"This is it. The old man pushed open the stone door and made a gesture of please.

Ian was the first to step in, with Zandar and Mister following closely behind. The room behind the stone door is still the same as the hall, surrounded by cold stone walls, but the furniture in the room makes it look more like a bedroom.

A circle of candles lit up the house on the circular chandelier. There were more candlesticks near the bed, but all the fires were still invariably the embodiment of the vision.

A man was half-reclining on the bed, leaning on a pillow, as if looking sideways at the door.

"You're finally here. ”

The patient on the bed spoke. It was a low, weak, somewhat hoarse, female voice. Behind him, the old man walked up and stood at the end of the bed.

"Let me introduce," he said, "this is my master, the ...... 'guide' whom you have commissioned on several occasions, and the most recent one of the anonymous commissions, Marianne Baker. ”

Marianne on the hospital bed chuckled a few times, and then said, "I don't have much time, so I have to take a risk and let you take the risk - otherwise I will find a way to arrange more entrustment for you, and I will not let you face too difficult opponents at once... Ahem..."

Ian looked at her with a blank expression.

"Oh, I see. Marianne stopped coughing and said slowly, "It's okay, you have reason to be annoyed, even angry. But I must warn you, young man, that your anger is less than one-thousandth of mine. Her voice grew deeper. She couldn't see her face through the light of the candlelight, but Ian felt a burning gaze.

"I don't know who you are, but if you're just going to tell me who I'm going to get revenge on, that's fine. Ian said calmly, "I already know this. ”

"Sherman, didn't you tell him what I was looking for him?" asked Marianne the old man standing at the end of the bed.

"Knowledge, that's all I mentioned, ma'am. ”

"Oh, knowledge, yes. Marianne sat up, "Ian, you need knowledge to fight your enemies. I'm glad you came here unscathed, which means the success of the experiment. ”

Hearing her mention the experiment, Ian's eyes unconsciously became vigilant.

"Who the hell are you, and what do you know about experiments?"

"I'm Marianne Baker, and Amman Baker was my lover. Don't you have an impression of the surname Baker?" said Marianne's voice with a faint smile.

Ian quickly recalled, as if he had never crossed paths with its owner. Suddenly, a picture jumped in front of me.

It was a name with the surname "Baker" on it, embroidered on a uniform. What kind of uniform is that? Light blue underneath... The receptionist of the Mercenary Guild?!

"You seem to remember something. Marianne seemed to be observing Ian's expression.

"Tia Baker, my husband's sister, works as a receptionist in the Mercenary Guild. She generously announced the answer to the mystery, "Don't be surprised, she's not the only one, your commission can't be smooth without the help of these people."

Arranged. ”

"The people of Amman are very nice, not only his sister, but the whole family loves him. He already had a lot of friends, and after we got engaged, the friends of the two families quickly crossed paths. We always go to the manor house in the small town of Emer on our days off, and everyone loves him......" Marianne's eyes were slightly empty, and it was clear that the good memories of the past were taking possession of her at the moment.

"We don't have that much time to enjoy the story. Ian cruelly interrupted her memories, "What the hell are you trying to tell me?"

"My love, Amman, is dead. She said in a strangely calm tone. At the same time, she got out of bed and walked very slowly to Ian, standing in the candlelight.

What a pale, fragile but sharp face!

Ian looked at her bulging cheekbones, broad forehead, and sharpened chin to meet her cloth-blinded eyes. If she hadn't been so sick, she would have been a glamorous lady. It's not glamorous, but it's not mediocre either. And now, in this dark underground room, she is just gasping for her breath, waiting for her end to come.

"What's wrong with your eyes?"

Marianne touched the strip of cloth on her eyes: "In order to live, a small price." ”

"Does your lover's death have anything to do with me?" Ian asked in a low voice.

"He was one of the researchers of the Psychic Liberation Project, the scapegoat of that experiment. Marianne's voice grieved, "Because of the serious consequences of the experiment, he was secretly executed. I was also a member of the Research Society, and if it weren't for the fact that I had joined the Research Society by concealing my relationship with him from the beginning, I don't know what kind of lies the Empire would use to deceive his family at this moment. Although my husband did his bidding, he did that horrible experiment on you, but he was just an assistant, he didn't have the right to decide! Daimler, that damn old thing!"

Ian knew the name Daimler, and Prince Alphen had told him that Dr. Daimler was the main person in charge of psychic research.

One of the three researchers who was executed by Daimler's own hands was Marianne's fiancé, Amman Baker. Marianne, who is also a psychic researcher, heard that the research association forbade "excessively intimate" relationships between its members, so she concealed her relationship with Amman and joined the association. The relationship between the two of them has always been a perfect secret. Amman had hopefully told Marianne that the experiment was coming to an end and that it would soon be possible to begin experimenting on humans, and that it would not be long before the study was completed. They planned to complete their engagement at that time, even if one of them had to leave the association.

Unfortunately, it backfired. Amman did not expect that children would appear in the experimental area, and he did not expect that Dr. Daimler would personally order them to continue the experiment.

Ian suddenly remembered the imperial proverb: tragedy never comes alone.

“...... Later, I went to great lengths to infiltrate the Research Society to find evidence that they had killed Amman. Then it will be announced to the people, to the Holy See, and I want the twelve gods to decide. But just as I was about to succeed, my identity was revealed. Although he escaped, he also suffered

Mortal wounds - those damned falcons, those lackeys...... I don't have long to live, but I'm going to make them pay. ”

"It's us, ma'am, that we're going to make them pay. The old man named Sherman corrected in a deep voice, "I grew up watching Mr. Amman, and I will not sit idly by, and neither will anyone else." ”

"Yes, thank you, Sherman, if it weren't for you......" Marianne frowned in pain, then a violent cough interrupted her voice. Ian caught a glimpse of her quietly wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.

Sherman turned to Ian and the others, and there was a rare sense of indignation in his usual calm voice: "This is a murder and a harrowing tragedy! Mr. Amman's death has caused unbearable pain to his parents. His mother, poor Mrs. Lelys, in particular, died of excessive grief not long after. His father was also hit doubly by this, and for a moment he could not let go, and even hanged himself early one morning. Tia Baker of the Mercenary Guild is Mr. Amman's own sister, and when she learns the truth and finds us, she wants to contribute to our revenge plan. There are several other people who share her wishes, including Mr. Amman's best friend before his death, and Baluru, an old friend of Amman's father, the owner of the processing house, do you still have an impression?"

Ian looked at him in amazement.

"There are more than a dozen of us," Sherman continued, "I won't give them names, some of them you may not have met, and you don't need to care who they are. Importantly, our goals are aligned. ”

"You ...... Is it hoping for revenge through me?" Ian asked.

Marianne looked up: "After establishing the truth about Amman's death, I voluntarily entered into a 'death marriage' with him, marrying him who is already dead - we already have a marriage contract. Since then, revenge has been the only reason I'm alive. Amman, and his parents, and you—your brothers and sisters, I know they ......" Marianne adjusted her breath as she said a little hurriedly, "You're the only successful subject of their experiment—forgive me for calling you that, those guys should still call you that." And you are still alive and well, and even successfully completed the commissions I arranged for you, which means that the experiment has been successful. ”

Her expression became fierce again: "I want to share with you what I know about the experiments, and the knowledge of the psychic powers, so that you can have enough ability to face them." She smiled bitterly, "Let them die at the hands of the test subjects they have created, it will be the most painful death, and the sweetest revenge." ”

Marianne may have felt a little tired, and she sat back on the edge of the bed.

Sherman said, "You'd better stay here these days." I've made a cover for the house of the Folk Research Association above, and I'm going to lock the outside door for the time being. ”

Ian glanced at Zandar and Mister, who were still lying in their pouches.

Zandar remembered the bookshelves in the hall outside, and the knowledge Marianne mentioned, and couldn't help but ask, "I am."

Zandar, from the Bloodfury Clan, is seeking the knowledge to restore the Bloodrage to glory. Honorable Madam, is there anything in your treasure trove that could make a lizardman soar to Jackie Chan?"

Marianne tilted her head to listen to the lizardman prince's words, and sneered, "Hah! Another guy who has illusions about psychic powers, turned into a dragon, is really greedy...... I hate you, don't talk to me. ”

Zandar looked embarrassed and opened his mouth, but didn't say anything more.

Sherman walked over and made a round: "You can search the books in our hall to see if there is any knowledge that will help you." He turned to Marianne, "Is that okay?"

Marianne waved her hand impatiently and lay down again.

"Don't mind, the patient's temper is always not good. Sherman said, "Now, please come with me and let Madame rest." ”

Zandar nodded silently and followed Sherman and the others outside.

Sherman led several of them to another stone door.

"There's a mechanism here," he said, pressing it, "there's also in the room, for the opening and closing of the stone door." But...... Usually don't close it, this place has not been used for a long time, and I have only recently taken care of it, and God knows if these mechanisms will be invalid one day. ”

Mister looked uneasily at the stone door, which he still preferred to push open with his hands, but it was noticeably heavier.

"Gala la ......" The stone door slowly opened as the sound of the stone slab rubbing against the ground came out.

Behind the stone door is a spacious stone room with six beds, three on the left and three on the left.

"Rest here when you're tired. Sherman snapped his fingers briefly, and the candlesticks on each bedside table lit up with fire.

"Ian is our main host, and every day he is taught by Lady Marianne about spirituality. Her physical strength is not very good, and she can only last for half a day, so please try to be as efficient as possible. As for the two of you, as long as it doesn't get in their way—we don't mind sharing our knowledge with you, and it would be nice if it helped Ian in his revenge efforts. Zandar, right? The knowledge you need is probably in those books, take care of yourself. ”

As he spoke, he retreated to the door: "You can come to me if you need anything, except for going out to buy food and daily necessities, I will be in the stone room opposite you." ”

"Is that your bedroom?" asked Ian.

"That's the kitchen. Sherman laughed.

(End of chapter)