81 missed calls. Those girls... I imagined them calling each other to confirm my status before barraging me in calls in hopes that I will pick up… And why does this system feel more like a cellular phone now?
I shook my head and checked its details.
As I thought, all nine of them had at least tried to reach me thrice. Some stopped, probably because of the cooldown.
In any case, I'm envisioning the enhancement of this skill in the 5th realm. Leaving a voicemail might become possible.
Moving on from that, the Avatar really reached the World of Elements. Focusing my attention on it, I tried sensing my connection to the Avatar. It's still here but the distance of Worlds disabled my connection from it. I have to spend energy to restore it.
However, considering the two notifications below the notification about my Avatar, there's a possibility that the Energy I will be using to restore that connection will be detected by whoever's managing this prison since it needed to travel from this world to that world.
Also, I am inside this Formation. This isn't just some Elemental Formation but something from a higher world. They can put more features to it.
With my Adaptability confirming it, the Formation also has the function to monitor every prison cell. The outside of my cell isn't under that Formation hence, a single patrolling Rank 5 Mortal is enough. They most likely think that he won't die that easily to restrained Transcendents like us if we ever tried to attack him from inside the prison cell.
Well, that probably works until my arrival.
"The new kid has been quiet for more than six hours now. I heard a Monarch brought him in. What do you think is the deal with him?"
While I was lost in my overthinking and observing of my current situation now that I got my restraint removed, a voice rang out from one of the occupied cells.
It's a deep cracked voice that probably belonged to an aged man. Although there were different races, most of those I encountered were more humanoid. The Anzeans are more humanoid as well, especially those who reached Transcendence. The lower their power level the more namekian-like they are. So judging from the voice, I'd say he's more human than anything else.
In any case, from what that man said, he didn't know that I'm already awake and he couldn't sense me from where he was. However, for him to know that a Monarch brought me in, someone definitely told him. Most probably that Rank 5 Mortal while I'm unconscious. Another thing to note was that he didn't hear anything when Remilia was talking to me earlier. She probably put an energy screen to not let anyone hear our conversation. Her connection to the World's Will was a kept secret. Although there's a possibility that it was already exposed, she still continued to exercise caution.
"You didn't bother responding to him earlier, old rug. Why are you suddenly interested in him? Besides, aren't you brought in by a Monarch too? Did you feel some kind of kinship towards him?"
The only woman in one of these prison cells replied. Although I couldn't be sure of her age just from her voice, it's not from someone as old as him.
"Nah. I'm just bored. It's been a while since we got some new topic to discuss with. I already know everything about you even down to your three sizes and favorite positions. Call out to him when he wakes up and ask him. Young'uns are more inclined to talk to women than old men."
"Curse you, old rug! If you're not going to say anything good, keep your mouth shut. I deeply regret falling to your tricks. Leave me out of this. My time in this unsophisticated place is almost over."
"Look at this witch! Do you still think your tribe's Ravenfall Sovereign will bail you out after he threw you in here? It's already a wonder that he didn't throw you to the Cauldron after what you did. What good does a mere Rank 2 Transcendent like you can do besides warming his bed? And if you're an Exalted then that is still possible. Unfortunately, you're not. You can only flaunt your strength in a Mortal World. How long has it been since a Mortal World lasted that a Transcendent managed to descend?"
Listening to their conversation and being amazed at the talkativeness of the two, especially the 'old rug'. I picked out some basic information about this world or rather, this prison.
Exalted, Monarch and Sovereign. That's a title for the power level of this world. Rank 3, 4 and 5 Transcendents… That means, the Great Ones weren't the only Rank 5. There are still the Sovereigns below them.
There's a mention of a tribe but that's probably pertaining to the 30 main tribes that were split between the six Great Ones. If a single tribe is being led by a Sovereign then I'm looking at the very least, 30 Rank 5 Transcendents excluding the Great Ones. Well, I'm just assuming things for now so nothing is a certainty. I'm going to compile every bit of information I picked up when my understanding of this world grew.
"Can I laugh at you, old rug? Because you've been here for too long, you know nothing about what's happening aboveground. I won't tell you anything so die by being curious!"
"Huh? Oi Wahid! Where are you? Tell me what that witch is talking about!"
The tone of 'old rug' sounded surprised as he called out to someone. And since the footsteps stopped, he's calling out to the Mortal Rank.
However, before he could answer him, another voice rang out. This time, it's weakened to a point that it would be hard to hear him under his laborious breathing pattern.
"C-can't you two be quiet? I'm trying to die here."
"Ah. Another old fossil. How long have you been trying to die by holding your breath?"
The woman asked resignedly. As if she's giving up talking to the other two.
After a brief silence, her voice once again filled the place.
"New guy, I know you're already awake. Tell us something about yourself. What did you do that you got thrown here by your Monarch?"
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When the woman directed the question to me, I decided to go with the flow but only telling them the bare minimum of the how and why am I thrown by Remilia in this prison not even mentioning that I'm not from this world. The three of them were restrained by Chains, aside from knowing that I'm awake, the woman couldn't really grasp my situation.
Besides, although their conversation sounded real, the woman decided to answer because she noticed that I'm already wide awake, to get my interest and let me be comfortable to talk about myself.
Too bad though, I have to be cautious or I will really be in a deep hole if I said something that will point to my identity.
Just like how I did to scoop out some information from Worldy and the red-veiled woman, I worked with my words to let them cough out more information that was beneficial to me rather than answering the woman's prying questions.
Around two hours later, Wahid, the Rank 5 Mortal who started listening to us suddenly ran up on a flight of stairs somewhere outside my vision.
With the sound of a door creaking open, two more sets of footsteps started descending that flight of stairs with Wahid docilely following behind.
Upon hearing those footsteps, the old rug named Klement, the woman named Irja and the trying-to-die man named Yatapa all turned their attention to the newcomers.
Right. Within two hours, I managed to learn all of their names and in turn, I also told them mine, Ember. It didn't matter if their names were their real names or not but it's much better than continuing to call them from each of our traits.
Also from what I gathered about this place after a roundabout way of saying I have no idea why I'm here, this is specifically a prison for those who offended someone higher than one's position. The time to be served here is indefinite. The only chance to go out is to get picked back up by the one who threw us inside, someone paying an exorbitant bail or a special Decree from one of the Great Ones.
Because death is the usual result of offending someone higher, there are only the three of them who are long-time residents of this prison. Especially the old rug, Klement, he's already here for more than 200 years. Irja already spent 20 years and Yatapa 50 years. Apparently, there were more prisoners before. A few died of old age and most were bailed out or picked back by whoever threw them in.
Irja was thrown in by her Sovereign after offending him, as to what she did, I failed to pry it out of her mouth.
Klement offended a Monarch because of his loudmouth.
And Yatapa, he's tight-lipped except for his wish to die by holding his breath.
"Hurry and check on the prisoners, Wahid. This Exalted brought a Decree from a Great One."
One of the newcomers commanded the Rank 5 Mortal, most likely the warden of this prison.
Upon hearing that, not only me but everyone's ears perked up, even Yatapa who still had difficulty breathing because of his own doing.
A Decree. Is this what the red-veiled woman meant about someone picking me up? Is she a Great One?
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om