Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 207 Forceful Approach

"Try to do anything funny here, and back to solitary confinement you go again, fish."

"W—"

"Stop talking!"

Rhys has probably lost count of how many times he has been shoved because he breathes. But of course, it wasn't anything he hadn't already gone through in the Underworld Corps — the circumstances now are just different since his life was practically under their whims.

He had tried feeling whatever they injected in the side of his neck while he was in isolation, but there was nothing there at all. Perhaps it wasn't some sort of chip at all, but some sort of poison? If it was…

…then wouldn't it have already been extinguished by his [Arise] skill?

"Move!"

And before Rhys could even start getting lost in his own thoughts again, the guard once again pushed him several times until he was out of the building and into the courtyard. The yard was vast, perhaps just shy of an entire football field before ending with a tall wall that almost covered the sky.

One could probably try to sneak out and fly away if one was capable, but there were a lot of guards rotating the perimeter on top of the wall; all of them, like hawks, waiting for just one prisoner to try his luck.

And after Rhys was finally done with his quick observation of the area, he finally started roaming around the yard. But not even 3 steps later onto the dried and sweltering pavement, the inmates who were already there all looked at him.

That was all they did, however — they just looked at him before returning to whatever it was they were doing. Some were just enjoying the sun and chatting with each other; some were working out and exercising. Surprisingly, there were even people sparring with each other while using their god-given abilities.

There were a few, however, who were holding hammers and pickaxes, seemingly trying to chip away the large slab of rock that was right in the very center of the yard. And unlike the other recreational areas of the yard, the area was highly guarded by several people.

"Wow, you looking fresh, Lowbie."

Rhys was going to approach the large slab of rock to see what it was, but someone suddenly blocked his path. It was a man whose prison clothes were already almost black from how dirty it was; judging from the large pickaxe he was holding, he was one of the people mining the large slab of rock.

Rhys can't shake off the fact that he looked quite familiar, however.

"You…" Rhys squinted his eyes as he looked at the man from head to toe. And soon, he finally recognized who it was, "...You're the guy in the cell in front of mine."

"The one who saved your black hair," the man scoffed as he also looked at Rhys from head to toe, "Never seen a Lowbie as tall as you before, you some kind of experiment by the government or something?"

"...I hope not," Rhys breathed out, "And… thank you for telling them I didn't kill Howard, Sir…"

"Alex, and no sir. And also… You did kill Dwight," Alex then smirked at Rhys as he looked him in the eyes, "A tough man like that being pushed to the brink of utter humiliation is the same as death. But hey, all the failures and degenerates here might be at each other's throats, but these ninja turtles in black are our mortal enemies."

"Still, thank you."

"But Talia, huh?" Alex then let out a small humming breath as he shook his head, "You have some guts in you. Walk with me."

"Talia…" Rhys breathed out as he followed Alex, "...Why do the guards seem to be so afraid of her? They didn't even try to stop her when she was rampaging in the cafeteria and only targeted me."

"Because she was able to remove whatever they injected in us," Alex pointed at his neck, "That old woman's practically just staying here for the fact that if she goes out, the government would probably hire one of the top Explorers to hunt her down. Here, she could do what she wants…

…like that."

Rhys then turned to where Alex was pointing, only to see Talia just relaxing on a sofa; fruit shake in hand as a handful of male prisoners fanned her — and she even had her own platoon of guards.

To Rhys's shock, however, Talia seemed to have some sort of sixth sense as she immediately turned her head to look at him; the disgust in her eyes, visible from even far away.

"There are actually a handful of bad people here stronger than her — the only difference is that they can't move since they'll be killed as soon as they do anything," Alex nodded to himself, "That's why you should be careful, fish — they can kill you instantly too. You got that?"

"Hm… My name is Rhys, by the way," Rhys then reached his hand out for Alex, who quickly shook it while letting out a small chuckle, "Can I ask—"

Alex, however, did not let go of Rhys's hand and instead placed the pickaxe he was holding on his palm.

"Since you want to thank me for helping you, you do my duties for today," Alex then burst out in a fit of laughter as he pointed at the large slack of rock with his thumb, "Just go and collect some adamantine."

"..." Rhys stared Alex in the eyes, "Then we're even after I do this?"

"Sure," Alex shrugged; tapping Rhys's shoulder before he just went and walked away, "Don't worry, you have strong arms. You'll reach my quota in no time at—!!!"

Every soul in the yard, as well as the guards on top of the walls, all jumped where they stood and sat as a loud bang suddenly erupted in the air. Alex quickly turned around to see if something exploded, only to see the large slab of rock completely shattered into a hundred pieces — and at the center of the cracks, was Rhys holding a stick.

A stick that Alex could really assume to be the broken handle of the pickaxe he just handed to him.

"Drop… Drop the weapon, now!" And as soon as the guards stationed around the adamantine slab recovered from their shock, they all surrounded Rhys and pointed their extremely high-caliber rifles.

"This… isn't a weapon," Rhys sighed as he complied with the guards' orders. He did not, however, remain still as he just casually started picking up the adamantines from the ground — the last time he remembered doing something like this was during his first Exploration as an actual registered Explorer.

Come to think of it, the other guild masters were right… Rhys had absolutely not done anything remotely close to being an Explorer lately, to the point that he hadn't even held an adamantine in his hand for more than a year.

Adamantines were capable of strengthening one's abilities by improving the blood of the gods flowing through one's veins… but Rhys tried absorbing them, but it did absolutely nothing for him. But it wasn't like he had any use for it as he had a different way of getting stronger.

Perhaps once he was out of the prison… he should take being an Explorer seriously.

Sylas West is dead — perhaps he should just stop there and live his life peacefully. And of course, to do that, he needed to somehow escape the prison…

…but not before doing something about Talia Talcott.

The guards were utterly confused as Rhys just started picking out the adamantines on the ground. The other prisoners who were tasked to mine them, also completely at a loss as to what to do — they could probably also try picking up some, but… what if they suddenly become Rhys's target? He was literally the newest inmate there…

…and yet he already placed himself as one of the most dangerous ones.

There was also the fact that he seemed to be not scared at all from dying via his neck getting blown to pieces — this is what was getting to the guards. Why… wasn't he afraid that they'll trigger the thing they placed in his neck?

Fortunately for them, Rhys truly was just picking up the adamantines and not causing them any more troubles.

"This should be enough to cover Alex's quota. Right, Sir?" Rhys then brought the adamantines he placed in a basket in front of one of the guards, who just glanced at the basket; his sweat, trailing down his cheek as he nervously nodded.

As for Alex, he just stood there dumbfoundedly while watching Rhys make his way back to him.

"W—"

"Later."

Alex was about to say something, but Rhys just moved past him and instead just made his way across the yard…

…toward Talia.

"!!!"

All the guards surrounding Talia quickly put up their guard, while the male inmates fanning and feeding her with fruits all quickly rushed to get away from whatever was about to happen.

"It's fine, let him approach."

Fortunately for everyone there, Talia just waved her hand and gestured to the guards that it was okay.

"You still want something from me, Dregger?" Talia tried her best not to scowl as Rhys casually approached her again.

"I think I made it clear already…" Rhys smiled as he moved past the guards,

"...What I want is you, Granny."