The Devil's Cage

The Hounds were quick, their ferocity undoubted, especially with the lead from the Elite Hound, the group hunting with even more efficiency.

Three Hounds jumped on the 'emissary' that hid in the corner of the alley and when the worrying started, blood and flesh splattered everywhere.

"He-...Ugh!"

The 'emissary' tried to speak but one of the Hounds bit him on the neck, ripped its throat off, but despite the horrible wound, he did not go down yet.

The 'emissary' covered his neck and tried to run, even though he had sustained a lethal injury for a common man.

However, he suddenly realized two more Hounds blocked his path of retreat and what was even more disappointing was a bigger sized Hound appeared behind him.

This bigger Hound did not growl and roar at him, it didn't even make a noise, yet the more silent it was, the more the 'emissary' felt scared.

Dogs that bite do not bark.

The 'emissary' knew the saying very well and if it was a Hound instead of a dog, it would kill and eat!

"Let me go! I will tell you…"

Unfortunately, the Elite Hound did not give the 'emissary' chance.

The order was given and all 5 of the Hounds jumped on the 'emissary'.

Already injured, the 'emissary' was torn into shreds in less than 2 minutes.

The Elite Hound showed contempt for the enemy who died without an intact body through its eyes.

It saw the lousy trick of poisoning the envelope before but it was a first, seeing a bold idiot who tried to poison their master with them around.

Didn't the 'emissary' know the Hounds were very sensitive to poison?

The Elite Hound brought the others back to Kieran with a joyful jog.

"Go wash yourself up at the back door, don't bring the blood inside."

Kieran told the Hounds to clean up before he tiptoed and kicked the poisoned envelope into the drain.

The Elite Hound brought the other five to the back door.

Behind the restaurant was an empty space, originally a parking lot for the hotel and the water tap on one side was to provide convenience in washing cars, but the empty space became a place where stray dogs and cats sunbathed.

The water tap and the little pool underneath became the bathing pool for the Hounds and strays.

The strays, who were sunbathing, scattered away quickly. Other than a few, who joined the Hounds, the rest looked at them in utmost vigilance.

When the strays saw the Elite Hound sit beside the water tap and turn it open with its paw, the vigilance slowly faded off.

The murmurs of flowing water made the Hounds line up in an orderly fashion to wash themselves up.

It wasn't the first time the Hounds came here for a bath.

Other than the initial clamouring and noises, the strays gradually got used to them as time went by.

After washing themselves up, the Hounds shook their body, twisting the water away before they returned to their guard post.

The Elite Hound closed the water tap, then opened the kitchen door and went back into the restaurant. It pushed its head against Starbeck's leg to win fondness before it curled up beside Kieran.

"A bunch of greedy bastards, don't worry about it!"

Kieran said to Starbeck and Starbeck nodded.

People who were greedy for money appeared too many times in Starbeck's life, therefore he never cared how they ended up. He turned around and went back to the kitchen.

The cooking shovel and wok went to work and clanks quickly sounded from the kitchen.

Kieran squinted his eyes outside the restaurant.

Song Shi Family's car appeared at the entrance of the alleyway. The eldest daughter of the family got down from the car and smelled blood.

The driver was alarmed, coming in to check before he ran back and reported to his employer softly.

"You handled the small fry, right?"

Song Shi waved her hand without giving much concern.

As for why the small fry suddenly had their eyes on Kieran?

Song Shi knew better than most, it was because the small fry knew Kieran got his hands on the cart of treasure which Ring City used as bait.

A dozen Magic rank items might not be anything to a big family, but for these small fry, it was enough for them to risk it.

Unfortunately, they picked on the wrong opponent.

Going against Royan?

Song Shi shook her head and walked into the restaurant.

"Can I order something to eat?" she asked.

"We are not open for business yet." Kieran replied.

"Can't you bend the rules for once? Why don't I find those small fries for you and you tell Roye to make me something good, what do you say?" Song Shi proposed.

"Not really attractive," Kieran shook his head.

The small fries were no one but some scattered mystical side individuals blinded by greed. They were less than common Witchcraft practitioners and came here just because they felt lucky.

Kieran wouldn't care about these people, there were too many of them outside, and like wild grass in the wild, it was hard to erase them all.

Therefore, he could have just stayed back and waited for them to come at him, so that he could kill them, wave after wave, eventually erasing every single one of them.

Kieran was very confident in his Elite Hound, the guard dog of the restaurant, plus the other five Hounds.

"Stingy guy! I hate discussing business with men like you, so calculative!"

Song Shi then posed a gesture with her hand.

The driver and one of the two bodyguards saw the sign.

They then pulled out a box from the trunk of the car and walked to the restaurant.

Based on the sound of the steps and the clanks in the box, Kieran had a precise knowledge of what was inside.

200 Crossing Gold Coins.

A decent gain.

For Kieran, who was extremely in need of Crossing Golden Coins, using less than 10 items and equipment to trade for gold coins was a bargain, especially when he could get a lot more on his end.

According to what Kieran understood about the pricing, the items and equipment could probably fetch 180 to 220 gold coins and 200 gold coins was in the middle.

If he wanted to maximize his gains, he would need more time, but for Kieran, who was always on the clock, it was not possible.

"I've seen those things before, here is a rough estimate…"

"Deal!"

Song Shi was trying to deliver Mian Yi's comments but before she could finish, Kieran stopped her. She was startled.

"What did you say?"

"I said deal," Kieran repeated.

Song Shi furrowed her brows.

She had some clue about how stingy Kieran was a while ago.

He never gave her food, not now, not even back in the Battle of Winter Night, yet he agreed to the deal so easily this time?

Could it be…

A thought suddenly came afloat in her head.

"Are you having dirty thoughts about me?" Song Shi shrieked.

Before Kieran could even react, she continued, "Let me tell you this, don't you even dream about it! You are impossible! No, no, no! But if you become a son-in-law by adoption together with Roye, I might consider… it!"

Song Shi couldn't help but sutter in the end, her face starting to turn red.

Her family had high hopes and views of Kieran.

The identity of the reincarnated God of Slaughter was very tempting for Song Shi Family and after he sharply exposed Victor and his schemes in the Battle of Winter Night, the family raised their opinions and comments about him.

If it wasn't for the power and authority of Song Shi's parents in the family, the other good-for-nothing relatives would have used some tricks to make her marry Kieran.

Though even if she had her parents on her back, Song Shi was very cautious of her own marriage. If she came of age and her parents put her in an arranged marriage, what would she do then?

It was her life that they were meddling with!

Otherwise why would she run to Song Shi Hot Spring Hotel, the place where her parents met, in the first place?

Wasn't it just to find a potential son-in-law for adoption?

Kieran was obviously out of the topic. Regardless of how high her family thought of him, he wasn't what she seeked.

But Starbeck was good! Yet none in her family had hopes for the little brother.

So if Kieran could agree to the adoption and bring Starbeck in together, wouldn't it be a win-win situation?

It satisfied her family's request and also her needs.

Song Shi was very convinced of her quick wit, yet Kieran reacted with an ugly expression.

"Get out!"

The loud voice told Song Shi what Kieran's stance was.

Huh?

The harsh reaction from Kieran caught Song Shi off guard.

"Can you consider it?" Song Shi looked at Kieran with her puppy eyes.

"GET OUT!" Kieran shouted decisively.

If it wasn't for the box of gold coins on the counter, Kieran would have taught Song Shi the meaning of the 'kick of death'.

"Royan you should really consider it, my family is bigger than you can imagine, it's richer and if you…" Song Shi obviously didn't want to give up.

She continued to persuade Kieran and even elaborated her point with facts, both pros and cons, but before she could finish, the kitchen's curtain was lifted and Starbeck walked out.

He was looking as cute as ever with that smile, and when Song Shi saw him, her heart throbbed.

"Good day, miss! We are not open for business yet. Can you please come back later?"

Song Shi instinctively stood up, nodded repeatedly at Starbeck's kind question.

"O-Okay! I will come back at night!"

Song Shi then wanted to leave.

"Wait," Starbeck called her back.

"Is there anything else?" Song Shi turned around like a robot, her body frozen by Starbeck's words.

"We are not some restaurant that chops customers. Since you've paid the money, you can wait at home around evening and I will send someone over to your house to deliver the food."

Starbeck smiled warmly.

Song Shi felt like she saw a little white flower. The little flower waved along with the wind and transformed into a huge cannibal plant.

There were no roars, no growls, only a silent gaze.

Keep quiet and stay still or get eaten!

Song Shi clumsily walked out of the door after her fearsome vision popped.

When she got out, the wind blew on her face and she felt chills down her spine.

Song Shi realized her back was drenched in her own sweat without her knowing, a throbbing fear rising from the bottom of her heart.

'What?

What happened?'

Song Shi asked herself.

'Am I afraid of Roye?

No!

No way!

Roye is harmless!

Royan! It must be Royan! That guy!

He held Roye for himself and used his presence to scare me!

Jerk!'

Song Shi stomped her feet angrily, but she dare not go back into the restaurant, quickly running back to her car.

The engine roared to life and the car drove away from the alleyway.

"D-Did I scare Song Shi just now?" Starbeck got stunned, shrinking his neck and looking at Kieran in a cowardly look, his hands unconsciously reaching out to grab Kieran's clothes on his shoulder.

"No, I told her to get out. Go make lunch, I'm hungry," Kieran tapped Starbeck's hand and comforted him.

"Em, it will be ready soon."

Starbeck regained his smile and hopped back to the kitchen.

Kieran looked at the kitchen curtain sliding down, not entirely startled.

With Starbeck's wealth, acquiring something in the big city that far surpassed this dungeon world's limit wasn't something bizzare at all.

As for the rage?

Anyone would get mad if they were considered a complimentary gift to some lousy marriage.

The little miss from Song Shi Family really picked on the wrong person.

Kieran didn't care about Starbeck scaring Song Shi away.

Which side should he pick?

Wasn't it obvious?

Starbeck was ten thousand times more important.

Kieran knew but he had some guesses about why the family sent Song Shi here for a business talk and not Mian Yi, who was obviously much more appropriate and mature.

Song Shi was by no means a straw bag. In terms of strength and intellect, she was far superior than many others, but her family was overprotective of her.

She was reckless and only cared about herself most of the time, a person like her wasn't the first choice in talking business.

On the opposite, Mian Yi was very considerate in every aspect.

Mian Yi would have come over during normal times, yet Song Shi appeared this time.

Meaning…

"Song Shi Family has located Victor?" Kieran wondered.

Other than this point, he couldn't think of any other explanation.

However, locating Victor within Ai City was rather surprising for Kieran.

Coincidence?

Or?

Kieran looked up while in thoughts and snapped his finger.

Pak!

Bloody Mary appeared right away following the snap.

"At your service boss."

"I want you to keep an eye on Song Shi Family, inform me if anything weird goes down."

It was hard to locate Victor, who hid so well but it was not that hard to locate the men from the Song Shi Family.

With Bloody Mary's skill set, it was a piece of cake for it.

"Very well boss," Bloody Mary then vanished.

Kieran stood up from his seat, stretched his body, and smelled the aroma from the kitchen.

The meal was almost ready.

...

Victor strapped the linen clothes on his body tighter but it was useless because he couldn't feel his feet, or more accurately, his legs below his knee. They were seriously numb because of the dirty water, which was very cold.

The coldness continued to spread the numbness, his body was getting colder by the moment, and Victor didn't know how much longer his clone could withstand this.

He could die at any moment, but he had no other choice.

All he hoped now was the tricks he left outside were enough to distract the others, so that he could have enough time to get… the core of [Philosopher's Stone]!