Subverting The World [Cyber] - Chapter 5

The announcement immediately caught every prisoner’s attention.

Pardon for Innocence!

Those who understood these words felt a surge of hope, their hearts racing. No one wanted to try escaping—if it weren’t for the explosives strapped to their necks, many would have bolted instantly.

But for now, all they could do was wait patiently.

Wait out the final 12 hours.

In their eyes, once those 12 hours passed, they would be truly free.

As for the temporary warden, whose name remained unknown…

Would they simply be left to perish?

Some inmates already pulled out their private stash of drinks, planning to toast their impending release.

“Drink up! Once you’ve finished, the outside will be even better,” slurred a bald prisoner, hiccupping. “This synthetic water is nothing, so you better drink it down fast.”

“Aren’t you worried you might not get out after the pardon?” asked another prisoner, a man with panda-eye tattoos around his eyes.

“Doesn’t matter,” the bald man replied confidently. “I’ll be free for sure, so why rush?”

“Heh, don’t be so sure,” the bald man continued smugly. “There are three big shots here who all want out. You’d better watch your back or they’ll deal with you first.”

The notorious gang called the Rust Shark controlled the prison’s internal affairs, led by the daughter of their gang’s head — the top prisoner here.

The Cyber Psycho, a serial killer suppressed by the Special Operations team, was locked deep in the lowest levels.

Then there was a man with strange powers who had angered a powerful company and was thrown inside…

“How about a bet on when the warden will die?” the bald man said with a grin. “I say 12 hours.”

“If that happens, the warden death record will be broken,” the panda-eyed man said, chuckling. “When I’m out, I’m visiting the families of the victims.”

The bald man looked puzzled. “Why? To make up for your crimes?”

“No, just to do something good,” the other said, wiping his eyes. “To help reunite families—why not?”

Ward 1, Cell 302

This part of the prison was the most luxurious. Politicians, corporate heads, gang leaders — important people — were held here.

Each cell was like a small apartment, with bedrooms, living rooms, and studies.

Except for the lack of windows and kitchens, these cells were almost like the outside world.

And the cell doors never locked.

As long as the big shots followed curfew and returned to their cells at night, they could roam freely inside the prison.

“Bring them in.”

A bunny-girl, or more precisely, a girl wearing a bunny mask, spoke.

Once popular, outer fur modifications had mostly fallen out of favor because of their quick rejection by the body.

In prison, you could often tell when someone was imprisoned by the style of their modifications.

She was Siba the Skinner, the third-in-command and heir to the gang controlling the prison — the [list].

A curly-haired black man entered, smiling with shining white teeth and nodding respectfully.

It was SB250.

“She’s the only one who’s been in contact with 1001,” he said, lowering his gaze respectfully to the bunny girl on the red velvet sofa. “The person who welcomed the new girl is still unconscious. We can’t get any info from her.”

“Hm.” Siba set her book aside, crossed her legs, and said, “Tell me everything you know. You only get one shot.”

SB250 understood the threat well — survival meant following her orders.

Her infamous nickname came from her habit of skinning victims alive and using their skin for bionic replacements.

She even practiced on herself — the rabbit skin on her face was made by her own hands.

No gang leader had the patience to wait for her memories to return.

On the way here, SB250 had prepared his report.

“She’s very young, no older than 20. Probably a student, maybe from a decent family. No weapons, weak muscles,” he said.

“But there’s something off… She’s too calm,” SB250 continued. “Not just cautious — she’s fearless.”

“That calmness could mean she’s ready for anything.”

“If that’s true, no one will just kill her randomly,” Siba said, playing with her lighter. “The Journey of All Living Beings company is all about ratings. She must have something special.”

But…

What if she had even more?

Every warden sent here had a unique background — top athletes, brilliant detectives, data experts…

Many signed contracts knowing they’d die in this place.

[List] killed the most — that’s why he’s the leader.

“One-sided info is useless. Analyze this well,” Siba said, waving SB250 away.

After he left, she stared at the lighter’s flame, her bright red eyes reflecting its flicker with uncertainty.

Suddenly, she looked up at her deputy. “Do you know how many people are betting I’ll escape this prison?”

“Over 100,000.”

“That’s just a hundred thousand,” Siba said, closing the lighter. “I want to keep my reputation — and get even more bets.”

“Thinking winning or losing after 12 hours is naive,” she said, stroking her furry chin. “Those fools plan to break out then. She’s probably ready for that.”

“First impressions matter. She hasn’t met us, and we haven’t seen her — that gives us an advantage.”

“We’ll start a riot in the cafeteria in six hours. If she shows up, teach her a lesson. If not, keep pressuring her.”

“Have our people lure her there! I want her terrified, hiding in her office, waiting for death!”

Prison Governor’s Office

The handover ceremony was simple. Shi Xu only made a brief certification, then had 12 hours to prepare.

He changed into a clean white uniform symbolizing his authority.

Then he spent two hours skimming the prison’s rules.

After memorizing the system, he summoned all the guards.

As he waited, Shi Xu recalled a conversation overheard near the classroom office in the White Tower.

“You can’t laugh in front of students,” an older teacher said. “If they catch you talking, your career’s done.”

“What should I do then?” a younger teacher asked.

“Be serious, harsh, withdrawn, and silent,” came the reply. “No matter how — you must remember, you are the teacher.”

That young teacher was now Shi Xu’s class head.

Though he couldn’t remember exactly what happened, he remembered the teacher as strict and stern.

First impressions were crucial — almost impossible to change.

The good news was no one had seen him yet, except two prisoners. He still had time to make an impact.

Once the 12 hours passed, it would be too late.

He needed to eliminate distractions quickly and plan his grand entrance.

Shi Xu called the guards.

Half human, half bionic.

They stood before him, whispering and shooting cold glances.

Shi Xu sat behind his desk, refusing to greet them. “You have three seconds to shut up.”

Some obeyed. Others kept chatting, confident no warden had dared act like this before.

They expected respect, not orders.

The man still talking was stunned when Shi Xu spoke again.

“Anyone still talking is fired.”

“Why?!” the man blushed. “Who gave you the authority? Do you know who appointed us?!”

Shi Xu reached out and tossed a dismissal notice onto the desk.

The notice was officially signed and uploaded to the central system.

She was serious.

The remaining guards looked at him differently now.

Shi Xu didn’t ask for permission. She just did it.

“Anything else?” she asked, folding her hands and smiling. “I have the power — and I will use it.”

“But you didn’t report this!” the fired guard protested.

“Check your inbox. The dismissal is there. Disobedience to orders.”

Completely justified.

Shi Xu tapped the desk. “Don’t I have this authority?”

The guard fell silent.

Ignoring him, Shi Xu turned to the others. “Show me the bank transactions.”

Given how often wardens die suddenly, there had to be a mole.

The easiest way to find one was through the money trail.

Shi Xu wasn’t sure what else to do. She just wanted to use her power.

The guards expected instructions but were stunned into silence.

One minute, two, three…

Their anxious gazes met hers but no one volunteered.

“No pressure. If you don’t want to show me, I won’t force it,” Shi Xu smiled.

Still, no one stepped up, just some nervous nods.

It was hopeless — the insiders were everywhere.

Shi Xu sighed and leaned back. “Forget it. You all get a paid month off. I only want one bionic guard.”

Bionics weren’t perfect but were better than these traitors.

Shi Xu refused to accept that some guards had shot him in the back, then claimed it was suicide.

Death didn’t scare him; in fact, because death was the worst outcome, he was determined to fight.

He would fight to the very end, no matter how ugly.

He wanted to live against fate, not die quietly under it.

To keep fighting, he needed to know where a riot might break out.

Shi Xu had plenty of experience with uprisings back in Baita.