章 141: Meat
The Shadow Keep Penitentiary had a total of 6 underground floors. Arthur was taken to the 2nd floor, where he would reside with the other criminals.
Surprisingly, the place wasn't as bad as he had expected. There was strict security with dozens of split-up guards patrollings the corridors and keeping things under tight control.
However, the criminals were given a bit of leeway and the cells weren't particularly bad.
A tall average-looking guard tapped his baton on the cell's door and motioned for Kezar to enter.
"Inmate 411, this is where you'll be staying!"
Then he proceeded to remove the magical rope binding the criminal's hands.
Arthur had inspected the other cells and noticed a big difference between his and the others. He had a seemingly comfortable bed with clean sheets and a nice cushion.
A small carpet to warm his barren feet, a normal medieval-looking garderobe, and even a small wooden desk coupled with a chair. Rather than a prison cell, it looked more like a shabby inn room for the peasants.
'Is this because I'm the Captain's cousin?'
Even if he wasn't given a decent cell, Arthur wasn't going to complain either way. As a parasite, he was able to survive for days without any nutrients. Moreover, thanks to the cockroach skill, he was able to consume almost anything and survive.
The poor living conditions too, weren't that hindersome as he wasn't planning to stay here for a long time.
"Hey hey! Why does he get a fancy room?!"
Across from Arthur's new 'home', a man clinging to the cell bars shouted atop his lungs, looking disheartened.
"Quiet!"
The guard swung the baton at the cell bars, scaring the man and making him back away.
"Tsk!"
In the end, the criminal kept glaring menacingly at Arthur, visibly unhappy about the clear favoritism.
"Three meals a day. Be obedient and silent and you'll be allowed some outside time each week."
After reciting the rules in a bored manner, the guard swiftly left. He didn't seem willing to stay there for longer than necessary, especially with the pungent smell lingering in the air and the annoying and constantly-whining criminals.
In comparison to the heinous monsters trapped outside, these ones were petty and more 'humane'. Admittedly, they were the trash of society, but they were, at least, manageable.
*TITLE(S) : NONE
NAME : Arthur Bilgart
RACE : Wither Magick Parasite
Lv: 28 (62%)
Strength : 895(671)
Intelligence : 582(348)
Agility : 776(554)
Wisdom: 402(295)
Vitality : 651(466)
Dexterity : 588(420)
-
*Skills
-Resistances:
Magic Resistance(Passive Lv4🡢5)
Poison Resistance(Passive Lv5)
Cold Resistance(Passive Lv5)
Heat Resistance(Passive Lv3🡢5)
Disease Resistance(Passive Lv4)
Physical Damage Resistance(Passive Lv4🡢6)
Heavy Armor Mastery(Will take effect only when the user wears a full seat of heavy-typy armor(eg: plate)).
-Others:
Physical Enhancement(Passive Lv9)
Full Moon(Passive-Active)
Mana Control(Passive Lv7)
Long Breath(Passive Lv4)[Fish-type host required]
Possession(Passive LvEX)
Woodworking(Passive Lv2)
First Attack(Passive Lv5🡢6)
Culinary Arts(Passive Lv3)
Survival Instinct(Passive)
Keen Eyes(Passive Lv4🡢5)
Swift Wings(Passive Lv3🡢4)[Bird-type Host required]
Rat Teeth(Passive)[Mammal-type host required]
Warmth(Passive)
Insectile Gluttony(Passive)
Sickening Life(Passive)
Universal Human Language(Passive)
Basic Arman Language(Passive)
Medical Field(Passive Lv4)
Farming(Passive Lv2)
Tenacity(Passive Lv3🡢5)
Magic Beast(Passive Lv4🡢5)
Gila Poison(Passive Lv5)
Reptilian Transparency(Passive Lv3)
Tongue Catch(Passive Lv2)
Sharpened Claws(Passive Lv6)
Flexibility(Passive Lv3🡢5)
Bestial Regen(Passive Lv3🡢5)
Stealth Movement(Passive Lv4🡢5)
Elemental Affinity: Ice(Passive Lv2🡢3)
Nocturnal Vision(Passive Lv8)(Unique to Cydian-ant hosts)(NEW)
Genetic Mutation(Passive Lv7)(Unique to Cydian-ant hosts)(NEW)
Titanium Carcass(Passive Lv8)(Unique to hosts equipped with a carcass)(NEW)
Titanium Bonus(Passive Lv5)(NEW)
Black Arts(Passive Lv6)
-Weapon Masteries
Knife Mastery(Passive Lv2)
Dual Dagger Mastery(Passive Lv2🡢4)
Sword Mastery(Passive Lv7)
Axe Mastery(Passive Lv4)
Spear Mastery(Passive Lv3)
Bow Mastery(Passive Lv4)
Staff Mastery(Passive Lv3)
-Active abilities:
Vampire Bite(Active Lv10)
Sadistic Torture(Active Lv5)
Blood Succor(Active Lv7)
Corpse Dissection(Active Lv12)
Sanguis(blood) Barrier(Active Lv7)
Tusk Damage(Active Lv5)
Flight, No Fight(Active Lv4)
Exoskeleton Defense(Active Lv2🡢3)
The Mist of Decay(Active Lv6🡢7)
Wither Touch(Active Lv2🡢4)
Enhanced Spell(Active Lv2🡢4)
Internal Cry(Active)
Lunar Blade(Active Lv5)
Half a Moon(Active Lv4)
Sword Blast(Active Lv4)
Bestial Rage(Active Lv2)(Exclusive to animal-type hosts)
Spider Webs(Active Lv3)(Exclusive to Arachnid-type hosts)
Acid Spray(Active Lv4) (Exclusive to Bombardier Beetle)
Wither Blast(Active Lv1🡢2)
Magick Sense(Active Lv2🡢4)
Speed Jump(Active Lv6)(Exclusive to Blossom Baboon host)
Face Change(Active Lv3)
Slime Me Not(Active)
Weak Telekinesis(Active Lv3)(Enigma Skill)
Mind Blast(Active)
Black Swirl(Active Lv4)
Berserk(Active Lv3)(Exclusive to large hosts)(NEW)
While time was passing, Arthur checked his status window. Possessing the Elite Blue Blossom Baboon had increased his stats by a significant amount and even granted him the [Berserk] skill.
However, that baboon had already served its purpose and was replaced by better hosts for 'Last Possession'.
Unfortunately, Arthur couldn't choose between the three strong corpses Sonia Ma had offered him. In the end, along with the sword, she gave him the weakest of the three: The Empyrean Wyvern.
Still, it was significantly stronger than the baboon and were it not for Arthur's new and big storage, which cost an exorbitant amount, he wouldn't be able to store it along with the bunch of other stuff in his possession.
There was also the special humanoid Cydian Ant, which was naturally clad in a highly-resistant carcass and an almost impenetrable defences. Although he only needed one, Arthur, for now, refrained from possessing none of them.
Both were unsuitable for usage during his daily activities as they were not only big, but extremely eye-catching. They were meant for dangerous battles.
Ironically, Arthur was expecting tough opponents in the prison but he didn't bring his storage artifact. He came here as a criminal and he didn't have an efficient way to bring the artifact without being detected. He didn't know who or what lurked under the Skywall Fortress, so he opted to hide his things rather than having them get taken due to a mishap from his part.
…
Since the entirety of the Shadow Keep Penitentiary was underground, there was no way to tell the time. The inmates would just use the meals as a reference. When the dim lights were turned off, it was also a signal that night had fallen.
When the guards delivered the gruel food in wooden old plates, Arthur stood up and peeked at the corridor.
He could see dozens of cells adjacent to each other, separated by thick stone walls.
"Back away, inmate 411."
When it was his turn, the guard, as usual, banged his baton on the door and motioned for the parasite to retreat, which he obediently did.
He was given three big plates filled with all kinds of food. Even the guards looked jealous, but he didn't dare take anything as it was the Warden's orders to treat inmate 411 nicely.
Arthur nonchalantly glanced at the food, but he wasn't particularly hungry. Instead, when the guard left, he tapped to the rude prisoner from earlier and said,
"Do you want this?"
The man, who had a rough appearance, a lot of broken and missing teeth, and an ugly mug, was salivating at the sight of the cleanly cut pieces of meat. He seemed to have forgotten his earlier behavior and just continuously nodded, his eyes practically glued to the plates.
"I want some information."
"I got you! I know every prisoner on the 1st and 2nd floors! I even met some of the ones on the 3rd floor. "
"Good." Arthur smiled and picked up a small piece of meat, seemingly about to throw it, but he stopped himself at the last second.
"How's the condition of this place? Is it properly managed? Like… are there any rats or insects roaming around?"
"Rats? I've not seen any, but Old Kyran does have small mouse he feeds regularly. It's like a pet. Other than that…" The prisoner scratched his head and thought for a moment, "Some inmates tried breaking the walls but the place is reinforced with magic. It's not as intense as the lower floors, but it makes breaking out impossible. This place is literally a hell hole. I'm Gastin, by the way."
He grinned as he used a slightly polite tone, changing his tactic from overbearing to friendly to curry favor with the parasite, who clearly was a special case.
"I see." Arthur threw the piece of meat, and before it could touch the ground, Gastin caught it and gulped down instantly.
"Delicious! Ahhh! It's been years since I've eaten meat!"
"Who, amongst the guards, has free access to the 5th or 6th floors? Also, do you know some of the prisoners there?"
Gastin kept licking his lips and savouring the taste of the freshly cooked meat. He was on the brink of tears, not even registering Arthur's question.
Only after the hunger kicked in and the desire to eat more was ignited did he snap out of his daydreaming and respond,
"The 5th floor is accessible by what we dubbed as 'Special Guards'. They look no different than the normal ones except for the black badges on their chest. It's the same for the 6th floor, actually, but the number of guards stationed there are few in number and freakishly strong. It's not easy to deal with the monsters locked there, after all…"
Gastin paused and impatiently waited for Arthur to throw another piece before he continued.
One piece of meat later, Gastin resumed,
"The 5th floor has a total of 15 prisoners, and the 6th has 4. Amongst the former, I know only the Painter, who was an infamous serial killer that plagued the Frostrune Duchy 8 years ago. As for the latter, I reckon no one knows anything… There are only rumors. Ah! I know the new crazy person on the 5th floor! The guards say he's a nutcase and gets beaten almost daily. Apparently, he angered the Warden on his first day here."
'There it is! It's Chris or the man who looks exactly like him. I'm fortunate that he's on the 5th floor.'
"Anything else?"
Upon seeing Kezar lower the plate, Gastin panicked and raised his hand as he thoughtfully paced around his cell.
"The 5th and 6th floors are accessible only by a special elevator instead of stairs. A-and the others say that the use of Magic there is severely restricted, which is why the Special Guards are purely reliant on overwhelming brute strength. There…there's also detecting spells on the 6th floor and the Black Guard, who's the man in charge of the security here. He's always on the 6th floor. C-come on man… Please give me more meat!"
Arthur sighed and threw the rest of the meat before retiring to his bed and thoughtfully looking at the corridor.
…
At the dead of the night, when the majority of the prisoners on the 2nd floor were asleep and the only source of light was from the lanterns held by the patrolling guards, a drowsy Gastin, who couldn't forget the taste of the meat, suddenly snapped awake.
What surprised him was a thin green mist that appeared from Kezar's room. It stayed close to the ground and slipped between the bars, heading deeper into the corridor.
"M-Mmmag-"
He covered his mouth and curled up, petrified from the sight. The new prisoner was capable of using Magic. Since he had been locked up here, it was obvious that the guards and even the Warden didn't know the truth. After all, the prisoners capable of using Magic were on the 4th floor.
Gastin, with his back against the cold wall, watched the green mist fly into Old Kyrian's cell before swiftly returning.
During all of this, Kezar seemed to be sleeping peacefully, so Gastin started doubting his initial assumption. In the end, when minutes passed and nothing happened, he went back to sleep while mumbling to himself.
…
Arthur stared at the mouse he had killed. It was small, had short black hair, and a normal naked tail.
'Sorry about this, Old Kyrian.'
With his passive skills and stats, Arthur would be able to use a small creature like a mouse to snoop around without getting noticed by the guards. He needed to know the layout of the floors and inspect the explorable areas before starting anything.
He also wanted to see if infiltrating the 5th floor with a small host was even possible…
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