Chapter 77: The Ancient Last Words
Editor: TheSloth
“Who… are you?”
Osmond didn’t show much vigilance but was instead, more curious about this black robe nun who had appeared all of a sudden.
Though he had returned to the Ceaucescu Family recently, he knew clearly that the whole family members held their beliefs in their hearts and not many people would go to mass every week.
“Mr. Osmond, you can call me Lamias.”
Then, Lamias made the sign of the cross faintly through her forehead, shoulders, and chest, in front of Osmond.
Osmond became a little more cautious--- He didn’t believe in Saints stated in the Western history; however, his deceased mother was really a pretty religious believer.
Moreover, he saw this nun, Lamias, wearing a ring on the ring finger of her right hand… Was it the symbol of a nun’s nature of mind?
But why it was a black ring?
“What’s the matter?” Osmond couldn’t figure out why this nun suddenly appeared at this time and came to see him.
Logically speaking, his grandfather should not be a believer… Did he have the intention to be a convert as he was nearing the end of his life?
If so, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to call for a priest?
On the contrary, Lamias smiled faintly, “There’s something here that needs to be passed to you.”
A white envelope had appeared in Lamias’s hand without notice. It was sealed with wax and the sign was the sigil of the Ceaucescu Family.
“Letter? To me… who?”
“From your mother.”
“My mother?” Osmond gazed at the white envelope in a trance. When he raised his head and wanted to ask more, Nun Lamias was nowhere to be seen.
The wind started to blow, and the rose in the yard swung faintly. Osmond frowned, as he opened the envelope---there was a yellowed piece writing paper that seemed to be from many years ago.
“My dear son, Osmond.”
“When you see this letter, I may have left the world. I love you, my son, I really really love you. If you feel satisfied with the current life and have a spouse, then I hope you do not continue to read. This is a mother’s request. Because on the next part, I have to tell you some long-lasting secrets about the Ceaucescu Family and the truth of your identity. All these might change your life totally, not for good, instead, they might make it more terrible.”
That was all on the first page. These were the notes that had been written by his mother---The handwriting was hard to be imitated as there were several hidden habits in the fine strokes that would be difficult to be perceived by outsiders.
Osmond was stunned. He didn’t know his mother was a daughter of the Ceaucescu Family until one year ago. It might be the next issue mentioned in the letter. His mother wouldn’t expect that his father would redress their relationship again after she eloped and left Ceaucescu‘s home.
Nevertheless, why did the young-looking nun keep his mother’s letter?
Osmond had to hold his horses and turned to page 2.
“I, am not the daughter of the Ceaucescu Family…”
…
…
Luo Qiu didn’t say much to Jonathan.
At the very start, he just had the simple intention of coming here to collect the debt. He would leave soon after he met the customer. To be honest, Boss Luo was more interested in the devil that had been suppressed by the Ceaucescu Family since 500 years ago, rather than Jonathan’s soul that he was about to take away.
“Is the Impaling Duke beneath the old well?”
At the center of the labyrinth surrounded by rose hedges, Luo Qiu was curiously checking out this old well that was under a large stone.
“To be precise, it’s merely a part of the Impaling Duke,” You Ye voiced softly. “Master, do you know about the history of the Impaling Duke?”
Luo Qiu thought for a moment, before saying, “I remember he failed in the war… and the body was separated. So do you mean, what’s sealed here is only part of the Impaling Duke’s body?”
You Ye nodded, “Yes, it’s his left hand.”
When it came to this, she started to talk about some unofficial history, “Hundreds of years ago, the Impaling Duke was famous for his atrocities. There were lots of legends about him that were spread throughout this area. Yet till now, most people think it’s just a story that had been polished to make it more of a work of art. But we know, it’s not only a simple story, isn’t it?”
Luo Qiu’s interest became stronger, “The historical data shows that the Impaling Duke had been dismembered and since his left hand was sealed here… Does it mean the ancestors of the Ceaucescu Family had participated in the punitive expedition against the Impaling Duke?”
“Descendants of the revered dynasty’s Sultan, the Ceaucescu Family, along with some old organizations that, in the name of justice, came together managed to slay the Impaling Duke and divided his body. However, the Impaling Duke didn’t die even though his body had been dismembered, because he was too powerful. Finally, the individuals who took part in killing him had to leave with part of his body and guard it separately. The Impaling Duke was tyrannical but he was the hero who had guarded their homeland. Therefore, they worship the Impaling Duke’s soul after he was defeated. Nevertheless, it was merely going through the actions of worship because his soul had been separated into several parts as well and was hidden respectively in every part of his body when it was dismembered.”
You Ye stretched out her hand to touch the large square stone on the well. “They thought they could find an effective way to annihilate the Impaling Duke after a long period due to separating and taking away his parts of his body. However, his soul belongs to the club… How could we see it be destroyed by them so easily?”
Luo Qiu was shocked, “You mean… the Impaling Duke had a deal with the club?”
You Ye nodded, “But I’m not clear about it because it happened before I came to the club. The former boss occasionally mentioned that he abandoned all his beliefs in his heart, plenty of lives and his own soul, in exchange for the power to obtain revenge.”
“There should be the record of the Impaling Duke on the account book right?” Luo Qiu asked suddenly.
You Ye nodded. “Yes, it’s on another account book.”
In general, Luo Qiu didn’t think this was his fault for being passive… but the problem lay in these account books themselves.
Dozens or hundreds of books?
Every one of them was as thick as a brick; furthermore, it was filled with various small debts everywhere… These books were stacked somewhere on the basement floor of the club quietly.
He planned to make a schedule to clean up all the account books sometime after going back to the club.
“Why did the Ceaucescu Family try to seal the Impaling Duke’s left hand at the cost of the souls of their own family members?”
“The Ceaucescu Family had tried to destroy his left hand as soon as they took it back, but they failed. Furthermore, Ceaucescu’s wife couldn’t resist the temptation of the partial soul of the Impaling Duke, drinking the blood bled from his left hand and became a bloodsucker,” You Ye said coolly, “Later when they realized it, the leader of the time suppressed his sorrow and killed his wife eventually.”
You Ye jumped slightly and sat on that large stone. She gazed at the castle from afar through the flower wall, with a faint smile. “They couldn’t forgive the tragedy caused by the Impaling Duke. Even if they were not able to destroy him, they would make him suffer an endless pain. The former leader of the Ceaucescu Family promised, ‘Any of my descendants who wants to obtain the endless property of the Ceaucescu Family, has to obey only one condition, that is to donate their own soul, have this devil live his life in pain forever…”
Chapter 78: The Vesper
Editor: TheSloth
“What? It’s Osmond?”
Master Kista, a member of the Ceaucescu Family, slammed the table in a rage, like a berserk bull.
The lawyer that had been bought off was revealing some information which was difficult for him to accept.
“Mr. Kista, this is definitely Master Jonathan’s testament and it will be announced after his legal death.”
“No way! He’s just a brat of an eloped daughter! And the black sheep of the Ceaucescu Family! How could he be the successor and inherit 90% property of the Ceaucescu Family!”
“Mr. Kista, Master Jonathan has finished making a will under my witness.” The lawyer shook his head, “The testament should be kept under wraps. I’ve already gone against my ethics… Please do not tell others that I’ve told you this. Just think of it as me returning the favor to you from before.”
After these words, the lawyer left in haste.
Kista sat down again, his emotions difficult to calm down. Though several successors before were not the direct relatives of Ceaucescu; however, Kista flattered himself as the most outstanding one among the potential successors of this generation.
“The successor is actually a bast*rd…” Kista gritted his teeth.
A sinister expression like a viper flashed across the young handsome face.
“Yeah, you’ve contributed so much for the Ceaucescu Family but could finally only gain a mere 10% of the wealth… Furthermore, you even have to share it with others. Your grandfather is so biased.”
Who knows when a young lady’s voice come from the terrace of the room. Kista turned to look, it figured out there was a woman dressed like a nun standing there. Even the black robe couldn’t hide her curvaceous figure.
“Are you a nun?”
This was the fourth floor of the castle. Kista was unaware how the woman came to the terrace… She might have hidden there before he came in and might have even heard the conversation between the lawyer and himself.
“Mr. Kista, who I am is not important…” The nun paused then said in a low voice, “The important thing is, don’t you want to gain the wealth of the Ceaucescu Family?”
“Who are you?”
This was a woman that appeared suddenly dressed up as a nun. Furthermore, she was speaking about the subject of inheritance of a big family, rather than doing good deeds. What kind of joke is this?
“Mr. Kista, don’t you long to know the real standard of how one is judged to be eligible to become the successor of the Ceaucescu Family?”
“You…” Kista frowned.
He worked out all year long and also learned the western boxing. In his opinion, he was a young and strong man, who needn’t be afraid of this woman that seemed so petite. Therefore he squinted his eyes and looked at her. “…what do you know?”
“This story starts from long long ago…” a slight smile arose on the half-concealed face. “An ancient legend.”
…
…
“Seems like the former master had an affection for his wife, right?”
When he thought about the origin of the Ceaucescu Family’s seal, Luo Qiu sighed with emotion. However, he thought of another issue right away, “Is it because of the wish he made in the club resulting in him becoming a bloodsucker in the end?”
“Of course.”
Luo Qiu frowned, “According to western legends, vampires won’t age or die… Therefore, does it mean we can’t ever collect the debt?”
You Ye said, “Vampires live on blood, hence they have to follow their instinct to seek out blood. Theoretically they can survive forever. That’s why the Impaling Duke needs to be sealed, right?”
Luo Qiu gave a start.
He suddenly realized something.
The atrocious Impaling Duke had gorged himself on so much blood and became more powerful due to the war. Yet, if his body had been mutilated, throughout years… he would still die of ‘hunger’ eventually, wouldn’t he?
“Did the club play a role in supporting those who killed the Impaling Duke?” Luo Qiu asked.
“The former boss didn’t mention that.” You Ye smiled. “Thus You Ye dare not random guess …but one point I do know.”
“What is it?”
“The former master’s wife at that time wouldn’t be tempted without any reason.” You Ye said coolly, “Among the 21 living black soul envoys, there is one who is on vacation. It came to this castle before.”
The club’s new boss fell into a long silence.
It entrusted to the Impaling Duke the powerful ability of immortality.
And it might have promoted the incident from the shadows. The incident that killed and caused the Impaling Duke to be dismembered.
A black soul envoy had come to this old castle…
The master’s wife of the Ceaucescu Family had been tempted and drank the Impaling Duke’s blood, which led to this tragedy.
The rule of the successor selection that was handed down from age to age…
The Impaling Duke would weaken and die some day. Before that, the club could constantly gain souls through the transaction for the purpose of sealing the devil from members of the Ceaucescu Family.
This was probably the tip of the iceberg among all the unknown and dark side of the club’s history.
Luo Qiu shook his head, sighing with emotion. “The former boss is really good at doing business.”
Yet You Ye asked, “Master, do you think it’s inappropriate?”
Luo Qiu shook his head once more, saying indifferently, “That’s OK, just that this lecture to came a little bit early to this newcomer …But it’s good.”
You Ye smile without uttering a word.
Luo Qiu took in the castle, as if absorbed in thought, before saying suddenly, “Who’s the guy jumping about the castle?”
You Ye said, “Perhaps one with Black Religious Congregation… Good! They seem to have recovered after recuperation for hundreds of years.”
Black… Religious Congregation.
…
…
At dusk, it drizzled.
Mr. Jonathan urgently gathered all of the young generation who were all under 30 years old.
With the support of the old steward, the white-hair Jonathan led 11 young people to the yard between the east and west wings stealthily.
They passed through the flower hedge, arriving at an old well in the center of the rose wall maze.
The steward received an old-fashioned key from Mr. Jonathan. He then approached the edge of the well and started searching. Finally, a keyhole was revealed after a brick was dug out.
After inserting the key and turning it, the sound similar to a millstone being rotated was heard.
All at once, the middle of the well cracked open and separated towards both sides. At the same time, Mr. Jonathan said calmly, “All of you walk in… and I’ll select the successor among you all inside the well.”
Hesitant looks emerged on everyone’s face once the strange scene had been witnessed; however, the looks contained more yearning for the enormous family wealth of the Ceaucescu Family.
On the other hand, Kista frowned.
He found that Osmond was not shown here… Jonathan didn’t call Osmond!
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