This girl is a maniac

"What do you plan to do?" Edith asked.

Arden glanced toward her hidden figure. "I don't know about you, but I'm leaving this place."

A line of sweat dripped down Cedric's face. "Ahh... You're leaving us here...?"

His mouth was wide open, still trying to comprehend what had just transpired. The guard who was talking all high and mighty just minutes ago was now on the ground... dead.

Arden didn't bother to answer Cedric's question. He bent down and dragged the guard's body closer to himself. Instantly, he started checking the guard's clothes and finally spotted the key in one of the pockets.

Without wasting time, he took the key and unlocked the cell.

*Click*

With a click, the cell gate swung open, allowing passage.

Yes, he had finally freed himself, but his plan was not yet complete. He still had to escape the prison building, and there was a 100 percent chance that guards would be stationed inside.

Arden squinted, focusing his gaze on the hallway. "I'll just force my way out."

There was still the option of disguising himself as the guard, but that meant he would have to wear the guard's clothes and act like him—a prospect Arden didn't feel was feasible.

He could also try to disguise himself and leave the prison compound, but there was still a chance he would be caught. The guards had a specific formation, and even a single mistake could blow his cover.

So, he discarded that idea and focused on the only viable solution: forcing his way out.

He had already arranged a means to make that possible; after all, he had a discussion with the system before the guard arrived.

Cedric watched as Arden left the cell, then clenched his fists and stood up. "Arden, please, I need to unlock that cell."

Arden had expected this, so he wasn't surprised. "Make it fast."

He tossed the key toward Cedric, already strategizing his next move.

Instantly, Cedric caught the key and turned to Edith's cell.

"Thank you," he said while unlocking the cell.

*Click*

The clicking sound echoed again, signifying that the cell had been unlocked.

With a nod, Cedric threw the key back to Arden, who caught it and began walking along the hallway toward the turn at the end.

"Do you know what's outside?" Arden suddenly heard Edith's voice, making him turn his head.

Now that she was outside the cell, he could finally see her clearly.

The first thing Arden noticed about her was her small stature—she barely reached Cedric's shoulder, despite them being twins. Her long black hair cascaded down to her lower back, framing her big blue eyes. Her clothes, like Cedric's, were torn and dirty, which made sense considering how long they'd been imprisoned.

But the most noticeable feature was the scar that ran across her left eye—a burn mark that had healed but left a prominent scar. Arden quickly realized that Cedric bore the same scar, a sign that they had both suffered the same fate.

Edith's expression was stoic, showing no emotion as her gaze locked onto Arden. She repeated her question, "Do you know what's outside?"

"Guards, of course. Or is there something else?" Arden asked, staring back at her.

Cedric scratched the back of his head as he glanced at Edith. It was clear he was hesitant to say something, but Arden chose not to comment.

"I think it's just guards outside," Cedric said. "Or do you think there's something else?"

Arden could tell that Edith was trying to say more, even her gaze made that clear.

"Stop beating around the bush, Edith," Arden said. "Do you know something?"

Edith took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and exhaled before opening them again. "Yes, guards will be outside, but do you think there will be just a few?" she asked.

"Usually, when night falls," she explained, "guards return to the prison compound. Though some still remain in the streets, the ones who return to the compound are usually many."

Arden understood what she was implying. "So, you mean I won't be able to leave the compound, right?"

Edith closed her eyes briefly. "It's possible, but it'll be tough."

Arden shrugged immediately upon hearing her reply. "Then as long as it's possible, there's no issue."

Cedric's head kept darting from Arden to Edith, with a single thought in his mind: 'I don't feel part of this conversation at all.'

Edith's eyes scanned Arden as she folded her arms, her gaze calculative and piercing. A smile slowly crept onto her face, and then she said something unexpected:

"I like you..."

"Huh?!" Cedric exclaimed. By now, he had lost count of how many times his mouth had dropped open today.

Arden raised his brows, giving her a curious stare. "I see..."

Before Edith could say anything more, Arden interrupted her.

"Well, I have to go," Arden said as he began walking away, waving at them from behind.

"And who said we'd stay here?" Edith asked, making Arden turn to look at her.

But her expression wasn't the usual one he knew. She had a crazed grin on her face, making her look almost... maniacal, and her eyes were wide open as if she had just found a treasure.

Her left hand rested on her hip, while her right hand gripped a sword Arden hadn't noticed before.

Suddenly, she locked eyes with Arden as she raised the sword. She stuck out her tongue and licked the blade, enhancing her menacing appearance.

At that moment, Arden realized one thing: 'This girl is a maniac...'