Chapter 77

"Doctor Finks, how is it?"

Outside the third-floor medical room, as the old prison doctor walked out, the warden approached and inquired urgently—previously, after Qin Ran induced vomiting in Old Tom, he quickly sent the man to the medical room, where a more professional doctor could treat him.

"He's alive!"

"But he's still unconscious!"

The old prison doctor sighed and said. As the prison doctor of this facility, Finks was well aware that Old Tom's survival was not a good thing. Death might have been a better fate for him. However, this was not something a prison doctor could control. He could only fulfill his duty.

"Very good!"

"Alive is good!"

"Otherwise, how could I find his remaining accomplices!"

Warden Siko said with a grimace. Siko, who had become the warden, was certainly not a fool. After the initial shock, he quickly calmed down and saw through the essence of the murder to silence. Not only did he disperse the surrounding prison guards, but he also prohibited anyone other than Qin Ran and Zhang Wei from entering the third-floor medical room.

Warden Siko's intentions were clear to Qin Ran. It was obvious that, as the warden, Siko was thoroughly enraged by the murderer of his subordinate, especially when the murderer was also his subordinate. At least during the time waiting for Old Tom's treatment, the warden had muttered words like 'kill' and 'take out' more than once.

Moreover, Qin Ran was confident that even if Old Tom died, the other party would still make Old Tom 'alive'! Because only in this way could they lure out Old Tom's accomplices! Even if the means were deceitful. This warden had an unusually strong obsession with his 'dignity.'

"Mr. Qin Ran, thank you for your help earlier!"

"It seems that inviting all of you here was one of the wisest decisions I've made recently!"

After getting the information he wanted, Warden Siko turned to Qin Ran to express his gratitude.

"Being invited by the warden is also an honor for us!"

"Moreover, I am willing to help the warden find the other accomplices!"

Qin Ran smiled and politely replied. Of course, such a smile and politeness were not because of the warden himself, but because the side quest he brought had been completed smoothly, and there was clearly more to come.

[Side Quest: Unexpected Murderer! (Completed)]

Qin Ran glanced at the completed side quest and waited quietly for the warden's response. He believed that from the initial side quest [Poisoned!] to the recent [Unexpected Murderer!], he had already gained enough trust from the other party.

And everything unfolded as Qin Ran had anticipated—

After a brief moment of thought, Warden Siko nodded in agreement.

"I am very willing to have your help, Qin Ran!"

"Of course, I also hope that Qin Ran can resolve the other troubles in the prison more quickly, just as you were able to see through Old Tom's tricks instantly!"

The other party said.

[Discovered Side Quest: Hidden Accomplice!]

[Side Quest: Old Tom is not alone; there is a more cunning and ruthless person behind him—find him!]

As Warden Siko spoke, a notification of a new side quest appeared on Qin Ran's retina.

Qin Ran responded with a smile. Zhang Wei, standing to the side, found Qin Ran's smile particularly glaring. Thinking about how he had rushed upstairs in a hurry, Zhang Wei felt foolish and naive. Clearly, Qin Ran standing still must have been suspicious! He had lost his head in a moment of panic.

"Damn!"

Subconsciously, Zhang Wei thought of the many misfortunes he had encountered since meeting Qin Ran, and he felt a surge of anger. His gaze towards Qin Ran became increasingly unfriendly.

Qin Ran, whose perception had reached D+, immediately sensed Zhang Wei's hostile gaze. However, he was not concerned. With the constraints of the Advanced Team Contract, unless Zhang Wei was willing to risk his life, he could not cause any harm to Qin Ran. The relationship between the two was clearly not at that level.

"Please, Warden, describe the entire process in detail!"

"Of course, in front of all our companions!"

Qin Ran shifted his attention back to the warden, reminding him.

"You can't represent all of them?"

The warden looked at Qin Ran in surprise.

"We each have our own strengths!"

"That's why we form a team, rather than act alone!"

Qin Ran explained with a smile.

"Alright, go to the room and wait, I'll be there shortly!"

The warden nodded.

"As you wish!"

Qin Ran smiled and bid farewell to the warden, then headed downstairs. As he was about to step on the stairs, his gaze swept across the corridor. Two large iron bars divided the corridor into two parts. The east side was for the prison guards, and the west side was for the prisoners. Armed guards took turns guarding here. On the walls of the corridor, there were surveillance cameras, covering the entire floor without any blind spots.

Such an arrangement only appeared on the third floor! The second and first floors were completely separated by concrete walls. This also explained why Old Tom and his accomplices lured the deputy warden out instead of acting in the deputy warden's office on the third floor. Once they caused a commotion, they couldn't escape. Even if they could silently kill the deputy warden, the surveillance cameras would record everything. A brief search would expose them.

Solving one mystery, another appeared in Qin Ran's mind. Why was the prison arranged this way? Opening a passage to the prisoners' cells on the same floor as the warden, deputy warden, and medical room seemed incomprehensible to Qin Ran. After all, a forty-centimeter-thick concrete wall was far safer than two iron bars and two armed guards.

Moreover, the warden's attitude was also puzzling. He had clearly stated that they were hired to Alcatraz Prison to solve some 'special matters.' However, his behavior just now was far from the urgency one would expect. Compared to those 'special matters,' he seemed more concerned about his 'dignity' being challenged! In fact, he had shown this attitude from the beginning. At the dock, he arranged for the deputy warden to 'welcome' them, and the welcoming party was just a regular guard. If it weren't for the guard being poisoned, Qin Ran doubted the warden would have appeared at all. This was not the attitude of an employer eager to solve 'special matters.'

"Huh, interesting!"

Qin Ran's lips curled, and he slowly descended the stairs.

...

"2567, you really have good luck!"

"Come, share some with me!"

Back in their room, Qin Ran received a warm welcome from Lawless—opening his arms for a hug. However, Qin Ran easily dodged it.

"Just a coincidence!"

Qin Ran replied. Clearly, the events in the restaurant and the stairwell had already reached Lawless's ears. As for who informed Lawless, Qin Ran had no other choice but to think it was the guard Jack.

"A coincidence still requires strength and luck!"

"Did you find anything?"

Lawless teased, then seriously asked Qin Ran and Zhang Wei.

"I didn't find anything more!"

Zhang Wei said, then lay down on a bed and fell silent. Lawless didn't mind. He had more faith in Qin Ran. Although Zhang Wei was also good, compared to Qin Ran, who had obtained two [Iron Fist-2] rocket launchers in the beginner dungeon and 10 [Gems] in his first dungeon, one of which was a cracked level, Zhang Wei was still far behind—both in strength and luck.

"The warden seems a bit off!"

Qin Ran immediately shared his discovery. Since it was related to the main quest, there was no need to hide it.

"Hmm..."

Lawless stroked his chin, thinking.

"Did you find anything?"

Looking at Lawless, Qin Ran asked with some anticipation. For Lawless, who had experienced seven dungeons, Qin Ran would not underestimate him. His experience and strength were far beyond what Qin Ran currently possessed. Therefore, some details that Qin Ran couldn't see, Lawless might notice.

"Absolutely nothing!"

"I'm not good at analysis!"

"I can only be most effective in battle!"

Lawless answered seriously. Qin Ran rolled his eyes again. Zhang Wei, lying on the bed pretending to sleep, and Stanbeck, who was being invisible, both paused, clearly not expecting this answer.

"Leave this to you, 2567!"

"When the monsters appear, leave it to me!"

"Division of labor!"

Lawless laughed loudly. However, the laughter quickly subsided. In the next second, Qin Ran heard footsteps. It was the warden's footsteps.

Knock knock!

The latecomer knocked on the door.