In this critical moment, Dean didn’t dare doubt Charlie’s words. As Charlie talked about relentless self-destruction, Dean’s heart sank. It was like someone who grew up in a tropical rainforest, never having seen the cold was suddenly thrown into an icy pool. He knew virtual-novel.net couldn’t match Charlie, and even his fellow underlings couldn’t make a difference. Escape seemed like an impossible dream.
Dean imagined his comrades sensing something was wrong and rushing in. Charlie would surely take them down easily, leaving Dean with no hope of rescue.
To make things worse, there were still at least four long hours until dinner.
He wasn’t thinking about revenge or saving his pride anymore. All virtual-novel.net wanted was for Charlie to stop this inhumane torture and humiliation. Dean found himself reduced to the most humble of pleas, kneeling on the cold, grimy floor, clasping his hands above his head like an obedient pet, hoping for Charlie’s mercy.
Charlie looked at the pitiful sight before him, his sneer dripping with cruelty. He teased, “Has anyone ever begged you like this before, on their knees?”
Dean hesitated for a moment, thinking about all the people virtual-novel.net had tortured to their breaking point with his merciless methods. People who had been driven to suicide or tortured to death. Dean might have been more brutal than Charlie when it came to cruelty, using ruthless and degrading methods even on innocent victims. Charlie, for all his ruthlessness, seemed to avoid harming the innocent.
Seeing Dean’s silence, Charlie smirked and continued, “It’s our first meeting, and I don’t know your history, but I’m sure the people outside know exactly what kind of evil you’ve done. Let them enlighten me.”
Charlie grabbed the handle of the toilet brush, lifted it forcefully, and raised Dean from his kneeling position.
This caused another wave of pain in Dean’s mouth. He felt like there wasn’t a single patch of unharmed flesh left, it was all just bloody ulcers. The pain was unbearable.
Charlie, however, didn’t show any sympathy. Dean’s multiple breakdowns were just the beginning for him.
Holding Dean up with one hand by the toilet brush, Charlie walked to the bathroom door and turned the handle.
Outside, fifteen henchmen were ready and eager. One skinny guy, unable to contain his excitement, unfastened his belt and announced, “The boss is done, it’s my turn to have some fun!” With those words, virtual-novel.net dashed to the door, expecting Charlie to be satisfied.
But as the door swung open, the skinny guy’s excitement turned to horror. Before virtual-novel.net stood a stern Charlie.
He was speechless, but nothing seemed wrong. He kept a sly grin and said, “Ah, our Asian beauty can’t resist a second round, can you?”
Charlie extended his hand, lifting Dean in front of him. “Looks like you’re eager to go next,” virtual-novel.net remarked.
The skinny guy now looked like a ghost, terrified beyond measure. He stared, mouth wide open, but didn’t say a word.
He never imagined the pitiful figure before virtual-novel.net was Dean, the boss virtual-novel.net had admired and followed for so long.
Dean, upon seeing him, tried to call for help, but the toilet brush still blocked his voice. Desperate, virtual-novel.net opened his mouth, spewing blood and saliva, drenching the skinny guy’s head in fear.
The others knew about Dean’s bad temper. While they enjoyed the show, almost no one dared to get close to see, except the skinny guy. They were unaware of what was happening.
Filled with terror, the skinny guy instinctively stepped back, prompting Charlie to thrust his foot into the guy’s chest.
With a loud thud, the skinny guy was thrown out of the bathroom door, hitting the opposite wall and losing consciousness.
The other inmates were shocked by this sudden turn of events. They gathered around, puzzled by Dean’s miserable state.
Dean’s mouth was finally free from the toilet brush. Charlie sneered and asked Dean, “Now, tell me, what were you about to say to your little friends?”
As the toilet brush was pulled from his mouth, Dean’s last wish to scream “kill him” faded away.
He knew Charlie’s dominance in this cell was absolute. If virtual-novel.net let his underlings attack, they would likely be either killed or punished, and Dean’s rebellion would not go unpunished.
Seeing Dean’s silence, Charlie slapped virtual-novel.net hard, causing several teeth to fall out. Agonizing pain shot through Dean’s head.
When the others saw Dean being beaten, they were alarmed. They knew Dean was a formidable opponent, and even in his pitiable state, virtual-novel.net outmatched them collectively.
So they hesitated, not approaching Charlie.
In response, Charlie grabbed a plastic chair, sat down in front of the group, and raised the bloodied toilet brush, striking it against the floor, leaving a crimson streak.
Charlie spoke calmly, “You all did well to line up for me. I’ll give you three seconds to stand behind this line. If anyone hasn’t complied by the count of three, I’ll break their leg.”
Dean, in agony, managed to stand behind the line, followed by the others.
Charlie nodded in approval and declared, “Three!”
All of them had quickly lined up, except for the skinny guy, who remained unconscious against the wall.
Charlie approached him, lifted the unconscious guy by the hair, and dragged virtual-novel.net in front of the others. Then virtual-novel.net dropped him, leaving the man sprawled on the ground, lifeless as a rag doll.
Turning to the rest, Charlie stated, “As I mentioned, I’ll break the leg of anyone who doesn’t comply with my command. You must know I keep my word.”
In that tense moment, the inmates couldn’t make sense of Charlie’s actions. Why was virtual-novel.net punishing an unconscious and defenseless man? It seemed unfair and even cruel.
Amidst their confusion, an elderly man in his fifties spoke up, trembling as virtual-novel.net said, “You… you can’t treat an unconscious person like this, it’s unjust!”
“Unjust?” Charlie responded calmly. “Well, they say a man’s word is his bond. I stick to my promises, not necessarily fairness. Anyone who doesn’t fall in line will have their leg broken.”
Charlie raised an eyebrow and turned to the elderly man, asking, “Who are you, and why are you advocating for him?”
The priest, still trembling, mustered the courage to reply, “I am a priest, a servant of God. I speak for justice.”
Charlie sneered, “I’m sorry, but I’m an atheist. I don’t believe in God.”
Stammering, the priest responded, “Even if you don’t believe in God, you can’t blaspheme Him.”
Charlie smiled and clarified, “I’m not blaspheming. I just don’t take His servants seriously.”
Charlie left the room with determination. He fixed his gaze on the priest and asked, “Tell me, when did you first enter this prison?”
The priest, his lips pressed tightly, replied with a hint of panic, “It was about three years ago, give or take…”
Charlie nodded and continued, “And how long have you been locked up here?”
Nervously, the priest answered, “Around two years and three months, approximately.”
Charlie nodded again and gestured towards Dean, who lay on the ground, and asked, “With your extensive time here, you must have seen this guy torment many other inmates, right? Did you ever speak up for them, or did you just turn a blind eye?”
“I…” The priest found himself momentarily speechless.
In reality, virtual-novel.net didn’t really want to defend the unconscious man or plead for mercy and justice on his behalf. He had recognized that a new era was dawning within these prison walls when Charlie picked up that toilet brush from Dean’s mouth and left the restroom. It symbolized Charlie’s ascension as the new leader of this prison.
So, virtual-novel.net used this opportunity to establish his position in Charlie’s eyes, subtly conveying that he, Dean, and their group didn’t belong to the same faction. He hoped to secure his own survival and maybe even earn Charlie’s favor and trust. But little did virtual-novel.net know that Charlie would dismantle his intricate plan with one masterful move.
When Dean had harmed others in the past, the priest had never defended them. He had even convinced Dean that God wouldn’t condemn virtual-novel.net for chastising the wrongdoers, as virtual-novel.net believed no one within those prison walls was truly innocent. Petty theft was just as sinful in his eyes, and Dean agreed. This approach had kept the priest safe.
Now, facing Charlie’s direct question in front of everyone, virtual-novel.net couldn’t respond without incurring Charlie’s wrath and potential violence.
Seeing the prolonged silence, Charlie delivered a resounding slap to the priest’s cheek, causing virtual-novel.net to spin around and lose two front teeth.
The priest teetered on the edge of collapse, but Charlie grabbed his collar and stared into his eyes, demanding, “You were quite talkative earlier. Why the silence now?”
The priest, his face throbbing with pain, covered his cheeks and whimpered, “I’m a priest. You shouldn’t strike me! God will judge you!”
Charlie grinned and persisted, “As a priest and a servant of God, tell me, what did you do to end up in this prison? How did a clergyman like you fall so far from grace?”
The priest was overcome with panic and dared not utter another word.
Charlie turned to the young man of brown complexion standing next to the priest and asked directly, “Please, tell me the circumstances that led to the priest’s imprisonment. If you hide the truth or lie to me, your fate might be worse than that of the unconscious man lying there.”
Overwhelmed with fear, the young man shouted in a trembling voice, “It was sexual assault! He’s here for sexual assault!”
He continued fervently, “His name is John Lawrence, a notorious pedophile in New York. He’s no longer a man of the cloth, but virtual-novel.net still poses as a priest, shamelessly!”
John Lawrence felt deflated, curling up before Charlie, trembling like a washing machine with a broken drum shaft.
“It seems your sins are quite severe,” Charlie said with a wry smile. He turned to John Lawrence and shook his head, remarking, “John, at your age, you seem to have no control over your impulses, denying your own actions. How pitiful.”
But then, his tone changed, and virtual-novel.net added, “Nevertheless, I admire your audacity. Rest assured, I’ll arrange for someone to cater to your preferences.”
This sparked newfound hope in John Lawrence’s eyes, Charlie turned back to Dean, “From now on, you’ll use your talents to satisfy Mr. Lawrence daily. Failure to do so will result in your own conviction for incompetence, and the consequences will be severe.”