The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

"So, sentencing and executing them now still complies with the procedures of the Ten Kings' Court?" Russell pressed.

“Yes, that's fine.” Jackdaw nodded. “The procedure can be started as long as the judge on duty is present to supervise.”

“Then,” Russell said, a cold glint in his eyes, “do you have a list? And… is there any judge who can leave now? I would like to ‘pay a visit’ to those on the list.”

Upon hearing this, Han Ya paused slightly in her work before resuming as usual. A faint, almost imperceptible hint of...relief seemed to flicker in the depths of her gaze as she looked at Russell.

“Your willingness to lend a hand will be remembered by the Ten Kings.” Without any formalities, she took a thick metal book with the Ten Kings’ emblem on the cover from beside the control panel and handed it to Russell.

"The Record of Imprisoned Prisoners and Severe Punishments. Target information, crimes, and sentences are all contained within. Judge..." She shook her head slightly, "...you need not follow."

"Oh?" Russell raised an eyebrow, taking the heavy metal book. "Does Judge Raven trust me so much? Doesn't he need anyone to supervise the process?"

The crow looked directly at Russell with a calm gaze: "No one else has this authority. But you..." Her voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty, "The Immortal Ship has also heard of your practice of justice and medical principles throughout the world. The Ten Kings' Division trusts you."

After she finished speaking, she immediately turned her attention back to the control panel. "I have duties to perform, so I cannot accompany you any longer. Please go ahead." Before she finished speaking, she had already thrown herself back into the tense task of dispatching and directing.

Russell weighed the metal book in his hand, which seemed to be imbued with countless sins, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. He turned the pages.

His gaze swept over the detailed, heinous crimes—genocide, planet-devouring, flesh-and-blood experiments, the distortion of life… These scum, taking advantage of the bountiful bounty, treated life as a plaything and suffering as sustenance.

It's all because of these guys that innocent gods suffer from people's disgust and criticism. These heretics are also thanks to the prison of Luofu for protecting them, otherwise they would have died long ago.

“Very good…” Russell closed the book, his whisper barely audible in the empty prison corridor. He turned to a silent, armored jailer standing beside him: “Could you please lead the way? I’d like to go to the ward for serious offenders.”

The heavy soles of the boots pounded on the cold, smooth alloy floor, producing a clear and monotonous "thump...thump..." sound.

The sound echoed in the vast, deathly silent space. It was like the tolling of death's bell, resolutely marching step by step toward those prisoners who had long been sentenced to death but had survived until now.

Russell's steps were steady and firm, and deep in his eyes was the ultimate judgment of the Envoy of Abundance against those who blasphemed life.

Today is Judgment Day.

……

Golden Branches Through the Ages: Chapter 157 You're Very Brave

Two hours ago, Wang Si

The cold, dim light illuminated the focused profile of Han Ya, the judge of the Ten Kings Division, as she methodically handled various matters with her jade pen.

Jing Yuan's holographic projection hovered in front of her, his face bearing his usual gentle smile, as if he saw through everything.

"So, Miss Han Ya, do you have any further questions about this plan?" Jing Yuan's voice echoed in the empty front hall of the prison, carrying a metallic quality.

Han Ya stopped writing and looked up at the projection, a hint of confusion in his cold eyes: "There is no question itself, General. It's just... why did you allow those people to enter the Dark Prison?"

"To even reach the lowest level and release the thunderbolt? That's tantamount to setting fire to the forest, and the risk is extremely high."

Jing Yuan's smile deepened, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the virtual desktop. "Risk and opportunity coexist. Hu Lei has been a problem in Luofu for so many years, and we still can't solve it. Like a malignant tumor, it's always been a huge hidden danger."

“Instead of being on guard every day, we should take this opportunity to lure the snake out of its hole and eradicate it completely in one fell swoop.” At the same time, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, “those lurking roots that collude with Hu Lei can also be brought out by the roots and exposed to the sunlight to be eradicated in one go.”

"So that's why you invited that Envoy of Abundance—Mr. Russell—to come and oversee the Ten Kings' Office?"

Han Ya realized that although the Ten Kings' Division was powerful, dealing with Hu Lei, who had been imprisoned for many years, was weak but cunning, and with his possible internal and external support, required even stronger external forces to ensure success.

“Exactly.” Jing Yuan nodded. “For Russell, any scoundrel who abuses the bounty of abundance and does evil is a target he wants to eliminate as soon as possible.”

"With him in the Ten Kings' Court, that's enough." He paused, his tone filled with absolute certainty. "A Hulei who has been worn down by the Imprisonment for countless years and whose power is no longer what it once was is no match for Russell. Even in his prime, he could not escape the judgment of this envoy."

"So there's no need to worry. This is the cornerstone that allows the entire plan to be implemented."

"Understood." Han Ya put away the jade pen, his expression returning to its usual calm. "So, besides the plan itself, what additional cooperation is needed from the Ten Kings' Division?"

“As long as we strictly follow the plan, the hidden dangers within the Ten Kings Division can be completely eliminated.” Jing Yuan emphasized, “Your cooperation with Mr. Russell is key. As long as his requests do not violate the fundamental principles of the Ten Kings Division, we should try our best to meet them. His strength is an indispensable asset to us.”

“Cooperating with Mr. Russell is no problem,” Jackdaw replied. “Are there any other matters that need to be noted?”

Jing Yuan's projection leaned forward slightly, his voice lowered, carrying an undeniable seriousness: "Keep an eye on Miss Tingyun of the Tianbo Division. I have gathered substantial evidence; she is very likely the Great Lord Huanlong of Extinction."

"And the one pulling the strings behind all this is the Great Lord of Annihilation, Huanlong. We must be very careful about her every move, and try to turn a blind eye to her requests without arousing suspicion."

"Do not alert her. If she realizes the situation has changed and decides to retreat, she will be the real mastermind."

“Huanlong… Tingyun…” A trace of solemnity flashed in Hanya’s eyes, then he nodded firmly, “Yes, General, I will keep a close eye on it myself.”

"Then I will have to trouble my colleagues from the Ten Kings' Offices." Jing Yuan cupped his hands slightly, and the projected light flickered.

"Please make sure you put on a good show, so that those fools who think they've got it all figured out when the curtain falls that they've already been trapped."

"It is my duty, General, you need not be so polite." Han Ya bowed slightly. "For the safety of Luofu, the Ten Kings Division has no choice but to take on this responsibility."

"It's all for Luofu." Jing Yuan's figure slowly faded into the air, leaving only his last powerful words, "Everything, I entrust it to you."

……

The Prison at this moment

Russell's footsteps echoed in the dimly lit passageway, steady and slow, with a peculiar rhythm, as if each step was on the scale of time.

He truly resembled a warden surveying his territory, his gaze calmly sweeping over the cells on either side, which were sealed off by heavy barriers.

The light was dim, with only the runes embedded in the walls, emitting a faint blue glow, providing a limited light source that illuminated the blurry, distorted figures within the cell.

The air was thick with a sense of oppression, despair, and a faint, almost imperceptible smell of decay.

The young jailer who led him seemed a little reserved, and introduced in a low voice: "Lord Russell, most of the prisoners on this floor are criminals with sentences of less than 100 years. Although there are some thugs, they are not... truly vicious."

Russell nodded slightly, his gaze not lingering on the cells. These souls, whose anger had been worn away by time, or whose sins were still relatively minor, did not arouse much of his interest.

The Ten Kings' Court had its own procedures for trial and rehabilitation, and he had no intention of overstepping his bounds. He did not stop, but walked straight toward the entrance to the deeper levels.

"Then, the lowest level, the Dark Prison, must be where the real serious criminals are imprisoned?" Russell's voice was not loud, but it clearly pierced through the silence of the passageway.

“Yes, sir.” The jailer nodded quickly, his tone filled with awe. “Those imprisoned at the bottom are all heinous criminals who have committed horrific crimes and are extremely dangerous.”

"However... that place is almost full now, and some less threatening but equally heinous criminals have been brought up and imprisoned in the depths of this floor."

"If... if you could solve some of our problems, that would be a huge help to us," he added cautiously.

“Of course.” Russell took out a jade scroll that emitted a faint glow from his sleeve—it was the record of serious crimes committed by the judge of the raven prison.

As he walked down the stairs, he quickly flipped through the documents with his long, slender fingers, his eyes sharp as knives, as if he were scrutinizing a list of filthy documents awaiting processing.

“These scum who have tainted the alchemist’s selfless grace and twisted the abundant power of life into tools to satisfy their selfish desires, I will never allow them to continue polluting this starry sky.” His tone was calm, but it contained an undeniable, chilling killing intent.

The jailer was intimidated by the chill in his words and fell silent for a moment.

Russell was engrossed in reviewing the criminal record until the jailer's voice pulled him back to reality: "Lord Russell, we've arrived. This is the penultimate level of the Deep Penitentiary."

"Below that... is the lowest level of the prison. Without Judge Raven's personal order and key, we cannot open it. Please forgive us." The jailer's face showed apology and a hint of helplessness.

Russell closed the jade slip without any displeasure on his face: "It's my duty, why apologize? I'm here to help the Ten Kings' Division resolve their troubles, not to add to them. Lead the way here; I'll walk the rest of the way myself."

"Yes, sir." The jailer visibly relaxed. "If you need anything, just give the word, and the brothers on patrol nearby will do their best to assist you. I... I'll return to my post now."

Russell nodded, and with a flick of his wrist, a warm, blue porcelain bottle silently slipped into the jailer's hand.

Although the bottle was sealed, a fresh and elegant scent of grass and trees, seemingly imbued with vitality, had already spread out, instantly refreshing the mind and spirit.

"Lord Russell! This...this is absolutely unacceptable!" The jailer's expression changed slightly as if he were holding a hot potato, and he hurriedly declined, "The ironclad law of the Ten Kings' Court prohibits judges and jailers from accepting any gifts! Upholding the law impartially is our duty, please take it back!"

Russell looked at his nervous expression and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "I have always believed in the principle of equal exchange. You have guided me and answered my questions, which is your contribution. This bottle of calming and tranquilizing pills is my reward."

"It's not some rare treasure, nor will it disturb your mind. Besides," he changed the subject, a hint of amusement in his voice, "after I gave you the elixir, did I ask you to bend the law or do anything against your duty?"

"No...no," the jailer answered instinctively.

“That’s it.” Russell turned away, no longer looking at him, his voice clear. “If you are still uneasy, just report to your Judge of the Ravens when you get back. Whether you use the pills yourself or hand them over is up to you. Once the items have been given, there is no reason to take them back. Goodbye.”

His figure disappeared into the deeper shadows of the second-to-last floor, leaving the young jailer standing alone in front of the cold, black iron gate.

He clutched the bottle of medicinal pills, which exuded a fresh, herbal fragrance, tightly in his hand, his face filled with confusion and bewilderment.

……

The second to last level of the Prison of Imprisonment

The air here felt like solidified lead, so heavy it was suffocating.

The lighting was even worse than on the upper floor, with only the flickering, dim light of torches scattered far apart on the walls casting distorted, swaying shadows of the massive stone pillars and dense cages.

Each cell was cramped and narrow, with sturdy metal bars engraved with shimmering, restrictive runes.

Inside the cell, an invisible array was constantly operating, drawing power from the prisoners and keeping them in a weak and powerless state.

Even so, this floor was by no means deathly silent. Some prisoners huddled in corners, like weathered stone statues, eerily silent.

But more than anything, there was an atmosphere of frenzied restlessness. Dull thuds echoed intermittently—the sound of prisoners frantically slamming their bodies or heads against the barrier bars, only to be scorched by the electric currents erupting from the runes, emitting agonizing screams.

Then came a cacophony of foul language, meaningless screams, and maniacal laughter... all sorts of sounds mixed together, forming a sea of ​​noise that was both unsettling and unsettling.

Russell frowned slightly; the chaotic noise was distracting him from reviewing the "menu".

He stopped, his gaze sweeping across the noisy area like a cold, sharp blade. Then, a short, clear word, yet imbued with overwhelming power, escaped his lips:

"Shut up."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a real shockwave, instantly sweeping across the entire prison area.

All the sounds of impact, screams, roars, and howls... came to an abrupt halt, as if choked by an invisible hand.

One second it was like a pot of boiling oil, the next it fell into a deathly silence.

Only the crackling of torches burning on the walls and Russell's steady footsteps echoed in the suffocating silence, striking the hearts of every prisoner.

Countless horrified, confused, and angry gazes were cast from the dark cage, focusing on the slowly walking figure.

Russell stopped in front of a cell. Inside was a strangely tall and robust man, his body covered in tangled hair and scars.

Even though it was suppressed by the weakened formation, one could still feel its primal ferocity.

Unlike the other prisoners' fear, this man, upon seeing Russell's young, handsome face, which even possessed a hint of fox-like gentleness, showed no fear in his eyes, but instead ignited a contemptuous anger.

"Hey! Kid!" Bu Liren lunged at the fence, his thick arms pounding the barrier, oblivious to the sting of the faint electric light. He grinned, revealing his gleaming white fangs, his voice hoarse and provocative.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a real warrior? Your face is disgusting, just like those damned fox people! Back when I was following Hu Lei Zhan Shou across the Star Sea, I could crush ten tender little brats like you every day! Dyeing the battle flag red with your blood, that would be so satisfying!"

Russell slowly raised his head and closed the jade slip in his hand. His deep eyes, in the dim light, were as calm as an ancient well without waves, reflecting Bu Liren's ferocious face.

A very subtle curve seemed to appear at the corner of his mouth, not a smile, but a cold scrutiny.

"Oh? You associate with that uncivilized bastard Hu Lei, enjoy the apothecary's blessing of immortality, and smear that high and mighty god. You think it's glorious to burn, kill, and plunder in the universe?" Russell's voice was not loud, but it pierced Bu Liren's eardrums like an ice pick.

"You bastard who hasn't even grown his hair yet! How dare you insult the War Chief?!" Bu Liren instantly flew into a rage, his eyes turning bloodshot, and his huge fist smashed even more frantically against the fence, crackling with electricity and scorching his fur.

Oblivious to the rage, he roared, "Let me out if you dare! I'll tear this skin off you and drink your blood dry! I'll make you regret being born!"

His roars were particularly jarring in the silent prison ward, filled with bloodthirsty fanaticism and an almost blind worship of Hurley.

“Ha,” Russell let out a very soft chuckle, as if he had heard the most absurd joke, “It seems that the years in the prison have not only failed to teach you reverence, but have also completely corrupted your mind. **In the end**.”

He shook his head slightly, his eyes suddenly becoming incredibly sharp. An invisible, terrifying pressure, like the awakening of a primordial beast, descended like a tangible mountain, precisely enveloping the cage where Bu Liren was located.

“I’ll give you one more chance,” Russell’s voice deepened, each word carrying immense weight, “Look carefully at what stands before you…”

Bu Liren's furious roar abruptly ceased. The muscles on his face instantly stiffened, and his arrogant arrogance, like a flame doused with ice water, was extinguished with a hiss.

The violence in his eyes was replaced by a primal fear, a fear born of instinct. He staggered backward, his massive body trembling uncontrollably, as if he had seen a terrifying being beyond his comprehension.

He stared intently at Russell, whose young face now appeared utterly distorted and terrifying in his eyes, like the embodiment of an abyss.

The air inside the cage seemed to freeze, leaving only his heavy, fearful breathing and Russell's eyes, which seemed to burn with cold flames in the darkness.

...............

Today's first chapter is in 4K, and...

Golden Branches Through the Ages: Chapter 158 The Buffet Section

The second to last level of the deepest level of the prison

Russell looked down at Bu Liren, who was trembling in the corner. The enormous body was curled up in a ball, and the heavy breathing was filled with fear. He was a completely different person from the arrogant and ferocious beast he had been just moments before.

“Tsk,” Russell let out a soft, ambiguous sigh, the sound jarringly clear in the deathly silent prison block.

"Weren't you just arrogant and self-proclaimed a warrior? How come you're acting like a stray dog ​​now, cowering in a corner and trembling?"

He slowly raised his hand, his slender fingertips gently resting on the metal fence, engraved with runes, that imprisoned Bu Liren.

There were no violent energy fluctuations, no dazzling light, only a warm and powerful life force—pure and abundant power—that silently seeped into the intricately operating restrictions of the immortal ship, like the finest roots.

The forbidden aura began to flicker and distort unnaturally, emitting subtle emanations, as if the structure was being forcibly stretched open by life.