The Devil’s Cage

After the explosions, blood rained down from the sky, it poured down on the hard ground like a waterfall.

Fear rose in Smith because of his bloodline, it made him instinctively step aside to avoid the blood and also to give way to Kieran. Kieran walked in the hotel, grazing Lagren.

Dak Dak Dak.

His footsteps were heading towards the second floor, and it wasn’t until then that Lagren finally came to his sense as though he had just woken up from a dream; he let out a heavy sigh.

“This guy is already this powerful?” Lagren muttered.

His mutters didn’t escape Smith’s ears who was beside him.

Smith was stunned.

What do you mean this guy is already this powerful?

Does it mean there is someone else who can do what he did?

Smith wasn’t stupid by any means, he quickly related to more possibilities from the words.

“Monster Hunters?”

Smith looked further away, hundreds of thousands of monster corpses were piled up over there like a small hill. Smith unconsciously clenched his fist.

Smith’s heart was replaying the scene of the myriads of heads exploding together endlessly. Following his replay, Kieran’s image in Smith’s heart had skyrocketed infinitely.

From the pure gratitude and bits of reverence, respect grew further after the scene.

The pride that Smith had in his own gifts crumbled into nothing, all that was left in his heart was catching up!

He had to catch up to his goal, Kieran!

He wanted to become a Monster Hunter like Kieran!

At the same time, another person was having the same thought: Mier.

Splat!

On the silent street as though it was frozen, a young Spec Ops member suddenly fell on the ground, because of shock and because of the brush with death.

His mental state suddenly relaxed from extreme tension, it caused him to lose control of his body.

Nobody laughed at him because a lot of them shared the same experience.

Even Wier and Mier were no exception.

Mier was leaning on a wall, panting heavily. Her gaze unconsciously shifted from the mountain of monster corpses to the hotel behind her.

Astonishment was slowly fading away from her tired eyes, what was left was a burning sensation. She understood what Kieran said, but it didn’t mean she would give up.

Or in other words, her fighting spirit rose and became more eager.

Different from the rumors and stories, she had a more direct impression of a Monster Hunter.

She didn’t say anything else to her grandfather. Mier made up her mind quietly, she knew if she were to tell her grandfather of her thoughts, Wier would never agree, he might even restrict her freedom.

Wier was much more stubborn than he looked, but regardless of how obstinate he was, it couldn’t help him calm his torrential state of mind at the moment.

He knew Kieran was strong, just he never thought he was THIS strong.

“He is comparable to those few legendary Monster Hunters?” Wier speculated.

Then, the leader of the Special Operations Division quickly reacted.

He looked at his men, who looked like every one of them escaped from death, he shouted at them, “Men, divide yourself into three groups. One secures the perimeter, one clean the battlefield, and one take some rest first.”

After the orders were given, the Spec Ops members quickly moved out.

Looking at the busy Spec Ops member, Lagren carried his tomahawk back to the hotel; Smith had no intention of joining them either.

Smith was actually quite prejudiced against the Special Operations Division.

Lagren spotted the prejudice, but he didn’t want to dissuade Smith’s thoughts—because he knew some dark secrets as well.

All the members of the Special Operations Division were respectable, one could even say without their patrol at night, Eiders wouldn’t see the sun the next day.

However, the one leading the division wasn’t always bright and righteous.

Of course, it wasn’t referring to Wier.

“Remember after you clean yourself up, go to the backyard for some charcoal, put them into the lobby and your room,” Lagren told Smith.

“Understood,” Smith nodded.

Charcoal could effectively absorb the bloody stench, much better than air fresheners.

When Smith was busy moving the charcoal, Lagren, after a quick clean up of the hotel, didn’t choose to rest. Instead, he opened the hidden control panel behind the wine cellar.

The control panel cost him a fortune to install, and it was also his proudest purchase.

Compared to the mythical way of doing things, which was recommended by the headquarters, he thought the combination of technology and the mythical was more effective.

Unfortunately, the old geezers at the headquarters didn’t acknowledge his thoughts.

Lagren operated the controls to maneuver the hidden cameras he installed in the area. When he had a clear look of the screen, his face turned sour.

Right away, Lagren dashed upstairs.

When the loud and robust steps were heard from outside, Kieran opened his door.

“There is something you need to see.”

Lagren told Kieran when he saw him walked out of his room.

Without further chit-chat, Kieran followed Lagren to the controls.

“Look here.”

“Here, and here.”

“All of these houses are neatly built, and it doesn’t seem like anyone is hurt. However, I don’t think these monsters are some good doggies that follow the rules.”

“So… I think there is someone behind the scenes, controlling these monsters to wage war!”

Lagren was switching between the footage, he then turned towards Kieran and spoke with a never before heard seriousness.

Kieran was still cold and as expressionless as ever, he didn’t react to Lagren’s theory at all.

“You knew from the start?” Lagren was surprised.

Kieran then gave the cowhide bag to Lagren.

Without a second thought, Lagren ripped the bag open and took the documents and pictures inside and carefully read through them.

“I knew the things that happened back then weren’t as simple as they seemed.”

“It’s too coincidental for Hardy Lynne to die, and Syro Derl, Morr… Ha.”

Lagren was mumbling softly, and when he saw the words of using humans as experimental subjects, he laughed coldly.

When he went through everything, Lagren looked at Kieran with a doubtful gaze.

“You think the Ghoul attacks just now are related to the Ghoul Incident back then? That’s why you gave me these? Or do you think those monsters are similar to the Ghouls? Being experimented on?”

“It might or might not be related,” Kieran said.

“What do you mean?” Lagren was more confused than ever.

“It’s only related in terms of its roots, it didn’t truly extend or spread further.”

“The mastermind’s real goal? It’s nothing but trying to divert the tiger away from the mountain.”

“Of course, if there are some extra rewards, that would be great.”

When Kieran’s words subsided, the phone beside them rang.

Riiing!

Lagren picked it up.

A moment later, he cried out of shock.

“What?”

“Wilberst is dead!?”