Chapter 33: Zulat Prison
Day 1 in the Prison:
"It doesn't matter who you were outside. In this hell of a prison, Zulat, once you're here, you're all nothing more than equal prisoners. Understood?"
Day 3 in the Prison:
"Ah, Mr. Ascal. How is prison life treating you? If there's anything uncomfortable, please let me know. I'll attend to it immediately."
"Well, I feel refreshed waking up in the morning, and prison life seems to suit me well. However, the bread served for breakfast is a bit hard..."
"Ah, those distributors! I'll give them a stern talking to. Hard bread? That's unacceptable. I wasn’t aware of such a severe issue."
Cheshire, the warden of Zulat Prison, which had never allowed any prisoner to escape since it was built on a remote island, carefully brushed the dust off Ascal’s prison uniform.
"I'll correct it immediately. I hope you continue to enjoy your prison life."
"Thank you. I wish you good health, Warden."
Ascal then left the warden's office.
Thinking it might be worth a shot, he had pointed out some land for purchase. After discovering a valuable stone from the plot, the warden treated Ascal with utmost respect.
The guards waiting outside saluted Ascal.
"It's time for midday exercise. Would you like to rest in your cell today, or...?"
"My body feels a bit sluggish. I'd like to exercise."
"Very well. Please follow me."
The guard led Ascal to the prison's exercise yard.
Excluding Ascal, the other prisoners were already making the most of their limited free time.
"Over here! Kick the ball this way, you idiots!"
"No, pass it to me, not that dummy!"
The guard squinted his eyes.
"Tsk tsk. Even with a little freedom, they can't maintain order. Truly befitting of prisoners, don't you think, Mr. Ascal?"
"Haha. It does seem that way."
After quickly scanning his surroundings, the guard, seeing that no one was looking in their direction, whispered to Ascal.
"Which horse would you like to bet on today?"
"The number 3 horse."
"Thank you."
The guard, with a bright expression, disappeared to place the bet. Left alone, Ascal gazed at the vast open sky.
Screeech-
Seagulls flew overhead.
One never knew what life had in store, yet in just a few days, he found himself imprisoned.
'It did feel a bit odd.'
Ascal recalled an incident from not too long ago.
He had written an article about a gem frog, and soon after, imperial guards arrested him. Without a proper trial, he was sent straight to prison.
Not just any prison, but Zulat, the empire's worst, known for imprisoning only the worst offenders.
It was as if someone had been waiting for him.
'It certainly feels like someone interfered.'
For this to be possible, there were two conditions.
First, the individual had to have enormous power, enough to threaten Ascal, who was among the most influential figures in the empire.
The charge of manipulating the market was ambiguous, like an earring if hooked on the ear, a nose ring if on the nose. To imprison someone without proper evidence required significant influence.
Second, they needed a deep grudge against Ascal, enough to send him to the formidable Zulat prison.
'...The second princess?'
She had power and a motive.
Serena immediately came to Ascal's mind. Living by the creed, 'If it can't be mine, I'll destroy it,' it might be possible for her.
'No.'
It was a plausible theory, but there was an inconsistency.
The second princess had sent an invitation to Ascal on the very day he was imprisoned. She wouldn't imprison him without even waiting for a response.
So, excluding the second princess?
The emperor, the crown prince, the ministers...
It couldn't be the emperor. If Ascal had fallen out of favor with him, he would have vanished, like dew in the morning sun.
The crown prince? Even less likely. The one who personally asked for the punishment of Count Devar would not send Ascal to prison. He wasn't the type to lay intricate traps either.
‘The ministers.’
Ascal remembered.
When he had met the emperor, the sight of the sycophants whispering flattery on either side of him.
- If there hadn’t been those sycophants beside the emperor, you would have long been promoted to a high-ranking position.
And the testimony of the Kane.
It seemed most probable that those who imprisoned him were the ministers close to the emperor.
“Ascal. Let’s play.”
A man, nearly the size of a giant with a slouched posture, approached Ascal.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Ascal looked at the man.
"Alright. What should we play?"
"String games. Let’s play with strings.”
His name was Jerobe.
The giant-like man took out a piece of string and skillfully crafted shapes with his fingers.
“I love string games the most. Hehe.”
Though Jerobe looked a bit intimidating, he was a kind-hearted friend.
Ascal chuckled lightly and continued the string game.
It was Ascal who had first spoken to Jerobe, who seemed reserved when he first arrived in prison. Since then, Jerobe often followed Ascal around.
“If I’m with Ascal, I wouldn’t mind spending my whole life in this prison. It's fun. Hehe."
"...Perhaps that wouldn't be so bad."
Being on a secluded island, the air was fresh. The occasional sea breezes weren't unpleasant either.
There was nothing to worry about. Eat, relieve oneself, sleep, and the day’s routine was complete.
‘Perhaps being a prisoner is my true calling? ...Why do I feel a sense of déjà vu?’
Ascal spent his exercise time playing with Jerobe.
****
“Sob-sob Director-nim! I'm here! You're still alive, right?”
“Can't you see I am, right in front of you, Sushia?”
Visits were, in principle, prohibited at Zulat Prison.
However, when the power of a duke's family and the warden's discretionary authority combine, such unreasonable things tend to happen.
Sushia shed tears upon seeing Ascal’s gaunt face.
“Look at our director-nim, he's lost half his face. What do we do?”
“I've just lost some weight. If anything, my health improved with the regular routine here.”
“You don’t need to lie in front of me… sob.”
To be honest...
The prison food was surprisingly tasty.
After a brief outburst outside the window, Sushia calmed down and continued the conversation.
“With you suddenly taken away, the Evaluation Department has been in complete chaos. The empire is in an uproar too…”
“Is that so?”
“All of the Evaluation Department began a strike, risking their lives. They said they won’t work unless you are released.”
That was unexpected.
Ascal was taken aback.
Crossing the emperor could lead to one losing their head in an instant. But seeing that people still had their heads attached, it seemed the emperor was still watching over the situation.
“And the people from Cat tribe working in the empire joined the strike, vowing to defend the benefactor who paved the way for them.”
“...Why on earth would they?”
“Don’t worry, Director-nim. Above all, the Crown Prince is furious and has stated that he'll thoroughly investigate this matter. Even the Third Princess has voiced her strong protest.”
'Yulia?'
'I thought she would leave me the moment I lost my usefulness.'
It was an odd turn of events.
It felt like there were unexpectedly many people on his side...
“I couldn’t just sit still either. Using my connections, I found out the culprits behind this incident.”
“The culprits?”
“Of course, it was Duke Sebes and Count Galtanar. Those sycophants framed you.”
Sushia seemed visibly angered as she spat the words out.
Duke Sebes, Count Galtanar. They were among the ministers present when he had met the emperor.
As expected, it was their doing.
“How could they just send the empire’s official to prison without even a proper trial?”
“I did find it a bit odd.”
“Don’t worry, Director-nim. I will get you out of there.”
“No, this is perfect right now.”
“?”
To Ascal’s knowledge, even if the empire were to fall, only the affiliation of Zulat would change, but it would still persist.
In a way, staying quietly imprisoned might be a good choice.
Good air, a relaxed schedule, and tasty food.
Life in the Zulat prison was quite bearable, as long as one had influential backers.
“Anyway, I brought some newspapers so you can stay updated with what’s happening outside.”
Sushia boldly smuggled in the outside items. The guard sneaked a peek and then averted his eyes. It was a victory of influence.
“Thank you.”
“Things seem to be going well from what I see, so don't worry too much, Director-nim. Your name will surely be cleared.”
Usually, when someone says such things, situations don't turn out as planned, and one's name isn't cleared.
“Visiting time is over, my lady.”
“I'll be going, Director-nim. Please take care of yourself!”
“Alright.”
Sushia hesitated to leave, constantly looking back, trying to stretch time. Eventually, the guard grew impatient and ushered her out.
‘I’m grateful she even came all this way.’
Inwardly, Ascal slightly improved his opinion of Sushia.
****
In the evening,
After finishing his day, Ascal returned to his cell and unfolded the newspaper Sushia had given him.
‘I should at least know how the world is turning.’
Sure enough,
----
▶The Empire's Hidden Dragon, Imprisoned in the Worst Jail.
----
The first headline was about him.
And below that...
▶The White Mage Tower, Turning Attention to the Gem Frog?
▶Prince Kain, ‘I won't let this matter slide.’
▶Duke Senestia expresses regret over recent events.
▶The Cat tribe begins a strike on a tribal scale.
▶Princess Yulia, breaking her long silence, speaks out at an official gathering.
“Hmm. Quite the commotion.”
Quietly, Ascal folded the newspaper back up.
