The Devil’s Cage

Kieran’s intonation wasn’t high, it habitually had coldness with it, but his words shook all 14 of the southern councilmen at once.

Even Eindefern, the leader in name of the 14 southern councilmen, couldn’t escape the shudders.

The southern councilman, who was always kind with his tone, couldn’t help but inhale deeply to calm his surging heart.

“He…Are you sure it’s a ‘he’?”

The kindness in Eindefern’s usual tone was absent, all that was left was strictness and heaviness.

Kieran didn’t say anything though, he glanced over Eindefern and remained quiet.

Eindefern was stunned once more, then he quickly responded.

His question was terrible!

It didn’t just expose his ignorance towards that unknown existence, it even exposed that the southern councilmen never truly understood the situation in Edatine Castle.

It was without a doubt that they were currently in the passive.

The worse thing was, the other councilmen would not share the consequences of his mistake, and as a matter of fact, it indeed happened as such.

The other councilmen who also just realized the stupidity of the question were looking at him with a disappointed and blaming gaze.

‘A bunch of hypocrite bastards!’ cursed Eindefern in his head before he sighed softly.

Too careless! The appearance of a new God seemed to mess up his plans.

However, as the top councilmen of the southern bunch, Eindefern swiftly regained his calm.

“Your Highness, what do you seek?” Eindefern asked.

“Information about a God, what do you think I can trade for, Councilman Eindefern?” Kieran asked back.

Any information regarding a God had extremely high value, it could even be considered as priceless treasure from a certain aspect.

Normal Gold Purton could never be used as a negotiation chip on the table, it must be at least a Rare rank magical equipment to be fitting, and because of this, Eindefern was placed in a difficult situation.

A Rare rank magical equipment wasn’t some cabbage that could be bought in the market. He too would feel heartache should he give out a little too much.

But giving too less? It was impossible for him to exchange that amount for the information that he sought.

Therefore, after some hesitation, Eindefern said, “Prince Colin, can we discuss it for a while?”

“Go ahead”, Kieran nodded.

Right after that, the 14 southern councilmens’ projection images fell into some kind of stagnant state. Kurtzargert’s projection image looked even uglier and sour.

It seemed like following the exposed clues about them falling into turmoil, plus the ‘understanding’ of Edatine Castle, the southern councilmen had chosen to completely break up.

Monte looked at Kurtzargert’s projection image, his eyes couldn’t help but turn white.

“Sir Kurtzargert, sometimes, fighting alone doesn’t mean you are the hero,” the vassal had ulterior meaning behind his words.

Kurtzargert glanced over the vassal in silence and then shut his eyes.

Deep down inside, the Superior Demon gave a big thumbs up to Monte.

NICE!

It was actually figuring out how it could subtly get on the same page as his boss without arousing suspicion, then the vassal spoke.

If it wasn’t disguised as Kurtzargert at the moment but Edatine VI, it would surely praise the vassal with utmost delight, saying that the vassal understood itself very well.

Anderson the old Demon Hunter at a side did not care about all of those.

The old Demon Hunter had zero interest and fondness towards Silent Night Secret Society and all he cared about at the moment was that ‘him’.

Anderson looked at Kieran.

Kieran pointed at the projection images of the 14 southern councilmen. The old Demon Hunter immediately nodded and waited patiently.

Neither Kieran nor Anderson worried that the 14 southern councilmen would reject it. It was related to a ‘God’ in such a close range after all, not a single organization would reject it, let alone the likes of Silent Night Secret Society.

…

Back in the secret communication formation, all 14 southern councilmen, except Eindefern, looked at each other without any of them speaking first.

The situation at hand was utterly obvious.

The heir of Snake Sect and the throne would never easily reveal information about that ‘God’ to them, they must somehow pay a great cost to get it.

However, they had just amassed 280 true magical items and equipment and didn’t want to fork out another lump sum.

Therefore, after exchanging gazes with each other, they shifted their gazes to Eindefern.

Even though Eindefern had just paid the extras in the compensation of 280 true magical equipment and items, it didn’t stop them from hoping that Eindefern would pay more this time as well.

Do note that he occupied the wealthiest Qitar Bay in the south.

Other businesses aside, the slave trading alone was enough to let him swim in his own wealth.

Eindefern felt the questioning gazes from his allies and couldn’t help but show a heavy look.

“What is the meaning of this? Am I supposed to continue to pay the extras?” Eindefern said in an upset tone.

“Shouldn’t you? Eindefern, you occupied Qitar Bay, your annual income alone is almost twice as much as all our combined income!” said the hot-tempered councilman.

“That’s right.”

“If I occupied Qitar bay, I’d bear the cost of getting the information this time.”

“Yeah.”

“Compared to Qitar Bay’s income, what’s a trading cost to you?”

The other councilmen added their comments and nodded in agreement.

Among them were several councilmen who seemed to be in agreement but were actually at odds and were giving Eindefern a hard time.

Every single one of them were jealous of Eindefern occupying Qitar Bay for himself.

Qitar Bay didn’t just represent Gold Purton, it even represented… the population!

From a certain aspect, the latter was much more concerning to the councilmen.

Huu, huu, huu!

Eindefern couldn’t help but breath heavily.

If everyone before him weren’t just projection images, he’d teach these hypocrite bastards a lesson that sometimes dying is better than staying alive.

Qitar Bay had the envious income and population, but it was all because of his blood and sweat throughout the years, it wasn’t built overnight.

From a small fishing village to a major port that housed many exports and imports, Eindefern had poured unimaginable effort into it. He was busy for almost a decade just making his turf flourish. Now, when everything was at its peak, the others were jealous because of his hard work?

What happened back then?

He never forgot the mockery and laughter he got from them.

‘Damn bastard! When all this is over, all of you will meet your end!’

Killer intents were boiling in Eindefern’s heart, but he remained calm on the outside.

“I can bear the cost of this trading, but… the content of the information will be made known to me alone,” said Eindefern.

“What do you mean, Eindefern? Have you forgotten that we are a union?”

The other councilmen retorted loudly.

Eindefern didn’t care, he chuckled coldly, “Since you know that we are in a union, then what was all that about? Since all of you want me to pay the bigger portion, of course I would get the bigger share of the gains. If any of you want to know the content of the information, show me some sincerity, or else…”

Eindefern did not finish, but his intention was obvious.

For a moment, all the councilmen plunged into silence.

….

This time around, the wait was long.

Three minutes later, the vassal brought a chair over for Kieran.

“Your Highness, please sit. You are really wise, a simple word and you are able to cause an internal conflict among them. I think they are eager to choke each others’ necks,” said the vassal softly.

“They are originally a temporary union. There’s no family, no friends, not even a clear view of the gains. It’s only a matter of time before they crumble,” Kieran sat down and conveniently replied.

He had to admit that Monte was a person who read the atmosphere well, as he listened to Kieran while Kieran was sitting down, went over to the table, and grabbed a cup of tea for Kieran.

Bloody Mary looked at Monte, who acted like a suck up, quietly raising a brow with a mocking gaze.

‘Trying to move the boss with such attentive actions? Naive!

Only doing things without complaint can truly win over boss’ fondness, like me!’

Then, it contacted its boss through the power of the contract.

“Boss, the specialty of this restaurant is venison stew and antler soup, I’ve ordered them to prepare the dish. After the mission here is over, you will be able to taste it.”

“What about War God Temple?”

“Don’t worry boss, I’ve got it all sorted out. Those guys are in for an unforgettable encounter!”

Through the power of the contract, Bloody Mary communicated with its boss and its eyes on Monte grew even more disdainful.

‘Getting close on the surface is never going to triumph our bonds on the soul level!’

Monte seemed to have noticed the disdain from Bloody Mary, but he didn’t care.

He had no less of those gazes in the past.

The officials, ministers in the palace, the leaders of noble families, the knights, the guardians, almost everyone that he knew of looked at him with disdain. Even some common maidens would show similar gazes at times, but he didn’t care!

So what if he was a clown? So what if he was a suck up?

Was he not capable enough? No!

It’s just that he hadn’t been in a position where he could bring out his potential and be useful.

Now, he would soon become the honorary minister! He would make others look at him differently!

He would make the future king an even wiser king than Edatine VI!

Those who once looked down at him would be in awe and envy!

With an ambition of becoming a capable honorary minister that could help the future king, Monte served Kieran with even more respect and politeness. He took an apple, skinned it without his fingers touching the meat and placed it into Kieran’s hands. Same went for the other fruit and food.

After Kieran ate a quarter of the food on the table, the stagnant projection images finally returned to normal.

“Sorry to make you wait, your Highness,” Eindefern apologized.

Although he returned to his friendly and kind tone, Kieran sharply sensed the cold confrontation between the southern councilmen.

It seemed like their private conversation that happened just now did not end on a happy note.

“So what have you decided? What are you using to trade with the information?” Kieran asked with a wave of hand.

“We will offer a part of the Rare rank magical equipment and items plus some ‘pagan remnants’,” Eindefern replied.

“How much is a ‘part’? And the pagan remnants… Are you joking with me?”

As he spoke, Kieran leaned forward and a sense of coldness appeared in his eyes.

The calm atmosphere instantly became keen, as if the air was filled with blades, slowly moving towards the enemies’ throat.

Due to his identity and status, Monte did not have access to all the information regarding the pagan remnant, but it didn’t stop him, who had sworn to become Kieran’s honorary minister, to do what he had to do.

A flintlock pistol appeared in Monte’s hand. The muzzle was small, it wasn’t for killing but to convey a message.

“I do hope that Councilman Eindefern can give his Highness a reasonable explanation. Otherwise, you and the others will know why the pride and prestige of the heir of Snake Sect and the throne should not be insulted.”

Monte stood beside Kieran, chuckling, his mouth slightly wide, baring his rotten teeth, like a ferocious hound protecting his master, ready to chew on any hostile.

“Please don’t take us wrongly, Prince Colin, we don’t mean any hostility. In order to compensate you, we have given a great cost and now buying the information from you… each and every one of our savings has reached the bottom. A Rare rank magical item or equipment isn’t something that you can buy in the market after all, it’s not a common thing.”

The others did not speak at all, only Eindefern spoke on their behalf.

Kieran seemed to have acknowledged Eindefern’s explanation, he nodded slightly, but his tone was still harsh.

“What you say might be the truth but it doesn’t mean I understand. Don’t you know what a pagan remnant is? Or you are testing the intelligence system of the Snake Sect and Edatine royal court?”

Kieran’s last words became sharp and fierce. Monte beside him quickly raised the signal pistol. It seemed like all it took was a glance from Kieran and he would fire the pistol.

“Of course not! Maybe these pagan remnants have some consequences that are worth taking note of but it won’t be an issue to his Majesty, Mist!” Eindefern smiled, attempting to ease the atmosphere.

“Can you guarantee that the pagan remnants that you provide are the very first batch? If you can, I don’t need the Rare rank magical item, I only need the pagan remnants, 10 will be enough.”

Kieran was no longer a newbie in this dungeon world, he already knew many things about the rules of this special dungeon world.

Pagans preyed on each other, but other than the first batch of pagans who got the greatest benefits, which granted them zero consequences, the pagan remnants who grew on devouring others would more or less have some side effects with them.

The pagans of this world didn’t possess the digesting capability of Gluttony after all.

In fact, if it was possible, Kieran wouldn’t mind getting more pagan remnants, but he would never reveal his trump card.

It was time to shed the wool after all!

“The first batch of pagan remnants, even with all of us combined, we have never seen 10 of them. We are willing to make it up to your Highness with 30 Rare rank magical items and equipment and the same amount of pagan remnants,” Eindefern smiled bitterly as he voiced his offer.

“30? Too few. At least 50. You can also subtract the number of pagan remnants appropriately,” Kieran shook his head.

“30 Rare rank magical items and equipment are our limit, but we can offer you up to 50 pagan remnants,” the bitterness in Eindefern’s smile grew heavier.

30 Rare rank magical items and equipment were of course not their limits, but it would be ideal to lower their cost as much as possible during the negotiation.

They had even figured out a way to ‘discuss’ with the heir of Snake Sect and the throne.

The other southern councilmen were ready for a long lasting battle.

However, Eindefern and the other councilmen were in for a shock. After the first offer, the heir of Snake Sect and the throne stopped, looking at them coldly.

His gaze felt like he was looking at some wealthy animal.

“Fools. You are beyond redemption. Wait for your end then.”

Kieran then stood up and walked out of the restaurant.