The Grand Duelist

Chapter 39: Choice

As soon as all three of them descended the stairs. Joseph felt like he entered a brand-new world for everything had changed.

The somewhat noisy drafts of cold wind outside couldn't penetrate the stairwells leading downstairs and the world turned silent...

Not even their footsteps could be heard and this sensory deprivation was a strange phenomenon for the newcomer Joseph who needed to hold fast on his wits so that his knees wouldn't fold up subconsciously in primal fear.

"How is it? Quite strange, right?" Javier walked towards a nearby torch and took it out from the wall.

"Yeah, it really is quite strange. it feels like I am floating while I am walking in here."

"That really needs some getting used to. I know what you're feeling right now, hahaha."

"But the two of you need not worry about that, as long as you possess the aura bestowed by the Jail Warden. Nothing bad will happen.." Javier gave a mysterious smile as the three of them continued their walk downstairs.

Soon, they arrived before a stone wall which had Joseph thinking.

"Another Stone Wall? Why are they so caught up with stones?" This thought of his didn't last long for an imperceptible shockwave burst from the stone wall towards all three of them.

A prickly sensation spread across Joseph and he felt as if something was intent on searching about something on his body. This sensation lasted for a few moments until it locked on at the strange, greyish aura located at Joseph's right chest.

That particular aura that radiated a gloomy energy pulsated when it came into contact with the shockwave from the stone wall, and when it did made contact.

The stone wall lost its radiance and everything came to normal once again.

"What was that?" Joseph couldn't help but ask.

He glanced at Ezreal and found that the latter looked as calm as ever.

"That's for security. The stone wall scans for the mark of the Jail Warden on your body and if it finds it. You are permitted entrance, and if it is not..." Javier purposely lengthened the end of his sentence as Joseph stared at him with a grave expression before asking: "If it's not?"

Javier revealed a deep smile before lifting his left arm and making a neck-slicing motion with his thumb. Seeing his gesture, Joseph gulped a mouthful of saliva.

Everything within this Underground Penitentiary was really eerie, strange and dangerous!

Joseph even reckoned that he might not get some good sleep tonight.

"This is the main jail area for the Cellblock that's in our jurisdiction." Javier took a step forward and his body seamlessly passed through the thick stone wall. Ezreal followed him and Joseph followed suit after a moment of hesitation.

"Water... I need some water..."

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"Food... Please, some food..."

"I already told you everything that I know so please, please let me go... I want no more of this nightmare anymore..."

As soon as all three of them entered the main jail area. What Joseph saw was a scene that could be described as an absolute nightmare. Apart from the anguished and pained cries of the prisoners behind rusty, solid bars. Joseph also saw that all of their wounds were festering.

The hygiene was so bad within the main jail area that Joseph considered even being in here as crimes against humanity. Thankfully, this was a game or else, war would've already exploded just because of the treatment that the prisoners had in here.

"Ugh..." Joseph felt sick and system notifications appeared right before his eyes.

[ You have entered a dangerous area for your mental state! ]

[ The system is currently analyzing your mental status. If any abnormalities are found outside of safety margins. You will automatically be kicked out of the Underground Penitentiary. ]

[ All ongoing quest will be revoked, but not failed. Another appropriate questline will be generated with similar reward to the previous questline you have, so rest assured, Adventurer! ]

[ Analyzation Complete! ]

[ You are currently under a state of shock. This is a natural phenomenon that is within the safety margins and calculations of the systems. ]

[ You may now proceed with your activities, but keep in mind that your mental state is constantly monitored. Once an abnormality is found, appropriate actions will be done. ]

[ Good Luck, Adventurer! ]

Seeing these system notifications...

Joseph couldn't help but appreciate the efforts of those from P.H Works.

For the first time, he didn't curse them anymore but gave them his thanks.

But if one thought deeper about it, it made sense that P.H Works monitored the mental states of those in such unusual circumstances.

But for now, Joseph was only thankful for the fact that the P.H Works cared for him as a player.

He soon suppressed his fears and the rising gastric contents of his stomach as he weakly moved forwards and followed the two in their journey.

At the intersection of the dark hallway, just before the other jail cells within the ground floor of Cellblock 5. Joseph found a gathering of Jail Janitors talking to each other with stern expressions.

"Javier, who are those people behind you?" One of the Jail Janitors noticed the approaching party of the three and exclaimed when he found Javier.

"Well, they are newbies. Deputy Warden asked me to brief them about their jobs and responsibilities as Jail Janitors."

The man who exclaimed and was clad in pure white clothing that looked more like a hazmat suit stared at Joseph and Ezreal before nodding his head.

"I see, in that case then good luck teaching them. Right now, we're brainstorming some ways about how we could break those cursed bastards and that Old Bastard John."

Javier's expression flickered for a moment before he replied: "I see, so those cursed bastards are back once again? As for Old Bastard John, I don't even know if we can actually force him."

"Yeah, they do really cause a lot of trouble. But this time, I will be sure to break them before time runs out. Especially that old bastard." The man replied with determination in his voice.

Javier nodded his head: "Well, good luck then. Breaking one of those bastard nets really high rewards so if you managed to do so, then I hope that you won't forget about me..."

"Hahaha, of course. Of course..." The man lightly chuckled and the conversation of the two, finally ended with Joseph and Ezreal completely silent and the former, baffled.

The three of them continued their walking and Javier glanced around as if he was choosing something. After about a few seconds. He finally nodded his head with a smile before heading to a direction where a lot of feminine pained moans were coming.

"Follow me, I'll show both of you something good." Javier winked at the two as they all walked towards the direction that Javier had picked.

"Sir, may I ask? Just how strong are the prisoners in here?" Before the three of them could arrive at their destination, Joseph took this chance to ask some questions.

Javier stopped on his tracks and turned to look at him with a proud smile on his face: "It doesn't matter. Everyone, even Gods or Goddesses are going to submit once they are in this Penitentiary!"

Joseph was taken aback by the answer that he received. But Javier continued on walking once again, and before long. All three of them were nearing their supposed destination.

The pained moans gradually became stronger. Joseph blushed when he first heard the moans, but he soon realized that those moans didn't come out due to something pleasurable but something completely opposite.

The moans that he heard were exhausted moans that lost all their will on living.

Realizing this, Joseph became fidgety as they approached the jail cell. But before Joseph's eyes could land on what was inside the jail cell. A series of system notifications once again appeared right before his eyes and blocked everything that he could see as the world around him froze.

[ The scene that you are going to see are scenes that shouldn't exist within the realm of reality for its incomparable cruelty.

Due to this, the player can choose whether he wants to see the following events within this scene or not. Doing so and choosing to skip doesn't affect the outcome of something, or anything. ]

[ Are you willing to view these scenes? ]

[ Yes or No ]

Joseph was presented with a choice.

With what Joseph saw so far within the Underground Penitentiary.

He wouldn't hesitate to say that each and every scene that he saw were incomparably gruesome.

Joseph was an opportunist and most likely. He would choose to skip the following scenes due to the fact that he could save valuable time that he could spend on brainstorming about ways that he could use on rescuing the Legendary Blacksmith.

However, ever since Joseph defeated the Great Wandering Bard as someone that's not even a fourth of the former's level and strength.

Joseph found that he had a completely fraudulent class similar to what he heard from new stations around the world.

But possessing great power meant possessing great responsibility.

Even Joseph who considered himself as a determined man that wouldn't easily give up in the face of challenges, faltered when he thought about the hardships that he would meet on developing himself in the world of Victory.

But did he ever thought about giving up?

Of course not!

He may hesitate and not feel confident, but he would never give up!

His goals of earning a lot of money to the extent that he could use it as toilet paper and never feel pain about doing it still remained in his heart.

But he had another goal now.

What was it?

Well, it was to gain a foothold within the world of Victory.

But why?

It was because Joseph felt that it would be a shame if the Mythical Class, the Sun that Overlooks Everything, couldn't "overlook" everyone from the top.

For Joseph who wanted to earn money. He welcomed that idea, and he had never forgotten about it since he decided that he must become stronger.

Of course, Joseph still didn't have that much attachment to the phrase "getting stronger".

But who knows?

Maybe in the future, someone would require his help in the world of Victory, and he would beat himself up by being so powerless that he couldn't help that person in their plight.

Right now, Joseph may lack further concrete reason when it came to why he wanted to be stronger apart from superficial ones.

But who knew about what would the future bring for him? And because of that...

Should he cower, retreat and use the easy way out?

Or should he temper himself through hardships and become even stronger for his goals?

Well, it was pretty obvious.

Joseph opened his mouth and uttered his decision.

"Yes."

As soon as this word came out of his mouth.

His decision opened his eyes to a world of cruelty that he had never seen before.