Starry Rebirth: The Warden and the Outlaw’s Interstellar Revenge | Chapter 75 | A Floating Prison | Novela.app

On Planet M88, even the wind seemed to carry a cloying, saccharine scent of romance. Leaving the starport and heading toward the coast, Feng Zhixi’s gaze followed the breeze out to sea. Across the vast, boundless expanse of the pink ocean, countless houseboats of every peculiar shape and size were drifting along the currents toward the horizon. These were custom travel villas that appeared only during specific months of the year on M88—private houseboats designed to navigate the planetary currents. M88 was home to a unique species that migrated with the tides at a fixed time each year. These creatures, born in the ocean and destined to end their lives on the ice fields, would travel from all corners of the vast sea toward a single destination. Looking down from above, it was as if an invisible Universal Creator had gently plucked a string, prompting the entire ocean to chant a poem in unison. These custom houseboats would follow the currents, trailing the migration of these special marine creatures to complete a journey across the sea. It was one of the most popular ways to travel on M88. Legend had it that these marine creatures were the Messengers of the Goddess of Love. If a couple followed the migration to its end, they would receive the Goddess’s blessing for eternity. Because of this legend, countless couples flocked to the planet every year. Demand for the houseboats far exceeded supply, usually requiring reservations more than a year in advance. Had Warden Ji not found the planet’s largest houseboat manufacturer and thrown down a staggering sum of money, it would have been impossible to secure one within three months. Now, Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran had arrived at the shore to claim their custom vessel. *** When the two stepped inside the houseboat, they were met with a scene that was both unfamiliar and eerily recognizable. As the sensor-driven hatch slid open, the first thing they saw was a palette of cold, clinical white. The interior was spacious, roughly the size of a detached villa. As the optical computer system detected the return of its masters, the heavy curtains drew back automatically. Sunlight spilled in, illuminating the space and revealing the "thoughtful" interior design. There was a bedroom decorated in heavy colors to look like a warden’s office; an interrogation room filled with strange little trinkets; a kitchen styled like an infirmary; and a bizarre space that could have been either a confinement cell or a bathroom... The sunlight and seawater outside the large glass windows cast varying shades of pink into the room. This hazy, dreamlike light flooded the floor, neutralizing the chilling gloom brought by the abundance of cold white tones. However, the omnipresent metal fixtures—handcuffs, shackles, and rope knots—imbued everything with an indescribable sense of ambiguity. It was quite clearly a specialized prison drifting on the sea. A private, custom-made one. “...” Looking at the scene before him, Ji Yeran, an actual interstellar warden, silently pressed a hand to his forehead. He had a massive headache. Absolutely none of the prisons under his jurisdiction looked like this ridiculous mess. The moment he processed the interior style, Ji Yeran immediately contacted the manufacturer’s customer service through the houseboat’s computer system. Facing the smiling representative on the screen, the Warden’s handsome face was frozen in a mask of ice. He had paid triple the price and had been crystal clear during the ordering process: they wanted a clean, simple houseboat without any "strange" designs. So, what exactly was he looking at now? Confronted by the client’s interrogation, the gold-standard salesperson for M88’s largest houseboat conglomerate maintained a professional, pleasant smile. They explained earnestly that due to the extreme popularity of the migration season, custom houseboats usually required a year’s notice. This "spare" houseboat was an original stock item they had painstakingly unearthed from the deepest corners of their warehouse. They could guarantee with absolute certainty that this was the simplest, cleanest houseboat on all of M88. They hadn't even had time to install the holographic scene simulation system! Furthermore, if one were to delve into historical records to trace the origins of the houseboats, they would find that this popular vacation style had originally begun as a "voyage of death" used by the planet’s indigenous people to exile prisoners. Therefore, the prototype for a houseboat was, in fact, a prison. It was perfectly accurate! The salesperson made this claim with total confidence, conveniently ignoring the "Romantic Migration, Unwavering Love" labels they used in their marketing. Ji Yeran: “...” So, there wasn't a single normal place to stay on the entire planet? While the Warden’s face was darkening, Feng Zhixi walked further into the houseboat, looking around. As someone who had the "honor" of visiting a real prison before his rebirth, he observed the surroundings with great interest and amusement. To be fair, the layout’s resemblance to a Federal Prison was actually quite high. As a former participant in the prison experience, the ex-space pirate leader flashed an intrigued smile. With a light step, he entered the so-called "Warden’s Office." Feng Zhixi strolled around the heavy desk and sat in the large, high-backed chair. Before him was a desk made of some ancient wood; behind him were floor-to-ceiling curtains of a deep blue, velvet-like texture. Sitting in the high-backed chair that symbolized the Warden’s authority, Feng Zhixi leaned lazily against the armrest, propping his face up with one hand. He casually pulled open a drawer. When he saw the leather whip and handcuffs inside, he couldn't help but laugh, his eyes sparkling. “The decor is quite... dedicated,” he remarked, his voice trailing off with a playful lilt. No, his office definitely did not have a bed placed inside a giant birdcage, covered in suspicious, pure white feathers and draped with countless fluttering ribbons. Standing at the doorway of the bedroom-turned-office, the expressionless Warden denied this in his heart—especially when he saw the Omega slowly hook a finger through a pair of handcuffs wrapped in pearls and feathers. With a cold face, the Warden walked straight over and confiscated the strange handcuffs the Omega was playing with. As he looked down, his gaze caught the open drawer, revealing a mountain of colorful, oddly shaped little items. Ji Yeran: “...” Sitting in the high-backed chair, the Omega tilted his head and blinked innocently. He wasn't the one who ordered this houseboat. After clearing out the mess of items from the drawer, Ji Yeran turned his gaze toward the wardrobe. He now strongly suspected that it, too, contained something ridiculous. Sharing that curiosity, Feng Zhixi—still perched on the throne of the Warden’s power—activated the corresponding function on the computer. At his command, the wardrobe doors slid open silently, revealing a closet full of clothes. It was a dazzling array, though the styles were somewhat... specific. From pure white prisoner jumpsuits and black guard uniforms to white lab coats for the infirmary and formal Warden uniforms, everything was there. Ji Yeran: “...” Looking at the wardrobe full of costumes, Feng Zhixi looked up at the Alpha beside him, his eyes dancing with teasing laughter.