11 Swain

Tartarus was an institution made for two purposes; reformation and sealing.

To reform ranker criminals and to seal threats of society. That was the vision the united alliance government had when they established Tartarus.

There were thousands of criminals within the prison, and each week a lot more enter while some leave, ending their time in confinement.

Before being imprisoned, these criminals were appraised by the united alliance government and classified according to their crime and threat.

Depending on the criminal's threat-level and criminal background, the treatment they would receive by the government could range from a short time in prison or a life sentence.

To be exact, if they were not threatening enough to society or had a considerably low background, they could still be "reformed" and be released appropriately.

Most of the prisoners, including Elias and his subordinates, were under this category and could still be released.

They had lower security placed on them and could exercise a higher degree of freedom on the prison.

However, on the other hand, if the criminals were to be considered threats to society and highly dangerous, they would then be sealed for their lifetime.

These types of prisoners were almost never seen by anyone, located at the upper floors of Tartarus.

By the government's orders, these prisoners were never to be released, eternally sealed within the confines of Tartarus.

Most of these prisoners were B Rank powerhouses, genuine living disasters that could terrorise society if let free in the world.

Swain, the Right Hand Man of the Godfather, was one such threat.

***

On the second floor.

In front of the stairs, there were two silhouettes standing around, one was a security guard while the other was a prisoner.

"The chief approved of your request and 005 also approved."

The security personnel said calmly.

"Lead me to him then."

Hearing that, Elias nodded slowly.

A while earlier, he had just filed a meeting request with the aforementioned "005" or Swain to the department—and just now it was approved.

In Tartarus, you could meet sealed-level prisoners only through a request and approval of both the security team and the sealed prisoner.

And as he expected, both the security team and Swain agreed.

The security guard didn't want talk any more than needed. He nodded to him before walking to the stairs to the next floor.

Elias felt the same and quietly followed him to the third floor, stepping on the spiralling stairway of darkness that led to the confines of terrifying criminals.

Not long after, they arrived at the third floor.

The third floor was dimly lit, as though light barely existed in the place. As soon as they arrived, different types of voices drifted across the floor.

"Revolution… hahahaha! It's not over yet… each one of you will regret what you have done…"

"The devil! The devil is alive and it will soon destroy the world!"

"Release me! Release me! I didn't do anything wrong!"

"I'll kill all of you… I'll kill each and one of you bastards when I come out…hehe.."

A confusing echo of madness and killing intent came out in the confines of each sealed room. If an ordinary man stayed here longer, they would've been driven mad solely by the drifting voices.

Looking at the sealed rooms, Elias couldn't help but tense up. Although there was an unbreakable wall separating him from the sealed threats, he still sensed what was contained in each of them.

Overwhelming madness and power.

Elias took a deep breath. He turned around and looked for the security guard. However, the man was already waiting for him at the staircase.

Without slowing down, he walked to the man and apologized.

"Sorry,"

"Happens a lot, just hurry up."

The security guard shook his head calmly. From his reaction, it was obvious he didn't find Elias being nervous a surprising thing.

Elias nodded slowly before following the security guard to the next floor.

The fourth floor was similar to the third floor, with a few differences. Some of the rooms were silent while some few had strange noises coming out from the rooms.

During all this, Elias quietly observed his surroundings while following the security guard from behind.

He paid more attention to the sealed rooms which were eternally quiet as autumn than to those who were loud and had noises coming from their cell.

In his opinion, the rooms of those who were silent as a dead man was more terrifying than those who were maddeningly loud.

If someone were to be confined in a small room for a long time, it wasn't strange for them to go mad. It was even stranger if it didn't happen.

As Elias followed the security personnel, both of them arrived at their location. They stopped in front of a sealed room with the number "005" attached on the floor.

The security personnel looked at Elias and informed him coldly.

"Disaster-class 005 is in this room. You can talk to him now but don't try any funny business, I'm watching you. I have the permission to kill if I find you suspicious,"

"I want my privacy."

Elias frowned, but the security guard didn't relent to his request. The man continued standing at the side like a hawk and stared at him.

"Tsk, son of a bitch."

Unable to do anything, Elias clicked his tongue in annoyance. He shook his head and calmly knocked at the door.

Knock—!

"Uncle Swain, it's me."

At that moment, at the other side of the door, Swain widened his eyes in surprise after hearing the familiar voice.

Clang!

He tried to move, but the chains restricting his body binded his movements. He looked at the door silently in deep thought.

After a period of hesitation, he asked.

"Little Elias, is that you..?"

On the other side of the door, Elias cringed. He looked at the security guard with an annoyed frown before taking a seat on the ground.

Elias sighed before answering.

"It is me, Uncle Swain. I'm glad I finally had the chance to meet you… after what happened to my father…"

"..."

At the other side of the room, Swain suddenly flinched, wearing a bitter smile and shook his head.

"It's all my fault… I failed… I failed to protect the Godfather… I deserve death… I'm... I'm sorry, young master."

Somehow, Elias could feel that the grief and sorrow the man was experiencing was sincere and genuine, making him question his father.

To his father, who could inspire such admiration and trust... how did he do it?

For him, as a person that never trusted anyone innately, he could never be like his predecessor's father.

Elias shook his head, forgetting those thoughts. He sighed before he spoke.

"Swain, stop it. What's done is done. I don't blame anyone for it, and father wouldn't also. Stop crying like a little baby."

"...If you say so, young master."

After he said those words, Swain evidently stopped expressing his grief. Although Elias couldn't see the man's face, he was sure it was as familiar as the man in his memories.

Hearing the quiet response, Elias took a seat on the ground. He smiled and continued to speak.

"Father would've cursed and beat you guys up if he saw you and the rest grieving like that."

"The Godfather is such a person indeed…"

Hearing that, Swain let out a low, painful chuckle.

Andolinio Castellano was indeed a man of action and a dragon amongst men. He induced fear to his enemies, admiration to his subordinates, and love to his family.

To Elias Vito Castellano, the man was a large mountain shadowing over him.

Perhaps that was the reason his predecessor became lazy, subsequently souring his relationship with his father a little.

Elias shrugged and smiled. 

"Father was many things, but he rarely was soft. He was a hard person, especially to me. He would impart a lot of lessons and such."

Swain nodded and laughed in response, as though knowing what he was thinking.

"It was for your own good, young master. The Godfather might have pampered the little miss, but he was strict to you, his successor."

Elias pursed his lips and snickered.

"Tsk. He practically never left me off! If I never knew how much that old father of mine loved me, I would've thought he had a grudge."

Not waiting for Swain to reply, he suddenly changed the topic.

"But nevermind that. My little sister, what happened to her?"

At that moment, Swain was about to laugh, however the drastic change of tone caught him off guard.

After a period of silence, Swain replied.

"Little miss… she's fine. She's safe. I managed to send her to the Godfather's relatives before that night. I'm sure she's being well taken care off."

To that, Elias sighed in relief and muttered "thank goodness" under his breath. From his memories, he didn't know the exact situation of his sister.

It was strange. Despite him knowing clearly that the family and sister in his memories wasn't really his family, he still felt something towards them.

Elias bit his lip uncomfortably and stayed silent.

After Swain answered and didn't hear anymore questions, he turned quiet as well.

The two temporarily entered a period of calm silence, with neither talking and just looking at the ground, unknown what they were thinking.

After a while, Elias asked one last question.

"Uncle Swain, don't you have a family?"

It was unknown what happened to the man at the other side of the room, but Swain didn't answer for a long while.

"...I do."

Elias nodded and closed his eyes before speaking.

"...A family. That's all we have and thus we do everything for it. It's something so simple, yet so invaluable. Father always told me that a family is the most important thing for a man."

Swain didn't respond, silent. It was unknown what his expression was or what he was thinking.

"Uncle Swain, I'm sure father would've understood your decision if he knew."

Elias spoke. After a while, seeing no response, he stood up and smiled.

"Well, that's all. I was happy that my sister is fine and well… I'll talk to you again for some time, Uncle Swain. I'll take my leave first."

As Elias walked away, Swain was still unresponsive and didn't answer. 

Thump! Thump!

It wasn't until Elias was already down to the second floor, did a mutter echo silently in the room.

'...I'm sorry.'