The Deceitful One

The metal hooks pierced through the necks of the tens of bodies as they hung from the ceiling. All of them were young boys. Some had lifeless eyes and some of them were even twitching from time to time, on the verge of dying.

The black-haired lady looked at the ones that were still breathing and giggled coquettishly, "Oh? Looks like some of you are still alive."

She then proceeded to watch them as they struggled to get the hooks off their bodies. However, it was all for naught. Their deaths had already been decided.

The black-haired lady took great pleasure in watching all this as she continued to bathe in the blood of her victims. Drops of blood drizzled down from the dead bodies as her smile only grew brighter and brighter.

Both Bryan and Benny saw this and froze on the spot. Bryan then covered Benny's eyes and whispered, "You shouldn't be watching any of this."

Benny slowly removed Bryan's hand and looked into his eyes, 'I've seen much worse in others' dreams. Most humans are truly two-faced creatures. They act friendly in real life, but craft fantasies of violence and gore against the same person in their dreams.'

Bryan couldn't help but agree with Benny's assessment. Most people were indeed two-faced. They were well-versed in acting as they wore fake masks in public.

Only now did he begin to realize that invading someone else's dreams wasn't always a fun thing. Only through dreams, could one realize the true nature of man.

He stroked Benny's head warmly and replied, "We don't have to check out her memories if you don't wish to."

Benny nuzzled his head against Bryan's face and then looked at the black-haired girl and sneered, 'Insects like her cannot affect my mind.'

"Are you sure?" Bryan inquired further out of concern.

'Of course!' Benny nodded his head vigorously, 'I, the great Benjamin Lombardi, am the strongest and the bravest!'

Bryan smiled dotingly at Benny as he ruffled the fur on the latter's head. The duo then walked towards the blood pool and stood behind the place where the woman was leaning.

Bryan then crouched down, allowing Benny, who was in his arms, to gently touch the woman's head. The next moment, the space around the duo twisted and turned as they disappeared.

Just like the last time, everything inside this dream came to a pause. The blood dripping from the dead bodies froze in mid-air. Everything had turned into a state of silence.

About ten minutes later, Bryan and Benny appeared again behind the woman and the surroundings returned to normal.

Bryan stumbled on his feet and fell to the ground as he looked at the woman in front of him in utter shock and disbelief. Benny too stared at the woman solemnly.

"I-Impossible!" Bryan spat through gritted teeth as he clenched his fists and his eyes turned bloodshot, "This bitch is from the Holy Blood Sect!"

After what happened to Jamie, Bryan had developed extreme hatred and loathing for the Holy Blood Sect's members. Hence, the reason why he showed such anger and abhorrence towards the woman in front of him.

But the reason why he was so shocked after viewing all her memories was that he had finally found out what the Holy Blood Sect was actually planning to do in Damascus City!

Or, to be more precise, what this woman thought the Holy Blood Sect was doing in the city.

After reading through all her memories, Bryan found out that the woman's name was Lara who was a Rank 1 transcendent. She was born and raised in Damascus City and only last year did she become a Rank 1 Blood Path Transcendent.

She had been working for the Holy Blood Sect for close to five years. Bryan even got to see the supposed leader of the evil organization's branch in Damascus City.

That person was an old man who was a Rank 2 Transcendent of the Blood Path. His name was Alfredo!

The Holy Blood Sect worked in utmost secrecy. Lara herself had met Alfredo only a handful of times throughout her time in the organization.

Alfredo had given her the mission to recruit prospective candidates that could become Transcendents and introduce them to the Blood Path. However, this was not the main mission!

The Holy Blood Sect's main mission was to unearth an old ruin that belonged to a powerful ancient family from the 3rd Era. A very powerful artifact lay hidden within this ruin, which was situated on the outskirts of Damascus City.

Bryan slowly got up to his feet as he glared at Lara from behind, "So that's what you dogs are planning to do in this city."

He gritted his teeth as he went for his gun in his underarm holster. However, he realized he wasn't carrying his gun and this wasn't the real world, to begin with.

He then exhaled a deep breath as he tried to control his anger. Benny ran towards him and climbed his shoulder and asked worriedly, 'Bryan, are you okay?'

Bryan took a few deep breaths and replied, "Yes, I'm fine now."

His eyes narrowed as he stared at Lara, "Since I now know their plans, I can inform the Silver Owls and effectively stop them."

However, Benny inquired, 'But what are you going to tell them? You can't tell them that you got this information by reading her memories. They'll never believe you.'

Bryan felt as if he had been doused in a bucket of cold water, "Fuck me!"

He then began to pace around the pool as he tried to think of ways to disclose this information to his Captain, Robert.

His eyes then fell on the dead bodies hanging by metal hooks from the ceiling. He then looked at Lara as his eyes narrowed with terrifying killing intent, "You like young boys, don't you? Very well, I'll give you what you desire."

Bryan had decided to become bait and offer himself to Lara. He would then kill her when she least expected it. The reason why he thought of this plan was that this way he would be able to visit her house.

And in her memories, Bryan had seen that Lara had kept a scroll hidden in her house. And this scroll detailed the whereabouts of the ruins. If he offered the scroll to his captain, the latter wouldn't find him suspicious.

Effectively killing two birds with one stone!