2157年9月12日,下午五點,切斯特郡648Please respect copyright.PENANAtIUSlx9R2S
648Please respect copyright.PENANAwMlOrIqpAW
648Please respect copyright.PENANAWcLQRvtV9N
薇奧拉的葬禮結束了。648Please respect copyright.PENANA4HmEqNpANY
648Please respect copyright.PENANAdINqnQZWP9
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAwnn52Y70qU
648Please respect copyright.PENANAmMct3yzD26
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAfSzttgdbdC
648Please respect copyright.PENANATsohoRAvMd
「看到這麼多水果塔站在一起,實在有點噁心。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAGLb5Gkj1vB
648Please respect copyright.PENANAmQDGkyAZV3
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAgCJK4IGf5O
648Please respect copyright.PENANAtj1yCWUXHW
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANANrOttUNDLk
648Please respect copyright.PENANAGNZLKE8vIa
「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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAfwd8hCvCjr
648Please respect copyright.PENANAk31HKESto5
「兒子,聽說你的醫師執照被吊銷了?」648Please respect copyright.PENANAbWxWau9eEo
648Please respect copyright.PENANAqaGo26oPDh
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAQYB4KZl7hI
648Please respect copyright.PENANAwtsyurkAWD
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!」648Please respect copyright.PENANAWeVhls67px
648Please respect copyright.PENANAonzuWuFxPf
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!」648Please respect copyright.PENANAknk2yVkvuN
648Please respect copyright.PENANAj0mwcTUni6
衝突一觸即發,葛蕾絲到父子倆中間喊「卡!」,拉開兩人。648Please respect copyright.PENANAUTEOAZ67vX
648Please respect copyright.PENANAguDCxXjYGE
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANARsZwjQIjJ3
648Please respect copyright.PENANAVMAJyOlECz
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAa5zyx68brC
648Please respect copyright.PENANA9LAImILI5u
高宇維問葛蕾絲:「今天誰缺席?」648Please respect copyright.PENANAk5mOXdFj6v
648Please respect copyright.PENANAS0lkcuqjns
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAaPr89NNjOT
648Please respect copyright.PENANAviN8LrQbLf
高宇維的食指在拐杖輕點兩下。648Please respect copyright.PENANACRY7ogkSmB
648Please respect copyright.PENANARzgca7QWui
「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?」648Please respect copyright.PENANAYEef13Npes
648Please respect copyright.PENANA5HaN5bpSzq
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAydiTIKXIh7
648Please respect copyright.PENANAe1pZnQQLW3
「回宇維少爺:我想應該是全部。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAaftCLJRnoj
648Please respect copyright.PENANAcdKIVugjRq
「消息來源?」648Please respect copyright.PENANAc8tK3rA4FC
648Please respect copyright.PENANAjcHebBKatw
「艾莉絲、紅鶴、我體內的三月兔──」尼可拉斯停頓,「還有派翠克。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAEwVfqJl9hy
648Please respect copyright.PENANAl9Yg7uOPrE
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAXAAT6sikSG
648Please respect copyright.PENANARdhQmtqiUy
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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAyrjogmLKp5
648Please respect copyright.PENANAm7y3qFgzcQ
「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?」648Please respect copyright.PENANAthsJmPbOkq
648Please respect copyright.PENANAnYkugJtf3i
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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANA5pSMKuaEiv
648Please respect copyright.PENANAxZ9JEi3Vxr
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAd3KfygmSZc
648Please respect copyright.PENANAU16FruhnUf
「沒事的,里奧。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAASg7K5zqMo
648Please respect copyright.PENANAuE0NYdjlBE
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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAR8w41OIPUs
648Please respect copyright.PENANAjlrSrzHL3Y
「是。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAvkeQ0Ts8H0
648Please respect copyright.PENANADYKVAeiH8L
「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?」648Please respect copyright.PENANAo4EafnSIsB
648Please respect copyright.PENANAba4Vztu3vf
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANATAam4ZxpIc
648Please respect copyright.PENANAR6PL8E7P7N
648Please respect copyright.PENANAEP3gB8IUSw
「『一日神與畜,終身神與畜』。我選擇留下,與您一同守護秘密。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAXvJIIh2Fwh
648Please respect copyright.PENANAOmZ8uvHjfD
648Please respect copyright.PENANAMnBb7uHsVe
尼可拉斯開口,眼神篤定,「但有兩個條件。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAzLzXigTAm1
648Please respect copyright.PENANABBcIgCC05s
高宇維勾唇,知道事情沒那麼簡單。648Please respect copyright.PENANA9G199bwmHI
648Please respect copyright.PENANAyyIwI4MwRh
「第一,派翠克必須成為神與畜,享有和我同等的待遇。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAKYhjzGtPoZ
648Please respect copyright.PENANA2Tkg1QoM4u
「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?」648Please respect copyright.PENANAFJPKxIkF3s
648Please respect copyright.PENANA1sxlSt6685
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAWWRk4DqCKQ
648Please respect copyright.PENANACNHqEidsWD
「哈!」高宇維被逗樂了,命令里奧:「告訴他。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAU6gSfQu1eI
648Please respect copyright.PENANAa8ujc7QGS7
里奧不怎麼情願,因為要講好多話。648Please respect copyright.PENANAoFGFYTntR0
648Please respect copyright.PENANAThmDh4qk4Z
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAwJeiM5veNE
648Please respect copyright.PENANAvN14BKDxjy
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAfYHoHBus8D
648Please respect copyright.PENANAYztXWEIEOd
「那,」648Please respect copyright.PENANA5q9Z3yPdEN
648Please respect copyright.PENANA0i8VphyU1S
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAujpGHJ29Da
648Please respect copyright.PENANA59eSq4ue44
「李晴煬呢?他怎麼樣?」648Please respect copyright.PENANA5LegtfTRjf
648Please respect copyright.PENANAQnbrdFjnW0
「他很重要……」648Please respect copyright.PENANAad5ag67R06
648Please respect copyright.PENANAYlNakFsNaV
回答的不是里奧,而是坐在沙發的高宇維。648Please respect copyright.PENANALihRehLnj7
648Please respect copyright.PENANAX5YjjqEjCi
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANA1ID1pwR2SG
648Please respect copyright.PENANAIjnCNYfAOs
「初生之犢不畏虎。」尼可拉斯體內的三月兔說。648Please respect copyright.PENANA0LaxPgsjXI
648Please respect copyright.PENANA7YyikANL3b
「我自首,是我給他的靈感。」艾莉絲舉手承認。648Please respect copyright.PENANAlfgRQW3ZUQ
648Please respect copyright.PENANAvVO6lHL3c0
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAFAOfldtBpf
648Please respect copyright.PENANAtLV5SaKbHV
「這是關鍵,艾莉絲,我召開會議的目的就在此。」648Please respect copyright.PENANADhbUFXcIEX
648Please respect copyright.PENANAbcrYBWVC45
高宇維起身,腳步緩慢地、緩慢地,走向他的主人。648Please respect copyright.PENANAkm5IHMh0Uv
648Please respect copyright.PENANAr4rI55tsru
「艾莉絲,我敬愛的艾莉絲。」648Please respect copyright.PENANA50n4Q6kl71
648Please respect copyright.PENANA1xedOla1Y9
高宇維的手放在胸前,深深鞠躬,高高的帽子竟然不會掉。648Please respect copyright.PENANA9QimBXslz9
648Please respect copyright.PENANAQBIsEJCg5t
648Please respect copyright.PENANAHzC4i0ARTn
「我無意冒犯您,請容許我向您發問──」648Please respect copyright.PENANAOiTdr3G69z
648Please respect copyright.PENANAE8MvrYhWgH
「您對《羅琳娜條約(Treaty of Lorina)》的立場究竟為何?」648Please respect copyright.PENANA8ji9g4WLHn
648Please respect copyright.PENANAhon8gC6FCB
648Please respect copyright.PENANAk5QEXyG0s9
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANA9piuaDpYKa
648Please respect copyright.PENANAkkHU3z3gGe
「……。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAoiNvoZja5s
648Please respect copyright.PENANAUo2k25zwC4
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?」648Please respect copyright.PENANA1zsGcCcPKK
648Please respect copyright.PENANAZ599ulm2oB
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANA5DzLFST5xg
648Please respect copyright.PENANA7aH29zVp0C
「……!?」648Please respect copyright.PENANANVG06xKdYj
648Please respect copyright.PENANAalq5L0jJTH
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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAx4ll4bhWSm
648Please respect copyright.PENANAfoj6P3ZpcO
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAaqm355U9gB
648Please respect copyright.PENANAo1gpg6zeFj
未來局勢,就看這一問與一答。648Please respect copyright.PENANAiwpAHQeMJX
648Please respect copyright.PENANA3khmVPqi7D
「『艾莉絲呼喚水果塔,水果塔回應艾莉絲,這是艾莉絲的意義。』」648Please respect copyright.PENANAPFXBcwItHS
648Please respect copyright.PENANAu06flDEwW1
艾莉絲閉上眼睛,再緩緩張開。648Please respect copyright.PENANAxOEgowVpXv
648Please respect copyright.PENANAqVJAEwuPxL
648Please respect copyright.PENANAsmgmroQaxE
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAhr84UPPQ5U
648Please respect copyright.PENANATC7FYO42po
648Please respect copyright.PENANAwSnUDVBMDd
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAOLI0gmFDQK
648Please respect copyright.PENANAfaGfiaKBns
「紅鶴呢?」高宇維換一種問法:「妳想殺他嗎?」648Please respect copyright.PENANAceySB1AoOT
648Please respect copyright.PENANAqZygRLUNk7
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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANADrOr1Xl0zB
648Please respect copyright.PENANAxyuxo6GHWS
「所以,妳贊成晴煬的建議:聯合獅鷲,殺死紅鶴?」648Please respect copyright.PENANAivqgn8n1TK
648Please respect copyright.PENANAgXk9asz4Jh
「那是我給他的靈感,此事由我而起。要反對,我早就有所行動。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAhH5XUj0ebO
648Please respect copyright.PENANApBtIudP0Pc
「哈!」648Please respect copyright.PENANAUmxoOHY7qp
648Please respect copyright.PENANAukvNGw9IwN
高宇維大笑,轉身,跨步走回沙發,白色披風隨步伐揚起。648Please respect copyright.PENANAYIwv9Z8Bf1
648Please respect copyright.PENANAH8F4eJlw5W
648Please respect copyright.PENANAAEPRp4uf1p
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAsPLTQNIEWo
648Please respect copyright.PENANACXoH69qy8Q
648Please respect copyright.PENANA0uxPDsSb2l
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAdwv6TLzeug
648Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2NFd1p0WW
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAIa8WZugYdN
648Please respect copyright.PENANANbX3pvgAi9
「……。」648Please respect copyright.PENANANKto5C4BRZ
648Please respect copyright.PENANAkenBELgStv
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?」648Please respect copyright.PENANAcHViG76ozS
648Please respect copyright.PENANA8jIptXae5o
里奧也站出來,代替回答:「休息。」648Please respect copyright.PENANA98WpUWN350
648Please respect copyright.PENANA1xM4RTZAnb
凱薩傻在原地。648Please respect copyright.PENANARAHKntIW7S
648Please respect copyright.PENANA6plHclsDz0
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAUrxpGrj5js
648Please respect copyright.PENANAr2nJwA7BYF
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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAOOaqAb8hP2
648Please respect copyright.PENANA1cdiacgs1H
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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANArKWNt3r40Z
648Please respect copyright.PENANAgST2nOx1CM
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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAIxktGfJu6o
648Please respect copyright.PENANA8zQehh10Af
言下之意,好好休息根本是天方夜譚,但高宇維不擔心。648Please respect copyright.PENANAD6636VeHqw
648Please respect copyright.PENANA6kCxNfG28x
「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。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAMnMdWHU9Pa
648Please respect copyright.PENANAnPcnR3fpkI
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?648Please respect copyright.PENANAKGILlnP8R0
648Please respect copyright.PENANArs50QdMPPJ
「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?」648Please respect copyright.PENANAuvzjqOlZav
648Please respect copyright.PENANAcTqWYMmqCO
艾莉絲沉默五秒,「可以。」648Please respect copyright.PENANAVN5XmdFHJR
648Please respect copyright.PENANArV1J7fwibu
「恕我直言。」里奧問:「您為什麼如此篤定?」648Please respect copyright.PENANA93Ig4uudYt
648Please respect copyright.PENANATDWZMtuaEJ
「因為,她是夏悠的系兒。」648Please respect copyright.PENANApMwR0JiEYj
648Please respect copyright.PENANAJVo85jd0Os
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。648Please respect copyright.PENANAsC29A2dOuw
648Please respect copyright.PENANAN3Euno8sud
648Please respect copyright.PENANA6KpAaybyyb
「『系兒絕對不會扔下小悠。』」648Please respect copyright.PENANABghBS4gXtq
648Please respect copyright.PENANAAEdKufHv6O
「這是,她們兩人的約定。」