"I think this makes us even...
...Rhys Wilder."
The body of the woman that was trying to seduce Rhys hasn't even fallen yet — perhaps it doesn't even know that she was already dead; sharp pieces of her skull, her brain matter, her flesh, even her eyes were cut into hundreds of pieces.
Talia was approaching Rhys, but Rhys was completely focused on the bits and pieces of the woman's head. Rhys already knew that her invisible attacks were in the shape of a cross, but to think she was also able to make them small enough to dismantle a head like it was diced onion.
Rhys was also thinking it was a shame — if the woman's breaths truly did work as an aphrodisiac, then that would have been extremely useful for Rhys. But then again, Rhys had his power long enough to know that sexual desires only cover a fraction of the Hearts.
"I've only been gone for a few hours, and you already let someone sit on my throne," Talia then just grabbed the headless corpse by the shoulders and casually threw it away, causing it to roll a few times across the yard.
The yard was almost empty by now, as most of the inmates just decided to rest in their cells until the situation was over.
"...And I see the flies have gathered," Talia then let herself fall on the sofa, not even minding all the blood and flesh on it as she sat beside Rhys while looking at the remaining prisoners in the yard.
Rhys have actually already noticed them too even before the random woman came to seduce him... but everyone who remained in the yard seemed strong.
There were 3 groups, with the two Nobles being obviously the leader of their respective groups. As for the last one, the leader was a Commoner, but just by looking at the people behind her, she had the strongest people amongst the three leaders.
"You know why they're here, right?" Talia then let out a small scoff as she looked at the leaders one by one, "They want to recruit you under their gang and join their ranks of sorry excrements — people with no shame who would flurry like flies around a lowly dregger."
"Gangs... so, they really exist in prisons," Rhys squinted his eyes as he looked at the groups. And it is as Talia said; as soon as Rhys met their eyes, the leaders of the gangs started approaching him and Talia, "...But what exactly do they do?"
"Play kings and queens," Talia crossed her legs and just let herself relax on the sofa, "Pretend like they even have a semblance of authority in this place, unlike me... the one who holds the true power in this place."
"Fish," the first person to reach Rhys was one of the Noble leaders, a short man with orange glowing hair, "I'm not going to mince my words — you are either with me or against me. Your chances to survive this place are infinitely higher if you choose the former."
"Ha. You ain't gonna get the brother like that, Art," the other Noble stood next to the orange-haired Noble, Art.
"I am not done talking to the fish, Mike," Art scoffed as he glanced at the large dark-skinned man who invaded his space; the man's head, almost like a light bulb as his bright golden buzz-cut hair almost imitated the moon hanging above the prison.
"Really?" Mike then suddenly placed his arm over Art's shoulder, causing Art's men to quickly take action and try to surround Mike. But at the same time they did so, however, Mike's men also rushed forward to meet them; the two groups, now in a complete standoff,
"Because it looks to me that you're done — let the big boys negotiate. Now, look here, Mr. Popular..."
Mike then let go of Art and continued to approach Rhys, twirling his hands as he let out a stuttered, almost hiccuping chuckle.
"I don't know..." Despite all the threats they were receiving, Rhys just joined Talia and rested his back on the sofa to relax, "...I like the odds of my team."
"We are not a team, dregger," Talia just clicked her tongue and scoffed as she slightly leaned away from Rhys, "And get off of my sofa."
"You heard her!" Dominique still had her hand stretched, "Join us, brother."
"Okay..." Rhys then stood up, causing the expression on Talia's face to turn serious as she just looked at Rhys's back, while a smile once again crawled on Dominique's face, "I'll join...
...but only if the three of you are willing to work under me."
"Ha!" And before the three leaders could even express their disapproval and shock at Rhys's words, Talia was the first to react as she clapped her hands and raised her voice. The other leaders as well as their men could really only look at each other, as this was the very first time they've really ever seen Talia act like that.
As for Rhys, he wasn't focusing on Talia's laugh at all, but on the Hearts floating above her head — one of them, now suddenly completely filled up.
"It's funny, no?" Talia's thick accent slightly showed itself as she also stood up from the sofa and looked at the 3 leaders, "All these schemes, very cute. You've said that there are no guards at all...
...but how come none of you ever wondered why that is? Out of all of you, only this dregger seems to have noticed."
Rhys only glanced at Talia before a small smile crawled on his face.
"The reason why there are no guards patrolling is that there are no guards left..." Talia's breaths slightly fluttered as she tried her best to collect and prevent herself from laughing further,
"...is that there are no guards left, I killed all of them."
"You—"
"Yoohoo," Talia then playfully breathed out and whistled as she suddenly grabbed something from her pockets. And as soon as the other inmates saw what it was, they all just took several steps back; horror, painting their eyes. How could they not be afraid, when Talia was now holding a remote that is used to trigger the thing in their necks?
"That's right," Talia shook the remote, "I hold your lives now, but I won't kill any of you, not yet...
...because I also just accidentally killed the Warden."
"What...!?"
"And once they realize that in a few weeks...
...they are going to send an entire army after us."