Tainted Blood Reaper
Upon hearing Veronica's exclamation, Aiden calmly glanced at her. "She's been living next door to you all this time, and you only just realized?"
Veronica looked at the young girl, who was huddled in the cell, her face filled with astonishment. When she was imprisoned as a deathrow inmate, she never paid much attention to the other inmates.
Back then, she had no desire to interact with these criminals, so she never noticed there was such a young girl living next door – appearing to be no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, wearing the smallest-sized prisoner's uniform, with bandages wrapped around her face and hands.
Evangeline also felt Veronica's gaze and turned to look, her expression as calm as stagnant water. "Is Something wrong?"
"N-no..." Veronica instinctively shook her head.
Evangeline mechanically turned her face back and continued to gaze at the wall across the bed.
Veronica had an instinctive feeling that this girl exuded a very peculiar aura. From the girl's tone and demeanor, there was not a hint of warmth nor emotion, carrying an extreme calmness that seemed to erase all the feelings, just like a machine.
"Her situation is quite unique. She hasn't reached working age yet, and she's also one of the inmates who help me with tasks. So, she doesn't need to go out for labor. She only needs to receive corrective education at scheduled times, and someone will pick her up for class at 8:30 every day," Aiden explained to Veronica.
The prison laws in this world aren't as detailed, and there aren't specialized institutions for juvenile offenders. How to manage juvenile offenders like Evangeline is a challenge for most prison administrators.
But for Aiden, this wasn't particularly tricky, as he had past-life experience to draw upon.
"She's helping you too? What can such a young child do?" Veronica was surprised.
"Don't underestimate her. This child is my ace" Aiden smiled.
Veronica was taken aback. "Ace?! This child..."
"She's a Red Alert-level repeat offender," Aiden nodded.
"Have you heard of the 'The Blood Reaper' apprehended by the Inquisition two years ago?"
"Of course, isn't that an S-class wanted criminal?"
"That's her," Aiden said nonchalantly.
Veronica looked at Aiden in utter confusion. After a few seconds, Aiden nodded at her. "It's true."
This time, Veronica's expression froze in complete shock.
Back when she was a Mounted Officer, Veronica had heard of the name "The Blood Reaper."
The "Blood Reaper" was said to be the undisputed king of assassins in the underground world. He had started his activities about four years ago and had been active for less than two years, but the number of people who had died at his hands was in the three digits.
Without exception, they were all influential, wealthy, or other top-tier criminals. He had accomplished many legendary assassinations alone, leading to a ridiculously high bounty being placed on him.
About two years ago, the Inquisition announced that their elite forces had captured the "Blood Reaper." However, all records about him were sealed by them.
Most people still believed that the "Blood Reaper" had been secretly executed, while a portion of the populace thought that this king of assassins was just a fabricated urban legend.
Veronica couldn't have imagined that the legendary king of assassins was actually in the prison where she had been transferred to work, and... she was such a young child.
"When I helped with your case earlier, she also lent a hand. I won't reveal the details, but if you want to thank her, you can buy her some food. Just make sure the other inmates don't see," Aidan whispered a few words to Veronica's ear. "Alright, let's move on to the next place."
After leaving the core area, Aiden took Veronica to the work zone where the inmates participated in labor.
"This is where the inmates work. Our prison has three main work areas: one is the textile workshop, another is a garden for cultivating flowers, and the third is for assembling children's toys. We mainly supply some of the flower shops and clothing workshops in Silver City..."
"Prisons also run business?" Veronica was somewhat surprised. This was the first time she had heard of such a thing.
"Yes, each prison has different industries. Over at Thorny Prison, they have a quarry and a carpentry workshop. With hundreds to over a thousand inmates in each prison, they're all a source of labor.
There's no reason to let them idle around – they're not here for a vacation. Having them work not only helps subsidize some of the prison's operating costs but also allows some of the idle inmates to learn a trade and gain some work experience.
Besides the work zone, inmates are also responsible for prison cleaning and various odd jobs," Aiden explained.
Veronica nodded. She began to observe the conditions in the textile workshop. There were about fifty workstations in a small workshop, and the inmates sat in front of sewing machines, handling the fabric with precision. Only two prison guards were supervising their work.
"On workdays, inmates assemble for work at exactly seven, then start at around seven-thirty, and end at four-thirty. Overtime is common here.
After work, the schedule is similar to what you've experienced before – scheduled meals, recreation time, and showers. The remaining time can be spent in the room or, in the reading room if requested.
At eight-thirty in the evening, a headcount is done, and lights out at nine – it's roughly like this," Aiden explained the inmates' weekday schedule to Veronica.
"I understand," Veronica responded quickly. After all, she had experienced the schedule in prison herself, except for the details of work.
"The textile work area usually has one workshop paired with two surveillance posts. If there's any situation, one person deals with it while the other stays behind.
Every hour, batches of inmates are organized to visit the restroom along the assembly line. There's an hour for lunch and outdoor break at noon," Aiden finished explaining,
then turned and waved his hand. "Let me take you around to the other work areas and tell you what to pay attention to at each post."
They left the textile work area and entered the main building of the prison, preparing to go to other work areas.
As they walked down the corridor, they encountered an elderly inmate wearing handcuffs and shackles, escorted by two prison guards, approaching from the opposite direction.
"Oh, Warden, what a coincidence," the old woman smiled kindly at Aiden.
"Inmate 1081, oh yes, you're 'going out' today," Aiden recalled something and nodded, then tipped his hat towards the old woman. "Take care on the way."
"Alright, alright," the old woman nodded, then glanced at Veronica for a moment. "The young lady looks unfamiliar."
"She's new," Aiden casually replied.
"Very good, very good, and quite handsome," the old woman's eyes narrowed in a smile, "young lady, you must work diligently."
"Um... thank you," Veronica nodded in a daze.
"Alright, it's about time. You should head out too," Aiden pointed to the other end of the corridor.
"Yes, farewell, Warden," the old woman lowered his head slightly towards Aiden and slowly walked towards the other end accompanied by the guards.
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