The Devil’s Cage

Principal Romuse in his casual attire and white hair was standing at the entrance of Fire Stove Alley. He was looking at his little house which was already in ruins, he couldn’t hold back his sighs.

He felt it pity that the place he meticulously picked to stay was gone, he also felt it a pity about his collections being burned to cinders, especially a few particular quality books which he had spent a large amount of effort to get.

I’ve only read it around a hundred times!

Once he thought about the fact that he had no more books to read himself to sleep anymore, Romuse’s mood plummeted.

Senile could tell the principal was having a bad day.

If it was possible, Senile didn’t want to appear at such bad timing either, but Professor Tyrese was badly hurt, his colleague, Leonard, had to keep an eye on that trouble-magnet, so other than himself, no one else was available.

“Principal, it is confirmed that Lude and Derton are behind this, but…”

“Unlike what we predicted, Derton wasn’t the mind behind this diabolic scheme but Lude.”

Senile mustered up enough courage to report what he had gathered.

“Lude was the one?”

Principal Romuse came back from his lousy mood and shock flashed across his eyes.

“Yes. According to 2567’s statement, when he fought Derton, the house that you are living in suddenly exploded but Derton wasn’t surprised, as if he had predicted the outcome.”

“Lude then came out from the fire and Derton greeted him respectfully,” Senile nodded.

“This is just 2567’s own words. I want a more solid evidence.”

“And 2567 knew about the Index of Eat from Lude, so both of them should be somehow related,” Principal Romuse reminded Senile.

“We indeed have a more solid evidence: two groups of guards were ambushed by Lude and they fell into his illusory realm with a single glance.”

“That kind of power is at least a Professor level, and his speed! Lude possessed outrageous speed, not even a Professor level expert could catch up to him.”

Before Senile questioned the guards who got ambushed, he was rather doubtful about Kieran’s statement either but after that, he was very certain that Kieran was telling the truth: Derton was Lude’s subordinate.

Why would the strong work for the weak?

A sheep wouldn’t lead a group of lions.

“Is that so? Then what about the connection between 2567 and Lude?” Principal Romuse asked.

“I’ve asked him before, he said Lude’s men snatched the Little Rainbow Cake which was supposed to be the prize for the freshmen welcoming dinner, it was then 2567 discovered some clues.”

“It’s rather unbelievable I’d say, no one would believe a food-snatch would trigger such a big incident,” Senile sighed helplessly.

“No one believed it? If that’s the case, how did 2567 do it?” Principal Romuse asked back.

“Him? Well, he is not quite the same with other freshman, he isn’t just strong, his thinking pattern doesn’t function like a common man. Maybe he is those so-called genius,” Senile recalled the scenes before he shook his head in bitter smile.

Some people are destined to be different than others.

The most difficult questions in common eyes may not even prove to be a problem in their eyes.

Some mystifying incidents were rather simple from their point of view.

At least before Senile arrived at Fire Stove Alley, he’d never thought Derton’s… No, Lude’s target was the principal.

Everything that Lude did was to lure the principal out of his house and away from Fire Stove Alley

The house of the principal must have held some extremely precious items.

What could it be?

Since Principal Romuse didn’t mention it, Senile wasn’t that dull and stupid enough to ask, but toward Kieran, Senile was very much convinced up to this stage.

“Maybe, but I am more concerned about Lude! A 3rd year student who gave all his effort in hiding himself is much more dangerous than a genius First Seat freshman!”

“Senile, give me everything you have on Lude,” Principal Romuse said.

“Yes, principal,” Senile nodded and made a call from his communicator.

…

Kieran had already returned to his dorm after Senile’s interrogation session.

He knew what would happen next, but none of it mattered to him anymore.

Everyone’s eyes would be focused on ‘Lude’ and Kieran believed Bloody Mary would do a good job.

Like now, through the power of the contract, Kieran acquired the vision of Bloody Mary and was checking the item which Derton cared so much about: a map, a clearly labeled map of E Block.

Mystic State, the time of opening, the danger level.

All the obvious labels told Kieran the value of the map.

“It’s actually a new Mystic State?!”

When Derton gave up on the Index of Eat for this item, Kieran already had some guesses but he never thought it would be a map to a new Mystic State.

How much would a new Mystic State be worth?

Kieran knew very clearly since it wasn’t his first rodeo.

Aside from the possible treasures inside, the ‘ingredients’ alone inside would attract people to swarm after it like a flock of ducks.

To Kieran, the most important thing was the new notifications in his vision.

[Acquired key item: new Mystic State deduction map]

[Special trial initiated after acquiring new Mystic State deduction map, acquired special dungeon in advance: Name of Eat]

“Acquired special dungeon in advance?” Kieran grinned.

The gains and benefits of a second entry to this dungeon world to Kieran was self-explanatory.

At least he could use a better, easier way to solve the restricting parts of his plan.

Some thoughts later, Kieran ordered Bloody Mary to bring out the Index of Eat.

Kieran frowned though, it was just some ancient text without any explanation.

The ancient text wasn’t included in [Mystical Knowledge], it was the product that extended from this particular dungeon world. For Kieran, who had only acquired the common language pack, the ancient texts were as difficult as the Book of Heaven.

Besides, what happened just now had stopped him from doing research on the ancient text in the meantime.

Even though he was secretive enough, researching a large amount of ancient text all of a sudden would be enough to attract unwanted attention from intentional parties.

As a matter of fact, if there wasn’t a rather troublesome guard at the library, he would have sent Canberlanor there to read all the books in the shortest time.

And now?

“I have to approach this even more secretively?” Kieran fell into deep thought.

Unconsciously, Kieran thought about the spiritual being that lingered in the second floor of the library. Perhaps… there was another on the third floor?

With the new thoughts in his head, Kieran didn’t move out recklessly, instead he took out the loot he got from Derton and the two attackers from last night.

A Magic rank plate.

A Rare rank winepot.

A Legendary rank oiler.

Under the light, the three items were glowing in their respective glows, it was a delightful scene for Kieran.

[Name: Exquisite Plate]

[Type: Wonder Item]

[Rarity: Magic]

[Attack: None]

[Defense: Strong]

[Attribute: Condensation]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: The Patissier found this low level treasure in the Mystic State. Other than holding pastries, sashimi would be a fine choice as well.]

…

[Condensation: emanate coldness at all times (will not cause damage even after touching it for a long period of time)]

…

[Name: Compact Brew Winepot]

[Type: Wonder Item]

[Rarity: Rare]

[Attack: None]

[Defense: Powerful]

[Attribute: Brew Intake]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: Wine Beast found this treasure in the Mystic State, it is priceless to him.]

…

[Brew Intake: Put special ingredients inside and the winepot will brew different kinds of wine according to the traits of ingredient (the brewing speed is based on the rank of item placed, unable to brew Legendary rank or higher ingredients), usable onceper week]

…

[Name: Secret Oil Mixture]

[Type: Wonder Item]

[Rarity: Legendary]

[Attack: None]

[Defense: None]

[Attribute: Use it during cooking, has a certain chance to raise the food’s quality. 3/3 (When usage counter surpasses 1, 2 usage counters will be consumed)]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: Only the essence from an Oil Giant could be considered a secret mix]

…

After a thorough examination of the three items, Kieran put them away carefully. [Secret Oil Mixture] has a certain chance to increase food quality, he knew who was most suitable to use it.

He also put [Exquisite Plate] and [Compact Brew Winepot] together with the other ‘tableware’.

Although Kieran didn’t drink, it didn’t stop him from putting them into his bag.

He walked out of his dorm after storing everything, it was time for dinner.

The communicator on the table?

Kieran would never felt at ease using something that was created entirely from someone else’s hand. He had no idea whether or not it had something that didn’t belong there.

Even though Professor Tyrese was kind, Kieran still did not acknowledge him as a friend.

…

E Block cafeteria.

Kieran saw Eiderburgh standing in front of the entrance to the underground kitchen. He had been missing for two days but other than a rather tired face, his strong, buff body was still as ferocious as a silverback gorilla. The pipe in his mouth was giving out sparks, meaning he was in quite in the mood.

“Good evening, Head Chef,” Kieran greeted and walked towards the surface cafeteria very naturally, as if he originally wanted to head to the cafeteria instead of the underground kitchen.

“Wait, where are you going?” Eiderburgh called Kieran.

“Cafeteria, dinner,” Kieran replied in a brief manner.

“Were you not having dinner in the kitchen for the past 2 days?” Eiderburgh asked with a cold laugh.

“Kitchen? What are you blabbering about? In the past 2 days, other than necessary, this is my first time going to the cafeteria to have my dinner,” Kieran frowned and showed a displeased look.

“So it wasn’t your handiwork in the kitchen?”

Eiderburgh was stunned when he saw Kieran’s authentic, displeased face.

After being freed from Derton’s detention and returned to the cafeteria, he heard about what happened to the kitchen in the past 2 days. Annoyed and upset, he unconsciously thought of Kieran.

Eiderburgh waited for Kieran at the entrance after calculating his schedule and hesaw Kieran as expected, but…

Kieran’s reaction caused him to doubt his initial thought.

It isn’t him?

As doubts baffled his mind, Eiderburgh’s intimidating manner weakened.

“Accusing others without any solid evidence, this is how you do things?” Kieran asked and further blunted Eiderburgh’s intimidating manner.

“And the person you accused is the one who saved your life!”

A cold grunt later, Eiderburgh’s intimidating manner weakened to its lowest point.

“Fine, fine, fine! I’ll admit that Derton messed up my mind, I’ll make it up to you,” he said in an apologetic way.

Eiderburgh took his pipe down and scratched his head.

“How? The transfer hub…”

“Don’t even think about it! You will not enter the food transfer hub for the rest of your life!”

Eiderburgh interrupted Kieran the moment he mentioned the forbidden place.

“Then how are you going to make up to me? A Proper Meal class food?”

Kieran raised a puzzled brow.

He didn’t believe Eiderburgh could compensate him with a Proper Meal class food, but if he could, Kieran wouldn’t mind either.

“Why don’t you go rob others?”

“I’ll tell you a myth about the ‘cafeteria’—a powerful Eat Technique is hidden in the cafeteria, legend says it is somewhere in the kitchen, but I don’t know the exact location.

“One thing for sure though: that myth is real!”

Eiderburgh growled angrily at the overpriced compensation before he spilled the beans.

“What kind of compensation is this? I’ve heard it from other students before,” Kieran was dissatisfied.

“I’ll grant you permission to enter the cafeteria at night, you can carefully search for it.”

“And I assure you, once you find it, it’s yours to keep.”

“Myself nor any of the Theorate related personnel will intervene,” Eiderburgh said seriously.

“Fine.” Kieran pretended to think for a while before nodding at the ‘compensation.

While feeling it pity that he couldn’t eat like a buffet anymore, Kieran then walked up to the the cafeteria—as the First Seat he had his own independent lounge to have his meal.

As for the legendary technique?

Kieran didn’t put much hope in it.

After that many people searched for it for so many years that it even became a myth, Kieran didn’t think he was so lucky to get the opportunity that fell from the sky.

“Three Set A, three Set B, and three more Set C, thank you.”

Kieran glanced over the menu and placed his order with the server at the window.

It was not that he didn’t want to order more but he was short on cash.

Since he stepped into this dungeon world, the cash that he got was from Lude’s secret warehouse and after that place was blown to hell, he lost his income source.

“I need to find a place to trade my gold into cash… Huh?!”

As he pondered upon the problem, he felt a faint presence flashed over before him.

He raised his head to the origin of the presence.