Gwen then told the boss lady her plan.
"You really think this plan will work?" the boss lady asked, unconvinced.
"Trust me. But I'll need some help." Charmcaster paused and glanced at the prison guards not far away. "I need someone to draw their attention away so I'll have a chance to use magic."
"Alright, leave it to me."
A confident smile curled across the boss lady's lips as she immediately waved several of her subordinates over.
"When the time comes, do this..."
The group huddled together and whispered among themselves.
About five minutes later.
The boss lady made the first move, throwing a broom and tripping one of the guards to the ground.
The other guards saw it at once, immediately blew their whistles, and charged over menacingly with batons in hand.
The boss lady and her subordinates turned and ran without hesitating, not lingering to fight at all. Their goal was simply to lure the guards away.
Seizing the chance, Charmcaster raised a hand toward the manhole cover and unleashed a spell.
A mass of purple magical energy wrapped around the heavy iron cover, forcibly yanked it up, then hurled it hard into the kitchen wall.
Hearing such a huge noise, all the guards thought the prison was under terrorist attack and rushed back at once, no longer chasing the boss lady and the others.
The moment the guards saw Charmcaster and the torn-open manhole, they understood what was happening.
"Stop! Don't move!" someone barked, gripping a baton and looking ready to serve Charmcaster a beating.
But Charmcaster pulled out a handful of pebbles from her pocket, each one wrapped in purple spell markings, like stones dredged up from the underworld, giving off an eerie aura.
"I'm sorry!" Charmcaster said, unable to bear it, and swept her hand out.
In an instant, all the stones she had thrown transformed in midair into magical bats, flapping their wings as they viciously swooped at the guards.
"Ah! What are these things?!"
"Let go of me!"
"Oh shit! They bite!"
In a flash, every guard was pinned down by the magical bats and unable to get free.
Charmcaster turned and ran, then leaped into the sewer in a single bound.
"Hahaha, we're free!" the boss lady shouted, her face twisted with excitement as she led her many subordinates after Charmcaster.
And so they ran, racing through the dark sewer tunnels without daring to stop for even a moment.
Wave after wave of foul stench rushed at them, yet to them it smelled strangely fresh.
It was like taking a driving test. If you pass, even the wind on the way home feels sweet. If you fail, even the wind reeks.
Soon, an iron fence appeared ahead, blocking their path.
"What do we do? How are we supposed to open this damn fence?!" The boss lady panicked and kicked the bars with all her strength.
It seemed the prison had installed this barrier specifically to stop anyone from escaping through the sewers. Even if someone managed to open the manhole from the kitchen, they still wouldn't be able to get out.
Charmcaster took out several magic stones and said to the boss lady and the others, "Step back."
Having already seen what Charmcaster could do, the boss lady immediately ordered her people to retreat and give Charmcaster room.
But instead of breaking open the barrier right away, Charmcaster asked them a question.
"Once you get out, you're not exactly going to turn over a new leaf, are you?" Charmcaster asked with a bitter smile.
"Obviously not. Once we're out, we're going to enjoy ourselves and pull a big job!"
"Exactly! I love taking stuff for free!"
"Hahaha! Nothing smells sweeter than freedom!"
The inmates all looked vicious, their expressions feral. Their evil eyes constantly burned with naked desire.
Charmcaster took a deep breath. "I knew you'd say that."
Sorry. I can't let you get out and keep doing evil, hurting innocent people.
"Stop right there! Don't run!!"
At that moment, the sound of pursuers came from behind, echoing through the dark sewer like the roar of some monster.
"Missy, hurry up and open it!" the boss lady urged.
Charmcaster threw out a magic stone, and in an instant the solid iron bars were blasted into pieces, wisps of purple smoke drifting through the air.
Charmcaster stepped forward and crossed through the broken barrier in one stride.
Seeing that, the boss lady and all her subordinates lit up with joy and rushed to follow her out.
But two magic stones struck the ground and transformed into two vicious stone boars, blocking their path.
"I'm sorry. I can't let you escape," Charmcaster said, guilt flickering in her eyes, but she had no choice.
The inmates all turned pale with fear and stumbled backward.
At that moment, their hearts were filled with both terror and rage. The terror of being dragged back to prison, and the fury of being betrayed.
The two stone boars roared and drove them all back.
At the same time, the guards arrived and captured the boss lady and the others.
"I'll remember this, missy!" the boss lady shouted viciously as she was hauled away.
But Charmcaster had already run off without a trace.
...
Night had fallen, and the sky was scattered with stars.
After escaping from prison, Charmcaster's first move was to find the Rustbucket.
Charmcaster's spellbook contained many kinds of magic, including a locating spell. She directly locked onto the Rustbucket, and it didn't take long to find it.
By then, everyone was already asleep.
Except for Gwen, who was still awake.
Using the cover of night, she quietly crept to Lucian's bedside.
As she looked at the sleeping Lucian, Gwen's expression turned terrifying, like a venomous snake baring its fangs.
"Hehe, your body is mine for sure!"
As she spoke, Gwen chanted softly under her breath. A purple orb appeared in her hand, and she slowly moved it toward Lucian, trying to suck him inside.
Snap.
A distinct-knuckled hand shot out like lightning and seized Gwen's wrist, nearly scaring her out of her mind.
"You've finally slipped up."
At some point, Lucian had already opened his eyes and was looking at her with a faint, knowing smile.
"You... how did you figure me out?!" Gwen cried out in shock, her terrified voice waking Ben and Grandpa.
"Oh, come on. Why are you making such a racket in the middle of the night?" Ben grumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Oh? Lucian, Gwen, what are you two doing?" Grandpa Max's eyes widened. He saw Lucian gripping Gwen's hand, the two of them sitting on the bed and staring straight at each other.
Lucian didn't answer them. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on Gwen.
"I was never asleep. I was waiting for you to take the bait."
"Besides, your act was terrible. It was full of holes. Am I right, Charmcaster?"
"That's nonsense! I'm not Charmcaster!" Gwen tried to deny it.
"Oh really? Then who was it that beat Ben up this afternoon? Gwen may be a little fierce sometimes, but she'd never beat Ben up like that."
"And at the seafood market, you used magic to hurt an ordinary person. Gwen would never do that either."
Lucian laid out Gwen's crimes one word at a time.
Gwen's face grew darker and darker. In the end, she hardened her heart.
"So what if I am? Your body is mine now!"
Boom.
The purple orb in Gwen's hand exploded at once, engulfing Lucian...