Chapter 2

The world that I reincarnated into was slightly different from the world in my past life.

The world in my past life was a democratic society with equality for all and was extremely scientifically advanced, but this place was almost the opposite.

It was a status-based society that reminiscent of European history, and the advancement of science was insignificant, but something called magic existed instead.

Also, the concept of morality here was very light compared to that of my past life.

If a weak and poor commoner were to commit a crime, it meant immediate execution.

I mean, I became a first-rate wanted criminal that would be sentenced to death if caught when I was only seventeen, just because I conned people a few times, with wanted posters about me all across the empire, so there’s that.

But I didn’t really need to worry. The risk of becoming a criminal on the run was much lower here. In this world, it was easy to buy tools made through magic as long as I had the money, and those items allowed me to con people even more meticulously.

I slowly prepared to make a name for myself as a swindler in this world.

I learned how to survive in the back alley, acquired manners over the shoulders of nobles when I worked as a servant, and for both survival and defense, I studied about poison.

When I finally thought I was ready, I used special make-up skills from my past life to disguise my identity and officially started to con others to save up money…

…And now.

I climbed the ranks and became a death-row convict known as ‘faceless criminal.’

Many people of the empire paled at the mention of my name, but they didn’t disagree with the label ‘genius swindler’ that I was tagged with. Even the high and mighty grand duke personally paid a visit to me in prison to ask me to be his advisor, did he not?

-You’re going to help me.

His will was touching, and it was even slightly tempting to take his offer.

I was mostly curious if my exceptional brain could make an Emperor out of a brawny idiot with only a healthy body to offer.

But that was it.

Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t not the type of person who would waste time doing meaningless tasks that aren’t worth any money.

“Now, then, time to break out.”

There was around an hour and a half until the guard comes to wake up the inmates at seven. It was more than enough.

The only thing provided in this empty prison cell is a cheap candle as thick as a baby’s wrist. I lit the candle and started to slowly heat up the fork I pocketed from the cafeteria.

Most of the utensils supplied in bulk to a prison like this were dirt cheap.

Unlike the utensils distributed to high noble families, these are made from an alloy material containing a large amount of metal called gallium.

Gallium, which was cheap in unit price, was easy to get and had a low melting point. As expected, it quickly melted to the point where I could reform its shape.

If I bend two of the fork’s prongs like this and twist the other two prongs like so…

There! A key.

As I mentioned before, I was quite crafty with my hands, meaning I could pick just about any lock without a key.

If I just I put the key that I created into the keyhole of my shackles and turn it a couple of times…

Click.

There, I broke out. It was that easy.

After carefully hiding the shackles that unlocked without resistance in the corner, I picked the lock of the sewer below and opened it up.

“Oh, it stinks.”

When I opened the sewer’s cage, the smell of feces assaulted my nose.

First-degree convicts weren’t allowed bathroom privileges. They had to take care of everything in solitary confinement.

I had to empty my stomach on top of the sewer closed off by a cage, it was horrible…

But if not for the solitary confinement of first-degree convicts with a sewer installed in each cell, a breakout like this would have been difficult.

Opening the sewer, there was a passage large enough for a small adult woman to pass through.

The sewer was filled with water and the filth was drained out three times a day at seven in the morning, noon, and nine o’clock at night. If I didn’t want to drown in feces, I had to escape before seven no matter what.

It was uncomfortable to escape through the toilet that I used for urinating and excreting until just last night, but I wasn’t in a position to complain.

After I blocked my nostrils using small pieces of tissues that I tore off, I descended down the drain with ease and laid face down.

Both the layout of the underground drains and my escape route were branded in my brain like a map.

Detestable Drax Prison, this is goodbye.

“Oh, that’s right.”

I should give the poor Grand Duke Hexen a final farewell even though he can’t hear me.

I spoke as I looked up with a smile at the prison cell that was my home for the last month.

“Good luck, Grand Duke. I hope that you become an Emperor as you wished and reign far and wide.”

I’m sorry.

Breaking out was the easiest thing to do.

***

The most wanted criminal of the Hexen empire was known as ‘Viper’.

The nature of their crime? Fraud.

Viper, whose identity was unclear, did not need to worry about things such as composite sketches. Because she was a master of transformation.

Age unknown, gender unknown.

Some said that Viper was a middle-aged man in his 40s with a round belly, some said he was a young boy under twenty, while others said that he was a wizard in his eighties extending his life through taboo black magic.

Viper’s method of approaching wealthy nobles and robbing them of their fortunes was diverse and elaborate.

The nickname ‘Viper’ also stemmed from the success streak when it came to fraud. Though, the nickname originally began because of the talent to skillfully handle poison.

The nickname also went well with the fact that any scapegoat bitten by the venomous snake could never escape the swamp of meticulous fraud.

“She was arrogant, but I liked her eyes. I was worried because she was a woman but she’s really something else.”

Early in the morning, Rexid Van Hexen walked down the quiet hallways of the prison, recalling Viper whom he had seen a few hours ago.

The mysterious criminal whose identity was unknown. The unimaginable identity of Viper was a young woman that looked like she had only just turned into an adult.

Contrary to her infamy, Viper had a rather pretty appearance, to the point he would consider her decent had he not met her in a place like this.

Rexid, who was recalling the blonde hair that would have shined rather glamorously under the sunlight and boldly shining emerald-colored eyes, twitched the corner of his lips uncontrollably.

“She’s that smart huh…?”

“Of course. She’s the one that has been turning the empire upside down for the last 4 years.”

Following behind Rexid and talking to him was Owen Shubagh. He was the man that took care of the fief in the place of Rexid, who had muscles for brains, as well as putting his superior under control, who acted before thinking.

Owen, a black-haired man reminiscent of a black panther and giving off an aloof vibe, had a slightly different charm compared to Rexid’s untamed and wild charm.

He was a talent among talents, exceptional in many ways, whether it came to physical might, intellect, or many other areas.

Even though he as publicly the ‘butler’ of the Grand Duke’s castle, he was in charge of numerous other things that weren’t limited to that simple position.

“I’ll double your annual salary if she proves to be useful.”

“Thank you, sir. My pockets will be bountiful this year.’

Hearing Owen reassure him that he would not be disappointed, Rexid felt better.

His capable butler Owen was the one that recommended Viper to be the advisor for his grand plan.

Looking back on past experiences, he had no memory of suffering any losses after following Owen’s words. So this time should be no different.

The swindler of the century was captured by the investigation unit of Drax after 4 years making a name for herself.

It was wasteful to let Viper rot away as a common criminal with her exceptional brain, crafty hands, and bold schemes that turned the empire upside down.

If she were to start using that brain of hers for him instead, the possibilities were…

“Since she’ll do anything for money, if I fill her pockets enough, she’ll want to work hard for me, right?”

“If it’s better than using that head of hers to con others, then yes. But you mustn’t trust her even if you keep her by your side. She’s the last one you should believe in, even if you include all the people in this world.”

“How many times are you going to repeat yourself?” Rexid nodded his head as he picked his ears in annoyance.

Despite Rexid’s accepting response, Owen was still worried. Not many know how this man, widely known as the cold-blooded tyrant of the battlefield, was actually someone who lives and dies by loyalty.

If he considered someone ‘his own men’, then he would turn a blind to any wrongdoings that person might do. He would probably be willing to give up an organ if they were to ask.

While it was Owen who suggested they borrow Viper’s talents, it would be troublesome if Rexid, who was incredibly vulnerable to his subordinates, ended up being manipulated by her.

Even though he knew Rexid hated listening to the same things over and over again, Owen was going to make the request once more, when…

“What’s this?”

Rexid’s steps that were getting quicker with excitement halted in front of Viper’s cell.

The prison cell door was wide open.

He saw the pale face of the guard standing by.

Anxiety swept in.

“Y-Y-Your Highness…”

As if he didn’t think that Rexid would come back to the prison so quickly, the guard panicked, looking flustered.

Rexid, who was reading the guard’s reactions, peeked inside the opened prison cell.

Viper…

…was gone.

The only things left in the empty cell were the shackles that were clamped around Viper’s feet mere hours ago, the wide-open sewer cage, and a fork.

“Summarize this situation in one sentence and explain immediately.”

Rexid ordered with his ice-cold voice.

“Don’t stutter, and don’t go past 2 sentences or it’s off with your head.”

“Viper seems to have escaped.”

The guard knew very well that Rexid is a man of his word, so the answer came quickly.