Chapter 38 - The Mastermind
Having arrived at the cafeteria close to 8pm, Ashe naturally wasn't able to order the limited Lalafat delicacies. He randomly grabbed some meaty dishes and sat down to eat.
"Does the food taste good after a victory?"
Ashe looked up to see Valcas holding a cup of water as he sat down opposite him.
"To be honest, these leftovers have gone a bit cold, and the Lalafat has been ordered up by you guys..."
"You can go order something, you won 37 contribution points from beating me, treating yourself a bit isn't too much is it?"
"Huh? Order something? Spend contribution points?"
"You didn't know? I guess that makes sense since you've only been here a couple days." Valcas pointed to the menu board next to the cafeteria, "You can order meals anytime, not restricted by what the cafeteria is serving that day. If it's not free activity time, they'll even deliver the food to your room - as long as you spend contribution points."
Only then did Ashe realize that menu board was an ordering menu. He had thought it was just a facade by the cafeteria management - Look leader, we offer so many dishes here! We definitely aren't skimping on prisoner rations!
The ordering menu suddenly looked quite affordable, any 3 dishes added up to only 1 contribution point. For example 'Seafood Lalafat' + 'Cream Chicken Pasta' + 'Fog Spinach Omelette' these 3 popular dishes also only needed 1 contribution point, enough to eat a good meal.
However each death row inmate only had 50 initial contribution points, not only was 10 points deducted automatically each month, it was also the required stake to apply for a deathmatch. The lower the contribution points, the earlier the trial sequence, making it easier to be chosen for the reality show 'Blood Moon Tribunal'.
Thus contribution points represented not just a currency in prison, but a prisoner's allotment of life. Spending contribution points was no different from chronic suicide...perhaps there was a difference, chronic suicide you don't know when you'll die, spending contribution points you can watch as your allotment of life keeps decreasing.
"Although there's not much entertainment in prison, if you want to spend contribution points, there are definitely ways to spend it." Valcas said, "Hairstyling, custom prison garb, purchasing specific toiletries...you can even spend contribution points to exchange for a better dorm room, 3 bedrooms 2 living rooms with a window, 1 contribution point per day."
"1 contribution point per day? That's crazy, who would live there?"
"There are, 'Diamond' Taig has lived in that VIP suite for years. He has so many contribution points he can't spend them all, there's always some new fool giving him points. If each contribution point is valued at 1 gold coin, prison Taig probably has more money than outside Taig."
Ashe raised his eyebrows, "So that means...we prisoners are only valued at 50 gold coins in the prison assessment system?"
"You think it's low?"
"Is it a lot?"
"Most average people without higher education can't earn 50 gold coins in their lifetime, even some mediocre mages can't earn that much. If the annual salary is 1 gold coin, it's enough to live quite well in Caimon City."
Only then did Ashe understand the true value of that gold coin in his arms, and realized how sinister this prison was - 3 meat dishes cost a person's annual salary! Were the Lalafats here made by PhD graduates?!
"Suddenly I feel the leftovers are quite fragrant."
Valcas humphed, and just kept watching Ashe quietly.
After eating for a while, Ashe finally couldn't stand it and said, "Mr. Elf, I'm the type that can't pee when people are watching."
"Shhh~ Shhh~"
"I was just making an analogy, you don't have to whistle along!"
"I thought kids these days liked to pee while eating." Valcas laughed then immediately resumed his cold expression, "What I say next is a monologue, most of it just nonsensical rambling, best pretend you didn't hear any of it if you catch something."
Ashe was slightly startled.
"In addition to being the chair of the Caimon Elven Race Rights Association, Caimon Council Member, university professor, Sylin Dole has another hidden identity - one of the behind-the-scenes supporters of the Woodpecker Gang. On the surface he opposes the Sacred Bloodline council members, Moonshadow council members for the rights of other races, but he has already conducted many shady deals with the Blood Moon council members. The Woodpecker Gang is his black glove, current Caimon Mayor Fernand Snow was also able to get to his position with his help."
"The Four Pillars heretical cult has been dormant for many years, almost disappearing, other than one rumor without evidence - that important ritual texts related to the Four Pillars cult were unearthed during an eastern ruins excavation 8 years ago. That same year, the eastern ruins suffered a spatial storm and most of the archaeological finds were lost."
"Among the excavation team leading that eastern ruins dig, Professor Sylin Dole was one of the main consultant guides. "
"Sylin is a very patient elf, at least I've never seen a creature who can surpass him in enduring silently. If he wants someone dead, it means that person has critical intelligence that would cause him tremendous loss if leaked."
Valcas took a sip of water to wet his throat, and glanced at Ashe.
"In theory most inmates' memories have been scanned upon imprisonment, any intelligence surely uncovered...unless someone's memories weren't scanned."
So that was it.
Although Ashe still didn't know his connection with Professor Sylin, he completely understood why Sylin wanted to kill him at all costs - he thought Ashe held secrets not yet leaked!
Because of the Four Pillars cult, the Heresy Court didn't dare scan Ashe's memories, so Ashe Heath became the only inmate still holding secrets!
This was Sylin's good fortune, because Heath didn't leak his intelligence;
This was also Sylin's misfortune, because Heath could report him anytime!
To be fair, if Ashe really knew such secrets, he would definitely report to the Heresy Court immediately.
Not because he was self-sacrificing, only that he was quite curious about Sylin, and wanted to become intimate prison buddies. If there was a chance to passionately collide on the deathmatch stage, that would be even better.
But the problem was - Ashe truly didn't know any of Sylin's secrets!
He didn't absorb even a drop of original Heath's memories!
How vexing, Ashe also wanted to use Heath's memories to help the Heresy Court bring villains to justice.
After all there were so many criminals, why was only I caught!?
Unfortunately he didn't know anything.
Even more aggravating was others fearing he would leak secrets, so they schemed to get rid of him!
Yet he didn't know anything!
This feeling was like being wrongly accused by a teacher of stealing a classmate's stationery when he didn't actually steal anything as a kid - so stifling.
"Hey you haven't left yet? Didn't hear my monologue did you?" Valcas stood up and said, "We'll stop here today, I'll look for you to brainstorm when I have time."
"Really?"
"Haha joking, I don't have time and you don't have a brain."
"Wait Valcas." Ashe called out to him, "Why are you helping me?"
Although Ashe felt Valcas would give him some intel after losing to him, this method of gifting was completely different from what Ashe imagined - he thought Valcas would leave with a vicious line, like 'I'm the weakest of the Four Dark Lords, beating me is useless, our people will come for you soon'.
Ashe didn't expect Valcas to defect so cleanly, seems like his beatings came with moral correction?
"I'm not helping you."
Valcas shook his head.
"I just want to make trouble for that bastard Sylin."
Hurting others without helping oneself was indeed a very reasonable motive. Ashe pressed on while the iron was hot, "Do you know if there are channels to trade spirits in prison? If I can get some swordmage spirits, I'll have a chance to make big trouble for Sylin—"
"None of my damn business."
Ashe was rendered speechless, and decided to try an empathetic approach: "Oh right Valcas, you weren't able to kill me this time and even lost to me, will you get into any trouble—"
"None of your damn business."
"At least tell me what Sylin will do to deal with me next?"
Valcas glanced at him and left with one last line.
"When we meet again next time, you'll know Sylin's methods."
Ashe felt Valcas ending up in prison was definitely related to his foul mouth and cryptic personality.
But at least he could confirm one thing now - the mastermind behind all this was definitely Ashe's former university professor, elven scholar Sylin Dole!
After eating, Ashe didn't linger in the prison but hurried back to his dorm, immediately calling out upon entering.
"Swordswoman? Are you here?"
"Here, but also not completely here."
The swordswoman sat on the bed crossing her legs, the deep black stockings outlined her charming curves as she rested her chin on her palm, looking askance at Ashe.
"Something the matter?"
"It was you who reminded me during the deathmatch earlier right?"
Ashe held out his palm, the 'Body Double' spirit lounging about rubbing its belly appearing.
"The chip is still restricting my arcane energy output, but why was I able to summon the Body Double spirit?"
"Isn't it obvious - you comprehended the knowledge of the Body Double spirit, and with the right conditions, you directly resonated with the spirit, automatically triggering its effects to influence reality. Other death row inmates who want to activate spirits in prison use this method as well."
Although Ashe had heard it many times, he still couldn't help but feel shocked - mature spirits could really cast spells by themselves!
"But how did I comprehend the 'Body Double' spirit? I didn't learn any knowledge about it at all!" Ashe still didn't understand.
"You learned it and comprehended it."
Ashe was startled, suddenly recalling the swordswoman's reminder.
"Was it because of this line? 'If it hurts, pretend you're someone else, then it won't hurt anymore'?"
"That's right." The swordswoman nodded, "When you understood those words, you naturally understood this spirit. Fundamentally, a spirit is a collection of knowledge. Once you obtain a spirit, even if you don't actively study it, the spirit's knowledge will actively pursue you."
"That simple?"
"Not simple at all." The swordswoman shook her head, "Seeing knowledge and comprehending knowledge are two different things...If not for being in extreme danger earlier, covered in wounds, your consciousness nearing dispersal, you wouldn't have been able to resonate with the Body Double spirit. Just learning is not enough, empathy is a prerequisite to comprehending spirits."
Ashe looked at the Body Double spirit in his palm, trying to delve deeper into the spirit with his consciousness.
It was slightly better than last time, Ashe could understand the information flow the spirit fed back, but still couldn't make sense of its structure. If the spirit was a dish, last time Ashe didn't even have the sense of taste to sample the spirit's flavor; this time Ashe could taste the spirit's flavor, but didn't know how it was prepared.
"Being able to comprehend the spirit is already your limit. Unless it's your natal spirit personally summoned, you can never find its hidden Door of Truth."
The swordswoman saw through his intentions with a glance: "Only a spirit born from your own knowledge, can you find its Door of Truth. Spirits obtained through other means, no matter how deeply you comprehend them, will never truly be yours."
"Truth demands pure perfection, allowing not the slightest flaw."
Truth really was quite strict.
Ashe withdrew the spirit and looked to the swordswoman again.
"Where did you disappear to for so long?"