The Devil’s Cage

Kieran was invited to the empty space beside the tent while Bloody Mary brought the young Apologetics Knight, Gino, inside.

It was not that the Superior Demon didn’t want to arrange a better place for Kieran but throughout the entire camp, only this tent was suitable and appropriate for discussing matters.

As for the rest of the tents, they were filled with mattresses. It was hard to move them in such crowded tents.

In fact, even this spacious tent belonged to the lord of Sicar, and was not the Mist’s—speaking from a certain aspect, the Mist religious sect was much poorer than expected.

“Good afternoon, your Highness.”

The once baroness, now lord of Sicar, Lady Erin Sicar, greeted Kieran in a friendly way.

“Good afternoon, Lord Sicar,” Kieran replied politely.

Both of them then went silent.

Without a mission, Kieran was not a person who would take the initiative to speak first, let alone heat up the atmosphere.

As for the new lord of Sicar?

Who would expect a woman who spent most of her life indoors reading books to be good at socializing?

Hence the silence, but it wasn’t awkward, because Kieran concentrated on checking his own spoils and it made lord Sicar heave a sigh of relief.

Then the lord’s gaze unconsciously spotted the sword in Kieran’s hand.

‘Forged by high quality iron, the blade is broad and the length is a fist longer than normal swords, and those magical markings… a quality item from War God Temple?’

Although the new lord of Sicar wasn’t good at socializing, her vast knowledge granted her outstanding insight.

As a matter of fact, the information that popped up on Kieran’s vision was the same as the lord’s description.

[Name: Glorious Sword (Replica)]

[Type: Weapon]

[Rarity: Above Rare]

[Attack: Strong]

[Attribute: 1. Sharpness; 2. Sword Strike; 3. Praise]

[Effect: None]

[Prerequisite: Have the basic level of belief in God of War]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: No]

[Remark: It is just a replica, its initial intention was to be mass produced but that failed. Still, it has proven to be a rather decent item]

…

[Sharpness: Forged in special iron and branded with mystical markings, its sharpness is enhanced, attack rank +1]

[Sword Strike: Unleash a Strong rank sword aura at a single target within 15 meters effective rage, 3 times per day]

[Praise: When you believe in the God of War, your sword aura will envelope a 5 meter radius. The sword aura has Powerful rank attack. 1 time per 3 days]

…

“Insignificant,” Kieran commented.

If it didn’t have the prerequisite, believe in the God of War, it would be quite the sword.

But it did and it was rendered worthless, let alone being unable to be brought out of this dungeon world.

Items like this would be the best fodder to fill Gluttony’s appetite in Kieran’s point of view, but definitely not now.

“Wait, wait a little longer, it’s not time yet.”

Kieran pacified the drooling Gluttony, his eyes looking at the new lord of Sicar.

Erin Sicar instantly caught his gaze and flushed.

“I am just curious about the sword. I once read about it in a book. Its origin is quite legendary. Rumour has it that it was a token of friendship between Edatine I and his Majesty God of War,” explained Erin Sicar.

Token of friendship?

Kieran reacted in disdain as he gradually grasped over the truth about this dungeon world.

According to Kurtzargert’s memories, a friendship between Edatine I and God of War was impossible, or more accurately, in the earlier stages, both of them were half rival half allies, but as things progressed to a later stage, they had completely become enemies.

As a collaborator to Edatine I, Silent Night Secret Society also once fought War God Temple.

Unfortunately, following Edatine I’s untimely and accidental death, Silent Night Secret Society was forced to retreat and hide in the shadows.

They only came back under the light when the Black Cataclysm broke out and gave birth to Lady Calamity.

Of course, Kieran would never explain all of that to Erin Sicar, all he did was just nod without really commenting on the topic.

Kieran thought his rather cold response would be enough to make Erin Sicar, who wasn’t good at socializing, retreat, but to his surprise, after his nod, Erin Sicar continued to talk on her own.

“You and Simon seem to be cose. May I ask…if… does Simon have a life partner?” stuttered Erin Sicar.

Kieran was shocked. He was utterly shook by the new lord of Sicar, Erin Sicar.

If she was a strong and fierce person during normal times, it wouldn’t be much but for a person who lived most of her life indoors, it was really astonishing, but praiseworthy.

Especially Bloody Mary’s recent performance. All the performances were praiseworthy too, somewhat awardworthy.

Therefore—

“No, he is always alone,” Kieran said in a firm tone.

He wasn’t lying, Simon was really alone all the time.

“This is great,” Erin Sicar cheered joyfully.

Kieran’s attention didn’t linger on the joyful lady anymore, looking towards the entrance of the camp.

That Priest Termino was standing in front of another elderly with utmost respect and politeness.

The elderly was wearing gunny clothes, like the civilians around him, somehow looking even shabbier. He didn’t even have a coat over him and the shoes he wore were rather common.

His face was also very similar to many people on the streets, but when the priest of War God Temple bowed to such a man, everything became different.

More importantly, seeing the elderly’s eyes and gaze, anyone who looked at him would shudder in fear. It was a gaze unique to the higher-ups and powerful people, a gaze that could decide life and death with a single blink.

None of the guards from Edatine palace who were on guard duties at the entrance dared to look at the elderly. Even the members of the Mist religious sect endured the pressure and fear by repeating the Mist’s name in their hearts, only then could they look at the man.

But soon enough, every single one of them cried and faltered back. Even Rogart couldn’t hold on, but the bear-like young man clenched his teeth strongly and tried his best to not take a step back.

The elderly’s eyes showed a sense of praise, then it was replaced by a muddled gaze, like every other elderly else.

“I am the bishop in council of War God Temple, Mortor, I wish to meet Bishop Simon,” the elderly introduced himself and stated the intention of his arrival.

“My lord is having a meeting with his guest,” the words were harsh and unfriendly, Rogart didn’t even have the intention to invite Mortor into the camp.

War God Temple wasn’t an ally to the Mist, they were considered an enemy from some aspects.

So no courtesy was needed when facing an enemy.

If Rogart didn’t know he wasn’t a match, he would have swung his battleaxe and fought the elderly bishop to the end. Still, it didn’t stop him from being cautious. He held his battleaxe tightly as he looked at Mortor.

Mortor wasn’t overly concerned about Rogart’s attitude, he was just a rather decent young man.

Mortor had seen many young men like Rogart, there were also many younglings back at War God Temple, so it wasn’t worth his concerns at all.

It wasn’t just because these young men would take a long time to grow into shape, it was also because no matter how strong they grew, they would never be his match.

Blowing or squeezing someone to death with his palm was not much of a difference to this bishop in council.

On the contrary… Mortor looked at Kieran who sat further away, his muddled eyes gleaming all of a sudden.

The heir to Edatine’s throne and Snake Sect.

Such an existence was a mistake by itself, he shouldn’t exist, but Sean had failed and made a huge mistake in the process.

Sensing the grudgeful gaze of Reedral and Valentine, the nobles of the orthodox party, the bishop in council couldn’t help but sigh.

He thought Sean was a capable candidate but he had turned out to be just an opportunist.

With such a comment lingering in his mind, Mortor looked towards that tent.

Thick curtains coupled with defensive mystical spells prevented him from seeing the situation inside or hear the conversation that was going on.

It raised Mortor’s curiosity.

The information from Edatine palace was much more important than he imagined.

Etorin’s head indeed held an ulterior truth, even Gino could be a special one.

As for Sean’s comments towards Gino?

Just look at what Sean did, his comments were bound to be unfair or shaded by some other matters.

Sean’s heart might have been corrupted by the desires of acquiring power within his reach, never objectively viewing and handling certain matters.

Then, Mortor’s doubts circled back to its starting point.

What did Gino find out?

Seconds turned into minutes.

Following Mortor’s arrival, the whole Mist religious sect felt extremely pressured and oppressed, especially Sivalka, the ex-armed deacon. He even hid in the crowd and dared not show his face.

Only Kieran reacted normally, which made Monte, who stood beside him, sigh in relief.

He hoped that the prince would not have to lower his head in front of War God Temple.

Of course, when one hasn’t fully developed, one should be too stubborn or hard, advancing with vigor and tenderness.

‘As expected, there is still much to be done in my mission!’

While the vassal was exclaiming by himself, the people in the tent finally walked out.

Simon, or Bloody Mary, looked stern, but young Gino looked relieved.

Mortor was also relieved with their appearance because Gino straightened his body and bowed respectfully when the young man saw him.

Mortor smiled and raised his hand, signalling Gino to be at ease before he looked to Simon.

“Please,” Bloody Mary said with its signature kind look, inviting Mortor into the tent.

Mortor then entered the tent as per the invitation.

“Can I know what happened here?” Mortor asked straight away after he entered the tent.

Given his current status, he barely had to do things the inconspicuous way.

As the ambassador of his Majesty God of War, from his perspective, everything was merely a negotiation, the only difference was the number of bargaining chips.

However, to the bishop in council’s surprise, Simon did not raise the price or demand an exorbitant price. Instead, he nodded.

“Sure.”

When Bloody Mary saw the doubts in Mortor, it couldn’t help but show a bitter smile. It said “To be honest, even if you didn’t come all the way here today, I still would have paid you a visit.”

“Why?” Mortor raised a confused brow, realizing things might be more complicated than he expected.

“Because we now have a common enemy, an enemy hidden in the dark, instigating and bewitching our people! He controls over trickery, schemes, and destruction! He brought chaos upon the realm! He is the culprit behind Black Cataclysm and everything that comes after!” said Bloody Mary word by word.

With each word that entered Mortor’s ears, his brows would furrow harder.

When Bloody Mary finished its revelation, the bishop in council repeatedly shook his head.

“Impossible! It’s impossible! If there is an existence like this, how come his Majesty never realized it?” Mortor argued.

“Did you know about my lord, the Mist? If we didn’t stand out on our own, would you have noticed us? What about Lady Calamity? If it wasn’t the plague that broke out, would you have noticed her?” Bloody Mary asked.

These questions were not really ‘questions’ to Bloody Mary, it had prepared for this for a long time. It wasn’t worried about people asking, it was worried about people NOT asking.

As long as people asked, it had the confidence to drag the one who asked to its own pace.

As a matter of fact, it managed to do so.

Mortor raised a brow and stopped arguing with Bloody Mary.

Bloody Mary seized the window and continued, “Before this, we have reached an accord with Silent Night Secret Society. They are now our ally, we have formed an alliance. We have also started to search for that bastard’s emissary.”

“What?! You and Silent Night Secret Society had reached an accord?”

Mortor was stunned when the secret information was revealed to him.

The bishop in council looked at Bloody Mary with disbelief.

Silent Night Secret Society and the Demon Hunters were arch enemies, and the Mist religious sect had a close relationship with the Demon Hunters. They wouldn’t have given up on their original ally under any circumstances.

More so, said ally was standing outside, so it was obvious that both of them were close.

Unless… there really was some formidable foe in the dark.

As for it being a lie?

Mortor didn’t think Bloody Mary would use these kind of weak lies to try and deceive him, but for the sake of safety, he still said, “I want to ask his Highness Colin myself.”

“Of course,” Bloody Mary nodded.

Kieran had been waiting for a long time, coming into the tent.

“Prince Colin, do you know that the Mist religious sect and Silent Night Secret Society have formed an alliance?” Mortor asked politely.

Not even him, the emissary of God of War, dared to be careless in front of the heir to Edatine’s throne and Snake Sect.

“Yes, I am the one who suggested the alliance,” said Kieran.

“The lunch back then?” Mortor had obviously clung onto some clues.

When he heard no answer from Kieran, only a nod, utter astonishment rose from the bottom of Mortor’s heart.

Do note that the young man represented Edatine royal court and Snake Sect, and now he suggested an alliance. It would mean that Edatine royal court and Snake Sect were on board the alliance too.

Which meant, other than War God Temple, all the forces in the Northern Lands had came together.

No! They didn’t just come together now! It should be when Edatine VI sent his son to the Snake Sect Demon Hunters, a seed that was planted and had started to sprout.

“Is that ‘him’ so scary?” Mortor asked.

Kieran had no intention of answering.

Bloody Mary sighed. “Is God of War powerful?”

Its question rendered Mortor utterly speechless.

…

The discussion in the tent went on for a long time.

When the sky turned dark, only Mortor came out with a heavy look.

“Lord bishop,” Gino, who waited for a long time, came over.

“Son, you’ve done well. Thankfully you noticed something was wrong with Sean. Otherwise we might all have to sustain an unimaginable loss. What do you want? You should be rewarded,”

Mortor looked at Gino with a kind gaze.

“I want to learn more and further my training in swordsmanship, only then can I protect the cathedral.” said Gino. He sounded sincere and brazen.

Mortor looked at the sincere young man, nodding.

“I will give you what you deserve,” said Mortor. He then glanced over the [Glorious Sword] at young Gino’s waist.

Before Mortor could ask, the young Gino said, “This is a reward from Prince Colin, he said it’s a token of gratitude for my courage.”

The young Gino then removed the sword with its sheath and went to pass it to Mortor.

“No, son. This is your gift.” Mortor waved his hands.

He wasn’t moved by a mere replica. He had seen the real sword before, what was a replica to him?

With that thought in mind, the bishop in council took his attention off the replica.

He had more important things to do: seek advice from his God.

Kieran stood in the shadow, watching as Mortor left, his lips curling into a grin.

Were his things so easily taken away? Even if it was something that he didn’t need.