2157年9月12日,下午五點,切斯特郡442Please respect copyright.PENANAgmYhGzqLAq
442Please respect copyright.PENANAzSpawLui4R
442Please respect copyright.PENANAglfMERJU1i
薇奧拉的葬禮結束了。442Please respect copyright.PENANAiGxsJtsFxg
442Please respect copyright.PENANAX7oYwrfuzw
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANAruxeWdsTDN
442Please respect copyright.PENANAVW4vJS2zuD
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANA1X1FXF4m89
442Please respect copyright.PENANA4oec9UxSlt
「看到這麼多水果塔站在一起,實在有點噁心。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAAHvzKFKMXu
442Please respect copyright.PENANAHf0Wryik9b
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANAtIgU8IH0Ta
442Please respect copyright.PENANAtcKrRi8gFX
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANApX2vleVmHE
442Please respect copyright.PENANA1hidFxyuAK
「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。442Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1cPJiUr1Z
442Please respect copyright.PENANAu7tnfE0diH
「兒子,聽說你的醫師執照被吊銷了?」442Please respect copyright.PENANAOYdX8Haawo
442Please respect copyright.PENANAWaZvZKpsi0
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANAbZ4h9k5vOB
442Please respect copyright.PENANAvTx728t1Y1
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!」442Please respect copyright.PENANAMMUB2K134J
442Please respect copyright.PENANAroy0wvzLvR
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!」442Please respect copyright.PENANAukOFtnSAWK
442Please respect copyright.PENANAQJ3VokPDwc
衝突一觸即發,葛蕾絲到父子倆中間喊「卡!」,拉開兩人。442Please respect copyright.PENANAloZjjmKPWw
442Please respect copyright.PENANAmpYREaejoU
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANADJywYAf5yw
442Please respect copyright.PENANADWnwl2Tx6k
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANAs6YMZuaqRs
442Please respect copyright.PENANAUkEvppUWbz
高宇維問葛蕾絲:「今天誰缺席?」442Please respect copyright.PENANA4J52MYMAs6
442Please respect copyright.PENANArZu5W6cMGo
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANABeUQitidBu
442Please respect copyright.PENANAxpty159Dr4
高宇維的食指在拐杖輕點兩下。442Please respect copyright.PENANANs2onqRRT3
442Please respect copyright.PENANA7Kmq31kK28
「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?」442Please respect copyright.PENANADNBWueEI9F
442Please respect copyright.PENANAK7RDke9PF0
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANAWAoHIXwAwL
442Please respect copyright.PENANAT55Y2iBB2j
「回宇維少爺:我想應該是全部。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAW6BwUe3Yuk
442Please respect copyright.PENANAsUgW3g1cW0
「消息來源?」442Please respect copyright.PENANANCpdqGuqGi
442Please respect copyright.PENANAzPNpkbcO40
「艾莉絲、紅鶴、我體內的三月兔──」尼可拉斯停頓,「還有派翠克。」442Please respect copyright.PENANADLxYvHbnj3
442Please respect copyright.PENANAcTgQ92u8gZ
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAoBN0hrpTFC
442Please respect copyright.PENANAVzRwFEgfGt
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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAyNg1pwRwYi
442Please respect copyright.PENANA8K50V9VweZ
「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?」442Please respect copyright.PENANA4QpcqEOUFC
442Please respect copyright.PENANAMD6uu8JJtV
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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAMDWyHuB8Wc
442Please respect copyright.PENANAzNuhC4NZAa
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANASP6VyCF6FO
442Please respect copyright.PENANAmcXR3X5Uxt
「沒事的,里奧。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAtHGIkCAsfU
442Please respect copyright.PENANAbjqCuAooPZ
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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAignwogVgTF
442Please respect copyright.PENANAJQm6yCjWH9
「是。」442Please respect copyright.PENANA18ItClMFK9
442Please respect copyright.PENANA22dYmrctJZ
「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?」442Please respect copyright.PENANAZz99vG41ho
442Please respect copyright.PENANADUAYPngRlL
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANADoDQXfetaA
442Please respect copyright.PENANAuYtpCVYbwn
442Please respect copyright.PENANAx3NJ6FS3jC
「『一日神與畜,終身神與畜』。我選擇留下,與您一同守護秘密。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAp1RR55A95y
442Please respect copyright.PENANADebCkjwioq
442Please respect copyright.PENANA05Y4bji7Z3
尼可拉斯開口,眼神篤定,「但有兩個條件。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAo9yWfcx2E4
442Please respect copyright.PENANAvoYAjwDUqb
高宇維勾唇,知道事情沒那麼簡單。442Please respect copyright.PENANA5bBEgGEMlJ
442Please respect copyright.PENANAMad93UHhd4
「第一,派翠克必須成為神與畜,享有和我同等的待遇。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAQShO0qMqTz
442Please respect copyright.PENANArKFgBr1fhP
「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?」442Please respect copyright.PENANAq6JT0NxoOU
442Please respect copyright.PENANAwyhqFD2ly0
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANADeXihfWUJN
442Please respect copyright.PENANAolL76j8qeu
「哈!」高宇維被逗樂了,命令里奧:「告訴他。」442Please respect copyright.PENANA2iv06ptkLV
442Please respect copyright.PENANAs1n4ZhMYCm
里奧不怎麼情願,因為要講好多話。442Please respect copyright.PENANAqfluvgIhSz
442Please respect copyright.PENANA2nZBAzyLTT
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAdGAuepdeiW
442Please respect copyright.PENANAcweXfg11af
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANAfpai3fbchA
442Please respect copyright.PENANALdRqoI8nMW
「那,」442Please respect copyright.PENANAE6G0h978MT
442Please respect copyright.PENANAX3sepEeb6z
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANAudP6f4DS9n
442Please respect copyright.PENANAd24XmpYDma
「李晴煬呢?他怎麼樣?」442Please respect copyright.PENANAUglj1cmHKg
442Please respect copyright.PENANA6Lble9bpnX
「他很重要……」442Please respect copyright.PENANAw6sYNOLK15
442Please respect copyright.PENANAgr2PRLoHVq
回答的不是里奧,而是坐在沙發的高宇維。442Please respect copyright.PENANAQwP64PsLFo
442Please respect copyright.PENANAyQyNyg9DCp
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAvI3QGgmS4k
442Please respect copyright.PENANA27mDX3JoBz
「初生之犢不畏虎。」尼可拉斯體內的三月兔說。442Please respect copyright.PENANA7gqbM2UMSO
442Please respect copyright.PENANAMcLj6purhL
「我自首,是我給他的靈感。」艾莉絲舉手承認。442Please respect copyright.PENANApGeF2HMv5o
442Please respect copyright.PENANAr2ikPrdXKy
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANAFpkLAGWWgQ
442Please respect copyright.PENANARUoNe3eVhH
「這是關鍵,艾莉絲,我召開會議的目的就在此。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAbdV7MTNUAh
442Please respect copyright.PENANAYTsL00hC0c
高宇維起身,腳步緩慢地、緩慢地,走向他的主人。442Please respect copyright.PENANA9hAWwc2Kqn
442Please respect copyright.PENANAEuriuBWx15
「艾莉絲,我敬愛的艾莉絲。」442Please respect copyright.PENANA4GDQOrJNsz
442Please respect copyright.PENANAMFuqaCiUGW
高宇維的手放在胸前,深深鞠躬,高高的帽子竟然不會掉。442Please respect copyright.PENANARvbADeIEsC
442Please respect copyright.PENANAivWwl9YkS7
442Please respect copyright.PENANAcbu2PjK6IP
「我無意冒犯您,請容許我向您發問──」442Please respect copyright.PENANAxjxxLDn3Hb
442Please respect copyright.PENANArClAnENPlq
「您對《羅琳娜條約(Treaty of Lorina)》的立場究竟為何?」442Please respect copyright.PENANAhfobCaDtQD
442Please respect copyright.PENANASMduyPommF
442Please respect copyright.PENANABoGSXNvcig
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANAzFjZXlim0g
442Please respect copyright.PENANAksdVLjrFX8
「……。」442Please respect copyright.PENANACkQ0TmasbJ
442Please respect copyright.PENANAzxvA8un8Ea
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?」442Please respect copyright.PENANArRfgHsAcfy
442Please respect copyright.PENANA24N4qTxb5o
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAji0OLyijCd
442Please respect copyright.PENANAoApMOPd1SX
「……!?」442Please respect copyright.PENANAHfkHPArNzk
442Please respect copyright.PENANArWMbpMtUsf
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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAn58dJ4vwqn
442Please respect copyright.PENANA8695ahcSgL
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANA6nLfNZVnID
442Please respect copyright.PENANAAvVv4JuBt8
未來局勢,就看這一問與一答。442Please respect copyright.PENANAvQd9SzYxhJ
442Please respect copyright.PENANAk0DXwX01GH
「『艾莉絲呼喚水果塔,水果塔回應艾莉絲,這是艾莉絲的意義。』」442Please respect copyright.PENANAxUlXpBIPGd
442Please respect copyright.PENANA07i854z3Z5
艾莉絲閉上眼睛,再緩緩張開。442Please respect copyright.PENANATa3TfEku0u
442Please respect copyright.PENANAaHDnTXjd0i
442Please respect copyright.PENANAZqPPewj5nt
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAQFD94bMPJe
442Please respect copyright.PENANA1ixrFEzdn6
442Please respect copyright.PENANAtjHSVABly3
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANA3clY9AgosU
442Please respect copyright.PENANAW09bUjB2zd
「紅鶴呢?」高宇維換一種問法:「妳想殺他嗎?」442Please respect copyright.PENANAwTnMmeCetw
442Please respect copyright.PENANA7rrmCasJ4u
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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAEbH3PBqUWY
442Please respect copyright.PENANAC2CPvjSvHL
「所以,妳贊成晴煬的建議:聯合獅鷲,殺死紅鶴?」442Please respect copyright.PENANAYkUdyAGOfG
442Please respect copyright.PENANAupBMBkH9Tg
「那是我給他的靈感,此事由我而起。要反對,我早就有所行動。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAAhT4eXY6RX
442Please respect copyright.PENANAKJNgIoklpq
「哈!」442Please respect copyright.PENANAWXM53a3YQl
442Please respect copyright.PENANA2vcxAGFVLr
高宇維大笑,轉身,跨步走回沙發,白色披風隨步伐揚起。442Please respect copyright.PENANAU2Si1MxkR6
442Please respect copyright.PENANAan4MGMjPTu
442Please respect copyright.PENANAvYzNj52mu4
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAIFu1hgPyVi
442Please respect copyright.PENANADbLbBzX2MN
442Please respect copyright.PENANANDeMVOWHCc
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANAaDKwi8ahnF
442Please respect copyright.PENANATOgEoRX4Xn
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAaUEsziW5rq
442Please respect copyright.PENANAtovVDqk8C3
「……。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAbGE1gF2vio
442Please respect copyright.PENANAOPib78Yjxp
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?」442Please respect copyright.PENANABBjKs3ndif
442Please respect copyright.PENANA4c9XD05fV0
里奧也站出來,代替回答:「休息。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAa1ex6S5Iv1
442Please respect copyright.PENANAE25THCt1Pv
凱薩傻在原地。442Please respect copyright.PENANAlZvT8tdRdZ
442Please respect copyright.PENANAywVoETf5y1
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANABNv8H2lT5I
442Please respect copyright.PENANAcBgGtE13uf
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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANA9Rqk6rghOb
442Please respect copyright.PENANAZO4rEPNFVP
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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAKhDnEEZMeq
442Please respect copyright.PENANAMfXNW8nhI2
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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAgkZfSc0arS
442Please respect copyright.PENANAGMByfgdUA5
言下之意,好好休息根本是天方夜譚,但高宇維不擔心。442Please respect copyright.PENANAfXIWC2yDev
442Please respect copyright.PENANA0ngKRJCHOb
「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。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAfuZw3fkLqJ
442Please respect copyright.PENANASPFOBw2Vfv
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?442Please respect copyright.PENANA3QzQofe2Ij
442Please respect copyright.PENANASjqNpkLEM2
「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?」442Please respect copyright.PENANAIk0wsIr33g
442Please respect copyright.PENANAX0JMk3xeBY
艾莉絲沉默五秒,「可以。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAYRfAe1MmPo
442Please respect copyright.PENANAvsX6cp9C8Z
「恕我直言。」里奧問:「您為什麼如此篤定?」442Please respect copyright.PENANA6uyB7YMIpJ
442Please respect copyright.PENANAd2y12RBOGI
「因為,她是夏悠的系兒。」442Please respect copyright.PENANAsHqttMN4Sp
442Please respect copyright.PENANACeQwLoWgpH
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。442Please respect copyright.PENANA1kOL93tCgp
442Please respect copyright.PENANA5WX66OkVUJ
442Please respect copyright.PENANAXJKLmjQOQS
「『系兒絕對不會扔下小悠。』」442Please respect copyright.PENANA8QfWrIt1YU
442Please respect copyright.PENANAZsPXgJht1i
「這是,她們兩人的約定。」