The Devil’s Cage

Anderson was walking slowly around Edatine Castle.

It wasn’t his first time here. In his memories, Edatine Castle was always prosperous and cheerful. Back then, despite the fact that it was the middle of the cold harsh winter, the sea of people was endless and showed no signs of stopping.

Now, several decades had passed, Edatine Castle growing even more prosperous and crowded, but… there wasn’t anyone that he knew anymore.

He looked at the street filled with hotels in the civilian district.

In his memories, one of his friends used to run a tavern here and many were happy to drop by.

His friend loved to laugh and was quite young back then but he was rather strong, he’d even run on the streets naked after a few drinks.

Then… he should have died in that battle.

That friend of his smiled even in his death because his friend used to say that ‘rather than dying in tears, might as well go with a smile’.

He was a very free and easy guy and Anderson was incomparable to his friend.

Anderson’s heart was filled with hatred and grudges now.

He was eager to charge into the dungeon and kill those bastards but he couldn’t simply walk in.

It would only startle his enemies!

He had to wait for a while and only then would more targets would appear

Sitting in his house at Central Third Ring, Luncar had a book in his hand but his out of focus eyes stated that he was just pretending to read the book.

“Why hasn’t anything happened? Did some accidents happen? Impossible! My plan is perfect!”

The anxiety in Luncar’s heart made him shake his head quickly. Unlike previous attempts, he couldn’t afford to fail this time.

Luncar suppressed the bad feeling but the anxiety grew quicker than he could control, to the point that he couldn’t even pretend to read the book anymore

Bak!

He slammed the book on the table and thought of going out but right after he opened the door, a pain spread from his heart.

Bang!

After his chest bulged, it exploded.

Luncar fell to the ground, his heart bursting into many pieces.

The flesh, coupled with little pieces of fat, spewed all over the door

The room plunged into silence.

More than 15 minutes later, Luncar climbed up again. He looked extremely gloomy.

He didn’t bother to clean the scene and headed down to the basement straightaway.

The entrance to the basement was in the kitchen. After he pushed aside the cupboard which was a cover, he quickly dashed in and jumped towards the body that he prepared.

As he worried and chewed on the body, Luncar recovered to his former self.

He tore the bloody clothes off him and took a set of new clothes from the closet beside him.

The closet didn’t just hold new clothes and boots; there were wigs, fake moustaches, three pieces of 1,000 Gold Purton nameless money drafts, some change, and a brand new musket with pellets and a dagger.

Luncar wore the wig and attached the moustache.

After some thought, the three pieces of 1,000 Gold Purton nameless money drafts were put inside his coat’s inner pocket. Money was useful at any time, anywhere

Then, he put the change into his outer pocket and grabbed the weapon that he had prepared beforehand while he was at it. The weapons might not be useful against some powerful foe but it would be enough to deal with some unnecessary problems.

His plan had undoubtedly failed.

The puppet was either killed or something else happened and him being exposed was an undeniable fact.

Then… what would happen next?

Luncar was imagining his success earlier, so he really didn’t want to think about the failure but he must force himself to think, which swelled his temples.

First, he must escape from this place, it was not safe anymore.

Second, contact Councilman Colipo.

Finally, think of an excuse to persuade the councilman… No, this time was unlike others, he had no reason to persuade the councilman.

He believed once the councilman learned about the truth, he would be killed.

Or he would be tortured first before being killed.

Things had played out in the worst possible way.

So, might as well…

Gasp!

Luncar grew ruthless in his heart and suddenly felt a stinging sensation from deep inside his brain. It made him gasp hard.

He knew it was the repulsion from his spell.

The spell that controlled people wasn’t some trick to fool kids, it was one of the most ferocious and vicious spells out there.

Enduring the pain, Luncar turned around and headed towards the closet.

Inside a hidden compartment of the closet, he took out a potion that he had hid beforehand.

In order to deal with the potential danger, Luncar had spent a lot of effort in the preparation in the basement, which was just for one-time use.

Sighing, Luncar finished the potion in the tube in a single gulp. With the pain in his mind easing away, he headed to the secret passage.

The secret passage led straight to the next street block and the exit at the end of the passage was located in a civilian house.

The house was actually a temporary lodging spot for a merchant who arrived in Edatine for business, but there wouldn’t be any problems since Luncar dug up the passage without the merchant’s knowing.

After he pushed open the modified secret door, Luncar came out from under the bed of the merchant’s servant.

He then opened the window, jumped to the yard, and went around the servants in the porch, successfully arriving at the main street.

The whole process was quiet and inconspicuous.

Luncar scanned his surroundings quickly and after he didn’t notice anything unusual, he headed straight to the civilian district.

He would never go back to the dungeon, for he was confident that there would be an ambush waiting for him.

He knew how the Demon Hunters operated and understood every detail of their tactics.

Therefore, he had to return to Silent Night Town! Only there would he be able to catch his breath.

In order to prevent the possible watchers on his tail, Luncar kept using his anti-detection techniques to cover his trails but he would leave his own mark behind from time to time.

It wasn’t to misguide the watchers, it was to lure them.

Only then would those possible watchers keep their eyes on him and then… lure them to Silent Night Town!

The moment the watchers found out about Silent Night Town, he would be safe because he believed the town would captivate the watchers easily.

Of course, he had to control the timing perfectly.

He shouldn’t move out too early, otherwise he couldn’t escape. Neither could he move too late, it would be useless if he missed the timing and his plan would go to waste again.

Strolling on the street, Luncar felt the cold wind of the Northern Land, the pain in his mind slowly going away with the help from the potion. He had to breathe long and slowly to speed up the recovery process.

It was at this moment that he started to think about other matters.

“No! A plan like this is too cheap! It’s full of flaws! And… the powers my allies possess are too weak, I am not insured at all! I need to get myself more insurance, I must at least get to someone who can provide me with a sense of safety for now!” Luncar shook his head.

He wasn’t denying his previous plan, he was just hoping that he could add a little bit more insurance to the plan.

Therefore, he thought of a possible candidate: Undying, Clairehore!

The Undying was undoubtedly a good candidate!

Either his strength or the councilman behind him would be happy to see my plan into fruition.

Of course, the excuse must sound good in their ears.

With the thought in mind, Luncar turned around.

He returned to the Central Third Ring’s commercial district from the civilian district and headed towards the lodging spot of many merchants.

Houses were connected in a single line and extended down the street.

Every single house was a three story independent building coupled with a garden but no fountain or statue.

Compared to the rundown scene in the civilian district, this place looked a lot more grand and glamorous, but when compared to the noble’s history, this place was still too shallow and not big enough.

This place was actually the address the Undying left behind for him.

He could contact the Undying as a last resort.

When Luncar knocked on the door, he saw the Undying Clairehore with a pair of locked brows.

“I’ve said it before, do not look for me if it isn’t your last resort!”

Horlaika looked at the Instigator in front of him and spoke coldly, but deep down in his heart, he was surprised.

Why had Luncar knocked on his door?

According to his guesses, after the failed attempt in assassinating the target, Luncar should have gone to Councilman Colipo to complain and flatter him.

Could his teacher fail?

Horlaika never even thought about the possibility.

Even if those councilmen decided to make a move, it still wouldn’t be possible, let alone the Instigator.

His teacher was not an ordinary John Doe.

Could it be…

Horlaika immediately thought of something and he was frightened by his own thought because it sounded outrageous yet it was the only explanation that could explain why Luncar came for him.

Suppressing the shock in his heart, Horlaika remained calm.

“This is really my last resort! My previous mission has failed. Can I come in? I don’t want people eavesdropping on my words. Even though I should have shaken them, I don’t want to frighten you with what I am about to say,” Luncar showed a very real bitter smile on his face.

“You… Damn it!” Horlaika grunted coldly but he stepped aside and made way for Luncar.

Luncar went in right after Horlaika stepped aside. The moment he walked past Horlaika, his bitter smile showed a trace of delight, he knew his collaborator too well.

Although his powers were magical, he was extremely vigilant.

He wouldn’t take the risk and would never seek for a bigger gain. He would only listen to orders most of the time.

It was extremely suitable to use danger to deter a person like him.

The delight appeared in a flash. When Horlaika closed the door and came to him, Luncar turned around and said, “I’ve found the Snake Sect hidden among us!”

‘HUH?!

I AM EXPOSED?!’

Horlaika squinted his eyes instinctively and killer intent started to come afloat, but he quickly put it away.

If he was really exposed, it would be the Instigator knocking on his door, or a councilman.

So, was the Instigator bluffing?

‘As expected… it was a mistake contacting teacher using the Mist in such a hurry, but never mind, I can fix this!’

Horlaika thought in his heart.

Luncar, who was so immersed in his acting, did not notice the unusual reaction from Horlaika.

He continued, “That’s right! It was because of this Snake Sect that my mission failed! Thankfully, I have a backup plan and it allowed me to know who this Snake Sect is!”

Luncar then turned to Horlaika, waiting for Horlaika’s question, but to his disappointment, the Undying kept quiet, looking calm, at least on the outside.

‘Damn it!

He is such a coward? To this extent?

He is afraid that he knows too much and will get himself in trouble?

He didn’t even want to take a tiny bit of risk?’

While Luncar cursed heavily in his heart, he asked “Aren’t you curious about his identity?”

“You should go find Mieren or Councilman Colipo! They must be interested to know!”

Horlaika said calmly while the right hand he hid behind him was clenched tight.

He was ready to strike at lightning speed.

“No! I can’t go to Councilman Colipo! Because… he is the one from Snake Sect that has infiltrated Silent Night Secret Society!” Luncar shook his head and said loudly.

“What?”

Horlaika couldn’t keep calm anymore, even his right fist behind his back was shaken.

“Is it shocking? Believe me, when I got the news, I am much more shocked than you. I never thought a member of the Snake Sect would be able to infiltrate the society. But think about it this way: in the recent years, or even in the last decade, did you feel anything weird about the society’s performance? We had the absolute advantage before but we failed without a solid reason. I was already suspicious before this, so I was careful about every mission, and this time, I was able to catch the spy!”

Luncar looked at the frightened Horlaika, the delight in his heart growing, praising his own quick wits in his heart. The more he spoke, the quicker he sounded, and in the end, he himself had believed all the lies that he made up.

An infiltrator in Silent Night Secret Society!

The infiltrator was Councilman Colipo!

Horlaika had completely calmed down, looking at Luncar, who got aroused with his own words and a sense of doubt flashed over his heart.

What caused Luncar to wrongfully place Horlaika’s ‘credits’ on Colipo?

Horlaika had no idea what caused it but he was glad that it happened.

He was glad that someone else was taking the blame on his behalf.

What else would be better than that?

A powerful and influential person would be the scapegoat .

Horlaika could already imagine what would happen should everything go smoothly.

One of the 17 councilmen was a Demon Hunter from Snake Sect!

A huge quake was bound to strike Silent Night Secret Society!

With the thought in mind, Horlaika spoke without hesitation, “Let’s go to Councilman Kurtzargert.”

“No! We can’t! Because… we don’t know whether or not Councilman Kurtzargert is one of Snake Sect!” Luncar said with a serious look.

Horlaika was flabbergasted, looking at Luncar blankly. If he himself wasn’t a Demon Hunter from Snake Sect and knew he had very few comrades, he would suspect Luncar after what he heard.

“Then what should we do?” Horlaika asked heavily.

After this, he thought of finding a chance to use the power of the Mist to convey this message to his teacher.

At the same time, Luncar stood straight and stared into Horlaika’s eyes and said word by word, “Ring the Silent Night bell! Summon everyone in the society! Initiate a Council Meeting!”