The Silver Spears guard who appeared again was naturally Moody; at this moment, he still maintained that arrogant demeanor of a major villain, shouting loudly to attract everyone's attention.
"I have good news for you today!" Moody said slowly after looking around. "Soon, you won't have to stay in this cursed place anymore. I hope everyone is mentally prepared."
Moody's voice, amplified by a Sonorus Charm, echoed through every corner of the prison, and upon hearing this news, everyone reacted in various ways. Those wizards who had previously been club collaborators all wore expressions of joy; in their eyes, this meant they would shed their prisoner status and no longer suffer with the others. However, the common wizards appeared very anxious. Some felt a slight sense of relief, as the hardships in prison were truly tormenting, and a new place should improve their lives. The more thoughtful wizards frowned, as these Silver Spears never intended to set them free, so they were filled with worry about their future circumstances.
Among them, Jason and Bob were the most conflicted. They had prepared for an escape for so long, and then suddenly, they were told they were moving. They wondered if there would still be a chance to escape from the next location and if the control over them would be strengthened. Everything was unknown.
However, Moody in the center of the clearing didn't care about anyone's thoughts; he just spoke to himself, "Don't worry, we have already renovated the new breeding park for everyone. The environment won't be worse than where you were before, but before the complete transfer, we still need to test your loyalty! Only those who are absolutely loyal can we confidently allow to live and work in the new environment!"
"Loyalty? Sir, I am the most loyal! I have been serving the club for several years!"
"Sir Silver Spear, we will absolutely pledge our loyalty to the club, rest assured!"
Moody's words elicited responses from many collaborating wizards in the prison. Clearly, they believed this was a signal from the Silver Spears guard, and that after this so-called 'loyalty test,' they would regain their freedom.
"That's good!" Moody nodded in satisfaction. "Today, I will first select ten people to test the effectiveness of this so-called 'loyalty test.' Who is willing to volunteer?"
"Me! Pick me!"
"Sir, look here! I am willing to accept the test."
A chorus of shouts suddenly erupted throughout the prison. Those collaborating wizards responded enthusiastically, including Sike, who shared a room with Jason and Jimmy. Clearly, they still naively believed that the so-called 'loyalty test' would not affect them.
Moody nodded in satisfaction at the sight, then raised his hand and seemingly casually pointed at several people in the crowd. Those he pointed to were all the collaborating wizards who were usually the most obsequious to the club. Jason was somewhat surprised to find that his roommate, Sike, was also chosen by that Silver Spears guard. And when he was released by a regular Silver Spears guard, he even showed a smug expression to Jason and Jimmy.
"Oh my god, is this a world where good people get no rewards? A scoundrel like Sike can actually regain his freedom. I can already imagine him making things difficult for us in the future." Jimmy stared indignantly at Sike, who was leaving the cell.
"Don't define the future so early. Let's wait and see. I don't think things are that simple," Jason muttered, frowning. He could feel that the Silver Spears guard had carried a strong malicious intent from the beginning of his speech. He feared that the so-called 'loyalty test' was not as easy as everyone imagined.
And just as Jason and Jimmy were whispering, the ten selected collaborating wizards were brought before Moody. At this moment, each of them wore a fawning and relieved expression, as if being chosen was an immense stroke of luck.
"Sir, just say it, how do you need to test us? I guarantee I can pass smoothly." Sike said excitedly, "Do you want us to kill someone on the spot to show our loyalty? I am fully prepared." As he spoke, Sike even showed a sinister smile, his eyes intentionally or unintentionally glancing at Jason and the others in the adjacent cell.
Seeing these guys so eager, Moody sneered inwardly, thinking they would soon suffer, but on the surface, he arrogantly said, "Are you an idiot? Everyone in this prison is important property of the club. If you kill someone, will you compensate me? All of you stand still!"
At Moody's roar, the collaborating wizards immediately quieted down and respectfully stood in a line in front of him.
"The so-called 'loyalty test' is very simple!" Moody said with a mocking expression. "There are informers among you, and we don't have time to screen them one by one now. So, as long as we confirm that your brains are filled with loyalty to the club, you will have passed the test!"
*Brains filled with loyal thoughts?*
Upon hearing Moody's words, the collaborating wizards were immediately confused and exchanged bewildered glances. But Moody didn't care about their confusion; he directly pulled out his wand and pointed it at Sike, who had been currying favor with him earlier.
"Obliviate!"
Under the stunned gaze of everyone in the prison, a pale blue stream of light directly struck Sike's head. Then, Moody was heard chanting the spell, while speaking in an alluring voice, "The Silver Spear club is your master. Your life is a life dedicated to the club. You were born as the club's property, and you must not doubt or question the commands your master gives you!"
After reciting this passage, Moody suddenly increased the power of the spell, and then, as if for insurance, repeated the passage several times before ending the casting process. And after being hit by the Memory Charm, Sike's expression immediately became confused and dazed. By the time Moody completed the entire spellcasting, he had almost become an idiot, only muttering, "The Silver Spear club is my master, my life is a life dedicated to the club..."
"Looks like it works well." Moody nodded in satisfaction, then commanded Sike, "From today on, you are Number 1. Number 1, squat down for me now. Hmm, good. Next, lie down, then stand up for me again."
Sike, or rather, Number 1, who received Moody's commands, acted like an obedient marionette, standing up and squatting down according to his master's orders, without any sense of incongruity. Upon seeing Moody's actions, both the other collaborating wizards beside Sike and everyone else still confined in the prison felt a bone-chilling coldness rise from their spines.
"This... is this the so-called 'loyalty test'? This isn't a test at all; it's brainwashing!" The wizard standing next to Sike said with a trembling voice, looking at the utterly submissive Sike with a pale face.
"Hahaha!" Moody seemed to have activated his villainous nature at this moment, laughing wildly, "A test to ensure your absolute loyalty, isn't that a loyalty test? Did you think I would believe loyalty pledged by words? Look how loyal Number 1 is to the club now. He will surely work well for us in the future. It seems this experiment's effect is very good. Come! Next!"
With that, Moody slowly moved his wand toward the wizard next to Sike. This made the wizard instantly turn pale, and he plopped to his knees, pitifully begging Moody for mercy, "Sir, no, please! Even if you make us sign the strictest contract, don't turn me into a walking corpse..."
"Less nonsense. Do you think signing contracts for so many people doesn't cost money?" Moody snorted. "Don't struggle. In a moment, you won't feel any pain. Obliviate!"
Moody cast the spell on the wizard without further ado, then repeated what he had done to Sike, only this time the created tool was called Number 2. Seeing Moody's determination to brainwash them one by one, turning them into puppets who only knew how to obey orders, the several wizards nearby instantly collapsed.
"No!"
"Please, I don't want to become like this!"
"The Silver Spears, you are utterly ungrateful! I've done so many dirty deeds for you over the years, and this is how you treat us?"
These wizards couldn't hold it together anymore. Some directly slumped to the ground, having wet their pants from fear, some were still trying to beg for mercy, while others directly cursed loudly. After all, these ten selected collaborating wizards were basically the most loyal and longest-serving to the club. Moody's actions now were simply a mockery of their years of diligent dedication.
And two wizards, unable to accept such a fate, fled backward in horror. This cursed place was now more terrifying than hell to them. But their struggles were completely futile. Before these two wizards had even run two steps, they were struck by a spell from a Silver Spears guard who had manifested, falling heavily to the ground, and then dragged in front of Moody.
Following that, amidst the wailing and howling of these people, the more than five hundred people in the prison watched the tragic scene unfolding before them. The leading Silver Spears guard, basically one per minute, transformed these wizards, who originally had names and identities, into Numbers 1 through 10.
"Phew... maintaining this level of precision for ten people is still a bit tiring. Let's stop here for today; we'll continue tomorrow!" Moody at this moment acted as if he was quite exhausted, muttering casually, then intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Bob, who had talked back to him earlier.
Upon being looked at by the Silver Spears guard, Bob immediately broke out in a cold sweat. It's over. Does this mean they plan to deal with him tomorrow? And similarly filled with fear were the hundreds of other wizards in the prison. This time, they no longer distinguished between so-called collaborating wizards and common wizards; everyone was terrified by the Silver clubs' chilling methods.
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