"Do you want to become an Inner Prisoner too?" Long Chen asked Zia Uzhi, even though he was already sure of the answer.
"Who wouldn't want to? The extra luxury there is pretty good. And I wouldn't mind having a bed instead of having to sleep on the ground. And the chance to go out is an additional cherry on top," Zia Uzhi replied.
His expressions soon paled as he realized that it was impossible for him. It wasn't as if he hadn't tried to get promoted, but it was just impossible.
He didn't have what it took to get promoted. He wasn't that strong either. The only thing he could do was to use the book he had stolen for negotiation. He could promise to return the book to them in exchange for a promotion, but he didn't want to do that.
He was saving the book because he wanted to negotiate his freedom in exchange for the book. He didn't want to lose the chance of gaining freedom. It was much more important for him than having a comfortable bed to sleep in.
"I want to try getting promoted. And I'm sure I can't win the first rank in the annual tournament. As for passing through the trial tower and getting the highest score, that also seems unlikely. So we can only try the third method," Long Chen muttered.
"How can we try the third method? We don't even know what that is?" Zia Uzhi retorted.
"That's the thing. That's exactly what we need to find out."
"And how do you say we can do it?" Zia Uzhi asked. "The only person who knows about it is hiding in the Inner Prison. He rarely comes out, and whenever he does, he doesn't talk to anyone."
"Then we need to find a way to get him out and make him talk," Long Chen replied. "You know more about this place. So you shall think of a way."
Long Chen stepped out of the library with the book in his hand. "Also, before you do that, tell me the way to get to a Heavenly Warrior."
"So you're placing all the planning responsibility on me? I literally have zero idea how we can make him talk. I think it won't work," Zia Uzhi replied.
"As for talking to a Heavenly Warrior, come. I'll take you to one," he continued as he patted Long Chen's back.
The young-looking Zia Uzhi escorted Long Chen to the tower that was farthest to the library.
The black tower rose as high as the eyes could see.
"What is this place?" Long Chen asked.
"It's the tower of heaven. It's the place where the Heavenly Warrior who maintains an oversight on the entire Prison stay. Come," Zia Uzhi replied as he pushed the door of the tower.
Opening the door, he stepped inside.
Long Chen also entered the tower, wondering if meeting a Heavenly Warrior was actually this easy.
As soon as Long Chen stepped inside, he noticed that the entire room was empty. There was only one formation on the ground, surrounded by a dark barrier.
"Why is no one here?" Long Chen asked.
"Just wait. They'll come," Zia Uzhi responded.
Just as he had said, the formation on the ground started shining, and a man appeared.
The man was just as described by Zia Uzhi. He was wearing a golden armor and really looked like a Heavenly Warrior. Moreover, the man didn't appear to be much older either. He was only in his mid twenties from his looks.
Long Chen was sure that it was just from the outer looks. There was no way that a Heavenly Warrior was going to be so going. It was similar to how Zia Uzhi looked like a kid despite being much older.
Whatever being the case, the man actually looked powerful. There was an aura around him that was making Long Chen uncomfortable for some reason. It was as if it was some Divine Aura that was telling Long Chen to get down on his knees.
Long Chen resisted the aura with all his strength without releasing the aura of his own.
"Zia Uzhi, have you finally come to your senses? You're ready to return the book in exchange for relief in your sentence?" The Heavenly Warrior asked, focused on Zia Uzhi. It was as if he couldn't even bother to look at Long Chen.
"Keep dreaming. You're never going to get that book. At least not until you get my full sentence pardoned," Zia Uzhi replied.
"And that's never going to happen. You dared to defile the wife of my friend! I'll see to it that you're never pardoned!"
"Then you can also forget about that book. The most precious book that can probably change the entire Heavenly Realm for the better and make us even stronger will never reach the hands of the Heavenly Emperor, all because of your stubbornness!" Zia Uzhi retorted.
"Moreover, it's not as if I wanted to defile your friend's wife. She asked me to do it herself. I'm innocent! Just think yourself! Why would a person in his sane mind lay a hand on that woman of everyone? She wasn't even my type!" He added.
"It looks like we have nothing to talk about then. You can leave," the Heavenly Warrior said. "You wasted my time for no reason!"
"I'm not here to talk to you either. There is someone else who had a problem and wanted to talk to you," Zia Uzhi replied as he stepped back, letting Long Chen take the lead.
It was only now that the Heavenly Warrior shifted his attention. "Yes?"
"I wanted to tell you about a blunder. Actually, I'm not supposed to be here," Long Chen said.
"Hah, that's what everyone else says too. Do you think they say that they're supposed to be here?" The Heavenly Warrior replied.
"Not like that. What I meant is that I'm not a criminal. I wasn't captured by a Heavenly Warrior! I was fighting someone in the Beast World. It was a species that had no eyes."
"Their leader claimed to be a servant of the Heavenly Warriors in the past. He also brought out the box which sent me here! So I'm not supposed to be here. I'm not a Heavenly Criminal! It's a mistake! You can find out the truth if you go to the Beast World!" Long Chen explained.
"Oh? That's a new story. Interesting," the Heavenly Warrior muttered, smirking. "I must say, you can make some good stories. But that's not going to work. No extra points to you for that story.. You can leave and continue living in that dream world of yours."