For several days in a row, Charlotte did not see Senior Menilman again.
He had heard some rumors as well. Some even claimed that Miss Menilman had been locked away in the deepest level of the prison, but none of this gossip came from reliable sources.
Charlotte had only been transferred to Kilmainham Prison recently. He knew no one there and had no way to inquire about or verify those rumors.
After leaving work early once again, Charlotte accompanied Anne to an opera. He then caught a ride in Brittany's family carriage back to Champs-Élysées Avenue. After bidding Anne farewell, he walked back to Number 58.
To his surprise, he found two prison guards outside his home, and they were familiar faces.
Charlotte asked, "John, Tony! Are you two looking for me?"
"So late at night—does Miss Menilman have some instructions?"
The two prison guards exchanged a glance and said together, "Warden Menilman has been transferred away. The newly appointed Warden Magru wants you to come over."
Charlotte glanced at the sky and could not help saying, "At this hour?"
The two prison guards said, "It can't be helped. The new Warden Magru has a terrible temper. He arrived at the prison this afternoon and called roll first thing. When he learned you weren't there, he already signed a dismissal order. Maybe if you go back now, there will still be time to save your job."
"A dismissal order!?"
Charlotte was genuinely shocked this time.
He had merely left work early that afternoon. The new warden had caught such a minor mistake and wanted to dismiss him?
This did not comply with Imperial law, but the Empire had never been a society ruled by law in the first place.
Charlotte said nothing more. He followed his two colleagues and hurried back to Kilmainham Prison.
When Charlotte stepped into the familiar office, he no longer saw the beautiful senior who had been like a rose in full bloom. Instead, he saw a paunchy middle-aged man whose oversized uniform had been stretched taut over his round belly, his face filled with fury.
Charlotte hurriedly saluted, thinking, Has this guy been waiting for me all along?
A cold, mocking voice rang out. "Mr. Mecklen, as a First-Rank Chief Clerk, you have repeatedly left work early. You even vanished for the entire afternoon on the very day I took office. Tell me—"
"Are you really suited for this job?"
Charlotte had nothing to say. He really had been leaving work early lately, but that was because there was practically nothing to do at the prison, and he had worked far too much overtime.
However, though the man spoke with righteous indignation, he had already signed the dismissal order before Charlotte returned and had not even given him a chance to explain himself. Clearly, this was not over the trivial matter of leaving work early.
Under Imperial law, being late or leaving early could at most result in docked pay. There was absolutely no reason for dismissal. This paunchy fellow was most likely trying to purge Menilman's "trusted subordinates."
Charlotte remained silent. The new warden took it as a sign that he had begun to fear him. Pleased with his intimidation, he said in a deliberately angry tone, "I have removed you from your post as First-Rank Chief Clerk. However, as your newly appointed superior, I have specially shown you leniency. I will allow you to continue working at Kilmainham Prison as a Temporary Prison Guard. If you work hard and correct your little habit of leaving early, it is not impossible for me to restore your position."
"A Temporary Prison Guard? That isn't even an Imperial civil servant!"
Charlotte had spent two years in the Central Government Office and was familiar with Imperial law. He sensed that something was wrong, and his mind raced at full speed. Once a dismissal order is issued, it completely strips someone of their status as an Imperial civil servant.
By Imperial law, a warden can issue a dismissal order, but he cannot restore me to the position of First-Rank Chief Clerk unless an official one or two ranks higher intervenes.
He struck this ruthlessly, signing the dismissal order outright, then tried to fool me by saying I could regain my post if I worked hard. What exactly does he want?
Kilmainham Prison's new warden, Magru Teller, believed he had already "cowardly subdued" this insignificant First-Rank Chief Clerk. Of course, once the dismissal order had been issued, the other man was no longer a First-Rank Chief Clerk. Charlotte Mecklen was now merely a nobody Magru could manipulate however he pleased.
Magru smiled and said, "I trust you know how you ought to behave."
"I want to know what Menilman has been doing recently. What incidents have you been involved in? She specifically transferred you here from the Central Government Office, so there must have been something special she wanted you to do. I want the details."
Charlotte immediately understood, thinking, This is a political struggle aimed at Senior Menilman?
Damn it!
If I get dragged into a political struggle at this level, a nobody like me will die!
Seeing that Charlotte still did not speak, Magru added sternly, "You are now a Temporary Prison Guard, someone who manages those damned prisoners. But it is not as though you cannot change identities and become trash locked away inside."
"I also have a report here stating that you borrowed three Supernatural Weapons, kept them for personal use, and never returned them to the prison."
"My patience is limited!"
"Do not test my bottom line."
Charlotte took a deep breath. Secretly reselling Supernatural Weapons was an unwritten rule in the prison, and an unwritten rule meant it could not be brought into the open. The new warden had even brought this up, which meant he had no intention of giving Charlotte the chance to choose sides. He was determined to force him into a dead end.
Since this matter had been dug up, even if Charlotte obeyed him, his outcome would certainly not be good.
Charlotte did not know what kind of political struggle Menilman had become involved in, but since the new warden clearly would not care whether he lived or died, betraying his senior would not bring him any benefit either. Most likely, he would be discarded once he had served his purpose and die without anyone knowing why. What meaning was there in betrayal?
He could only choose the other side.
Even though he did not know what fate awaited Menilman either.
Although he had been living happily these past days, as a transmigrator, he did not consider this life particularly important. He lacked the natives' constant anxieties and had no luck-driven fantasies.
Charlotte raised the head he had kept lowered and said, "I am willing to report..."
Magru disliked the clarity in this young man's eyes, but Charlotte's words made him decide to grant him a little patience. "Temporary Prison Guard Charlotte, you are indeed a sensible man." He deliberately stressed the words "Temporary Prison Guard" to make the threat more imposing. Prison Guards were Imperial civil servants, after all, but Temporary Prison Guards were not—not even the lowest fifty-third rank.
Charlotte stepped forward. A Vampire Hand Axe appeared in his hand with miraculous suddenness, and he hurled it with all his might. At the same time, his voice cracked like spring thunder as he shouted, "Warden Magru, don't even think about forcing me to falsely accuse Miss Menilman..."
The instant the Vampire Hand Axe flew out, Charlotte activated Bloody Glory and leaped backward with all his strength, smashing the office door open with his back.
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