to chant, "Bound one, swear loyalty to these thorned shackles, forswear and face death."
As soon as he finished speaking, a faint circle of black thorn-like patterns appeared around his index finger, like a ring. Black mist emanated from this "ring," coiling in his palm, gradually taking shape and finally transforming into a black scorpion. The tail of the scorpion was not a stinger but a black cobra, hissing at Priscilla.
"Eeek! Aaaahhh!!" Priscilla screamed and pulled her hand back immediately.
Aiden sighed. In order to control Precia as a pawn, he had to make her sign a demonic contract that would put her life in his hands. In simple terms, it was a selling contract.
However, the biggest obstacle to signing this contract wasn't Priscilla unwillingness—it was that she was afraid of insects. She feared almost all poisonous insects, including spiders, centipedes, and scorpions. Unfortunately, the demon appearing during this contract ritual took the form of a scorpion.
Most people imagined witches as those who could handle rats, poisonous insects, bats, snakes, and even more bizarre biological materials with bare hands to brew potions. But Aiden, who dealt with these kinds of prisoners frequently, knew that not all witches were like this. Some witches were less immune to rats and spiders than ordinary village women. In Rose Prison, it wasn't uncommon for witches to be so scared by sudden appearances of rats or spiders in their cells that they'd bang on the doors and call for the guards.
"Could you first grant me the spell-casting permission so I can hypnotize myself?" Priscilla tried to negotiate with Aiden.
"No, you get the spell-casting permission only after you sign the demonic contract," Aiden insisted.
"You're still scared of bugs as you used to be," Dailey who was standing behind Priscilla chuckled.
"Don't just watching and cover her eyes," Aiden instructed.
"Yes, sir," Dailey responded, covering Priscilla eyes with her hand.
Only then did Priscilla, extend her trembling hand again. Aiden brought the scorpion on his hand closer to Priscilla hand and asked, "Your answer?"
"I... I am willing," Priscilla voice trembled.
As soon as she spoke, the cobra attached to the scorpion's tail bit into her hand.
Priscilla felt an excruciating pain shoot up her arm from her palm. Realizing that it was caused by the scorpion on Aiden's hand, she shuddered, her skin breaking out in goosebumps.
Seeing that the contract was completed, Aiden retracted the spell and nodded in satisfaction. "It's done."
Dailey then removed her hand from Priscilla eyes.
"That was so rough!" Pricilla exclaimed, slamming her hands on the desk. "The Inquisition's technique is so crude!"
"Take your hands off my desk. I'll let it slide this time, but showing aggression towards a prison guard will earn you a beating with a baton," Aiden replied calmly.
"Using pain and heart damage to bind the contract? What kind of ancient contract technique is this?" Priscilla continued to complain indignantly. "If it were Abigail's magic..."
"I know the Inquisition's black magic is outdated. We make do with what we have," Aiden interrupted, waving his hand dismissively.
While various countries' Inquisition agencies have the authority to study black magic, their primary role is to strictly control it and constantly battle black magicians. This role stifles the development of black magic within the agencies, leading to many restrictions on their research.
As a result, the official black magic techniques often lag behind the more forbidden methods developed by black magicians with no such constraints.
In fact Witches skilled in this area could potentially break these outdated demonic contracts. Melusine could do it, and her mentor Lamia could certainly do it as well. This operation had to ensure they didn't come into direct contact with the other members of the witch gathering.
"These demonic contracts have their limits," Dailey interjected. "Warden, did you lift the contract on anyone else?"
"I temporarily lifted Evangeline contract," Aiden said slowly. "Her treatment progress is very good. Next year, she might have the opportunity to apply for a defined sentence. For her now, a clear release date is far more important than improving her conditions in prison."
Melusine's treatment plan had significantly reduced Evangeline blood toxicity. With further social reintegration education, Evangeline might be able to be released within ten years.
Furthermore, with Carmilla helping Aiden maintain discipline among the inmates, Evangeline was no longer needed as Aiden's enforcer.
"So, it's just the two of us, along with you, Warden, forming the team?" Dailey asked.
"And Veronica," Aiden replied.
"I thought so," Dailey smiled.
"When are we going to take action?" Priscilla asked. "Where is the 'Black Goat' now?"
"We're still investigating. For now, we can only wait," Aiden replied calmly.
"Wait?" Priscilla was taken aback.
"Gathering intelligence isn't our responsibility. The Inquisition will provide us with the necessary intel. Abigail mentioned they're planning to use animals to search for the cult's backup bases. If all goes well, they'll share their findings with us," Aiden explained slowly. "Until the opportunity arises, we just need to be patient."