I'm Here to Help You

At the center of the cruise ship stood a massive arena.

Rows upon rows of spectator seats spread outward in a square formation, with an Octagon Cage forged from steel bars at the center.

The rusty, thick, chaotically interwoven steel mesh exuded an incomparably savage aura.

The mottled bloodstains made it impossible to tell whether the stench hanging in the air came from rust or blood.

Although it was already night outside, the cruise ship remained brilliantly lit.

The moment Chairman Sakamoto appeared with a microphone in hand, deafening cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Welcome, honored guests, to Heaven on Earth!"

Sakamoto's gaze swept across everyone present. These people were the prominent figures of the Land of Rivers, and also the foundation that allowed him, a merchant, to survive and prosper there!

Therefore, letting them cast aside all their troubles and experience the utmost pleasure had become Sakamoto's most important task.

In a sense, it was even more important than defeating Gato.

"Next, we will be holding an unprecedented beast-fighting performance!"

"I believe you have all grown tired of watching wild beasts tear at each other, and tired of watching slaves fight to the death."

"So this time, we have brought you something you have never seen before—a duel between Mutants!"

"Please look forward to it!"

As Sakamoto's voice fell, the lights around the stands swiftly dimmed, and spotlights shone down into the rugged Octagon Cage.

At the entrance passageway.

Abu, the most trusted ninja, held an iron chain in one hand.

At the other end of the chain was not a beast, but—

People.

Shiraishi Mori's parents.

The newly transformed Ghouls, Shiraishi Ao and Yanagishima Keiko.

Their clothes were ragged, and heavy shackles bound their ankles, wrists, and necks. As they walked, the metal scraped and clanked loudly.

Before they entered the arena, Abu said flatly, "Remember, you have one hour. Only one of you may survive. Otherwise, your son will be taken away for experiments as well."

Upon hearing the word "experiments," Shiraishi Ao and Keiko's bodies trembled involuntarily.

Clearly, the experiments they had just undergone still haunted them.

They did not dare imagine what would happen if that unbearable pain were inflicted upon their son.

"If you don't die, he will."

A hint of mockery appeared on Abu's face. He then released the chains and urged them forward.

Shiraishi Ao clenched his fists tightly, his face filled with unwillingness.

His dry, ash-white lips slowly parted. "I'm sorry, Keiko. It's all my fault..."

Keiko gently shook her head, her withered hair swaying with the motion. She revealed a mournful smile and said, "This isn't your fault."

"In an hour, kill me."

Shiraishi Ao shook his head. "No. If someone has to die, it should be me."

Keiko looked toward the nobles in the stands, glittering in gold and silver, then slowly closed her eyes. "Ao, you're stronger than I am. You have a better chance of surviving with our son."

She opened her eyes and stared fixedly at Shiraishi Ao. "Living on is the most painful thing. Don't make me bear that pain."

"Keiko."

Shiraishi Ao opened his mouth, only to realize he did not know what to say.

In the span of just a few sentences, the surrounding spectators had already erupted in furious complaints.

"Hurry up! What are you doing?"

"Weren't they supposed to be Mutants? What's mutated about them?"

Seeing this, Abu could only lower his voice and remind them, "You two, begin quickly."

Keiko gritted her teeth. The next second, her pupils turned blood-red, and eight long, slender appendages shot from her back, stabbing toward Shiraishi Ao like elongated swords.

Shiraishi Ao clenched his teeth. A massive dark-purple centipede grew from his waist, firmly blocking the incoming appendages!

Their collision burst into sparks, instantly igniting the passion of the entire audience!

"My God, what are those things?!"

"As expected of Chairman Sakamoto! He actually found Mutants!"

"Are those things some kind of ninjutsu? That's so cool!"

"Fight already! Kill him!"

Amid the surging excitement, waiters began weaving through the spectator stands with trays, allowing the noble guests to place bets on the match.

As for the origins and lives of the two people in the cage, no one cared in the slightest.

All these nobles cared about was this momentary pleasure!

Shiraishi Mori and Keiko continued launching fierce attacks at each other in this agonizing environment.

It was not as if they had never considered relying on their own strength to break through Sakamoto Trading Company's defenses and rescue their son and the other villagers.

But although they had gained a measure of power, the two of them alone were no match for Sakamoto Trading Company.

With the various restraints binding them as well, if their resistance failed, they would likely drag their son down to ruin with them.

Thus, the two who had lived together for decades could only keep burning away their lives to please Jashin, trading it for a sliver of hope for their son's survival.

While the arena was in full swing, Simu had already entered the dungeon.

At that moment, Shiraishi Mori was kneeling on the ground, weakly clutching his head in both hands, his forehead buried deeply against the floor, with no hope left in him.

"Looks like you've already given up?"

Simu stopped before the cell and looked down at Shiraishi Mori.

Upon hearing the voice, Shiraishi Mori immediately raised his head.

"You are..."

"The person who had dinner at my house tonight?"

"That necklace—you left it there on purpose, didn't you? Was your goal to lure me here?"

The boy rose to his feet and fired off question after question, anger flashing in his eyes.

Faced with such questioning, Simu calmly adjusted his glasses and said, "I did leave the necklace there deliberately. As for whether you came here, that was your choice."

Hearing this, the boy angrily grabbed his hair again, his voice full of regret. "If I hadn't come, then Mom and Dad might have..."

Simu smiled.

"Whether you came or not, their outcome would not have changed in any way."

"Fortunately, they both survived the experiment."

Shiraishi Mori's eyes immediately lit up at those words, but Simu's next sentence swiftly plunged him back into despair.

"However, in order to let you survive, they are currently trying to kill each other for the audience's amusement."

"Trying to kill each other..."

Shiraishi Mori grabbed the bars, his whole body trembling violently.

"Why?"

"Why are you doing this?!"

He dropped to his knees and pounded desperately against the steel cage before him, but it was useless.

"There is no reason. To them, your parents are merely two crickets that look a little unusual—nothing more than toys for entertainment."

Simu's tone remained as calm as still water, as though nothing in this world could stir his emotions.

Shiraishi Mori gripped the bars tightly. He used so much force that his palms had turned pale.

After several seconds, he finally said hoarsely, "What about you?"

"Hm?"

"Why did you come? To laugh at me?"

At that question, Simu finally smiled with satisfaction.

"Me? I'm here to help you."