My Cell Prison

Chapter 518: Chapter 518: Dark Side
 

[Knight Selection]

In the eighteenth year since the establishment of the Holy City, the knight system was officially implemented. The [Knight Selection], an important activity for selecting qualified knights, was set to be held mid-October every year.

If one aspires to become a knight,

If one aspires to gain official qualifications to venture out of the city to investigate the outside world,

If one aspires to join the Knight Regiment in a collective fight against higher life forms that threatened humanity’s survival, they would need to pass a series of stringent evaluations.

Only true knights who meet the requirements will be allowed to join the Knight Regiment.

Those who fail to meet standards will serve no purpose in the Knight Regiment other than being a burden.

In the 78th year of the Eternal Night.

With the approval of the council and substantial financial investment from the Royal Family, a vast amount of resources from the Thirteen Knight Orders were allocated to the establishment of the [National Royal Academy of Knights].

A designated learning facility was established for novices who have passed through the Fate Space for the first time, providing them with premium education facilities, specialized training tailored to enhance the success rate of each Apprentice Knight turning into a full-fledged Knight.

The selection process for the Knight Academy is carried out at the end of the fourth academic year. The successful graduates will participate in the Knight Selection,

There will then be a series of tests to verify if the students possess the qualifications to join a Knight Regiment, alongside choosing which Knight Regiment they would be allocated to, initiating their investigation and exploration outside of the city, and pledging their hearts to the freedom of humanity.

Exceptional performers during the selection process will be granted special rewards and privileges.

The Holy City encourages this ‘merit-based’ selection mechanism and is committed to cultivating elite knights who can stand on their own.

…

However,

The Holy City does not entrust the entire knight training task to the National Royal Academy of Knights, for students who are considered ‘exceptional’ will undergo an alternative form of training.

Known alternatives for exceptional training methods include:

[Church]

Seven out of ten knights in the Holy Knights Group are holy knights trained by the Church… Of course, aside from training clergymen, the Church also trains knights with unique special traits.

[Associations]

Noble-born knights can use their family connections to be directly transferred to capability-based associations that can train knights, such as the Magic Association, Warrior Association, Natural Association, etc.

It should be noted, in the few decades before the establishment of the National Royal Knights Academy, Apprentice Knights were trained through these associations.

Newcomers will choose which association to join for training based on their special traits and preferences.

However, the structures of these associations are not comprehensive, and they function independently, resulting in many fatal incidents among new members due to competitive issues.

Furthermore, individual associations focus more on the cultivation of excellent knights, forming a somewhat severe ‘hierarchical differentiation’ within… Average newcomers could not receive any resources at all and ultimately had to give up on becoming knights.

After the establishment of the National Royal Knights Academy,

These associations still exist, and some noble individuals with connections would still choose to go down the road of association training.

However, the aforementioned [Church] combined with [Associations] only account for a maximum of 15% of the total participants in the Knight Selection.

What’s more, as time passes, the association’s training methods are gradually declining. Unless those are obstinately conservative nobles, most nobles would send their descendants to the Knight Academy.

This year, however, is a bit different.

With the return of Alex and Marlon, the subterranean area beneath the mysterious Hades Steps has been re-opened.

A group of underground personnel, who had no registered identities within the Holy City, officially came out to the public.

…

“Tomorrow we will go to the [Knight Headquarters] to register for the Knight Selection… Why don’t you spend this evening with me? Shall we go together tomorrow?

Also… I am willing to share the secret to turning into a full-fledged knight with you before the selection!”

Han Dong waited until Mia hatched from her silk pouch before he returned to the city.

They both were standing beneath the Dark Moon Tower.

Mia was leaning on Han Dong’s chest, lightly tracing her fingers against him.

Mia was notably different from before the transition.

The Mia who once required a half mask to suppress her Spider Curse now had removed the mask completely.

Her fully exposed face was delicate, with a touch of beauty and unique allure.

At the same time, Mia’s pupils had turned completely purple after the transition.

Her body proportions became more perfect after the ‘Worm Change’. A thin waist, rounded buttocks, long legs… And for those readers who are foot fetishists, you’d have six more additional long legs to satisfy your visual needs.

After turning into a full-fledged knight, Mia harbored an even deeper affection towards Han Dong.

“Let’s decide after we meet Mr. Black White… There seems to be some movement in the Holy City since the return of Captain Marlon.”

“Alright.”

[Stargazing Room]

The reason Mr. Black White summoned them was to explain the reopening and global implementation of the [Hades Steps] for the first time in fifty years.

This was a major decision made recently, with the joint participation of the Thirteen Knight Orders, the Royal Family, and the Church in the council.

The Big Expedition was imminent.

The dark side of the Holy City would be revealed to the world for the first time.

“Hades Steps, the Dark Side… As I thought, there are hidden organizations in the lower part of the Holy City.”

Mr. Black White explained:

“The Dark Side of the Holy City is far more vast than you might imagine.

Initially, the city was constructed over a large mineral deposit area because ‘Metallic Copper’ was discovered to drive away creatures living outside the city. The first thirty years were spent mining copper ore from the underground area.

After the mining operation was completed, the underground area was not completely sealed off.

In lieu of suggestions made by some visionary council members, the Supreme Council decided to retain half of the area and officially launched the ‘Dark Side Plan’, which has proven effective for the preservation of the Holy City.

The main bases of the Hell Knight Corps, the Black Rose Knight Squad, and the Terminal Knight Regiment are all set up below.

The Headquarters of the Night Watch was also built in the underground area.

The existence of the Dark Side ensures the security of the Holy City.

A lot of potential threats to the stability of the Holy City, which could not be dealt with through official channels, are handled by the ‘Dark Side’.

The effective and decisive approach of the Dark Side in handling matters that would resolve many issues for the Holy City earned the direct acknowledgement of the central council.

Over time, the underground area has become greatly expanded.

Upon the joint proposal of several Knight Orders, a cultivation establishment similar to the National Royal Knights Academy was set up in the underground area. However, they do not openly recruit Apprentice Knights.

Only Apprentice Knights who exhibit ‘Dark Side characteristics’ and ‘standard talent’ are invited.

Before the underground area was fully opened to the public,

Once Apprentice Knights who had trained and studied in the underground area graduated, two paths were offered to them to choose from.

Those who excelled had the opportunity to be enlisted directly into a Knight Order associated with the underground area.

Other majority of the knights became the backup army of the Night Watch, secretly working for the Holy City… provided they show excellent performance and receive approval, they can also become official members of the Night Watch and join a Knight Order.

From now on, the Dark Side is fully open to the public.

In this year’s Knight Selection, the Dark Side students who have trained underground will also join — so competition is exceptionally high this year, and one must be prepared.

If one is unable to join a Knight Order due to incompetency, it will be incredibly detrimental to one’s future development.”