The Devil’s Cage

J. Pearlman didn’t answer right away though. After thinking for a while, as though he was holding back, he sent a message to Kieran two to three seconds later.

J. Pearlman: We are being hunted.

2567: Hunted?

2567: Freedom Alliance?”

…

Kieran’s attention paused at ‘hunted’ for a while. In order to make sure, he asked for more confirmation. This time around, J. Pearlman didn’t hesitate, nodding right away and explaining in detail through messaging.

J. Pearlman: Around 1 week ago, people started to die in the Freedom Alliance.

J. Pearlman: At first, we weren’t really concerned because, although the possibility of a high-rankers dying in a dungeon world is very low, it isn’t zero. But soon enough, we noticed something wrong: our friends didn’t die in the dungeon world!

J. Pearlman: When one of our friends completed his dungeon run, he invited us to celebrate with him and then… he was killed on the way to Freedom Alliance’s headquarters.

J. Pearlman: It was then that we noticed that three official members of Freedom Alliance had died in a week, and we have reasons to believe that someone has their eyes on us.

…

As he typed his words to Kieran, J. Pearlman’s eyes looked heavier than ever.

“Tell me everything, including your countermeasures,” Kieran said softly.

Although Freedom Alliance claimed itself to be a free, casual organization, Kieran believed no organization would ignore the death of their members, especially being killed by some unknown.

Even more so for Freedom Alliance, where the official members were around ten players.

“Em,” J. Pearlman nodded and continued messaging Kieran.

J. Pearlman: After we realized something was wrong, we set up a trap, trying to capture the culprit. Unfortunately, the culprit seemed to have seen through our plan. He didn’t take the bait, and on top of that, he provoked us when we lost our patience. He killed another one of us and left a paper message.

…

When J. Pearlman mentioned the paper message, he initiated a trade and showed it to Kieran.

It was a simple piece of paper, probably from a notebook or something, and only a few short words were written with pen: the fourth one.

J. Pearlman: We are angry but also afraid. The person didn’t seem to have quit.

J. Pearlman: Our friend who got killed was known for his defense abilities, and because of that, he stepped up and volunteered as bait. From the moment he was killed to the moment we arrived at the scene, it was less than a minute’s time, but there were no clues or traces left behind at the scene.

J. Pearlman: We think that the person has powers that surpass our knowledge, so I was sent out to seek help, and among the people I know, no one is more suitable than you, Sir 2567.

…

No traces left behind?

Kieran raised a brow. Wherever one walked, there would be traces, Kieran always believed that particular saying. If traces weren’t found, they weren’t looking in the right places.

Some heavy thoughts and guesses involving himself, Kieran spoke.

“Sure, I’ll help you guys.”

“Really? Thank you very much!” J. Pearlman said with delight.

“But the condition is…”

“I know, when it comes in conflict with you or the people you care about, we will give up automatically.”

J. Pearlman finished Kieran’s sentence.

“And the payment,” Kieran would never forget what he deserved.

“[Siegel Iron Hammer] is part of the payment. After the case, you will be receiving an Advance Rank item,” J. Pearlman added.

“Advance Rank? Not enough! At least a rank III, and I want to choose the type of item,” Kieran shook his head.

Kieran was always serious and fair during a trade.

Moreover, the person before his eyes wasn’t one of his friends or within the list of people that he was familiar with, so he knew what he must do and how he should react.

Of course, Kieran wasn’t being over demanding. The stated condition was the cumulation of the rumours he had gathered during normal times and his own analyzation.

With Freedom Alliance’s level, spilling out a rank III item wasn’t easy, but not impossible.

As for rank IV? Kieran shook his head, as he didn’t think Freedom Alliance had what it took to access such high rank items.

He would have stated in the condition if they had what it took.

Things unfolded just like Kieran had expected.

“This… I have to ask Amilian about that.”

J. Pearlman obviously wasn’t a qualified negotiator, since the answer he spilled revealed crucial information: Freedom Alliance possessed rank III items.

“Sure,” Kieran nodded.

Kieran then watched J. Pearlman contact Amilian, a member of the Freedom Alliance.

Amilian was quite a well known player among the high-rankers, not just for his strength, but also because he had founded Freedom Alliance, an organization in between a group of lone wolves and a guild.

Players who couldn’t venture on alone and were unwilling to join a guild because of the many restrictions were very happy to choose an organization that could help them and didn’t add too many harsh restrictions to their actions.

Adding the organization’s decent strength reputation, it looked even more attractive, but the problem was its obvious weakness: Freedom Alliance lacked a core management.

Amilian wasn’t a core member, at most a contact like J. Pearlman.

Maybe it wasn’t obvious during normal times, but when real danger or trouble came, the lack of core management would be a serious setback, like right now.

Kieran was sure that when the members of the Freedom Alliance were being hunted down by the unknown assailant, most of them had shown up just for the sake of showing up.

Thus, Amilian had to send J. Pearlman to seek help.

Otherwise, a group of high-rankers getting together with serious teamwork would have forced anyone back.

Five minutes later, J. Pearlman looked up and said, “Rank III is fine, but you can’t choose.”

“Then add on another rank I item. I won’t choose from that either,” Kieran replied right away.

“This… I’ll have to ask again,” J. Pearlman said with a difficult expression.

This time around, the enquiries were faster than before. A few seconds later, J. Pearlman gave Kieran a firm answer.

“Sure, but we’ll need a contract too,” J. Pearlman added with a bitter smile.

“The contract must state [Siegel Iron Hammer] as a deposit,” Kieran said.

“Of course.”

J. Pearlman then quickly drafted up a contract.

After Kieran made sure everything was clearly stated, both of them wrote their names down.

When the contract was greenlit, J. Pearlman heaved a breath of relief.

“When do we begin?” he asked.

“Hold on a moment. I’ll be right back.” Kieran then stood up and headed for the living room.

Things that could enhance his power should be done earlier rather than later; it would be more beneficial to Kieran.

“Be careful.”

When he walked past Rachel, she reminded him softly.

“I hope it is really what you said. I’ve been waiting for a long time!”

Kieran smiled and replied softly as well. He then hastened his steps into the living room.

Rachel couldn’t help but sigh for Kieran’s enemy as she saw him go into the corridor.

A strong enemy wasn’t that scary, but the terrifying thing was that this vigilant, calm and strong enemy held grudges.

“All the best.”

Rachel picked up an empty glass on the bar counter. She then raised a toast to J. Pearlman after she remembered something.

Toast, to the pitiful, honest man.