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(How naively sympathetic... I can't wait to see his reaction after he reads this letter.)

(He is already thankful enough. Now I just need a little spark to ignite his hatred...)

(Ah, how lucky I am to have such recreation during my brief incarceration.)

Jesselton? What's the matter? Are you alright?

Nothing. Don't worry.

Let's talk about you instead.

The report says that your liver problems were caused by your alcoholism, and even though you haven't drunk since coming here, the chemical products you come into contact with during work can still cause damage to your body.

The doctor told me himself that your outlook isn't good, if this keeps up.

Good lord... My wife, my kids... They're only seven and eight... I'm so sorry I'm putting them through all this...

Speaking of which, not only did the doctor show me your physical, he also gave me the letter your wife sent you.

A letter? From Patty? Why would he have it?

The doctor said it's out of concern for your health. He doesn't want you to get too agitated.

But now that he has told me about your situation, there isn't really a point to hiding it from you anymore.

Thank goodness, Patty's still writing me. If I have to die in here, at least I can die happy! What did she say?

Well... Maybe you should take a look yourself.

(I only hope my handwriting resembles the wife's enough after all that practice.)

'It is with sorrow that I must tell you this. I cannot bear the life you've left me any longer. I have decided to marry Bill—'

What?!

I—Jesselton, this is really—

Patty wants to marry my brother?! He's just 15!

(Shit, his brother's named Bill?!)

You—Think again. Do you know anyone else by that name?

Other Bills huh...? Bill Dickinson, the carpenter? The one who just lost his wife before I was arrested?!

I—I need to talk to Patty face-to-face! How could she abandon me just because I'm in here? She's gonna have our kids call that old, lame carpenter their father?!

I'm sorry, Rick.

Jesselton, I really—I don't know what to say. If you hadn't brought me this letter...

Rick, it's not yet time to thank me.

What do you mean?

We both know that money and power rule Columbia.

Think about it. Why did Patty elope with the carpenter? All for money.

You were sent to prison, and you became a burden. That's why she decided to marry a lame old man instead of staying with you, the one she loves.

If you want revenge...

Revenge? No, I was just going to ask Patty face-to-face...

What happens then? Will you let her go? And even if you let her marry Bill, will you just abandon your children like that?

You thought Patty loved you, and you love her, but how much is love worth here in Columbia?

Patty betrayed you, and she will even teach your children to betray their own father! Is there really not the tiniest bit of hatred in you?

Jesselton, please... stop it...

(How naive can this man be...? Looks like I'll have to get straight to the point.)

(It'll be okay. Even if I told him I'm getting out soon, he wouldn't be envious, only jealous.)

Right now, we only have one choice, and that is to seize wealth and power for ourselves!

Wealth... and power? How will those help me get my children back?

If you had money to make bail, you could leave this place on parole and take your children back from Patty.

If I had money, I wouldn't have been set up in the first place...

Then there is only power left.

Truth be told, I have some connections both inside and outside of the prison.

I have some friends I can count on, and they will come to get me soon.

Really?

Of course.

After years of hard work, I've managed to earn myself a tiny bit of influence, too.

The only reason I'm trapped here in this prison is because of an unfortunate accident and a minor delay. This is only a brief interlude.

Wow...

Jesselton, thank you. Thanks for talking to me, and picking me up when I've hit rock bottom.

Have more confidence in yourself, Rick.

As long as you can make yourself useful enough or someone is willing to give you a hand, you will never hit rock bottom in Columbia.

And it's no exaggeration to say that I'm the former and you're the latter.

The latter—Someone's willing to give me a hand... You're going to help me even more?

Certainly.

I'm going to introduce some of my connections to you so that you can perhaps get a conversation going with the men up top, and when the time comes...

Rick!

Rick Grey!

Yes! Here!

Out. Someone's looking for you.

Alright...

Get moving! You hit dogshit jackpot this time. Your family's raised enough money for bail. Now hurry up and get your parole paperwork done!

My God—I—

Who... Who raised the money for me? My old man?

Can the questions. Do you want out or not?!

Please, tell me. Who paid my bail?

Enough blabbering! It's a Patty, same last name as yours. You satisfied? Now get a move-on!

Patty?!

Hey, my old 'coworker' buddy. We meet again.

How could a poor bastard like this afford bail? Could it be that you—No, impossible!

Don't look at me. Like I'm gonna blow money on a prisoner?

Still, you'd better not assume we don't know your tricks. Your habit of 'making friends?' Even the warden knows about it now.

He had me come keep an eye on you. Make sure you don't get any funny ideas.

So it was you after all?

Don't get the wrong idea. Luck's actually on his side. His wife apparently sold their house or something and scraped enough together to make bail, that's all.

And if you have to say we pulled any tricks... All we did was take our time with the paperwork and cause a little extra delay.

Delay?

We knew a week ago that his wife had the bail money.

Just thinking about how you spent the whole week running all over the place to spend the little cash you had to pull strings—Pwahahaha!

So how many pennies are left in your pockets?

A tint of ferocity emerges in Jesselton's eyes.

As long as you maintain good behavior while you are imprisoned, when the time is right, we will restore your freedom and double your compensation...

Black substances start to solidify on his arm—

Well, shit, you're getting serious?

And then recede.

Of course not.

Only fools resort to violence to vent their anger.

That's too bad. After Anthony got away, the bosses gave us these high-voltage tasers. Here I was hoping to try mine out.

You might want to try it on someone else. We won't be seeing each other much longer, my dear, vulgar jailer.

What now? Someone's going to post your bail?

Bail... Of course.

Well, that's just rich. If someone was going to bail you out, how it's Rick packing up instead of you?

How shallow.

Do you think those who truly possess wealth and power would spend it pulling someone out of prison?

Heh, look at you talk.

I'm merely stating the facts.

Well, I hope someone comes get you soon, then, and not the kind that pays your way out.

But, for now, you're still an inmate at Mansfield State Prison. Got it?