The Island Prison

Cyril was really exasperated. Why wouldn't this big guy ever tell him anything directly?

The big guy did not know what he was thinking but he felt pity seeing his expression and stopped laughing, "Okay, okay. I will tell you in simple terms.

"In short, we are in an island prison."

"What? Island prison? You mean this place is an island?" Cyril did not know of this until this very moment.

"Oh? You didn't know this either?" The big guy looked really surprised, "Didn't you hear the sounds of the waves when you traveled here?"

Cyril frowned in confusion, "You were all awake when you were brought to this place?"

"Huh? What kind of a question is that?" The big guy was the one confused right now.

Cyril did not speak immediately. His brain started to run. He thought of many things before he slowly asked, "What was the reason for your imprisonment?"

The big guy's expression finally turned normal and Cyril understood that this question was considered 'normal'.

The big guy answered calmly, "Ha ha ha, let the past be in the past, kid. Anyway, I did something I am not proud of and the court put me in this prison."

Cyril blinked his eyes. The big guy was clearly trying to avoid the topic and Cyril did not want to probe any further either.

Anyway, he got the answer to what he wanted to know.

Not everyone in this prison was kidnapped as he was. Instead, they were 'legally' imprisoned here. So, this prison is a government-operated prison and not an illegal place run by some underworld dons like he had thought when he first entered this place.

But if this was a legal prison, why was he imprisoned? He was kidnapped nonetheless.

Does the higher-ups of this prison know that he was illegally detained here? Without knowing the real reason, he can't blindly go around to complain.

Most importantly - he turned around to observe the 'prison' - where exactly can he find someone he could complain to?

He then looked back to the big guy and asked, "Why aren't there any guards around this place?"

The big suddenly laughed out loud.

"..." 'Bro, can you have a normal conversation without laughing for once?' Cyril did not know how to react to this laughing Buddha anymore.

The big guy spoke after his laughter came to an end, "Why would anyone need any guards in this place? No one cares about us here. Anyway, this is an island and there is no way anyone could escape this place even if they wanted to. If the inmates fought or killed each other, no one cared.

"Everyone in this prison is here only because no one cared for their life or death. So, even if you killed someone inside this prison, there is no one who would punish you for that.

"Well, the 'friends' of the killed person avenging is entirely a whole different matter though."

"..." 'Okay, so this is a place under government but also a place which government and law did not care. I understand. Thank you very much for placing me in this special place.' Cyril was dumbfounded.

But he also got some clarity about this place thanks to this big guy.

"Then what about our food?" If there were no guards or any 'employees' who would take care of their food and other requirements? Cyril did not understand this.

"There are machines for this. Our system comes into the picture here," the big guy replied.

'Woah, you did not laugh this time, dude. This is a miracle alright,' Cyril thought to himself but kept his expression neutral.

He softly asked, "What does our system have to do with our food?"

The big guy did not reply but he looked at his henchmen. One of them came forward to give a basic demonstration, "Well, our system gives us tasks according to our identity. When you finish your tasks, you receive points.

"Now you have to decide how to allocate these points. You can turn them into your currency or your exp points. 

"If you turn your points to your currency, you can buy whatever you want from the list the system provides you.

"If you turn your points to your exp points, you can level up."

After saying that, the man took a step backward as if he was done with his task.

'Okay, you are a robot. I understand,' Cyril deadpanned in his mind.

He then registered everything the man said. So, there are tasks to be fulfilled? He did not know of this.

-Tasks-

A list of weird sets of tasks came into his view. He wanted to read but he knew this was not the time yet. He should use his time with the big guy properly for better use.

He then looked at the big guy.

-stats-

[Current identity: Brawler.

Level: 20]

'Okay, I understand. That was why this guy wanted to fight him on their first meeting. It could have been his task as a brawler. I think I should thank him for not fighting him. He even risked not finishing his task for my sake.' Cyril thought to himself.

He then looked around everyone else's levels and found all their levels were mostly in single digits. 

Since this ward was only for people below level 20, this big guy should be the highest-level person here. That was why everyone calmly obeyed him and even called him 'Big Brother'. He is the boss of this Ward.

"Do you understand what he said? If you have any doubts, you can ask immediately," The big guy said.

Cyril shook his head, "I understand. Thank you very much for all this information."

"Oh, yeah! By the way, kid, what is your level?" The big guy asked Cyril out of the blue.

Cyril was shocked at this question, "Huh? You can't see my stats?"

The big guy frowned and shook his head, "No. No one can see anyone else's stats here. Why do you ask?"

"..." 'Okay, my system is different'.