The Devil’s Cage

The merry crowd at Harvest Inn was still as joyous as ever.

There wasn’t any tension like in the dungeon world: the lone wolves lowered their guards before their friends, and some raised glasses filled with amber liquor in a toast, while some enjoyed the golden roasted meat on the plate; Hanses was playing the harmonica in front of Coll.

Coll lowered her head and giggled at the performance.

Ramont, Rhino, Blair, and Garwen would clap and whistle occasionally.

It seemed like the relationship between Hanses and Coll was done being in the dark, and both of them would soon come into the light.

Raven the Loner and his cat were in his usual corner. He softly caressed the cat in his arms and hummed a melody; he seemed to be in a good mood as well.

Lawless was mopping the somewhat clean floor, though he’d look at the merry crowd from time to time, showing nothing but admiration in his eyes.

Each time Lawless turned around to the crowd, Ramont would speak louder and Raven would hum faster.

“What’s wrong?”

Kieran came in, nodded at the familiar lone wolves who raised their cups at him, and observed the scene. He then joined Ramont and the others at their table.

“Lawless took a bite of the Cream Cherry Pie that Rachel just made.”

“After a brutal beating, he is now being punished and has to work 27 hours a day.”

“It will last for a week, I guess.” Ramont took pleasure in the misfortune as he teased with his pouty mouth.

“Just that?” Kieran was confused.

Wasn’t it normal for Rachel to beat Lawless?

Was it something so worth celebrating?

“That Cream Cherry Pie is a present Hanses prepared for Coll.” Rhino then joined the conversation.

“After Lawless took a ‘big bite,’ Rachel had to make another bigger one,” Blair added.

“And it’s free of charge!” said Garwen.

“I assume this bigger Cream Cherry Pie is big enough for everyone here, right? Hanses agreed to share?” Kieran asked with a smile.

“Bingo!”

Everyone nodded, including Raven further away.

“Here’s to free pie!” Kieran raised the cup of lemon water that he received from Coll.

“Cheers!”

Everyone raised their cup, liquor or not, and drained it quickly.

After the glasses lowered, Kieran walked over to Lawless, who was staring at him in a grudgeful gaze.

“I think you should sympathize with me,” Lawless said seriously.

“Ya, I agree on the ‘should.’” Kieran nodded and passed Lawless the only three Magic rank items.

“This isn’t like you!”

Lawless was shocked as he received the relatively few items for sale.

Had it be someone else, Lawless wouldn’t be this astonished; he would assume it had merely been a bad day for the person, but Kieran before him had the title of ‘Treasure Hunter’!

“Did something bad happen?” Lawless asked out of worry.

“Believe me, what I get is more than what I give you.” Kieran tapped on his friend’s shoulder and went into the small living room behind the bar.

Lawless looked at Kieran’s vanishing back and finally thought of something.

“What do you mean by ‘should’?”

“Are you abandoning me now? Just because I ate a Cream Cherry Pie, you went joined the others in their foul line?!”

…

The noise cancelation formation in the living room walls blocked out Lawless’ grudgeful rants. Beyond the little corridor, Kieran saw Rachel at the sofa joking with a man in a brown motor jacket, khaki-colored pip pants, and a pair of cowboy boots. Both of them looked at ease. Based on that, it seemed that they had quite a relationship.

When Rachel spotted Kieran, she didn’t stand up because she was still in her weakened state, but she did introduce the man to Kieran.

“This is Derder, the best doctor that I know.”

“I guess I don’t have to introduce the famous guy to your right?”

“Of course not! It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Treasure Hunter.”

The man known as Derder extended his hand for a handshake. He didn’t call Kieran by his Unique Title’ Blade of the Daybreaker’ or ‘Fire Emperor,’ which sounded estranged; instead, he went with the friendlier one.

“Please to meet you.”

Kieran had never heard his name before, but he greeted him nonetheless.

He still knew how to greet people with basic manners, and he was concerned about the ‘doctor’ identity.

There was a ‘guy’ outside the living room who was direly in need of a doctor.

“Derder is the doctor in charge of Lawless, despite him not knowing anything.”

“This time, he will help us treat the Fisherman as well.”

Rachel explained before Kieran could even ask.

“I can’t guarantee anything before I see J.Pearlman.”

“I’ll just do my best. So when do we begin?”

Derder said in a careful yet clean manner.

The careful and clean actions increased Kieran’s fondness of the doctor.

“Hold on. My men are bringing J.Pearlman here.”

Bringing J.Pearlman here?

Shouldn’t it be him going there?

Derder was slightly confused.

Rachel seemed to have picked up the hints from Kieran’s words, so she glanced at him and took the glass in front of her, “Are you sure?”

“Don’t worry. My men are quite professional.” Kieran said.

Kieran then turned to Derder.

“I have some questions to ask you about Lawless’ condition.”

“Of course, I’ll speak without reserve.” Derder said with a smile.

As Kieran asked his questions in great detail, Bloody Mary and the scared Rorl brought J.Pearlman to the train station.

“We are going to be fine, right?” Rorl sounded like he was very uncomfortable, he’d even weep.

The last time was bait, and this time was bait once again.

He had always been the bait since the very beginning.

Was he that attractive?

“What’d you think?”

Bloody Mary scanned the surroundings and said in an upset tone.

It also didn’t want to be bait, but it dared not defy its contractor’s will, especially when its contractor continued to grow stronger, so those last bits of mischievous thoughts were discarded far away.

Bloody Mary dare not even mention ‘cruel,’ ‘ruthless,’ ‘merciless,’ or even ‘stingy’ anymore, not even a thought because they shared a link, and any ill thoughts immediately transferred to its contractor.

All Bloody Mary could say was ‘cruel world,’ ‘ruthless reality,’ and ‘stingy people.’ That was the only new way that could let it slip past the contract.

Therefore, Bloody Mary repeated the few allowed terms in its heart.

Just as it mumbled about its ‘life,’ the train arrived.

Everything seemed normal, hence a breath of relieving from the High Demon.

However, when the train stopped and the door opened, the High Demon’s eyes twitched as it saw how full the train was.