The next day, early in the morning, when the sky just showed a pale fishbelly white, Dugu arrived at the warden's office with a transfer order signed by Her Majesty the Queen.
"Lord Dugu, why do you have time to come here?" The warden stood up to greet Dugu as soon as he saw him.
"It's like this, Her Majesty the Queen asked me to select a group of death row prisoners and send them to the northern border for execution." Finishing his words, Dugu handed over the transfer order.
The warden took the transfer order, carefully read the contents, and looked up at Dugu, asking, "Why send them to the northern border? Wouldn't it be better to execute them on the spot?"
"Your Excellency, I am not very clear about this matter either. I am only responsible for getting things done and do not need to know too much. Besides, who among us can speculate on Her Majesty the Queen's thoughts?" Dugu responded expressionlessly.
"Yes, yes, how could we dare to speculate on Her Majesty the Queen's thoughts." The warden awkwardly smiled and then stamped the transfer order. He said, "Then I'll trouble Lord Dugu to take these death row prisoners away."
Dugu picked up the transfer order and entered the prison cell. All these people were wearing prison uniforms, some even half-naked, and some were sleeping soundly on the floor.
He selected three hundred death row prisoners and they were all confined in several prison trucks, escorted by twenty Black Armor Demon soldiers.
Along the way, these death row prisoners were locked in cages, their bodies chilled by the cold northern wind. Some trembled, some were drowsy, some had grim faces, and some were full of fear.
"Where are you taking us, officer? Just say it if you want to kill us. Don't waste your words!" One of the death row prisoners angrily stared at the leader in front and said.
Dugu did not speak. He just walked quietly ahead, and the escorting demon soldiers silently walked beside the prison trucks, as if they hadn't heard the other party speak at all.
"Ignorant bunch!" The death row prisoner cursed.
After three days and three nights of travel, they entered a secluded valley and reached a solitary island through a teleportation portal in the valley.
This was the training base for the first batch of Shadow Guards.
There were countless tents on this island, with a huge square in the middle. Surrounding the square were numerous wooden stakes. In the center of the square, there was an iron fence, inside of which was a massive black stone tablet carved with many strange inscriptions.
These inscriptions were all magical spells that could be slightly modified to change the island's temperature, weather, and terrain, creating a suitable training environment.
"Open the prison trucks!" Dugu shouted at the demon soldiers guarding the prison trucks.
The twenty demon soldiers started working and unlocked the chains on the prison trucks, which immediately opened.
During this process, the death row prisoners kept screaming and cursing, but no one dared to escape because they knew very well that this was a solitary island. If they dared to move, the next second they would be thrown into the icy lake to feed the sharks. They absolutely believed in such things.
At this moment, Iris entered this solitary island through the teleportation portal in her study.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." The twenty demon soldiers bowed in unison.
"No need for formalities." Iris waved her hand and said lightly.
The death row prisoners couldn't believe what they were seeing. They never expected that Her Majesty the Queen would appear on this solitary island.
The crowd of condemned prisoners all knelt down on the ground, bowing to Iris. Although they were all condemned prisoners, they still held great reverence for the Empress.
"You are all wicked murderers who deserve to be executed, but I am willing to give you a chance to live. Are you willing to accept it?" Iris looked down at the kneeling prisoners and spoke slowly.
The prisoners looked at each other in astonishment, unable to believe that the Empress would give them a chance at life.
"Your Majesty, what are the conditions?" a middle-aged man dressed in prisoner's clothes stepped forward and asked Iris.
"To become a Shadow Guard, you must pass the assessment," Iris said in a calm voice, but her imposing aura made everyone shudder.
The prisoners looked at each other, feeling a sense of indescribable joy. The Shadow Guard was an elite military force under the command of the Empress. Only the elites in the military were qualified to be selected and undergo training to become qualified Shadow Guards.
"Your Majesty, what happens if we pass the assessment?" another prisoner stepped forward and asked Iris.
"Execution," Iris replied coldly.
The prisoners fell silent once again. In that moment, they felt their breath stop, their hearts gripped by an indescribable discomfort.
"For those who pass the assessment and become Shadow Guards, they only need to serve for two hundred years before they can choose to retire. Retired Guards will regain their citizenship, receive a reward of two million Berras, and are prohibited from disclosing any training or missions of the Shadow Guards. Any violation of the rules will result in execution. If they choose to continue serving, their family's living expenses will be covered by the state, and their children will attend the best Red Moon Academy, enjoying the best education. The state will also provide additional cultivation resources until they reach adulthood." Iris looked at the three hundred condemned prisoners in front of her and spoke each word with emphasis.
For the prisoners, being given the opportunity to become Shadow Guards by the Empress was already a great honor. They never expected to also have the right to retire and receive two million Berras. If they chose to continue serving, their parents and descendants would be well taken care of and nurtured.
"I am willing to serve! I am willing to serve! I am willing to serve!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty! I am willing to serve!"
The prisoners expressed their willingness to serve one after another, trembling with excitement, even their voices quivering.
"Dugu, the rest is up to you," Iris said, waving her sleeve. A teleportation portal appeared in front of her, and she stepped into it, disappearing from sight.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Dugu bowed respectfully and said.
With an expressionless face, Dugu looked at the prisoners and spoke in a chilling tone, "From today onwards, you will strictly obey my commands, with no tolerance for any betrayal or resistance. Otherwise, according to military regulations, you will be executed! I now declare the training begins!"
"Yes." The prisoners all responded in unison, their eyes shining with determination as if there was a fire burning in their chests.
"Start by running five laps around the island to warm up," Dugu said coldly as he looked at the three hundred prisoners.
"Yes, sir!" The prisoners geared up and ran towards the front. Each of them wore prisoner's clothes, glistening under the sunlight, giving off an eerie vibe.
Sitting in the control room, Dugu watched everything on the surveillance screen and sneered, "I really don't know what the Empress is thinking. To let three hundred condemned prisoners become Shadow Guards! It would have been more reasonable to select three hundred elite members from the army, at least they wouldn't cut corners during training."
"Perhaps Her Majesty the Queen thinks they are all outlaws and should be given a chance to serve their country." A woman's voice echoed in Dugu's mind.
"Maybe." Dugu sighed lightly.
...
Three hours later, the condemned prisoners had finished running five laps, each of them panting heavily.
"Continue running another lap around the island." Dugu said coldly.
"Why?" One of the prisoners asked, puzzled.
"After you finish this lap, I'll tell you." Dugu looked at the prisoner and sneered.
The prisoners had no choice but to continue running forward.
...
An hour later, the prisoners finally finished running. They collapsed on the ground, gasping for fresh air.
"Some of you thought you were being clever by cutting across the entire island. Now, keep running until no one dares to play these tricks." Dugu said indifferently.
The prisoners were in an uproar upon hearing this. Suddenly, a hot-tempered leader yelled, "Who did it? Speak up!"
No one in the crowd dared to step forward. Those who did would be isolated, beaten up, and possibly even killed, as every one of these prisoners had blood on their hands.
After resting for ten minutes, they began running again. This time, their speed was noticeably slower than before. It was clear that everyone was keeping an eye on each other, making sure no one spoiled the whole plan.
No one tried to be clever this time, and they all obediently ran around the island. Each of them was exhausted, gasping for breath, their backs drenched in sweat.
Then, Dugu instructed them to hold onto a thick wooden stake and stand in the sea, letting the waves crash against them. They stood like sculptures, unmoving.
"You can eat when it's eight o'clock in the evening. I advise you not to be clever and set up wind eyes where I can't see. I can observe your every move at any time." Dugu said coldly. He then walked to a nearby reef and sat down, silently watching them without speaking another word.
...
Night fell, and the night on the deserted island was calm. Only a crescent moon hung in the sky. The bright moonlight bathed the earth, enveloping the whole world in a silvery halo.
"Today's training ends here. Get ready for dinner." Dugu's voice sounded in the prisoners' ears.
They put down the wooden stakes, their limbs sore, but they still managed to walk to the dining area.
The prisoners held iron bowls and ate their food, their hands trembling non-stop, clearly a result of the intense training.
Days passed, and the prisoners began to resemble soldiers, learning to help and get along with each other.
...
Meanwhile, in the military camp, Saifen was teaching the selected candidates from the martial exam about basic military courses.
These candidates, selected from the martial exam, were quite powerful. However, these young people always had the belief that even if they failed on the battlefield, they could turn things around. This displeased Saifen, but there was nothing he could do. He had to train them with a group of elites sent by the Queen.
...
