The Warden of The Witches-Chapter 243:

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Yes," Aiden confirmed. "I find it rather strange, why didn't you explain it directly in your letter?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->He had specifically mentioned Kyle's situation to Ophelia, partly to persuade her to behave herself, and partly to gauge her reaction to confirm if Kyle's words were true.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"And what was her reaction?" Kyle asked seriously.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"She said she doesn't care if you live or die," Aiden shrugged. "It's clear she's very unhappy about your insistence on serving the Progenitor."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Truly heartless," Kyle sighed, raising his eyebrows. "How is her behavior in prison now?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Not good... Well, strictly speaking, her situation is actually quite dangerous. Participating in the riot and attempting to attack a guard are extremely serious offenses; her previous escape attempt seems minor in comparison. It's fortunate it was only an attempt; otherwise, when you arrived in Silver City, you would likely have been collecting her remains," Aiden assessed frankly. "Now her sentence totals over 150 years, with restricted parole. The crucial point is her attitude shows absolutely no sign of cooperation. If this continues, I estimate... her prospects are grim."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Despite both participating in the riot, Ophelia's situation as an accomplice is now far worse than Melusine as the main instigator. Melusine—although almost certainly not genuinely—has at least outwardly softened, started cooperating with her sentence, and she can leverage her medical knowledge, which surpasses this era's, using research results to earn merits and reduce her sentence. Although sentenced to death with reprieve, as long as she doesn't court disaster herself, she still has a chance to live out her remaining years in prison. As for Ophelia, while she hasn't reached the death penalty yet, she's not far off. </ms-cmark-node>

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256="">Crucially, judging from the last fight incident, she has absolutely no intention of cooperating with her sentence. Based on Aiden's experience, this type of ignorant, unreasonable, and reckless inmate—forget 150 years, even with just a few—is almost certain to cause trouble in prison. The next time she attempts escape or causes some major incident, even if she isn't killed by the riot squad, she likely won't escape the death penalty.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"She really is troublesome," Kyle slapped his forehead, looking troubled. "Sigh, I really regret it... Back then, I shouldn't have kept spoiling her."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"I've seen quite a few family members like you," Aiden commented expressionlessly, showing no hint of sympathy.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->In his experience, the twisted root causes for many criminals detached from society could often be traced back to their upbringing. This 'distortion' manifested in different ways. Some, like Carmilla, were from the bottom rungs of society, lacking a normal family structure. Living like a normal person was already a distant hope, making it easy to stray onto the path of crime. But there was another type: those who grew up in privileged environments but lacked proper discipline. Spoiled from childhood, never properly reprimanded or punished for wrongdoing, they gradually developed entirely self-centered personalities that disregarded rules. Once faced with a certain opportunity, they too might ignore legal constraints and commit crimes. And Ophelia's personality traits strongly matched the latter case.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Kyle remained silent for a long while. He poured another cup of coffee, gestured for Aiden to sit in the chair, then sat down himself on the edge of the bed.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"The Kaodo family were originally local nobles in eastern Cenia. My father was a Marquis—ah, it's not just an empty title, but one with a small territory," Kyle suddenly began recounting his family history before he died. "I received training as the heir from a young age, but Ophelia was different..."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"She was doted on by your parents?" Aiden raised an eyebrow.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Yes, Including me. I spoiled her quite a bit too, which is how she developed such a rotten personality," Kyle smiled bitterly.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node> ⱤἁꞐồВÈŞ

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"I can see that," Aiden nodded. "So you were nobles before you died. No wonder she still puts on such airs even in prison."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"But we haven't been for a long time. Twenty-five years ago, revolution broke out in the Kingdom of Cenia. The Kaodo estate was also overthrown by its people. My father was captured by revolutionaries lying in ambush during a meeting with other nobles and eventually sent to the guillotine. I fled with Ophelia in a carriage towards the Netherlands seeking refuge, but we were pursued by bandits on the road.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Although we eventually escaped, we got lost in the wilderness. Worse still, Ophelia suffered a gunshot wound and was in critical condition... Then, when I was at my wit's end, I saw a secluded mansion in the middle of nowhere."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Kyle paused here, looking directly into Aiden's eyes. "What happened next... you can probably imagine, right?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"You met the Progenitor there?" Aiden quickly grasped the direction of the story, and at the same time felt a little surprised. "The Blood Progenitor has always lived in seclusion on the border of Cenia and the Netherlands? Telling me this... isn't that a bit <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->too<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> candid?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->He was surprised because Kyle, who called himself the Progenitor's hound, would reveal the Progenitor's hiding place so easily. Besides the various nations' the Inquisition institutions and the Death God Faction's Blood Moon Cult, there were likely many other forces in the world who wanted the Blood Progenitor dead.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"No, he has many hidden strongholds; that was just one of them. Besides, it's been abandoned, so it doesn't matter if people know about it," Kyle saw Aiden's doubt and explained. "Back then, of course, I couldn't have known such a powerful figure lived there. But as I approached the secluded mansion, I sensed something wasn't right. The horses became agitated just getting near the building, eventually refusing to take another step forward. But Ophelia's condition was too critical at the time. Even if there was only the slightest possibility, I had to try. So I got off the carriage and approached the house alone. The Progenitor received me..."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"So, you asked him for help, and he turned you both into Vampire?" Aiden fast-forwarded to the key part of the story.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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