Free Web NovelChapter 213: Chapter 213: Do You Want to Die?_1
"Money!?" Aiden was taken aback.
"Yes, they offered a sum of cash in circulation within the Empire, as well as some gold," Abigail recalled, saying, "Since we didn’t really suffer any losses, we accepted their offer."
"The witches’ coven... is short of money?" Aiden was somewhat surprised.
He found it hard to imagine that the witches’ coven would be short of money, given that the seven Great Witches at the core of the coven commanded rare technologies. Just the magic potions that Lamia produced could fetch astronomical prices in the black market.
Even if items related to black magic couldn’t be mass-produced, the derivative technologies developed in the course of their research into black magic also had promising prospects for monetization, such as the metallurgy techniques mastered by Vila, which could create high-end materials that even the previous world was unable to produce...
"It wouldn’t be right to say we’re short of money, but money is essential to us. The personal cost of delving into black magic is very high. Now that The Covenant has basically spread throughout the entire Southern Continent, the most we can do with our status is make things in workshops to sell for money, and moreover, we can only operate and trade underground," Abigail replied, holding her teacup, "The funds obtained through black market channels are sometimes even hard to spend."
Aiden began to understand—the witches had the means to make money, but their expenditures on black magic research were also rapid.
Due to their status as outlaws, they were unable to conduct large-scale production like entrepreneurs or farmers. With little cooperation among the witches, they could only resort to small workshop-style production for technological outputs, and the finished products could almost exclusively enter black market transactions, the money from which sometimes had to be laundered...
In short, even with monetizable technologies, the efficiency of monetization was very low.
"I see..." Hearing this, Aiden suddenly had an idea, "How about this, if you have any technology that can be mass-produced to make money, perhaps you could give it to us. We can produce it for you here in the prison, then we’ll split the profits together."
In the autonomous prison, there was a considerable amount of autonomy in management. The prison had facilities, personnel, and production conditions all set up—it was essentially a medium-sized factory. If there was a product that met market demand and was convenient to produce, it could immediately generate profits.
Abigail stared at Aiden for a while, then a faint smile emerged on her lips, "Collaborate with witches? You’re quite open-minded, just like what Qiqimora said. Alright, I’ll discuss this with them."
"What about the request I just mentioned?" Aiden pressed.
"Since Your Excellency has so kindly asked, we will, of course, do our best to assist, but... After all, we don’t have any information on hand, so we can’t guarantee we’ll be of help," Abigail responded steadily.
"That will be enough," Aiden nodded.
After all, he didn’t have much hope for their help.
"Well, time is almost up, I should take my leave," Abigail said as she stood up.
"Shall I walk you out?" Aiden also got up.
"There’s no need to trouble yourself, Your Excellency, as you’re still working," Abigail said as she walked toward the door, then suddenly, as if remembering something, turned around, "By the way, Your Excellency, although it’s just a minor detail, I think it’s better to inform you—’Mister Bloody Garments’ is not actually the founder of ’Blood Red Full Moon.’"
Aiden was momentarily startled. freewёbnoνel.com
"The Blood Moon Cult, in fact, is a secretive organization that has existed for several hundred years, established by vampires and heretics pursuing immortality, worshipping the god of death," Abigail said nonchalantly, "I think that person either merely forged the banner or took over the power of that cult."
...
Meanwhile, outside the prison. freēwebnovel.com
Blood clan Prince Kael Kaordo was squatting by the roadside, contemplating how to meet his sister.
After careful consideration, even if he found the prison leader, it was uncertain whether he could make his way through, as he had no connections...
Just as he was feeling troubled, someone walked past him and went straight to the prison’s side entrance.
Kael turned his head for a look. It was a tall beauty; entering the prison through this gate, she must be a guard on duty here.
At that moment, Kael saw the female guard he had encountered at the reception desk earlier, now in plain clothes, coming out of the side door, conveniently bumping into the other person.
"Veronica, you’re on the night shift again today." Isabella greeted her colleague who was heading to work.
"Yes, how come you didn’t have dinner in the canteen today?" Veronica responded.
"I have plans tonight... Oh right!" Isabella’s face suddenly broke into a meaningful smile, "This afternoon the warden had a visitor, a great beauty I’ve never seen before. Since you guys made good progress last week, you better be on guard!"
"Be on guard for what?" Veronica’s face flickered with a hint of panic.
"Hey, those who know, know. I’m off." Isabella waved her hand and walked in another direction.
Having listened to the entire conversation, Kael stood up and narrowed his eyes.
The guard named Veronica seemed to have a close relationship with the warden, perhaps he could get some information about the prison leadership out of her.
Thinking this, Kael strode over and called out to her just before she entered the side door: "Miss, please wait a moment."
Veronica instinctively turned her head and, upon seeing the smiling strange gentleman before her, immediately furrowed her brow warily: "What is it?"
"It’s like this, I’m here to visit a family member who’s incarcerated..." Kael began to explain.
"Ah, if you want to visit, please go to the reception to submit an application form, walk that way, enter through the main gate... But at this time, it’s already too late for visits, better come back tomorrow." Veronica, thinking it was an inquiry, relaxed her expression slightly and patiently explained to him.
"Ah no, actually my family member seems to have gotten into some trouble in prison recently and can’t be visited right now. But I really want to see her, and you... you must know the leaders here, don’t you? I was wondering if maybe you could..." Kael said with an insinuating smile.
"You want me to plead for you? That’s no use, if it’s against the rules to visit, even finding the warden himself will be of no help." Veronica waved dismissively.
"Please don’t say that, surely a beautiful miss like you wouldn’t ignore someone in trouble, right?" Kael smiled, raising his hand towards Veronica’s face.
At the same time, he began to exude the charming power inherent to high-ranking blood clan members, a faint red light emitting from the depths of his dark red eyes.
Success—Kael had just thought that when Veronica suddenly raised her hand and grabbed his wrist, twisting it forcefully.
A surge of intense pain shot through Kael, making him shiver.
"What are you doing!? Are you looking for trouble?" Veronica glared, each word heavy and deliberate.
