“Forgetting is protection?”
Li Andy frowned, and the moment he reached out to take the letter, he suddenly felt a trance.
Several scattered images invaded his vision.
A dimly lit basement...a twisted and bizarre sacrificial array...a blood-soaked mad priest...and a scene from his own perspective, holding a ritual book and speaking mockingly....
“Dear Father John, your ritual can't bring your beloved back....”
The mad priest stared at him with blood-red eyes: “Then tell me what to do?!”
The hand in front of him handed him the ritual book: “Listen carefully, it can make you hear...the true gospel!”
“Brother...Brother?”
Youxi's voice rang in his ears.
Li Andy's pupils contracted, and his vision returned to normal. But his heart inexplicably quickened.
Was it a memory from before?
What...what exactly did I do before?!
“What's wrong, Brother? Did you remember something?” Youxi looked at him worriedly.
Li Andy took a deep breath, shook his head, instinctively resisted explaining, and forcibly shifted his gaze to the invitation.
The invitation was entirely black, with a silver-white jasmine flower printed on the seal.
Li Andy opened and read it; the content inside was very simple.
“Esteemed Mr. Li Andy:”
“We hope you can spare some time from your busy schedule. Our family's First Miss, Ms. Jasmine, has not returned since her ship, the 'molly,' set sail. The situation is urgent, and we hope you can take the time to visit our manor to discuss rescue matters with us five sisters.”
“Molly Family”
“Molly Family...Ms. Jasmine...five sisters?”
Li Andy frowned.
Youxi had previously introduced him to the fact that molly was a dissociative identity disorder patient, so this family was probably a concrete manifestation of her mind.
“Let's get ready, and we'll go directly to the manor.”
Li Andy carefully put away the invitation and, with Youxi, briefly searched the office, finding some useful items:
An antique lantern, a silver-white revolver, and a walking stick with a hidden blade.
Youxi carried the lantern, while Li Andy equipped the revolver and the walking stick.
After comforting each other and stabilizing their sanity for a while at the entrance, they took a carriage to the molly Manor on the outskirts.
Parts of the manor's layout were very similar to the Harveys' home, but its scale and overall style were older.
More than a manor, it resembled a historically renovated castle, the entire building shrouded in a certain shadow, ancient and mysterious.
Inside the silent conference room.
Second Miss slowly put down her teacup, revealing a gentle smile:
“The guests have arrived.”
As her words fell, the other four sisters simultaneously looked towards the conference room door with different gazes.
Sophia, who was standing nearby almost asleep, was startled awake by the sudden change in atmosphere and also followed their gaze.
The door slowly pushed open, and the female housekeeper led in a young man and woman.
Sophia froze.
She stared intently at the male guest's face; that blurred figure in her memory suddenly became incredibly clear.
It's him!
The person who put the ring on her was him!
Sophia's breathing became rapid, as if there were a thousand words in her heart she wanted to express.
However, the other party merely glanced at her indifferently before shifting his gaze to the hosts of the meeting, exchanging pleasantries and conversing with them, as if he didn't remember her at all.
Sophia's body trembled slightly, and an intense sense of disparity welled up in her heart.
She lowered her eyes to look at the ring in her hand, and for some reason, she suddenly felt like crying.
So much so that she didn't clearly hear what the guests and hosts discussed.
“Sophia, mind your manners, quickly go and pour tea for the guests.”
It wasn't until the female housekeeper's low reminder sounded in her ear that she vaguely looked up, exiting her state of spiritual detachment.
Sophia gathered her courage and, with a nervous heart, came beside Li Andy to pour him tea and water.
However, the latter still didn't look at her.
It was his beautiful female companion beside him who subtly winked at her, as if greeting her.
Sophia felt downcast, thinking it was an illusion.
Although the other party gave her a sense of familiarity, she remembered not knowing her at all.
Perhaps...he really forgot her.
But if he forgot her so easily, why did he save her like that?
Sophia's thoughts drifted, and her heart felt like it was weighed down by a large stone.
“Since the ship has been out of contact for so long, haven't you contacted the stationed navy?” Li Andy asked.
Second Miss sighed:
“We did, but they won't help with long-distance searches, and during patrols in the surrounding sea areas, they couldn't salvage any wreckage of the 'molly.'”
Third Miss sneered:
“Relying on those freeloading parasites, we'll never find First Miss in this lifetime. We've also asked other long-distance merchant ships, but there are still no new clues.”
“Really no clues at all?” Li Andy frowned.
“Yes...yes! It's...it's...”
The youngest Six Sister stood on a chair, raising her hand, but due to nervousness, she spoke unclearly, her small face turning red like a cooked shrimp.
Fifth Miss, beside her, covered her mouth and chuckled, helping her Sixth Sister explain:
“Actually, there was also a small coal ship accompanying First Miss at the time. But after the people on that ship returned to shore...”
Fifth Miss's voice gradually became eerie and low,
“Nearly half of them went crazy! As of yesterday, ten people have already committed suicide by jumping into the sea. The stationed navy believes they may have contracted some unknown disease and forcibly confined the remaining people at the East Coast, sending doctors and priests there.”
“Have you had contact with those people? Have you found anything out?” Li Andy asked again.
Second Miss shook her head:
“No, besides First Miss, the family head, no one can leave the manor.”
Li Andy frowned:
“Why?”
Second Miss did not answer directly, only saying:
“This is a rule of the Molly Family, and no one can violate it.”
The air suddenly fell silent.
At this moment, Fourth Miss, who had been silent, finally spoke, her voice soft and sweet, with a hint of social anxiety:
“That ship was a scientific research coal ship, not a merchant ship. We sent people to inquire with those crew members, but...we couldn't get anything out of them...So, we need your help.”
“Yes...yes!”
Six Sister was teary-eyed,
“Please, save my sister!”
“...”
Li Andy fell silent, leaning against the back of his chair, pondering for a long while before speaking,
“You...help me obtain permission to visit the coal ship. I will investigate personally.”
The four young ladies immediately showed joyful expressions.
“Also...”
Li Andy added again,
“I also need an assistant. You will let her stay with me for a while.”
Li Andy pointed his thumb behind him, at the pretty maid who was staring blankly at the back of his head.
Sophia froze.
The heavy stone in her heart lifted, and her vision blurred involuntarily.
She still wanted to cry at this moment, but she knew this feeling was definitely not sadness.