Threshold of Revelation

The infamous Warden of Moroznaya Bashnya Maximum Prison, Dmitriy Morozov, was known for his numerous achievements during wartime in the past. A cold and stern person, but now, the warden himself couldn't help but feel a little nervous when there is a visitor coming to his prison.

He fixed his stance and adjusting his olive suit a bit to not look too messy. He had learned long ago from someone that appearances really mattered when meeting people with higher status, so he couldn't afford to look bad, especially when the person he was about to meet was an extremely powerful person. As the car door opened and a silver-haired man stepped out, Dmitriy immediately bowed to greet him.

"Greetings, Your Highness." He said with an polite voice.

In response to the warden's formal greetings, the silver-haired man just simply laughed it off and smirked.

"No need to be so formal, Mr. Morozov." he chuckled, an easy smile spreading across his face. "After all, it's a sudden visit. I should have informed you of my coming so you could properly prepared." He glanced around the prison as he spoke.

Dmitriy narrowed his eyes slightly. Although this wasn't their first encounter, he always felt a weird feeling of uneasiness whenever they met.

Why? The reason was simple. The silver-haired man standing in front of him was, in fact, none other than Prince Nikolai Konstantin of Veridia Empire, the second child of Emperor Ivan… And a potential heir currently in an intense race with his sister for the throne.

"Your Highness." Dmitriy said respectfully, stepping aside to clear the prince's path. "It's an honor to see you during this time. I've made all the necessary preparations, even without prior notice. I'm ready for your visit at any time."

"As expected from the Warden of Moroznaya Bashnya. Very well, then." Nikolai walked forward with confidence, his tailored gray suit clinging to his lean frame perfectly. "I hope my visit doesn't disrupt your routine too much, or I will feel really guilty..." His voice held a hint of mischief.

Dmitriy cleared his throat. "Not at all, Your Highness. We're always honored by your presence."

Nikolai nodded and smiled a satisfied smile. "Very well then, shall we enter now?"

As they approached the entrance, a black-haired man slowly exited from the driver's seat, adjusting his fedora slightly. He wore a gray suit similar to Nikolai's, though it wasn't as tailored or well-made. He also wore a long trench coat that fluttered slightly in the wind. His brown eyes careful scanned through their surroundings.

"Ah, right… Keep your eye out for anything suspicious, Aaron." Nikolai instructed casually.

"Yes, sir." The bodyguard nodded and fell into step behind Nikolai, his hand tucked into his trench coat as if he were ready to draw something out.

Dmitriy watched as Aaron's hand reached into his coat, which forced the warden to take action. He immediately stepped forward, blocking the bodyguard's path.

"I'm sorry, but you are not allowed to bring any weapons into the prison to avoid any dangers. So if you are carrying one on your body, hand it over to me." Dmitriy commanded, his voice firmly.

In response to the warden's words, the bodyguard just calmly replied. "I refuse to do that, Sir Warden. It's necessary for my job, who knows what unexpected situations might happen while Prince Nikolai is here?"

"Necessary or not, you're in my prison. And I won't let weapons from outside be brought inside." Dmitri's teeth clenched. He stepped closer, lowering his voice to a menacing whisper. "If you don't do as I say, this will be difficult for both of us."

The atmosphere between the two thickened with unspoken threats, as neither of them seemed willing to back down anytime soon. Meanwhile, Nikolai stood to the side, clearly enjoying the whole situation with an amused expression on his face before stepping in.

"Enough." He interrupted, cutting through the tension. "Aaron, give him the gun."

Aaron hesitated, glancing at his prince as if seeking permission to refuse. But Nikolai's gaze remained steady and unwavering.

"We don't have much time to play around. Time is of the essence, you know?"

With a reluctant sigh, Aaron reached into his coat and pulled out a small M1911 pistol before handed it to the Warden.

Dmitriy took the firearm without a word and gave it to a guard nearby.

"Take care of this." He ordered firmly before following Nikolai and Aaron into the building.

As they moved through the entrance area, surrounding them were tall gray concrete walls and gloomy corridors. tall gray concrete walls and gloomy corridors. Above them, luminous lights flickered weakly, as most of the light came from the barred windows on either side of the hallway and not the lights. The air hung heavy with a musty smell that blended with sweat and rusty metal, certainly not a very pleasant smell.

However, instead of showing displeasure like normal people, Prince Nikolai just took out his handkerchief and covered his nose slightly, his playful smile remaining unfazed.

"I assumed you've probably guessed why I came here today, right?" He broke the silence, his voice playful.

Dmitriy turned his gaze toward a cell not far from them. His voice was calm, but deep inside, it was filled with hatred. "Yes, Your Highness. It's about The Sinner of The Empire, isn't it?"

Nikolai nodded in satisfaction as they walked deeper into Moroznaya Bashnya's main building. "Correct." He said. "But what makes you think so?"

The warden considered for a bit before carefully answering Prince Nikolai. "Well… There's no other reason for someone as busy as Your Highness to visit a nasty place like this, except it's for something so important… And I don't think anything is as crucial and urgent such as... The Bloody Night of the Semenov Family…"

Nikolai chuckled softly before continuing. "You know, the drama surrounding Isaak Semenov slaughtering his entire family has spread to other countries, not just inside Veridia Empire anymore."

He said, his voice dropping low as he muttered his annoyance. "And people have started whispering about it, which is unavoidable of course… But still, it's not a good thing considering for the current political race... Especially for me…"

"Your Highness?"

Realizing what he'd just said, Nikolai coughed slightly and brushed it off. "Ahem, nothing."

Dmitriy walked beside him, nodding thoughtfully. But inside, he felt like Prince Nikolai was hiding something, though it was just a brief thought.

As the three entered the prison module, they came across a cage gate. The guard on the other side looked anxious, glancing nervously between the warden and the prince, unsure whether to open the gate. However, with a quick nod from the warden, he stepped aside and pulled the door open, letting the precious guests walk inside.

While they walked through the cage gate, Dmitriy's eyes shifted to Nikolai, his expression calm. "Your Highness, I know you visited the sinner today due to his drama and crime. However, could Your Highness provide further explanation for your sudden presence?"

Nikolai adjusted his collar and grinned, amusement flickering in his green eyes. "Ah, about that. Let's just say the royal family has plans for Isaak Semenov."

Dmitriy frowned slightly but remained silent.

"You see." Nikolai continued with a mischievous smirk. "Keeping him alive serves our purposes well in this current political situation. The drama has angered people throughout the empire due to the horrifying crimes he committed; it's even more complicated because of the Semenov family's good reputation. So, as you know, they want him dead, to die in the most brutal way possible to pay for his crimes." He paused for effect. "Therefore, he can be used like a stepping stone in our race for the throne."

The warden nodded, absorbing the information as they walked past empty cells.

"My sister believes she can redeem him." Nikolai added, his tone dropping to an amused whisper. "Showing mercy and kindness to the Sinner to boost her reputation, making her already good image even better."

As Nikolai spoke of his sister, Dmitriy couldn't helped but noticed the disdain in his voice.

"But here is the twist." Nikolai said, his smirk beginning to fade with concern. "What if things don't go her way? You know, redeeming the Sinner is a smart choice, but if she's not careful, there will be backlash against her. It's a double-edged blade and seems too risky to gamble. And I'm afraid she might choose execute instead of redeem him as the safer option."

Dmitriy's expression shifted slightly at this news, as he put the pieces together.

Nikolai continued with intensity. "Therefore, I must act faster than she does, to reach Isaak first and take him down before she has the chance to change her mind."

He moved closer to Dmitriy, dropping his voice even lower. "You know… Executing him would bolster my standing in this political race and eliminate any doubts about my capability as a heir… However, I need your support to ensure he remains alive long enough for me to determine the perfect moment for his execution."

"…" The warden shifted his gaze to Nikolai's side. His expression remained calm, but deep inside, he was considering the prince's words.

Nikolai smirked slyly as he suddenly remembered something. "Oh right, I forgot… You also want him to be executed as soon as possible, don't you? Join my side on this matter, and I'll guarantee that for you." He whispered into the warden's ear, dangerous like a snake slowly strangling its victim. "Together we can ensure he suffers the worst death imaginable. Isn't that what you want?"

Dmitriy suddenly stopped his steps, he thinking of Prince Nikolai's words. If he allied with him, he could achieve what he always wanted: Revenge. He could get his revenge…

However, he didn't want to step into the political war. He knew that once he was in, his life would never be the same again, he couldn't afford to make his life into chaos again. More than that... if he did so, he would betray himself, he would betray her...

Then, he came to his answer. "...I apologize, Your Highness, but I prefer to remain neutral in this political race than align with any sides." He said, his voice calm yet unwavering.

After hearing Dmitriy's answer, Nikolai just chuckled as if he already knew the answer to his offer. "How sad…" He whispered into his ears, his mocking voice dripping with venom.

"…I thought you'd want to join my side and see him dead quickly… Especially after he killed your fiancée..."

The air suddenly grew heavy as Dmitriy's expression darkened. His murderous intent was so thick that even nearby guards shivered, and for a moment, silence fell over the corridor.

Nikolai's smirk widened, amusement dancing in his green eyes as he enjoyed the effect of his words.

"Touchy subject, is it?" He taunted, his tone filled with mockery.

Before Dmitriy could respond, Aaron quickly stepped between them. "Warden Morozov." He said, his voice stern. "I suggest you back down. A disrespectful act toward His Highness will not be tolerated."

The Warden sensed the unspoken warning in Aaron's gaze: If he pushed further, a fight between them will be inevitable.

Dmitriy's fists clenched so hard they almost bled as he fought the urge to punch Prince Nikolai in the face. He knew he had to stay calm, or he'd end up in a cell just like any other prisoners here for disrespecting the royal family.

Dmitriy took a deep breath, forcing himself to step back a bit to control the rage that threatened to consume him.

But he didn't realize that the moment he stepped back, Nikolai smirked as he leaned in to whisper into Aaron's ear, secretly handing him something without anyone noticing.

As they moved through the cells, the air only grew thicker with tension. The silence hung heavily between them, while Dmitriy's mind swirled with anger and frustration. Each cell they passed, they saw broken prisoners with no life left in their eyes, as they just patiently waiting for their execution day to come.

Prince Nikolai, who looks completely unfazed by the grim atmosphere, walked with a casual demeanor. "You know," He began, his tone filled with mockery. "When my sister comes here, you should really put on a show. Perhaps stage a scene where the prisoners are treated well or something. It would be amusing to see her fall for it, though with her personality, she likely wouldn't." He chuckled at his own idea.

Dmitriy remained silent, his fists still clenched tightly.

"To be honest." Nikolai continued, glancing through the bars at a group of skinny men gathered together in one cell. "I'm not a kind person like my sister. I don't care about their well-being. They're criminals after all, they deserve every ounce of suffering this place can offer." He looked at the prisoners like they were mere insects to be crushed.

The prisoners inside the cell looked up with empty eyes, some pleading for mercy. One man begged for food, but in response, Nikolai only grinned even wider.

"See?" Nikolai said to Dmitriy, waving his hand toward the cells as if they were animals in a zoo. "This is what happens when you let emotions blind your reason. Criminals need to be punished, that's how it works."

Dmitriy turned his gaze away from Nikolai and focused on the prisoners instead. Each one of them had marks on their body: some were covered in dirt and blood, while others beared scars of violence made by the guards.

Silence fell again as they continued walking, the only sound they could hear being the painful groans coming from prisoners in the cells.

After walking a few more minutes, they came across a metal door with two guards standing outside. Dmitriy stepped forward and commanded the guards.

"Open the door." He said, his voice colder than usual.

Hearing his command, one guard took the key to unlock the door. Prince Nikolai immediately pushed the door open and stepped inside without hesitation. The moment he entered inside, he saw Isaak Semenov.

Isaak sat on a rusty metal chair, his body restrained in a white straitjacket that locked him tightly. His mouth got covered by a mask, only leaving some small holes for him to breathe or speak. His hands and legs were chained up by heavy iron locks, preventing him from even moving, much less protesting.

Nikolai grinned at the sight of him, his tone dripping with mockery as he took a few steps closer.

"Hello, You."

Dmitriy stood awkwardly at the entrance, seemingly wary of Nikolai's intentions toward Isaak. "Your Highness." He reminded him carefully. "I must insist on maintaining some distance, especially when it's Isaak Semenov in front of you."

Nikolai just waved off Dmitriy's words like an annoying fly. "Oh please, Mr. Morozov. Hope you don't mind, but may I ask for a few minutes with the Sinner alone?" He turned back toward Dmitriy, his voice taunting. "Besides, it's not like he can bite or something, and I also have my bodyguard right next to me. Nothing bad could happen…"

Behind him, Aaron was looking closely at Isaak as if to make sure he wasn't planning anything bad.

Dmitriy's jaw tightened as he stepped forward slightly. "Still, I can't allow Your Highness to be alone with him." He pointed toward Isaak's restrained form, the anger from earlier starting to build up, making him start to lose his calmness. "He is an extremely dangerous individual, Your Highness. It's prison law, and it's for your own safety that I must be here."

Before the Warden could continue, one of the guards burst into the room, breathless and hurried. "Sir Morozov! Your Excellency!" He quickly saluted before continuing. "We have trouble with the prisoners! Some prisoners are causing chaos in the cell after they somehow knew that Your Excellency is here!"

Dmitriy felt his heart sink. A disruption at such a important moment? How coincidence.

Nikolai glanced at Aaron with an amused smirk before returned to Dmitriy.

"Go on." He said mockingly to the Warden. "I don't really mind. After all, you really should go take care of that."

With a heavy sigh, Dmitriy reluctantly nodded and turned on his heel without another thought. He was too busy and couldn't afford to keep standing there talking with Nikolai anymore.

"Be careful." He warned before quickly walked out of the room.

He paused outside the door a bit to give instructions to the guards standing outside. "If anything suspicious happens while I'm gone, any unusual movements or noise. Contact me immediately through radio. Also, remember to watch them through the peephole and report to me their conversation afterwards." His voice deadly serious, forced the two guards to nod.

He dashed down the corridor toward the source of chaos erupting in the module cells, leaving Isaak and the other two alone in the room.

"You got to be kidding me…"

Back inside the meeting room, after making sure Dmitriy had long gone, Nikolai turned back to Aaron. He let out a mischievous smirk as he commanded the bodyguard.

"Excellent job, Aaron. Now if you don't mind, can you create a barrier to get rid of those annoying eyes and ears outside?"

The young man sat in silence, his mind swirling with confusion as the room's atmosphere shifted. It felt like the walls were closing in, and he could sense their presence more intensely than before. He blinked, looking at Aaron, who was still focused on the wall with his eyes closed.

Suddenly, the outside noises faded, and now he could only hear the sounds inside the room. The young man couldn't understand what was Aaron doing nor what was happening.

"What's the…?" After some seconds, he let out a small whispered, but Aaron didn't respond. Instead, he kept his focus steady, his hand moving along the wall as if he was examined it.

Aaron muttered silently. "Perceptual Field Distortion…"

"???"

After hearing Aaron's words, Prince Nikolai gave him a satisfied smirk before taking a seat in the wooden chair across from Isaak, his demeanor playful but also mischievous.

"Congratulations. I never thought you'd succeed." Nikolai began, his tone applauding the Sinner. "And I apologize for visiting so late. After all, I'm the one who ordered you to murder your family but visiting this late, my bad."

Huh…?