The Devil's Cage

Starbeck: 2567, my dish is lacking an ingredient, so I'm taking a stroll at Ro Street and since Ro Street is having a food carnival, you wanna come?

2567: Where are you?

Starbeck: I'm at the middle corner of Ro Street.

2567: Wait for me.

Starbeck: Ok!

…

In the middle of Ro Street, Starbeck happily strolled along while humming a melody when he got the decisive answer from his PM tab.

The little melody was what Kieran used to hum, Starbeck remembered it. It wasn't quick and relaxing, it'd allow a person to relax unconsciously, suitable for a stroll.

"Sigh, I've failed again. I knew it wasn't easy simply changing the recipe… But if I don't change it, the ingredients are too different, it won't help 2567 as much… If only I can get into 'Name of Eat' dungeon... Too bad I'm such a coward."

Starbeck hummed the melody he copied from Kieran, trying his best to relax but his mind was pondering upon the alteration and development of his dish.

He'd failed three times in a row, and it was something he had never experienced before.

If it was some other thing, it wouldn't be anything surprising but Starbeck was quite confident in his culinary skills, so it was very rare.

It wasn't just because of his talents, it was also his confidence and most importantly, his skillful hands in cooking.

Starbeck was a natural in controlling the spices and ingredients, it wasn't just because of his Talent [Agiel Hands], it was something deeper. He had this skill since he was born, like the absurd amount of wealth that could rival a country. Starbeck was used to it, until he met 2567.

At first he wasn't really bothered by his talents but it slowly turned into gratitude because he never realized how important his talent was to him until the encounter.

He wished to help 2567, like the many times 2567 helped him.

Each time he stood beside 2567, the peace, the comfort, and the safety plus the bravery was an intoxicating feeling. He did not want to let it go, wishing to stay beside 2567 for as long as he could.

However, in this place, this big city that mixed the truth with lies, danger lurked.

2567 was strong, he knew it, but he knew 2567 was in a lot of trouble, any misstep would send him deep into hell beyond redemption.

Especially those troublesome enemies that he had to face, Starbeck knew everything well.

Whenever he thought about the day 2567 would leave the game, a never before felt fear rose in his heart, as though it was consuming him whole. It was a first for him.

Starbeck was a coward, he knew it, he was used to acting in front of strangers. It was because of the awkwardness and also his identity—owning something others couldn't own for the rest of their lives would require him to sustain the weight than others couldn't too.

Yet the fear that rose this time was different, he knew it deep in his heart. He could accept other kinds of fear, but not this one.

So after the initial panicking state, Starbeck planned carefully. He knew his weakness, he couldn't have provided any kind of help in battle, so he turned to his forte, using what he did best to help 2567!

2567 still wasn't strong enough against those troublesome enemies, so he must make 2567 stronger, reaching the level of that woman!

If she could do it, so could he to 2567!

Dok Dok Dok!

Humming his melody, Starbeck raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Unlike the anxiety and nervousness towards a stranger, Starbeck was very calm at this moment, his presence even feeling different. It wasn't his strength that changed, it was his attitude and… confidence!

Starbeck knew how to utilise his advantage to the situation. The only thing remaining was the little melody.

Tssk Gak!

The door opened.

The player who opened the door widened his eyes, his pupils shrinking, frightened by Starbeck. He clearly felt the unusual presence from Starbeck.

Starbeck, who knocked on his door, wasn't a casual looking player, he was like a king taking a stroll in his hunting field, not only superior but had the right to decide life and death.

It wasn't his strength, yet it felt like it! It was strange and it pressured said player.

The unusual horrific experience made the player shake his head rapidly.

It was an illusion! Illusion!

He told himself and quickly went to the point.

"The things you requested are ready," the player then passed Starbeck a sack.

The sack was covered with a mystical sealing spell, yet a bit of energy inside it seeped out. It wasn't the wicked kind, or the chaotic kind, neither was it the light or the vast, but it was tenacity, the tenacity of overflowing life.

Without opening it, Starbeck knew it was the thing he sought after. He took the sack and placed it in his pack.

"What did you promise us?"

"The rights to trade in E Port is yours," Starbeck then turned around.

"Thank you for your generosity," the player bowed. He did not feel any shame in the bow just because he was an Advanced Rank player.

Back in real life, that E Port was a prosperous trading port, the incoming earned from trading there gave astronomical figures every year. With the rights to trade there, he could provide a wealthy life for his family and be able to use the money in real life to pay for his Points. As the dungeon difficulty increased, a player like him was facing difficulties in reaping extra benefits or gains.

Otherwise he would never choose to strike a deal with Starbeck.

Starbeck was…

The player ultimately shook the thought away, turning back into his room and vanishing.

The player thought he was being inconspicuous but the trade was like watching a show in a theatre for someone.

Slam!

Wu slammed the table, the crystal ball on her table jumped.

"Vixen! Damn vixen!" Wu shouted.

Promptly, he fell on the sofa, helplessly.

What kind of opponent was the hardest to deal with?

If Wu was ignorant before, the answer came to her when she met Starbeck.

Starbeck was the hardest kind.

The disgraceful, know-no-shame bastard tangling around Crow was the arch nemesis of her life!

Starbeck harboured no malicious intentions, he was helping Crow unconditionally, without a question, but because of that, Wu couldn't make a move.

Should Starbeck show any inkling of harming Crow, Wu had the confidence to deliver a graveless death, but she knew what Starbeck was trying to do, at least getting to know, so she had no ground to make a move.

Helplessness filled her heart, causing her to slam the table again.

Slam!

The crystal ball jumped again, higher this time, falling off the little stand and rolling down the table. Just as the crystal ball fell off the table, a hand grabbed it.

"Don't mess up my living room please," Rachel said and put the crystal ball back to the little rack.

"Is there anyway to kill this bastard and Crow won't hate me for it?" Wu looked at her friend.

"What do you think?" Rachel flipped a white eye and continued in an upset tone, "Given how 2567 reacts, if you really strike this Starbeck down, you guys will have to fight until the end of time. Believe me, 2567 shares resemblance with Lawless. Anyone who touches his friend, Lawless will go nuts. Same goes with 2567, probably even scarier."

"At least I'm confident enough to win Lawless, but 2567? Just imagine how powerful he could be if he flipped all his trump cards up. I guess… even he has no idea how powerful he could be."

Rachel suddenly felt restless.

As one of the earliest players who befriended Kieran, Rachel watched Kieran grow stronger.

During the first meeting, Kieran was still a rookie, Rachel was nearing rank V.

Now, Kieran was already in rank V, Rachel was still stuck at nearing rank V.

Shock, right?

Frustrating, right?

In fact, Rachel believed if it wasn't Kieran's presence stimulating her, she would be stuck for a longer time.

"It's only a few short months and he has been through half of our lives, which we took pride in. He is definitely untrained in real life and us? We are trained, veterans and experienced in the business, so I think we must have encountered the dear son of the big city."

"Do you know what the fellas looked like when they found out 2567 reached rank V? It's like constipation for their entire life. Then every one of them went into hiding, otherwise what else do you think they had been doing? Don't get me started on that Broker bastard! That bastard must have seen this coming, that is why he hid in his hole so early on," Rachel went all out and complained to her friend.

Then, Wu chuckled, a proud sound.

The Wisher who dressed like a witch touched her crystal ball, and said in a very certain tone, "This is only natural, he is Crow!"

"You… Do you know what I am talking about? Don't even think about touching Starbeck. If you so happen to lay a finger on him, not only will you lose your stand in the big city, you will lose everything in real life too!"

Wu's reaction increased Rachel's frustration, throwing [Cooking]'s skill book to her and walking out of the room.

After a while, Rachel's roars came through the door.

"YOU BASTARD! STEALING ALCOHOL AGAIN!"

"N-No! I'm just testing for the expiration date!"

Crash!

Lawless' argument ended when the bottle was smashed on his head.

The noise cancelling door shut after that.

Wu showed a sense of admiration before he picked up the skill book.

"Do you think I'll just give up like this? Hmph! Naive!"

…

Starbeck stood in the middle corner of the street after he acquired the main ingredients, patiently waiting for Kieran.

The crowd flowed like an endless river before his eyes, a great challenge for the old Starbeck, but now, it was just anticipation.

He anticipated joining the crowd with Kieran.

"Huh?"

Starbeck spotted a person whose face wasn't blurred out by the system during his wait.

The natives?

It wasn't a secret that J.Pearlman was rebuilding Freedom Alliance. A while ago, someone hunted down the Freedom Alliance and the news spread like wildfire. Nothing could cover it up.

Though, when J.Pearlman accepted those natives as part of the new Freedom Alliance, it was still shocking news.

It was just news for a day or two, no one would care about these natives without strength, talent, and skills after that.

The players were busy with themselves, why would they spare time to care about the natives?

Therefore, even if the players saw a native holding a broom and dustpan among the crowd, they'd return to their usual activities after an extra glance.

This particular native lowered his head, carefully cleaning any rubbish that he saw.

This was his job, the job Sir J.Pearlman fought for him.

He was part of the first batch of natives, and if this worked, more natives could be working in Ro Street, hence the carefulness.

After the dustpan was full, the native avoided the crowd and headed to the trash cans. He did not dump everything inside though, instead carefully selecting the rubbish he collected.

Aluminium bottles and cans plus a little bit of leftover food were all kept away in his pocket.

It was permitted by Ro Street's authority.

The metal or aluminium could be traded for some daily items and food from the ironsmith. Compared to the insignificant wage, this was the major income for the native.

As for the leftover food? It would be his three meals.

He ought to provide his wife and kids with clean and full food.

He himself would have to bear with the leftover. He was okay with it, he tried his best to select the clean ones and even if it was dirty, he'd eat it after blowing.

The native blew away some dust stuck on a meatball and then delivered it into his mouth.

Although cold, the meatball's springiness remained and the richness of the meat put a smile on his face. It was satisfaction from the bottom of his heart.

However, when the native saw a player walk over, he carefully stepped away and tried not to be in the player's way.

Natives and players were different, the natives knew that the moment they arrived in the big city.

Despite the fact that they were taken care of by a good player like J.Pearlman, not all players were kind.

The native bowed humbly and meticulously for he knew his position in his big city, but out of his expectation, the player walked to him.

"My lord, is there anything that I can do for you?" the native asked respectfully.

"Help me throw these away," the player passed the native a bag.

"Not a problem," the native nodded, took the bag with both hands and avoided touching the player's hands.

When the player let go, the native felt how heavy the bag was, and at the same time, the native saw what the bag was holding.

There was food in packages, all opened yet steaming hot.

The native was stunned, looking back up and trying to make sure was it a mistake but when he did, the player was long gone.

The native looked back down at the bag of food, hoping to find something in the bag but other than food, there was food.

His eyes teared up as the warmth filled his hands.

"Hot, food," He sobbed.

He carefully carried the bag of food with him.

Steaming hot food was nice. He wanted to have a taste too, but his wife and kids would be happier right?

Carrying the bag of food, the native bowed in the direction where the player went off, "Thank you."

…

After turning into a corner, Starbeck heaved a long breath because of his nervousness and the short sprint.

"Hope you can make it!" Starbeck prayed for the native.

Although he had many ways to help, he wasn't an idiot, so he knew overhelping wasn't a good thing.

Same saying applied to real life and in the big city.

A bag of food wouldn't turn eyes, but if it was some other things that could be related to Points, unwanted trouble will follow.

He wouldn't be helping people then, he would be placing them in a troubled position.

Besides, he had many other ways to help, but that was a story for another day.

Now?

The black figure appeared in Starbeck's sight and all the thoughts in his mind were emptied out.

"2567!" Starbeck waved happily, calling out softly.