2157年9月12日,下午五點,切斯特郡693Please respect copyright.PENANAvw9wCzfQqc
693Please respect copyright.PENANAaRZCgphqSL
693Please respect copyright.PENANAybkfsbNH3k
薇奧拉的葬禮結束了。693Please respect copyright.PENANA9Ze47GajzF
693Please respect copyright.PENANAu3A9JEYKan
雷蒙一家脫下浮誇的穿著,換上黑色的喪服齊聚一堂、弔唁他們偉大的家長。薇奧拉的面容如睡著般,留給世人的始終只有美。693Please respect copyright.PENANA9n1aqeLuVS
693Please respect copyright.PENANAnBgYveTS7o
葬禮規模低調,因為薇奧拉生前叮囑過,葬禮只准真正認識她的人前來,想湊熱鬧的十大家族一律婉拒。真正親臨現場的除了自家人,還有高宇維的神與畜,幾乎全員到齊。693Please respect copyright.PENANANReumg6GJr
693Please respect copyright.PENANA9i4yrFZmqt
「看到這麼多水果塔站在一起,實在有點噁心。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAo76X2CAtMZ
693Please respect copyright.PENANAQhLQ8JFRcZ
葬禮結束,高宇維、艾莉絲、凱薩、里奧、葛蕾絲、尼可拉斯六人,均被安排在接待室。因為全是敵人,尼可拉斯體內的叔叔不太高興。693Please respect copyright.PENANAa4D0gFTPKB
693Please respect copyright.PENANAJyQ1uOB1Ay
但對尼可拉斯來說,比起高不高興,更確切的形容詞是尷尬。離家出走這麼多天,什麼秘密都被他知道,尼可拉斯思考該怎麼面對家人。693Please respect copyright.PENANANuV4U6Oze2
693Please respect copyright.PENANAl3ml8sBatA
「嘿!媽、里奧大哥,好久不見!」太詭異,「怎樣!都怪你們不告訴我!」會被打,「對不起,我不該擅自調查你們的秘密」又太孬,整個接待室陷入恐怖的沉默。尼可拉斯祈禱:隨便一個人說話都好,他快窒息了。693Please respect copyright.PENANAKUpek8FvFF
693Please respect copyright.PENANAirLSfJTbmL
「兒子,聽說你的醫師執照被吊銷了?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAudNK1ciKwe
693Please respect copyright.PENANABVnL3TqWGJ
結果打破沉默的是凱薩。尼可拉斯想過各種話題,就是沒想到這個。693Please respect copyright.PENANAjbDmnoS3rr
693Please respect copyright.PENANAuu6sYsNTcu
凱薩大叫:「Jesus!我堂堂希波克拉底創始人,自己兒子的醫師執照被吊銷?簡直笑話!」693Please respect copyright.PENANA8cLcwgVn06
693Please respect copyright.PENANArsonB9FTE9
尼可拉斯反瞪他,「希波克拉底腐敗成什麼德性,你這創辦人最需要檢討,輪不到你對我說教!」693Please respect copyright.PENANAVFzDt7FGcb
693Please respect copyright.PENANAHLhEL3NoX9
衝突一觸即發,葛蕾絲到父子倆中間喊「卡!」,拉開兩人。693Please respect copyright.PENANAXbEvZpr2EQ
693Please respect copyright.PENANA5wjr2DDOb4
「難得所有人都在,」穿著黑色西裝的里奧不理他們,靠著牆提議:「宇維,開會。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAbszmFRu8T5
693Please respect copyright.PENANAydZ5b8xnih
高宇維挑最大張的沙發坐下,「也好,難得艾莉絲和書蟲在。」他拍拍旁邊,示意艾莉絲也過來坐,卻被她搖頭拒絕,選擇站在原本的位子。693Please respect copyright.PENANADGeIQbJ4Xf
693Please respect copyright.PENANAxGSP4NiCGo
高宇維問葛蕾絲:「今天誰缺席?」693Please respect copyright.PENANA6hJMdMhBkg
693Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3ateVJeYv
「五號幹部李晴煬在謝氏,三號幹部李博洋前往支援,十二號幹部赫密士顧家;四號幹部MIO,您昨天吩咐,不要帶她過來切斯特郡。」葛蕾絲說:「扣掉這些人,今天全員到齊,還多了兩位顧問。」693Please respect copyright.PENANASJsnBkQ4kX
693Please respect copyright.PENANAkvlMvDN1Iw
高宇維的食指在拐杖輕點兩下。693Please respect copyright.PENANAIzUFbMYzwv
693Please respect copyright.PENANAXIOKwHh1q7
「會議開始,進入正題──」高宇維不廢話,銳利的視線掃向尼可拉斯,「尼可,你知道了多少?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAsRaGyWybRw
693Please respect copyright.PENANAgGeDUftnEk
體內的尤里烏斯不怕高宇維,連帶地,尼可拉斯的膽子變大許多。他吸氣,不慌不忙地凝視高宇維的眼睛。693Please respect copyright.PENANAgQK0TqvUiO
693Please respect copyright.PENANAcYPr1sPkMU
「回宇維少爺:我想應該是全部。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAXV0IhCmfYv
693Please respect copyright.PENANAXB256Yqcho
「消息來源?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAY9OTGEs0Id
693Please respect copyright.PENANA3HoJjCSxKN
「艾莉絲、紅鶴、我體內的三月兔──」尼可拉斯停頓,「還有派翠克。」693Please respect copyright.PENANALlIjyI7qXY
693Please respect copyright.PENANASh8UyQZ38I
「派翠克……唉,我差點忘了。」高宇維扶著額頭,無奈地說:「派翠克.雷蒙,薇奧拉留給我的大麻煩。」693Please respect copyright.PENANANx9SjEMXXz
693Please respect copyright.PENANAHgIAlTkxcv
旁邊的葛蕾絲補充:「如果消息來源沒錯,現在的派翠克從裡到外,全是出於獅鷲之手,也是公爵夫人的唯一繼承者。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAkmS70SSJcO
693Please respect copyright.PENANAib1auxAIsD
「獅鷲……」里奧琉璃色的眼睛掃向葛蕾絲,「為什麼第一時間沒通知我,是告訴書蟲?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAdjj8Nwdw4R
693Please respect copyright.PENANA7Tb0jf5R55
被里奧冰冷的眼睛注視,身為妹妹的葛蕾絲也忍不住打寒顫,最後是凱薩站到妻子面前,護著說:「因為尼可是我們的兒子。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAjTQlLRMJwN
693Please respect copyright.PENANAjl9uEgZedR
看來,早在葛蕾絲去咆哮飯店時、就已經發現派翠克的存在,但她選擇隱瞞里奧。尼可拉斯很愧疚,在心裡和媽媽說了無數次對不起。693Please respect copyright.PENANAVMUnhWI1Jh
693Please respect copyright.PENANAWjROIOzyY5
「沒事的,里奧。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAt73XedZKDl
693Please respect copyright.PENANASMvoXtWcnl
倒是高宇維無所謂,只警告葛蕾絲母子:「因為是懷特,我才睜一隻眼閉一隻眼,下不為例。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAIULGW8eCPW
693Please respect copyright.PENANAqX8eSDj6US
「是。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAcmC5pWdEW3
693Please respect copyright.PENANASsCyArNfDT
「尼可,你的立場是什麼?」高宇維說:「我們的過去,坦白說,一點也不高尚,艾莉絲體系從來不是好東西。你要留在不完美的體制為我效勞,還是無法忍受同流合汙,帶你的孔雀遠走高飛?」693Please respect copyright.PENANA6k3BA8Nvai
693Please respect copyright.PENANA92few1XO2y
沒想到高宇維問得這麼乾脆。多虧與薇奧拉的談話,加上這幾天的沉思,尼可拉斯早就有答案,他不怕這個問題。693Please respect copyright.PENANAbJUwNhPANw
693Please respect copyright.PENANASFBR9Gg2WZ
693Please respect copyright.PENANAd21yMD8UuG
「『一日神與畜,終身神與畜』。我選擇留下,與您一同守護秘密。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAulncElEOq3
693Please respect copyright.PENANAUZl6dqGZlo
693Please respect copyright.PENANA2R7WsHwFie
尼可拉斯開口,眼神篤定,「但有兩個條件。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAi4rsXYptEJ
693Please respect copyright.PENANAUytPWCYjQT
高宇維勾唇,知道事情沒那麼簡單。693Please respect copyright.PENANATBZRD72vmb
693Please respect copyright.PENANApSGBB22NGm
「第一,派翠克必須成為神與畜,享有和我同等的待遇。」693Please respect copyright.PENANANEuEj9mX3J
693Please respect copyright.PENANA2NPRLWcDkD
「可以,他是公爵夫人的繼承者,我本有此意。」高宇維撐著頭、翹起腳,「第二個?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAB61WepA3bz
693Please respect copyright.PENANAtSDbA5Wh5r
「我要知道每個成員對於過去了解多少。」尼可拉斯瞇眼,「大家都不笨,大家都不好騙。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAosV9Y6Ab6w
693Please respect copyright.PENANA6iQiDUpkia
「哈!」高宇維被逗樂了,命令里奧:「告訴他。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAlOEC8nK7ox
693Please respect copyright.PENANARKrGCymjD1
里奧不怎麼情願,因為要講好多話。693Please respect copyright.PENANACwLPr9xXpe
693Please respect copyright.PENANAufiW2VQo3Z
「我、葛蕾絲、赫密士、你、派翠克,知道全部。」里奧解釋:「李博洋對第一代只有初步認識;MIO記憶混亂,對母親假海龜的印象模糊,知道的也不多。」693Please respect copyright.PENANARjZcCJsipr
693Please respect copyright.PENANAf3wQf6qvNW
MIO像顆不定時炸彈,要不是李博洋這個安全插梢,她隨時都可能引爆,尼可拉斯總算明白他們不信任MIO的原因。693Please respect copyright.PENANAcXXMF9BJ0x
693Please respect copyright.PENANAxUYxIo4gj0
「那,」693Please respect copyright.PENANAw9U3x9uuKT
693Please respect copyright.PENANAdzTAAalgnT
因為知道尼可拉斯下一個要說誰,葛蕾絲、里奧和高宇維,眼中都閃過異樣的光。693Please respect copyright.PENANAKoZtscD1ir
693Please respect copyright.PENANAHhZtnPrRgt
「李晴煬呢?他怎麼樣?」693Please respect copyright.PENANANsvByM9cui
693Please respect copyright.PENANAAJHUht7BeE
「他很重要……」693Please respect copyright.PENANAgxAKvnkyBW
693Please respect copyright.PENANAq8PTetaDEe
回答的不是里奧,而是坐在沙發的高宇維。693Please respect copyright.PENANAEO57Lzgpw9
693Please respect copyright.PENANAyEHEFMsjiv
「晴煬很關鍵,也很危險……所以我不准他拔耳機。」高宇維轉換話題:「他還建議找獅鷲合作,一起對抗紅鶴。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAIiBgFVpqsK
693Please respect copyright.PENANA3PelHeft3G
「初生之犢不畏虎。」尼可拉斯體內的三月兔說。693Please respect copyright.PENANA7q4gA7HJP1
693Please respect copyright.PENANAtKvAnOZK2K
「我自首,是我給他的靈感。」艾莉絲舉手承認。693Please respect copyright.PENANA3LLlJfictj
693Please respect copyright.PENANAU4K64mgNdZ
話題被成功轉移,尼可拉斯忽略了「晴煬很關鍵」,注意力全被引導到獅鷲。在場只有他沒見過獅鷲,不知道李晴煬的提議在其他人耳裡有多瘋狂。693Please respect copyright.PENANAqviQmYvatZ
693Please respect copyright.PENANAZHVKRbZ9Xj
「這是關鍵,艾莉絲,我召開會議的目的就在此。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAuD1unP68B7
693Please respect copyright.PENANAN80ct8BR5g
高宇維起身,腳步緩慢地、緩慢地,走向他的主人。693Please respect copyright.PENANAbZw60DfKMF
693Please respect copyright.PENANA5dVeHa7DuB
「艾莉絲,我敬愛的艾莉絲。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAf6gMDaWdsy
693Please respect copyright.PENANAj8PhlxhbA2
高宇維的手放在胸前,深深鞠躬,高高的帽子竟然不會掉。693Please respect copyright.PENANAIk22JSv0yM
693Please respect copyright.PENANA8zS7aYT8wQ
693Please respect copyright.PENANA98kkBUdDXt
「我無意冒犯您,請容許我向您發問──」693Please respect copyright.PENANAHIjV01wSYp
693Please respect copyright.PENANAMCdNZVS1gd
「您對《羅琳娜條約(Treaty of Lorina)》的立場究竟為何?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAfbrKe8jmxw
693Please respect copyright.PENANAXkN7nfuDMb
693Please respect copyright.PENANAANa3in0tYY
高宇維眼中閃過狡黠的光,這讓尼可拉斯忍不住懷疑,高宇維不是單純發問。693Please respect copyright.PENANAH2CzEvJTOB
693Please respect copyright.PENANAv1z4htnct5
「……。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAwJ0oegmyPT
693Please respect copyright.PENANAaq8VpcqBPu
艾莉絲的表情沒有半點波瀾。趁雙方沉默,尼可拉斯小聲問旁邊的媽媽:「《羅琳娜條約》是什麼?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAf0ip2iTrAn
693Please respect copyright.PENANAQxC3dgfs7z
「咦?你不是什麼都知道?」葛蕾絲挑眉,解釋:「一百年前,獅鷲強迫艾莉絲和宇維少爺簽下《羅琳娜條約》。條約削弱艾莉絲的權力,讓她成為有名無實的虛位元首,並由宇維少爺擔任代理人。《羅琳娜條約》規定成立十大家族,在艾莉絲體系內創造內部制衡,以免悲劇再次發生。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAl2uJxXoXKL
693Please respect copyright.PENANAfpOKUB8ufb
「……!?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAq2gHFO2pbC
693Please respect copyright.PENANAGwXoi9SZA0
尼可拉斯瞪大眼睛,同時,他體內的尤里烏斯冷笑,「原來如此,瘋帽成立神與畜,保護水果塔的後代不被蜘蛛殺掉,順便除掉十大家族、破壞獅鷲創造的內部制衡,這才是他的真正目的。」693Please respect copyright.PENANASIomWP4qHM
693Please respect copyright.PENANAz44Ed1hikt
高宇維要打破《羅琳娜條約》、恢復以前的艾莉絲體系。他今天問艾莉絲,是想試探她的立場,也是凱薩面色凝重的原因。693Please respect copyright.PENANAgJkf3G3tCm
693Please respect copyright.PENANAObGxWDTL87
未來局勢,就看這一問與一答。693Please respect copyright.PENANAOq1igEtvTr
693Please respect copyright.PENANAQKdiI3NXMy
「『艾莉絲呼喚水果塔,水果塔回應艾莉絲,這是艾莉絲的意義。』」693Please respect copyright.PENANANajCNZluR2
693Please respect copyright.PENANAwCTrHC5U3B
艾莉絲閉上眼睛,再緩緩張開。693Please respect copyright.PENANAu5kNZu0QNj
693Please respect copyright.PENANA2Lcdrmb6WJ
693Please respect copyright.PENANA9zn3doorgl
「艾莉絲必須確保水果塔世世代代傳承。只要不牴觸艾莉絲的立場,《羅琳娜條約》之於我,只是一張白紙。」693Please respect copyright.PENANA7Vt3kLbCtR
693Please respect copyright.PENANAQUWUF85X6w
693Please respect copyright.PENANAAwTkXZi52U
高宇維沒有反應。他對艾莉絲的答案稱不上滿意,也稱不上敵意。693Please respect copyright.PENANAjTjC7TmPlS
693Please respect copyright.PENANAjUyxycGQRg
「紅鶴呢?」高宇維換一種問法:「妳想殺他嗎?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAwDMI7MD7Hp
693Please respect copyright.PENANACioeJK83Ol
艾莉絲聲明:「紅鶴與蜘蛛糖合為一體,是威脅到水果塔傳承的存在。」693Please respect copyright.PENANA3bzguUXoLT
693Please respect copyright.PENANAf6KDbLsP4Z
「所以,妳贊成晴煬的建議:聯合獅鷲,殺死紅鶴?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAoxvIR3WXN4
693Please respect copyright.PENANAcEJYksPX8M
「那是我給他的靈感,此事由我而起。要反對,我早就有所行動。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAhg0jr2mpMq
693Please respect copyright.PENANAR4wufJ3qsp
「哈!」693Please respect copyright.PENANA9oi1NmCi2n
693Please respect copyright.PENANAy3OzkDg3bK
高宇維大笑,轉身,跨步走回沙發,白色披風隨步伐揚起。693Please respect copyright.PENANA5kIex5JxUP
693Please respect copyright.PENANAUl1dYhm1Al
693Please respect copyright.PENANAkpCydSit9u
「我的立場,是打破《羅琳娜條約》;獅鷲的立場,是維持《羅琳娜條約》;艾莉絲的立場,是確保水果塔傳承,與《羅琳娜條約》無關。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAbdHIEcF4UH
693Please respect copyright.PENANAAEPrLFsqGu
693Please respect copyright.PENANAMVS9GpE5hK
高宇維坐回沙發,撐著頭、翹著腳。他有時對艾莉絲用敬語、有時不是,讓人摸不著頭緒。693Please respect copyright.PENANA8xCyuZg4wY
693Please respect copyright.PENANAXFrTZUtl63
「合作愉快,艾莉絲。」高宇維為這場會議總結:「能與您並肩作戰,瘋帽深感榮幸。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAsOywy4E4HA
693Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4fKAYt1ye
「……。」693Please respect copyright.PENANA3XyECmbuhA
693Please respect copyright.PENANA6P9aZkHr7Y
艾莉絲退到一旁。凱薩知道她不想再說話,換他站到前面,問高宇維:「你們下一步?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAuMUUKZKFl0
693Please respect copyright.PENANA3GHoyxPbTE
里奧也站出來,代替回答:「休息。」693Please respect copyright.PENANApupHu1K88F
693Please respect copyright.PENANACPCKXfXeT3
凱薩傻在原地。693Please respect copyright.PENANACi38keZ2fZ
693Please respect copyright.PENANAfTKBgNkyHW
「神與畜的新成員很多。」里奧解釋:「晴煬和尼可剛來,我女兒剛出生,派翠克新加入,還有黛娜的後代──一隻有人類外型的貓,謝氏的謝綠也會進來。我們必須暫停對十大家族的侵略,否則會出現斷層。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAbwNmImvNEK
693Please respect copyright.PENANA6JzEYUIcqC
聽起來會休息很長一段時間。凱薩抓了抓頭,表示:「我不知道沒有水果塔的我,現在還有多少話語權,你們不聽也罷。」693Please respect copyright.PENANA3BSZolwb2j
693Please respect copyright.PENANA7Sq7vphQMz
凱薩嚴肅地說:「小心Platinum和薩拉凱爾,白絃的大兒子不好對付,薩拉凱爾那群神經病,絕對不會放過雪檸的女兒。」693Please respect copyright.PENANA368hcakhW2
693Please respect copyright.PENANApbWZoHa0Kd
凱薩再說:「還有,白絃不會坐以待斃,紅鶴也潛伏在暗處。這對姊弟都不笨,一個沒弄好,你們都會死。」693Please respect copyright.PENANA2EJ5UtVfFm
693Please respect copyright.PENANA4gxS4Dbmck
言下之意,好好休息根本是天方夜譚,但高宇維不擔心。693Please respect copyright.PENANA3OWSV96GHT
693Please respect copyright.PENANAP79mD7PhPx
「現在的紅鶴無法追蹤。」凱薩看了眼艾莉絲,無奈說:「至於白絃,很遺憾,現在的艾莉絲無法和她共鳴,根本不知道人在哪。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAMbOSNEzzUi
693Please respect copyright.PENANAvk2rwHY5qt
尼可拉斯訝異,竟然有艾莉絲找不到的水果塔,白絃到底強到什麼程度?693Please respect copyright.PENANAy8UsHVHxMy
693Please respect copyright.PENANAlq4J0CXO8b
「如果找到獅鷲,」里奧突然開口,問艾莉絲:「殿下,您有把握說服她嗎?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAmUGdZpDVh9
693Please respect copyright.PENANAUnNxmclRdV
艾莉絲沉默五秒,「可以。」693Please respect copyright.PENANAZYxqr8SRrY
693Please respect copyright.PENANACNlfpP6SY6
「恕我直言。」里奧問:「您為什麼如此篤定?」693Please respect copyright.PENANAhgYeLy8mj1
693Please respect copyright.PENANABhiVt9kPsf
「因為,她是夏悠的系兒。」693Please respect copyright.PENANALdfm0GRhK6
693Please respect copyright.PENANAIawG7Kx66S
深黑色的眼眸泛起異樣的漣漪。明明體內都是棉花,明明是不需要呼吸眨眼,艾莉絲的胸口卻隱隱作痛。693Please respect copyright.PENANAIZKbFXfOTH
693Please respect copyright.PENANAS4ZkRvfKmo
693Please respect copyright.PENANAON9zWYLBQr
「『系兒絕對不會扔下小悠。』」693Please respect copyright.PENANA79r8DEPrYd
693Please respect copyright.PENANAhJm6yQClYr
「這是,她們兩人的約定。」