Chapter 162

EP.162 Release

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My hands and feet are trembling.

Could it be… Could it be that Jihyuk did drugs?

I don’t want to believe it, but Jihyuk’s behavior was exactly like someone under the influence of drugs.

It was definitely a modified cocaine that drastically increased the duration while rapidly destroying the body from the inside.

I’ve never tried it, but I knew about it from the news.

Dr. Jennifer Cash, suppressing her pounding heart, approached Jihyuk.

She grabbed his smiling face with both hands and carefully examined his nostrils and philtrum.

“What are you doing?”

Jihyuk’s innocent question.

Dr. Cash spoke in a calm tone.

“Stay still.”

“Okay.”

Jihyuk soon started humming a tune.

Biting her lip, Dr. Cash lifted his eyelids up and down, interrogating him like a child.

“Jihyuk, did you snort white powder?”

“Yes. I felt good.”

“Since when?”

“Two days ago… After you left. But I’m cold… Can you turn on the heater?”

Feeling cold in the humid Florida… He’s definitely not in his right mind.

But judging by his slightly elevated tension and calm demeanor, it seemed he had been on the drug for quite some time.

Dr. Cash thought it was somewhat fortunate.

If he started two days ago, it was likely just abuse, not dependency.

Once you fall into drugs, it’s extremely hard to break free.

But with the medical devices in the laboratory, the story changes.

We can put Jihyuk into the medical device and normalize the dopamine in his brain.

The problem is that he’s already experienced the pleasure… With Jihyuk’s willpower, he could break free quickly with proper care.

“Jihyuk.”

“Yes?”

“Who gave it to you? Was it that friend?”

“Yes. He’s a really good person.”

Dr. Cash closed her eyes tightly.

She had thought to thank that criminal bastard, but now she retracted that thought.

“Did that friend give you anything else?”

“Hmm…”

Jihyuk hesitated.

Dr. Cash, convinced he was hiding something, spoke in the gentlest tone possible.

“It’s okay. I won’t get mad.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. I won’t get mad.”

“I got a shot… They said it would make me feel good…”

“A, a shot!?”

Dr. Cash, wide awake, rolled up Jihyuk’s prisoner uniform sleeve.

Three dark brown dots were visible on the inside of his right elbow.

Seeing this, Dr. Cash suddenly felt dizzy and held her forehead.

Drugs injected directly into the veins are much more potent than those snorted.

The addiction is incomparably stronger.

There’s a saying in the underworld: once you stick a needle in, you’re done.

“Ah…”

Seeing Dr. Cash stagger, Jihyuk asked with concern.

“Are you okay, sis?”

She felt like she was about to lose it, but she had to hold on.

Jihyuk had just fallen for the devil’s temptation. It wasn’t his fault.

Dr. Cash, barely regaining her composure, took a deep breath.

“I’m fine… I’m fine…”

“Are you hurt? Should I ask for a doctor? The infirmary doctor here is famous.”

Listening to his nonsense, she felt like she was going crazy.

Suppressing her rising anger, Dr. Cash asked.

“Jihyuk, do the guards know about this? Who gave you the syringe?”

“The guard gave it to me. He said it was expensive. He gave me such an expensive thing… He’s a really good friend, right?”

“…..”

Dr. Cash, trembling all over, felt pity for Jihyuk, who was looking at her with a dazed expression.

And she was furious. At the inmate who turned Jihyuk into this, and at the guards.

They were all in it together. No, the guards were worse than the criminals.

For such things to happen in a state prison… How corrupt must they be?

Trash that shouldn’t exist in this world, using their power to exploit others.

Just thinking about breathing the same air as them made her nauseous, like when she thought about those human experimenters in Syria.

“Jihyuk…”

“Yes?”

“I’ll get you out of here soon, so until then, absolutely, don’t do that again. Okay?”

“That?”

“Don’t snort white powder or use syringes again.”

“Hmm…”

“Promise?”

“…..”

Jihyuk avoided her gaze.

It was clear he wanted to do it again.

Dr. Cash, stomping her feet, urged him.

“Promise. Quickly.”

“Yes… I promise.”

“You have to keep it. I trust you.”

“Okay…”

Hearing his uncertain answer, Dr. Cash felt uneasy but held onto her faith.

Hugging Jihyuk tightly, she thought.

She wanted to tell the guards to deal with that inmate immediately, but there was no one here she could trust.

She was boiling with anger, but if she said anything rash, Jihyuk might face retaliation, so she had to hold back and focus on getting him out.

She had been complacent. Jihyuk shouldn’t be in this dump…

‘Those bastards…’

**

“Alex! Hey!”

A black inmate snapping his fingers in front of me.

His gang lined up around him.

They weren’t here to attack me but to get drugs.

I was now the drug king of Section A.

Since being transferred from Section H, I had been distributing drugs, naturally rising to this position.

Though it was just a hollow title.

But who told them to call me like that? Unbelievable.

I got up from the table where I was snacking.

“What do you need?”

The black inmate grinned, showing his teeth.

“Cocaine.”

Look at this yellow guy. Disgusting.

No one dared to mess with me now.

Because I killed a few as an example? No.

Because I showed I could protect myself? Not that either.

Because they knew I got drugs from the guards.

If they killed me, the drug supply would stop, so they left me alone. Otherwise, I would have started a fight long ago.

I held up a small plastic bag of white powder from inside my prisoner uniform and shook it in front of the black inmate.

“This?”

“Yeah, hand it over.”

The inmate, mixing slang and being rude.

I showed my white teeth to the inmates behind him.

“You guys, want to kill this guy in front of me? If you do, I’ll let you stay high all day. Cocaine, meth, heroin, whatever you need, I’ll get it for you.”

The black inmate who had snapped his fingers at me was stunned.

“Wha, what…?”

But it was too late.

The inmates, who hadn’t felt the high in a long time, went crazy at the thought of being high all day.

One inmate started punching the black inmate, and others joined in with kicks.

Amid the horrifying screams, I climbed onto the table and threw all the drugs I had into the air.

The inmates of Section A rushed to indulge in the drugs.

Hierarchy is the instinct of all living beings, including humans.

They fight to claim higher positions, and when the leader is gone, another takes their place.

Now that the black guy is dead, someone new will rise as the gang leader.

But I won’t be in that group.

Even if I rot here for ten years, I can’t be the true leader of these gangs.

Because of my race.

It’s natural. If the queen bee dies, do they elect a hornet as the new queen?

No. They either elect a new queen within their hive or merge with another hive of their own kind.

They’re only quiet now because I brought them incredibly sweet honey, but if there’s no honey, they won’t leave me, a hornet, alone.

They’ll elect a new king and try to wield power, pushing out those who aren’t their kind.

Humans are so pathetic.

Compared to the Demon Realm, where various races live together and hierarchy is determined solely by power, where loyalty is given to the Demon King without the need for money or power, the human world is full of constant incidents.

I don’t like the part where they only do something if there’s a reward.

Seeing them makes me even more determined to turn Earth into the Demon Realm as soon as possible.

Descending behind the rampaging inmates, I approached the guards watching the scene from the iron bars at the section entrance.

“Where’s Sinclair?”

“He’s in another section. By the way, can you tone this down a bit? If this gets media attention…”

“Does the media care about society’s trash? No one cares who dies here. You guys have been turning a blind eye and just collecting your paychecks, and now you’re worried?”

“I’m not blaming you. Just don’t let it affect us.”

Such bootlicking… Tsk.

These guards are the same.

From the bottom to the warden, they’re all lowly creatures.

Just two days. It took only two days to gain their trust.

But it’s a relationship built on money, with an expiration date.

If I didn’t have the power of money, what would have happened?

They would have tried to torment me in any way possible.

“That’s what you say. Open the door.”

“Where are you going?”

“Solitary. It’s too noisy here to sleep.”

A guard chuckled and opened the door slightly without handcuffing me.

Living like a king here wasn’t so bad.

Judging by Dr. Cash’s reaction today, I’ll probably be out tomorrow or the day after.

This place was just a means to change her mind… But I think I’ll miss it.

**

The next morning.

Bang!

The sound of a baton hitting the iron door woke me up. Seeing Sinclair smiling brightly, I knew.

Dr. Cash had used her power to get me released.

I approached the food slot and asked.

“Release?”

“Yes. The order came through. I knew you’d get out eventually, but I didn’t think it would be this soon.”

“With power, anything is possible. Who got me out?”

“Well… Your acquaintance must have used their influence.”

“Who gave the release order?”

“I don’t know. I just follow orders. I’ll open the door, so don’t cause trouble.”

He still seemed to hold a grudge for hitting me with the baton.

I said with a nonchalant expression.

“Don’t worry.”

“Thanks.”

I moved with Sinclair to the warden’s office.

Normally, I should go through the release procedures immediately, but the warden, worried about not getting the rest of the money, had called for me.

The warden was waiting with an angry face, and as soon as I entered, he slammed his baton on the desk.

Bang!

“This isn’t what we agreed.”

The warden’s sharp words.

My guess was right. He’s worried about not getting the money.

Human greed knows no bounds.

“Who said they wouldn’t give it? Hand me your phone.”

The warden immediately handed over his phone.

I called Marcella and promised an additional $500,000 to the warden and the guards.

Only then did the warden’s expression soften, and he smiled happily.

“Thank you. Can we set the date and place like last time?”

“Yes. That will be fine. Are we done?”

“Yes, it’s been a pleasure. A windfall in my later years has put me in a good mood.”

“Are you retiring?”

“Of course. I’m thinking of traveling abroad.”

The warden took out some documents and handed them to Sinclair.

Then he said to me.

“Take care.”

Yeah, you take care too.

After completing the release procedures, I took off the brown prisoner uniform and put on my civilian clothes.

The clothes I wore when the accident happened in Mississippi. Sinclair, seeing the bloodstained shirt, asked.

“Is that your blood?”

“None of your business.”

“Okay. Just asking out of curiosity.”

After changing and completing the final procedures, I stood at the prison entrance under Sinclair’s guidance.

A car was parked on the opposite side of the road.

Dr. Cash was waiting, stomping her feet.

I waved at her and called Sinclair, who was opening the gate.

“Sinclair.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t take that position.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Exactly what I said. Don’t take the money-receiving position.”

At first, he thought I was joking and tried to smile awkwardly, but seeing my serious face, he froze.

I warned him, who was just opening and closing his mouth.

“I’ll deposit enough money for you to live comfortably, so keep your mouth shut and live quietly. Don’t tell anyone.”

“…..”

“Answer?”

“O, okay.”

“Lastly… You should quit this place.”

Sinclair’s breathing became rough.

A drop of cold sweat rolled down from under his hat and dripped off his chin.

Good, you should be scared. That’s how it should be.

Satisfied, I patted Sinclair’s arm, who stood like a stone.

“I’m leaving, it’s been fun.”

If Sinclair ever blabbed about what I said, he would die like the other guards, without a trace.

But if he kept his mouth shut? He would have enough money to live comfortably with his family for the rest of his life.

This is the end of my mercy for being a good conversationalist. The choice is entirely his.

Leaving the prison, I looked up at the bright sky.

In movies, they frown at the sunlight, but it was all a lie.

I just feel bad. Is it going to rain…?

Crossing the road, I spread my arms towards Dr. Cash, who was crying profusely.

Then Dr. Cash let out a sorrowful cry and ran to hug me.

Now, back to Korea, let’s nurture the resentment Dr. Cash has from this incident.

I’ll make sure she finds out about the drugs secretly to stir her up.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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