The Devil’s Cage

“Offering… I’ve become an offering?!”

Li Jiajia’s eyes lost focus when asked, leaning back on the counter helplessly.

Kieran saw how she reacted, not pressing her for an answer, instead standing there and waiting patiently, as did Bain.

From a certain aspect, Bain was much more experienced than Kieran, having seen this kind of situation too many times.

Back when Bain became a Weireist, he had to face the likes of Li Jiajia, people who accidentally came in contact with the supernatural, almost everyday. His job was to get details from them.

Bain had nothing but patience.

A few minutes later, Li Jiajia slowly recovered her senses.

“When I was trapped in that magical formation, that hooded woman said she wanted to offer me to something. Although you, my guardian, stopped her, that thing remembered me and listed me as an offering. It started to find others who could host the offering ceremony,” said Li Jiajia.

“The voice told you this also?” Kieran asked.

“Em,” Li Jiajia nodded.

Kieran looked at Bain.

Due to the difference in Mystical Knowledge, Kieran could only guess about many things in this dungeon world. He wasn’t sure at all, so he didn’t mind asking confirmation from a true pro.

“I’m not sure either. Wait for the others. Huai Cuike of Sector 1 should know about this,” Bain was very careful against this kind of situation.

The Herders who Bain called over earlier didn’t make them wait either, they soon arrived at the restaurant.

There were both the old and the youthful but no women.

According to Bain, a woman could hardly become an official Herder but once anyone did, she would be extremely powerful.

The natural traits of a woman have destined their path.

“Hello, Royan, I am the person in charge of Sector 1, Huai Cuike. It’s great to finally make an official acquaintance.”

An old Herder with white hair, yet an extremely good physique, walked over.

The old man smiled, his countenance elegant and polite. If it wasn’t for his white hair and the wrinkles around his eyes, he would be no different from a middle-aged man in his prime.

“Hi, how do you see this ‘offering’?” Kieran greeted him and went straight into the topic.

“What she said should be real. The Witchcraft practitioners have their own power system. Unlike a common cult offering, such an offering ceremony is rare but not entirely absent. It’s quite easy for them to go lower than their bottom line, for the sake of power of other things. Those who have chosen the path of witchcraft have basically no bottom line anyway,” the old man shook his head helplessly.

“What are they offering to? Their gods?” Kieran asked the question that he was more concerned about.

“Gods? Maybe in the past, but in the current mystical side, a lot of people assumed the gods back then were nothing but some powerful mystical individuals… Or in other words, monsters.”

The old man did not conceal his thoughts in front of Kieran’s question.

Because of Ed Wong, Kieran was already one of them, and now that Kieran had agreed to participate in Battle of Winter Night, the relationship between them had shortened.

As long as no confidential information was involved, Huai Cuike would never hide.

“Are there any records of their offering ceremony?” Kieran asked after some thought.

Offering would naturally produce Power of Faith and those who could use the Power of Faith would at least be rank V, or higher than that.

Kieran needed to know what the level of the higher beings in this dungeon world was, so that he could better deal with the situations at hand and form better plans.

A plan should be able to change at will, improvised plans should always cope with change and not stay stagnant until the end.

“There are some, but very vague. There’s no procedures recorded, no ceremonial speech, and definitely not a precise name,” Huai Cuike answered.

“What about the scale?” Kieran asked.

The scale was the key factor that had direct influence on the Power of Faith, it was also the key to make judgement.

“Depends. There are small ones and there are big ones. The small ones can range from the tens to hundreds, that’s what the records said; the big ones can go up to thousands or ten thousands. There are very few records on the big ones but in similar records, there’s a mention about a 10,000 men offering ceremony—it’s just bits and crumbs, even I don’t know anything more than that,” Huai Cuike explained in detail.

10,000 men!

Kieran’s heart throbbed.

Excluding the possibility of wasting resources and manpower, those who could host this scale of offering ceremony would surely not be rank V anymore, Kieran knew because he was also at rank V himself.

Unlike overflowing Power of Faith, accepting 10,000 men’s Power of Faith at once was his own personal limit.

Rank VI?

Kieran wondered but he didn’t forget his manners.

“Thank you,” Kieran said.

“No need. This is what you should know, I’m just going beyond my duty to deliver the information to you on behalf of Ed Wong—I’ve already have a clue about that bastard Ed Wong’s whereabouts. If I’m not wrong, he should be able to make it back before Battle of the Winter Night.”

The old man laughed, treating Kieran as his junior.

Though Kieran wasn’t concerned about Ed Wong’s whereabouts, even more so when he heard what Huai Cuike said, it sounded like Ed Wong would be fine.

He turned to Li Jiajia.

This girl would be the key to the incident.

“Don’t worry, we have enough experience to deal with Li Jiajia’s problem,” the old man stood up and walked to Li Jiajia.

Kieran remained where he was.

The limited distance and space in the restaurant would not hinder his sight and hearing, so he heard Li Jiajia’s rejection.

“My guardian is here! I won’t leave!” Li Jiajia was being persistent.

“You know, being with us is much safer, and you won’t trouble Royan too,” Huai Cuike tried to persuade Li Jiajia, but his persuasion was everything but useful.

“The voice has told me being around Royan is the safest!” Li Jiajia sealed her thoughts.

Huai Cuike sighed helplessly.

The Herders were allowed to wipe the bystanders memory but they weren’t allowed to interfere with people’s choices without valid reasons, especially when this person had presented unusual gifts.

Huai Cuike went back to Kieran.

“Although we are much more experienced in dealing with Li Jiajia’s problem, it seemed like she trusts you more.”

The old man showed a bitter smile and suggested, “Li Jiajia shall stay here temporarily. I’ll tell Bain to look after her and I’ll consider you, Royan, have completed a task for the Herders—You will be paid handsomely, not in Crossing Coins, but cash. What do you say?”

“Okay,” Kieran nodded.

After knowing the witchcraft practitioners would come looking for an ‘offering’, Kieran already had the idea of making Li Jiajia stay. She represented a bait that could be recycled multiple times, hence providing him with many more corresponding spoils. The appearance of [Hound Ring] excited Kieran a lot.

There was no reason for him to reject the suggestion and although he had a very low requirement of materialistic needs, keeping the restaurant running with better food was also a decent idea, so he didn’t mind.

More so, Starbeck also needed more money to buy clothes for the winter.

“I’ll leave her in your hands then, Bain will do his best to help you.”

The old Huai Cuike stood up and smiled after Kieran’s agreement.

The other Herders also left after saying goodbye politely, except for Bain.

The Herders weren’t exactly free and unoccupied. Even if they had their respective assistant helping them, they would not leave their own sector for a long time. Even in the day, they tended to stand guard in their own sector, unless there was some special mission.

“Other than the master bedroom, there are a few more rooms on the second floor, you guys can choose whichever one suits you. But try to walk with lightsteps and keep it quiet. I usually sleep around seven in the morning and wake up at three in the afternoon, so if there’s nothing of importance, don’t knock on my door.”

Kieran locked the door after the Herders left, pulling the plug out of the telephone line while he reminded the two new tenants.

Li Jiajia nodded, stating that she understood, so did Bain.

Unlike Li Jiajia, Bain did not go up and choose his room.

“I’ll sleep here then,” Bain pointed at the main floor.

“As you like.”

Kieran glanced over the man, understood Bain was considering safety. He did not tell Bain that he had ‘eyes’ better than a mere outpost, so after nodding, Kieran went back up.

He quietly snuck back into his room, Starbeck still soundly asleep.

As if Starbeck sensed Kieran’s return, he turned around and asked in a blurry voice, “You are back?”

“Yeah, it’s fine now. Go back to sleep.”

…

At three in the afternoon, Starbeck automatically woke up.

He slowly opened his eyes and saw Kieran was already up.

“Morning,” Starbeck greeted Kieran beside the bed out of habit.

“Em, morning. We’ve gained two extra tenants.”

Kieran greeted and then briefly explained Li Jiajia and Bain’s arrival.

“Having extra income is also good,” Starbeck smiled, his eyes curved like the crescent moon.

Starbeck truly welcomed the two new tenants who brought extra income to Leaf Dining, because it would mean more money for him to buy better ingredients, hence cooking better food for Kieran.

After both of them cleaned up and headed down, Li Jiajia and Bain were already sitting in the lobby. Kieran introduced everyone before Starbeck went into the kitchen and got busy.

Kieran sat in his seat, took out the map of Ai City he bought yesterday, and started to examine it.

Ai City was divided into 4 major sectors, North, East, South, West; each major sector has 11 minor sectors in it.

Kieran’s eyes were looking at the North Sector.

Unlike the rather peaceful East Sector, the slums which gangs roamed were located in the North Sector, a hot spot for monstrous gatherings too.

It was also Kieran’s next target.

After reaping a harvest in the East Sector and unsealing his strength a little, Kieran would not just sit back and watch the other three sectors.

Even more so when he got verification from Huai Cuike about the so-called offering ceremony. Kieran felt urged.

Of course Kieran didn’t want to meet those things in this kind of situation but he understood change was constant and being prepared for everything was the best he could do.

After he carefully examined all the sectors in the North Sector, a thought bloomed in his mind and was sent out to Bloody Mary on the roof. Bloody Mary then went off.

After that?

Kieran waited patiently, wiping the tables, chairs, and counters and even cleaning the floor.

Although he wasn’t expecting a lot of customers, since he was the owner of the restaurant, he hoped to work in a clean environment.

While he was working, he was also listening to Bain and Li Jiajia’s conversation.

“When facing those monsters, the most important thing is to overcome fear! When you overcome your fear, you’ve already won a quarter,” Bain said with his index finger sticking up.

“What about the other three quarters? Fight them?” Li Jiajia asked.

“No! Fighting them is the last resolve, 50% of the three quarters is to persuade them with words,” Bain shook his head.

“Persuade? Can monsters be persuaded?” Li Jiajia was surprised.

“Of course! The dangerous ones aren’t as many as you think, most of the spirits are in a very confused, helpless state. They are lost in front of death, so we need to guide them with our words and solve their problems with our sincerity,” Bain explained.

“So if the talking does not work in the end, the fighting comes in?” Li Jiajia asked.

“No! Because with my patience, all of the spirits will have their problems solved! There will be no need to fight each other!” Bain said confidently.

After that, Bain elaborated on the points about persuasion.

Kieran listened to all of them, not really commenting on Bain’s methods.

He didn’t agree, but neither did he disagree.

Everyone had their own choices, nothing was truly good and bad.

Like now, Bain had obviously treated Li Jiajia as his apprentice, not a Weireist, and trained her. Without a doubt, Li Jiajia’s gift had moved Bain, or rather, Huai Cuike.

Similarly, given how gifted Li Jiajia was, she would know what Bain’s intentions were, yet she learned what he thought.

Kieran would never be a busybody in this, as long as it wouldn’t affect him and Starbeck.

Time flew by fast, after the sky went dark, the aroma of rich mutton soup coming out from the kitchen and Kieran put the little blackboard outside.

Unlike previous nights where customers hardly came in, after the blackboard was placed outside tonight, the first customer promptly arrived.

His unusual looks and cold presence stated who he really was.

“I need help. Someone told me I can get help here. I’m dead, I know I am dead but what should I do now? Will I still have a life? Is it good to wander around aimlessly? If so, what’s the difference? I’ve been aimless all my life! Will my wife and kids miss me? Where are they?”

…

The dead spirit sat in front of Kieran amidst the relentless, incoherent gibberish.

Though before Kieran said anything, Bain signaled him with winks, meaning “Leave this to me!”

Kieran remained quiet and watched Bain bring Li Jiajia over.

“Death is a new start. You may feel lost at the start but let me help you adapt,” Bain spoke softly.

Beside him, Li Jiajia widened her eyes, in hopes of capturing every single detail in the practical lesson.

“Help me? Will you give me a house? Money?”

The relentlessly dead spirit asked back.

“The dead don’t need a house or money. You should figure out what you truly seek, and only with those answers can you go to the ‘faraway land’,” Bain explained.

“But I want a big house, I want a lot of money! I want a yacht, a private jet with the cutest girls on it, and…”

The relentless dead spirit spilled out his unreasonable requests quickly.

“All those are just materialistic thoughts, you are already dead… But I want them when I’m alive, so I should be obsessed with those after I die, right?”

The dead spirit interrupted Bain and questioned him with unreasonable words.

“You can say that, but…”

“Do you want all of those?”

Bain was cut off again and this time, the words rendered Bain speechless, because he really wanted the good things in life!

“Aren’t you people helping the dead fulfill our last wish so that you can exorcise us? Fulfill my wish, send me to the ‘faraway land’!”

The dead spirit looked at Bain with anticipation.

Under the anticipated gaze, Bain subconsciously turned away, looking rather guilty.

The dead spirit looked at Li Jiajia.

Li Jiajia wasn’t even an official apprentice, she felt even more lost than the dead spirit.

Bang!

The dead spirit slammed the table angrily at their reaction.

“Liars! You are all liars! I will tear this place apar…”

Pak!

A cleap slapping noise later, the dead spirit was silenced.

Kieran slapped the dead spirit on the face with his sword back.

The dead spirit was sent spinning in the air before falling back on the floor.

Kieran followed the spinning dead spirit like its shadow, using the back of [Sharp Standard-Issued Blade] to slap its face.

“House? Money?”

Pak, pak pak!

“Yacht? Private jet? Cute girls!?”

Pak, pak pak!

“Do you feel them now?”

Pak, pak pak!

[Sharp Standard-Issued Blade] kept slapping the dead spirit, moving in a flurry and creating afterimages in its trail. The dead spirit tried to resist but before it could, it was slapped back on the floor.

A few more rounds later, the dead spirit cried out loud.

“Stop! Stop! Don’t slap me anymore! I know I’m wrong! I shouldn’t wish for free food from the sky! But can I go see my wife and my kids?” the dead spirit cried loudly.

“That’s not free food from the sky?”

“How could a bastard like you have a wife and kids? Stop dreaming, know your own limits, idiot!”

Pak, pak pak!

The slaps from the sword continued and the dead spirit eyes turned dull, as if it had lost the meaning of becoming a ghost. It slowly disintegrated into firefly light and floated to the ‘faraway land’.

Kieran then put away his sword and returned to the bar counter.

Bain looked at Kieran with a jaw-dropping look.

Li Jiajia was deep in thought, feeling like she had found the right way to exorcise the dead.