Otis climbed up tremblingly from the pool of blood and broken glass, without any professorial demeanor and as embarrassed as a bereaved dog.
He wiped the blood off his face and hands with a tissue, spit out a few bloody rotten teeth, took out a new pair of glasses from the drawer, and then took out a book from the bookcase with a black background and gold rim, with a row of gold foil in the middle. a tome of letters and carefully spread it out on the desk.
He turned his eyes to the two attackers who were eyeing him, sighed resignedly, and opened the book.
There is a photo on page one hundred and twenty-three. The photo shows a round table. It is very delicate and must be handmade. The solid wood table top is painted with some kind of red paint to depict a five-person figure occupying the entire table. The star pattern and several circles around it look mysterious and evil.
"This is the séance, the special round table with magical power that I have been studying all my life." Otis bared his teeth because of the pain, but his peachy-swollen eye sockets emitted a strange light.
He pointed to a line of text in the book,
"It is made of wood such as Thuja cypress, sandalwood, boxwood, camphor, nanmu... and the bones of the deceased. As the name suggests, its purpose is to summon spirits and summon those inhuman and strange spiritual creatures."
During Otis's statement, in the office where the three of them were, the light from the window dimmed.
There was a palpitating chill in the air, and the dust on the floor seemed to be shaking uncontrollably and floating into the air.
Adam felt a chill on the back of his neck. He couldn't help but want to refute the other party's ridiculous statement, and suddenly glanced at the man next to him.
No, there are unscientific phenomena and creatures in the world.
He couldn't argue.
Dean watched the progress jump to 31% and asked with interest, "What is a spiritual creature?"
"The devils and evil spirits that people often call do not exist in the human world..." Otis looked at the stunning photo of Mosuo, a work of art. "Did you see the five-pointed star formation on the surface of this table? , guess what’s in its red paint?”
Adam stared at the photo without saying a word.
Dean raised his left eyebrow, "Since the table contains human remains, the shaping circle must contain human blood?"
"Clever." Otis gave Dean an appreciative look, seeming to have completely forgotten that he had been beaten up by these two men not long ago, "Séance, what an evil spiritual table, what it summons You can also imagine what its nature is.”
Otis looked at the photo, his eyes like being attracted by a magnet, full of obsession, "And each spiritual creature requires a séance made of different materials, and a five-pointed star array inlaid with different runes to summon. . The materials and the magic circle must be in strict one-to-one correspondence. If one of them is wrong, the summoning will fail."
"Prepare for the séance, draw the five-pointed star circle, how to summon it next?" Dean noticed that the progress of the event jumped to 35%, "Do I need to prepare incense, candles, etc.?"
Otis shook his head, "No need. Séances are enough to replace these cumbersome items. But the summoner must have a deep enough obsession with the thing being summoned, know its true name, and recite it silently with piety."
Otis paused, and a trace of hesitation flashed in his wet and bloodshot eyes, but when he was glared at by Dean's cold gaze, his whole body trembled, and he confessed honestly,
"During the summoning process, a large amount of blood must be poured into the pentagram on the surface of the séance...at least the amount of blood in the whole body of a healthy adult, and the blood of a special person must be used."
"There is a rule involved here. Because the creature summoned to the real world does not belong to our world, it is incompatible with the rules of the world and must be severely restricted and suppressed. Only special blood can be used to create a brand new human body for it. body, it can stay in the real world for a long time.”
Dean had gained some experience, and his eyes looked at the professor a little softer.
The shallows in his pocket also whispered in agreement, "This pig-headed professor has two brushes."
"So, Professor Otis, why can the five-pointed star array shape the body? What is the difference between it and the four-pointed star and the six-pointed star?"
Dean had been deeply exposed to the four-pointed star array during Hawkins' murder more than a month ago, but the function of the array was to absorb the surrounding energy and condense the original emblem.
"The pentagram circle has its own unique magic power," Otis cleared his throat and said seriously, "The rules for reshaping the body follow the small universe model, that is, the human body model... The circle outside the pentagram represents The universe, and the pentagram represents human beings. The five corners represent human hands, feet, and heads respectively. The central area of the pentagram represents the reproductive parts. By gathering these six parts, a new human being can be created. body."
The event progress has reached 40%.
Dean thought of a possibility in his heart and asked, "Then can we use séances and pentagrams to summon the deceased, summon her soul back from Limbo, and rebuild a new body for her?" body and regenerate it?”
As soon as Dean asked this question, Adam tensed his face and looked at Otis.
"I don't think so. The prerequisite for the success of this ritual is that the summoning object is a non-human existence, and human souls are not among them..." Otis explained seriously, "According to my research, although the psychic ritual does exist, some souls Matchmakers can summon the souls of the dead and bring them back to the world briefly, but they cannot resurrect the dead, and there is no way in the world to resurrect the dead.”
"Human death is irreversible. This is an iron rule of our world."
"If someone really succeeds in resurrecting the dead, then 100%, the person they resurrect is no longer the same 'person' as before."
Adam's face turned heavy when he heard this.
And Dean was lost in thought as he watched the progress jump to 42%.
So far, there are two main points that can trigger significant changes in the progress of the event - Adam's mother Aurora died of cancer, and the séance and pentagram that summoned monsters and monsters.
He had previously speculated that William White's years of research were to save his beloved wife Aurora who died of illness and bring her back to the world.
But now this possibility has been completely denied by Otis's words, "There is no resurrection after death."
Wasn't William White's secret research aimed at resurrecting his wife?
"Wait, I don't understand!" Adam clenched his blood-stained fists and suddenly said, "William's research project is about two legendary monster forces, 'Baphomet' and 'Leviathan'. How can it be related to you?" Is there an intersection in research?”
"He and I are colleagues," Otis slumped down on the chair, grinning and wiping the wounds on his face with alcohol. "I have been paying close attention to his research. Before Aurora's condition worsened, the couple's research The theme is about the descendants of Baphomet, those elusive nocturnal species who are not troubled by disease.”
"But after Aurora passed away, William's research topic turned to the descendants of Leviathan, a terrifying existence called the Hell Monk. He continued to search for news reports of these legendary species around the world for many years, and tried every means to summon them from another dimension. come over."
"It wasn't until half a year ago that he invited me and several historians for the first time to have a meal and drink together. We smiled happily... It was the smile of a long-cherished wish."
"After the death of his wife, he has remained a research maniac. He has a bad attitude toward everyone and has never socialized except for necessary meals and rest. But that day his attitude changed. There is no doubt that he made great achievements. breakthrough and found the séance and pentagram corresponding to summoning the monks from hell.”
Summon the monks from Hell?
Dean was startled, and his mental power sank into the space, locking on an exquisite golden Rubik's Cube with a sun-shaped pattern placed inside.
This is the mourning box that the Queen of the Night once accidentally triggered. Dean has been carrying it with him since leaving Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (Chapter 273)
It is the strange object that can truly summon the monks from hell.
But now according to Otis, Professor William White seems to have found a new way to summon the monks from hell, using séances and pentagrams?
"Both of you, I have told you everything I know," Otis rubbed his bruised chin and looked up at the two of them calmly, "I have been collecting various ancient books all my life in order to find a truly effective way to reduce the pain. Linghui, come and help me personally summon an extra-dimensional creature. If one day, even if I die at the hands of the summoned creature, I will have no complaints. And I see the light in William."
"But before I could ask him about his breakthrough in detail, he suddenly died in the fire. I asked all his students, but there was nothing I wanted."
Otis turned to the young man next to him who had beaten him violently.
"Adam, you are his only living family member and the only person he trusts. He can only put his efforts into you and tell you his secret research."
"So a few days after your father passed away... I came to visit you. I proposed to spend money to buy the relics he left behind." Otis showed an ugly smile with persistent eyes, "But at that time you sent me away with poor excuses. . You should not underestimate a researcher’s pursuit of a lifelong goal!”
"If you don't cooperate, I can only spend huge sums of money to hire the Hell's Angels to track down research materials from you. Well, with so many people, it would be more appropriate to find clues from an unknown person hanging out on the street than a private detective."
Adam raised his fist with protruding knuckles towards him, but Dean grabbed it, "It's useless even if you beat him to death, he's obviously a research geek too."
…
Adam took a deep breath, took a long time to swallow his anger, and glared at Otis roughly, "Is there any cigarette?"
The professor nodded, took out a pack of Marlboros from his desk drawer, lit it, and handed it to Adam.
The two held the cigarettes with trembling fingers and inhaled deeply.
The smoke blurred the two angry or worried faces, and the eyes finally returned to calmness.
"You made a mistake, Otis," Adam put out the cigarette butt. "William is not dead. The body found at the fire scene that night belonged to another person..."
"He's still alive!" Otis's eyes flashed with joy, as happily as a terminally ill patient grasping at straws, "Where is he?"
Adam growled angrily, "I wouldn't have come to you if I had known!"
Otis lowered his head and thought for a moment, then stood up suddenly and limped around the desk a few times, "Then it is obvious that there must be a third party besides us who is interested in William's research. They will do it in half a year He faked a fire death and kidnapped William."
"What if William himself faked the scene and the golden cicada escaped?" Dean looked at Adam, "Didn't he warn you a long time ago that he expected to be in danger?"
"Impossible..." Adam shook his head desperately, "The old man will not kill an innocent person to fake his own death!"
Dean did not refute, but turned to Otis and asked, "Who will the third party be?"
"In the past few years, several waves of private individuals or institutions have approached William with requests to cooperate and invest in his research projects, but they were all rejected by William. Maybe someone was unwilling to use an underhanded trick." Otis raised the bridge of his nose. "And the identities of these visitors are not simple. They are either rich or noble. They are either rich people or well-known scholars."
"I want a list of all the suspects," Dean said.
"Then I have to spend some time checking the list of visitors in recent years." Otis wiped his nose, with a smile on his round face, "Can you make a phone call? I will use dishonorable means to deal with you, and you will also You beat me so hard that my bones were almost broken, now you’re settled, right?”
"How about we work together to find out the whereabouts of William White?"
Adam shook his head decisively, "I don't believe you!"
"That's right, I have to make sure you are one of my own..." Dean grinned and turned his head. A strong force forcibly twisted Adam's body, causing him to face the entrance of the office and look away.
And Otis was frozen in place by an invisible force. With his eyes widened in horror, the handsome Mexican with a beard opened his mouth wide at him. A dark-brown poisonous snake came out of the red mouth and bit him like a spring. his neck.
Gurgling.
The fangs squirmed.
No pain.
He only felt endless darkness, and his body seemed to be falling into the bottomless abyss, breaking into pieces.
There was only silence and devastation.
Then his body reshaped, and when he reopened his eyes, a majestic and supreme snake shadow emerged from the darkness.
That was what he believed from now on.
"Master, humble servant Otis Gaddafi, salute you."
Otis lowered his head towards the man in front of him who was wiping his mouth.
Dean looked at the skill panel. Three of the six control columns of the Serpent Order had been occupied. He nodded, smiled, and patted Otis on the shoulder, "You can call now and find out all the projects against William as soon as possible. Identity of suspect of interest."
Otis nodded, walked to the phone, and picked it up, "Karl? It's me, your teacher Otis. I went to the security office and copied all the visitor records for the past three years and brought them up."
At this time, Adam also recovered from the sudden strange power, turned around, glanced at Dean and Otis, and suddenly felt that there was an inexplicable change in the latter.
"W-what did you do to him?"
"I signed a 'contract', and now he is one of our own. Man, in order to find your father, let's put aside your grudges and live in peace for the time being." Dean comforted Adam.
Adam's lips moved and he nodded.
Otis put down the phone and turned to emphasize, "Although the valuable information was taken home by William and destroyed in the fire. But I insist that William will leave the most important part to Adam."
Adam shook his head firmly, "He didn't leave anything behind before the accident, and the Hells Angels searched me for half a year and found nothing."
"There must be blind spots that you ignore," Otis and Adam said tit for tat. "You are not a father yet. You don't understand what a father can do for his children. When he understands that his time is numbered, he must It will leave you with a way out.”
Adam leaned against the wall in silence, deep in thought.
Dean suddenly had an impulsive premonition and activated his God's perspective to scan the other person's body. When he scanned a black tattoo like a miniature seal on the back of his neck, he couldn't help but say,
"Adam, when did you get that tattoo on the back of your neck?"
"Tattoo?" Adam stretched out his hand to touch it, and suddenly his expression became serious. "More than half a year ago, I went to William to ask for living expenses, and he suddenly and inexplicably asked me to get a tattoo before paying for it. This tattoo is very inconspicuous, and I have always I didn’t take it to heart.”
"William disappeared half a year ago, so the time is right. There must be something wrong with this tattoo." Dean raised his hand and turned Adam around, his eyes close to the tattoo on the back of his neck.
The size of a fingernail is pitch black, and the naked eye can only see countless irregularly arranged, seemingly meaningless tiny dots.
But when Dean saw this, he thought of something he had seen once in the Hawkins Town Library——
"This is a bit like a microfilm. Special equipment should be used to observe it." Otis came over and took a look. He turned around and took out a magnifying glass from his desk drawer and pointed it at the tattoo.
Suddenly, the tiny dots that were as thin as mosquitoes turned into English letters connected end to end, and ancient characters like tadpoles.
"Look, what did I say? The father will definitely leave a way for his children to escape..." Otis said,
Dean narrowed his eyes, "You hide things so deep and you don't worry about not being able to find them in your lifetime?"
"So children can't be too stupid."
"What happened? What did you see?"
"Don't worry, let me put it together...you...you...the place where you cried the hardest for the first time...this should be a reminder...Adam, think about where it was?"
When Adam heard this, his face was stunned as if he had been struck by lightning. The light of memories flashed in his eyes, and a dusty memory came out of his mind.
"I know...in the haunted house at Victoria City Amusement Park."
"What's so special about this place?" Dean asked,
"That was the only time in my memory that William, this irresponsible father, took me to an amusement park. But guess what, he got inspiration for his research midway and left me in a haunted house for two hours..." Adam's eyes were filled with emotion again. Irony and nostalgia, "I cried all my tears for half my life that night. I will never forget the fear of being helpless."
"What a cruel father, he is not afraid of scaring his children out of their wits." Dean noticed that the progress jumped to 45%, and glanced at Adam, "Lead the way, go to the haunted house, William must be there I left something for you over there."
"Otis, you stay here to continue tracing the identity of the suspect."
"As you wish."
(End of chapter)
