Struggling as a Villain

That night, Amelia received a letter from Lilia stating that Richard couldn't return as of now. However, unlike what the Professors were informed, Amelia knew the actual reason for his absence.

He has gone to a faraway land to find the cure for his mother.

Amelia was informed by Lilia that because of lack of time, Richard couldn't have met her. However, Amelia knew it wasn't the case. If Richard wanted he could have reached out to her. Then why?

The question didn't persist for long, as once she opened his letter and read the place he was going, she knew why he hadn't decided to meet her.

The Endless Hold.

The place which was used to threaten kids during childhood is a mythical hell which many of the citizens have heard about but don't believe in its existence. The hell for every sinner and a destination which no one wants to reach.

And Amelia knew that it existed somewhere between realms and could only be accessed by a few individuals. Very few who live among humans have been to that place. And those who went never returned, alive, that is.

She has heard from her father what kind of place it is and what kind of people are contained there.

And Richard....has gone there.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, and her eyes burned like she was facing live flame, as she read the letter.

[...I know you are upset and probably angry that I never even asked your opinion. However, I have to do this. You know how much I love Mom and if something happens to her despite knowing that I could have done something....I don't think I need to tell you how I would feel after that.

I am your criminal and it would be perfectly understandable if you want to break up with me...but please, Amy, try to understand my circumstances and wait for me.]

She didn't say anything, nor could think of anything. She was left with no option. Neither she could bring herself to hate Richard or just accept his disappearance naturally.

Her heart felt heavy as she folded the letter and looked at the distant moon.

He was right about not meeting her. With a better conscience, she would have agreed with him, considering Amelia might have slit her wrist to prevent him from diving into that hell hole.

However, in her current state of mind, all she could do was think that she wasn't trustworthy enough for him to tell her about his situation in person.

Now, all she could do was to pray. Pray that Richard remains safe there and accomplishes what he desires.

'All complaints aside, I just want you to return safely to me...'

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[Day- 01]

[Endless Hold]

Richard was currently lying down on the bed, and looking at the roof of the bunker bed, with his mind going through several thoughts

From what information he had collected, this place was wild enough to be called a jungle.

Groups are formed, and gang wars are pretty common. Some new beauty arrives, they do brawl to have her possession unless she is strong enough to defend herself. Then there are battles for food tokens and whatnot.

If you are strong and not in a faction then you either get recruited or get killed.

Now, Richard is the new one here. If he silently joins one of these factions, then he might get a peaceful life in the Endless Hold—but peace was never an option.

*CLINK*

*BZZZZ*

The doors of the cell parted slowly, and Brad got up almost instantly,

"Come quick; I don't want them to find that I show you the working sites."

Richard followed with his brows raised.

While they walked, he asked, "So, in what faction are you?"

Brad chuckled, "Do I look strong enough to be in one?"

Richard was surprised, "You killed a King, no?"

"Yeah, but I was none other than his trusted chef."

Richard understood what it meant. He didn't ask another question and followed the brown-haired through the narrow corridor which led them to a big open hall.

There were benches and tables arranged there to eat food and some small windows on the walls.

"Those are food counters; show them your name tag and get yourself food. You can exchange tokens there."

Richard nodded and followed the man towards the corner of the hall. Some prisoners have started bursting into the common hall, grouped in numerous numbers.

Richard couldn't sense their power levels. However, there was something that told him that he could handle them if he played his cards right and retained his calm until the end.

Nearing the workstation, Brad said, "You see there?" Richard looked at what he was pointing at—it was a long list of available work for prisoners who wanted to gain tokens in exchange for the work.

Richard read some of those jobs and felt he was returned to the apocalyptic world. There was a mention of the expected tokens one could gain; an upper and a lower limit.

"Based on how much time you take and the quality of the work, you will get the tokens. But remember, once you take a job you got to finish it or stay within the chambers until the warden doesn't come to get you."

Richard raised his brows, "And when does that happen?"

"In exactly seven days, the officer who brought you here checks the working chambers. If you can't finish the work, you still have to remain there for the next seven days; so think before you dive-"

"Ohya? Already fooling the newbie?" A group of three men approached the duo, and instantly, Brad stiffened up.

In a whisper, he said, "Don't speak," before the brown-haired stepped forward,

"Master Styx...I was just informing the g-agh!" The lackey of the blond man, named Styx, suddenly lunged forward and punched Brad in the gut

Richard stepped forward to support the guy and, with a frown, looked at the spiky-haired who just assaulted Brad.

"Guheheheh~that look~that look!" The spiky-haired held his belly and laughed hysterically.

Brad held Richard's hand and shook his head to warn him.

Lifting himself, he politely said, "Please forgive him, master Styx; he is new and doesn't know his place."

Richard knew what Brad was doing here. There were people glancing in their direction, and it seemed this Styx wasn't just a random goon. He has a big faction.

'Gaining attention here would be futile. I need a bigger audience.'

Richard lowered his eyes and didn't say anything to interrupt them.

"Tell him that to stay here, it's best to know whom to glare at and whom to grovel at." The spiky-haired snickered before hitting Brad with his shoulder and soon the trio walked away.

'...that was pretty tame-' Just as Richard thought that the matter was solved easily, Brad pulled his arm, and in the next instance something crashed against Brad's face.

The yellowish thing was undoubtedly human faeces.

"Woohoo~nice save, Brady! You earned my respect!" The spiky-haired gave a short salute before he followed the other two and this time, he actually left.

"You didn't have to save me, I could have dodged," Richard spoke with a frown.

Brad didn't say anything but Richard knew what he meant. If Richard had dodged, things might have escalated...so in a way, Brad saved Richard from unnecessary trouble.

Heaving a sigh, Richard added, "Thanks, man...and sorry for all this."

Brad didn't say anything to that and just shrugged and returned to the cell, undoubtedly to clean himself.

Richard looked at the trio once again, specifically at that spiky-haired bastard.

'Once chaos befalls, I swear I will kill you with my two hands.'

Focusing back on the working station, Richard looked at the available jobs.

'Skinning...extracting materials...cleaning....slicing....hmmm...' Back on Earth, he got some experience in hunting animals, and naturally, he extracted meat and skin enough to do it with his eyes closed.

However, skinning and cleaning Bates didn't offer many tokens. Just for shearing a beast he would get twenty to forty tokens. And earlier, Brad told him that a decent lunch meal would require a hundred tokens. Based on that calculation, Richard needed at least ten lunches worth of money to gain some interest from the others.

He would continue to grind while trying to evade others as much as he could. Until he has a decent amount of tokens he needs to refrain from engaging in battles with others.

'Let's see which one of these jobs could grant me a good chunk...'

Going through the list, he tried finding something that could grant him more in less time.

The list was long and the tokens increased as he went down.

Finally, he looked at a job which made him smirk,

[Heat treating: 30 swords minimum: 5 tokens per sword: no upper limit.]

What could be better for someone who has lived his way through flames for the past two months? A live forge and high-paying job.

Nice~

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.