“This thing is way too thick. I’m kinda scared...”

“Too thick where? It’s always been this one.”

At Heishan Women’s Prison, Ethan Mercer, the warden, was sprawled in his office chair with a silver needle in hand, looking thoroughly done with life.

Standing in front of him was a woman.

That flimsy prison uniform did absolutely nothing to hide her figure. Her eyes were soft and teasing, her lips slightly parted as she said in a syrupy voice, “Warden, go easy on me, okay? I’m scared it’ll hurt...”

Ethan tapped the desk, impatient. “Cut the nonsense. Are you treating your Heavenly Fiend Poison or not?”

“Yes, yes, of course.” The woman forced a smile and laughed awkwardly. “Don’t be mad, Warden...”

“Lie down on the bed.”

Ethan pointed at the single bed in the office, his tone flat.

The woman obediently walked over and lay down. Her expression looked restrained, but there was also a trace of anticipation in it.

Ethan took out his needle roll. From start to finish, his face stayed serious.

Her name was Black Peony.

She looked delicate, beautiful, almost fragile, like a strong breeze could blow her over.

But that was all fake packaging.

Black Peony was a notorious female assassin. The lives on record under her name alone had already crossed into the thousands.

In Heishan Women’s Prison, she ranked seventy-third.

Life sentence.

The prison held more than a thousand women, and every single one of them was vicious to the core.

Five years ago, Ethan Mercer had still been the useless young master of the Mercer family in Donghai, living the easy life, throwing money around like it was paper.

Not only did he come from a powerful family, he also had a fiancée—Dulcie Langford, from the Langford family of Donghai, a famous beauty with no shortage of admirers.

But Dulcie had a younger brother. Typical spoiled rich kid, textbook trash.

Five years ago, after getting drunk, the guy crossed the line and assaulted a girl.

Things blew up fast. To protect her brother, Dulcie begged Ethan to take the fall for him.

She even promised that the moment he got out, they would get married.

Back then, Ethan had been blinded by love and beauty. He didn’t even dare tell his family before agreeing on the spot.

And that one nod sent him all the way to the northern frontier of Great Xia—to Heishan Women’s Prison.

As the only man in the entire prison, Ethan hadn’t even been there long before the former warden—his First Master—and the top seven female inmates took a liking to him and accepted him as their disciple.

In five years, Ethan learned everything they had.

Martial arts that touched the heavens. Medicine beyond compare.

After he completed his training, First Master stepped down as warden and left the women’s prison with the other masters.

And the position of warden was handed over to Ethan.

“Warden, why haven’t you started yet?”

After waiting a long while without seeing him move, Black Peony half-opened her eyes and asked lazily.

Ethan came back to himself and frowned. “Because you still haven’t taken it off.”

Black Peony blinked. “Taken what off?”

“Your clothes.” Ethan looked at her like she was slow. “Did no one tell you? When I treat someone, they need to be bare.”

Black Peony froze.

What kind of busted rule was that?

Nobody had told her that.

“So that’s how it is.” She let out a low laugh. “You should’ve said so earlier, Warden. It’s not like I’d refuse...”

She giggled, let one shoulder slip, and the prison uniform slid down a little. Her collarbone came into view, smooth and elegant. Her skin was pale and soft, almost absurdly delicate.

Ethan gave her a glance.

Not small.

Even in a prison full of women, she’d still be top tier.

“Enough talk. Hurry up.”

Seeing his expression turn colder, Black Peony stopped messing around.

A few seconds later, she was completely naked.

Ethan didn’t waste time. Silver needle in hand, he got right to work.

About two hours later, Black Peony walked out of the office looking completely satisfied, even her steps lighter than before.

Knock, knock, knock.

Ethan had just put the silver needles away when someone knocked on the door.

That woman again?

Seriously, not done yet?

He only saw one inmate per day. That was his rule.

“You’d better have a good reason for knocking,” Ethan said coldly as he pulled open the office door. “Otherwise—”

The person outside wasn’t Black Peony.

It was another stunning woman.

She wore a simple white dress, but it outlined every curve perfectly. Her figure was graceful and flawless, and her whole aura carried a chilly, noble kind of beauty.

A woman like this, even in Heishan Women’s Prison, could easily rank in the top ten.

Ethan frowned. “Who are you looking for?”

The woman studied him with a trace of scrutiny.

And after that scrutiny came obvious disappointment.

She had thought five years behind bars might’ve knocked some sense into this spoiled second-generation rich kid.

But looking at him now?

Mud that just wouldn’t stick to the wall.

“I’m Alberta Langley,” she said coolly. “Your sister-in-law.”

“I’m here to take you out.”

“Sister-in-law?”

Ethan immediately looked doubtful.

His eldest brother should still be fighting on the frontier. No way five years had passed and he’d gotten married without the family telling him.

“That’s impossible.” Ethan shook his head. “If my brother got married, the family would’ve told me.”

He gave her a lazy look. “New inmate? Go to the room down the hall and get a uniform. Then go do your work.”

“There are tons of liars like you in this prison,” he added. “And honestly, your scam is pretty low-level.”

Alberta’s face turned colder. “Your brother died a long time ago.”

Ethan’s expression changed instantly.

His aura sharpened in a flash.

“What did you say?”

“You never read the letters your family sent?” Alberta frowned. “Three years ago, Otis Mercer, Josh Mercer, and Carlton Mercer all died in battle at the frontier. No bodies were ever recovered.”

“And now your grandfather is gravely ill. He doesn’t have much time left. His final wish is to see you one last time.”

Her voice wasn’t loud.

But to Ethan, it hit like thunder.

“What?”

“No. Impossible. Impossible!”

His breath turned violent. Blood rushed into his eyes in an instant.

“My three brothers were war gods! Pillars of Great Xia! How could they just die like that?”

“I’m checking this right now!”

With reddened eyes, Ethan rushed out.

He went straight to the guard room by the prison gates, where a prison guard had been lounging around.

Bang!

Ethan kicked the door open and strode in.

“W-Warden, what brings you here?” The guard jolted upright, all servility in a second.

Ethan grabbed him by the collar. “Where are my letters?”

“Yes—yes, we have them!” The guard forced a dry laugh. “The previous warden was worried they’d affect your training, so she had us store them away.”

“Besides... you never asked...”

“Bring them out.”

Ethan released him, voice icy.

The guard didn’t dare delay. He hurriedly pulled out a box. Inside were around a dozen letters.

“Warden, I kept them all safe for you.” He pushed the box over with both hands, smiling nervously. “Please... take them.”

Ethan snatched the box and, with trembling fingers, pulled out one letter.

“Ruochen, the family has run into great trouble. The one I can’t stop worrying about is you. Lately, the company has also been hit with one problem after another. I’m afraid I can’t hold on much longer.

When you come back, you must properly repay your three sisters-in-law. During this time, they’ve been the only ones helping us. The Mercer family has wronged them.”

Ethan’s breathing turned ragged.

The handwriting on the page was his grandfather’s.

After reading one letter, he hurriedly flipped through the rest.

Then he found the first thing sent three years ago.

It wasn’t a letter.

It was a newspaper.

He opened it, and the giant words slammed into view.

MOURN! MOURN! MOURN!

THE NATION OF GREAT XIA GRIEVES—THREE WAR GODS HAVE FALLEN!

Ethan’s body shook.

The newspaper was so thin, but his hand almost couldn’t hold it.

Heavenly Lord War God, Otis Mercer—killed in battle on the southwestern frontier. No remains recovered. Age twenty-eight.

Blood Fiend War God, Josh Mercer—killed in battle on the northwestern frontier. No remains recovered. Age twenty-seven.

Dragon Might War God, Carlton Mercer—killed in battle on the southeastern frontier. No remains recovered. Age twenty-six.

Three bold lines.

Each one hit Ethan straight in the chest.

Pfft!

The grief and fury hit too hard. Ethan spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale.

His three brothers really had died.

No remains. Nothing left behind.

Not even something he could mourn over.

“Believe it now?”

Alberta walked over slowly. There was sorrow in her voice too.

“After they gave their lives for the country, the entire Mercer family fell apart. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Relatives and old friends all kept their distance. Your grandfather wore himself down trying to hold things together, and he collapsed not long ago.”

“If you leave now, you can still see him one last time.”

Ethan drew in a deep breath and nodded hard.

“Thank you, Sister-in-law. I’ll remember this. Someday, I’ll repay you.”

“I didn’t help the Mercer family for your sake.” Alberta frowned. “So no need.”

She hated criminals most of all.

And Ethan had been imprisoned for rape.

If he hadn’t been part of the Mercer family, she wouldn’t even have looked at him twice.

“I don’t ask much from you,” Alberta said coldly. “Once you’re out, keep your head down, live properly, and stop dragging your family down like you used to.”

Hearing her blunt words, Ethan didn’t get angry.

He didn’t even feel like explaining.

Right now, he only wanted to see his grandfather as fast as possible.

“Thank you for the lesson, Sister-in-law. Let’s go.”

His gaze was calm, with no visible emotion.

That surprised Alberta a little.

Looks like five years in prison had changed him, at least somewhat.

That was a good thing. At minimum, it meant the Mercer family’s situation wouldn’t get even worse because of him.

“After I leave, the prison rules do not change.”

Ethan turned to the guard, his voice cold as steel. “If anyone dares cross the line, I’ll deal with them when I return.”

“Y-Yes... safe travels, Warden...”

The guard lowered his head respectfully.

That scene made Alberta frown again.

She had almost thought five years of reform might’ve improved him.

Now it seemed she’d been dreaming.

Bullying people inside prison—seriously, hopeless.

“Don’t waste time. Let’s go.”

Alberta didn’t even want to look at Ethan anymore. She turned and walked off.

Ethan looked at her slender back, a little confused, but followed anyway.

...

Donghai, Yulong Bay Villa District.

The black Mercedes came to a stop, and Ethan and Alberta got out.

“Sister-in-law, this isn’t my home.”

Ethan looked puzzled. “Shouldn’t we be going to Villa One at Longhu? That’s the—”

“Because the company was mismanaged, Longhu No. 1 was sold last year,” Alberta said lightly. “This is my villa. I’m lending it to Grandpa Mercer for now.”

“I see.” Ethan nodded silently, and his gratitude toward her grew a little more. “Thank you.”

At a time like this, how many people would still be willing to get involved with the Mercer family?

“You don’t need to thank me,” Alberta replied coldly. “I’m doing this for the Mercer family. For your eldest brother. It has nothing to do with you.”

“That’s fine. Let’s go inside.”

Ethan was already used to the way she kept drawing a line between herself and him.

Fair enough.

A former inmate—who would think highly of someone like that?

Ethan gave an easy smile and walked ahead.

Villa No. 7 was where Alberta had arranged for his grandfather, Arliss Mercer, to stay. There was even a chessboard set up in the yard. By the look of it, she often sat with the old man and played chess.

Five years apart.

The longing in Ethan’s chest was almost impossible to hold down now.

The villa door wasn’t locked, only left slightly ajar. A gentle push was enough to open it.

The moment they stepped into the yard, a cold voice came from upstairs.

“Old man, what’s left of the Mercer family’s assets isn’t even enough to cover the debts. I’m offering ten million for it, and that’s already me giving you face.”

“So don’t be shameless and refuse a good thing.”

At those words, both Alberta and Ethan stopped at the same time.

Alberta’s heart tightened immediately, worried something had happened to the old man.

Beside her, Ethan’s eyes turned sharp as frost.

Killing intent surged.