
第十四章:毒蛇之課
槍聲逐漸稀落。44Please respect copyright.PENANAtI1TuCpJrf
但這並不意味著安穩將至──反而代表,真正的清掃行動,正式開始。44Please respect copyright.PENANAXLB6Bx1Ed0
比起早先那種激烈交火,如今在死寂中偶爾響起的槍聲,反倒更令人不寒而慄。44Please respect copyright.PENANAhOS83LuOZX
每一聲槍響,都是一條生命的終結,一段抵抗的消聲。44Please respect copyright.PENANALAdS5uvGhX
恐怖分子逐層搜索,對校舍內殘存的師生展開系統性清除。44Please respect copyright.PENANAvoTpyBSaFs
他們以是否穿著制服來區分──該俘虜,還是當場處決。44Please respect copyright.PENANA4erFECrAIK
其中一間教室遭掃射後,一名恐怖分子走入確認現場,冷冷通報:「二班教室威脅解除,無俘虜對象。」44Please respect copyright.PENANA6QfmFtcRhi
任務完成,他正準備轉往下一處,卻發現掩護的同伴遲遲沒有回應。44Please respect copyright.PENANAW7ChCq6QII
他剛想開口呼叫,冷冽白刃已無聲無息從背後割開他的咽喉。44Please respect copyright.PENANAMtzUNRUZJd
他也被「清除」了。44Please respect copyright.PENANAsUCXdVKczM
來者既非恐怖分子,也非護衛或學生。44Please respect copyright.PENANA0LrqxlgCMx
是來無影去無蹤的第三勢力。44Please respect copyright.PENANAMhpdikrGU6
他們用飛針與吹箭將學生與護衛無聲制伏,甚至連一聲驚呼都未留下。44Please respect copyright.PENANA6cifeSiH7D
每一具被拖走的屍體,每一具昏迷倒地的身軀,都是他們存在過的痕跡。44Please respect copyright.PENANAhYqX986G59
他們為某人鋪出一條無聲的道路──通往校舍大講堂的走道已被徹底清空。44Please respect copyright.PENANA4RAr6CEJx5
而他,終於現身。44Please respect copyright.PENANAIfSokLJf38
帝國暗部《灰蛇連環》的身影從陰影中浮現,齊齊單膝跪地。44Please respect copyright.PENANAsinEkxJMB8
恭迎他們的主君──蛇王,雷門親王。雷門親王腳步輕緩地踏上染血的走廊,銀杖每一次觸地,都發出清脆聲響。44Please respect copyright.PENANAyiWFuBVqNd
取代先前的槍火與慘叫,如今唯有他的腳步聲主宰整片靜謐。44Please respect copyright.PENANAXmoyrASIwk
血腥早已褪去,地上的屍體被拖走,彷彿這裡從未發生過戰鬥。44Please respect copyright.PENANAk0UYTeMULl
大講堂的大門,已進入蛇王的視線範圍。
─
「瑪利安貝爾姐姐……我好怕……」44Please respect copyright.PENANA1lFcIonELt
賽莉兒的聲音幾乎聽不見,像一縷即將斷裂的氣息。她蜷縮在瑪利安貝爾懷中,小小一團,彷彿任何聲響都會驚動外頭的殺意。44Please respect copyright.PENANAm9IwVWEQlf
「我會保護妳──用我的一切。」44Please respect copyright.PENANArACc3FCM7i
瑪利安貝爾緊緊摟住她,如母鳥護雛,不敢動彈。44Please respect copyright.PENANAiHupQqfKtC
混亂爆發那刻,她們衝入校舍,在槍火中逃竄,數度死裡逃生,最終藏身於這座空盪的大講堂。44Please respect copyright.PENANAmlvYfQMOG9
此刻外頭死寂如墳場,只能靠零星槍聲判斷局勢。44Please respect copyright.PENANAWuCO8qr2MO
先是交火密集如雷,如今卻只剩冷酷間斷的槍聲──而且愈來愈近。44Please respect copyright.PENANAxsoeaWEPJK
瑪利安貝爾咬唇低語:「這裡會被發現……只是時間問題。」44Please respect copyright.PENANA17wMARRyUR
她注意到,敵人是依制服辨認俘虜與否:穿制服者可利用,沒穿的──就地清除。44Please respect copyright.PENANAngcwclSTDH
「我是學生,又是皇女……他們不敢輕舉妄動。」44Please respect copyright.PENANA3YH2uqfUzh
但這價值只屬於她。44Please respect copyright.PENANALG4l62rg4o
她低頭望向賽莉兒,那身平民衣裝毫無標誌。44Please respect copyright.PENANA3xiUXl70JK
「……妳不是學生。」44Please respect copyright.PENANAb0vm2c8jML
這句話她說不出口。因為她知道──在那些人眼中,賽莉兒只是「雜音」,沒有資格被留下。44Please respect copyright.PENANAzmAcab463l
只要門一開,她就必須做出選擇。44Please respect copyright.PENANAnxeKf7jpXI
就在這時,槍聲停了。44Please respect copyright.PENANAFeSzeevlaL
接著,是一串低沉規律的腳步聲,像倒數的鐘擺,每一步都伴隨銀杖敲地的脆響,節奏穩定,卻讓人發毛。44Please respect copyright.PENANAE2GK3yjnO8
那聲音──熟悉而壓迫,不是安心的熟悉,而是一場預謀好的舞台演出。44Please respect copyright.PENANAR7j09OYKkj
瑪利安貝爾心頭一凜,不需確認──那是她的皇叔,雷門親王。44Please respect copyright.PENANAGlsIOPg4vz
門緩緩推開,古老門軸發出嘎吱聲,像連空間都抗拒來者的降臨。44Please respect copyright.PENANAAoTDOBB5v9
瑪利安貝爾屏住呼吸,深吸一口氣,強迫自己冷靜迎敵。44Please respect copyright.PENANAFqQjFJP3Ye
雷門親王如預期出現。44Please respect copyright.PENANAcQStwl48wM
他步步走上講台,銀杖敲擊木地板,聲音從容,每一下都像釘子敲入人心。44Please respect copyright.PENANAchakUIvNni
臉上,是她最厭惡的笑──戲謔而支配,宛如毒蛇。44Please respect copyright.PENANAZRpaK3dqUr
他居高臨下掃視講堂,最後視線落在座席間的兩人身上。毒蛇,俯視獵物。44Please respect copyright.PENANAIW4GcmkLoB
雷門親王緩步登上講台,目光俯視,蛇信般陰冷。44Please respect copyright.PENANAbg1wk9kuHj
「聰明如妳,不會還以為──我們是來救援的吧?」44Please respect copyright.PENANAzbn6AgoCld
瑪利安貝爾望向他,語氣冷冽。44Please respect copyright.PENANAwMUg4Siw4U
「你從不會在錯的時間,出現在錯的地方。」44Please respect copyright.PENANATWyWGck2ID
她語氣像判決,毫無疑問。44Please respect copyright.PENANAi2yEtQacZB
《灰蛇連環》與「人道救援」根本毫無交集,毒蛇只懂吞噬,從不守護。44Please respect copyright.PENANABXshKQorDU
雷門親王微微一笑,似對她的洞察頗為欣賞。44Please respect copyright.PENANAFmExubFP1v
「這場皆殺之局……妳看穿多少?」44Please respect copyright.PENANAnltyVYuXTG
瑪利安貝爾仰起頭,直視他。44Please respect copyright.PENANAm6WNafthKD
「這場恐攻,是你促成的。」44Please respect copyright.PENANAP0xNlHffpZ
「你沒親自下場,只是準備舞台,挑好演員,然後任他們盡情演出所謂的『革命』……而你真正的目的是──」44Please respect copyright.PENANAaLifl0wSu6
她話未說完,雷門親王已搶先揭牌。44Please respect copyright.PENANArOv9AUPmor
「那群人想叛亂,我不過是給他們資源與劇本,幫他們實現夢想。」44Please respect copyright.PENANAZrIwxSxIiS
他語調平靜,卻帶著毒意。44Please respect copyright.PENANAQbWuDDAtKW
「只是──我讓他們的所作所為,徹底污了他們自己喊的『大義』。」44Please respect copyright.PENANAIaKUi3FyAj
這不是失控,而是設計精密的陷阱。44Please respect copyright.PENANAcmPdy3M8Sy
沒有正當性的暴行贏不了民心;44Please respect copyright.PENANANi4WQQhtlr
挾持學生、屠殺無辜,這些手段,只會讓帝國理直氣壯地「鎮壓叛亂」。44Please respect copyright.PENANAdfVpY2Lnny
聽到這裡,瑪利安貝爾背脊發寒。44Please respect copyright.PENANA0aqiNf2nb7
她知道,這場布局的獵物,不止那些叛軍。44Please respect copyright.PENANAR2OZbKURBd
她沒再回話,只是更緊地摟住懷中的賽莉兒。44Please respect copyright.PENANADDssRFRrjj
雷門親王的視線微微一動,冷冽而緩慢地落向賽莉兒。44Please respect copyright.PENANAhuaHgbEHPJ
「上次與妳見面……還是妳出生那天的事了吧,阿爾迪海特。」44Please respect copyright.PENANASQYqybUWNX
第一口毒牙,無聲地咬下。44Please respect copyright.PENANAerWo2oHhXX
賽莉兒猛地一顫,眼中浮現錯愕與驚懼。44Please respect copyright.PENANAcpbYrGumt6
「你、你怎麼會……知道這個名字?」44Please respect copyright.PENANAi1iJ3YJRLD
那是她與漢斯約定,無論如何都不能洩漏的秘密──連她自己都不清楚其真正意義,只知道,那是絕對不能說出的名字。44Please respect copyright.PENANAPm9l9XdF9g
可在這名為雷門的蛇王面前,這個祕密竟如此輕易地被揭穿。44Please respect copyright.PENANAsnn1Owwe3N
雷門親王繼續向前逼近,語氣輕柔,卻毒意更甚。44Please respect copyright.PENANA7RP4f24IFc
「阿爾迪海特……不,應稱妳為──阿爾迪海特皇女。」44Please respect copyright.PENANARg1osAzCkK
第二口毒牙,直刺心臟。44Please respect copyright.PENANArT3t1rj5jJ
「妳可知道,妳真正的哥哥──賽因皇子,正打算對帝國舉旗反叛?」44Please respect copyright.PENANA85EZLbK08M
他吐出的每一字,都像刻意擠出的毒液。44Please respect copyright.PENANAOmggc8kY1Z
賽莉兒臉色蒼白,身體幾乎支撐不住地顫抖起來,腦中亂作一團,完全無法理解這一切背後的真相與重量……但本能告訴她,這每一個字──都在摧毀她的世界。賽莉兒渾身顫抖,兩手緊抓住自己的臉頰,聲音破碎且混亂:44Please respect copyright.PENANAHVfdMIBjqC
「叛亂……?賽因哥哥?不對,我的哥哥是亞利哥哥……我叫賽莉兒,不是什麼阿爾迪海特……」44Please respect copyright.PENANAaKMieRv0wr
她的世界正在崩塌,記憶與現實撕扯交錯。44Please respect copyright.PENANAEjGGtl2Gqg
瀕臨錯亂的她像溺水者般掙扎,瑪利安貝爾只能緊緊將她摟進懷裡,彷彿那樣就能擋住一切惡意。44Please respect copyright.PENANAVxCTjbjZL4
但瑪利安貝爾此刻內心滿是懊悔──44Please respect copyright.PENANAJv2hMXyJN2
當初,她為了保住賽莉兒的性命,與雷門親王達成了那場屈辱的交易。44Please respect copyright.PENANAxOuqV4Sxxu
她以為只要隱藏賽莉兒的真正身分,那孩子就毫無政治利用價值。44Please respect copyright.PENANAKcn9eEMQKq
──錯了。錯得離譜。44Please respect copyright.PENANAtK1RwDuUX0
這場交易的基礎從一開始就站在泥沼上。44Please respect copyright.PENANAAmYG5jeqrM
因為,出現了一個名字:「賽因皇子」──叛亂的旗手,帝國的背叛者。44Please respect copyright.PENANADZjvsMJ2xQ
而賽莉兒──不,阿爾迪海特──正是那位皇子的親妹妹。44Please respect copyright.PENANAJPKfTwoQcs
不需要正統性,不需要證據,只要這個身分被揭露,就足以成為權謀的籌碼與工具。44Please respect copyright.PENANAIyQmgOdKuY
那場所謂的交易,不過是雷門親王精心設下的語言陷阱。44Please respect copyright.PENANAjA3L3oEjc8
她不是被強迫,而是被「誘導」著自願踏進死局。44Please respect copyright.PENANAV3RG54cStH
瑪利安貝爾眼眶發紅,卻死命咬住嘴唇,把所有情緒壓進咽喉。44Please respect copyright.PENANACdXyD6OMkr
終於,她低聲咒罵出從未想過會出口的字句:44Please respect copyright.PENANALchfWmQdCV
「你這條潛伏在帝國陰影中的毒蛇……你還有人性嗎?」44Please respect copyright.PENANAuc6oVotz9j
雷門親王沒有動怒,反而微微一笑。44Please respect copyright.PENANA6InxBug1t7
他像是一位滿意學生反應的講師,輕扶講台邊緣,語調平穩、帶著說教口吻道:44Please respect copyright.PENANAKVRwgIV9by
「權謀這堂課,從學會背叛開始。」隨著他的聲音落下,蛇王立於講台中央,蛇群無聲包圍四方──44Please respect copyright.PENANAwWVl55IuEd
每一條出路,皆已封死。44Please respect copyright.PENANA8patl7JVzL
──然而,預料之外的變數發生了。44Please respect copyright.PENANAI6Flf7NTAJ
地鳴,突如其來。44Please respect copyright.PENANAGBtuEF2bpG
起初只是輕微的震動,屋樑晃動,人們還以為是遠處餘震所致;44Please respect copyright.PENANA5bxJQ1slU5
但下一瞬,劇烈搖晃隨之而來,撼動整座講堂,讓所有僥倖心理瞬間崩解。44Please respect copyright.PENANAmoqHE7fYeY
接著,爆光襲來。44Please respect copyright.PENANAMw55PU4owT
彷彿天雷墜地,白芒刺破視野,令人下意識望向光源方向。44Please respect copyright.PENANAzkBQgJLv3C
緊接而來的,是狂風驟起──強風吹碎大講堂所有窗戶,鋒利玻璃宛如萬刃亂舞,席捲全場。44Please respect copyright.PENANAlgAaZhxilx
連訓練有素的《灰蛇連環》也被打亂陣型,一時間陣列崩潰。44Please respect copyright.PENANAflSGMOPOiL
「砰!」44Please respect copyright.PENANA1phB5V3FKB
雷門親王冷冷將銀杖重擊講台,回聲震盪室內,這才讓蛇群恢復紀律。44Please respect copyright.PENANAY5FLObNmak
他的臉頰與肩頭被碎玻璃劃破,鮮血滑落,卻彷彿毫無所覺。44Please respect copyright.PENANAYawA9NcGwf
他只凝視著那道光與風起之處──剛才異象爆發的方向。雷門親王眯起眼,低聲自語:44Please respect copyright.PENANANaZxlcGJcL
「……那是什麼?」44Please respect copyright.PENANAFebnFImPKT
沒有人回答。44Please respect copyright.PENANAsCCG172nID
因為那景象,已超出所有人的理解範疇。44Please respect copyright.PENANAsTsL8CWqgz
天地之間,竟被兩種極端色彩劃開──44Please respect copyright.PENANA0HIvVHaHxP
一側是白曜,耀眼如旭日破曉;44Please respect copyright.PENANAM32H2AWLcb
一側是漆黑,沉深如無光星夜。44Please respect copyright.PENANAs91YLS1JyA
兩種色彩互不相讓,宛如雙龍糾纏,在天際翻騰,甚至撼動雲層本身。44Please respect copyright.PENANAUKJ5ZTF2v3
雷門親王沉默許久,眼神深邃如潭,只是緩緩將這一幕銘刻心底。44Please respect copyright.PENANAMCMknODSor
──就像世界本身,忽然低語般提醒他:44Please respect copyright.PENANAcscDhdpIy4
你以為已掌握一切、看透眾生。44Please respect copyright.PENANAXRoj9FPlPp
但真正的未知,才正要現身。
44Please respect copyright.PENANAImiNTDcsdY