ALL NOVEL Chapter 35
Chapter 35: The Iron-Blooded Tactics
Si-hyun wasn’t in a hurry at all.
His priority was to maintain the inmate order in 4th Floor, Unit 1. The pre-trial ward generally had a better order than the convicted ward.
But that was only a generalization; the real deciding factor for the inmate order was how many problematic inmates were present.
Si-hyun first checked the crime records of the inmates in 4th Floor, Unit 1 through the Borami system, looking for any records that might disrupt the order. He sifted through the lists.
Among the regular inmates, Si-hyun’s reputation had already spread like wildfire, so they tended to behave even without him using his Iron-Blooded Guard ability.
However, that wasn’t the case with problematic inmates. They were problematic precisely because they had issues with anger control and could get irrationally excited. These humans would never bend easily, no matter the pressure. That’s why they became a persistent nuisance, even for the CRPT.
Once those problematic inmates were handled, the inmate order in 4th Floor, Unit 1 would be nearly perfect.
‘First, I’ll deal with Jang Hak-ki last.’
He planned to finish off with a flawless takedown after stabilizing the order.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Hyung, have you heard the rumors about the new person in charge?”
In Cell 10 of 4th Floor, Unit 1.
A bald man covered in tattoos, who clearly looked like a gangster, spoke.
The other person, a middle-aged man with surprisingly much white hair for his age, seemed to be another gangster, with an ordinary build but stout bones and tattoos scattered all over his body. This man was the problematic inmate, Choi Kwang-ho.
He was currently serving time for charges related to assault with a weapon and obstruction of justice, stemming from an incident where he assaulted a police officer.
That alone would be enough for him to be categorized as a troublesome individual to the correctional officers. Choi Kwang-ho had a past of assaulting correctional officers during his previous incarceration. He was the kind of mad dog who would throw caution to the wind regardless of any escalation in his sentence.
Although he hadn’t caused any trouble since entering the Daehan Correctional Facility, the rumors surrounding his past were already widespread, causing the guards to be particularly cautious when dealing with him. If they irritated him and wound up being assaulted, there would be no turning back.
Every year, nearly 70 cases of correctional officers being assaulted by inmates occur, leading to severe humiliation and psychological stress for those officers. Some even quit their jobs or, in the worst cases, commit suicide. The Ministry of Justice recognized these problems and even organized healing programs for the affected officers over a week.
So the advice given by senior officers to simply not engage or even look at the cell where Choi Kwang-ho resided was not unnecessary.
“A new person in charge? Is it that Lee Si-hyun guy?”
Choi Kwang-ho replied with an expressionless face.
Click.
He seemed completely disinterested as he trimmed his nails.
“Yeah, I hear he’s no joke. Even inmates with stars are on high alert around him….”
The stars signify that an inmate has served multiple sentences; the more stars, the more at home they felt within the prison. Such inmates wouldn’t typically fear regular correctional officers.
Yet rumors had it that they were wary of Lee Si-hyun.
“Who cares who it is, as long as they don’t bother me.”
The previous guards assigned here wouldn’t stop him whether he yelled or rambled; hence, Choi Kwang-ho didn’t have much to complain about.
Click.
He trimmed his last pinky nail.
“But if they do bother me, I won’t hold back against anyone.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“Let’s catch Choi Kwang-ho first.”
“Huh?”
Do-yeon’s face looked as if he had just seen a ghost upon hearing Si-hyun’s words.
“Choi Kwang-ho?”
“Yeah.”
“That guy came in for assaulting a police officer… and previously assaulted correctional officers as well….”
“I know.”
“Huh, you know? Then why are you saying such things….”
Do-yeon, who found it challenging to deal with inmates, was investigating the inmates that needed attention in 4th Floor, Unit 1 first. For him, it was almost a survival instinct.
Typically, it is said that around 5% of inmates are problematic, and this place had a slightly lower ratio. So it wasn’t a ward infested with problematic inmates.
However, it wasn’t the quantity but rather the quality that posed the problem. While other problematic inmates could be handled, these two were a real concern.
They were none other than Jang Hak-ki and Choi Kwang-ho.
Jang Hak-ki was a delinquent who had a background that made him untouchable. Plus, he treated correctional officers like mere subordinates. The best course of action was to avoid contact as much as possible.
Choi Kwang-ho, the other troublesome individual, could be considered even worse. At least Jang Hak-ki wasn’t the type to physically assault a guard.
But Choi Kwang-ho could throw a punch at any moment if he felt displeased. Do-yeon had already decided to completely avoid looking his way.
Yet, Si-hyun was suggesting they go after Choi Kwang-ho.
“I need to handle him even more because I know. What kind of job would allow correctional officers to let such a person be? Are they just supposed to observe how inmates live while keeping their distance?”
“That may be true, but… isn’t the risk a bit high?”
Si-hyun’s fame and skills were well known, but there was no guarantee that would work on all inmates. If something went wrong, it could lead to even bigger problems.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it.”
“By yourself?”
“Honestly, in this situation, you’re not much help.”
“Ugh… It’s true, but it still hurts hearing that, Senpai.”
It was a cold statement, but since it was true, Do-yeon smiled wryly.
“Why don’t you go handle something else?”
“Yes, understood.”
Do-yeon nodded.
◈ ◈ ◈
Si-hyun pressed the intercom.
As the light turned on in Cell 10, he spoke up.
“Choi Kwang-ho.”
“….”
“Choi Kwang-ho.”
“….”
He surely heard it, yet there was no response after calling two times.
What is this?
Si-hyun raised his voice this time.
“Choi Kwang-ho!”
“…What?”
“I have something to discuss, so come to the duty room.”
“And who do you think you are telling me to come?”
He definitely looked down on the correctional officers. It was a reaction he had expected, but it made him chuckle.
“Are you not coming?”
“If you have something to say, you should come here.”
“Fine then.”
Si-hyun turned off the intercom and walked towards Cell 10.
Upon arrival, he found Choi Kwang-ho leaning against the wall, staring defiantly. His expression showed he couldn’t care less.
The other inmate, who resembled a gangster, fidgeted slightly beside him.
“Choi Kwang-ho.”
“And?”
Si-hyun unlocked the cell door with his card key and stood holding the door.
“Let’s go to the duty room together.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“….”
Si-hyun fell silent, contemplating what method to use.
Using his Iron-Blooded Guard ability would work, but he wanted to try out a new skill instead: the fearsome Guard’s thunderous shout.
As Choi Kwang-ho misinterpreted Si-hyun’s silence, he wore a “who do you think you are?” expression.
Si-hyun opened his mouth again.
“Let’s go to the duty room together.”
“I said I don’t want to.”
This is tough. Right here.
Si-hyun used his skill. An overwhelming presence surged from below his abdomen, rising through his throat.
“Let’s go to the duty room-!!”
His thunderous shout echoed through the hall, loud enough it might have reached the opposite corridor.
“Oh wow, what the hell?!”
Unlike with the Iron-Blooded Guard before, Choi Kwang-ho was merely startled by the sudden shout, but he didn’t seem intimidated.
When Si-hyun furrowed his brows in confusion, Choi Kwang-ho, who had been leaning against the wall, suddenly stood up.
“Yelling out of nowhere! I said I’m not going, damn it—?!”
Choi Kwang-ho had a look of shock, and before he knew it, he found himself approaching the doorway, putting on his shoes.
“What the hell? What the hell?!”
Upon witnessing this, Si-hyun recalled the skill’s description.
– When you shout while giving instructions, the inmates will instinctively obey your orders, regardless of their will.
Now he understood what it meant.
A playful smile crept onto Si-hyun’s face.
“Come on, hurry up and follow me.”
“Huh? No, I said I’m not going! What the heck… why is this happening?!”
Choi Kwang-ho’s body was moving on its own, following Si-hyun. He was panicking, trying to regain control, but it was like his body belonged to someone else.
“What is going on? Huh? What the hell did you do, you bastard?!”
“Shut your mouth and stay quiet-!!”
Si-hyun unleashed the fearsome Guard’s thunderous shout once more.
“Ugh… mmm?!”
Choi Kwang-ho’s eyes widened in horror. Just like that, his mouth refused to open. It was as if it had been glued shut. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t move it. Yet his body obediently followed Si-hyun toward the duty room.
“Mmm mmm!!”
Choi Kwang-ho looked flustered, as if he wanted to say something, but all he could do was blink rapidly.
When they reached the duty room, Si-hyun opened the door.
This time, he simply said.
“Sit down.”
“Mmm mmm!”
Choi Kwang-ho shook his head fiercely, trying to escape outside as if he had to get away from this hellish situation.
Yet he couldn’t even budge an inch, as if blocked by an invisible wall. No matter how much he struggled or flailed, he wasn’t getting out.
With satisfaction, Si-hyun watched him and closed the duty room door.
“Sit down.”
“….”
“Sit down. I’ll let you speak again if you do.”
Choi Kwang-ho was panting heavily, glaring at Si-hyun. It felt like that glare could shred Si-hyun to pieces.
But ultimately, he seated himself as instructed. In this helpless situation where he couldn’t speak, there was no alternative.
“Good. Now say it again, but let’s keep it down-!!”
Si-hyun activated the shout skill again.
But this time it was a shout much softer than before.
Si-hyun nodded with a knowing expression. He had to tone it down a bit, and now the volume adjusted accordingly. It seemed he could modulate it to a degree.
He thought that the more intense the shout, the more powerful the effect and the wider the range it covered. Of course, since he had targeted only Choi Kwang-ho with the skill, only he was affected.
“…You bastard, are you an Awakened Being?”
Once his mouth opened, Choi Kwang-ho gritted his teeth and questioned. He wanted to raise his voice, but somehow, his voice came out small again, as if some trick was at play.
At this rate, no one outside would hear him. He didn’t know what kind of crazy trick made his body act this way.
But upon rational reflection, there was one answer: All bizarre abilities in reality were invariably connected to Awakened Beings.
“Well, why should I tell you that, Choi Kwang-ho?”
Si-hyun replied, but Choi Kwang-ho silently concluded that he indeed was an Awakened Being. He didn’t think he was a particularly formidable one. Who in their right mind with such powers would work in a prison?
Even so, being a low-tier Awakened Being was still vastly different from being an ordinary person. Choi Kwang-ho demonstrated all his restraint, managing not to throw a punch.
“What if you are an Awakened Being? Are you going to try to act tough?”
“Geez, you’re so narrow-minded. When did I say I’d hit you?”
Si-hyun clicked his tongue and continued.
“And let’s not use informal speech.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
Stubbornness was what Choi Kwang-ho was known for, and he wouldn’t back down regardless of who he faced, even if they were an Awakened Being.
Si-hyun narrowed his eyes and said.
“I’ll say one thing. This duty room’s CCTV won’t capture this.”