2157年9月12日,下午五點,切斯特郡689Please respect copyright.PENANA5z3qJTJ1Lx
689Please respect copyright.PENANAJRVv9HouNq
689Please respect copyright.PENANACB0JYtHQRw
薇奧拉的葬禮結束了。689Please respect copyright.PENANA7DIMBmAo4f
689Please respect copyright.PENANAm0a2GdbPm7
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANA4NOU4H3vNy
689Please respect copyright.PENANAhmSj7DQxQZ
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANARJtYgA5kEl
689Please respect copyright.PENANAOZBbaTKqsN
「看到這麼多水果塔站在一起,實在有點噁心。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAJuHFWOIqRC
689Please respect copyright.PENANAsLRqr8HLK8
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANAdYgyXs8HgY
689Please respect copyright.PENANAwYYxjbHYlU
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANA58quQKMNgr
689Please respect copyright.PENANABQxNXp7Ihx
「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。689Please respect copyright.PENANA6QSqzfwqsQ
689Please respect copyright.PENANAtN8v0u52cp
「兒子,聽說你的醫師執照被吊銷了?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAVJGzjZ8K5O
689Please respect copyright.PENANAdS5Xu78Tt4
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANAOUhMHv8qPK
689Please respect copyright.PENANA6UBnxDynCS
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!」689Please respect copyright.PENANAI4cgN6KWet
689Please respect copyright.PENANApig6CjF5mD
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!」689Please respect copyright.PENANABv3KhjRWDB
689Please respect copyright.PENANAfrXkRgNgot
衝突一觸即發,葛蕾絲到父子倆中間喊「卡!」,拉開兩人。689Please respect copyright.PENANAPeZAQntRfe
689Please respect copyright.PENANApaOwelSlJY
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANASfsri1Jygy
689Please respect copyright.PENANARCKCkp4GYG
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANAfVVzGKwTwy
689Please respect copyright.PENANAbuLvYWvUjN
高宇維問葛蕾絲:「今天誰缺席?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAPWmfBCHn7A
689Please respect copyright.PENANAx42AhHgfgg
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAd2z5qMS7Sk
689Please respect copyright.PENANAzeADQ9ONpG
高宇維的食指在拐杖輕點兩下。689Please respect copyright.PENANAyTFTueEoQ2
689Please respect copyright.PENANAYzj9zj90bP
「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?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAaLscBF5Kj9
689Please respect copyright.PENANAlxfTLrHzLK
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANAe5wrHhUmnF
689Please respect copyright.PENANAvUxcll7iR6
「回宇維少爺:我想應該是全部。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAhM4LvTnXAm
689Please respect copyright.PENANAkqm3r08XF0
「消息來源?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAZIVzru2ROP
689Please respect copyright.PENANAAEeqfCyOXq
「艾莉絲、紅鶴、我體內的三月兔──」尼可拉斯停頓,「還有派翠克。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAHlbgr3Vv54
689Please respect copyright.PENANAL82MmvwKwh
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAoZH5snx5rB
689Please respect copyright.PENANALNznm0X8MT
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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAgoHU9QrJtJ
689Please respect copyright.PENANAfHbNfPGvW5
「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?」689Please respect copyright.PENANA7CCHbTck4G
689Please respect copyright.PENANArYV5nvojsi
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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAhUiKYkcWvZ
689Please respect copyright.PENANA7IS5vSEXUU
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANAa6LB4idG4b
689Please respect copyright.PENANAvVQViS8KfV
「沒事的,里奧。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAgTzSSQ8N2O
689Please respect copyright.PENANASFstISMitY
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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAyg4LyaYPNo
689Please respect copyright.PENANAaiJn6UQ2lN
「是。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAKLNxw1oIpK
689Please respect copyright.PENANAMAVp5Rd6tc
「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?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAA31xB2uru0
689Please respect copyright.PENANAaiQMl5pAJm
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANADSbKTRmO7T
689Please respect copyright.PENANA7VvO01rQvg
689Please respect copyright.PENANAyAGdFvL42y
「『一日神與畜,終身神與畜』。我選擇留下,與您一同守護秘密。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAxGQqFYSFBN
689Please respect copyright.PENANACvAFNMLqxU
689Please respect copyright.PENANASLULMxkFa0
尼可拉斯開口,眼神篤定,「但有兩個條件。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAJICkgtvtzV
689Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8G5D6qH0U
高宇維勾唇,知道事情沒那麼簡單。689Please respect copyright.PENANARA83ZujYPS
689Please respect copyright.PENANAkOGw9mNF8a
「第一,派翠克必須成為神與畜,享有和我同等的待遇。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAP2fGhvhyYB
689Please respect copyright.PENANAKVplDHqbvy
「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?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAtk1ZC7M2hX
689Please respect copyright.PENANAghbEeU2Cy3
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAclPgg24vRP
689Please respect copyright.PENANAbTmexN3Spv
「哈!」高宇維被逗樂了,命令里奧:「告訴他。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAPJua3SyQzS
689Please respect copyright.PENANA7oFKRPnCXc
里奧不怎麼情願,因為要講好多話。689Please respect copyright.PENANASEGqdECMVH
689Please respect copyright.PENANAVcjbGdyCLf
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAahAduWFNfH
689Please respect copyright.PENANAaWhpYGhtU6
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANAwzZsXME95F
689Please respect copyright.PENANAu0zX937VWz
「那,」689Please respect copyright.PENANA2nVnUvW4NK
689Please respect copyright.PENANAegTSYehfcf
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANAKM8aj32pJr
689Please respect copyright.PENANAVfTdkEZ8cr
「李晴煬呢?他怎麼樣?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAJCpMhp9bqA
689Please respect copyright.PENANALnhF7sdMBn
「他很重要……」689Please respect copyright.PENANA0zk0NMDpWH
689Please respect copyright.PENANA6wzNuOYlq7
回答的不是里奧,而是坐在沙發的高宇維。689Please respect copyright.PENANAaBtBmzmJXO
689Please respect copyright.PENANAWjE2OaxMxw
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANA7m35pqXr1o
689Please respect copyright.PENANAqW72xFUYKz
「初生之犢不畏虎。」尼可拉斯體內的三月兔說。689Please respect copyright.PENANAN2DBAZZagz
689Please respect copyright.PENANAZplqfr8vPC
「我自首,是我給他的靈感。」艾莉絲舉手承認。689Please respect copyright.PENANAke59LafBUj
689Please respect copyright.PENANAUEAqoqWfj4
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANACWY6ZTgaVd
689Please respect copyright.PENANAD1eBQIElFI
「這是關鍵,艾莉絲,我召開會議的目的就在此。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAIBTJrOn3mu
689Please respect copyright.PENANA1tORhIwLsz
高宇維起身,腳步緩慢地、緩慢地,走向他的主人。689Please respect copyright.PENANAPYZoxrTjSL
689Please respect copyright.PENANAchvIBOJlSV
「艾莉絲,我敬愛的艾莉絲。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAxSYUmXNZ6F
689Please respect copyright.PENANAauH3M3qx6z
高宇維的手放在胸前,深深鞠躬,高高的帽子竟然不會掉。689Please respect copyright.PENANAFKwbYHEBVN
689Please respect copyright.PENANA54FxLyU6uG
689Please respect copyright.PENANA65B5dAqqRH
「我無意冒犯您,請容許我向您發問──」689Please respect copyright.PENANA2rEPBwK3Ez
689Please respect copyright.PENANAExfTrPqpLC
「您對《羅琳娜條約(Treaty of Lorina)》的立場究竟為何?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAFbcH91eU7l
689Please respect copyright.PENANAUA4rPf6Nun
689Please respect copyright.PENANA8MKQInWVsV
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANA8zyQQVnmjh
689Please respect copyright.PENANAvKXM9PGQEd
「……。」689Please respect copyright.PENANArlI6djvjlP
689Please respect copyright.PENANAsLyzb9pyOE
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?」689Please respect copyright.PENANA05JGcpvHxu
689Please respect copyright.PENANAIISe0kZcxX
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAUs6tCREdNj
689Please respect copyright.PENANA1doJy4SF79
「……!?」689Please respect copyright.PENANApZ9dozZdka
689Please respect copyright.PENANAZwxLYet6WC
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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAAV1uWqSDYu
689Please respect copyright.PENANAyQO8rLeyHv
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANA1KOz478RM1
689Please respect copyright.PENANA93VS5oLWBj
未來局勢,就看這一問與一答。689Please respect copyright.PENANAkzUe8gfmOr
689Please respect copyright.PENANAa94KoOwV5N
「『艾莉絲呼喚水果塔,水果塔回應艾莉絲,這是艾莉絲的意義。』」689Please respect copyright.PENANA0ysg2vnprC
689Please respect copyright.PENANAXz56h4768V
艾莉絲閉上眼睛,再緩緩張開。689Please respect copyright.PENANACe9XGwCnlH
689Please respect copyright.PENANAL2UCSyadde
689Please respect copyright.PENANABQZGWxTkqo
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAV1QnR37l6b
689Please respect copyright.PENANAHjFQthlB8t
689Please respect copyright.PENANAuG4OkNiaOJ
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANAyGw8rd3dtM
689Please respect copyright.PENANAVdsoJRQZiE
「紅鶴呢?」高宇維換一種問法:「妳想殺他嗎?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAxmwiwZ5KZU
689Please respect copyright.PENANAnDLTfW2Vxl
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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAwNeFkrRHSj
689Please respect copyright.PENANAM351sFaJhb
「所以,妳贊成晴煬的建議:聯合獅鷲,殺死紅鶴?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAs1f3eoRP5g
689Please respect copyright.PENANAeDm8ZPLNir
「那是我給他的靈感,此事由我而起。要反對,我早就有所行動。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAZp03pZsWuM
689Please respect copyright.PENANAsnyboCx1kn
「哈!」689Please respect copyright.PENANAwxkqJY6EE6
689Please respect copyright.PENANA6orsWoXhzG
高宇維大笑,轉身,跨步走回沙發,白色披風隨步伐揚起。689Please respect copyright.PENANAeaVTDvXYSb
689Please respect copyright.PENANAU5UfaxjDfL
689Please respect copyright.PENANAyw9zO9DzRy
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAIfUVR17z0E
689Please respect copyright.PENANAjMyEa27FKy
689Please respect copyright.PENANAJCkZY8L4Kj
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANA256dv3ARNz
689Please respect copyright.PENANARJvkU3AlVm
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANArgjq4al43d
689Please respect copyright.PENANAbcsjOU7ezR
「……。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAwYdp8aGl6A
689Please respect copyright.PENANAp0jsk2DDAL
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?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAIJ8XM7ccqe
689Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2GUwfhQhJ
里奧也站出來,代替回答:「休息。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAotXhjqJtt4
689Please respect copyright.PENANAFafoNDA039
凱薩傻在原地。689Please respect copyright.PENANA8zuNaFInG7
689Please respect copyright.PENANAAV1EZicXpk
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANA7uOpFH5bUO
689Please respect copyright.PENANAV0gIfv9m9M
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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAasn4jwRJQY
689Please respect copyright.PENANAMiptLKU1LY
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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANA5cZOzYfxgz
689Please respect copyright.PENANAr9gySdb7Ec
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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANA7VdTaRVpF3
689Please respect copyright.PENANAwAYWK9OCtV
言下之意,好好休息根本是天方夜譚,但高宇維不擔心。689Please respect copyright.PENANASUVgj8z6jr
689Please respect copyright.PENANAhrO2DHJW0H
「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。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAnLd29av4yp
689Please respect copyright.PENANAEYDxtRwkyJ
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?689Please respect copyright.PENANAsQVUuHKOeU
689Please respect copyright.PENANAe5QVQ0bBwz
「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?」689Please respect copyright.PENANAoqlZZdDlLB
689Please respect copyright.PENANAR8tW37zkOA
艾莉絲沉默五秒,「可以。」689Please respect copyright.PENANArV2hQAaNoG
689Please respect copyright.PENANAXzAaAT41oV
「恕我直言。」里奧問:「您為什麼如此篤定?」689Please respect copyright.PENANA0NadExjNz7
689Please respect copyright.PENANAevc7o6XNQG
「因為,她是夏悠的系兒。」689Please respect copyright.PENANAKzDOuCRTPz
689Please respect copyright.PENANAoVylgM3dDx
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。689Please respect copyright.PENANAcLfRMstP5M
689Please respect copyright.PENANAk3STb9xTeq
689Please respect copyright.PENANAiXDrTXYQD6
「『系兒絕對不會扔下小悠。』」689Please respect copyright.PENANADVjf1VGofZ
689Please respect copyright.PENANAHOsMCepGhV
「這是,她們兩人的約定。」