During the following day, investigations began in the prison. The establishment was being turned upside down, leaving the people to hold onto the ceiling if they did not want to be engulfed by the flames of what was to come. Anyone without a firm enough grip on the law would fall. Ryker was getting worried and Dagur was getting amused. The man, in all his bravado, needed Alvin and his men. He could not bring in drugs alone. Without his usefulness guaranteed, he was starting to feel anxious. It was fun for Dagur to see his face twisted in concern. In between pushups, he looked up.

"Aw, what's wrong, Rykie? I didn't think you and Al were that close."

"We weren't, but we worked well together. What happened doesn't mean this is the end of our operation. Someone will take his place."

"Any idea who?"

"I'll find out when it happens. I doubt even the officer knows at this point." His expression turned to a scowl. "Either way, it's irrelevant to you. I'll be dealing with them. Don't forget what your role is."

"Touchy," Dagur said, ending the workout and punching towards the cell bars. "One day, we'll get along."

"Just make sure to hold your breath until it happens." Ryker's demeanor turned more hostile. "I noticed that the blond buffoon is gone."

"Yeah, lucky."

"Weird how he left while this was going on. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

"Why would I? I met him here. You saw the times when we were interacting."

"I saw some of the times, but there might have been more. You seemed pretty chummy."

"Because he's fun."

Ryker glared at him. "Seems like he was in on it."

"In on what?" Dagur asked, brow lifted.

The older man's glare became skeptical. He was looking for any proof to mistrust the redhead. Gradually, his glare faded. Ryker went back to his bunk, thinking over matters.

"It's pointless talking to you. You wouldn't understand what I was saying anyway. Just keep collecting money as usual but don't draw attention."

"Got it."

After a little bit of time, Gobber came up to the cell to take the prisoner to the session room. When they were there, the officer smiled at the other two.

"This is working better than I expected," he said.

"Always good to have a bit of faith," Farid commented.

"I can see it was warranted." Gobber grinned, then glanced back at the door. "Can't stay if I don't want this to look weird, so I'll leave you two to your talking."

"See you in a bit," Dagur said cheerfully after the handcuffs were unlocked. He plopped into the chair across from the psychologist. "You don't think he'll get any backlash when the officers get weeded out, do you?"

"I can't say, but I think that there's hope for him. If he's as clean of an officer as he seems to be, there won't be a reason to hold him accountable for what the others have done. It's possible that there might be some repercussions overall for the remaining officers since they were unable to stop the others for so long, but it might not get worse than that."

"I hope not." Dagur started to smile. "Also, it's official. I've got a friend now." He brightened. "That's pretty fun to say."

"I'm glad you gave him some trust."

"So am I." The inmate chuckled nervously. "I'll admit that I got worried for a second there, but Tuff came through when I needed him. Have you talked to him since he got out?"

"No, but I subscribed to his and Ruffnut's channel and they already have another video."

"Really? Doing anything dangerous? What am I saying? Of course, they were."

Farid chuckled. "You're not wrong. They were on a unicycle, riding on a gravel road…and I think Ruff was juggling crowbars or metal pipes. One of the two. She was on Tuff's shoulders."

"He said that if I get out, he'd want me to join them in a stunt."

The doctor smiled at the idea. "I suppose that's only slightly more dangerous than being here."

"Exactly! Plus, if I go out via a stunt, I could…well not live with it technically, but I'd be cool with it."

Smile fading, another thought came to Farid. "Are you going to continue your work with the operation?"

"I feel like I have to. Ryker said that someone will replace Alvin. Probably won't be as bad, but will still be corrupt. I want to know who's on the outside too. If that can stop, then there won't even be an issue with the drugs getting in here. They won't be anywhere."

"Good luck with that."

"Thanks. I'll need it." Dagur laughed. "I think I'm winning Ryker over."

"Is it that bad?"

"Give me a few decades and he might not even pray that I die a horrible death. Just a quiet one so that it doesn't disturb him. He's paranoid about me and Tuff hanging out. He's not wrong, but he's really cocky. I'm glad that he is since it should make him less likely to act on anything. So, I think I'm going to see how this goes and how far I can get."

"You know what I'm going to say," the doctor said, eyes concerned.

"That I do and I'll try to not do anything too out there." The redhead grinned. "This is one of the good sides of being like me. If I do something that seems bold, it might not look like it's me trying to be antagonistic. After all, I'm crazy, remember? I just do weird stuff all the time. Comes with the territory."

A small smile crossed the psychologist's face and the two spoke longer until it was time for the session to end. Later that day, when Dagur went to the yard with the others, he collected the money as usual. He also kept a close eye on Ryker. The man was talking with some of his people. He was looking a little frustrated as well, but Dagur could not tell why. Then, he saw. Someone was coming his way. Someone who was another member of the operation. Ryker glared the convict down the entire time he approached the younger man. Dagur lifted an eyebrow at him, then glanced around.

"Hey, is something wrong?"

"Nothing major, but there's a guy who wants a bigger supply this time and I'm trying to let him know that's not how we work. He keeps almost making a scene. Since you haven't had any problems, I figured I'd see if you could talk with him."

"Sure. What does he look like?"

After the inmate was described, Dagur went and found him. He was in the middle of bench pressing, jolting a little as he saw the redhead peer down at him.

"You wanted a bigger supply?"

The man tried to put the bar back on the rack, but Dagur grabbed it first, pushing it down slightly. He would not let it fall and crush him, but the other inmate only knew that the bar was getting dangerously heavy and could fall on him.

"It's not nice to ignore people."

"I…I," the convict huffed. It was difficult to talk like that.

"Okay, well since you don't seem up for talking, you can listen," Dagur decided. "You can't buy what we don't have and what we don't have is a supplier right now. It'd be great if you understood that because I think we can both agree that being pushy isn't nice," he said, pushing more on the bar. "It just stresses people out and who wants that? I don't. You don't either, right?"

The other man's arms trembled and he shook his head quickly. Smiling in content, Dagur put the bar back on the rack.

"Good talk."

Dagur returned to keeping a watch on things, satisfied with a job well done. He had to admit to himself that it felt odd without Tuffnut there. The blond had a certain je ne sais quoi about him. It was not as fun watching people without him being in his peripheral vision, doing something bizarre. After a few hours, it was time to return to the cells. Before Dagur got through the gates, he noticed Savage coming his way. The officer had a look in his eyes which revealed that he wanted to talk. The two went off to a corner without eyes, easily hidden in the crowds.

"This won't take long," the dark-haired man said quietly. "Just wanted you to know that things are different now. I like what you've been doing in the operation. I didn't know about Alvin's scheme."

The redhead eyed him cautiously. "You didn't?"

"I swear it. As far as attacking you in solitary goes, he forced us. You know what he's like."

"Yeah, I do. Don't worry about it."

"Also," Savage added, expression looking uncomfortable, "about what Alvin and Ansson did to you when you were a kid…I tried to talk them out of that. It was sick–sicker than I thought either of them were. I didn't want you to think I was on board with that."

Dagur looked the man in the eyes. He was shifty, yes, but he could tell that he was speaking the truth at that moment at least.

"I don't blame you for it."

"I'm glad you don't. A new day's coming. I'm liking how it's looking so far."

Savage did not say anything else before leaving, causing the inmate to regard him with curiosity. Maybe the officer was more interesting than he thought. Over the next month, Dagur had more operation members come to him with their problems. They surprised him by how easily they approached. It was not that they lacked fear, but they also had faith in him. Outside of when they went after Tuffnut, he had not hurt any of them or gotten any of them in trouble with the officers. He could do what he needed to do and do so well. As more and more officers were filtered out of the ranks, Dagur stayed calm and his work did not suffer. One day, he was brought to the therapy session room in the afternoon and felt hopeful due to the memory of his last time not being there in the morning. The redhead bounced excitedly in his seat.

"Nah, I'm just assuming this is what it means," he thought. "I'm probably wrong. Of course, there's a chance that I'm not. She might–"

His thought was interrupted as the door opened and Mala entered. Dagur gave her an overjoyed smile and she gave him a happy one.

"You came back!"

"I did and I bear good news," Mala informed him, sitting down.

"What is it?"

"Alvin's trial concluded today and he was sent to a penitentiary this afternoon."

"Know if he's going to be protected in there?"

"He will not be."

Dagur's smile became satisfied. "Good. I hope he gets a taste of his own medicine. Considering all the people he's beaten into submission, he's got a lot coming to him. I probably shouldn't think that way. The doc would want me to think positively and not wish ill on anybody, but I guess I've got a little ways to go before I'm where I need to be."

Mala's expression was understanding. "I will admit that I too have often seen a criminal arrested and hoped for a harsher sentence. There was one…woman I hesitate to call her…who beat and robbed an elderly couple unprovoked. I was incredibly unsatisfied when she only got a short sentence. Somehow, her attorney swayed the judge to their side. Still, I know deep down that I should not want others to suffer. I'm not granted that power to decide even if it would be nice to wield. So, I can relate to your desire for justice."

"You might be more violent than I thought." Before the captain could frown, he continued, "That's fun. There aren't many people who get that line between what you want to do and just can't for morality reasons."

A smile crossed Mala's face. "You encourage a lot of free speech."

"You don't want to?"

"I by no means mind it," she clarified. "It just is…refreshing. Sometimes, it can be tiring to speak with my officers and the reporters. They expect a certain level of properness. I cannot say what I've said today."

"Therapy has definitely helped me see that talking things out can be cathartic. You should try it. Not that I think you're crazy," he added quickly.

Mala chuckled. "I appreciate that you do not. Of course," she said, tapping her chin, "I do think a bit of wildness can be beneficial. Most geniuses are first considered insane."

"Is that an indirect way of calling me a genius?" Dagur asked, grinning and leaning forward a little.

"Is it?" Mala asked, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"You tell me."

"After I see more of how this plan of yours works, I'll give you my answer."

"I guess I'll just have to impress you then."

"Some call me a tough critic."

"Good thing I love a challenge." Dagur paused, then got an idea. "Do you gamble?"

"No, I find it tedious and self-destructive."

"So. you wouldn't even be willing to bet against me?"

"What did you have in mind?" Mala asked, intrigued.

"I bet that I'll solve this case first," Dagur said, a good-natured twinkle in his eyes.

"First? You, Sir, underestimate my task force."

"I don't underestimate anyone. I just know how to estimate myself too."

The captain tried to not chuckle. Maintaining her composure, she asked, "And if I accept this wager of yours, what are the terms?"

"You can pick. I just want to win."

"All right, I shall. If I win, then you have to sing a song of my choice. I've not yet decided."

Dagur laughed. "Okay, well I apologize ahead of time for depriving you of the singing chops that I may or may not have."

Mala paused, thinking about the other option. "It doesn't seem fair to decide what you win. Is there anything you'd like within reason? I heard that you like knives, but I cannot bring those."

"No, I wouldn't ask you to risk getting into trouble because of me."

The redhead started thinking about the question and felt his face becoming hot. He turned away a little so that she would not see.

"If I win, I'd…want you to keep visiting."

He peeked at the woman almost timidly. Her eyes widened, only making him turn a deeper shade of red.

"But not if you don't want to!" he added, starting to ramble. "Which I guess kind of goes against how bets like this work, but I wouldn't want you to feel obliged to. That wouldn't be any fun."

Mala's eyebrows lowered and she smiled. "I accept your wager, Dagur."

This made him smile happily and laugh. "Then, you're on, Mala! Expect to lose."

"I am not even aware of that word's definition."

"That's what they all say."

"But I say it more…royally," she said, a twinkle in her eyes.

The two stared at one another intensely. Dagur's grin widened and became devilish, yet amused. Mala's own smirk finally could no longer be contained. Neither broke eye contact and the captain felt an odd feeling in her chest. A knock on the door drew her attention away from what this could be and she rose from her seat.

"Then, I shall see you again with an update on matters."

"I'll be waiting," Dagur said, grinning at her.

That smile. Mala liked it more than she felt she should have. The captain turned and left the therapy room. Dagur tried to look past her to see who had knocked and when he saw the person's identity, he was shocked. The warden entered and stood by the table. After a moment, he sat.

"Hi, Warden," Dagur greeted. "No handcuffs, so that's a good sign."

He let out a nervous laugh, but it faded when he saw Stoick's expression. He did not look upset. If anything, he looked regretful.

"You heard about Alvin."

"I did."

"I misjudged him," the man admitted. "I was so certain that I knew him, but I didn't. If someone I thought was trustworthy could do what he did, I wonder if someone I lacked faith in could prove me wrong in a positive way." He paused and started standing. "Keep up the good work, Dagur."

"I will," the young man said, certain.

Stoick nodded and left, a short time existing before Gobber came to get the inmate. Dagur was taken to his cell where he stayed. The next day, before visiting hours were over, one of the clean officers came to get him.

"Must be Tuff," he thought. "Or Heather. Or Hiccup. Ooh! I'm getting a nice list of possibilities now."

He had a wide smile as he thought of this. This immediately fell when he got to the designated area. The visitor looked familiar, but it was not because they had met. No, this was because of family resemblance.

"Hello, Dagur," a calm, smooth voice said. "We have never been formally introduced, but I believe you know my brother."

"Maybe. Who are you?"

"I am Viggo Grimborn and it's a pleasure to meet you."