The Legendary Man novel Chapter 579

Chapter 579 No Exit

“What?” The cigarette Malcolm held dropped onto the floor after he heard the report from his subordinate. Even Hayes, who was beside him, stood up with a solemn look on his face.

There were around twenty-four thousand prisoners in all of Northern Crimson Prison. Including logistic units, the fifteen thousand soldiers stationed there were constantly on high alert, ready for battle.

With a troop like that, the place ought to be highly secure. The military hospital would be mobilized if there were a case of food poisoning of a hundred or two hundred people among the troops stationed at any other normal site.

On the contrary, large-scale food poisoning would never happen in Northern Crimson Prison. Due to the prison’s unique strategic importance, the food provisions there were screened multiple times. Every step from planting, harvesting, shipping, and storage, was under strict surveillance.

After all, the prison was a supply terminal for the Mysonna Army. To put it bluntly, Northern Crimson Prison was like a small township and a logistical hub for the whole Mysonna Army.

For a place like that, even a case of food poisoning would be considered severe, let alone dozens of them.

“Start an investigation!”

Malcolm’s face was as pale as a sheet.

“Find out when these soldiers had their meals! If they’re all from the same batch, gather all others who’re on the same batch as them! Pause all outdoor activities and lock all the prisoners back into their cells. Whoever retaliates will be executed immediately. We have to send them all back as soon as possible!”

“Yes, Sir!”

His adjutant turned to leave.

While supporting himself on the table with both hands, Malcolm was sweating profusely from his forehead.

He took out a cigarette but failed consecutively to light it using a lighter.

“F*ck!”

He slammed the lighter down on the table, smashing it into pieces.

Hayes lit the cigarette Malcolm had in his mouth using another lighter.

“Calm down, Malcolm. It might just be a normal case of food poisoning.”

“That’s impossible.” Malcolm took a huge puff of his cigarette as he spoke to Hayes. “Unlike other places, failure in storing or cooking food properly in Northern Crimson Prison could have legal repercussions, and soldiers can be brought to the military court. So, the only explanation for when cases of food poisoning do occur is that someone must have purposely poisoned the food.”

“You mean…” Hayes stared at Malcolm, his eyes wide. “The special forces of Horace from the Eastern Army are behind this? Impossible…”

Malcolm burnt through half his cigarette in a few puffs.

“D*mn, they moved our supplies yesterday, and my men are poisoned today. Could there be a spy in Northern Crimson Prison if he isn’t behind this? I had figured since yesterday that it was odd for Horace to come. Why did I allow him passage when Eastern Army had to cross such a huge distance for operations in Mysonna?”

“But what good would he get by doing that?” Hayes questioned solemnly. “While we might belong to different troops, we’re all under Asura’s Office. If they were the ones who poisoned the food, it would mean that the Eastern Army had been planning a coup—”

Hayes had always been the brazen type, so he always said whatever came to mind.

His mention of a coup was just by coincidence, as per his usual self. However, both he and Malcolm were startled as soon as the word rolled off his tongue.