Chapter 132: Entering Prison
Specifically two hours prior to that moment...
Cain and Lucy were standing inside Nathan’s house, watching an urgent breaking news broadcast ablaze across the phone screen. The female news anchor’s voice echoed live as media cameras hovered above the main palace of the Ian family; the footage revealed a total security blockade, with hundreds of heavily armed police officers cordoning off the building’s perimeter from every direction.
The danger did not stop at a mere blockade; the police command issued a stern ultimatum over megaphones, granting a deadline of no more than ten minutes before initiating a full raid and forced search!
In that critical moment, Cain determined the exact location of the palace through the news report’s description. Not a single minute could be wasted; Cain and Lucy opened a dimensional portal immediately from Nathan’s house, its opening settling at the heart of the main hall inside the Ian family palace.
Their primary objective for this swift entry was to bring the family members into their plans, informing them of the urgent strategy being concocted to ensure their full cooperation and avoid any reckless actions.
When they stepped through the portal and descended into the palace’s spacious hall, the scene overflowed with panic and despair.
The family members and staff had witnessed everything on the media; the family head Vincent and the young master Ethan had vanished completely along with all their bodyguards in the video recording in a manner akin to pure magic! Their homes and properties were entirely blockaded, and even their young children had been detained and transferred from their private daycares and schools under heavy police escort!
And now... they were trapped inside the palace as time ran out. Psychological collapse was consuming everyone, and they were on the verge of opening the doors to surrender completely... except for the elderly lady Levina—Vincent’s wife—who stood bravely before them all, strictly forbidding anyone from touching the handles or opening the doors, driven by absolute certainty in her heart that her family was innocent and that her husband and grandson would inevitably return, no matter how long it took!
Suddenly... Cain and Lucy emerged from the depths of the dimensional portal before the family... a portal identical to the one the family had only seen in the video clips where Vincent and Nathan had vanished! Everyone panicked and retreated, but Cain raised his hand calmly, speaking in a reassuring voice:
"I know you are terrified... but both Vincent and Nathan are alive, and they are now in complete safety under my protection and care. I have come here personally to fix my mistakes, and I need your help and solidarity."
Without further words or wasting time, Cain immediately evacuated the pregnant women and young children through dimensional portals, transporting them safely to his private palace in the other world.
Afterward, Cain presented the remaining family members and staff with a decisive choice: either evacuate entirely, or have some stay behind to assist in a comprehensive plan to exonerate them through temporary detention.
The first to agree was the grandmother Levina, standing with a serious and resolute expression as she said: "This old woman is with you, my boy... as long as it concerns protecting this family and preserving its dignity!"
Seeing their great grandmother’s stance and sacrifice, the non-pregnant women, men, and all staff refused to leave or flee, declaring their absolute readiness to sacrifice for the endurance of this house!
Cain expressed his gratitude and appreciation, then briefed them on the details of the meticulously crafted plan...
Despite the immense power Cain and Lucy possessed, they had no desire whatsoever to incite chaos or use their superior energy, which could shatter the balance of this human world. Thus, they would infiltrate the security headquarters disguised as fleeing sanitation workers trafficking contraband.
To eliminate suspicion entirely and handle matters smoothly without resorting to harsh reactions, they would be detained on charges of drug possession and trafficking—a minor charge compared to the international terrorism and armed cell allegations levied against the Ian family—meaning they would be held in standard cells with lower security and surveillance.
Once inside... they would use a portal to swap two members of the Ian family into the cell, dressing them in Cain and Lucy’s attire and applying temporary optical camouflage magic to take their places!
Meanwhile, Cain and Lucy would stealthily navigate the headquarters’ corridors via portal magic to search for "Darren"—the last leader of the Smile Organization detained in the highest-security block—to breach his cell and finalize their agreement.
When guards later noticed two members of the Ian family missing, their suspicion would never target the sanitation workers’ cell! At that point, Cain would unlock all the cells and release the prisoners to spark massive chaos, exploiting the distraction to transfer the rest of the Ian family to the completely secure palace!
After that... they would force leader Darren to appear live before the world, explicitly declaring the Ian family’s complete innocence regarding any ties to the organization!
Back to the present...
Cain and Lucy walked bound in heavy armored shackles, surrounded by four recruits aiming live automatic weapons, guiding them through the dark and damp corridors of the subterranean holding facility inside security headquarters.
Inmates stood behind the iron slots of their cell doors, eyeing the two newcomers with sharp, curious gazes.
Although security regulations mandated separating males from females and transferring Lucy to the designated women’s ward... due to an order issued for their transport within an hour or two to the main narcotics division, it was decided to keep them temporarily in a single holding cell until the deportation time!
The guards halted before one of the cells, the heavy iron door screeching open. One recruit stepped forward and attempted to shove Cain and Lucy forcibly inside to speed up entry...
Yet... the moment his hand touched Cain’s back, the recruit froze in shock and horror; it felt as though he were trying to push a giant boulder or a heavily reinforced concrete wall that wouldn’t budge even a single millimeter!
The recruit paused in embarrassment, sweat pouring from his forehead, while the remaining guards looked on with surprise and confusion.
Cain and Lucy exchanged a fleeting glance filled with mockery and understanding, instantly feigning a stumble and throwing themselves forward into the cell as if the guard’s push had been intensely effective!
The guards marveled at this sudden fall after that strange rigidity, but paid it little mind, rushing to slam the heavy iron door shut and engage the double lock.
CLANG!
The guards’ footsteps faded down the corridor, leaving heavy silence to drape over the area once more...
Lucy stood up and dusted off her clothes with a light smile:
"Ha... This feels like we’re living through an episode of a prison break drama series!"
Cain nodded in agreement as he rose with dignity, brushing off his attire coldly, then stepped toward the rectangular iron slot of the door to observe the cell opposite them, monitoring the guard movements and patrol patterns in the corridor.
A single light bulb hung from the ceiling, emitting faint, flickering beams, alongside a single concrete toilet in the corner of the cell.
It was evident that the corridor contained cells submerged in total darkness, indicating many broken light fixtures in this sector... and this dilapidated setup was exceptionally ideal for executing their magical portals without interference!
Suddenly... a rough, mocking voice resonated from the opposite slot across the hallway:
"Hey, pal!... Are you seriously thinking about escaping the very moment you arrive?! Forget about it, kid... that’s impossible here!"
Cain peered through the iron slit of the door, discerning the prisoner residing in the opposite cell looking back at him through his own door slit... The man bore dozens of violent tattoos spanning his face and neck, along with strange, disfigured teeth, making it abundantly clear that he belonged to one of the dangerous street gangs.