Era of Magic and Martial Arts-Chapter 309 - 293: Who Is the Toy, Who Is the Puppet?
The surveillance camera slowly turned, its eyes gradually aligning with the nearest mannequin.
The distorted mannequin’s limbs were twisted and broken, looking like braided fractures with stark white bones piercing through flesh, protruding from torn clothing, accompanied by the dripping sound, as red paint slowly flowed onto the ground.
The mannequin was lifted high by a burly arm, facing the camera, just like a big kid at home showing off their new toy to the parents on the other side of the camera.
The expression on the mannequin’s face was exceptionally realistic, vividly terrified, especially when pulled it would emit a sharp screech, much like a "screaming chicken."
The sound traveled through the air, echoing throughout the room, and then it would trigger more "screaming chickens" to respond, as if contagious.
Yet those big kids, wearing the same uniforms, with their clothes all wet and dirty, seemed to love the sound effect of the "screaming chickens" immensely.
Every time the screams sounded, their laughter grew louder, and through the monitor, the parents watching could feel the unabashed laughter of the big kids, releasing a cathartic pressure.
But pressure doesn’t disappear out of nowhere, it only transfers from one side to another.
Unlike the merriment under surveillance, on the other side of the screen was deathly silence, as if even the air was frozen, with the temperature in the room so low it turned faces ashen gray.
Qian Huan’s gaze was fixed on the monitor, while the prison guard beside him cautiously adjusted the focus, precisely aiming the image at the mannequin’s neck.
When zoomed in through the lens, one could see a rope around the mannequin’s neck, threaded with a blood-stained nameplate, clearly inscribed with the mannequin’s manufacturing number and name.
Number: 9q20073
Name: Wang Fei
The manufacturer did a good job, even naming each mannequin, but strangely, the parents who purchased the mannequins seemed dissatisfied with this realism. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Strange, what went wrong?
Oh, they aren’t mannequins, they are...
Qian Huan suddenly turned his head, his gaze like a knife fixated on Zhao Xing, his voice low and icy:
"Didn’t you assure me with absolute certainty that no mistake would occur in Death Row? How did you promise me back then? Didn’t you say that those death row inmates were like mannequins, firmly restrained and unable to move a single inch?"
Zhao Xing’s complexion was as pale as paper, he didn’t dare to meet the prison chief’s murderous gaze, only lowered his head, his voice heavy as he said:
"Yes, Prison Chief, ordinarily they indeed find it extremely difficult to move even slightly."
Zhao Xing paused for a moment, then continued to explain:
"Prison Chief, you must believe me, our Death Row’s control over death row inmates is the strictest in the entire prison."
"I’m well aware, these death row inmates committed felonies outside, they are very dangerous."
"So, from the first day they were confined in the ward I managed, they were all half-immersed in water cells, their hands and feet shackled with electrified chains, not to mention activities, they could only stand in the pool even for defecation and urination."
"Even during meals, I didn’t allow unshackling, prison guards would carry buckets to feed them one by one, food was previously mixed with anesthetics, they would remain drowsy in their own cesspools daily, worse than mannequins."
"Later, with the nutritional meals uniformly concocted by Holy Light Pharmaceutical for our Second Prison, the time Death Row inmates remained conscious increased, yet they were still chained, merely transforming from unconscious mannequins to half-dead ones...."
Qian Huan knew Zhao Xing was speaking the truth, he had toured Death Row before, where the air indeed perpetually carried a strong scent of air freshener.
Even as Zhao Xing spoke now with his head down, Qian Huan could smell the extraordinarily fresh breath from Zhao’s mouth, a unique fresh scent that penetrated his lungs.
There were many proposals from other wards suggesting to partition a VIP area in the canteen exclusively for Death Row prison guards, the entire Second Prison unanimously believed Death Row guards deserved this special treatment.
The VIP dining area was still in the design phase, but seeing the current miserable situation, perhaps that expense could be spared.
Qian Huan coldly interrupted Zhao Xing’s explanation, harshly asked:
"Don’t give me this useless nonsense, I just want to know what’s happening now, why are your prison guards now becoming the toys of your so-called mannequins?"
Zhao Xing was at a loss for words, his head lowered further, almost burying into his chest, his voice trembling, stammering:
"All along, management in Death Row was steady, never a mistake.
The only difference is, starting these two weeks [the last-place elimination system] was implemented, the number of drowned death row inmates increased several times, the pool became clearer than before..."
Qian Huan’s forehead was lined with black, he suddenly stood up, stepped closer to Zhao Xing and grabbed the latter’s collar, furiously questioned:
"So, are you blaming me now, thinking this riot in Death Row is caused by me?"
Zhao Xing quickly silenced himself, he slowly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes met Qian Huan’s, unblinking, let out a bitter laugh filled with grief:
"I dare not, causing so many brothers to lose their lives, it’s all due to my neglect as the Prison Chief, I no longer have the face to continue in this position, please relieve me of my duties immediately, Prison Chief.’
Zhao Xing didn’t give Qian Huan any opportunity to respond, then lifted his arm and resolutely tore off the badge on his chest, a symbol of the Prison Chief.
His action was furious and forceful, slamming the badge onto the hard ground with a crisp echo.
Qian Huan’s expression momentarily froze, as if something blocked his throat, preventing the outpour of his anger.
He’d previously considered removing Zhao Xing, in fact, he wanted to replace several ward chiefs in the Second Prison, swapping them out for newcomers he promoted.
That’s why he initiated the [last-place elimination system], just not now, not at this moment, not in this chaotic situation in such a manner.
However, it seemed Zhao Xing could no longer consider all this, he suddenly broke free from Qian Huan’s grasp, collapsing to the ground, dignity lost, burst into tears:
"Prison Chief, it’s I, Zhao Xing, who is incompetent, I’m the one who harmed them! I don’t expect you to forgive me, Prison Chief, I only ask you to find a way to rescue those prison guard brothers who are yet alive, who are still breathing, and are now held hostage by the inmates."
"I beg you, truly, truly, not one more can die, ah ah ah ah——"
Zhao Xing’s voice grew louder, increasingly resembling the sound of the "screaming chicken" in the surveillance, those final words almost shouted out with all his might, the voice drenched in hopeless and helpless pleading.
It truly moved those who witnessed it, bringing tears to those who heard.
Thus, all the prison guards’ gazes instinctively followed Zhao Xing’s voice, much like being directed by a conductor’s baton, all eyes turned towards Prison Chief Qian Huan.
Feng Mu was amidst them, his face similarly sorrowful yet hopeful, though his eyes carried a chilling coldness.
He breathed out lightly, aiding Zhao Xing who knelt on the floor sobbing, softly uttered a term from the chessboard:
"Checkmate!"
