64 Chapter 63.

When we stepped out of the truck what came into view was a sturdy, titanic, metallic wall that towered over us at least one hundred meters high. It gave off a majestic and imposing feeling as though all beneath the wall were insignificant little ants. My wife only snorted in disdain when she looked up at it like she wanted to pick a fight.

The walls stretched out as far as the eye could see far off into the distance. It was still dark so visibility was low, but it was obvious this was no low budget prison.

There were peculiar floating domes overhead that looked like futuristic versions of a lighthouse or watch tower.

They just hovered there, it appeared that there was no rocket fuel used or any pieces that rotated to keep them airborne.

I looked at my wife and she just smiled back at me like she was more interested in watching how I reacted to it all.

What is this place really?

Such an advanced place really exists in my world?

How are they floating like that? Where did they get the budget or funding to construct this wall anyway? How is the public not aware of this place? There were many questions I had, but they were left unanswered.

As someone who had a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, my curiosity for the first time in a long time was screaming.

If I could make one of those, couldn't I make some big money and let my family live an easy life in luxury?

I'm not willing to rely on my wife for money, even I'm not that hopeless. Although money definitely means nothing to her with her level of strength.

One of the men among the many men who surrounded us with their guns pointed at us suddenly stepped out and began a lengthy speech.

"Listen up you swine! This is the top secret facility, Azkaban Prison. You will live the next five years as both prisoners and experimental test subjects. If you make it through these five years and show signs of rehabilitation you will be released back into society as a free man. Your records will be cleared and you will be giving a clean slate. Some of you may not care much, but for those of you who are in prison because you have no other place to go, this is a big opportunity for you bottom feeders."

Sounds way too fishy, there is no way it's that simple right? It's an experimental facility, right? So is there some hidden purpose for rehabilitating prisoners and sending them back out into society?

"You keep landing yourselves in prison because you aren't able to integrate with society after the first crime you committed. After all, no one wants to hire a criminal. Well, this facility will both be heaven and hell for you scum."

"You will either die, or you will leave a changed person. Whether you be man or woman, everyone is treated the same here. You're all just scum. Handsome or pretty, we couldn't care less what you look like. Here, all that matters is ability."

"There are many prisoners sent here who happen to be people the world would be better off without. True scum of scum. They are the people society and government don't know how to deal with. I said you're all treated equally, right? Well that's by the observers and upper management."

"In the eyes of other prisoners, there is naturally a divide. You will learn all about that when your ward is determined."

"Today happens to be the day we enrol new prisoners. Prisoners from all across the world have been transported here as new blood."

"When you enter, during the entrance ceremony you will be split up among the four wards. The first ward is named Dragontherun, its symbol is the azure dragon. The second ward is called Tigerdoor, symbolized by the white tiger. The third ward is called Toddlepant, their symbol is the black tortoise. The last is called Chickenclaw, themed after the vermillion bird."

I felt there was something weird when I heard the name of the prison, but are these ward names really alright?

Now that I think about it… did a certain wizard school secretly theme their dorms after certain mythological creatures as well?

I don't think I can take this seriously anymore. What's with these names?

"Do any of you maggots have any questions?"

"Who came up with these stupid ward names?"

"You got a problem with the names? Do you?! Hah?! Well?!"

He shot an intense glare at me when I unconsciously voiced my thoughts out loud.

"You have a problem with the names our director's five year old daughter thought of?"

"I was just joking, they're very awe inspiring names."

"Good. Since there are no more questions, we will take you to the entrance ceremony where you will be sorted into your wards."

"There wouldn't happen to be a hat that will decide for us, would there?"

"Are you stupid? Of course not."

He led us towards a certain open area, pulled out his phone and called someone. After a minute, one of the floating domes I thought were just for security descended to the ground.

He motioned for us to get on and we obediently followed his instructions and made our way into the dome. Once we were all inside, the dome ascended and lifted us high into the sky above the one hundred meter titanic walls. Even when I looked down from above it was still not possible to see where the wall ended.

I couldn't even see the other side of the wall that I assumed looped around to enclose the area within.

Just when did they build this place? How did they build it and keep it hidden away from the rest of the world for so long?

How did my wife not notice something this conspicuous right away? Was she just careless or was it she didn't care enough to pay attention to it? Or did she just lie to me? Why would she lie about that though?

Behind the wall, all I could see was forestry stretching as far as the eye could see. There were also strange small mechanical birds flying about all over the place in what seemed to be completely random directions. Could it be some sort of formation to disguise the place? Yeah right, like that could be it.

As if right on cue, my little wife cleared up my doubts, "husband, in case you were wondering, the reason I did not discover this place when I first came across your realm was thanks to those mechanical birds. They are actually diffracting and bending light such that this entire location has been cloaked to appear as a normal forest with no wall. Satellites aren't able to notice this location thanks to how light is being manipulated by the electromagnetic fields the birds generate. At the time I was looking down on your world, with the limited strength of mortals in your realm I didn't think the inhabitants had attained such a high ability to manipulate light just through the use of technology. I only did a casual scan across the realm back then and didn't examine this area close enough when I first located you back then."

While I was feeling smug over an accomplishment that did not belong to me, mortals from my world getting one up on a lower realm god, we were already being lowered back down to the ground behind the wall. When I came to my senses, I noticed what appeared to be a train. There were no wheels or rails like one would expect beneath it. There was only a straight clear path directly in front of it.

We got out of the dome and we moved into the train at the urging of the guards.

When we were inside we were put into barred rooms. Strangely enough it looked rather luxurious. When I looked at everyone else they were just as baffled as I was.

Really, what is with this blatant science fiction prisoner version rip off?

Once we all took our seats inside the barred off rooms, a few moments later an intense burst of acceleration assaulted the poor unsuspecting passengers. When I looked out the barred windows I realized the train floated in mid air and moved at least fifteen hundred miles per hour.

Was there really a need for this level of speed?

How big is this facility anyways?! What kind of scary prison is this?!

After five minutes passed the floating train slowed down until it came a stop. What the hell?! Five minutes? Five freaking minutes is all it took? Just doing the math it meant we travelled 125 miles in that short period of time.

What was the point in even putting us in these barred off rooms? Is five minutes enough time for us to even collaborate and come up with an escape plan?

After our short lived uneventful transport to this prison my wife called out, "husband, hurry up, let's go."

My wife just pulled my hand and dragged me along out of the train.

When everyone exited the train we were in front of a large grey building.

"Venerable master, is this where the inheritance is hidden?"

Little Han whispered to me to try and get some sort of confirmation.

I looked over to my hidden wife with a clueless questioning look asking her for an answer.

She of course just smiled back at me like it was not her problem.

"Little Han, this is a trial by fire, of course I cannot just give you the answer."

Like hell I know where it is. Your guess is as good as mine you brat.

"I understand."

Actually forget you, where is my little disciple I was promised by my wife? She said she would do something about it, right?

I want to be comforted and fawned on by my cute little disciple.

Too many strange things are happening, I just want to hole up in my room and do nothing while letting the kids do all the work.

We were urged to move onwards at gunpoint by the guards behind us into the building that was now directly in front of us.

Large doors opened up automatically when we stepped in front of them. If you imagined them actually rotating away from us while creaking eerily around a hinge you would be wrong. They actually slid open to the sides like a convenience store.

Goodbye atmosphere, I can no longer take you seriously. That classic convenience store ring upon entering was just icing to the cake.

I get that door hinges are outdated, but could you at least not make it feel like I'm going grocery shopping after all the build up?

When we walked in, the first thing my eyes landed on caused my face to twitch uncontrollably.

Potato chips, magazines, soda, gum, beer, boxed lunches, hot dogs, cigarettes. Shelves were lined up on the side and there was a counter with a guy with an ingratiating smile plastered on his face. He wore a black and white striped shirt and pants with an apron over it.

I felt a bit disorientated from the incongruous scene before my eyes.

This is supposed to be a prison, right? Why is everything all over the place like this?

It looked like the three stooges couldn't hold back their curiosity, like stray cats they strut their way over to the counter and asked, "hey what is this thing?"

"Oh that? Valued customer, those are the finest package of cigarettes we sell here. We do not like to scam our customers, they only cost 10,000 prisoner points."

"Prisoner points? What the hell are those?"

"You must be among the newly enlisted prisoners for you to ask such a thing. Prisoner points are what we use for currency within Azkaban Prison."

"Since you are a first timer here, how about I give you a free sample?"

"Oh?"

The prisoner cum worker handed over a joint and lit it for one of the three stooges.

The stooge was clearly confused when he was first handed the cigar, but he then saw a picture on the box and it seems he noticed there was an outline of a face with a cigar protruding from the mouth.

He lifted the cigar clumsily and put it between his lips and inhaled sharply.

He held it in for a moment then breathed out a long trail of smoke.

After he exhaled he coughed out a storm while the other two stooges looked at the worker behind the counter vigilantly before they said, "what have you done to him?!"

The first stooge lifted his head and handed the cigar over to the second stooge wordlessly, looked him in the eye and nodded his head.

The second stooge repeated the first stooges actions and the process repeated for the third.

When the three all finished, just by the look in their eyes I knew they were goners.

How the hell do mighty cultivators become tobacco addicts?!

The three stooges asked hurriedly, "give us some more!"

"Valued customers, no can do. You must naturally pay. The first one was just a freebie."

This was definitely a scam to get them addicted and accumulate prisoner points.

"You morons, hurry up! We don't have all day. Get moving."

It looked like the men were fed up with the hold up and they forced us to move deeper into the building. When I say deeper, we went to a door behind the fridges and walked through the back area.

Was this some sort of humiliation play to weaken our spirits?

Damn it, why do all the cultivators look like country hicks?! They were looking around everywhere like curious little children in a candy store.

Am I actually the strange one?

"Venerable master, what are those?"

While we walked over it looks like curiosity got the better of him. The brat pointed to the box of with the word Trojan on the shelf beside the counter.

"Those are one time use items that can block even the strongest of calamities. Take note of their might little Han. Do not be deceived by the thin weak looking nature. You must see past it and understand it's greatness. One day those may even save your life."

Of course after I said that my wife pinched my side and glared at me.

Of course I whispered so only she could hear, "I was just teaching him safety first. My wife, what's there to be so angry about?"

"What 'block even the strongest of calamities?' Are you trying to pick a fight with me? Do you have a problem with your wife being a goddess of calamity?"

Ah, she's cute when she takes things the wrong way.

"Of course I don't need something stupid like that when I fight you, my wife."

"Hmmp. Like a stupid little flimsy thing like that could block your wife."

"Venerable master, how can the little thing in that box block off the strongest calamity?"

His eyes were sparkling like he had just heard something amazing.

"You will understand when you're older."

Of course the annoying fly beside him glared daggers at me the entire time and chimed in in a low voice, "would you please stop deceiving little Han with your lies?"

"Hmmp! What does a little girl like you know about the greatness of the mighty Trojan that has protected countless men and women over the ages?"

"Sure, they have been protected in a sense, but it's not like that's blocking a calamity."

I then saw her mouth out something to me.

When I put it all together, it was "we didn't even use one. It was all raw. He even finished inside multiple times. You jealous?"

This damn slut. I'm jealous! You happy now?! Of course, such words could not be said, so I put on a look of pity and only shook my head towards her direction like she were but a small child who had yet to come to enlightenment in worldly affairs.

She was naturally incensed by the way I had looked down on her, but as I didn't reply back, she kept her mouth shut.

While we were bickering like this, after we entered the room behind the fridges we walked down a somewhat lengthy corridor with many twists and turns.

We eventually reached a boxed off area with several sets of stairs that went both upwards and downwards. They were scattered all around the place, both above us and below when you looked over the railing at the side.

We went onto the stairs, but the man leading the way stopped mid way up once we were all on.

He then pulled out his phone and called someone.

"Yeah, we're here."

After he said that he hung up.

I felt like I knew what was about to happen, but I wanted to deny all possible copyright infringement so I acted like I saw nothing.

I'll leave what happened next to one's imagination.

The stairs we stood on definitely didn't use magnetic levitation to float around the room and bring us to another set of stairs.

That definitely didn't happen since someone would probably be sued if that happened.

If it did happen, it wasn't thanks to magic or anything like that. It was all the work of technology.

Was that how these guys got away with this? Magic vs science?

Okay, it really did happen. What else could you expect? Of course it happened! Why else would there be all these stupid random staircases for no rhyme or reason?! They didn't even lead directly to doors or anything, what is the freaking point of them? The designer should be sued for inefficient staircase design. Just make a damn elevator why don't you?!

The staircase we stood on rotated in mid air as it lowered down. It stopped at a ledge and we walked up the stairs onto that ledge.

We went onto the staircase that was aligned against the wall to the right of the ledge. We walked downwards and again came to a stop mid way.

The staircase again mystically rotated in mid air downwards further.

This process repeated a few times until we reached what appeared to be ground level.

Really?! Again, why the hell didn't they just build an elevator?! This took like ten times longer than just walking down stairs normally! What's with all the fancy shenanigans?!

Is it to make it more difficult for prisoners to escape?

I was curious so I resolved myself to ask.

"Uhm, excuse me. I have a question."

"What is it swine?"

"Instead of all the floating staircases, why not just make a elevator instead? Wouldn't it be faster and more convenient?"

"You have the nerve to ask?! Do you think we like going through this? Do you?!"

"Damn it, we petitioned for an elevator, but do you know what that director told us? Can you imagine what he said?!"

Did I step on a landmine?

"Uhm, what did he say?"

"Do you have a problem with the ingenious idea my five year old daughter thought of?"

That kid is going to be great one day.

Definitely.

I, of course, shut up after that. Somehow I felt a bit bad for the prison guards who worked here.

I bet they had a lot of troubles to deal with thanks to the director's five year old daughter.