The Deceitful One



Bryan looked at the dismembered body of the Blood Path Transcendent in front of him with cold eyes. The person's limbs had been severed, all ribs broken, lungs punctured, and his intestines wrapped around his neck, strangling him.

The man was almost on the verge of dying and had spilled everything he knew about the Holy Blood Sect in Nadir. Although he was a Rank 2 Transcendent, he didn't know much.

But it was enough for Bryan since he now knew the whereabouts of Ron. To be more precise, he knew the whereabouts of his fiancee, Celine!

It came as a great surprise to Bryan when he found out that Celine was also a part of the Holy Blood Sect. Before this, he always thought that Ron used and betrayed Celine just like the rest of the Strike Team members.

However, things were different. And the reason why this person knew so much about Ron and Celine in the first place was that he was a direct subordinate of Ron.

Bryan had gotten really lucky. In that, he was able to get hold of someone close to Ron in his first attempt.

Apart from Celine's whereabouts, the person had also divulged the location of two bases of the Holy Blood Sect where they trained and raised prospective Apprentices and Transcendents.

Bryan, who had already reverted back to his human form, looked at the bloodied and mutilated body of the person and asked Benny, "What happens when someone dies in the dream?"

'They die in the Waking World! In his case, he'll die in the Dreamworld.' Benny replied solemnly.

"I see…" Bryan nodded his head, "So dying in the dream actually has such consequences."

Within a few seconds, Bryan noticed that the person had completely stopped breathing. And the next moment, he along with Benny were ejected from the person's dream!

Bryan found himself back in the alley where he was previously. He looked around and saw the headless corpse of the Blood Path Transcendent whom he had earlier killed.

And in front of Bryan was the corpse of the person whose dream he had just come out from. However, this corpse was intact! And not mutilated as it had been in his dream.

Bryan couched down in front of this man and checked his pulse, "Indeed, he's dead."

"But I'm surprised that his body isn't the way it was inside his dream…" He mumbled.

'Because it was all a dream.' Benny replied in a profound manner.

Bryan was dazed when he heard that. He couldn't help but ponder about the true reality of things. What was an illusion and what wasn't? What was a dream and what wasn't?

"How interesting!" Bryan muttered as his eyes shone brightly.

Benny looked at Bryan and giggled, 'Shall we go back to the Waking World and find out just how long has passed?'

Bryan's eyebrows twitched, "I still can't get used to the change in the flow of time."

The next moment, Benny waved his paw and created a portal to the Waking World. He and Bryan then walked straight into it, leaving behind the two corpses in the alley.

A brief period of silence ensued after the portal was closed. And then dozens of black tendrils spurted from the ground and the walls of the alley!

They coiled around the two corpses and pulled them inside the ground! And then, everything went back to normal.

…

A small portal opened up in the same alley in the Waking World. Bryan and Benny stepped out of it, the former instantly released his spiritual sense to scout the surrounding.

After sensing that no one was around, he breathed a sigh of relief. He then looked at the sky and saw that it had already turned dark. He had entered the Dreamworld in the afternoon, and although it was currently night, he didn't know what day it was.

Bryan couldn't help but sigh. He didn't even bother checking the time on his silver pocket watch since it wouldn't show him the correct time anyway.

Suddenly, he thought of something and looked at Benny and inquired, "What will happen to two corpses that we left behind?"

Benny replied nonchalantly, 'The motherland will naturally absorb them. After all, she loathes the presence of outsiders.'

"I see…" Bryan nodded his head, "So they'll become nutrients for the Dreamworld, huh?"

Benny climbed Bryan's shoulders and nodded, 'Anyway, let's go back home. I'm hungry. Also, change your face back to Anthony's.'

"Ah!" Bryan tapped his forehead lightly, "I completely forgot about that."

He was still wearing the face of Ron. The next moment, his face twisted and contorted and within a few seconds, he had now become Anthony Wayne!

Bryan quickly changed into a new pair of clothes in the alley. He threw his torn clothes inside his pocket watch. Finally, he left the place and headed towards his mansion in Calm Springs.

…

Inside Bryan's mansion, Donald was pacing around in the living room with an anxious expression plastered all over his face. And the reason for this was naturally because Bryan was missing.

The last time they met, Bryan had told him that he would be back for dinner at home. But it had been three days since then! Donald didn't know what to do. The first thing he did was approach Grace and ask her about his master's whereabouts.

After all, Donald had seen Bryan meet up with Grace a couple of days back at the cafe. However, much to his dismay, Grace also didn't know the whereabouts of Bryan.

Left with no other option, Donald had to file a missing person report at the Nadir Police Station. Meanwhile, he also spent some money to hire private detectives.

The reason why he would go so far was firstly because, as an employee, he felt that this was his duty. And secondly, over the few days that he had gotten to know Bryan, the latter had left a deep impression on him.

Hence, Donald really cared about his well-being. Furthermore, he was sure that he wouldn't find a better employer than Bryan.

Just as he was pacing back and forth, he heard the sound of the main door open. He thought that it would have been one of the servants who must have brought some news of Bryan.

However, the next moment he was greatly taken aback. Because the person that entered was none other than the one he had been looking for all this while!

"Master Tony!" He rushed towards Bryan. As he approached him, he saw that Bryan was not hurt anywhere. If anything, he looked really fresh and clean.

Naturally, Donald was apprehensive that Bryan was kidnapped or something terrible had happened to him.

But upon seeing him in perfect shape, he sighed in relief, "Master, where have you been all this while? I was so worried."

Sensing the concern in Donald's tone, Bryan's heart warmed. At the same time, he also felt a little apologetic, "Forgive me, Donald. I was caught up in something."

Donald anxiously waved his hands, "No, no, master! You need not apologize to a servant like me."

Bryan approached Donald and patted his shoulder as he smiled, "Does your being a servant not make you a human?"

Donald's eyes turned a little watery, "Master…"

"Besides," Bryan continued, "I'm actually sorry to make you and the others worry for no reason. How long has it been anyways? I've been so busy that I've lost track of time, to be honest."

"Master, it's been three days since we last met," Donald replied. Although the situation felt a little dubious to him, he answered nonetheless.

'Fuck me!' Bryan cursed inwardly. However, on the surface, he sighed, "I see… I really need to better my time management."

Donald's lips twitched as he thought incredulously, 'That's some severe time management issues, master…'

"Meow~"

He turned his head and saw that Benny at some point was already sitting in front of him and was looking at him with bright eyes.

Donald picked up Benny and stroked him on the head, "I've missed you, little Benny. I'll tell the cook to make a scrumptious dinner for you."

"Meowww~" Benny nodded happily.

Seeing Benny and Donald get along so well, Bryan smiled. He then inquired, "By the way, did anything happen while I was gone?"

"Yes, Master!" Donald replied solemnly, "Miss Claudia Wilson had come to the mansion to meet you. Unfortunately, you weren't here at the time. She said she'd drop by another time."

"Claudia?" Bryan tilted his head, "Who the hell is that?"

Donald's eyebrows twitched. But then he realized that Bryan was new to Nadir, hence, it was reasonable for him to not know of the big names in the city.

"Miss Claudia Wilson is the eldest granddaughter of Count Robert Wilson." He replied respectfully.

"Wilson…" Bryan stroked his goatee and mumbled, "Sounds familiar."

"She is Miss Grace's eldest sister," Donald replied.

"Ah, that's right!" Bryan suddenly remembered. But the next moment he frowned, "But why would she drop by here? I don't even know the person."

"Miss Wilson did not state the reason for her visit," Donald replied.

Bryan thought inwardly, 'What the hell does she want with me?'

He then threw the matter to the back of his mind, "I'll meet her the next time she comes here then. Anything else?"

Donald explained how he had gone to Grace, the police station, and the private detective agency to look for his whereabouts in his absence.

Bryan couldn't help but smile warmly, "Thank you for your handwork. Also, don't worry. All your expenses will be reimbursed."

He felt quite fortunate to have such a caring butler work under him. He then added, "If that's all then I'm heading for a shower. You can go ahead and prepare the dinner."

"Master, there's one more thing. And it is quite important." Donald recalled something and replied.

"Oh?" Bryan asked curiously, "What is it?"