"Liang, looks like your apprentice is really doing well. He even won the Brana Ruins Advancement Tournament. Wonder when he's coming to get you out?"
Inside the prison cell, Danny Qiang lounged with one leg crossed over the other, watching TV. A faint smile tugged at his lips, but his eyes were cold and vicious.
In this world, you can't take a single step without money.
The only thing standing between him and becoming a pilot was the money needed to bid on a Mecha Girl.
So of course, seeing Derek Su take the championship left him in a foul mood.
He switched off the TV, walked over to the corner, and drove a kick straight into Mr. Liang's stomach.
Mr. Liang let out a muffled groan, opened his bloodshot eyes, and looked at Danny Qiang with calm indifference.
He didn't know Danny Qiang's real name. He only knew the man had been sent by Ethan Yang. The recent transfer of the warden was likely connected to Ethan Yang as well. The previous warden had been his friend, but after being reassigned, Danny Qiang showed up, and even the guards had all been replaced.
"If looks could kill, I'd have died a hundred times already. But they can't."
Danny Qiang didn't care about Mr. Liang's hatred-filled stare. He threw in another round of punches and kicks before finally lying down on the bed, satisfied, and drifting off to sleep.
Once he confirmed the man was asleep, Mr. Liang pushed himself up against the wall and dragged his battered body into the bathroom.
Now there were only the two of them left in this room, and every day he endured several beatings.
Although his body had recovered somewhat, he was still far from a match for someone like Danny Qiang, a burly man with over a decade of combat training.
In the mirror stood a disheveled man with a swollen, bruised face.
Ever since the warden was replaced, even getting a full meal had become a problem.
Fortunately, Ethan Yang didn't intend to kill him. He wanted him to suffer.
That meant there was still a chance.
As usual, Mr. Liang picked up his toothbrush and quietly moved to the window.
The tile along the windowsill jutted outward, its edge worn rough by years of exposure to wind and sun, like a whetstone.
Mr. Liang pressed the toothbrush handle against the edge and rubbed it lightly.
This was what he had been doing these past few days.
He needed to be ready and wait for the right moment.
Suddenly, a faint sound came from behind him.
Mr. Liang pressed his lips together and flicked his fingers, slipping the toothbrush into his sleeve.
"What are you doing?" Danny Qiang's eerie voice sounded behind him.
Even in sleep, he stayed alert. When he noticed Mr. Liang hadn't come out of the bathroom for a while, he came to check.
"It's too stuffy in there. Can't I get some air?" Mr. Liang turned slowly, his indifferent gaze sliding toward Danny Qiang. "If you've got the nerve, just kill me already. Wouldn't that make your job easier?"
Danny Qiang looked him over, his gaze sweeping across his hands.
Then he walked to the window and inspected it carefully, tugging hard on each bar.
Finding nothing unusual, the suspicion in his eyes eased slightly.
He looked at Mr. Liang, lips twitching, then suddenly raised his hand and slapped him across the face.
With a vicious grin, he said, "Whether I kill you or not is up to me. And you think you can order me around? You old dog."
With that, he swaggered out of the bathroom and went back to bed.
Mr. Liang stood there with his head lowered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His graying hair partially hid a pair of eyes as fierce as a wolf's.
He suppressed the look in his eyes, turned silently, and continued staring out the window.
At the same time, the toothbrush handle kept scraping lightly against the tile.
...
The championship photo from the Brana Ruins featured Stella and Imperial Scale together.
After stepping off the podium, Derek Su couldn't help but smile when he looked at it.
In the picture, the tall Imperial Scale held the trophy with both hands, expression cool and posture elegant. Meanwhile, Stella was standing beneath the trophy, lifting her hands upward.
The best part was how brightly she was grinning.
Even the photographer couldn't help but laugh after taking the shot.
"Hehe! The trophy. A big golden trophy!" Stella hugged it, completely absorbed in her joy.
As they left the podium, Imperial Scale had handed the trophy over to her.
How to put it. Maybe this was the Rebel King showing respect to her, the Pineapple Empress.
Just thinking about it made her feel delighted, her steps turning light and bouncy like a little deer wandering through the forest.
Imperial Scale followed behind Derek Su and Stella.
She silently watched the petite figure skipping ahead.
"Idiot." A faint smile tugged at her lips as she let out a soft snort.
The trophy was obviously heavy...
"Master, hurry and show me the beautiful photo of the Pineapple Champion!" Stella leaned in close to Derek Su, blinking her big eyes.
"Are you sure you want to see it?" Derek Su's lips twitched.
"Of course!"
Derek Su naturally did his best to indulge Stella's requests.
After meeting up with everyone from the Stella Club, he handed her the photo.
At first, Stella's face was filled with a happy smile.
But soon, the smile faded. Her brows furrowed, and the corners of her mouth drooped.
In the photo, she was holding the trophy with both hands. Above her head was Imperial Scale's Great Thunder, and Derek Su stood not far behind.
No matter how you looked at it, it resembled a family of three winning a championship on some parent child show.
A composed and elegant mother and a lively daughter holding the trophy, with a quiet, reserved father standing behind them, watching over them.
"Damn it! Who took this photo?!"
Stella gritted her teeth, eyes wide, instantly channeling Tunbao.
"This king will pass judgment. Execution of all four limbs!"
Isn't it supposed to be exterminating nine generations? Derek Su scratched his head awkwardly.
He had known Stella would explode, and sure enough, he was right.
"Master, waaah... I'm so short." After venting, Stella buried her face in Derek Su's chest and sobbed, pointing at the photo. "Is this photo going up on the club wall too?"
"Of course. It's a wonderful memory." Derek Su nodded.
"Waaah!" Stella cried even louder.
She really could not see what was so wonderful about it at all.
Derek Su could only pat her head in comfort.
Stella knew she couldn't be willful about the photo.
She looked up, a little snot bubble still hanging from her nose, and said softly, "Master, can you grant me a small request?"
Derek Su pinched her cheek and nodded. "Tell me first."
Stella sniffled, looking pitiful as she pleaded, "Can you... make me... just a little bit taller in the photo?"
Derek Su: "..."
...
If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on p-@-treon.
p-@-treon/GhostParser (40 Chapters Ahead)
You can also follow as a free member to read a few advanced chapters.