The moment Soren thought this far, he shot out of bed.

With heavy strides, he marched towards the elevator.

The more he thought about it, the more sense it made.

After all, on his first day, Vinegar was able to bribe the guards to turn a blind eye to the fight in the cafeteria.

If she could do something so bold, so big, then getting information on a person—a prisoner—must be easy.

While he did not care whether the prison did their bribery and corruption, it bothered him when the consequences hit close.

The day Soren came to the prison, Cynthia did not have the best day, but she was still willing to welcome him to their cell and offered him bread she made herself.

She fed him.

In the kind of world Soren grew up in, such hospitality, especially to a stranger, was as rare as finding gold.

And from a person considered a monster, no less.

Soren did not consider himself the best person out there, but he absolutely hated when those around him were hurt.

It was the reason he went that far for his town folks—even though they were assholes to him.

In his heart, it was simple: they are assholes.

—True.

Deserving of a good beating.

—Some, maybe a lot of them.

But they were 'HIS' assholes. 'His' problem to deal with.

And nobody was allowed to touch his own.

–Ding.

The elevator shaft opened to reveal the underground.

Soren rushed out, his anger flaring.

Right in front of him, directing the other prisoners, was the guard Billy.

He literally leaped, wrapping his legs around the guard's neck.

And then the punches rained down.

"Don't. Screw. With. My. Roommate." Every word came down with at least two punches.

"Prisoner on the loose!" A guard screamed, and then another.

"Hey, let him go! Or I'll fire."

Weapons aimed at Soren.

But then Soren tilted right, flipping Billy over.

The moment they fell, Soren held the man in a chokehold.

Shit!

He cussed in his mind. He had been so angry that he did not think this true.

The only thing on his mind was to beat the shit out of Billy.

Even as he held the man, Billy bled—from his mouth, nose, and one eye.

Soulbound warrior strength was no joke. And in all honesty, Soren held back.

But that was only because he wanted the man to feel as much pain as possible.

However, he was now in a bind.

Prisoners stopped and turned to watch. Even Cynthia was surprised by what was going on.

Just ahead, Vinegar and her three daddies also came to see what was happening.

Meanwhile, Soren's mind was calculating as fast as possible.

Worst case scenario, he died and had to start the day again.

But Red Sword Inquisitors were around, swords drawn.

They had cut his connection from Chronovore once.

They could definitely do it again. But he was sure that was not the only thing they could do.

If it were, Soulbound warriors would not fear them so much.

Right now, he was nothing but a prisoner that had gone rogue.

Soren's mind calculated fast and hard. He needed something.

An excuse.

Leverage.

And then his eyes fell. On them. The Soil Mecha pilots. They too had rushed over in curiosity.

Soren remembered.

"Let the guard go right now!" A Red Sword inquisitor ordered sternly, sword already unsheathed, edges glowing red.

The atmosphere was heavy.

But they were inching closer.

Screw it.

"He is trying to kill you." Soren turned to the Soul Mecha pilots.

Not to the pilot of the Lance. But to the pilot of Lady Quiet.

"If you pilot that Soul Mecha... you will die." Soren gritted his teeth. "You will die, Lady Vera Kanta."

Those words took everyone by surprise, even more so the Soul Mecha Pilots.

Lady Vera Kanta was blind, but she did have ears.

"What nonsense?" Her brother stepped forward. "How dare useless gutter trash talk ill about my sister?"

Sir Edward Kanta. He was her older half-brother.

He was also the pilot of the Lance.

Soren had heard a lot about him. He even had his cutouts from magazines. And of course, an action figure of his Soul Mecha.

He was known to be a stern man with a very protective nature when it came to his sister.

Rumors had it that he even went far enough to challenge his father and slap his own mother when Lady Vera was disrespected.

Never had a man crossed this sister of his, and he allowed the scum to walk the surface of the earth freely.

Soren would not have chosen to lock horns with him if he could. But he knew for a fact that he was right.

"Then check." Soren added. His mind flashed back to when he saw the Soul Mecha shut off.

The way the lights dimmed and the Soul mecha suddenly stopped moving.

"Check the control panel. Check the bloody Glaasheart key..." he remembered when he piloted a Soul mecha.

Without the Glassheart in place, the Soul Mecha did not come alive.

That was it. The person that tampered with Lady Quiet messed with the Glassheart key.

"You stupid fool. Do you think I'm so dumb to fall for your petty trick?" Edward spoke up again. "These Soul Mechas have had the Empire's top minds work on them day and night, and you expect me to believe..."

"Do it."

Those words made everyone freeze.

They turned to the source of it.

Vera.

Her expression was as empty as ever. Head tilted away from the commotion, like she was using her ears to track the events.

"Sister, I don't think there is any need to listen to this prisoner." Edward spoke with a dignified air. "They are all good-for-nothing low lives that the empire barely manages to find useful, working the mines."

"Dude!" Soren yelled.

Not because he wanted to. But because of the way that Red Sword was looking at him, it made him feel like the man was going to wave his weapon soon.

"Listen to me, you overpampered asshole. You can either check to know if I'm right, or you can enter that Glass, and when your sister dies before your eyes, you will forever regret not listening to this... 'lowlife.'"

Edward gritted his teeth. That insult hit.

But then her voice came again.

"Do it."

"But sister."

"Edward. If what the prisoner says is true, then it means my life is in danger." She added.

"And if it is a lie?" Edward questioned back, wondering why his sister was taking Soren's side.

"Then you are correct. Besides, it's not as if he is running anywhere."

She gestured towards the countless guards and Red Swords around.

Then she turned towards Soren. "If you are wrong..." She let the words settle. "Just know that they are the worst punishments a Soulbound warrior can suffer."

Even though she said these words. Soren could swear that he was actually hearing a 'thank you' underneath all the threat.

(Author's note: Finally at chapter 70. Thank you all for your support. Especially Cody_)

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