Mage Manual

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"Death Mad Sword Maiden completed a swordsmanship training, and the Sword Technique Faction experience increased significantly."

"Death Mad Sword Maiden completed a swordsmanship training, and the Sword Technique Faction experience increased significantly."

"Death Mad Sword Maiden completed a battle, the Sword Technique Faction experience increased significantly, triggered a talent for an additional 10000% experience, resonated with the Void Realm during the battle, and summoned the Technique Spirit 'Wave Motion Sword.'"

"Wave Motion Sword"

"One-winged Technique Spirit"

"Restriction, must use a sword."

"Basic Effect, emit a wave of Sword Qi."

"Passive Effect, ordinary sword attacks are more likely to unbalance the target."

"'The sword is not trembling, it's just thirsty.'"

Perhaps, for the first time since college, Ash was living a healthy schedule—he got up early at six o'clock to check the development of the Death Mad Sword Maiden in the "Mage's Handbook," waiting with hope.

The game didn't disappoint him, as just in one day, the Death Mad Sword Maiden had made significant progress!

"Death Mad Sword Maiden"

"Human Race, female, 18 years old."

"Bonds Level, 0 (30% experience shared)"

"Profession, One-winged Sword Master"

"Professional characteristics, reduce energy consumption by 10% when using swordsmanship Technique Spirit."

"Held Items, none"

"Controlled Spirit, Wave Motion Sword"

"Sword Technique Faction, Silver Level"

"Void Realm Exploration, 0.000%"

"Water Technique Faction, not started."

Although he didn't know what a One-winged Sword Master was, Ash recalled that blood-crazed Hunter who hacked him with one sword seemed to have Three Wings, which meant having wings meant becoming a Transcendent.

Since the Sword Maiden had become a Transcendent, as the hard-working, diligent player who nurtured her, should he not receive the 30% experience-sharing reward?

Yet Ash waited left and right, constantly refreshing the game info bar, but still didn't experience the enlightenment moment he imagined. The experience implant, the knowledge infusion—nothing changed in the {Final Observer}'s operator interface.

Ash's current mood was like a naive elementary school student who paid an online scammer for a permanent QQ membership and got blacklisted, his hopes raised by greed devoured by deep disappointment.

However, after thinking carefully, he suddenly realized he seemed to have missed a step: "Could it be because I didn't top up money…"

His family's company was notorious for a game experience devoid of payment, though paying didn't necessarily guarantee any. If not paying meant some game experience was cut, that was quite normal.

If it was just not topping up, that's easy to fix; at least there's a chance to compensate.

If due to the traversal, various modules were lost, causing function failure, then the game system Ash relied on could only be played like a Beautiful Girl Dream Factory…

"Dear Ash Heath, Shattered Lake Prison has completed the life authentication for you. You may move freely in specified areas, more details can be found in the attached 'Shattered Lake Prison Life Handbook'. Note, meal delivery service will no longer be provided. Please proceed to the restaurant for dining."

Meanwhile, the light above the door, thick as a fist, turned green, showing a 'pass' icon of a little person. Melodious singing drifted in from outside.

"If hurt enough, use these two hands, sever the curse of yesterday, await the bright tomorrow, leaving only scars…"

This is absurd, what kind of song is this, meant to mock the prisoners?

Ash was stunned for a moment, unable to grasp the situation, clicked open 'Shattered Lake Prison Life Handbook', and each entry made him doubt if this information was meant to ridicule new inmates with an April Fool's Message:

"① Free activity time from 7 AM to 10 PM; entry and exit areas include: Central Hall, Reading Room, gym, Video Room, sea-view rooftop, couple room (supplies provided), work room, dining hall…"

"② Dining hall open hours are: 7 AM-9 AM, 11 AM-2 PM, 5 PM-8 PM. For dining outside these hours, please use the room service."

"③ Reading Room, missing books can be registered with the administrator, replenishment within three working days."

"④ Video Room, currently only provides audio-visual programs from legitimate channels, movies currently showing need to await curtain-fall before being available."

"⑤ Couple Room, used items should be placed in the recycling bin, do not wash them clean and put back to original place."

"⑥…"

Various tips almost entirely introduced the various facilities' usage in this prison, enough to make Ash think he was here for a sightseeing day tour as a temporary prisoner.

What surprised Ash the most was that this manual listed the rights prisoners had but didn't mention any prohibitions they had to obey.

As if they could do whatever they wanted.

Aberrations always have a reason, but with meals no longer delivered, Ash couldn't stay hungry in his cell. Besides, he was very curious about what this prison's deal was.

When he reached the door, the automatic door slid open on its own. Outside was a very quiet and clean hallway, surprisingly without a single Prison Guard, the wall prominently displayed a notice:

"Central Hall←·→Equipment gym, Sweat room"

Just by looking at the notice, Ash could imagine the inmates in the cells around him must be muscle-bound men tirelessly working out, bathing, and sweating every day… Considering the couple room, Ash couldn't help but clench his sphincters, planning to eat and then hurry back to the cell.

Walking along the narrow hallway to the Central Hall, it suddenly opened up: the Central Hall was a very broad place, the ceiling was a glass canopy, letting morning sunlight freely fall on benches. There were potted plants on both sides, several people sat on the benches, some chatting, some reading, even some sleeping—if they weren't in prison uniforms, Ash would've thought he was in a park.

What pleasantly surprised Ash was that there was a uniformed Prison Guard nearby.

Although he seemed to be slacking off, playing with the Light Screen at work, his sheer presence relieved Ash—at least there was someone he could call for help.

Although Ash was thinking all about escaping, he was now truly a material waste, devoid of any combat capacity, possessing all psychological weaknesses of an overworked office worker. Without Law Enforcers' protection, he wouldn't even know if he could protect his own chastity—Heath's body looked rather alluring.

On the wall in front of the hall was a Light Screen playing news, where it seemed like a parliament discussion was taking place. Just a few words were enough to feel the drudgery.

Ash didn't understand what was being discussed on the Light Screen, as the conversation of the two on the front bench was more captivating:

"Didn't expect Lorenzo to become a councilor; it seems he also joined the Immortal Wine Club. Andrey and his faction have completely overshadowed the mayor, the mayor might have to roll out after completing this year's term…"

"I don't think so. Fernand mayor has Bishop Enrico backing him. You just wait, Lorenzo is not a signal of Andrey's rise, but rather a death sentence for him, soonest in three days, at most a month, an important figure in Andrey's faction is bound to die."

"Andrey has rooted in Kaimon for decades, the Church won't make a move to maintain stability."

"Have you forgotten the Railway Department head suicide case fifteen years ago?…"

Listening to two prisoners discuss political shifts in the prison provided a truly bizarre experience, and even more peculiar was that these two, one was a two-meter-tall green-skinned Beastman, and the other a short-legged Goblin only 1.3 meters tall.

"If you're interested in politics, I suggest you go to the Reading Room to chat with old Rein. Godol and Rudodo were merely a Government Affairs Hall secretary and a Development Office head before being here, having neither high nor low standing, with ice-cold understanding of the political landscape, chatting mostly about meaningless matters."

"However, the infamous head of the Cult of the Gods of Four Pillars, Ash Heath, is also interested in Kaimon City's politics?"

Ash turned his head, facing the blonde man nearby: "You know me?"

"Of course, after all, you were on the 7 AM news, the headlines for the day before yesterday and yesterday were all about you—news is our fastest way to learn about new comrades." The blonde man smiled, "Nice to meet you, perhaps you've seen me in the news too—Igula Bokin."

"Ash." Ash took a step back: "So everyone here is this friendly?"

"Yes." Igula stated candidly, "We're all quite friendly to newcomers because we are comrades with the same aspirations."

"Same aspirations?"

"Yes." Igula glanced at the Prison Guard on duty and extended a hand to Ash: "Interested in joining our jailbreak research group, becoming supportive friends?"

Ash was secretly pleased, finding a warm pillow when feeling sleepy, eager to escape, unexpectedly finding an existing group in prison ready to accept him. Naturally, he extended his hand with pleasure: "Of course…"

"If I were you, I'd punch him."

Suddenly, a cold female voice came from aside.

With a sidelong glance, Ash realized it was a young girl clad in a mink coat, ultra-short skirt, silk stockings, and long boots, with a decorative sword that seemed to enhance the intrigue attached to her waist—her attire quite mature yet…girl?

But he recognized her in the next instant; though the skin was different, wasn't that appearance the Death Mad Sword Maiden!?

The Death Mad Sword Maiden descending beside me?

Ash barely hesitated and turned to punch Igula!

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