Anyway, they couldn’t escape this place for now—no other choice. What’s more, Lucian offered to cooperate. In the end, the humans exchanged glances and took their seats one by one at the long dining table. Naturally, the seat opposite Lucian was reserved for Benjamin, the one with the light ability—the power most capable of resisting the monsters in this dungeon.
"This might be a historic turning point in humanity’s fight against the dungeon—a monster proposing a cooperation with humans. Maybe this is what Silvanus ant, that the dungeon has changed, and the monsters have evolved, forming different factions. This might crush humanity... or we might use it to escape the dungeon!"
Outside, Frank kept speaking non-stop, his eyes seemingly glowing. He prayed that this outstanding batch of humans could make it to the end of the dungeon. They had to learn more!
Lucian gently sliced the at, brought a piece—bright red, as if still bleeding—to his mouth, and elegantly chewed. The only sound in the room was the clinking of cutlery against porcelain. All eyes were on Lucian, and he, unhurried, sat as if he were the lord of the place.
At last, Lucian raised his eyes, lips curling into a smile:
"What’s the matter? Aren’t any of you going to enjoy the delicacies on the table? I put so much effort into this, you know. Your attitude is honestly making a little sad."
[This passion for theatrics Nerio has... maybe he chose the wrong career. Born a god but shining like an actor—hahaha]
[A god pretending to be a monster on the monster’s side, negotiating with humans about teaming up with monsters... this scene is truly...]
[It’s hard to say—perhaps the humans never saw this coming]
[At first, soone might’ve had doubts about Eryon’s identity, at least a little. After all, the way he acts is unique. But now, no one would question Lucian’s identity as a monster]
[Am I the only one who thinks Nerio is way too handso? Huhuhu, look at the glow around him—even the lights seem to favor him. This look of his might surpass his shota form in my heart!]
[’Might’? Just might? Bro...]
[Am I the only one who finds this whole scene hilarious? I can’t wait to see the expressions on both the humans’ and monsters’ faces when the truth cos out—hahaha]
No one responded to Lucian. Of course, no one was stupid enough to eat food offered by a monster—especially at that looked barely cooked.
Lucian didn’t seem to mind. He toyed with the at on his plate, seemingly no longer interested in eating. His actions were utterly inappropriate at a dinner table, but sohow, everything still appeared elegant and noble when he did it.
Cocona frowned, growing bored with the deadlock. She glanced at Benjamin, then looked back at Lucian and said directly, "Aren’t you going to explain your proposal for cooperation in more detail?"
Only then did Lucian lift his gaze, resting his chin on his interlocked fingers. He looked at Cocona and said, "I like your urgency and bluntness."
Cocona pressed her lips together, saying nothing.
Lucian continued, "A cooperation—as I said, you help obtain the fish scale, and I’ll spare your lives and give you a chance to leave this castle. For many con artists, this is undoubtedly the greatest benefit you could hope for. Or, if you prefer, you can die here and beco dinner for my sister."
Lucian seed truly confident in his power—or perhaps in the "sister" behind him.
But now wasn’t the ti to test strength.
Benjamin said, "Do we have ti to think it over?"
Lucian raised an eyebrow and sneered, "So you’re still considering the second option? That you’d rather be buried here?"
Benjamin replied calmly, "We just need to discuss among ourselves."
"Fine. But I won’t wait long. Tomorrow night, you’ll give the answer I want."
That wasn’t a negotiation—it was a command.
To Lucian, this group of swindlers had no choice but to obey. To be played with, they were nothing more than rats in his hands.
When Lucian finished speaking, the heavy tal doors swung open—a silent cue to leave. The humans stood up individually while the NPCs were overjoyed, their eyes glimring like they’d just seen the light of a new dawn.
The cross-eyed man couldn’t help but burst into laughter and hurriedly ran out ahead of the others.
"Thud! Thud!"
Suddenly, sothing heavy hitting the ground echoed through the room, tumbling and rolling to a stop at the doorway.
Under the dim light, the still-grinning, crazed face of the cross-eyed man lay on the ground—detached from his body.
"Aaaaaaaa!"
This ti, it was the black-haired girl who scread—because the long-haired man standing beside her had also been beheaded!
Fresh blood sprayed across her body as the headless corpse collapsed beside her. At the sa ti, both bodies began to lt—lting like thin sheets of ice, without bones—until they turned into puddles of diluted blood, spreading and seeping across the room as if trying to cover the entire floor.
It beca increasingly disturbing to stand on the ground.
"Khak khak, khak khak, khak khak..."
The two NPC heads suddenly leaped into the air at that mont, twitching and bouncing about. Their faces twisted in agony, yet they still wore eerie, grotesque smiles.
As they thrashed, a black, slimy fish body grew from each neck’s cut. Their faces distorted further—eyes bulging, mouths protruding—spitting frothy saliva.
Each slap of their fishtails against the blood-soaked ground sent splashes of foul-slling, sticky black sli flying.
They looked like stranded fish gasping for air, their grotesque expressions intensifying with the pain.
Witnessing the horrifying scene, the black-haired girl vomited on the spot, and the other humans couldn’t help but frown in disgust.
"Don’t look down at the floor!"
Benjamin suddenly shouted, snapping everyone out of their daze.
At that exact mont, countless eyes suddenly opened beneath the floor surface—reflecting through the pool of blood.
Sinister, hateful eyes, full of loathing for the world.
There was no doubt—it was the monster imprisoned in the water.
This must be why the butler warned them not to go near the water.
Cocona glared furiously at Lucian. "You said you’d give us ti to think!"
Lucian shrugged with a playful smile.
"Now, now—no need to get so heated. My sister just wanted to have a bit of fun. She’s lonely... a little sad."
As he said that, his gaze dropped to the two "fish" flailing helplessly on the floor, and he smiled:
"As for those two lives—I have to keep them. My father told I had to go hunting tonight. I can’t return without a trophy, can I?"
Lucian laughed, his eyes sweeping across the humans like they were his next prey.
The truth was clear: once all the NPCs were gone, the humans would be next—whether they wanted it or not.
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