Axel

Chapter 34: The Escape

Added 2025-01-09 21:05:05 +0000 UTC

Battle energy erupted in the office like a torrent. The Vampiric Axe was blasted away by the surge and spiraled through the air, following closely behind Charlot Mecklenburg as it flew outward.

To become the warden of Kilmainham Prison, one might lack morals, but they could never be incompetent. Charlot knew this well. His earlier attack was only intended to stall Warden Magru and had no illusions about harming the newly appointed warden.

As the Vampiric Axe was flung back toward him by the force of battle energy, Charlot casually caught it, regaining control of the weapon. Rather than fleeing directly out of the prison, he turned and dashed into his own office. All the while, he loudly repeated the phrase, “Warden Magru, you can’t force me to smear Miss Menielman!” He shouted it over and over again, ensuring it echoed far and wide.

Warden Magru was slightly surprised. He knew that Charlot, a first-class civil servant, had some skills. Still, he had expected his level-seven battle energy to split the man in two along with the axe. Yet Charlot had effortlessly recaptured the weapon as if it were a routine move.

What Magru didn’t realize was that Charlot had awakened Bloodflame Aura, one of the Thirteen Miraculous Techniques, which allowed him to telekinetically control Vampiric Weapons. His retrieval of the axe wasn’t simply due to skill.

Magru roared furiously, “Catch this traitor!”

Charlot's Blood Glory technique was only at its second layer. Even with his two extraordinary abilities—Eye of Insight and Bloodflame Aura—there was no chance of breaking out of the heavily fortified Kilmainham Prison. However, his office had a large window, and just beyond it lay the streets of the Marne District.

The Marne District, part of the Outer Fifteen Districts, was a chaotic and complex area. If he could blend into the residential zones, his chances of escaping would improve.

Charlot rushed into his office without hesitation and leaped through the window with all his might. Twisting mid-air, he executed several rolls to break his fall. Although he landed awkwardly, he managed to avoid injury.

Scrambling to his feet, Charlot activated Bloodflame Aura and sprinted away at full speed. By the time a squad of prison guards emerged to pursue him, the former first-class civil servant had vanished without a trace.

Magru’s expression was as dark as a storm cloud. He had never expected such a small incident to spiral so wildly out of control. The words Charlot had shouted while fleeing were sure to reach many ears. Having recently assumed the role of warden, Magru had yet to consolidate full authority or gain complete control over all the prison guards. Some would undoubtedly leak the news.

While he had been instructed by a certain hidden faction to investigate Menielman Soumet, their covert machinations relied on leaving no evidence. Without proof, even their enemies couldn’t take action against them. But openly framing Menielman Soumet and starting a public feud with the Soumet family? Magru didn’t have the guts for that.

If word of this incident spread, Magru would be in deep trouble. Even his backers might not protect him.

Standing in his office, Magru slammed his desk in frustration. He couldn’t understand how Charlot had shown such unyielding defiance, without the slightest hesitation, and then retaliated with such a vicious move. Was he deliberately throwing Magru into the fire?

Clinging to a shred of hope, Magru bellowed, “No one is allowed to speak of what happened today! If I find out that anyone has spread word of what was said, I’ll make sure you all get a taste of life behind bars!”

But the nearby staff members who overheard Magru’s threat thought to themselves: “So the new warden really was planning to frame Miss Menielman.”

...

Charlot, having escaped Kilmainham Prison, hired a public carriage and sped to 58 Elysée Avenue as quickly as possible.

In this era without telephones or networks, the mobilization of prison and city patrol guards was far from swift. He still had a slim chance.

Panting heavily, Charlot burst into 58 Elysée Avenue and retrieved several deposit slips from the Savings Union hidden in his bedroom. Having provoked the new warden, Magru would undoubtedly retaliate. There was no question that his savings would be confiscated if they remained in the Savings Union.

Charlot had already made up his mind to go on the run for some time. But escaping without money would be impossible.

He breathed a small sigh of relief upon securing the deposit slips, glad that he hadn’t squandered much recently. Aside from the custom-made battlefield cane inlaid with dozens of silver stars, he hadn’t purchased any expensive items.

Since he was preparing to flee, Charlot opted to travel light. He gathered the deposit slips, the Vampiric Axe, his diary, the newly acquired cane, a few changes of clothes, and a secondhand Magnum Mauler—a reliable weapon for self-defense.

As he was about to leave through the front door, the commotion outside made him pause. Without hesitation, Charlot abandoned the idea of using the main entrance. Instead, he dashed into the courtyard and leaped over the wall, diving into the waters of the Lukavaro River.

Moments after Charlot plunged into the river, a squad of prison guards stormed into 58 Elysée Avenue. Their heavy boots thudded against the floor as they began searching the house.

Half an hour later, Charlot climbed ashore at a different location. His first act was to check the deposit slips. Though they had been soaked, they were still intact.

Wasting no time, he removed his wet clothing, wrung it out, and sprinted toward the nearest Savings Union branch.

After completing the procedures to withdraw his funds, Charlot exchanged them for Flor banknotes, letting out a long sigh of relief. With 593 écu in hand, he no longer felt as panicked about his escape.

While he knew that using 50-flor banknotes would attract attention, he still converted 550 écu into 50-flor bills for ease of carrying. The remaining 43 écu were split into 10-flor and 1-flor denominations. He also had some loose change, enough to avoid suspicion while shopping.

Now holding the money, Charlot felt a hint of aimlessness. After all, he had only transmigrated to this world a month ago and was still unfamiliar with the Old Continent. As for the distant New Continent, his predecessor’s memories offered even less insight.

“I definitely can’t go back to my hometown. Too many people know me there, and I’d be exposed immediately.”

“Maybe I should leave the Fars Empire entirely?”

“Damn it, I thought that after transmigrating, I’d enjoy a cushy job, have a wealthy beauty chasing me, and live a comfortable, exciting life! How did things end up like this?”

After contemplating for a long while, Charlot decided to first buy a set of practical clothes for his escape. His thin-soled leather shoes, while excellent for city use, were unsuitable for the wilderness or long journeys. He also needed to replace his outfit with the Old Continent’s most popular hunting gear.

Taking a deep breath, Charlot was about to head to an unfamiliar tailor shop when he noticed two men in black coats. Their stern faces and sharp presence were unmistakable. Armed with sheathed magical rapiers, they stood at opposite ends of the street, blocking his path.

Both of them exuded an aura of lethal sharpness, clearly tempered by life-and-death battles.