2157年9月9日,早上八點,商業中心B區581Please respect copyright.PENANAT0aksxhAI3
581Please respect copyright.PENANAPHZqZ75wty
581Please respect copyright.PENANAk8KfdZK6Cm
嘴巴咬著厚厚的三明治,葛蕾絲踩著輕盈的步伐、走在熱鬧的大街,途中撞到好幾名路人,也有人對她罵髒話,但葛蕾絲頭都沒回,一邊哼歌,一邊往仙境大樓的方向走去。581Please respect copyright.PENANAG0cVQzM8nN
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尼可拉斯到底在隱瞞什麼?581Please respect copyright.PENANA5FP8tpwkRX
581Please respect copyright.PENANAQ03dDjG58w
盯著空中的一個點,葛蕾絲回想兒子剛剛的反應。581Please respect copyright.PENANAuqS3T2U7Fk
581Please respect copyright.PENANAjQMJ9xZW7T
581Please respect copyright.PENANAygIF3RkpoQ
尼可拉斯不是冷靜的人,葛蕾絲太了解兒子,尼可拉斯只有忍耐時才會故作鎮定,而剛剛的尼可拉斯從頭到尾都非常冷靜,這百分之百有問題,只是葛蕾絲不想和兒子起衝突,才沒打破砂鍋問到底。581Please respect copyright.PENANACVosCSmLp4
581Please respect copyright.PENANAkLiTDNf6Pv
而且,葛蕾絲不是沒有方法,她的天賦是「香菇」,身體會噴出肉眼無法看見的孢子,孢子不只能用來復活,還有其它意想不到的功能。581Please respect copyright.PENANAJohGUnSalP
581Please respect copyright.PENANAgo7LFIiN0F
「啊,回來了。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAdaxrJAh4mP
581Please respect copyright.PENANAJNKehAlBV7
一般人看不見,但她知道一粒粒的黑色孢子正向自己飄來。剛才在咆哮飯店,葛蕾絲留下了大量孢子、用來蒐集情報,當這些孢子回到自己身體的瞬間,葛蕾絲會看見孢子帶回的片段訊息,就像一張張快閃相片。她看見尼可拉斯坐在沙發上,旁邊坐著的人──581Please respect copyright.PENANAhOyJ7QhJLj
581Please respect copyright.PENANAdg6hOQt8IY
「……!?」581Please respect copyright.PENANADobUpvm2qP
581Please respect copyright.PENANAyik9caofSt
孢子無法傳遞聲音,葛蕾絲只能看到畫面,但光派翠克的外表就夠她震驚了。581Please respect copyright.PENANABWpRRMoPJu
581Please respect copyright.PENANACLi537wlv0
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紅鶴?581Please respect copyright.PENANAfBz3eIsHDE
581Please respect copyright.PENANA1p7Ry1vRMS
不,那個髮色是……雷蒙?581Please respect copyright.PENANAbxxvwMCimW
581Please respect copyright.PENANAyWGeVBKqA2
雷蒙為什麼有和紅鶴如此神似的人?581Please respect copyright.PENANAaG0znGClbS
581Please respect copyright.PENANAVoIgsa2APH
尼可拉斯為什麼和他在一起?581Please respect copyright.PENANAOCD4KiSG2n
581Please respect copyright.PENANA9OFkR1OAsl
581Please respect copyright.PENANAGMDtdPxwJ9
停下腳步的葛蕾絲站在一間電影院前,像在思考要看哪部電影,其實她的思緒非常雜亂。葛蕾絲原本要聯絡里奧,卻在最後一刻陷入猶豫。581Please respect copyright.PENANAnJ8MUkSusO
581Please respect copyright.PENANAC6b3jwjrIY
「……。」581Please respect copyright.PENANArs2EpuXiWP
581Please respect copyright.PENANAsjSlqQ9FvX
她的手指定格在螢幕前,腦中浮現尼可拉斯小時候的臉,最後,她返回通訊錄、找到名為「凱薩」的號碼,按下撥號鍵。581Please respect copyright.PENANAhtJqQHNYEC
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◇◆ ◆◇581Please respect copyright.PENANAMciNlMJkgR
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581Please respect copyright.PENANA5YuhffDada
2157年9月9日,早上八點半,商業中心B區,咆哮飯店581Please respect copyright.PENANAhpW3LTVaNA
581Please respect copyright.PENANAXKMuAf249k
581Please respect copyright.PENANAgMi43xkh9j
「以水來比喻吧。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAE5ssYm3cgl
581Please respect copyright.PENANAhT4386Vj8u
派翠克拿了個裝滿水的茶壺,及幾個空茶杯擺在桌上,告訴尼可拉斯:581Please respect copyright.PENANAyTY0S7jxnE
581Please respect copyright.PENANAy9l3CGaTLr
「水果塔就像水,擁有越多水的人越強。第一代水果塔的人都是茶壺,是一群遙不可及的存在。」581Please respect copyright.PENANA1qgogs3a5N
581Please respect copyright.PENANArPQikkSdOm
派翠克將茶壺的水倒入其中一個杯子。581Please respect copyright.PENANA6Khlqe5IBH
581Please respect copyright.PENANAQy3FoXtThT
「他們大部分都死了,水果塔也隨著基因傳給第二代、第三代,就像這些茶杯,他們只繼承一部分水果塔,能發揮的空間有限。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAfOwPIupGQV
581Please respect copyright.PENANADGtnJtiilq
派翠克把另外兩個杯子,用杯墊蓋起來。581Please respect copyright.PENANAgYfw85sd27
581Please respect copyright.PENANAy46qtXGCvP
「問題來了,並不是每個後代都能裝水。以李門為例,代號『紅心傑克』的第一代水果塔──李仲翔,只有二兒子李康繼承了紅心傑克。不是每個後代都能繼承,這是機率的問題。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAfbqooT8YJB
581Please respect copyright.PENANA6jC0xla8hp
尼可拉斯記得李博洋說的故事,「可是李康後來瘋了。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAaOw67mhlwz
581Please respect copyright.PENANAZkLUFPfY8C
派翠克嘆氣,「不過,李康也完成了他的使命。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAjMjHHpe1KT
581Please respect copyright.PENANAnj2trxg1uw
尼可拉斯明白派翠克的意思。李康早逝,成功傳承紅心傑克,留下兩個繼承水果塔的兒子──李博洋與李晴煬。581Please respect copyright.PENANAoTmHc2Y3pz
581Please respect copyright.PENANASGfyjZ2CDP
「前情提要完畢,接下來是我奶奶。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAoAjiv3l3Wg
581Please respect copyright.PENANAMFsjT5VNDZ
派翠克將裝有水的杯子放到一邊,留下兩個蓋著杯墊的杯子。581Please respect copyright.PENANAPGFkxEik62
581Please respect copyright.PENANAVBlInSgGNk
「我奶奶──薇奧拉.雷蒙,第一代水果塔『公爵夫人』,生的兩個孩子都沒有繼承到水果塔。她把希望放到孫子輩,希望出現隔代遺傳的奇蹟。」581Please respect copyright.PENANA1RtXfnxdEH
581Please respect copyright.PENANAYYcsYEY70D
派翠克再拿了五個杯子,全部蓋上杯墊。581Please respect copyright.PENANAO88yQ1KNfU
581Please respect copyright.PENANAea3Rjk1VXI
「結果五個孫子──包括我──全都沒有繼承到。我奶奶這下急了,她擔心『公爵夫人』失傳;要是她有什麼萬一,雷蒙一家會步入史密斯馬戲團的後塵,成為可有可無、被滅亡也無所謂的存在。」581Please respect copyright.PENANATRlhzGp6gl
581Please respect copyright.PENANAHKhVQGmKx3
尼可拉斯沒有回話,畢竟,他參與了殲滅史密斯的行動。581Please respect copyright.PENANAEsfIrvSuc5
581Please respect copyright.PENANA5XpuvZhp8E
「所以,我奶奶向她的老朋友求救,就是白絃姊。」派翠克說:「她把我奶奶的水果塔拿出來、放到我的身體裡。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAiBCdb7gofC
581Please respect copyright.PENANA9MJUC4MFWq
尼可拉斯喊停,「『拿出來』是什麼意思?」581Please respect copyright.PENANAATsWYGBpL0
581Please respect copyright.PENANA5K7wpNtNMy
「字面上的意思。她先將水果塔拿到自己體內,再放進我的身體。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAoMAmdxuig5
581Please respect copyright.PENANAZwLLWs8g2D
派翠克的答案簡單到無法相信。尼可拉斯停頓,「所以,獅鷲可以把別人的水果塔拿走,再決定交給誰?」581Please respect copyright.PENANA4AQDp1ueDM
581Please respect copyright.PENANAwVnKW18q8U
「或者,都留在自己身上。以這次來說,白絃姊拿走我奶奶的水果塔後,用另一個名叫『克隆』的水果塔、變換我的性別與外表,再把公爵夫人放到我體內。」派翠克結論:「『克隆』似乎是能形塑人類外表的水果塔,目前貯存在白絃姊體內。除了她本身的『距離』,白絃姊體內還有其它水果塔,至少兩種以上。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAbOdcEWx9Qr
581Please respect copyright.PENANAPGBwohfNux
尼可拉斯明白了。怪不得白絃被稱為最強,被里奧他們忌憚。581Please respect copyright.PENANAJGVtO3IbCY
581Please respect copyright.PENANAoQcoLVVGQ0
「聽起來,獅鷲比艾莉絲更強。」尼可拉斯說:「隨意拿走別人的水果塔……簡直像神明一樣。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAmJL6QJEQE9
581Please respect copyright.PENANAFykgujAj94
「不過,所有水果塔都對艾莉絲都無效。白絃姊真正面對艾莉絲時,恐怕也無計可施。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAQOAbmjI3VN
581Please respect copyright.PENANAycdZ18fNxJ
派翠克告訴尼可拉斯:「不過,以前的夏悠不是這樣。因為夏悠犯了無法挽回的錯,白絃姊才把她變成『所有水果塔均無效』的體質,限制她也保護她。」581Please respect copyright.PENANA4f2yOicoC9
581Please respect copyright.PENANA9yaplkggMM
「犯了無法挽回的錯」?尼可拉斯追問,派翠克只說:「這我絕對不能說。如果說了,你也會變成高宇維的追殺對象。」581Please respect copyright.PENANASWWaRlwoDc
581Please respect copyright.PENANAJDsXidUP8m
以前有張迷因圖叫「你知道的太多了」,派翠克現在就是這樣。白絃就像開啟真相的鑰匙,一旦了解她的強大,那些被掩蓋的歷史就會點點浮現。派翠克親眼見證過白絃的能力,所以高宇維不會放過他。581Please respect copyright.PENANAc2cjyXcB8Z
581Please respect copyright.PENANA7HXmEl5O0r
可是有但書。尼可拉斯問派翠克:「你之前說,只要薇奧拉.雷蒙死,宇維少爺就不會殺你,又是什麼意思?」581Please respect copyright.PENANA0M8j5tmk9a
581Please respect copyright.PENANAXGOFv0rNPO
派翠克苦笑,「尼可,你知道為什麼高宇維拚了命,也要把你們收為神與畜嗎?」581Please respect copyright.PENANAiIWWGOFf4s
581Please respect copyright.PENANAPxRimLR8bY
「我們是第一代水果塔的後裔。」尼可拉斯說。581Please respect copyright.PENANAfSsRH76j3G
581Please respect copyright.PENANA34ftxj1WOV
「答對一半,正確來說,高宇維不能讓任何一個水果塔失傳,他必須確保水果塔被一代代傳承,這是艾莉絲體系的共識。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAuqGJCLDeje
581Please respect copyright.PENANAdCKpnlmtKn
尼可拉斯聽懂了,他看向桌上的茶壺和茶杯,得出結論:「只要薇奧拉.雷蒙死,這世上的公爵夫人,就剩你一個。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAG3ojTLnaDd
581Please respect copyright.PENANApoakIgFzip
「沒錯,比起『他知道獅鷲的真面目』,高宇維更在乎『世上只剩一個公爵夫人』。」派翠克低頭,「我奶奶太了解高宇維。為了讓我活命,她甘願放棄自己的永生、步入死亡……雖然她叫我躲在咆哮飯店,但她的時間已經不多,我想把握最後這幾天,見她最後一面。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAerzPLEE4e7
581Please respect copyright.PENANABD0hmEs4mJ
派翠克沒有說出全部,但對目前的尼可拉斯已經足夠,而且,現在不是說長故事的時機,派翠克得趕回薇奧拉‧雷蒙身邊,尼可拉斯也不放心葛蕾絲,盡快離開咆哮飯店才是上策。581Please respect copyright.PENANAuGzhOguXHv
581Please respect copyright.PENANAXrhQwAKK8a
「我還有很多事想問,邊走邊講吧。」581Please respect copyright.PENANA9xN9pbNJXX
581Please respect copyright.PENANA2WAJsJBIOM
尼可拉斯起身,將一袋東西扔到派翠克身上。581Please respect copyright.PENANAW8sSr4u9nv
581Please respect copyright.PENANATwdLyUXcG6
「你那張臉太危險,我們時間已經夠少,我不希望有突發狀況。」尼可拉斯說。581Please respect copyright.PENANAR8vi3mptrQ
581Please respect copyright.PENANARgOJKIgjmw
袋子裡是一疊黑色口罩,派翠克皺眉,「我不要,戴口罩很悶……唔!」581Please respect copyright.PENANAcfptXME7Cb
581Please respect copyright.PENANAOMSyynqNPg
頭被狠狠敲一下,派翠克哭著抱頭、模樣楚楚可憐,但尼可拉斯不吃這套。581Please respect copyright.PENANAD2qUmAP8za
581Please respect copyright.PENANApQvKo4IMmD
「戴、上!」尼可拉斯恐嚇:「要是那張臉引來麻煩,我就打爛你的嘴!」581Please respect copyright.PENANAP8PMGWs9Yp
581Please respect copyright.PENANAMqSkRD7Uqn
派翠克嚇得趕緊戴上,漂亮的眼睛和藍色頭髮還是很吸睛,不過,搭配尼可拉斯那張生人勿近的臉,就萬無一失了。581Please respect copyright.PENANAf3kCXiVQ1I
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「尼可。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAlU1mhqgT4W
581Please respect copyright.PENANApmHKJKuDY9
在玄關穿鞋時,派翠克突然問尼可拉斯:「李門的小少爺,也是神與畜嗎?」581Please respect copyright.PENANAgCivxwNd2y
581Please respect copyright.PENANAmrAkbWgAex
從派翠克口中聽到李晴煬,尼可拉斯有點訝異,但他不能隨意公布成員身分,「我不能告訴你,你自己知道答案。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAlBVFuZK1xN
581Please respect copyright.PENANAeWTlNN7m3B
「……。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAjYzSaNo8nW
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「你認識他?」581Please respect copyright.PENANAfGB6M8L2n7
581Please respect copyright.PENANAFVWnsqKwd4
「嗯……」派翠克微笑,「沒事,我想他也不記得我了,當我沒問吧。」581Please respect copyright.PENANAgpnJqfbgcu
581Please respect copyright.PENANAfugDqDrUPE
走出房間、搭上電梯,派翠克陷入長長的沉默。尼可拉斯想問他和李晴煬的事,但氣氛不對,尼可拉斯只好把問題吞回喉嚨,繼續趕路。