Having successfully arrived at the exit teleportation hall of Basement Level 4, the group noticed crimson light pulsing once more from their bracelets, signaling that new changes had occurred in the information, functions, and privileges available on this floor.
Staring at the bracelets, the optional redemptions for duty points gradually materialized on the screens.
Among them was [Contract Prisoner].
Scrolling to the very bottom of this category, they finally found Antanas's name, followed by notes full of warning tags of every kind.
Merely attempting to unlock an environment to negotiate with Antanas of Protection required four thousand duty points, and once inside the cell, a prison guard's survival could not be guaranteed.
As the crimson letters flickered clearly into view, the details also included a simplified map of Basement Level 4 along with directions to the target prisoner's location.
"That's her. This is the great demon we're looking for—Antanas of Protection."
Having confirmed it was not merely a convict with the same name, Lanqi looked toward Hyperion and spoke.
They were now also able to view which cell on Basement Level 4 Antanas occupied.
The coordinates of her cell placed it much closer to the exit hall than the entrance hall; with Lanqi clearing the way, they would reach it in no time.
"Yeah. She won't lay a hand on me," Hyperion said with utmost seriousness.
She knew the Poet of Great Love was immortal, and Lanqi would naturally prefer controlling the Poet of Great Love to speak with the great demon rather than having Hyperion take the risk herself.
Yet Hyperion was convinced that Antanas of Protection could only be persuaded by her. She couldn't rely on Lanqi for everything; over time, she would degenerate into a useless person who could only open her mouth and wait for Lanqi to spoon-feed her.
Lanqi possessed a terrifying drive he wasn't even conscious of, coupled with a motherly, fussy protectiveness reminiscent of a doting housewife, plus an eerie, all-around talent. The cocktail blended from these traits seemed like fine wine, but in truth, it was lethal poison!
Hyperion knew this better than anyone.
After finalizing their upcoming negotiation plan, the group set out again behind the Poet of Great Love, temporarily leaving the exit teleportation hall and following the corridors of Basement Level 4 toward the special cell block.
The paths leading through this uncharted section of the prison proved far more labyrinthine.
The cells were all locked tight behind massive metal doors. The walls flanking the corridor were forged from cold, unyielding anti-magic steel, layered thickly on the outside with spell seals that rhythmically brightened and dimmed like living breaths in an unbroken cycle.
Now and then, the distant clatter of chains and muttered soliloquies echoed through the quiet corridor, adding to the mysterious, oppressive solemnity of the place.
Following the route mapped out on the bracelet, the Poet of Great Love walked ahead, passing corridor after corridor and heavy iron door after heavy iron door.
The surroundings kept the three priests on high alert, taking every step with immense caution.
As the muscle of the team, their duty was to guarantee the absolute safety of the two ahead of them.
At times, prisoners in the inner levels of Herrom Prison broke out of their cells by force, requiring barriers to contain them until wardens could arrive immediately to subdue them.
In a matter of minutes, the party successfully located a cell.
At first glance, one could see no difference between its door and any other cell door.
To prevent ill-intentioned convicts from causing mayhem by deliberately releasing the most dangerous high-risk inmates, the cell doors across the inner prison were kept uniform.
Only when a guard paid four thousand duty points at the entrance and the cell door began to slowly grind open did the cell reveal itself—exceptionally reinforced and forbidding, built specifically to hold ultra-high-risk prisoners.
The door edges were fitted with intricate airtight mechanisms to ensure a seamless seal against the frame when closed, granting near-perfect soundproofing between the interior and the outside world. Virtually no sound could pierce that heavy door.
The inner face of the door appeared to be crafted from an unnatural magical substance not native to this world, possessing unique resistance against all manner of attacks and capable of reacting instantly upon impact to trigger a floor-wide alarm.
Even with the door open, a translucent screen of light lingered in its place.
Not only did it function as an acoustic barrier, but it also permitted only the prison guard who had opened the cell to pass through, keeping the prisoner inside blocked.
The Poet of Great Love exchanged a glance with Hyperion, then followed her into the cell, ordering the three Domination priests to stand guard outside.
In that instant, the pure white interior finally came into view. Resembling heaven itself, it was nevertheless a prison space sealed tight on all six sides. Beams of light intersected, motes of dust hung distinctly in the air, and deep within sat a hazy silhouette.
The figure appeared to sit at the deepest end of the cell, without many restraints binding her.
She simply sat there in silence.
As if waiting for something, or perhaps merely waiting for time to pass.
Stepping through shafts of light, they walked slowly forward.
Before them was a short-haired beauty clad in a specialized prison uniform. Her hair was tucked behind one ear, while the other side draped naturally to her chin. Soft facial features paired with bold, spirited eyes made one wonder if she might look even more stunning with long hair.
Her prominent demonic features overtly broadcast her danger. Demons this powerful—so immense that no mana fluctuations could even be sensed—were typically akin to reapers of death.
Yet the moment Hyperion and the Poet of Great Love saw her clearly, neither showed the slightest inclination to flee, continuing their approach.
Antanas of Protection showed no reaction to the two guards entering her cell, nor did she speak.
Only when Hyperion came within a short distance of Antanas did she halt.
She carried multiple life-saving spells on her; even if an eighth-tier great demon chose to strike, it would take some effort.
However, seeing that Antanas of Protection wasn't aggressive, just as expected, Hyperion chose to first offer a greeting to this senior according to the demonic etiquette taught to her by the Ice Snow Witch.
"Miss Antanas..."
"I don't wish to stain my hands with your blood again. Leave."
Before Hyperion could finish her earnest words, the great demon Antanas cut her off.
She finally glanced toward Hyperion, sending an instant chill of soul-deep menace through her, as though warning Hyperion: *Do not utter any negotiation requests that would compel me to kill you.*
Though Antanas appeared devoid of malice, to demons, killing was as routine as breathing; it required no conscious deliberation whatsoever.
"I am Talia's niece. I've come to beg for your help," Hyperion stated concisely. At the same time, she released her disguise magic, revealing her true appearance as a half-demon to Antanas.
Instantly, Antanas stared in a momentary daze at the silver-haired, amber-eyed half-demon girl.
It was as if she could not fathom what sort of disguise magic the girl had employed to deceive the Protos Empire's battery of security screenings and even make it deep down to Basement Level 4 of this prison.
Immediately afterward, the look in Antanas's eyes softened noticeably.
Chapter 410