In the dimly lit cell, with its damp floor and straw bedding reeking of mold, Chris, pushed in by the dungeon guard, showed no discomfort. Whistling and even starting to hum a vulgar tune cheerfully,

"Oh girls of Oni City! My beautiful angels! The stars tonight are so dazzling, and my heart burns like red-hot iron, please don't reject me..."

But before Chris could continue, a coarse shout came from a corner of the cell:

"Enough, stop singing, Chris! Listening to you is torture, like the squawking of a drake, disgusting! If you dare continue, I swear, Rite, I'll rip out your tongue and crush it!"

Rite? Hearing this name, Chris was startled and couldn't believe his eyes. Rubbing them and with the help of the torchlight in the corridor, he finally saw the burly figure sitting in the corner.

With a scarred face, triangular eyes, and a large beard, it was indeed Rite, the notorious thug of Oni City! Chris hurriedly said,

"So it's Big Brother Rite, I didn't expect to meet you here, my apologies, I didn't see it was you just now, no offense meant, I hope you can forgive my impudence this time!"

"Hmph! Go and stay in your corner!" Rite seemed somewhat satisfied with Chris's attitude, nodding for him to stay on the other side of the cell, while he monopolized the only pile of straw.

Chris was just a lowly thug in Oni City, daring not to disobey. He scurried to a corner and squatted down. Being recognized by Rite was enough to boast about once he got out.

Who was Rite? He was the illegitimate son of the lord's second son! Although he couldn't inherit a noble surname, he genuinely had noble blood, belonging to the Hanirei count's lineage. At least while the old lord was alive, and his father was still the second in line, Rite could bully the commoners and harass girls in Oni City without any problem.

Thinking this, Chris became curious. What had this formidable thug, someone he looked up to, done to end up in jail? It was well known that he was on good terms with the sheriff.

It couldn't be something trivial! Chris speculated in his mind. But as curious as he was, he didn't dare to ask Rite. Being a thug for years, he understood timing, and it wasn't the right moment to speak up, risking a beating.

Thus, with one not daring to speak and the other uninterested, silence fell in the cell.

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Time passed, and after the torches in the corridor had been changed twice, just when Chris was about to go mad from boredom, Rite finally spoke:

"What did you do this time to get locked up?"

This question snapped Chris back to attention, eagerly replying:

"I was careless, targeted a merchant-looking foreigner on the street to steal from. Little did I know, not only was he vigilant, but he was also skilled. Before I could even touch his purse, he caught me red-handed and dragged me straight to Sheriff John."

Chris sighed, his face showing helplessness.

"Normally, it wouldn't be a big deal, since I hadn't actually taken the purse, and the foreigner couldn't find witnesses. Usually, John would just scold me and let it go. But my luck was terrible, the sheriff was in a foul mood, didn't even give me a chance to explain, and just threw me in here."

"What bad luck!" Chris sighed deeply, appearing utterly dejected.

Rite didn't immediately respond. When Chris thought he might have accidentally offended him, Rite finally said:

"Didn't you hear about the Hanirei family losing something these days? As the sheriff, with such an incident, it's a wonder he hasn't been stripped of his position. How could he be in a good mood?"

Hanirei? Wasn't that the lord's family name? The lord's house was stolen from? Chris realized something significant had happened in Oni City, but he was also filled with questions. As someone who was usually well-informed, how had he not heard anything about this?

"They've covered it up well, not even a rumor has leaked." Rite didn't need Chris's answer; he could see the surprise on Chris's face.

"Um, Big Brother Rite, does this have something to do with you?" Chris, connecting the dots between Rite's status as the lord's illegitimate son and his current imprisonment, jumped to a startling conclusion.

"Do you think I'd dare?" Rite laughed mockingly, his expression somber.

Being illegitimate was awkward, often sent away at birth. Rite considered himself lucky to have been kept in the castle due to his mother's favor. But an illegitimate child was just that, looked down upon and suspected whenever something bad happened.

Without any evidence, someone casually suggesting, "Could it be Rite's doing? He's always been shady," was enough for him to be thrown into jail by the still furious lord.

Chris, unaware of the noble intrigues, was outraged upon hearing of Rite's innocence and cursed, "Pah, they call themselves nobles, just a bunch of bastards! Always framing the innocent!"

"An innocent man?" Rite laughed at the notion, his lips twitching, "Chris, do you really think someone like me could be considered innocent? My crimes, if listed, could easily lead to a hanging."

"But you're innocent in this case!" Chris cleverly avoided direct criticism, knowing well Rite's notorious deeds but understanding this wasn't the time to mention them.

"Innocent? Well, it doesn't matter, as long as the stolen items are found and I can get out of this damned cell!"

Seeing Rite's disinterest in continuing the conversation, Chris wisely shut up. Although he was bursting with curiosity to know more, like what important item the lord lost, whether it was valuable, or if there were any leads on the thief, he didn't realize that answers would not come from his cellmate Rite but rather from his own involvement in the theft incident that was about to unfold in Oni City...