Chapter -7 How to start Afresh?

Chapter -7.

As Lester observed the timid prisoners in their cell, he quickly climbed up to the top bunk of the two-tiered bed without saying a word.

From his higher vantage point, he glanced down at the six prisoners trembling below him.

Had he known earlier that they could provide him with valuable fear energy, he might have just jumped down and dealt with them directly.

However, he realized that keeping them alive was now crucial.

The fear generated by these individuals would significantly boost his own strength.

"Alright, you six, line up and tell me what crimes you committed to end up in this place."

Once settled on the bed, Lester eagerly began directing the six prisoners below him.

He was keen to absorb their fear by intimidating them, but he knew he needed to do it for a good reason.

Even though not many inmates at Azkaban were there for noble reasons, being overly cruel might ignite their rebellious spirits.

Even in old battles, there had to be a justified cause; if one wanted to punish them, so he naturally needed an excuse.

When Lester asked them to reveal their crimes, the prisoners hesitated, a bit puzzled.

Usually, prisoners were readily identifiable by their serious offenses, so they were unsure of Lester's intent.

Eventually, they began to share the truths of their imprisonments.

First was Lackie, caught for stealing in Diagon Alley; his crime was relatively minor, leading to a three-month sentence.

If all went well, Lackie could be released next month.

The others were more straightforward; they had all used dark magic to maliciously harm Muggles, each causing several deaths.

However, in the eyes of the Ministry of Magic, the loss of Muggle lives was hardly significant.

Thus, this group had only served about two years of their sentences.

The one who left the biggest impression on Lester was the sleazy old man who had committed a truly heinous act.

He had used dark magic to molest 13 Muggle boys! It wasn't until two years ago that the Ministry caught wind of this monster's actions and sent several Aurors to apprehend him. Given the severity of the case, he received a long sentence of five years, and it seemed unlikely he would leave Azkaban alive with the Dementors around.

Lester reflected on these six prisoners for a moment.

First, there was Lackie, whose lesser theft didn't faze him.

The dark magic users who took lives for sport filled him with disdain, leading to their placement on his personal blacklist.

And that sleazy old man? Just a glance at his lewd expression made Lester feel sick.

"It looks like you're the first lucky one," Lester said, stone-faced, directing his gaze at the clueless old man while devising a plan to make him wish for death. Determined, Lester decided to act.

With a slow rise from his perch on the upper bunk, Lester looked down at the six prisoners and addressed them earnestly: "Since you all have chosen me as your leader in prison, it means you respect me."

"As your head, I'll guide you all toward reform and help you become better people once we're out of here!"

The prisoners exchanged bewildered glances.

"Hey, you're only ten and already in Azkaban; you just killed someone to make a name for yourself. Now you say you want to lead us to be better? Should we believe you?"

"Okay," Lester said, taking in their indifferent responses. He didn't let their reactions bother him; all he wanted was their fear. In truth, he hardly believed what he had just declared himself.

"To teach you how to be decent human beings, I suppose I'll need to impart some deep wisdom."

Lester calmly addressed the confused prisoners. Given that these individuals were the worst of the worst, he knew that ordinary methods wouldn't suffice. Sometimes, strong measures are needed for serious issues.

"Starting tomorrow, you'll learn from me!"

...

The next day. The normally quiet Azkaban cell was filled with the unexpected sound of reading. Many other inmates, hearing this unusual noise, felt utterly mystified, as if they'd been transported back to a classroom at Hogwarts.

"We're idiots for committing crimes; moreover, the Ministry is even more foolish for just tossing us in here."

Profound statements rang throughout the cell, reaching the ears of many other prisoners.

...

Within Lester's cell,

the six prisoners knelt obediently in a line, facing Lester, who held a small knife as a makeshift pointer. They recited their lines, nervously watching him sharpen the knife.

[Ding! Fear value +100 from prisoner Leonardo]

[Ding! Fear value +100 from prisoner Quentin]

[.]

As he sharpened the knife, Lester occasionally heard pleasant notifications in his mind, each representing a 100-point increase in his fear value.

"You've got it wrong." Suddenly, pausing his knife-sharpening, Lester plunged the knife into the thigh of the sleazy old man in front of him.

How dare he zone out when I was trying to kindly teach him!

"Ah!"

A muffled cry of pain echoed in the cell, startling the other prisoners still focused on their recitation, making them tremble.

[Ding! Fear value +100 from prisoner Leonardo]

[Ding! Fear value +100 from prisoner Quentin]

[.]

"Pay attention when reciting the truth," Lester scolded, pulling the knife out of the old man's thigh. "How long have you been reading before zoning out? You are truly the worst class I've ever had!"

With the withdrawal of the knife, blood gushed from the old man's thigh in bright red streams.

Lackie, kneeling beside him, was splattered with blood but dared not halt his recitation out of fear that Lester might turn on him next.

TL/N : Reading this? add to library, and throw some power stones!!