1: Chapter 1 Diary 1: Chapter 1 Diary [Old City Prison]
The architecture, echoing that of a medieval castle, complements the prison hall and entrance, with artificial watchtowers set every interval along the fifty-meter-high walls, working in tandem with unmanned drones for joint inspections.
Above the walls seems to float some sort of invisible electric grid or alternative thin film.
A black sedan painted with gray stripes, its top adorned with a metallic cap decoration, slowly approaches along the sole road, coming to a stop at the spacious prison parking lot.
The main and auxiliary drivers simultaneously step out, sporting black leather shoes, although in significantly different sizes.
Both are wrapped in black trench coats, with badges featuring an Eye design on their chests, albeit different in material and hue.
The main driver, a youth with ‘delicate and tender’ looks, not yet thirty and immediately captivated by the prison as he disembarks.
The middle-aged man emerging from the auxiliary side, however, wears a slack expression, with deep bags under his eyes like ravines; stretching extensively, he seems to have slept through the entire journey.
The middle-aged man doesn’t look at the prison but instead cast his gaze on the ‘newbie.’
“Are we this short-staffed?” Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel·fire.net
The raspy interrogative, like an arm extending from a stone seam, yanks the young colleague’s attention back from the prison.
The youth scratches his head embarrassingly, “Mr.
Anderson, you fell asleep as soon as you got in the car…
My name is Zhang Chi from the Behavioral Science Department.
This time, the Director has arranged for me to accompany you on a ‘prison visit.'”
“Bring the bird, come with me.”
Zhang Chi is somewhat puzzled, “Do we need the bird for a direct-administration prison ?”
Anderson appears unwilling to elaborate further, reaching into his coat lining to retrieve an egg-like metal container.
Click—The eggshell opens with precise mechanics, awakening a bird resembling a parrot which then actively perches on Anderson’s right shoulder.
Zhang Chi similarly positions his bird atop his shoulder.
In this manner, the two proceed through the oppressively imposing prison gates,
verifying their identity documents,
surrendering weapons,
undergoing blood tests,
a psychological evaluation,
Once all preparations are complete, they’re led into the depths of the prison by guards in full-body protective gear, bypassing the relatively open and mixed Comprehensive Area,
Swearing and foul language drift from the open-style cells of the Comprehensive Area; inmates rarely see such formally dressed outsiders without any protective measures.
Past the Comprehensive Area,
crossing a completely sealed corridor,
descending fifty meters down the spiral stairway at the end,
arriving at the deepest part of Border City Prison, a place neither guards nor those common inmates confined to the Comprehensive Area wish to approach.
[Heavy Punishment Detention Area]
The inmates locked up here have often committed sins beyond the realm of capital punishment and are incredibly dangerous.
But for some reason, they cannot be allowed to die.
Di has been transferred to the ‘Exchange Room.’
Please do not exceed fifteen minutes for your prison visit, and if a dangerous event occurs, we will immediately interrupt the visit.”
Anderson flexes his wrists, hands clasped together, while admonishing the young man beside him.
“Zhang Chi, I will mainly conduct the conversation.
Without my permission, refrain from speaking to Mr.
Di, even avoid basic eye contact as much as possible.”
“Alright, I’ll mostly be focusing on taking notes.”
Zhang Chi has already taken out the department’s specialized notebook, ready to record the upcoming conversation in detail.
Passing through the final transition area.
Using a new type of bulletproof glass as a barrier, isolating the inmate inside.
Zhang Chi’s very first field assignment demands contact with such a felon, which is somewhat nerve-wracking, especially since he has done his research prior to departure and is clear on just how dangerous the individual is.
The file refers to him as ‘Demon.’
This title comes from a survivor, according to whose account the perpetrator at the crime scene wasn’t human, but a devil with flames in his eyes and horns on his head.
[Violence Syndrome], [High IQ], [Lack of Humanity], [Superhuman Body]
Zhang Chi remembers these personality tags, found in the files, quite clearly.
However, when Zhang Chi looks through the glass barrier into the interior, he only sees an ordinary young man doing standard push-ups.
No twisted horns, no demon’s red skin.
Just the same black hair, yellow skin as Zhang Chi.
Even as he senses the visitors’ arrival, the man does not stop his push-ups, murmuring counting under his breath.
Only after completing two hundred push-ups does ‘Mr.
He has deliberately worn a white shirt and trousers to greet his ‘guests,’ and due to the push-ups, his shirt is heavily soaked in sweat.
Zhang Chi’s first impression of the man’s appearance is affable.
But after a closer look, Zhang Chi immediately perceives an invisible danger lurking beneath the friendly appearance, and he becomes wary.
Di’s’ gaze also shifts, meeting Zhang Chi’s eyes.
Zhang Chi, who joined the force as a probationary detective with top academic and nearly full practical marks, suddenly feels a chill and sweats at the back, but he attempts to remain as composed as possible, nodding politely in greeting.
Taking the opportunity to nod in greeting, he bows his head to the notebook in his hands, recording the [feeling] he just experienced.
Di, we’ve come to seek your assistance in analyzing a particular case.”
Anderson takes over the conversation, attaching an already prepared document onto the scanner; a duplicated copy quickly lands into Mr.