Another day has come, the sunlight shines in from the small barred windows, followed by the chirping sound of the birds.

Xiao woke up from his thin mattress, made a few stretches before heading to a nearby wooden basket filled with water to wash his face and brush his teeth.

(I REALLY wish that there is toothpaste in this world, I just can't get used to using this Miswak stick to brush my teeth.)

After Xiao is done with the cleaning, he goes back to his mattress and sits on it while waiting for someone to come and bring him his breakfast.

Xiao has been living in this cell for almost a week, it was barred with thick and hardwood, the floor and the wall of the cell were made out of bricks. There were also a few cells in this quarter, but all of it was empty, besides the one Xiao was in.

Xiao had settled down after a few days living in this cell, for he had nothing else to do besides eating and sleeping.

The first few days when Xiao got brought into here, he was in total despair on what happened to him, not only his only guide of this world, Lars is dead, he also got framed as the main suspect for Lars's death, just like how he nearly died from the monster that killed his family, only to be framed as the killer who massacred his family.

After a few days of doing almost nothing at all, Xiao thought to himself that whatever happened to him next, he will just accept it, for he no longer gives a damn about his life, if they want to put a death sentence on him, then just let it be, he was already tired of running away from his fate, best just gladly accept it and get done with it.

Once Xiao has gathered his thoughts, his emotion has started to calm down, for he knows that there's no point to be stressed out or worry about it.

And today was another day for Xiao to do completely nothing, he just sits at his mattress, as usual, waiting for the guard to bring his breakfast while also imagining the meal the guard will bring to him.

(Actually, there was no point expecting the breakfast at all, it will be the usual same old bread and butter, plus a cup of water. I wish they can sometimes change the breakfast menu.)

Just when Xiao was patiently waiting for the guard to bring him his breakfast, he could hear footsteps getting closer to his cell. The sound of the footsteps was different than the usual one, and this time, Xiao can make out of two different footsteps coming closer to him.

When Xiao gets to meet the owner of those footsteps, it turns out to be General Blake and Pope Baton, they had come to pay a visit to Xiao.

"Xiao! So good to see you again, how have you been?" said Pope Baton excitedly while General Blake unlocks the cell lock to let both of them get into Xiao's cell.

Xiao was shocked as he wasn't expecting them to visit him, but the next moment, he thought to himself that maybe it has something to do with the investigation, they might be coming here to tell him about the result of the investigation, or maybe, they had decided on what to do with him.

"Once again, Xiao, I am terribly sorry about the things we did to you, I understand it's not fair and unjust for you to receive such treatment, and you have all the rights to be angry at me," said Pope Baton as soon as he entered the cell, and took a 90-degree bow to Xiao, which startled General Blake.

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"Please! Supreme Pontiff, you mustn't lower your head, and besides, he is currently still a suspect, please do be cautious around him," said General Blake as he quickly begs Pope Baton to raise his head, while also coldly stares at Xiao, who was still shocked by their sudden visit.

(Looks like I'm still the suspect for the case, huh? and here I thought there's maybe at least some good news they will bring to me.)

Xiao gets up from his mattress and greets both of them, while Pope Baton returns it with a warm smile, General Blake showing a distrustful expression.

"No worries, Pope Baton, I am doing fine. So, what brings you here?" asked Xiao directly after his greetings as he wants them to just state their business and leave him alone. Xiao 's traumatic experience of being in the same room with people paying attention to him still hasn't completely healed yet, so he is currently being a bit stressed out by them, subconsciously.

Before Pope Baton was going to open his mouth and tell Xiao about their purpose of coming here, General Blake stops him in a split second and says:

"Let me take it from here, Supreme Pontiff."

With Pope Baton nodding his head as a reply to General Blake, he clears his throat and begins to state their business to Xiao.

"First of all, the investigation for Lars Leo's death, for the time being, the investigation is still ongoing, so far we still haven't found anyone or anything that linked to his death yet, other than you being the suspect."

As soon as General Blake finishes the statement with Xiao still being the suspect, Pope Baton looks at him intensely, as to signal him to inform Xiao about something else other than just Xiao still being the suspect.

"Yes, Supreme Pontiff," General Blake nodded as understood on Pope Baton instruction and continued.

"Although most of the evidence we gathered so far had pointed you as Lars's killer, Pope Baton and the others think that we may still need more solid evidence to prove that you are the culprit, to put it in my words, you're either hide your track so well that we can't find it at all, or you REALLY didn't kill him."

"I believe in him, I just know that Xiao is not a man who will commit murder, right? Xiao," Pope Baton reactively spoke out right after General Blake finished his statement, he looked at Xiao with worry while Xiao was surprisingly calm as he answered back his doubt.

"Yes, and I will say it again, I didn't do it," said Xiao, but this time, more calmly and composure.

(Well, Mr General here will never believe what I said though.)

"That is not for you to decide," said General Blake immediately right after Xiao finished his statement.

(See what I meant.)

Xiao laughs sarcastically in his mind as he can already predict the answer while General Blake continues to share his information.

"While the investigation is going on, you are restricted to leave the castle until it's done, and since you are still part of the Heroes Band, you are obligated to fight off the Demon God and its army when the time comes."

(First, you put me as a suspect, and now you are telling me that I must fight off the Demon God? This is just bullshit! How can I help you to save this goddamn world of yours, if you didn't even trust me?!)

Although Xiao was voicing out his anger in his mind already, he kept his face calm and steady when facing General Blake because he doesn't want any more trouble, he just wants them to finish up their business, and leave him alone.

"Your current strength is...not impressive, we can't have that, for you need to have at least some combat ability to fulfill your role as a hero, and because of your current status as a suspect, we have already decided your future, for the time being."

"My future? What are you guys planning for me to do?" Xiao asked in worry, as he has no idea whether they are going to punish him or order him to do something difficult.

General Blake pause for a while as he took out a scroll from his pocket, he then informs it out loud to Xiao:

"Starting from tomorrow onwards, you are going to be enlisted in the Julian Empire army.