Chapter 625: Chapter 624: Infiltrating the Kitchen_1
Noon, mess hall.
Aiden ordered a simple meal in the mess hall, carried it to his seat, but didn’t start eating.
After a good while, he lowered his voice and spoke to the seemingly empty seat opposite him, "How’s it looking?"
"I didn’t find any problems," Tony replied.
"Is that so?" Aiden stared at the food on his plate but didn’t touch it.
The HR department’s records showed that the prison had recently expanded its staff in many positions, including the mess hall.
While Tony was stamping his form, Aiden suddenly realized a possibility: the Blood Moon Cult may not only infiltrate the prison with undercover disciples as disguised prisoners but could also apply as staff members.
Contract positions did not require police establishment credentials, one only needed to pass the assessment to get the job. And for jobs like those in the mess hall, one might simply need to present a passable clean resume to be employed.
Aiden had heard a saying in the past: the most direct method of assassination was to gain access to the target’s kitchen. If a follower of the Blood Moon Cult got into the mess hall... then the possibility of them poisoning him wasn’t out of the question.
It was unlikely that they would poison indiscriminately, for if someone showed symptoms of poisoning before him, their plan would be blown and there would be no second chance to poison him.
This poisoning had to be targeted, and only fast-acting deadly toxins had the capability to kill him instantly.
He had Tony sneak into the kitchen to observe the preparation of his meal, but no problems were detected.
Was he being overcautious?
No, with assassination, one successful attempt was enough; the perpetrator wouldn’t necessarily have the opportunity every time. With so many people dining in the mess hall now, it wasn’t likely that the culprit would get the chance to poison his food specifically.
Aiden sat at his seat for a while, but ultimately he didn’t eat the food on his plate.
He had Tony pack the food into a meal box and then carried it out of the mess hall.
Before long, he had Meiruki escorted over.
"Can you test these for poison?" Aiden handed the meal box with the food to Meiruki.
"Deadly toxins?"
"Yes."
"Just to check for poison is quite simple, feed it to a few white mice and we’ll know," Meiruki replied, "Or do you believe it’s poisoned and need me to identify the type of toxin?"
"I’m not sure, start with animal testing. If it’s poisoned, then look for the type of toxin," Aiden said, "And later on, I might still need your toxin testing."
"What’s the matter, Warden? Someone finally harbors enough resentment to poison you?" Meiruki smirked with schadenfreude.
"Talk too much and you’ll be the one directly testing it," Aiden smiled, glancing at her, "Now hurry off to the infirmary."
Meiruki, with the sample, was taken away by the prison guards, while Aiden leaned back in his chair.
I’ll need to buy another meal from outside later... No, maybe I should make do with some canned food instead.
From now on, he had to be wary of everyone and everything around him. Followers of the Blood Moon Cult could appear in any corner around him, ready to assassinate him at the cost of their own lives.
Fortunately, he could at least monitor the movements of Mr. Blood Clothes himself through the Goddess of Revenge. As long as Mr. Blood Clothes wasn’t in Silvertown, he temporarily didn’t need to worry about someone close to him suddenly betraying him.
Just as this thought came to him, he heard that voice again—the one from the depths of his heart, casting doubt: "Really?"
Here it comes again — Aiden subconsciously furrowed his brows.
Ever since he had had a close brush with death in Sunset City, he had noticed that a certain voice would occasionally echo in his mind.
This voice was like the warning sense in his subconscious, awakening him to consider more comprehensively when he was about to make hasty judgments.
But after a few experiences, he gradually felt a sense of disconnection between his subjective consciousness and the ghostly reminding voice. Instead of saying that the voice was a part of his subconscious, it seemed more like there was another person hiding in his brain.
And... how should he put it, this person seemed to be more adept at considering problems comprehensively and had a more far-sighted view.
As it turned out, the few reminders given by this voice had been crucial.
This strange voice was undoubtedly related to the memories sealed by the Conspiracy Goddess.
And now, he had a rough idea about this voice.
It’s not the time yet — he thought.
However, the recent hint must be meaningful — he shouldn’t let his guard down just because he had a way to track Mr. Bloody Coat’s movements.
But what exactly would Mr. Bloody Coat do?
Aiden had no clue for the moment, but he quickly found a rational way to think — what would he do if he were Mr. Bloody Coat?
Aiden closed his eyes, sinking into deep thought.
...
Meanwhile, at the Blood Moon Cult’s stronghold in Silvertown.
The masked Mr. Bloody Coat surveyed the devotees kneeling before him and finally fixed his gaze on the young man at the forefront.
"You have stood out from my loyal followers after three rounds of selection, good. What is your name?"
"My name is Conrad, sir," the young man replied with utmost respect.
"Very well, Conrad, you are now one of my confidants," Mr. Bloody Coat’s voice carried a hint of amusement.
The young man, flattered and delighted, lifted his face, then bowed his head again, "Thank you for your trust, sir."
"I trust each one of you because you ’sacrificed’ your autonomy in exchange for absolute loyalty to me, your fidelity is beyond doubt," Mr. Bloody Coat leaned down, "I chose you simply because you are the most excellent among them."
"Thank you for your recognition, sir," the young man’s voice was reverent yet mechanical. Their adoration and loyalty to Mr. Bloody Coat had been forcefully implanted, lacking a genuine rationale, yet deeply influencing their thoughts.
"I will grant you power, and your status will be above the others. I will command them to obey you completely," Mr. Bloody Coat said.
"To receive even one ten thousandth of your power is a great honor for me," the young man replied, his eyes empty.
"One ten thousandth?" Mr. Bloody Coat let out a mocking laugh, "Do you think I would be so stingy? Your absolute loyalty is met with my absolute trust."
Conrad looked up, puzzled.
"I like to gamble big, Conrad," Mr. Bloody Coat leaned down, patting the other’s shoulder, "As a card in my hand, don’t disappoint me."
At the same time, Mr. Bloody Coat heard the ghostly calling voice in his mind: "Developing your own followers on your own... Are you trying to break free from my control?"
"I’m just more efficiently accomplishing my goals, don’t question everything, Great Reaper," Mr. Bloody Coat replied calmly, "You don’t need a mediocre pawn either."
