Chapter 146: Chapter 146
Adam came out of the visitor section.
Senju was standing outside.
She had been waiting near the side of the hallway, and the moment she saw him, she stepped closer.
Adam looked calm.
"The meeting went well," he said.
Senju stared at him.
She had already been confused before he went inside. Now she looked even more confused.
"I still don’t understand," she said. "How are you going to get him out?"
Adam looked at her for a moment.
"Senju," he asked, "you have gone to one or two meetings with Kiri and Kenji, right?"
Senju blinked.
For a second, she did not understand why he was asking that now.
"Yes," she said slowly. "But why?"
Adam did not answer that question.
"Let’s meet the jail warden," he said.
Senju’s face changed again, but Adam had already started walking.
She followed him because she had no better choice.
Before coming here, Adam had asked Senju to arrange a meeting. Because of that, the warden already knew someone was coming to see him. The guards did not treat them like random visitors. After checking them once, they were taken toward the administrative side of the prison.
The jail warden’s office was not large.
Files were stacked near one wall. A metal cabinet stood behind the desk. The room smelled faintly of old paper and medicine.
The warden himself looked old.
His hair had gone mostly white, and the skin near his eyes had loosened with age. He did not look weak, but he looked like a man who had already started counting the years left before retirement.
The moment Adam saw him, one thought appeared in his mind.
’Now I understand how Leo escaped in the future.’
If the warden was this close to retirement, then he did not need to protect the system forever. He only needed to leave cleanly before anyone looked too deeply.
’And this is probably why he was never caught.’ Adam thought.
Soon, all three were sitting inside the office.
Adam was still in Wil’s appearance.
The warden looked at him first, then at Senju.
"Tell me," the warden said. "What can I do for you?"
Senju sat quietly, but her mind was not calm at all.
She had thought Adam might ask for information, maybe something about Leo’s schedule. She had known Adam wanted Leo out, but even after hearing that, she had not imagined he would walk straight to the warden.
Adam spoke before she could think further.
"Sir," he said, "I want to talk about Leo."
The warden’s eyes moved back to him.
"Leo," he repeated.
Then he leaned back slightly.
"I don’t know how that man stayed alive," the warden said. "For what he did, he should have been given the death sentence."
Adam smiled politely.
"I want Leo out," he said.
Senju’s eyes widened at once.
She turned toward Adam so fast that she almost forgot the warden was in front of them. He had said it directly, without any cover or slow approach.
The warden’s eyes narrowed.
His voice became serious.
"What do you think this is?" he asked. "Did you come here to threaten me? No one can take him out."
Adam’s smile did not change.
"Sir, when did I say I would take him out?" he asked.
The warden watched him.
Adam continued, "I am saying you will help us take him out."
Senju’s whole body tightened.
She reached out and caught Adam’s wrist under the desk, trying to warn him to stop. If the warden reacted badly, both of them could be trapped here before they even understood how far the matter had gone.
Adam did not look at her.
He only moved his fingers slightly, telling her to stop.
Senju froze for a moment, then slowly let go.
The warden’s expression became colder.
"What are you trying to say?"
Adam leaned back a little.
"Sir, please do not act too innocent," he said. "There are many things we cannot bring in front of everyone. You know that, and I know that."
The warden did not speak.
Adam continued in the same calm voice.
"Just let him out," he said. "In return, we can guarantee that nothing will disturb your retirement."
Senju’s heart beat faster.
She understood what Adam was saying without saying it directly.
He was offering money.
Not openly, but clearly enough.
Senju looked at the warden.
His face was still strict. His back was straight. His eyes were hard enough that she could not read him at all.
’Please work,’ Senju thought. ’Please let this work.’
For several seconds, the office stayed quiet.
Then the warden spoke.
"After all this time," he said, "you want him now?"
Senju’s tension loosened by a small amount.
That line did not sound like refusal.
Adam smiled.
"We are not in a hurry," he said. "Whenever you find the right day to release him, everything will reach your house the same day."
The warden looked at him carefully.
"I want ten million dollars," he said. "And one piece of land in South District."
Adam paused for the first time.
Ten million dollars was not the problem.
South District was the problem.
That district had already become important because of the government project. It was also tied to the same land movement that had helped Adam and Darien make profit. A piece of land there was no longer a simple price.
Still, Adam kept the polite smile on his face.
"Ten million dollars will reach your house," he said. "As for South District, you understand what the government is doing there, right?"
The warden’s eyes did not move.
"I know," he said. "That is why I am asking."
Adam stayed silent.
The warden continued, "Your guest is famous, you know. If I let him out, I also carry risk."
Adam understood.
The warden would not leave a gap for himself. If he was going to open a door this dangerous, he would take everything he could.
And Adam did not have the position to negotiate much.
He stood up and held out his hand.
"Deal," Adam said.
The warden looked at his hand for a moment.
Then he smiled and shook it.
Adam did not let go immediately.
"After you release him," Adam said, "you need to give him this phone."
He looked toward Senju.
Senju was still shocked, but then she remembered.
She opened her bag and took out the phone Adam had given her earlier.
She placed it on the desk.
The warden picked up the phone and placed it inside his drawer.
"Fine then," he said.
