The Devil's Cage

What else was happier than when everything progressed smoothly?

It would definitely be an extra gain whilst everything went on, just like Kieran at the moment.

Kieran had already expected War God Temple to make a move a while ago, he even knew a thing or two about the methods they would use.

After all… he had a very reliable follower who helped him dissect War God Temple’s entire plan, but Viscount Reedral remained a surprise.

Kieran never thought that War God Temple would choose Viscount Reedral as a disguise target.

To him though, it was good news.

If he would go after Viscount Reedral directly, it would be too obvious, but if it was War God Temple… everything would be much more interesting.

With that thought in mind, Kieran straightaway gave a set of new orders to Bloody Mary.

‘Find the real Viscount Reedral.’

There wasn’t any further explanation attached to that order, Kieran knew Bloody Mary would be able to understand him perfectly.

As for how to locate Viscount Reedral?

The vision from [Tracking] already allowed him to track down where this fake Viscount Reedral came from. The real Viscount Reedral would surely be nearby due to the fake one having no time to properly settle down the real viscount.

As for killing the real Viscount Reedral?

The fake viscount wasn’t just aiming for a simple massacre, or more accurately, only Kieran would be killed and the fake one would use the killing as a chip to bargain with Viscount Reedral.

If Kieran died, how furious would Edatine VI be for losing an heir? What would Snake Sect do for losing their heir too?

Should that happen, Viscount Reedral wouldn’t have a choice at all.

Explanation?

Sometimes, if explanations were useful, there would be this many killings and massacres.

The human heart is complicated and indirect.

Therefore, Kieran always tended to resolve in the most direct way against his enemies.

The sword grazed Kieran’s body by an inch.

A dazzling flash came off the sword all of a sudden, its blinding light making everyone in it’s near vicinity close their eyes instinctively.

A dozen sword flashes were fired out from the blade, shredding the stone ground of a 5 meter radius into smithereens, but they did not harm Kieran at all, not even a single strand of hair. Even the armed imposter failed to locate Kieran’s figure anywhere in his sight.

All that was left was—

Hiss! Hiss!

A series of snake hisses sounded, playing like the prelude before the appearance of the grim reaper.

An airstream appeared out of nowhere, swirling and spinning, enveloping the imposter whole.

Tsssk!

The imposter’s clothes were torn to shreds the moment they came in contact with the airstream, followed by his flesh, as though many invisible snakes in the air were worrying him, ripping his flesh away.

The feeling of being cut by a myriad of blades made the imposter squeal in pain.

“Aaaah!” The painful squeal sounded loudly but stopped abruptly.

A kick hidden in the airstream landed on the imposter’s head accurately.

Bang!

A loud thump later, the imposter’s body trembled. As if he was a drunkard, he faltered several steps back and fell on the ground.

Bright red blood accompanied by crushed brains oozed out from his nostrils, ears, and eyes.

Until the last moment, the imposter’s eyes remained wide.

He had to admit that he had heavily underestimated the power of Snake Sect’s heir.

But what about the sense of delight that flashed over the eyes of the Snake Sect’s heir?

On his dying breath, the imposter looked towards the ‘spy’ that he planted, then he saw the similar sense of delight in Gino’s eyes, feeling happy, as if he had successfully taken revenge.

‘It’s him!? He leaked my plan?!’

The imposter wanted to push himself up and shout, but a moment later, eternal darkness descended on him.

The imposter lost all signs of life.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!? Are you alright?”

Monte, who Kieran pushed away earlier, ran back and was worried about the prince he served.

The vassal heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Kieran was well and unharmed. Then, with overflowing killer intents, he looked at the rest of the followers and guards of Viscount Reedral.

“Take them down! I want them alive!”

Although the vassal was eager to chop every one of the bastards into meat paste, he had to expand his thoughts according to the gains and benefits of the prince he served.

‘Maybe this is a chance?’ thought the vassal.

Rogart, who went up to check on the dead body, verified the vassal’s thoughts.

The dead viscount was not the real one.

“Sean!?” Sivalka accurately called out the dead imposter.

The ex-armed deacon of the Dark Hall in War God Temple furrowed his brows tightly.

He suddenly remembered some bad rumours that revolved around War God Temple.

The Inquisition! It must be the Inquisition’s handy work!

 COMMENT

Sivalka looked at Kieran with a worried look.

Kieran, as calm as water, walked up to the body, picked up the sword that Sean left behind, and turned around to the temporary base of the Mist.

There was no further order or any signs at all.

The people present at the scene looked at each other in confusion.

No one seemed to grasp the thought of this heir to the throne and Snake Sect.

He had just been through an attempt on his life, wasn’t he furious about it?

How could he be this calm?

Everyone else was wondering the same question.

On the other hand, Bloody Mary, who knew everything, was busy.

Although its boss had provided a rough location of the real viscount, they were in Edatine Castle, where the population flourished and buildings rose. Searching for a single person in such a crowded place was not an easy task.

Fortunately, it was quick enough.

Phasing through the void and flying through almost 20 buildings, Bloody Mary finally located Viscount Reedral in the basement of a house.

The viscount was not in a good shape when he was found. There were multiple injuries on his body, and although attended to, the wounds were still bleeding.

He looked pale and his forehead was boiling.

When Bloody Mary appeared before the weak viscount, he seemed to have noticed the presence of someone but he didn’t have the strength to move a finger. He couldn’t even open his eyes.

 COMMENT

Bloody Mary couldn’t help but shake its head and sigh.

It easily determined that this viscount was ambushed by at least 4 people at once, but the critical attack that robbed the viscount’s mobility was an arrow, a poisonous arrow.

It was because of the poisonous arrow that the viscount ended up as captive and in such a poor state.

“My lord hears the loss, my lord hears the doubts. I come following the holy order of my lord, to save you from the loss and to solve your doubts,” Bloody Mary, in Simon’s disguise, said slowly.

Its voice was warm and filled with love towards life.

It extended its finger and a warm white light enveloped Viscount Reedral’s body.

…

The icy coldness spread throughout his body.

Reedral never thought he would die in such a condition.

 COMMENT

Yes, he was dying. He smelled the scent of death.

The sword and knife injuries weren’t serious, they were mere skin wounds, but the poisonous arrow started to destroy his life.

‘Maybe a while later, I will be a dead body,’ thought Reedral.

Fear and despair naturally rose in his heart.

Who wasn’t afraid of death? Reedral had no idea but he was. However, what scared him more was the grievance and the unheard silence before his death.

‘What would that bastard do using my appearance?’

Fear spread despair, and at the last moment of his life, Reedral started to think.

It was natural that he thought of the bastard who took on his looks.

Then?

He thought of what his family would have to deal with after his death.

He also thought of the decisive and harsh attitude of the king and War God Temple!

That’s right, it was War God Temple!

A trace of hatred suffused in Reedral’s heart.

Although the ambush surprised him, he still managed to find out where those wretched ambushers were from.

War God Temple!

Connecting it to the incident that happened last night, Reedral soon came up with a deduction on the matter from the start till the end.

War God Temple would not allow a powerful royal court in their presence, especially a royal court which had many unsevered ties with the Demon Hunters. It was prohibited!

And him?

He was just a fish caught in the moat fire.

Anger! Grievance!

The negative emotions rose but soon faded.

Reedral knew all those negative emotions were useless. He was to blame for not grasping the situation properly, hence falling into such an ugly state. There was no one else to blame but himself.

Death became his only option.

The icy coldness gushed into his body like the rising tide.

Reedral struggled one last time, but what he felt was more helplessness.

Right before he gave up on everything, a muddled voice came into his ears.

The voice was muffled but it was warm.

The coldness slowly dispersed.

Basking in the warmth, he unconsciously recalled his entire life.

He remembered when he was 16, where he walked past a girl in funny clothing when he strolled along the streets of Edatine Castle.

He remembered when he was 20, and for the sake of the family and the benefits, he had to marry a woman that he had never met before.

He remembered when he was 22, and in order to match the trends of the upper classes in Edatine Castle, he started to have two mistresses.

He remembered when he was 23, and that woman found out that he had mistresses, what he got was contempt and mockery.

He remembered when he was 25, and that woman moved back to her family mansion and died of depression.

He remembered when he was 30, when he brought the children of his mistresses back to his own family, the hardship and torture that he received.

He remembered when he was 33…

Life was like a spinning lantern, spinning fast and quick, everything else became unimportant and somewhat insignificant.

When he felt that warmth, he felt like he had returned to his teenage years, when he was 16.

He saw that girl in the funny clothes once more. He couldn’t help but cry, tears rolling down his cheeks ceaselessly. He unconsciously stopped his steps. He opened his mouth and asked, “Hi, I am Reedral. May I know your name?” with utmost politeness.

There was no reply, only a sweet smile from the girl.

It was so dazzling under the radiant sun.

Reedral looked at the smile in astonishment.

What was he pursuing back then? For what?

Why was he only now realizing what he had been yearning for?

The next second, Reedral opened his eyes.

He saw Bloody Mary, in Simon’s look, standing before his eyes.

“Is it a dream?” Reedral muttered.

“Is it a good dream?” Bloody Mary asked back.

“Good dream? It was. It was the best dream that I ever had. My heart… it felt like it came alive,” said Reedral.

He regained strength as he wiped the tears away from the corner of his eyes, managing to push himself up and kneeling down before Bloody Mary on one knee.

With a never before heard solemnity, he said, “Reedral hereby greets lord Bishop Simon!”