Genius Playground

’Logically, this Time SMS experiment should have failed. It couldn’t possibly have triggered any Worldline Jump.’

’But the dizziness, the Worldline Jump, the fact that I’m now in a prison—it’s all real. Who am I supposed to take this up with?’

Of course, he knew how to prioritize.

For now, anything related to the Positron Cannon and the Worldline Jump could wait. The immediate priority was to figure out his current situation.

”A bunch of cowards!”

The big guy in Cell 1 sighed, as if he’d made up his mind.

”Fine. Since none of you have the guts to break out, I’ll go by myself!”

CLICK!

It was unclear what kind of Magic this guy used, but the iron cell door clicked open. A fat, hairy hand pushed the gate aside...

Under the dim light, a portly yet imposing figure walked out of the cell.

He held up his pudgy right hand.

Pinched between his index finger and thumb was a piece of silver wire.

”I’ll ask you all one last time...”

His voice held a hint of pleading as he looked from Cell 2 to Cell 5, one by one.

”Are you willing to break out with me?”

...

...

...

A brief silence.

”Forget it, Sang Biao.”

The young man in Cell 2 chuckled.

”You can’t escape. Just accept your fate. A guard will put a bullet in you with a single shot.”

The big guy from Cell 1, called Sang Biao, shook his head.

”Weapons. We can get those too.”

Sang Biao once again showed them the wire in his right hand.

”This prison is old. With this wire, I can open the guards’ equipment room. We can get weapons.”

Heh.

A dry, helpless laugh came from Cell 4.

The inmate inside slowly walked to the bars, his appearance revealed by the light.

He looked to be an elderly man in his sixties or seventies, with glasses and graying hair, like a retired teacher or researcher.

”Are you really listening to that stupid young man?”

The man looked at Sang Biao, sighed, and shook his head.

”If you get caught trying to escape without a gun, the worst they’ll do is bring you back and punish you.”

”But if you actually listen to the stupid young man, arm yourselves, and try to force your way out... you’ll definitely be executed on the spot.”

”You’ve already been in prison for so many years, what’s a few more? Listen to me, Sang Biao. Just go back to your cell quietly and give up on this idea of escaping.”

However...

Sang Biao, a mountain of a man, seemed to have made up his mind, his resolve unshakable.

He walked up to the door of Cell 4 and met the man’s gaze.

”Bookworm, didn’t you just say the most important thing for a successful escape is timing?”

”Well, let me tell you, today is the perfect time to escape. It’s now or never.”

He turned around.

Sang Biao raised his voice and said to everyone:

”You all know that today, on the execution ground outside, they’re executing the most evil criminal in human history—the Magician.”

”This prison was built specifically to hold the Magician. The rest of us are just extras to fill the cells.”

”Right now, the execution ground outside must be packed with people, countless spectators here to watch the Magician’s beheading. All the security, guards, and police dogs... they’re all outside at the execution ground on duty.”

”So, do you get it? Today! This is the one and only perfect opportunity to escape! The eyes of the entire world are on the Magician. Nobody gives a damn about us!”

...

Jiang Ran stood in his cell, silently listening to their discussion.

He was starting to understand.

The main purpose of this prison was to hold the criminal known as the Magician... who they said was the most evil being in human history.

And today, this vicious criminal was going to be publicly beheaded on the execution ground. That would undoubtedly attract thousands, even tens of thousands, of spectators, and all the prison’s personnel and security resources would be focused there.

That’s why the man called Sang Biao said today was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to escape.

’They all called each other by nicknames.’

’Cell 1, the fat, brawny man, was called Sang Biao.’

’Cell 2, the young guy, was the stupid young man.’

’Cell 3 was me.’

’Cell 4, the elderly, bespectacled scholar, was Bookworm.’

’As for Cell 5... they hadn’t joined the discussion. I don’t know what they look like, or what their name or nickname is.’

”Alright.”

Sang Biao looked at the unresponsive crowd and gritted his teeth again.

”Since it’s come to this, I’ll let you in on another secret.”

He paused.

Then he continued:

”Like I said, this prison was built specifically to hold the Magician.”

”So think about it. After the Magician is executed, this prison will naturally lose its purpose. When that happens... what do you think they’ll do with us?”

The stupid young man scoffed.

”Move us to another prison to keep serving our time! What else? They’re not going to behead us too, are they?”

”I wouldn’t be so sure.”

Sang Biao sneered.

”Otherwise, why don’t you tell me where the little shorty from Cell 3 went?”

At these words, even the stupid young man fell silent.

’This was driving Jiang Ran crazy.’

’Keep talking, you guys!’

’I’m the only one completely in the dark here. All I can do is eavesdrop for clues.’

”What happened to the little shorty from Cell 3?”

Jiang Ran quickly asked.

’As the current occupant of Cell 3, he was very concerned about the little shorty’s fate.’

”He was killed.”

Sang Biao picked his teeth with the wire and spat.

”The shorty was the most well-behaved guy here. The guards trusted him, so he was allowed out to do odd jobs like cleaning.”

”But because of that, he came into contact with some information about the Magician, or maybe overheard something he shouldn’t have... he was most likely silenced.”

Jiang Ran frowned.