The Informant
A few days later.
"Chief, here's the latest intelligence report." Veronica respectfully handed the report to Aiden in the warden's office.
"Thanks." Aiden took the report and carefully read through it.
Utilizing Veronica's past connections in the mounted police force, Aiden had successfully formed a collaborative relationship with them.
His stated reason was to address the hidden dangers within the prison, and the mounted police force had long targeted the Skull Gang for eradication. Aiden's proposal was beneficial to them after all, he bore the risks himself.
During these days, Aiden had been using the mounted police force's connections to gather intelligence on the Skull Gang, which had taken over the territory and influence of the Blood Hand Gang in the old district area since the demise of Carmilla's former gang.
The rise of various factions ensued as they divided the Blood Hand Gang's original turf and power.
The Skull Gang, rapidly expanding during this period, the ruthless gang member Carlo Polpo also rise through the ranks. In the process of the Gang's expansion, Carlo's cunning tactics and ruthless methods propelled him to the position of a high-ranking official, just a step away from the leadership.
However, his willingness to betray and exploit even his own people had made many gang members wary. The current leader even suspected him of aspiring to take over the leadership due to his rising influence.
The rapidly growing Skull Gang and the elevated status of Carlo, had already become targets for the mounted police force.
The mounted police force has been expanding undercover operations and gathering intelligence through informants within various gangs. Leveraging the temporary collaboration, Aiden obtained crucial intelligence from the mounted police force.
"This seems almost too smooth," Aiden remarked casually as he collected information.
The more information he gathered, the more he believed in the feasibility of the strategy provided by Mephilia.
In hindsight, it appeared as if Mephilia had prior knowledge of this information, before providing him with such a plan.
A suspicion lingered in his mind perhaps Mephilia possessed some form of foresight or a unique ability to gather information from the outside.
"Yes, the director also commended your unique approach. He mentioned coordinating internal personnel to assist your actions,"
Veronica thought Aiden had come up with the plan herself, and deepening her admiration for him.
"Mounted police informants and undercover agents?" Aiden leaned back in his chair, contemplating.
The mounted police force's strong inclination to cooperate suggested their interest extended beyond Aiden's advantageous proposal.
Previously, they had used Carlo to set a trap for Carmilla, resulting in her imprisonment.
However, after Carmilla shouldered the blame, Carlo exploited the revenge-driven psyche of the young mother, turning Silaine into a revenant.
In a twisted turn of events, Carlo's cunning maneuvers had caught the mounted police force off guard, turning them unwitting accomplices in Silaine's transformation.
Perhaps driven by guilt, anger, or a desire to rectify the situation, the responsible individuals at the mounted police force likely sought to eliminate Carlo Polpo promptly.
However, while leveraging the mounted police force's informants for intelligence was convenient, directly utilizing their resources for a plan was a different matter.
As the primary adversary of the gangs, the mounted police force was the focus of their defenses. If a third party were to intervene, the gangs might not immediately realize it.
Carlo Polpo was probably still unaware that he had offended the warden of a women's prison, who was potentially unrelated to him, and other gang members remained largely ignorant of Aiden's involvement.
Aiden possessed a unique advantage as the third-party force, but relying too heavily on the mounted police force's resources would mean willingly relinquishing this advantage.
The informants or undercover agents arranged by the mounted police force might have already aroused suspicion among gangs accustomed to evading law enforcement. Depending entirely on them for strategy could alert the gangs and disrupt the plan.
In response to Veronica, Aiden said, "Let's wait for now; there might be more suitable candidates."
"More suitable candidates?" Veronica looked puzzled.
At that moment, there was a knock on the office door.
"Come in."
As Aiden gave the signal, the door opened, and the prison guard Isabella walked in. After exchanging a glance with Veronica, she saluted Aiden and reported, "Warden, the person you mentioned to me earlier has applied for a visit today."
"Coming to see Inmate 3271?"
"Yes."
So it begins.
Aiden immediately stood up from his seat, "Excellent. Let him go to the interview room. I'll meet him first, and after our conversation, notify Inmate 3271."
"Understood."
A few minutes later, Aiden arrived at the interview room.
On the other side of the glass barrier sat the scar-faced gang youth who had visited Silaine in the prison a week ago.
Today marked Silaine's first day out of solitary confinement, and Aiden had informed the guard on duty in advance. If anyone claiming to be Silaine's nephew applied for a meeting with Inmate 3271, they were to inform him immediately.
The moment the youth saw Aiden, he visibly tensed, but there was little surprise on his face.
Clearly, he had some psychological preparation for Aiden's visit.
"I won't beat around the bush. You wrote that letter, didn't you?" Aiden stood with his hands behind his back, getting straight to the point.
After a prolonged silence, the youth, with a serious expression, nodded.
"In these past days, I've conducted some investigations, somewhat confirming your claims," Aiden said slowly. "But writing to me serves no purpose. Inmate 3271 has become a vengeful spirit; she won't listen to the truth. Even if she believes it, she can't seek revenge in her current state."
The youth remained silent, and lowered His eyes.
"Did Carlo also play a role in guiding Inmate 3271 into this state?"
Aiden inquired. After interrogating Carmilla, he had subtly probed Silaine, confirming that the person who deceived her, leading her to the necromancer, was indeed Carlo.
The youth again nodded in silence.
"Are you still under Carlo Polpo's control?" Aiden asked.
The youth kept his head down, offering no response.
"Continuing to work for someone who caused the destruction of your own family, don't you feel a pang of guilt?" Aiden continued to press.
"I... don't have a choice," the youth replied with a defeated tone.
Aiden stared at the youth without further mocking him.
Trying to reform people in abnormal circumstances, like Carmilla, through a few preachy words, is arrogance.
The youth was in a gang, and sending that whistleblower letter here, might have been his best effort.
"Maybe you didn't have a choice before, but now you have an opportunity," Aiden suddenly said. "You have a chance to bring down the one responsible for your brother's death."
The youth looked up, bewildered.
"I have some connections with the mounted police force. Listen carefully; this is intel I just got from their undercover agent..." Aiden leaned in, speaking mysteriously through the intercom hole in the glass partition. "Carlo Polpo is plotting to assassinate the leader of the skull Gang, and aiming to seize the throne."
The Informant
A few days later.
"Chief, here's the latest intelligence report." Veronica respectfully handed the report to Aiden in the warden's office.
"Thanks." Aiden took the report and carefully read through it.
Utilizing Veronica's past connections in the mounted police force, Aiden had successfully formed a collaborative relationship with them.
His stated reason was to address the hidden dangers within the prison, and the mounted police force had long targeted the Skull Gang for eradication. Aiden's proposal was beneficial to them after all, he bore the risks himself.
During these days, Aiden had been using the mounted police force's connections to gather intelligence on the Skull Gang, which had taken over the territory and influence of the Blood Hand Gang in the old district area since the demise of Carmilla's former gang.
The rise of various factions ensued as they divided the Blood Hand Gang's original turf and power.
The Skull Gang, rapidly expanding during this period, the ruthless gang member Carlo Polpo also rise through the ranks. In the process of the Gang's expansion, Carlo's cunning tactics and ruthless methods propelled him to the position of a high-ranking official, just a step away from the leadership.
However, his willingness to betray and exploit even his own people had made many gang members wary. The current leader even suspected him of aspiring to take over the leadership due to his rising influence.
The rapidly growing Skull Gang and the elevated status of Carlo, had already become targets for the mounted police force.
The mounted police force has been expanding undercover operations and gathering intelligence through informants within various gangs. Leveraging the temporary collaboration, Aiden obtained crucial intelligence from the mounted police force.
"This seems almost too smooth," Aiden remarked casually as he collected information.
The more information he gathered, the more he believed in the feasibility of the strategy provided by Mephilia.
In hindsight, it appeared as if Mephilia had prior knowledge of this information, before providing him with such a plan.
A suspicion lingered in his mind perhaps Mephilia possessed some form of foresight or a unique ability to gather information from the outside.
"Yes, the director also commended your unique approach. He mentioned coordinating internal personnel to assist your actions,"
Veronica thought Aiden had come up with the plan herself, and deepening her admiration for him.
"Mounted police informants and undercover agents?" Aiden leaned back in his chair, contemplating.
The mounted police force's strong inclination to cooperate suggested their interest extended beyond Aiden's advantageous proposal.
Previously, they had used Carlo to set a trap for Carmilla, resulting in her imprisonment.
However, after Carmilla shouldered the blame, Carlo exploited the revenge-driven psyche of the young mother, turning Silaine into a revenant.
In a twisted turn of events, Carlo's cunning maneuvers had caught the mounted police force off guard, turning them unwitting accomplices in Silaine's transformation.
Perhaps driven by guilt, anger, or a desire to rectify the situation, the responsible individuals at the mounted police force likely sought to eliminate Carlo Polpo promptly.
However, while leveraging the mounted police force's informants for intelligence was convenient, directly utilizing their resources for a plan was a different matter.
As the primary adversary of the gangs, the mounted police force was the focus of their defenses. If a third party were to intervene, the gangs might not immediately realize it.
Carlo Polpo was probably still unaware that he had offended the warden of a women's prison, who was potentially unrelated to him, and other gang members remained largely ignorant of Aiden's involvement.
Aiden possessed a unique advantage as the third-party force, but relying too heavily on the mounted police force's resources would mean willingly relinquishing this advantage.
The informants or undercover agents arranged by the mounted police force might have already aroused suspicion among gangs accustomed to evading law enforcement. Depending entirely on them for strategy could alert the gangs and disrupt the plan.
In response to Veronica, Aiden said, "Let's wait for now; there might be more suitable candidates."
"More suitable candidates?" Veronica looked puzzled.
At that moment, there was a knock on the office door.
"Come in."
As Aiden gave the signal, the door opened, and the prison guard Isabella walked in. After exchanging a glance with Veronica, she saluted Aiden and reported, "Warden, the person you mentioned to me earlier has applied for a visit today."
"Coming to see Inmate 3271?"
"Yes."
So it begins.
Aiden immediately stood up from his seat, "Excellent. Let him go to the interview room. I'll meet him first, and after our conversation, notify Inmate 3271."
"Understood."
A few minutes later, Aiden arrived at the interview room.
On the other side of the glass barrier sat the scar-faced gang youth who had visited Silaine in the prison a week ago.
Today marked Silaine's first day out of solitary confinement, and Aiden had informed the guard on duty in advance. If anyone claiming to be Silaine's nephew applied for a meeting with Inmate 3271, they were to inform him immediately.
The moment the youth saw Aiden, he visibly tensed, but there was little surprise on his face.
Clearly, he had some psychological preparation for Aiden's visit.
"I won't beat around the bush. You wrote that letter, didn't you?" Aiden stood with his hands behind his back, getting straight to the point.
After a prolonged silence, the youth, with a serious expression, nodded.
"In these past days, I've conducted some investigations, somewhat confirming your claims," Aiden said slowly. "But writing to me serves no purpose. Inmate 3271 has become a vengeful spirit; she won't listen to the truth. Even if she believes it, she can't seek revenge in her current state."
The youth remained silent, and lowered His eyes.
"Did Carlo also play a role in guiding Inmate 3271 into this state?"
Aiden inquired. After interrogating Carmilla, he had subtly probed Silaine, confirming that the person who deceived her, leading her to the necromancer, was indeed Carlo.
The youth again nodded in silence.
"Are you still under Carlo Polpo's control?" Aiden asked.
The youth kept his head down, offering no response.
"Continuing to work for someone who caused the destruction of your own family, don't you feel a pang of guilt?" Aiden continued to press.
"I... don't have a choice," the youth replied with a defeated tone.
Aiden stared at the youth without further mocking him.
Trying to reform people in abnormal circumstances, like Carmilla, through a few preachy words, is arrogance.
The youth was in a gang, and sending that whistleblower letter here, might have been his best effort.
"Maybe you didn't have a choice before, but now you have an opportunity," Aiden suddenly said. "You have a chance to bring down the one responsible for your brother's death."
The youth looked up, bewildered.
"I have some connections with the mounted police force. Listen carefully; this is intel I just got from their undercover agent..." Aiden leaned in, speaking mysteriously through the intercom hole in the glass partition. "Carlo Polpo is plotting to assassinate the leader of the skull Gang, and aiming to seize the throne."
