The Devil's Cage

When Senile and Leonard brought the invigilators to the secluded little alley, Kieran was standing there, greeting them with an expressionless face. Beside him was the toppled over cart and shattered glass lid. The Little Rainbow Cake, which was the prize for the first freshman to clear the text, was gone.

"What happened?" Senile glanced over at the spot and had a general idea of what occured.

"What is mine was eaten by them," Kieran replied, as if he was stating a fact.

"Don't worry. The school will give you an equivalent compensation, the…"

Senile's guess was verified as he comforted Kieran, then looked at the three bodies… no, the remaining two bodies because one had been burned to cinders.

"Out of the three people involved, these two were the ones behind this theft; the one at the wall was the mastermind, and this one here is the pawn. As for the last one, I have no idea. He had good hiding skills and was quite fast. When I was engaged with the mastermind, he robbed my food and ate it as he ran away. So I guess my rage went out of control," Kieran explained.

Although the details were a little altered, it still made perfect sense, at least based on the evidence at the scene, proving his statement.

Leonard walked over and nodded at his colleague subtly.

"Leave this to us. 2567, you can return to E5 building for now. Do you need a guide?" Senile asked.

Kieran didn't reply, walking away instead. His goal was met and he had no need to stay behind.

He got his hand on another 'food' that had empowered him.

Although it would eventually divide into energy to fuel all five of his Origin Forces by Gluttony and the increase was fairly small, it was much higher than the natural growth of the Origin Forces.

According to Kieran's calculation, the increment of a similar food could save him around 6 months game time.

6 months was a fairly long time for a normal person, let alone Kieran, who was used to seizing the seconds.

Therefore, Kieran made his decision without a second thought for the situation back there.

Of course, saving time was just one of the reasons for lying. There was another important point: those people behind this thieving incident.

Aside from Maye, his receiver, and the person in the shadow, Kieran believed there was also an organization behind this.

After he killed Maye and his receiver, their organizations would surely find him sooner or later.

Though, in order to wash away any suspicion, they will not come for Kieran so soon, but it will be enough!

As long as they show up, Kieran will find them and scoop them out one by one!

The reason? For more food of course!

Although Kieran couldn't come up with more theories on limited information, he believed the two meals he ate, the roast meat and cake, were not something easily accessible to the students, otherwise it wouldn't appear as a prize for each round of examination.

These rare resources would surely fall into the grasp of the minority, and in order to become one of them, hard work, time and a little bit of luck were required.

Kieran was not afraid of suffering, neither was he unwilling to work hard, but he was short on time.

Luck? Without [Lucky Card]'s effect, Kieran knew how lousy his luck was.

He might live through the semester but in the end, wouldn't get what he sought, so Kieran had started to think sideways.

For example: the organizations hidden under the surface of Theorate.

Would it be dangerous?

Of course, but danger meant opportunity!

A free pie falling from the sky, without having to pay for it?

Kieran knew since he was ten years old that if he had such thoughts in his mind, he would only fall into people's traps, without getting anything in return.

Kieran didn't stop, his mind working around the newly formed plan, putting his best effort into perfecting it.

When he returned to E5 teaching building, two more freshmen were in the welcoming hall.

One was wearing a clean gray suit, his shoes reflecting the shine of the light and his hair neatly combed backwards. His eyes were sharp, thin eyebrows looking at Kieran curiously as he walked in.

Likewise, the other freshman also glued his gaze to Kieran.

However, compared to the former, the freshman was smeared with blood stains. His arrogant face stood out under the bloody stains, making him look extra ferocious. His gaze was provoking and invasive, as though he would fight Kieran any time.

Kieran didn't care about him though, he went to a corner and sat down.

He was looking forward to the food more than caring about others.

As Standler faced the antisociable and eccentric Kieran, he couldn't help but sigh, shaking his head.

If it was possible, he really wanted to befriend this powerful and quick-witted schoolmate. After all, his goal was not just to become the best cook but also to run the best restaurant. With these two goals in his mind, he had to seize all available resources.

But…

After a second glance at Kieran, sitting in the corner and almost merging with the shadow, Standler was smart enough to give up on that thought.

Standler would show his sincerity after a while but Maica could not wait anymore.

He wiped the blood off of his face and walked to Kieran.

He had heard about the First Seat title, not just the honorary name but also the actual benefits.

In order to secure the benefits for himself, he ought to get the title!

All he had to do now was teach this arrogant bastard a lesson and the title would be his.

Maica was very skilled in teaching people a 'lesson'.

Before he came in contact with the 'real world', his goal had been to be a fighter and he'd trained himself in the harshest way.

Now, after he changed his goal, his training didn't go to waste, instead boosting him further.

The fact that he beat down everyone in the bus and was here was the best proof.

"Oi, let's fight. Whoever wins gets the First Seat and whoever loses… Are you ignoring me?"

Maica was shouting in front of Kieran but halfway through, he realized Kieran wasn't even moving. Maica felt like he was being insulted, shouting louder and raising his hand into a fist.

He was used to solving problems with his fist, but this fist of his didn't even land before he realized Kieran was looking behind him!

'Behind me? There is someone behind me? Impossible! I just came over here, is he toying with me? I knew it, he must be trying to confuse me!'

He thought he had seen through Kieran's tricks, laughing.

"Do you think you can distract me…"

"Mate, please move aside, you're blocking the way," a kind voice said, interrupting Maica.

The tone sounded very easy-going but when it sounded behind Maica, cold sweat broke out all over his body, making him feel as if he had returned to his younger days in the mountains, when he had faced a hungry wolf with his bare hands for the first time.

If it hadn't been for a timely rescue, he would have ended up a pile of rotten bones and flesh.

This time, however, there wouldn't be any rescue; he was left all alone.

His body trembled violently, falling down on his knees. As he knelt, he felt the pressure on him being lifted, half of that horrifying aura gradually decreasing.

When the last bit of aura vanished from his body, everything returned to normal, as if it were all an illusion. However, Maica knew what had happened. It wasn't the first time he had come across such a person, which was his reason for coming to Theorate.

Maica turned around instinctively, thinking he ought to remember the person who made him tremble.

It was a middle-aged man in casual clothing, not very tall and with a kind face. He was smiling and had a pair of glasses, the reflection blocking his eyes.

The man looked no different from any other middle-aged man. If it weren't for the little scene back there, Maica would have mistaken him as a normal salaryman.

But now…

'Huh?! Shock?!'

Maica, who had been looking at the man's face, noted shock.

He wasn't stupid by all means, quickly realizing what had happened. He turned around to look at Kieran.

Under the shadow, Kieran's expression was too dark to see, but the calm in his eyes didn't change at all, remaining just as Maica had seen him earlier.

As if Kieran didn't feel the horrifying aura from the man.

'He doesn't change even under that kind of terrifying aura?

No, it's not right!! Something did change!'

Maica realized something was different as he stared at Kieran, or more precisely, he smelled something different: sulphur.

A faint sulphuric smell appeared, an unrivalled scorching heat also appearing on the man and brewing fiercely.

Then, a loud roar followed!

Buzz!

Ears rang, followed by an illusory figure in the shadow. The figure was tall and huge as it stood up, bright red radiance exploding suddenly.

It was the devil! A monstrosity a few hundred thousand times scarier than a hungry wolf!

Maica passed out on the ground without the slightest resistance.

Kieran didn't care about him at all. The moment he sensed the middle-aged man, he moved all of his attention to the man.

It wasn't because of the man's power but because of the man's goal.

Kieran wasn't so naive to think that he could brush away the examiners with some lousy words and get away with the Little Rainbow Cake!

Senile and Leonard were the first hurdles and the man before him was the second.

"What a terrifying aura. Is this your definition of 'eat'?"

The middle-aged man exclaimed as he sensed the sulphuric aura flashing by, his seemingly normal eyes showing intense shock.

"2567? Don't worry, I don't mean hostility. I am Professor Tyrese of Theorate. You can just call me Professor. I am here because of the little incident back there but now it seems like we were overthinking. You don't have the smell of the Little Rainbow Cake," Tyrese said kindly.

Kieran maintained his cold behavior and even showed a little hostility through his eyes.

This was all just for show though, just like how he used devil's aura to cover the food's presence.

Since he was surprised by how sharp Rachel's nose was last time, when Kieran decided to go with this plan, he had prepared himself.

A true chef could even pick up the scent of normal food, let alone a special one.

Therefore, he had to use something with a stronger scent to cover the special cake's presence.

Amongst the five Origin Forces, what else was more suitable than the rampant and fierce Devil Force?

"Fine, fine. Seems like the test caused some misunderstandings. Don't worry, time will prove what I say. So long," Tyrese smiled and turned away.

Kieran stayed quiet and saw him off, glancing over at Maica, unconscious beside his feet.

He frowned, uncomfortable with Maica being near his feet, choosing to kick him away.

Kieran's precise control of his strength sent the unconscious Maica rolling into the opposite corner.

Regardless of how well he controlled his strength, Maica would never have escaped unharmed.

Standler's eyes were glued to the corner where Maica rolled towards, not even blinking at the sight of Maica's swollen face. He lowered his head as if he hadn't see anything, but in his heart, a great wave had crashed.

'He already has abilities that correspond to his body? What food class did he eat? That power is astonishing! It must be at least a Proper Meal class food, or is it a Grand Meal class?'

Standler was shocked by the scene that he had just witnessed.

Likewise, Senile and Leonard were also surprised.

"He already ate food that corresponds to him? He is really lucky!" Senile exclaimed after he heard what Professor Tyrese said.

"And with that kind of power, it might even be a Grand Meal class! Able to have this class of food as his initial 'correspondence', this guy really has a bright future!" Leonard also exclaimed similarly.

Both of them then looked at Tyrese.

"What should we do next?" Senile asked on behalf of his colleague.

"Do what you must do. 2567 has far surpassed the freshmen of his level, so he must be the First Seat of this year. He has potential but his attitude...Recommend him for Student Council," Tyrese said after some thought.

"Student Council?!"

"He is just a first year student, that is against the rules…"

"Rules? Rules are meant to be broken! I am looking forward to see how 2567 'communicates' with those guys."

Leonard's cry of shock was interrupted by Senile.

He couldn't help but laugh, as if the thin examiner had thought of something funny.