75. The Three Sisters Under the Moon
Regarding the exploration of the castles owned by the head of the family, they had clearly seen some very historical, very ‘antique’ scenes at the end, but everyone’s actions had to be halted by Mr. O’Keefe’s command, and one by one, they closed the doors, as if nothing had happened, returning to their residence.
Lin Ke had no complaints about all of this. After all, according to the head of the family, this exploration was originally meant for Mr. O’Keefe. Since he decided to return, she could only comply.
However, regarding the various things she had seen that day, even after several days, Lin Ke still felt unable to let go. If at first her thought was simply: there are so many old antiques that look like they have a lot of history; if I could find an opportunity to dig them all out and sell them, wouldn’t I make a fortune?
Then, after calming down from the frenzy of that simple business idea, Lin Ke still felt that there was “something wrong,” “something off” about everything she had seen. It was hard to articulate, yet impossible to ignore—strange! Clearly, as a qualified merchant, Lin Ke had absolute confidence in not overly indulging her curiosity, yet even after these days, she still couldn’t let it go.
I want to ask the master, but the master has only been clinging to Mr. O’Keefe these days. Mr. O’Keefe also seems to be busy with something unknown, completely oblivious. Lin Ke, afraid of being scolded by the master, dares not inquire. After glancing at the keychain the master had given her earlier, which she had taken to open the door but forgotten to return, she decides to venture deeper into the castle alone.
A qualified merchant values action above all! When it’s time to act, just do it! So, after finishing a day’s work, Lin Ke chooses the night to open the door leading deeper into the castle, inexplicably not notifying anyone.
At this moment, without anyone following her, not even the master likely aware of her actions, Lin Ke’s cautious footsteps are accentuated by the cold light of the magic stone in her hand and the moonlight streaming in. If exploring the depths of the castle during the day with a group could be considered a slightly thrilling camping activity, then coming alone at night is no different from exploring a haunted house.
After all, it’s too quiet. Aside from her footsteps and the almost audible sound of her heartbeat, there are no sounds of insects or crows! Everything here feels “dead” in Lin Ke’s eyes.
“FXXk, going back now would be too lame and inefficient. I’ll find that place I reached a few days ago and then head back…”
Lin Ke mutters.
To avoid making her actions monotonous, and to bolster her courage, Lin Ke decides to think of something else to slightly distract herself.
Though there’s not much to think about, for Lin Ke, the only things she can ponder are memories from the past—things she would never mention to others, yet somehow Jack and Mary, those son·of·b*tches, knew about.
“The fallen princess,” “royal descendants,” these phrases, though her memories are a bit hazy, Lin Ke still knows them. After all, even when her mother was worried about whether they would have food to eat today, she never forgot to mention these terms that wouldn’t even be popular in the United Kingdom of Meri.
The United Kingdom of Meri is a federation, mother; who cares about princesses and princes? As for “reviving the family,” let’s not even go there. Wanting to think about it is one thing, but when both of them are even starving today, do they have the energy to talk about it?
Then, her mother passed away, perhaps dying in her ‘workplace’—the bed, or maybe at the hands of others in the slums who sought to rob her. Lin Ke doesn’t know, as she never saw her again, and her mother had said: unless she died an unnatural death, she would definitely return.
Everything that followed was simple. Lin Ke proudly joined the “orphan” profession, engaging in all sorts of deceit and trickery, as long as it was to survive. Her silver tongue was honed during this time. Then…
As she grew, the halo of being an orphan wouldn’t be so effective. People might overlook a mischievous child, but they wouldn’t spare a big kid who steals.
So, just as Lin Ke was contemplating whether it was time to sell her most primal parts to make money, the master appeared.
Arriving in a carriage, accompanied by a team of black-clad bodyguards.
“How pathetic. Whatever, I’m just fulfilling my duty. What’s your name?”
“Lin Ke? Then, Lin Ke, you can either die here or be my dog. Choose one.”
The master tossed her a collar.
Even a fool knows how to choose; even a dog in a wealthy household lives a thousand times better than those in the slums.
And then? Then she was subjected to various forms of punishment by the master, learning what she needed to learn in the process, and even became the commander.
Huh~ If Mother were to say something like “revitalize the family” to me now, I might actually consider it. However, with her constantly shouting “revive, revive,” what difference does it make if I really became some kind of princess? Or is it that…
The sound of a key turning in the lock interrupted Lin Ke’s thoughts. Unbeknownst to her, she had already arrived at the area where she last met Mr. Oujili De.
Fear was no longer a concern; it was just that, after the quiet settled, Lin Ke suddenly felt her legs start to ache and her head spin a little. The thought of having to retrace her steps made her regret coming here alone for this silly adventure.
But those “antiques” here looked quite valuable. Hmm… just step in for a quick look, and then take a sample back to see if it can be sold—
With this thought, Lin Ke took a step forward, but the next moment…
“!”
Accompanied by a dizziness that seemed to arise from her mind, although her vision was unaffected, Lin Ke felt as if everything around her was being “swirled” up! Clearly, nothing had changed! Yet Lin Ke felt that everything had transformed, as if she herself were trapped in some kind of “whirlpool”!
Everything here—the dust on the ground, the stones, the ruins, the scenery of the sky, the moon, even deeper things… even “time” seemed to be changing, contracting and expanding, merging to turn Lin Ke’s surroundings into another world!
“Fxxk! What was that just now?”
After an unknown amount of time, Lin Ke finally regained her senses!
Everything around her had not changed in the slightest! But the lingering feeling of dread was genuinely warning her!
Go back, just leave those antiques for now.
With this thought, Lin Ke turned to leave, but…
Under the full moon on the horizon, three figures stood waiting at a high point.
“Directly entered the ‘frequency’; now we don’t even need verification, saving a lot of trouble~”
“…Even if one knows nothing, that sinful bloodline still remains. No one can escape the judgment of order.”