The Devil's Cage

Panda Novel

Rage!

Never before felt rage rose in the illusory figure’s heart after it heard what Kieran had said, it was eager to tear Kieran into pieces but Gluttony who pinned it down reminded it of the situation.

Though, it didn’t mean the illusory figure would do nothing.

Similar to most people, when the body couldn’t move, words became their only weapon.

“You came for that thing! And if you kill me, you will never get it! Because…”

“Because you are a creation of that ‘thing’?”

Kieran interrupted the illusory figure before it could finish.

“How did you know?!” the figure cried on shock.

It was surprised by Kieran once earlier but it was nothing compared to this secret, because it was its biggest one yet.

“It’s simple actually.”

“You know the myth of the cafeteria and kept using it to your benefit, and yet not once did you use this legendary technique.”

“So there are only two possible explanations.”

“One, you didn’t find the legendary technique.”

“Two, you are a derivative product of the technique.”

“And you just admitted you are the second possibility,” Kieran said calmly.

“YOU DECEIVED ME?!”

The figure shouted angrily, it had never encountered such a cunning human before.

Sufficient amounts of rage made it forget the situation, so Kieran gave a friendly reminder.

“Aaaaargh! Get off me! Stop this monster at once!”

“I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you everything! Get it off me!”

The illusory figure begged and cried in agony, but unlike previous times, Kieran didn’t stop Gluttony anymore.

He had gotten the information he wanted, the phantom-like figure was useless now.

The only pitiful thing was… the illusory door.

There was a high chance that the door was connected straight to the figure’s stomach but Kieran’s burning curiosity really wanted to know what was behind it. Unfortunately, his trusty undying assistant wasn’t here and using another assistant without sufficient potential gains was unwise from Kieran’s point of view. Hence, he watched the illusory figure gradually disappear with the door.

Ding

After the illusory figure vanished, a thumb-size red crystal appeared on the floor, Kieran picked it up quickly before Gluttony managed to lick it.

[Name: Inheritance Crystal (Damage)]

[Type: Wonder Item]

[Rarity: Above Legendary]

[Attack: None]

[Defense: Extreme]

[Attribute: ???]

[Effect: ???]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes[

[Remark: It is a unique item in this world. It is the lifelong work forged out of blood and sweat of a legendary chef but unfortunately, the passing of time and some accidents damaged it. Still, the recorded content was not affected. You need a High Receiver to read the knowledge within.]

…

Kieran wasn’t all surprised by the appearance of the [Inheritance Crystal].

Whether was it the appearance or the damaged state, all were within Kieran’s expectations.

Whenever a human died, a body would remain; when a phantom died, something would drop as well and there was a high chance the drop would be the host that gave birth to the phantom.

The phantom’s rather sorry behavior didn’t seem to fit the legendary item’s status, therefore the chances of the legendary item being damaged skyrocketed.

Didn’t the phantom say Kieran would never get the item if he killed it?

How naive would a person have to be to believe what the enemy said?

At least not Kieran.

Shortly after that, clear footsteps were heard and Eiderburgh jumped through the hole in the ceiling.

“I knew it would be you! I’ve just granted you access to the cafeteria and…. Huh? Inheritance Crystal?!”

“You found it?!”

Before Eiderburgh finished his angry rants, he stopped abruptly and widened his eyes in disbelief at the red crystal in Kieran’s hand—he asked out of shock.

“How did you find it?”

“No, that’s not right! You knew it was here?”

Eiderbrugh said instinctively but he quickly shook his head because it was impossible!

No one would leave the Inheritance Crystal alone and not take it out after knowing its location, it wasn’t possible for one to keep it for others, not even his own blood.

What if someone else found it? No one could guarantee the crystal was absolutely safe from other people’s hands, and if losing the Inheritance Crystal because of hesitance and wait, one could really cry until the tears dried up.

“Can you tell me how you found it?”

Eiderburgh tried to cover his embarrassment and asked with a curious look.

He knew what stupid things he had said before he asked his question and if it was during other times, he would leave abruptly in order to avoid the embarrassment caused by his own mistakes, but he couldn’t do it now in front of the crystal.

It was simple because when Eiderburgh first got promoted to Head Chef, he’d search for the crystal out of curiosity, he truly searched the cafeteria inch-by-inch, not even a single thread slipped past him, but he got nothing.

If he hadn’t verified the validity of the myth, he would have treated it as another urban myth falsely spread around the campus

“Do you have a High Receiver?” Kieran avoided the question and asked his, and Eiderburgh picked up the meaning right away.

“Hey, hey hey, this is blackmail! You know? Blackmail? I’m just trying to satisfy my curiosity and you…”

Eiderburgh ranted loudly, his eyes showed dissatisfaction but unfortunately, Kieran didn’t care. Before Eiderburgh could argue further, Kieran jumped down the hole back to the banquet hall.

Curiosity kills the cat, and it rendered one sleepless.

Kieran didn’t believe that Eiderburgh, as the Head Chef, had no interest in the legendary item hidden under his sight. The reason why Eiderburgh told him about the myth so frankly was that he couldn’t find it after all those efforts.

Eiderburgh would never think the thing that he was searching for had transcended above a simple ‘thing’. Intellect and consciousness manifested from the crystal and it gradually became something similar to a phantom or an urban myth.

Even though the phantom wasn’t smart enough, it knew a school professor was not to be messed with, hence it picked singled out students as its target.

Plus the cafeteria beheader story as a cover, everything seemed flawless.

And just like Kieran’s expectation…

“Wait!”

After Kieran went out of the banquet hall and was just about to go down, Eiderburgh chased out with a displeased yet helpless look.

“I don’t have a High Receiver but I know who has one and I can tell him to lend it to you.”

“But the cost…”

“You pay!” Kieran said quickly.

Eiderburgh clenched his fist, if it wasn’t against his position, and him possibly not being a match for Kieran, Eiderburgh would have taught Kieran a lesson.

“I’ll pay half the cost!” Such words were squeezed through the seams of his teeth.

“All!” Kieran shook his head.

“60%! Eiderburgh compromised.

“ALL!” Kieran wasn’t moved.

“65%! Nothing more than that, I… WAIT!”

Kieran turned away when Eiderburgh tried to negotiate further.

This negotiation was one-sided in the first place, it was meaningless to argue further since the outcome has been decided. Anymore struggle was just wasting time and Kieran disliked people who waste his time.

He couldn’t really force others to compromise but at least he could save himself from wasting time.

“Fine, fine! I agree! You really have a heart of steel!”

Eiderburgh gave up his struggle and compromised when Kieran chose to leave without a second thought.

The cost of the High Receiver was equal to six months of Eiderburgh’s salary.

“The top and bottom are the same,” Kieran said the key point after Eiderburgh agreed.

“The top and bottom are the same?”

Eiderburgh was astounded by the revelation, he quickly thought about the hole in the ceiling, he muttered to himself, “It’s that simple?”

“Yes, it’s that simple,” Kieran nodded.

Anything magical would seem normal after the key point was exposed, similar to magic tricks.

Before it was exposed, everything seemed so magical.

Eiderburgh knew it very well, so he didn’t back away from his promise.

“Meet me here tomorrow at 8 in the morning. I’ll bring you to Professor Smith.”

“Only he has a High Receiver in all of E Block.” Eiderburgh then returned to his office.

Even though he had grasped the key point, Eiderburgh had more research to do.

Kieran didn’t linger either, he walked back to his dorm. He wasn’t fast or slow as he strolled along the little path, his speed was enough for the stalker to keep up and yet less detectable.

When Kieran entered a thick bush of green, the stalker finally made a move.

After a rather spicy mist shrouded the surroundings, a figure stood before Kieran.

“You think you will be fine after killing Sil Sect’s men? Hand over the Inheritance Crystal if you… UGH!”

Kak!

Before the figure finished, Kieran already knew what was his purpose and as he walked past the figure, Kieran broke his neck.

Sil Sect, the sect that attacked him last night should be an organization hired by Derton.

Kieran temporarily had very few thoughts about this sect, the only impression he had was mobile items and equipment, just like what he got now.

A orange glowing ping-pong ball dropped from the man.

[Name: Paralyze Ball]

[Item: Wonder Item]

[Rarity: Rare]

[Attack: Weak]

[Attribute: Numbing Wind, 1/1]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: Is it a basic ancillary weapon of Sil Sect.]

…

[Paralyze Wind: Throw the ball out to create a mist that covers 15 meters in radius. Constitution lower than A rank will be paralyzed for 3 – 6 seconds (Exact duration depends on Constitution)]

…

Kieran kept the [Paralyze Ball] and turned to a shadowy spot beside him.

A few seconds later, the shadow started to wobble and a man wrapped in black walked out.

“I don’t mean any harm!”

“I’m Oger. I am here on behalf of Delicacy Society to invite you to join us!”

The man raised his hands up after he removed his mask with his right hand; his face was young and handsome.

“Delicacy Society?” Kieran raised a puzzled brow.

It was the first time he heard the term.

“We aren’t recognized by the school, we are like an underground society but please do not worry, we have our own base and will provide you with relevant benefits.”

“Of course, we aren’t forcing you to join us but if you do, you will be rewarded with unexpected gains.” Oger tried to be as courteous and as respectful as possible as he delivered the message.

Oger had started to regret picking this seemingly easy assignment. After witnessing what happened just now, Oger had listed Kieran on the list of people that he could never cross.

The slightest disagreement will result in conflict.

His ruthelessness even surpassed those 4th and 5th-year students who were known for their fierceness; those students didn’t possess such ridiculous power either.

Not everyone could simply neglect Sil Sect’s Paralyze Wind.

Oger did because of his special ability and two rare items but Kieran was different, Oger could tell Kieran simply neglected Paralyze Wind with his body.

After the deduction came up in his mind, Oger became more careful.

“Like what?” Kieran was interested when he heard gains and benefits.

“Intel! We have a lot of top-secret intel! And food! As long as one completes a corresponding task, one can get corresponding food!”

Oger said energetically after he heard Kieran’s question, he thought he had a chance to complete his assignment.

“Is there a Proper Meal class or anything above?” Kieran asked.

“Uh…This… We have… but…” Oger withered right away.

Proper Meal class food wasn’t some random cabbage, how could one simply get their hands on something that rare?

If his target was someone else, Oger might try to bluff his way out but he dared not in front of Kieran, hence he stuttered.

Kieran shook his head when he saw Oger stuttered.

It seemed like the so-called Delicacy Society could barely get their hands on a Proper Meal class food, let alone above that.

Kieran could even imagine the bunch of people in said society fighting over a single Bento class.

Kieran had zero interest in joining such a useless society.

He walked towards his dorm without pause.

Looking at Kieran’s back, Oger knew his assignment had failed.

He was unwilling, but reality was harsh.

Oger shook his head with a sigh and ready to leave, but as he turned around, a thought bloomed in his mind and it made him turn back to Kieran.

“WAIT!” Oger shouted.