The Devil’s Cage

“My lord, Sir Mizelle, brought the men south and started to clean up the monsters, everything is progressing smoothly.”

“Naveya City is also listed in the cleaning process.”

“The contacts and roads to the neighboring cities will recover in 6 to 7 weeks.”

After changing into a new set of attire, the Old Book took up the position of secretary around the outpost and had been reporting the news for the past two days to Kieran, who had just returned.

As he reported, the Old Book was carefully sizing up Kieran.

Although Kieran looked calm at the moment, the Old Book’s sharp sense could tell something was wrong with Kieran.

Kieran seemed a bit angry? And a little bit unwilling? He was in… pain?

The Old Book didn’t know what caused such complicated emotions in Kieran.

Weren’t things progressing smoothly for the better?

The monsters that occupied Naveya retreated without a fight, all of them escaped back into the deep sea.

The monster groups around the city had loosened up as well, if the soldiers seized the time, they might be able to seed a new batch of crops.

Had Kieran run into some accident during his trip?

Impossible! Each report the Old Got got clearly stated how his Majesty sliced and diced all those lingering monsters.

Doubts baffled the Old Book’s heart, but he didn’t ask.

Despite the contract period not being extensive, the Old Book had 120% concentration up at all times and had a resolute mind in serving; he would not ask if Kieran didn’t tell.

As the Old Book’s reports subsided, the room fell into silence. Only Kieran’s rough breathing was heard, and he felt like his chest was suffocating at the moment.

Of course, compared to the initial pain when he knew all the monsters in Naveya City had retreated back into the deep sea, the current one was a lot milder.

It wasn’t just any pain back then, it was the pain from the heart.

In Kieran’s original plan, after cleaning up the Devourer and the God of Lightning, he would return to Naveya to clean up the monsters.

However, before he even made a move, the knights tasked with keeping Naveya City under surveillance reported back that all the monsters started to retreat, not just to the nearby sea area but the deepest part of the sea.

Kieran didn’t know whether the monsters sensed danger and left or if it was because the Devourer was genuinely dead. All he knew was that if he didn’t do anything, he would lose a significant amount of potential loot.

So, Kieran flew back to Naveya without further ado, but despite his best efforts, other than three Magic rank items, he got nothing.

Although he had killed myriads of fleeing monsters, the stronger ones had already escaped to the deep sea. If he wanted to get more spoils of war, he had to go further and deeper, but his sanity told him not to because there were still many things he had to attend to.

Those matters were much more important than chasing the monsters into the deep sea.

So he returned to Arya Outpost.

Kieran thought he had let it go after his return, but when he heard the reports from Canberlanor, he couldn’t help but think about the items and equipment that swam away from him.

To divert his mind away from this unpleasant matter, Kieran took the initiative and diverted the topic.

“Why did the wall construction in Arya stop?” he asked.

When he came back to Arya Outpost, Kieran saw the construction site was reopened, but no workers were working.

“The monsters had retreated, so Priestess Atrina and Outpost Master Nelson halted the construction process because they weren’t sure whether to continue building the wall or return to Naveya and rebuild there.”

“It’s your Majesty’s decision to make,” the Old Book replied.

“No need to return to Naveya. Keep the construction going,” Kieran replied.

It wasn’t due to the lack of benefits that Kieran disliked Naveya City; it was because the monsters had occupied Naveya for quite some time now, and ordinary civilians couldn’t even live in the contaminated place throughout the foreseeable future. The lingering aura of the monsters and the poisonous presence of the sea would quickly kill any civilians.

Besides, cleaning up Naveya’s ruins would take a long time, and the cost would at least be ten or even a hundred times greater. The manpower and resources required for the rebuilding process were unimaginable.

One needed to know the Gods of Naveya were all gone. Thus the rebuilding relied on the people themselves.

Rather than wasting time and resources, they might as well strengthen Arya Outpost, which had fertile lands and was close to Yort Fields.

As for trading with the cities in the south?

It wouldn’t be severely affected because the merchant groups from the said cities mostly trade in Yort Fields rather than sailing the seas.

The Old Book didn’t reject Kieran’s suggestion.

After the order was given, the Old Book went out to deliver the message.

A while later, the work song of the workers restarting their efforts entered Kieran’s ear, it sounded energetic and lively.

Kieran stood up, went out, and climbed up to the walls. He looked down at the busy workers.

Carts were being pushed, shoulders were carrying buckets, and hands were piling up bricks.

Sweat flowed like a river, but the smiles and laughter didn’t stop.

“Without the monsters troubling their minds, the last bit of worry has been discarded.”

“Now, all they have to do is work hard and eat their fill every day.”

“The outpost gave them more than what their lords gave them, so they would stay behind and build the walls as long as the orders are given.”

Atrina walked to Kieran and explained softly. She paused for a while before asking, “Ryan, your temple is on the building list, is there anything you would like it to have?”

“Temple?” Kieran was surprised.

“Yes, a temple. You killed the Devourer and the schemeful God of Lightning!”

“Now, everyone believes Arya Outpost will soon be a new city in the south, and you will be its God!”

“You will also surpass every single one of the Old Gods of Naveya!”

“Everyone thinks so, even me!”

Atrina looked at the man before her with blazing eyes.

She knew he was strong but not this strong.

Atrina, who once served Lady Thorn, knew how scary the God of Lightning was. Although Naveya housed many Gods, the God of Lightning held a special place among them. Some even said that the God of Lightning was the true owner of Naveya.

However, such a God was killed by the man before her eyes, together with that nightmare, the Devourer.

Atrina didn’t join the battle that night, but she still saw the massive body appear, fall and vanish from on top of the walls.

From that moment onwards, Atrina strongly believed Kieran will be the strongest God that ever walked the land.

And she would always be at his side.

Of course, the goal wasn’t achievable with a simple kick, many delicate plans were required, and the first of many was building a temple.