The Devil's Cage

"What? He is persuaded? That Dark Eater was persuaded to leave the Dark Eater Alliance and become one of 2567's followers?!"

Garcia widened his eyes in utter shock. Lying on his sick bed and listening to what the lab assistant said, it all sounded like a fairy tale.

"Yes. It's a little unbelievable but that Dark Eater really said he was leaving the alliance. Our sources just confirmed the news," the lab assistant nodded in a firm manner.

He understood how shocked Garcia was because he had reacted in the same manner, maybe even worse, when he heard the news earlier.

As researchers in Duyor Research Lab, they weren't strangers to Dark Eaters. They knew how scary those people were, who discarded their pride and value and humanity. Whenever a battle with the Dark Eaters broke out, at least 2 to 3 people of the same rank were required to suppress a single Dark Eater but now, a true Dark Eater was simply persuaded with mere words. If they hadn't verified this beforehand, they would have treated it as some outrageous fairy tale.

The sick ward fell into silence.

It took a while before Garcia came back to his senses.

"What about the two guys that I arranged to help 2567? Where are they?" Garcia asked.

"Unfortunately, they were caught by 2567's attack. They didn't even have the chance to state their identity," the lab assistant said.

The lab assistant knew what Garcia's plan was: Garcia hoped to help the First Seat during his more 'troubled' time.

It wouldn't just win fondness; Garcia might even have the chance to rope the First Seat in, despite the 'troubled' situation being of their own creation.

But as long as it worked, who would care?

The problem was that they failed, and most importantly, the two people sent to help Kieran had lost their lives.

Many go for wool and come back scorned.

"They are dead?" Garcia was stunned.

The 7 man elite team that Professor Duyor had meticulously trained died in less than an hour?

More importantly, all of them had died while carrying out his orders?

How could this happen?

'I've planned everything properly!

The mistake is not on them, its my plan that failed, it's my mistake!'

Garcia started to doubt his life. His breathing increased and his face flushed due to the messy thoughts.

Puk!

A mouthful of blood gushed out, the wound that had just been patched up started to bleed, tainting the bandages red.

Garcia passed out.

"Doctor! Doctor!" the lab assistant called out loudly.

…

"Do you know what you are doing?" Senile shouted loudly.

When the news about the Dark Eater came to him, he rushed himself to the scene but when he arrived, the teacher who was afraid of trouble realized the problem was much worse than he had thought.

The Dark Eater abandoned his identity and wanted… no, he had already became the First Seat's follower!

Looking at the quiet 2567 and the once Dark Eater beside him, Senile felt his temple jump rapidly.

He knew what the consequences were should the news about today spread. Those lunatics, the Dark Eaters, weren't some kind of easy-going bunch of folks.

What made Senile more helpless was the incident today would surely spread like wildfire.

Over 50 casualties occurred in the field of Theorate. Not even Principal Romuse could cover something up like this, despite those people bringing it upon themselves.

Once Senile thought about what he had to face in the upcoming times, he really wanted to punch the First Seat in the face, warning him not to cause any more trouble. But when he thought about the difference in strength, he was smart enough not to do so and instead vented his emotions through shouting.

"Got it," Kieran nodded.

"If you knew, why'd you still do it?" Senile shouted louder.

"I had no reason to stop a person from turning over a new leaf," Kieran said back.

"But did you think about the consequences? What kind of trouble would befall you?" Senile slammed the table as he jumped up from his seat.

"I did, but if everyone rejected kindness because of the prejudices in their hearts, this world would truly plunge into darkness. It's too sad. I can't persuade others but I hope to protect my own bottomline."

Kieran wasn't being loud, his tone was calm, but his words voiced out a never before heard authenticity and a strong sense of righteousness.

Senile looked at Kieran blankly after those words, unable to think of a reason to continue arguing.

The recording officer beside them also looked up to Kieran, his eyes showing an extra sense of respect.

"I am just reminding you that the Dark Eaters will get to you through any means necessary. They don't have any honor to speak of but they will redeem the meaning of being a Dark Eater," Senile said with a stern tone after two deep breaths, sitting back to his chair.

"Mm. Let them come," Kieran stood up and walked out.

The ex-Dark Eater behind him followed without uttering a word.

The door was shut slowly. Senile sat at the desk in silence.

He looked at the shut door, his mind replaying the words Kieran said earlier.

'If everyone rejected kindness because of the prejudices in their hearts, this world would truly plunge into darkness. It's too sad.'

"Since when do I judge things based on benefits? During my graduation? No, it should be earlier. It should be the first time I entered the Mystic State, where the guide teacher told me to give up on the wounded to secure the safety of the survivors. It's nothing wrong about that, giving up on the minority to secure the majority, it should be the optimal choice! But... why I can't forget it until now? Why do I feel so… uncomfortable?"

Senile scratched his head with both his hands, pulling at his hair non-stop in a frustrating way.

The recording officer took his note, walking outside quietly without uttering a single word.

Professor Tyrese had been waiting for him in the next room. He took the note from the officer and carefully read through the contents.

As a matter of fact, Professor Tyrese knew everything already because his room and the next were connected.

An oil painting was used as a cover, but anyone in the professor's room could see through the one-way mirror and know what was happening in the next room, while those on the other side knew nothing about the room behind the oil painting.

The flipping of the notes was the only noise in the room, Professor Tyrese sighing at the end.

"Leonard, go check on Senile. You better pay more attention to him in the upcoming days. He couldn't get past the incident last time."

Professor Tyrese told Leonard beside him, who was anxious to leave the room.

"Alright, professor," Leonard quickly went over to the next room.

The room was left with Professor Tyrese and the recording officer. Professor Tyrese then turned to the latter.

"What do you think, Mori?"

"A decent kid. Although cold, he knows what he is doing. His ways might be harsh but they're reliable. But before everything, you need to win his trust."

The white-haired officer, with a pair of glasses, answered honestly. On top of the officer's right hand was a small bonsai the size of his little finger, with a dandelion-like plant inside, waving as he spoke, as if the little plant was agreeing to his words.

"Is that so? Did you see the surveillance footage? Found any problems?" Professor Tyrese sank into thoughts for a while before asking.

"Everything is normal. That Dark Eater tried to bewitch 2567 with his words but he did not expect 2567's will to be as strong as a monolith and have a sharp mind. The Dark Eater didn't just fail, the weakness in his heart was poked by 2567's words, his mental defense crumbling, and everything else is history."

The officer knew what Professor Tyrese wanted to ask, so he elaborated.

"This kind of thing is really inconceivable!" Professor Tyrese exclaimed.

"Not really inconceivable, but definitely not something a John Doe can do. He needs to have extremely great confidence and a certain level of charisma," the officer corrected Professor Tyrese.

"Does he have it? 2567?" Professor Tyrese asked.

"Among all the 50 bodies, every single one of them suffered a mental impact to their mind, so I guess you can treat it as a unique charisma. But I don't think 2567 can use this little trick anymore in the upcoming events," the officer was referring to something specific.

"Hope he doesn't get himself into too much trouble. Theorate's anniversary is just around the corner," Professor Tyrese said with a bitter smile.

"Perhaps said trouble will turn into something good?" the officer said in an optimistic manner.

That's right, trouble can be turned into something good as long as preparations were made and the chance was seized, similar to Kieran right now.

Kieran was in his dorm counting all 33 Magic rank items and 2 Rare rank items that he got from the 50 men, the smile on his face very bright.

Although only the 2 Rare rank items were worthy of his attention, the combined value of all 33 Magic rank items wasn't something 2 Rare rank items could compete with.

After counting all 33 Magic rank items and arranging them into his bag, Kieran looked at the 2 Rare rank items.

[Name: Butter Ball]

[Type: Wonder Item]

[Rarity: Rare]

[Attack: None]

[Defense: None]

[Attribute: Heal]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: It is a type of battle ration developed by Duyor Research Lab.]

…

[Heal: Put Butter Ball in you mouth and it will heal for 50 HP per minute, last for 20 minutes or swallowed to heal 300 HP for one time.]

…

[Name: Crispy Thin Roll]

[Type: Wonder Item]

[Rarity: Rare]

[Attack: None]

[Defense: None]

[Attribute: Arouse]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: It is a type of battle ration developed by Duyor Research lab.]

…

[Arouce: Even on the verge of dying, one will be aroused by the crispiness. Consume it and it will prolong the life of a dying man for 1 minute but after the 1 minute duration is up, the organs will deteriorate and die quickly. It isn't the best way to save a dying man but ideal for a last resort.]

…

Unlike most of the Magic rank cooking utensils and tableware, the 2 Rare rank items were one time consumable food items. Although these 2 Rare rank items wasn't categorized in any class, as long as one used it properly, it could be unexpectedly effective.

Kieran carefully placed them in an easily reachable spot before he took out the metal box that held [Golden Cake (Replica)].

Frankly speaking, throughout his plan, he had been anticipating [Golden Cake (Replica)] and the other Proper Meal class food that he would soon get the most.

Kak!

Kieran carefully opened the box and a golden light shone on his face.

Other than the look, it was the aromatic smell of the face that entered his nose.

The Golden Cake was around 7 inches big. Kieran remembered the attribute clearly stated that its rarity would drop by the second after it left the metal container, therefore Kieran shoved it into his mouth without a second thought.

The cake was soft and sweet, but not surfeiting, and the taste instantly filled his taste buds and mouth.

The whole cake then melted into a semi-liquid state, as if he was eating a melted ice-cream, flowing down his throat and into his stomach.

Gluttony, who had been waiting, cheered happily as he threw himself to the cake.

He disintegrated the cake and converted it into Devil Force, Dawn Force, Plague Force, Saint Thorn Force and Cardinal Sins Force, all the Origin Forces becoming very lively and operating faster.

All five of his Origin Forces transformed into the purest of energy and boosted the divine fire in his mind once more, making it burn bigger and brighter, so more darkness and chaos could be expelled.

The process was similar to previous times but the changes that followed shocked Kieran.

[Absorbed special energy, Intuition +3]

[Intuition ZZ → ZZZ (Strong I)]

…

Attribute level up! Not skills rank up but attributes!

Kieran looked at the words on his vision, swiftly thinking about the Golden Cake attribute: [Golden Blessing (Incomplete): Replenish, optimize your attributes]

If even an incomplete attribute was able to increase Intuition by 3 ranks, then what about a complete one?

He had gained more than that actually!

A true Proper Meal class cake had provided him with outstanding gains, and now, he still had 2 more of the same rank that he hasn't gotten yet.

Pak Pak Pak.

Kieran was tapping the arm of his chair lightly, his eyes squinting a little as he realized that he was still underestimating this dungeon world's value.

Fortunately, he was careful and vigilant, he barely missing out on anything and didn't make any mistakes. He might be able to get something bigger in the upcoming days.

Unconsciously, Kieran looked at the Dark Eater who was standing beside him.

The Dark Eater knelt down on one knee and said in a devoted voice, "Lester at your service, my lord."