"...In public." Jalner continued.
"W-woah, he's got guts, or is it self-defense?"
The buzzcut man asked in curiosity.
"No, it was something like a thug fight between schools. He killed them with his bare hands. Others said there was a video of it but nobody could provide it. However, after inspecting the dead bodies, they were really killed with bare hands. One was even slapped so hard, his neck twisted and died...."
"E-eh..?"
The three reacted in a stupor.
"Ha, no, I'm just joking. He was slapped hard before this murderer twisted the victim's neck."
"Ha ha ha... that's a tasteless joke, sir." the topless man dryly laughed.
"Even so... that's some serious strength." the one with a buzzcut frowned and observed Teren.
Teren looked around and it seemed like Jelner, the prison guard is actually staying to chat. It seemed like it's not only the prisoners who're bored here.
"But isn't it strange?"
Derek stood up and Teren saw that this man was a bit shorter than him. Teren was not short, he was just average. He just looks short because he was always standing beside Nick who's over six feet tall.
"Hm? What's strange about it?"
"Do you think you can do it? Killing two people in public? Then they're saying that there's a video but they cannot provide it."
"Ohh..." the man with the buzzcut reacted as he understood what Derek had suspicion on.
"What? What are you guys on about?"
The topless man asked with a serious expression.
"Don't you get it, Mesi? This kid must've been set up for it!"
The man with the buzzcut pointed at Teren as if he's onto something. Hearing this, Mesi, the topless prisoner's face lightened up.
"Ohh, you're right! You're right!"
"Well, even if he is, he confessed to doing it. And with all of the students from different schools saying that he did it, I don't think there's little to doubt on it."
Jalner said as he shook his head.
The four of them internally agreed. Whether if he was set up or he actually did it, it was strange. things just don't line up for either situation. For this minor to commit such a crime, he must've planned for a long time for him to execute that in one fell swoop. But it doesn't seem like it. Who the fuck would do that in public and he could've at least chose a better weapon if it was planned. Also, this kid is not thin, but that doesn't mean that he has the strength to twist someone's neck. And what about the video that was now gone? What happened to that?
Meanwhile, if he was set up, it would mean he was the biggest loser in the whole city to be bullied by everyone or someone has a grudge against him. The latter is much logical. However, what kind of person could do that?
Someone powerful who could control the media, smart enough to set this all up. But, if they're that capable, why would they leave the biggest hole - the nonsensical situation!? If they don't want to let the public think was just a setup since that's the point of a setup, they should've at least make it natural. Or did they want the public to know? If yes, why the fuck would they want that? Or is there a mistake in their plan? Maybe it's political? If that's it, this kid must be important... but that's a long stretch!
Anyway, it gets complicated the more they think about it.
'Sir Jelner must be messing with us."
The prisoners just simply thought in the end as they gave up.
'There must be some error in typing this paper.'
Meanwhile, Jelner was oblivious to these thoughts and was curious himself before losing interest.
"Whatever, from now on, he's your cellmate. Show him how this place works."
With those words, Jelner left.
The three prisoners were visibly relieved to see the prison guard walked away. It was lax around here, there was only one guard walking around the whole floor. Teren noticed this immediately.
"But seriously though, you're forced to say that you're guilty, right?"
Mesi, the topless prisoner with a ponytail asked.
Teren just nodded for his convenience. These guys here were deemed unnecessary to him. He didn't even act like a kid in an adult's prison. If everything goes awry, he was confident he could kill everyone here.
However, that's also unnecessary, more time-consuming, has a big risk, and ultimately, bothersome.
'I'll just find the one they call the Alpha and control this place. It's a shame to burn all the possible pawns down.'
Teren sighed and asked.
"When's lunchtime?"
....
In the capital city, hundreds of kilometers away from Heren City, paparazzi were surrounding one car.
Flashes of light were blinding but the center of those flashes sweetly waved her hand and smiled. Normally, celebrities would eventually be bothered with paparazzi getting in their way from their day-to-day life. However, this girl seemed to be just doing fine and even posed a bit before entering a luxurious car.
"Hayss..."
The one who sighed was her manager, not her.
"I don't know if it's because you're young but I can't believe you're keeping with all that after how many years now."
"What~? Are you sure you'll be the negative one here, Ma'am Ran Li, the manager?"
The girl still smiled, showing her adorable dimples as she held out peace signs.
"You're weird..."
"Ehh~~ that's rude!"
"It's the truth."
Manager Ran Li muttered. The two of them were completely opposite right. But at the next moment, the cheerful one has gone quiet.
"Yumera?"
Manager Ran Li looked and just saw that Yumera was looking at her phone right now. Goosebumps traveled all over her body.
"Hey! I said you're forbidden to use the internet, right!?"
She panicked and took the phone away. But it was already too late. Her jolly expression has turned grim as she looked down.
"Teren Hark... that's him, right?"
Manager Ran Li looked at the phone she just snatched and a man with a hat. It seems like the mystery behind hat guy has reached the internet's interest, not just the local news.
'Really? But this picture completely hides his face though. How did she know it's him?'
"Teren... Teren..."
As if she had dug up the most traumatic past, Yumera slightly began to convulse, destroying her pretty face.
"Yes, I remember you..."
She muttered in an eerie voice.
"I gave my everything to him..."
"... I helped him... fight against the whole world..."
"I let him lean on me..."
"I've been there on his toughest times..."
"I've done everything for him... ahh..."
As if a mournful cry, Yumera lowly wailed as she looked at her manager, who looked back at her as if she's becoming uncanny.
"But he betrayed me a-and... took our GREAT SPIRIT!!! I'LL KILL HIM! HOW DARE HIM! HOW DARE HIM! HOW DARE HIM! ARGHH!!!"
Seeing Yumera turned crazy, Manager Ran Li stopped her from pulling her hair out.
"S-stop..! Yumera!"
"HE FUCKING BROKE MY HEART!! HOW DARE HE!! AFTER EVERYTHING I'VE DONE!! ARGHHH!!! I'LL KILL HIM, IF I DON'T, I'LL KILL MYSELF!!"