"I think with your intelligence, you should have a pretty good idea of what the situation is."
"As expected, you still refuse to say it clearly."
"This is what you must experience if you want to participate in it, Lista." Rennix took the glass with water next to it, "I allow you to use any resources on this island, and I also allow you to challenge me. Whatever arrangement you prepare, this is the opportunity I give you. Of course, you must be quick, because I don’t have that much time.”
"Okay, so what exactly did my grandfather say when he asked me to come in?"
"Lista, you have nothing missing." Rennix smiled and took a sip of water, "So you don't need to accept my suggestions like them, so what I give you is a challenge."
"oh?"
"You should know that the so-called order of succession is just a temporary alternative for someone in the Howard family to take charge of the family rules when the head of the family cannot decide. I think the patriarch must have sufficient means and abilities, rather than relying on anything Stupid rules like first come, first served, blood ties. So, Lista, the challenge is - can you become the true head of the family?"
"I'm familiar with the family rules. I need to find your inheritance."
"Then give it a try. I hope you can meet my expectations, Lista. Of course, I have given others some tips on how to find inheritances, so you should not be an exception."
"The legacy is on the island you planned, and it's also in your ceremony." Lista stared at Rennix, "Grandpa, please at least tell me something I don't know."
Rennix's expression was very satisfied: "Very good, it seems that you were not idle yesterday. Okay... then, Lista, remember, my legacy is my wish."
"It's the same as saying nothing." Lista felt helpless.
"No, this is a very important tip. None of the tips I give to others are so direct to the core. Okay, your time is up, you can leave."
Lista didn't say anything else. She stood up, saluted Rennix, and walked out of the small room under the guidance of Escher.
Then, everyone left, and the children went to Orlando, Lu Ning and others to discuss this matter, which was the same as every round. Lista did not participate in the conversation in Enwood. She just waited in the lobby until their conversation was over and then returned to the clubhouse together.
Theoretically, something should happen tonight, every round. Lu Ning wanted to see if Lista could have any influence on this seemingly predetermined outcome. And Lista did make some preparations. She lit some candles and inserted them in the four directions of the meeting hall, and then used a bottle of red liquid to draw some symbols around the candles. Then, she brought back half a bowl of rainwater from outside, burned a piece of paper talisman in the water, and then sprinkled the water on the gate.
After returning to the room, Lista sat upright on the bed. She closed her eyes and began to meditate, as if she was not ready to sleep.
However, both of them, including Lu Ning who was watching, slowly fell asleep.
=
In the main restaurant, when morning came, after rosemary and bay leaves helped Pan Shen prepare the ingredients for breakfast, they hurried to decorate the restaurant. The servants wake up early and must be earlier than the guests. The Howard family does not allow guests to be neglected.
Therefore, every morning is very busy.
However, today, when Rosemary and Bayleaf opened the door of the restaurant, they were both stunned for a moment, and then looked at each other.
There are already guests seated in the restaurant. Everyone wears a pure black mask on their face, and they lean on the chairs next to the dining table in a leaning posture; in front of everyone is a vase, which contains flowers folded from paper.
Even though they were obscured by masks, the two servants could still recognize their identities at a glance - because their clothes and seats were exactly the same as yesterday.
Rennix sat in the main seat, with his seven children on the left and right. Upon seeing this, Bay Leaf immediately stopped and made a gesture to Rosemary. Rosemary nodded immediately, turned around and left the restaurant to wake up the others.
They know how to respond to today's situation.
Rosemary quickly called out to the servants and Escher, and then each went their separate ways to wake up the guests in the main hall. Soon, everyone in the main hall knew what had happened. Out of fear of the unknown, most of them hurried downstairs and gathered in the restaurant to see what was going on.
And Bayleaf waited here until they arrived before continuing to block the door. She was the first to let Escher in. At this time, the servants had already driven to various annexes to notify the people in the annexes. Only the rosemary and bay leaves they found were still here.
】
Gustave and Justina also walked into the restaurant. Gustav glanced at Escher and stopped his movements, saying: "You'd better not do this thing of unmasking."
Escher paused: "What do you mean?"
"There is no doubt that this place has been specially decorated. After following Rennix for so many years, don't you have any reaction to the paper flowers on the table? Or do you know what is going on?"
Gustav walked half a circle around the table, and finally stood behind Rennix: "Mr. Escher, they are already dead, and now this death has been set into a trap, and someone has desecrated their die."
"You mean-"
"They are all magicians, and dead magicians still have some characteristics. Even if they cannot accumulate a large amount of magic power in their bodies, their bodies are still washed by magic power. If someone uses it intentionally, it can also cause a lot of damage. Effect." Gustav stared at Escher, "Mr. Butler, excluding the dead for now, who among the magicians on this island is accustomed to using paper magic?"
"Me." Escher stood there and said politely, "The magic materials I usually use are paper media."
"Okay." Gustave nodded, "Then I don't think you have that ability."
Escher didn't look offended, but rather a little confused.
"Because the ritual here is something that even I can't do - at least it can't be arranged and completed overnight. Its scientific name is Filth Collapse, which is caused by reverse analysis of the magic structure in the magician's body, causing the magic to collapse. Malicious killing magic, I can't imagine anyone on this island having such a huge hatred for the Howard family."
"There are not a few people who hate you. As long as you don't show it, it's hard to tell. Mr. Gustave, if it is such a dangerous thing, should we find a way to dismantle it?"
"Demolition?" Gustave touched his chin, "Sorry, I don't have this ability. Not to mention me, even Renix's favorite granddaughter doesn't have this ability. In theory, this should be a need It takes half a month to carry out the ritual of setting it up, and it will take at least the same amount of time to crack it.”
"Doesn't this mean that this restaurant has become a bomb?" Schriter said in horror. "If this explodes, wouldn't we all be blown up to the sky?"
"Mr. Schlitt, the result of this ritual is not an explosion." Justina said with a smile, "Of course, the results should be similar. They will actually cause a large number of casualties."
Schritt was so frightened that he twitched again.
Half an hour later, the servants had brought everyone back from each annex. There is no doubt that after learning the bad news, everyone has different reactions, including surprise, sadness, fear, confusion...
Lista stood at the door of the restaurant, expressionless.
Is this what Grandpa is preparing for? Is this what he said about not having much time?
And my father, and the other elders. Lista clenched her fists, and Lu Ning could feel a mixed feeling. There was not much sadness, but more anger.
"Lista, come in. This is the Filthy Shadow, you should recognize it." Gustave said.
"I know, but it can't be dismantled in a short time by eight magicians." Lista finally had a look of pain on her face, "It can't be constructed in a short time either, because this ritual requires the body of the target to be cast. He has a very good understanding of the magical properties and operation methods, and carries out targeted preparation and refining materials. Only one person can complete the ritual for his grandfather and father overnight, because only one person understands all eight of them. .”
"My child, you don't have to think about it like this. If someone specifically targets the Howard family, this kind of thing will still happen." Justina comforted her, "The key now is that the Howard family needs someone in charge."
"This kind of thing only requires a temporary clan leader." Lista said, glancing at her mother behind her, "According to the order, my mother will become the head of the clan."
"Yes, if my husband is confirmed to be dead, then I should be the highest priority." Milia said slightly nervously, "This is the family rule of the Howard family."
"In this case, it is up to the head of the family to decide how to deal with it. Mrs. Milia, please come in." Gustav said.
"Can we examine the body?" Milia asked as she entered the restaurant.
"Unfortunately, touching is very likely to trigger the ritual. We can't guess what the designer of the ritual used as the starting switch. The safest way is not to touch it." Gustav shook his head, "You can ask yourself 's daughter."
"It would be best to close the restaurant," Lista said. "But can anyone tell me if there are any obvious injuries on their bodies and if their clothes are neat and tidy?"
"Then let Dr. Lu take a look. After all, he is the person appointed by the master himself, so he should be more professional." Escher suggested.
Milia nodded, so Lu Ning also walked into the restaurant. She carefully observed around the table, and then said: "Everyone has no obvious external injuries, but the clothes on your body are not so neat. There are obvious signs of being put on. This is normal. I think when you went back yesterday, the deceased would also take off his formal clothes when sleeping. If he puts them back on at this time, someone else must have put them on."
"So is it possible that they moved here after being killed?" Zhai Jingqiu said outside, "I don't know much about the other people, but it's hard for me to accept that Huo Yinglong can come to the main hall by himself in the middle of the night. , didn’t even leave me any information about this situation.”
"It's impossible for Felicia not to tell me, especially after last night's family dinner, she told me that she would be with me these days." Subbia said angrily, "Just now Liz Didn’t Tower already say that? Only someone who understands everyone can set up such a ceremony, which means that this ceremony was prepared by Renix!"
"Supobia, you are not a member of the Howard family yet, so I don't care about your slander against your father." Arisa Saotome warned coldly, "But please be more careful. The Howard family will protect themselves." reputation."
"Reputation?" Kanzaki Takaya bared his teeth, "So many people have died...you still care about reputation?"
"The people who died are all members of our own family, right? So in the final analysis, this is a family matter." Arisa Saotome said and glanced at Milia, "That's right, right? Acting head of the family?"
"Yes, this is an internal matter within the family. Although you are invited here by members of the family, you have read the family rules and you are not a member of the family." Milia looked out the door with a tone of rejection. , "We will seal this place and prohibit anyone from entering or leaving. It will cause unimaginable harm. Even if they were once our friends or lovers, we need to be responsible for the living people."
"what happens?"
asked Jack Swan.
"What are you asking about?" Lista asked.
"I mean, what will happen if it is triggered? We laymen here can only listen but don't know the consequences. This is not a responsible behavior. At least we should have the right to know what will happen if this ritual is triggered, right? ?If it can really be dealt with, then why don’t we deal with it first? No one can worry about sitting next to a bomb."
"They will be swallowed by the magic power and become familiars corresponding to the etheric attributes." Lista said.
"Okay, then what?"
"This kind of familiar is not made by the magician himself, nor is it intentionally created by the source of magic. In other words, they will be in a state of ownerlessness, completely out of control, and extremely aggressive. They will only assimilate everything around them. For the ether with the same attributes as your own, if any of you has learned magic, that will be the first target."
"No owner? So is there any way to bind an owner or something?" Jack asked again.
"Even if their corresponding magic roots come, they cannot be bound, because the foundation of this ritual lies in reverse analysis. It is contrary to the operating principles of all existing magic. No one can use magic that is completely anti-system. "Lista explained patiently, "In addition, I hope everyone will pay attention to one thing. Since this place is going to be sealed, it means that anyone who enters will be regarded as doing something that will endanger everyone, and we will kill them on the spot. , our family will ensure this.”
Miria and Arisa Saotome nodded at the same time.
"Please disperse." Gustav also stood up, "Since the Howard family continues to bear the responsibility of the host, we all will wait until they handle the affairs here. As guests, it is best not to give It’s just adding unnecessary trouble to my family.”
