Subverting The World [Cyber] - Chapter 4

A cigarette rolled under Shi Xu’s feet. Without thinking, she stepped on it, then quickly crouched down, covering her head defensively. When the guard was distracted, she slipped the cigarette into the side of her shoe.

Depending on the situation, this could serve as a valuable bribe.

“There’s something off with this month’s rules… Wardens who serve until the last day get a million-dollar bonus, but ten wardens died just this month,” the guard muttered.

Shi Xu overheard: “I have no idea what the new rules are today.”

The guard whispered, “The temporary prison warden gets to decide when to act against prisoners…”

“Alright, look at number 1001; that’s none of your concern.” The guard led Shi Xu away. She quietly followed, listening to the distant gunfire behind them.

One word stuck out to her:

“Name.”

Could a name be something you could claim or hold onto?

There were rules, changing monthly, but SB250 had said this prison was controlled by gangs…

What was the point of all this?

Shi Xu glanced up at the ceiling camera. Her presence hadn’t increased, indicating no live broadcast was running since the trial ended.

She looked again at the ever-present gray [Exit Game] button. Since it was still there, she knew she could still return, but the conditions were unclear.

Although she’d covered more than half the path before, now she was back in her cell within just a few steps.

It wasn’t a single cell — a man was already inside.

The guards pushed her in without explanation.

Shi Xu stared at the man, but he spoke first — in a surprisingly gentle female voice.

It was actually a woman.

“Sorry if I startled you,” she said softly.

She explained, “My personality changed to male because the sentence for men who kill their wives is lighter — seen as an impulsive crime. Women who kill their husbands are usually seen as premeditated and get longer sentences.”

“So, I switched to male to be charged with mutual assault instead — which carries a shorter sentence.”

Shi Xu looked at her, feeling oddly relieved.

…What a strange world.

Amid the chaos, there was some semblance of order.

“You’re brave,” the woman said. “You seem like a good person. What brought you here?”

“Basically, I crossed the company,” Shi Xu replied.

“The riot today — was it the gangs?” she asked.

“You guessed right,” the woman shrugged.

“If they can’t escape, why riot?” Shi Xu rubbed the back of her neck. “I’ve been wondering about that first anesthesia — I didn’t notice anything when I changed clothes, so I figure it was on my back somewhere — something that could kill me instantly.”

The woman smiled, pointing to a white square on the back of her neck — like a sticker. “You must have fainted on arrival. There’s a bomb there — not powerful enough to kill outright, but enough to sever the spine.”

Shi Xu frowned. “Aren’t they afraid the bomb might explode during a riot?”

“No,” the woman said. “It only detonates if we leave the prison and go out of range. Inside, it only delivers a shock.”

“They’re here to maintain ‘name’,” the woman yawned. “Fame, reputation — the fastest news in prison is a riot.”

Shi Xu frowned. They had lost their names, yet were desperate to protect them.

It felt eerily similar to what she needed to protect: her own identity.

Looking at her remaining “presence,” she realized she couldn’t stay here forever.

Sentenced to 900 years, she refused to rot away in prison — escape was the only option.

Shi Xu spent three seconds deciding her goal, then tidied her bedding and started planning.

Her ultimate aim: escape.

During the physical tests, it was clear she was basically in her original state — no memory of fighting skills, no advanced combat abilities, no special weapons knowledge.

She wasn’t a killer, agent, or undercover operative.

Even if she learned, it wouldn’t help — this world had brain machines and bio-mods, making physical combat with bare hands obsolete.

No fighting skills, no prosthetics, no powers — just an explosive on her neck and fading presence.

These were challenges she needed to overcome.

Shi Xu made her bed and placed her toiletries in the open cubby next to it.

There was only one point she could use to change her situation.

[The first game is crucial. Please activate your ‘name’ in the game.]

She’d heard that voice at the game’s start.

Shi Xu firmly believed that even the slightest improvement at the lowest point could spark a comeback.

“My turn to talk — now tell me about you,” the woman smiled. “I’m a middleman and intelligence dealer. Every female prisoner who comes here ends up as my roommate for a while.”

“I teach them the rules, they give me information — fair trade, right?”

“I give you three pieces of info; you give me three back.”

Shi Xu squinted at her. “Alright.”

— This was definitely a gang member.

Shi Xu instinctively sifted through the messy info she’d collected.

SB250 said the prison was gang-controlled.

The guard brought her here, and the woman’s words confirmed it.

She bent down and pulled the cigarette from her shoe. Though wrinkled, the woman’s eyes lit up when she saw it.

“This — trading three pieces of info — should be doable,” Shi Xu said, twirling the cigarette like a pen.

The woman smiled slyly. “You’re pretty bold.”

Shi Xu replied, “Maybe one, but I haven’t smoked in a while. Let me count three for you. What else do you want to know?”

“Nothing for now.” Shi Xu declined to say more.

The woman glanced at her with a knowing smile.

As Shi Xu relaxed, she suddenly knelt and rolled. Her fist shot through the air with a loud crack.

A huge dent appeared where she’d been sitting, and the woman raised her fists.

“Little smartass,” she said, blowing on her knuckles. “Don’t think you can keep things to yourself. Tell me what crime you committed, your home address, your name, your family. All of it.”

“Don’t expect the guards to come help. I’ll beat you half to death before then.”

Her face twisted under the dim light. “People like you — who’ve been to prison — make good hostages for your families.”

“Don’t lie. Don’t make stuff up. You know. If we find out, your death will be worse.”

Shi Xu sighed inwardly, lowering her estimate of human decency.

She’d pegged it at zero before — now it seemed it was negative.

But the key problem remained — she didn’t know anything either.

She only knew the crime she’d committed.

She could claim to be an orphan, but with a 900-year sentence for offending the company, she was probably at the lowest level of this prison, just a scapegoat.

Looking at the woman’s face, Shi Xu realized if she didn’t speak, the consequences would still be dire.

Was there any intelligence she could trade that was truly worth it?

Sweat appeared on Shi Xu’s palms.

With such overwhelming force opposite her and untrustworthy guards, time was her only ally.

“I know what the next rule will be,” she said, feigning calm.

The woman raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What is it?”

“Temporary prison warden,” Shi Xu answered. “How did the previous warden get appointed?”

“Sent here, but after we killed more and more, fewer people wanted to take the job or come to this jail.”

“I’d advise you not to mess with me.” Shi Xu took a breath. “The next rule will probably choose a prisoner as the temporary warden. Think that person won’t take revenge if they get the power?”

“Interesting… You think a rookie like you, with no combat skills, could kill me after becoming warden?”

“How do you know until you try?” Shi Xu met her gaze, fearless.

The most important thing when facing a beast is to not show fear.

“Interesting — you offended me,” the woman said, narrowing her eyes. “According to you, we’d better not get revenge on anyone easily, or the fallout could be huge.”

Shi Xu, shorter by a head than the woman’s 1.8 meters, retorted, “You offended me too.”

“Ha! If you really become the temporary warden…” Before the woman finished, the prison cell’s wall camera projected a message:

[Notification! Prison rules have changed!]

Due to excessive costs and overcrowding of staff, [Journey of All Living Beings] announces:

Starting this month, one prisoner will be selected as the temporary prison warden for one month.

If any prisoner escapes during that time, all previous charges against them will be dropped, and they will be immediately freed.

To ensure impartial enforcement, if a prisoner escapes, the warden will be executed on the spot.

Additionally, prisoners are prohibited from killing the warden by any means — offenders will be executed immediately.

The selection of the temporary warden begins now.

In the dim light, Shi Xu saw the woman wipe her neck nervously.

The numbers on the frequency screen reflected the tension between them.

[Drawn.]

The woman whistled, malice clear on her face.

— You’re dead.

Her confidence was clear.

But then her expression froze.

[Temporary warden is prisoner number 1001.]

Shi Xu smiled. “Please remember, my name is Shi Xu, not prisoner number 1001.”

She stepped out of the cell but slammed hard against the railing, making a loud noise echo in the hallway.

Looking at the camera, she said, “Turn on the shock.”

She moved away without looking back.

She could smell something burning as the prison fence’s door suddenly electrified to maximum current.

Words appeared on the ground:

[Your presence has increased.]

[Prisoner 1001, report to the warden’s office.]

[You will hold office for 12 hours; prepare to serve as prison warden.

No prison breaks allowed during this time. Explosive device on the neck will be disabled after 12 hours, leaving only electric shock active.]