Reborn as a Transcendent-Chapter 658: We’re Not That Cheap.

At that moment, inside the guest room of the [City of Chaos]— The three Vera Doppelgängers, bare as newborns, huddled together, trembling from cold and fear.

“Ugh… the floor is freezing,” Vera 2 muttered. Having grown up in luxury, this was her first time feeling such harsh cold—and it only deepened her misery.

“We have to endure it,” Vera 1 said, patting her shoulder while trying to suppress her own discomfort.

“Are we really going to starve to death here?” Vera 3 asked flatly, her eyes vacant as she stared at the ceiling. Of the three, she was the first to regain her composure.

“That’s unlikely. If that demon wanted us dead, she would’ve killed us already,” Vera 1 replied.

“Ugh… our bodies were completely altered. We can’t even survive without that demon anymore…” Vera 2 whimpered, biting her lip.

“If we can return to the original host, there might still be a way out,” Vera 3 suggested.

“I hope you’re right,” Vera 1 said with a weak nod. But deep down, she wasn’t hopeful. ‘Even if the door opened right now, we wouldn’t get far. And we don’t even know where we are…’

Gazing at the unfamiliar, spacious room built from unknown materials, Vera felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

“Our life energy is fading bit by bit. If this keeps up, we won’t survive the week,” Vera 3 said solemnly.

“That demon didn’t just take over our lives—now she’s torturing us for fun. It’s disgusting!” Vera 2 hissed, clenching her small fists as her body shook.

“She thinks we’ll break from this? Keep dreaming!” Vera 1 snapped, her voice filled with defiance. But before she could finish, a low, growling noise rumbled from her stomach.

The hunger hit her like a tidal wave, gnawing at her sanity with unbearable intensity. Before Vera 2 and 3 could react, their own stomachs echoed the same painful growl. The three of them went pale, their pupils contracting in silent dread.

They had last eaten at seven o’clock. It hadn’t even been a full day, but the agony was already setting in.

“Oh no…” Vera 1 clutched her empty stomach, her expression sinking even further.

Hunger—this was their greatest weakness. Every Vera Doppelgänger, even the original, shared one primal fear: starvation.

“We have to endure it. Right now, overcoming that fear matters more than ever,” Vera 1 said through gritted teeth, her face ashen.

She knew deep down that no matter how much she endured, it was a battle she couldn’t win. After all, there was no escaping that demon. But surrendering wouldn’t come easily either.

Vera 2 whimpered softly, lowering her head as she clutched her stomach in silent agony. Vera 1 and 3 exchanged a glance, then slowly shook their heads in quiet despair.

Vera 2 had always lived in luxury. Expecting her to endure hunger and the looming fear of death was simply unrealistic.

“We have to hold out for at least a day or two. We can’t let that demon look down on us!” Vera 1 whispered as she pulled Vera 2 into a comforting hug.

Just then— “Mmm… what’s that smell? It’s so good!” Vera 3 sniffed the air, surprise lighting up her face.

Vera 1 and 2 instinctively did the same, and their spirits perked up almost immediately. It was the unmistakable scent of freshly prepared food. Out in the hallway, Chef One wheeled over a food-laden trolley, steam rising from the freshly made dishes.

Three small figures followed close behind. Little Blue hovered effortlessly beside the cart, while Vera 17 and 18 approached on foot.

“Mmm! That honey-roasted chicken smells amazing!” Little Blue said, licking her lips.

The two other girls nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

“As long as we make Vera One, Two, and Three cry, it’s a win. Why not eat and torture them at the same time?” Little Blue grinned.

“Mm-hmm! Great idea!” the two replied in unison, their voices bubbling with glee.

After a full day of training, Chef One’s cooking had evolved to near-perfection. The aroma of her dishes was so rich it practically traveled through walls. ŘἈＮòᛒƐ𝙨

“I smell roast chicken… no—braised prawns, roast goose, cheese-baked lobster…!” Vera 2 gulped audibly, unable to stop her mouth from watering.

“I’m starving…” Vera 3 murmured, her eyes shimmering with raw hunger.

“That’s right… Wait—no! It’s a trap!” Vera 1 suddenly snapped, wiping the corner of her mouth. “Don’t fall for it!”

At her words, Vera 2 and 3 froze mid-sniff, alarm spreading across their faces.

“Hmph! You think I’d fall for food this basic? Trying to bribe us into surrender? Not a chance!” Vera 2 huffed, crossing her arms defiantly. Though she wore a mask of disdain, her heart cried out for just a single bite of something delicious.

‘Ahh… roast chicken… prawns… I want them so badly…’ Vera 3 thought, though she kept her face composed. “She thinks a little food is enough to make us surrender? That demon must think we’re cheap.” freёnovelkiss.com

“Exactly. When she walks in expecting us to beg, we’ll just ignore her and ruin her plan,” Vera 1 said firmly.

“No way! I’ll curse her out!” Vera 2 snapped. Just thinking about how she’d been humiliated made her blood boil.

“Let’s not provoke her,” Vera 3 said in a low voice. “She still wants to recruit us—we can use that to our advantage.”

“You mean, we play along for now, earn her trust, and then figure out how to escape?” Vera 1 asked, quickly catching on.

“Exactly. I’ve thought it through carefully,” Vera 3 said, her tone calm. “Our bodies have been altered, and our life energy is dangerously low. Escape isn’t an option right now. But if we earn her trust and recover our energy, we might find a way out. Then, we just have to locate our original host. That’s our best shot at restoring our original forms.”

Vera 1 and 2 nodded in agreement—it made sense. Rather than lashing out blindly, it was smarter to play along and wait for the perfect moment to strike.

“Good. We’ll take her bribes, but keep our blades hidden.” Vera 1 clasped her hands tightly, her eyes gleaming with resolve.

“Yes,” Vera 2 and 3 said in unison. “Once that door opens, we’re eating everything without restraint!”

At that declaration, the trio grinned with smug confidence. However— Time passed… and the door remained firmly shut.

Just as confusion began to set in, the sound of chewing reached their ears—someone outside was clearly eating.

“Mmm! This roast chicken is delicious!” Outside, Little Blue exclaimed joyfully as she chomped down on a drumstick.

“Mm-hmm! These giant prawns are amazing!” Vera 17 said as she happily peeled a braised Green Island prawn and popped it into her mouth.

“This roast goose is so juicy!” Vera 18’s eyes sparkled with delight as she finished a piece, licking her fingers.

Inside the room, Vera 1, 2, and 3 sat in stunned silence, their expressions frozen in disbelief. This… was absolutely not how they imagined things would go!