The Devil’s Cage

“Wait!”

“I need to speak with you!”

Wier rushed out of the hotel and shouted at the black figure further away, but Kieran didn’t even care.

Instead, he walked even faster. A blink of an eye later, Kieran vanished at the end of the street.

Wier sighed helplessly again. He didn’t search for or chase after Kieran.

Although given his command in Eiders, it wasn’t hard for him to achieve it, he knew even if he located Kieran, he wouldn’t make any real progress.

Kieran’s personality tied the veteran consultant’s hand.

Despite him already knowing when a Monster Hunter was involved, trouble would follow. However, he never thought the problem would exceed his expectations.

Sighing, Wier turned away and left.

However, the scene entered the sights of many. All of them took note of the details and sent reports to their superiors and bosses.

Cook was one of them.

While smoking his cigar, Cook allowed the smoke to cover his face, he liked the smell of cigars, just like how he loved the smell of money.

As the biggest ‘gold and ancient coin merchant’ in Eiders, Cook was undoubtedly one of the most influential people in the underground world.

Huu!

Cook took a deep puff from his cigar. When the cigar taste exploded in his throat, he spat it all out.

The cherry taste in the air around him instantly got heavier.

“Monster Hunter? What do you think?”

Cook sitting in his chair, asked without turning back.

“A hateful person. Not just personality-wise, but the way he takes action as well.”

“His existence will only affect our plan,” a heavy voice from the shadow replied.

“So do you have the confidence to kill him?”

Another puff from his cigar later, Cook asked while spitting the smoke out.

“Certainly,” the man in the shadow replied.

“Very good. But, don’t worry, I won’t order you to strike just yet, you still have great use later.”

“Someone has already made a move against this Mr. Monster Hunter. Hmmm… I hope both of them perish together.”

Cook seemed to think of something interesting, he couldn’t hold back his wide grin. His meaty cheeks twitched several times following his smile, his already small eyes squinted into a single line.

The man in the shadows didn’t further reply. He knew Cook’s habits.

If Cook wanted to tell him, he would tell him; if Cook didn’t want to, it was best for him not to ask.

Otherwise, he would get on Cook’s bad side.

But in his heart, the man in the shadows was quite curious.

Who was making a move against the Monster Hunter?

Based on the strength the Monster Hunter displayed, he wasn’t some John Doe that could be taken out quickly. Should any mistakes happen… Tsk Tsk… Aemon Street was the most obvious example.

The man in the shadows thought of Aemon Street, and so did Cook.

“What do you think about the Blood Kins’ kitchen?”

“Who caused that?” Cook asked.

The man in the shadows, of course, knew Cook was referring to the missing Blood Kin in the ruins of Aemon Street last night.

The incident last night was actually very secretive, but once morning came, any faction that had a ‘decent relationship’ with the few missing Blood Kin would know, including Cook and company.

The Blood Kin would protect their extended lineage with far more effort than a commoner could imagine—at least it was what it looked like on the surface.

When they could kill their enemies, they would not show mercy, just like a wild beast hunting prey.

When the man in the shadows thought of the news they received this morning, he couldn’t hold back his cold laughter.

He knew what the news about was.

It was nothing more than the Blood Kin trying to repair their damaged ‘dignity’ while attempting to prove Aemon Street was an independent case.

With his own thoughts lingering in his mind, the man in the shadows spoke, “It’s definitely not the Monster Hunter. Given his methods, he has no need to be so secretive and conceal his actions.”

“It’s not Wier either, he can barely take care of himself now.”

“There is a high chance is that… it was committed by one of the Blood Kin, one of their own!”

“They needed the incident to redeem their name.” The man in the shadows said in a positive tone.

“Mm.” Cook nodded and agreed to his subordinate’s speculations.

Cook, whose body had reached the pinnacle of fat, suddenly thought of something. He smiled again and stood up from his chair, walked over to the shadow like a polar bear approaching.

He whispered something to the shadow.

“Yes, my lord.”

The man in the shadow replied immediately after Cook’s whisper. He then swiftly vanished.

After knowing that his best right-hand man had left, Cook with his cigar, slowly walked towards the room next door, which was off-limits.

Inside the room, it wasn’t as extravagant and secretive as rumored, all it had was a map of Eiders.

A complete, detailed map with every single house address and shop name.

Cook caressed the map while looking greedy.

“Soon, soon.’”

“Soon, everything will be mine,” Cook muttered to himself.

…

The young Blood Kin that delivered the news this morning was running back to its lair, trying to report back to his leader.

“Lord Marquis, that is all.”

“They or ‘they’ also said that it wasn’t their doing.”

The young Blood Kin didn’t voice his opinion.

From its viewpoint, it was all the enemy’s cover-up, but more importantly, it knew even if it noticed some clues, the clues had to come out from its house leader.

Erbus. K, the house leader of House of K. Its face was flushed, unlike the healthy Blood Kin’s paleness. Its hair was also different from the other: long black hair combed tidily backward and was tied into a ponytail behind its head. It was wearing a gold frame glasses and based on the looks itself, it looked more like a kind middle-aged man if he wasn’t holding the glass of blood in his hand.

“Mm. Noted. Proceed according to plan,” Erbus. K said softly.

“Yes, Lord Marquis.”

The young Blood Kin bowed and swiftly left.

Erbus. K was left alone. It was trying to savor the blood in its glass, but a moment later, it drained it all in a single gulp and simply threw the glass on its table before it walked deeper into its lair.

Going through a secret passage, Erbus. K somehow left the lair without gods or men knowing. He then walked toward a secret hideout slightly further away from the lair.

Dok Dok Dok.

Erbus. K knocked on the door politely.

The door was slowly opened, Kieran walked out from the hideout, or more precisely…

High Demon, Bloody Mary.