Returning from the abyss

"I think with your ingenuity you should know exactly what is going on."

"As expected, you still refuse to say it clearly."

"This is what you have to experience if you want to participate in it, Lista." Renix took the glass with clear water next to it, "I allow you to use any resources on this island, and I also allow you to challenge all the resources I have. Any arrangements prepared, this is the opportunity I give you. Of course, you must be quick, because I don't have that much time."

"Okay, so what did my grandfather ask me to come in?"

"Lista, you have nothing missing." Renix smiled and took a sip of water, "So you don't need to accept my advice like them, so what I give you is a challenge."

"Oh?"

"You should know that the so-called order of heirs is just a temporary substitute for someone in the Howard family to preside over the family rules when the head of the family cannot decide. The patriarch in my opinion must have sufficient means and capabilities, rather than relying on anything Stupid rules like first come first served, blood ties, etc. So, Lista, the challenge is—can you become the real Patriarch?"

"The house rules are familiar to me. I need to find your legacy."

"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 inheritance, so you should be no exception."

"The inheritance is on the island you planned, and it is also in your ceremony." Lista stared at Renix, "Grandfather, please tell me at least something I don't know."

Renix's expression was very satisfied: "Very good, it seems that you were not idle yesterday. Okay...then, Lista, remember, my legacy is my wish."

"Having said it is the same as not saying it." Lista felt a little helpless.

"No, this is a very important reminder. The reminders I give to others are not so direct to the core. Well, your time is up, and you can leave."

Lista didn't say much, she stood up and bowed to Renix, and walked out of the small room under the guidance of Escher.

Then, everyone left separately, 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 with Lynwood, but just waited in the hall until their conversation was over, and returned to the meeting hall together.

In theory, something should have happened tonight, every round.Lu Ning wanted to see if Lista could have any influence on what seemed to be the predetermined result.And Lista did make some preparations. She lit some candles and inserted them in the four directions of the Guild Hall, and then used a bottle of red liquid to draw some symbols around the candles.Then, she came back with half a bowl of rainwater from the 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, closed her eyes and began to meditate, as if she was not going to sleep.

However, including Lu Ning who was watching, both of them slowly fell asleep.

=
In the main building, when the morning came, Rosemary and Bay Leaf helped Pan Shen prepare the ingredients for breakfast, and then hurriedly went to decorate the dining room.The servants wake up early, and they must be earlier than the guests. The Howard family does not allow the guests to be neglected.

Therefore, every morning is very busy.

But today, when Rosemary and Bay Leaf opened the door of the restaurant, both of them froze for a moment, and then exchanged glances.

Guests are already seated in the restaurant.Everyone has a pure black mask on their face, and they lean on the chairs next to the dining table in a reclining posture; in front of each of them is a vase containing flowers made of paper.

Even though they were covered by masks, the two servants could still recognize their identities at a glance—because their clothes and seats were exactly the same as yesterday.

Lennix sat at the head of the table, while his seven children lined up on the left and right.Seeing this, Bay Leaf immediately stopped in her tracks, and made a gesture to Rosemary, and Rosemary nodded immediately, turned her head and left the restaurant to wake up the rest of the people.

They know how to deal with the situation today.

Rosemary quickly called out both the servant and Escher, and then separately woke 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 the bay leaf waited here until they arrived, so they didn't continue to block the gate.She was the first to let Escher in. At this time, the servants had already driven to the various annexes to inform the people in the annexes, and only the rosemary and bay leaves they found were still here.

Gustav and Justina also walked into the restaurant. Gustav glanced at Escher and stopped him, saying, "You'd better not take off the mask."

Escher paused: "What do you mean?"

"There is no doubt that this place has been specially arranged. After following Renix for so many years, do you have no reaction to the paper flowers on the table? Or do you know what's going on at all?"

Gustav walked half a circle around the table, and finally stood behind Renix: "Mr. Escher, they are already dead, and now this death has been set up as a trap, someone desecrated their die."

"You mean—"

"They are all magicians, and the dead magicians still have some characteristics. Even if they can't accumulate a lot of magic power in their bodies, they are still washed by the magic power. If someone uses it intentionally, it can cause a lot of damage. Effect." Gustav stared at Escher, "Mr. Steward, let's exclude the dead for now, among the magicians on this island, who is accustomed to using paper magic?"

"Me." Escher stood still and said politely, "The magic materials I usually use are paper media."

"Okay." Gustav nodded, "Then I don't think you have that ability."

Escher didn't look offended, but rather had some doubts.

"Because the ritual here is something even I can't do - at least it can't be arranged overnight. Its scientific name is filthy shadow, and it triggers the collapse of magic power through reverse analysis of the magic power structure in the magician's body Malicious killing magic, it's hard for me to imagine anyone on this island who has such a huge hatred for the Howard family."

"There are not a few people who hate the master. As long as you don't show it, it's hard to tell. Mr. Gustav, if it is such a dangerous thing, should we find a way to remove it?"

"Demolition?" Gustav touched his chin, "Sorry, I don't have the ability, not to mention me, even the granddaughter that Reynix is ​​most optimistic about doesn't have this ability. In theory, this should be a need It takes half a month to arrange the ceremony, and it takes 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 it explodes, wouldn't we all have to be blown to the sky?"

"Mr. Schlitter, the result of this ceremony is not an explosion." Justina said with a smile, "Of course, the results should be similar, and they will all cause a large number of casualties."

Shreiter twitched again in fright.

Half an hour later, the servants had brought back all the people from the various annexes.Undoubtedly, after learning the bad news, everyone reacts differently, such as surprise, sadness, fear, confusion...

Lista stood at the door of the restaurant with a blank expression on her face.

Is this what grandpa was preparing for?Is this what he said he didn't have much time?
And the father, and the rest of the elders.Lista clenched her fists tightly, and Lu Ning could feel a mixed feeling. There was not much sadness, but more anger.

"Lista, come in. This is a filthy shadow, you should recognize it." Gustav said.

"I know, but the formation of eight magicians cannot be dismantled in a short time." Lista finally had a painful look on her face, "It can't be constructed in a short time, because this ritual needs to destroy the inside of the target's body." The magical attributes, operation methods, etc. of the people are very well understood, and targeted preparations and refining materials are carried out. Only one person can complete the ceremony for the grandfather and father overnight, because only one person understands all of the eight of them. .”

"Son, you don't have to think about it this way. If someone deliberately 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."

"For this kind of thing, as long as there is a temporary patriarch." Lista said, she glanced at her mother behind her. "According to the order, my mother will become the patriarch."

"Yes, if my husband is confirmed dead, then I should be the highest pick." Miria said a little nervously, "This is the family rule of the Howard family."

"Since this is the case, it is up to the owner to decide how to deal with it. Mrs. Miria, please come in." Gustav said.

"Can we examine the body?" Miria asked after entering the restaurant.

"Unfortunately, touching is very likely to trigger the ceremony. We can't guess what the designer of the ceremony used as the activation switch. The safest way is not to touch it." Gustav shook his head, "You can ask yourself daughter."

"It's best to keep the dining room closed," Lista said, "but can someone tell me if they have any obvious injuries and if their clothes are clean?"

"Then let Dr. Lu take a look. After all, he is personally appointed by the master, 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 trauma from the outside, but the clothes on your body are not so neat. There are obvious traces of putting it on. This is also normal, I think that when you went back yesterday, the deceased would also take off your formal clothes when you were sleeping, and you must have put them on again at this time."

"Then is there such a possibility that they moved here after being murdered?" Zhai Jingqiu said outside, "I don't know much about the others, 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 , and didn’t even leave me any information about the situation.”

"It's impossible for Felicia not to tell me, especially after the family dinner last night, she told me that she would stay with me for the next few days." Subbia said angrily, "Just now Liz Didn't the tower already say that? Only the person who knows everyone can set up such a ceremony, which means that this ceremony was prepared by Renix!"

"Subobia, you are not from the Howard family, so I don't care about your slander to your father." Saotome Arisa warned coldly, "But please pay attention, the Howard family will defend themselves reputation."

"Fame?" Takashi Kanzaki gritted his teeth, "So many people have died...do you still care about reputation?"

"The people who died are all from our own family? So in the final analysis, this is a family matter." Arisa Saotome said, and glanced at Miria, "That's right? Acting as the head of the house?"

"Yes, this is an internal matter of the family. Although you are invited by the family, you have read the family rules, and you are not a member of the family." Miria 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, but we need to be responsible for the living."

"What will happen?"

asked Jack Swan.

"What are you asking?" Lista asked back.

"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. ? If it can be dealt with, why don't we deal with it first? No one can sit next to a bomb at ease."

"They will be devoured by magic power and become familiars corresponding to the ether attribute." Lista said.

"Okay, then what?"

"This kind of familiars are not made by the magician himself, nor are they intentionally made by the source of magic. That is to say, they will be in a state of no owner, completely out of control, and extremely aggressive. They will only assimilate everything around them. As the ether with the same attributes as myself, if any of you have learned magic, it will be the first target."

"No master? So is there a way to bind a master or something?" Jack asked again.

"Even if the roots of their corresponding magic come, they cannot be bound, because the foundation of this ceremony lies in reverse analysis. It is the opposite of all existing magic operation principles. No one can use completely anti-system magic. "Lista explained patiently, "In addition, I want everyone to pay attention to one thing. Since it is going to be sealed up here, it means that anyone who enters will be regarded as doing something that endangers everyone, and we will kill them on the spot. , our family will guarantee it."

Miria and Saotome Arisa nodded at the same time.

"Please disperse, everyone." Gustav also stood up, "Since the Howard family continues to assume the responsibility of the master, we all wait for them to deal with the affairs here. As guests, it is best not to give The main family has added unnecessary trouble."