Future Masters in Modern Times

Chapter 7: The New Boss

“Zhao won! Ivanov was killed by Zhao!” Below the ring, Zhao Wuji’s supporters raised their arms and cheered wildly, while Ivanov’s supporters—who had been bragging nonstop just moments ago, acting as if they were invincible—now looked ashen, as if the pillar of their world had suddenly collapsed. “Ivanov was so strong—how could he have lost? And lost his life, no less? How is that possible?” They kept muttering to themselves, still unable to believe the unbelievable scene unfolding before their eyes. Zhao Wuji’s expression was calm, showing no sign that he had just killed a man whom everyone had considered invincible. He leaped down from the ring, and the surrounding prisoners scrambled to make way for him. The look of fear in their eyes was exactly what Zhao Wuji wanted to see. In this prison, skin color and ethnicity didn’t matter. As long as you possessed enough strength to make the other inmates fear you from the bottom of their hearts, that was enough. Zhao Wuji had demonstrated this truth—one that prevailed within the prison—through his actions. From that day forward, every inmate who had witnessed his two fights would know that in Block B, there was an inmate named Zhao Wuji whom one absolutely must not provoke; doing so would almost certainly cost them their lives. Just think about it! He could smash a man’s head into his chest and then, as if it were nothing, beat the Block B boss to death right before everyone’s eyes. If you provoked him, the prisoners who met a gruesome end at Zhao Wuji’s hands would be a true reflection of your own fate. So who would dare to cross him? If the prisoners present were asked to describe these two fights in a few words, the two most common would undoubtedly be “shocking” and “terrifying.” “He’s very strong,” the warden nodded, his gaze fixed on the monitor, which was showing the fight between Zhao Wuji and Ivanov that had just taken place. He looked up at the prison guard standing at attention to one side and said slowly, “Kerry, tell him that starting today, he’s the boss of Block B.” ” He paused for a moment, as if something had just occurred to him. “If he’s unwilling, you can tell him this is only temporary. I’m sure he’ll understand what that means.” Prison guard Kerry gave a slight bow and took his leave. After Kerry left, the warden made a phone call. “Old buddy, I’ve got something to show you. That’s right! It’s about that Zhao Wuji. Okay, you’ll be satisfied.” A smile tugged at the warden’s lips as he turned on his computer and sent the video clip. Then, with a look of contentment, he lit a premium Cuban cigar and puffed away. No sooner had Zhao Wuji returned to his cell than someone came looking for him—yes, it was Kerry, the prison guard. Dressed in a black prison guard uniform with his sleeves rolled up to reveal his muscular arms, Kerry walked into Zhao Wuji’s cell with a smile on his face. “Zhao, congratulations on winning this fight.” ““Thanks,” Zhao Wuji replied casually as he stood up. Kerry’s gaze swept around Zhao Wuji’s cell, then he said, “Zhao, the conditions in your cell are clearly terrible. We’ve decided to move you to a different one.” “Oh? Why? Just because I beat Ivanov?” Zhao Wuji voiced his confusion. Kerry shrugged. “Of course. That’s the prison’s rule. The fact that you defeated Ivanov proves your strength, and a strong person shouldn’t be living in a cell like this. You should be in a cell that matches your power—no one would dispute that. Of course, you’ll need to agree to one small request.” At this point, Kerry paused. His gray eyes fixed on Zhao Wuji, trying to read something in his expression, but to his disappointment, he couldn’t make anything out. Zhao Wuji remained calm, waiting for him to continue. Unable to keep him in suspense, Kerry raised an eyebrow and continued, “We need you to become the boss of Block B. This shouldn’t be a problem for you, and the other prisoners won’t question it either—you’ve already proven your strength to everyone.” Zhao Wuji’s expression finally shifted slightly. He furrowed his brow and said in a deep voice, “I won’t be the boss of Block B, because I hate trouble.” Zhao Wuji was unwilling to take on the role of Block B boss because, once he did, he would have to shoulder many responsibilities he didn’t want to bear—such as maintaining general stability among the inmates. This stability didn’t include private conflicts among them; it was merely a balance within the broader context. But even so, it was a very troublesome task, so Zhao Wuji would naturally refuse. Kerry looked rather helpless. “Zhao, don’t be so quick to refuse.” But what Kerry said next made Zhao Wuji’s heart skip a beat. “Zhao, all you have to do is serve as the Zone B boss for a while and maintain overall stability in Zone B. If no one takes on that role, we prison guards alone won’t be able to keep the prison stable—it’ll all fall apart. “Remember, it’s just a temporary role as leader. As for what comes after? That’s where your opportunity lies. I think you should understand what I mean, right?” Kerry’s eyes were full of meaning. If Zhao Wuji hadn’t quite grasped what Kerry had said to him before the fight, this time? In a flash, something clicked in Zhao Wuji’s mind. The so-called “opportunity”—if it wasn’t becoming the leader, then what else could possibly be called an opportunity for an inmate? Freedom! Yes, only freedom! At that thought, Zhao Wuji suddenly locked eyes with Kerry. Facing Zhao Wuji’s intense gaze, Kerry said, enunciating each word clearly, “This is the warden’s order.” Leaving prison was, for an inmate like him, nothing short of a distant, almost impossible dream—yet today, that dream was suddenly right before Zhao Wuji’s eyes. Of course, Zhao Wuji didn’t believe he’d be completely free once the prison released him—nothing in this world is that easy. But at the very least, these words revealed several key points: first, he would indeed be leaving prison soon—the prison authorities had no reason to lie about that—and serving as the leader of Block B for a period of time was merely a side condition, not the main focus. Put simply, his value lay in his ability to fight—and this was tied to why he was being released and where he would go afterward. Thinking this through, Zhao Wuji felt everything start to become clear. It seemed he had become a bargaining chip between the warden and the other party—but that didn’t matter. As long as he could get out of prison, he could handle any other problems on his own. By then, he’d have more ways to collect living souls, and he’d be fully capable of accumulating enough of them in a relatively short time to complete his enhancement. If the other party was willing to let him go by then, that would be fine; if not, he’d simply force his way out—who could possibly stop him? All of this, however, hinged on one thing: leaving the prison. So the current demand to become the boss of Block B was trivial—it would just be a bit of a hassle, but he wouldn’t suffer any real loss. Zhao Wuji looked at Kerry and nodded. “I accept this request.” Kerry kept a smile on his face. “Zhao, I knew you’d agree. And once you become the boss, you won’t have to stay in your cell during designated hours. You can spend all day moving around outside your cell—though, of course, that doesn’t include the prison’s restricted areas.” Zhao Wuji naturally agreed; clearly, having a certain degree of freedom was already more than enough to satisfy him. Kerry continued, “Now, let’s go take a look at your new quarters.” Kerry stepped out of the cell first, leading Zhao Wuji toward his private cell. Before long, they stopped beside a cell. This cell was set apart from the others, making it relatively quiet, and it wasn’t locked—Zhao Wuji could come and go as he pleased. Upon opening the door, the interior of the cell was noticeably different from typical cells; it resembled a small suite. Although it would be considered spartan by outside standards, within this prison, it was already an excellent living environment. “So, Zhao, what do you think of this place?” After showing Zhao Wuji around, Kerry asked for his opinion. “It’s great. I’m very satisfied,” Zhao Wuji nodded. No wonder so many people wanted to become the boss. “Great. Zhao Wuji, now let’s go announce that you’re the boss of Block B!” With Zhao Wuji’s living arrangements settled, Kerry felt it was time to announce the new boss of Block B. After all, making this announcement sooner rather than later was crucial for maintaining stability in the prison. A moment later, the inmates in every cell stopped what they were doing as a chilling voice boomed over the prison intercom. “I, Zhao Wuji, will henceforth be the boss of Block B.”