The Devil's Cage

When Bain saw the book pushed to his face, he couldn't help but twitch.

Although the creator of the book tried very hard to give the book an aged feel, the craftsmanship was very poor, the materials chosen very crude.

The outer layer was dyed red with red ink; the icon of the black crow was fine, but far from being lively.

After flipping the book, Bain saw there was nothing inside, the whole book was blank!

"I haven't written it down, but when I do, it will be the most important event that will be remembered for ages to come…"

"Stop spreading your eighth-grade syndrome to others!" Bain couldn't help but stop Li Jiajia.

Rumours have it that in a certain period in a human's life, their mind would be filled with fantasy, dragging them away from reality and society, eventually forming a unique syndrome.

The duration of the syndrome depended on the specific person's financial status and relationship with the opposite gender.

The stronger the status and relationship, the shorter the duration.

The weaker the status and relationship, the longer the duration.

Some even bore the syndrome for the rest of their lives.

It was a harmless syndrome though, if met and said person did not severely affect others, he or she could be treated as a friend.

"I don't have eighth-grade syndrome! I am the one and only follower of the Black…"

The following titles and names caused Bain to facepalm himself.

Kieran, on the other hand, was listening with interest.

He never felt disgust against these kinds of harmless people, he was curious how she could speak all those names, titles, and prefixes in a single breath.

More importantly, Crow.

"How did you know about Crow?"

Kieran took the book back from Bain and gave it to Li Jiajia.

"That day, I saw you descend from the sky and somehow I thought of Crow—rumour has it, a crow's eyes and blood can be used to communicate with the spirits," Li Jiajia told Kieran honestly.

"Then, what about this curse you mentioned?" Kieran continued.

"I'm not that sure either, but there's a voice in my head, telling me to find you, only you can save me," Li Jiajia said, looking blank and confused.

Bain beside her shook his head helplessly.

From his point of view, this 'case' was nothing but a severe case of eighth-grade syndrome in play.

"Voice? What kind of voice? Male or female?" Kieran continued asking.

"It's like a voice that appears out of nowhere, it tells me what I should do. I can't tell whether it's a male or a female, it's weird and a little hoarse, though not disgusting," Li Jiajia answered.

"Really…" Kieran nodded slightly, turning his eyes to an empty spot, and thrusting [Sharp Standard-Issued Blade] into the air.

Grrr! Grrrrr!

Everyone could hear a heavy growl from the air, like there was a ferocious dog in front of them.

"This is it! The curse!" Li Jiajia was frightened and fell on the floor.

Bain, who showed disdain at first, finally took it seriously after he heard the growls, his expression turning heavy.

Compared to Li Jiajia, a little girl who wasn't even an amateur, Bain was much more professional as a Herder.

"Be careful, it's the Hound from the Witchcrafts! They are very strong…"

Bain warned Kieran but before he could finish, he was stunned because he saw a supposedly invisible Hound perforated by [Sharp Standard-Issued Blade].

This Hound was as big as a calf, lacking the timidness of a common canine, its fangs sharp and showing, its eyes green and extremely ferocious.

Even though its body was perforated by the sword, it still tried to bite Kieran.

Kieran twisted his wrist and then the Hound was destroyed into nothing with a bang.

He didn't stop there though, he strode out the restaurant, wielding his sword in a flurry, stabbing and slashing at the air.

With each strike, a Hound was destroyed.

Bain watched with a jaw-dropping look.

Hounds, also known as Witchcraft Hunting Hounds by the Herders, were picked from the witchcraft practitioners from puppies. The selected Hound would consume its siblings from the same mother and then bite its mother to death. The practitioners then used the foul and malicious emotions to create a special follower, not only making it invisible but hiding its presence altogether.

On top of that, Hounds appeared in packs, a common Herder would be in trouble facing a pack of them suddenly.

What kind of enemy was the worst?

The invisible kind!

Among the Herders, Weireist, Harstarty and a certain Bringepeist were advised to stay away from the Hounds. They were the kind of monsters that the Herders should run away from.

In fact, even for Bain, he had no confidence to win against a pack of Hounds without being properly equipped.

Now?

Bain watched Kieran slaughter those Hounds that caused him a headache with precise strikes.

There was no need for support, no need for special technique, his methods were simple, a single strike exchanged for a single Hound.

No! This method was a special technique itself!

Instinct even more fearsome than a beast!

'Did he learn it in the mountains?' Bain wondered.

The joy in his heart was unconcealable.

If his heart was still hurting because he spent 20 Crossing Silver Coins to hire Kieran to participate in the Battle of Winter Night, after this little scene, the pain went away and was replaced by gratitude! He had bet on the right pool!

What Kieran displayed now was far stronger than the last time Bain met him.

Given his current strength, although Bain dare not guarantee a high spot in the whole Battle of Winter Night because it had too many changing variables, he knew it wouldn't be a problem now for them to secure a spot in the Ai City Election!

While Bain was drowning in joy, he saw Kieran walking away from the street in front of the restaurant.

Thoughts popped up in his mind and it turned his face sour.

"The owner of the Hounds is nearby?"

Bain then looked at Li Jiajia, who was still frightened, his gaze changing entirely.

Li Jiajia attracted the Hounds and even the owner was on her trail, so she must be someone special, not just a random Jane Doe.

He pulled out the special communicator and made a call to the other nearby Herders in East Sectors.

Kieran required support and the restaurant required protection, but Bain alone couldn't be at so many places at once.

…

When Li Jiajia entered the restaurant and more than 10 seconds after Bain arrived, Kieran already sensed something chasing Li Jiajia to his permise.

He sensed hostility! Not just to Li Jiajia but also to him!

With his Spirit and Intuition slightly recovered, the familiar support perception returned to Kieran's arsenal.

Although it wasn't as direct as [Tracking], it was still useful in situations like this.

Therefore, Kieran started to take the 'curse' Li Jiajia mentioned seriously.

After destroying Hound after Hound, it proved that being cautious was very important.

If his strength did not recover earlier, it would be an ugly battle fighting these kinds of invisible opponents.

Now it was a lot easier!

Kieran's Intuition told him there was no hostility from the Hounds anymore, so he looked towards the opposite alley—Bloody Mary played its role as scout perfectly.

While the Hounds were identified, Bloody Mary had already searched the area and swiftly located its target.

Kieran strode into the alley. Bloody Mary had used its body to clear the lurking danger in the alley to ensure Kieran's safety.

The target, a white-haired old man with no wrinkles on his face, was standing there.

Kieran was sure the man was old. Maybe his face was wrinkle free but that aged feeling was very obvious. Besides, the man reeked of a rotten smell, like the dirt in a cemetery buried in the dark, never seeing the light of the sun again.

When the old man saw Kieran come in, he showed a smile.

"Royan? You started to gain popularity recently in the East Sector. As Ed Wong's junior, you are much better than he is," the old man said.

Kieran kept quiet, walking closer to the man.

Conversing with his enemy?

Unless his tactic required him to, Kieran would never spare a word.

"Young man, stop! You may be strong but your lack of experience prevents you from judging the situation properly—I am willing to give you this chance! Hand over the 'offering', and I will tell you where Ed Wong is, and of course, you will be rewarded too!"

The old man flipped his hand and revealed a silver ring in his palm.

The thoroughly silver ring had no gemstones embedded on it, only patterns carved around it, forming a twisted dog head at the point where the patterns converged.

"The Hound Ring. I've left three Hounds inside to service you. Unlike the Hounds I sent out earlier, these are the true elites. What do you say?" the old man asked.

Kieran smiled coldly, thrusting the sword in his hand.

He would never believe what his enemy said.

Aside from his shady hiding spot, there was another Hound that smelled different approaching Kieran silently. The old man's flawed words would never buy Kieran's trust.

The old man did not send out the stronger Hound and wanted to initiate a deal here?

Only an idiot would do something like that.

As for the missing Ed Wong?

Ed Wong's disappearance was no longer a secret. It was widely-known on the mystical side, along with the fact that the Herders were searching for him.

Souu!

The sword went straight for the old man's throat.

The old man smiled coldly, wanting to close his palm with the ring in it.

He was originally deceiving Kieran to buy time, and now that his specially trained Hound was ready, words were no longer necessary.

He had absolute confidence in his specially trained hound.

However, right before his palm closed, another translucent palm swept past his own with lightning speed.

The Hound Ring was taken just like that.

"What?!"

The old man widened his eyes in shock, glaring at the sudden appearance of Bloody Mary, but it was the last expression he showed on his face.

Kieran's thrust suddenly accelerated and the tip of the sword perforated the old man's throat.

Even without his skills, Kieran had trained himself in practising and mimicking some simple movements and basic skills. He could still could perform a crude version of his skill [Sword Skill, Fast Sting]!

Although he couldn't achieve the desired effect, acquiring a certain book in speed and attack was absolutely fine.

The old man looked at the sword that perforated his throat.

His wrinkle free face quickly withered and aged like dried orange skin. His eyes even dried out like fish vesicles.

Unwillingness filled his heart, he couldn't just accept defeat!

He had the upper hand, why did he fail in the end?

Regardless, facts couldn't be altered. His life faded away and it stopped the old man from resisting the sword.

Woooooo!

Wooooooooo!

As the Hounds howled, five translucent canine figures that appeared around the old man and jumped on him, pinning him down to the ground.

There were no agonizing screams, the old man's chest expanded several times before it stopped by the worrying from the Hounds.

Even more so when the special Hound behind Kieran, which was as big as a tiger, jumped in and joined the fray, the old man's body was devoured into nothing within seconds.

After they worried about the old man, the Hounds turned around to Kieran.

Kieran had already taken the Hound Ring from Bloody Mary.

All 6 of the Hounds sniffed at Kieran, who held the ring in his hand. At first they were doubtful, but then they seemed to have realized something, every single Hound looking scared and crawling on the ground with a series of whimpers. When they saw Kieran put on the ring, these Hounds wagged their tail and eagerly flew back into the ring on Kieran's left pinky.

[Name: Hound Ring]

[Type: Accessory]

[Rarity: Legendary]

[Attack: Average]

[Defense: Strong]

[Attribute: 1. Hound Dominate; 2. Elite Hound Dominate]

[Effect: Rear]

[Prerequisite: Spirit B]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: This ring is created by a master skilled in witchcraft. At first the creator only wanted to protect his own wealth but as time flew, the true intention of this ring was slowly forgotten.]

…

[Hound Dominate: Dominate five stronger Hounds to serve you. They can understand simple orders. (Every single Hound has Strong attack and Average defense, has Master level Undercover and Invisibility)]

[Elite Hound Dominate: Dominate a single experienced, older Hound to serve you. It can understand more complicated orders and carry it out effectively. (This Hound has Powerful attack and defense, has Pro level Undercover and Invisibility.)]

…

[Rear: Each time you use the Hounds, you should feed them (Can be food or points. The normal Hounds cost 10 Points, the Elite Hound cost 50 Points.]

[Note: Because of your bloodline, the Hounds are suppressed to not ask for any food from you but in order for them to serve you better, you should really feed them.]

…

"Animal's instinct? Not bad," Kieran commented.

The comment wasn't just towards the pack of Hounds, but after acquiring the Hounds, he could do things with more convenience.

More importantly, this ring could be brought out of this dungeon world!

Compared to the other items that he had acquired in this world, none of which could be brought out, Kieran had finally acquired his first true spoil!

Kieran's mood was elevated.

Of course, he did not forget the 'offering' the old man mentioned.

He turned out from the alley and went back to his restaurant.

When he stepped in, Bain had just hung up his communicator.

"It's done?" Bain asked in astonishment.

"Yep," Kieran nodded and looked at Li Jiajia, asking, "Do you know what 'the offering' is?"

Li Jiajia's face turned sour right away.