2157年9月12日,下午五點,切斯特郡695Please respect copyright.PENANANOG0TuJTkE
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薇奧拉的葬禮結束了。695Please respect copyright.PENANAAMC9MJAwQf
695Please respect copyright.PENANAoyOHCvOhpH
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。695Please respect copyright.PENANAlrj2TIsqaa
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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。695Please respect copyright.PENANALxo43xvUUM
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「看到這麼多水果塔站在一起,實在有點噁心。」695Please respect copyright.PENANArh6juHxgfo
695Please respect copyright.PENANAkJs1tQj4hm
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。695Please respect copyright.PENANAPC80DboUyx
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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。695Please respect copyright.PENANAlvzHzUMSXj
695Please respect copyright.PENANAvzzDznP5QB
「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。695Please respect copyright.PENANA7WqA2SNXxE
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「兒子,聽說你的醫師執照被吊銷了?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAiD4lVP3oNi
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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。695Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZCWfsjhOI
695Please respect copyright.PENANAF2APZEtSJ6
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!」695Please respect copyright.PENANADYlbWy87Xr
695Please respect copyright.PENANAK8Ux2fzK3Z
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!」695Please respect copyright.PENANAnd5GVVK9wJ
695Please respect copyright.PENANASVPG5KfthS
衝突一觸即發,葛蕾絲到父子倆中間喊「卡!」,拉開兩人。695Please respect copyright.PENANA3gbaeJH1ME
695Please respect copyright.PENANAaqFEDuhdjR
「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAz6mrdipsoj
695Please respect copyright.PENANAlzIGzTaEOm
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。695Please respect copyright.PENANAU9fTm4AMwz
695Please respect copyright.PENANA7x0ya7AFVM
高宇維問葛蕾絲:「今天誰缺席?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAHSQezz0eGa
695Please respect copyright.PENANAmA3qOhcqce
「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANANv4qMWZ1vn
695Please respect copyright.PENANAfDUMcJUZ9X
高宇維的食指在拐杖輕點兩下。695Please respect copyright.PENANATcrHuq351e
695Please respect copyright.PENANAeCPZRaUZT5
「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?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAv9P9Tw3foY
695Please respect copyright.PENANATACEL4ctwJ
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。695Please respect copyright.PENANAzTQGCLnYBL
695Please respect copyright.PENANAT7QlAgMpGC
「回宇維少爺:我想應該是全部。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAzVr4M3dPOU
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「消息來源?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAnDjwkqhFpa
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「艾莉絲、紅鶴、我體內的三月兔──」尼可拉斯停頓,「還有派翠克。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAYDXuB11g3q
695Please respect copyright.PENANA7gBHslFxze
「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANACZ1S9z0cSD
695Please respect copyright.PENANAggxjose6rB
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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANApq9xJ1fvy8
695Please respect copyright.PENANAPRy6S0ZEce
「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?」695Please respect copyright.PENANA2jDqqSFr9F
695Please respect copyright.PENANAOEhULYrvDG
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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANA89ylQb0Crl
695Please respect copyright.PENANAyXQSM2wYgk
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。695Please respect copyright.PENANAsJ0TMZZ9uZ
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「沒事的,里奧。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAMzMjiXBsXn
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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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAq127E0nfOJ
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「是。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAS5VDDaDE5t
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「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?」695Please respect copyright.PENANA6dm1rqHV6a
695Please respect copyright.PENANAXXmgic1550
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。695Please respect copyright.PENANAXaPAhnYekc
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「『一日神與畜,終身神與畜』。我選擇留下,與您一同守護秘密。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAQzSDNeNqTb
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尼可拉斯開口,眼神篤定,「但有兩個條件。」695Please respect copyright.PENANA1KEmnD4MH8
695Please respect copyright.PENANAYtinzG9gkm
高宇維勾唇,知道事情沒那麼簡單。695Please respect copyright.PENANApe747S7O2D
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「第一,派翠克必須成為神與畜,享有和我同等的待遇。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAwQcpJkSW4y
695Please respect copyright.PENANAAfJtx7BTgb
「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?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAcN0zElMTtL
695Please respect copyright.PENANAbrclse6pY5
「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAQZePJxnLkf
695Please respect copyright.PENANAaNaPqTusVo
「哈!」高宇維被逗樂了,命令里奧:「告訴他。」695Please respect copyright.PENANARo52tdP2IE
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里奧不怎麼情願,因為要講好多話。695Please respect copyright.PENANA9PTKpeUmX3
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「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAwkGMEcX2Ru
695Please respect copyright.PENANAsZDDKWS3t6
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。695Please respect copyright.PENANA5QhxqovgdW
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「那,」695Please respect copyright.PENANANYxuUV3IZB
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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。695Please respect copyright.PENANAa0IfnABNnS
695Please respect copyright.PENANArVBuwCpS8U
「李晴煬呢?他怎麼樣?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAXUM4NoEmwL
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「他很重要……」695Please respect copyright.PENANA7Wzmw39v6p
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回答的不是里奧,而是坐在沙發的高宇維。695Please respect copyright.PENANAjRQdpx7x51
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「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAd4z58Agxru
695Please respect copyright.PENANApWFYpPkBu3
「初生之犢不畏虎。」尼可拉斯體內的三月兔說。695Please respect copyright.PENANApo0B3uJkSE
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「我自首,是我給他的靈感。」艾莉絲舉手承認。695Please respect copyright.PENANADcIaUKsTXI
695Please respect copyright.PENANAfnwGjDgO7W
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。695Please respect copyright.PENANAw3vYcErw2K
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「這是關鍵,艾莉絲,我召開會議的目的就在此。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAGmlIvPyDrt
695Please respect copyright.PENANA5mI4R7aeYq
高宇維起身,腳步緩慢地、緩慢地,走向他的主人。695Please respect copyright.PENANAac6sW2tnbK
695Please respect copyright.PENANA5KtjG2Nhi5
「艾莉絲,我敬愛的艾莉絲。」695Please respect copyright.PENANARE5fhcSOAD
695Please respect copyright.PENANAyFCcGz5i6v
高宇維的手放在胸前,深深鞠躬,高高的帽子竟然不會掉。695Please respect copyright.PENANAHZtmsDUmts
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「我無意冒犯您,請容許我向您發問──」695Please respect copyright.PENANAN93ACdF7Q9
695Please respect copyright.PENANAvsrTfl6m8j
「您對《羅琳娜條約(Treaty of Lorina)》的立場究竟為何?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAmefsIrcsMi
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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。695Please respect copyright.PENANALxvwCoSFwu
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「……。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAJpB7nNQ6et
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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?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAYzQvKsAalc
695Please respect copyright.PENANAkFSXuCXDPg
「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAg2FVAwSQm5
695Please respect copyright.PENANA1llyfWZEQh
「……!?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAjPygDXPtgZ
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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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAxquwHKZC38
695Please respect copyright.PENANApdeCdrNH6L
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。695Please respect copyright.PENANAK1qqJ5wbjm
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未來局勢,就看這一問與一答。695Please respect copyright.PENANAghPDbK4pjF
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「『艾莉絲呼喚水果塔,水果塔回應艾莉絲,這是艾莉絲的意義。』」695Please respect copyright.PENANArfHE8aZ5XU
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艾莉絲閉上眼睛,再緩緩張開。695Please respect copyright.PENANAKimsiKUnEC
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「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAqISzjO5Ewj
695Please respect copyright.PENANAUZzjAy6Bcd
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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。695Please respect copyright.PENANANV08YyLTKG
695Please respect copyright.PENANAVUUnJUqoUL
「紅鶴呢?」高宇維換一種問法:「妳想殺他嗎?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAbvf19wkmKK
695Please respect copyright.PENANAH4w9tW6yBF
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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAx1zt2uJM2m
695Please respect copyright.PENANA29eBxGKz2F
「所以,妳贊成晴煬的建議:聯合獅鷲,殺死紅鶴?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAgtmx0LcwWf
695Please respect copyright.PENANAhlXQkp5enU
「那是我給他的靈感,此事由我而起。要反對,我早就有所行動。」695Please respect copyright.PENANACRhjX9FnWK
695Please respect copyright.PENANArSkO6avnW8
「哈!」695Please respect copyright.PENANAyXGdECdtSZ
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高宇維大笑,轉身,跨步走回沙發,白色披風隨步伐揚起。695Please respect copyright.PENANAg88CVGFqge
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「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAvWMTpAYCiN
695Please respect copyright.PENANAO08Lm7kjSX
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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。695Please respect copyright.PENANAqJnbR5oEL3
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「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANA7bmJgFFg9B
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「……。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAEeYV8HPTp0
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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?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAezjiObjVB9
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里奧也站出來,代替回答:「休息。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAWpZqE2KT33
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凱薩傻在原地。695Please respect copyright.PENANA5F3akt5YtW
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「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAxxWxodzL6d
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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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAh7MYh1im1s
695Please respect copyright.PENANAIqFZYXiY0G
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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAbKE7cpqBDi
695Please respect copyright.PENANAp5WRxOPu86
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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAhBasb0pS2k
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言下之意,好好休息根本是天方夜譚,但高宇維不擔心。695Please respect copyright.PENANAcf44bVOgcH
695Please respect copyright.PENANAbPyMwQde6z
「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。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAKgqD69wZ3d
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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?695Please respect copyright.PENANAVQIYqQvatC
695Please respect copyright.PENANADJ3WZMMiMW
「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?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAihUq6Y5oYI
695Please respect copyright.PENANAJAEq3t8uLH
艾莉絲沉默五秒,「可以。」695Please respect copyright.PENANASQJrpBRK7c
695Please respect copyright.PENANADaR9qg9yVk
「恕我直言。」里奧問:「您為什麼如此篤定?」695Please respect copyright.PENANAq29pdfDAY7
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「因為,她是夏悠的系兒。」695Please respect copyright.PENANAyMnp2JZtIQ
695Please respect copyright.PENANAmad472RQiD
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。695Please respect copyright.PENANA65ZjLQ5o5l
695Please respect copyright.PENANA4h7LpazeGy
695Please respect copyright.PENANACR6HLwMNHP
「『系兒絕對不會扔下小悠。』」695Please respect copyright.PENANAacYwu8jZpZ
695Please respect copyright.PENANASjBdjKVn12
「這是,她們兩人的約定。」