Eliki didn't have a sense of presence, and Eliki also felt that she was a little presenceless. This is a bit of a novelty, as Eliki rarely has a moment when she doesn't have a presence.

Eliki is the advisor. This is one of the most special and mysterious positions in Albert's Dark Empire and other similar dark organizations with unfathomable power. Strictly speaking, Eliki sat in this seat without any real power, but everyone in the organization had to obediently prick up her ears and listen as carefully as a husky when she spoke—of course, understanding or not was another matter—and she was not accountable to anyone but Albert himself. She was like some disembodied being independent of the system, whose only role was to convey the voice, the voice that everyone in the organization had to abide by - Albert's voice.

Of course, her role is much more than just conveying voice. As one of the few beings in the organization who can directly communicate with the Grand Leader, her own will and consideration also have a crucial and huge influence on the Grand Chief's decision-making. The end result of all this is that the status of the consultant is higher than that of most middle managers and senior cadres in the organization, and even comparable to the second leader under the big leader.

This is true under normal circumstances, but there are no so-called two chieftains in Albert's empire. And this has led to Eliqi's position becoming more and more special - except in this more special occasion.

Albert's servant brought in additional chairs, and soon brought a small round table of simple but finely made white wood, with some fruit and black tea, and let all five of them sit down in the wide courtyard. If you don't listen to what they're saying, it looks a bit like a tea party with a few old friends.

From Eliqi's point of view, she can see the large lake outside, as well as Ed and Marcy and Shiro on Eddard's left and right. She took off her hat for the servant to take aside, sat a little reservedly, picked up her cup and took a slow sip of tea.

Ed noticed Eliqi's ...... Awkward aura. He stopped rambling with Tinevers and Marcy, turned his head, picked up the black teacup on the table with his good arm, and poured himself a sip as well. He poured it out in half.

"Are you alright, Miss Eliqi? You don't seem right. He didn't bend around anything, and raised his chin straight at Eliqi.

"No, I think ......"

"I think she wants to join your chat, but she doesn't know how to say it." Albert, who was on the side, interrupted Eliki from the middle and interjected. As if he was addicted to smoking, he took out a Storm Cloud cigar from his bosom and put it in his mouth, and then began to touch the fire.

"What?" Ed didn't seem to react, but Marcy next to him always felt that the serious and inexplicable look on his face seemed to be faked.

"I think I can make a defense for myself......" Eliki carefully raised her hands and made a "block" gesture in front of her. She was interrupted a second time, though.

"If you still have the slightest sense of being a gentleman, Lord Duke," Marcy unceremoniously pointed her finger at Albert, who was about to light a cigarette for herself, "you should put the thing in your mouth back at once—not to mention that there are three ladies at the table with you, and both of them are still patients." You're just so unqualified. ”

"......" Albert's work stopped.

"I don't think Marcy could be more right – you're just unqualified, Albert. I can't believe you're so unqualified. Ed next to him said seriously, and quietly withdrew the hand that was stretched out in his arms. Then he noticed that Shiro was looking at him motionlessly, squinting his eyes.

In an angle that no one else could see, Ed gave a middle finger to Tithe. Tiji rolled his eyelids and silently withdrew his gaze. At the same time, Albert on the other side also put away the cigarette smoothly with a somewhat stiff movement.

"I don't have the quality," he said, "and I apologize." ”

"I forgive you, good fellow." Ed waved his hand generously, then sat up straight with shoulder pain and leg pain, "I didn't know you even had the title of duke?" Or is it just the kind of nickname that you people like to give yourself? ”

"I should show you all the information when I go back, so that you can enrich some common sense." Marcy crossed her shoulders and leaned back in her chair, looking at Albert across from her with an intriguing gaze, "This 'good fellow' of yours is a descendant of a genuine noble family of Stuttgard - but in terms of status, his family is more noble than Uncle Epton, and he is the last member of the family - this title was not inherited by him, so he used his iron wrist to eliminate all the rest of his family who stood in his way." Because of this, his enemies, and most of the beings in the dark world today, call him the 'Duke of Blood'. ”

“…… Indeed it is. In the face of Marcy's thorny accusations, Albert pursed the corners of his lips and nodded generously, "Except that there is no evidence or witnesses to prove that I did that, Detective Marcy is not wrong at all." ”

"Duke of Blood...... "Eddard muttered the name, "it's scary, it's scary." I'm getting goosebumps. ”

"It's weird."

Marcy and Albert glanced at Ed at the same time.

"That ......" Iliqi on the side sensed that something was wrong, and although she felt a little out of place, she still interjected, "I'm sorry to interrupt a few, but do we have something else to talk about today?" ”

"Huh?"

Ed and Albert looked at each other, frowning furrowed. Tithe's eyes were lowered and there was no response, only Marcy nodded in satisfaction, and pointed at Eliki with his finger at everyone.

"I like this secretary."

"I think I can defend myself, I'm not a secret......"

"We're not sitting here today for a tea party and afternoon tea," the third time, Eliki was interrupted again, and Marcy ignored what she was saying, "Let's get down to business - let's talk about the girl named 'Susan'." ”

“…… She has nothing to talk about. Shilo, who hadn't said a few words from beginning to end, suddenly spoke, but didn't look up at anyone without moving, "She's a fifteen-year-old child, she's got in touch with A.R.X, she's been secretly absorbed into A.R.X's inside, she's played me up, she's almost killed me - that's all." ”

"She beat me up." Ed added with half-open eyes, "You almost killed me, too." ”

"Overall, it's that simple," Albert said, resting his elbow on the table, "but it's the things behind the scenes that are the real part." ”

As he spoke, he blocked with one hand as Shijlo looked up at him, signaling her not to rush yet.

"I know that this subject is a bit delicate and sensitive to you for some personal reasons - but bear with me, Miss Tith, and listen to what we have to say, we must finish what we need to say today."

“……”

Tireau looked indifferently at the thin sunglasses on Albert's face, and then sat up suddenly. And at that moment, she suddenly felt someone grab her arm from the side.

She turned her head and saw Ed grinning at her, and it was clear that the action had pulled at Ed's wound.

"Now Susan's business is not just your business," Ed said calmly to Tilo, "Her current relationship with A.R.X, and what happened between her and us, has made her a problem that we all need to face - everyone in this room. You can no longer ask that you are alone to face her. ”

"I agree with Ed," Marcy said at this point, and it seemed like she had a lot to say, "The bureau has now closed the case on the death of Susan's parents, and the low-level members of A.R.X. who fought with Ed...... They have voluntarily confessed their sins and taken all the blame. I think they must have received instructions from within A.R.X. As for Susan herself, no one knows where she is now. ”

“…… I'll find her. Shilo said in silence.

"And then, what are you going to do when you find her?" Ed let go of his grip on Shiro, "Do you think she was forced to join A.R.X., she didn't mean to be forced to shoot the two of us in the first place." ”

"She could have killed me, she could have killed you, but she didn't."

"Well, that shows she's not completely machine-like — but I reserve my opinion. I don't know why she made such a big detour to tie you into A.R.X, I mean I have a few guesses but can't be sure, but I still think she joined the A.R.X voluntarily. I just don't know how she got in touch with A.R.X, and how she got to the top. ”

Susan's status in A.R.X. is certainly not low, there is no doubt about it. Just look at her attitude towards Pierce and Pierce's attitude towards her, Pierce himself has a high status in A.R.X, and Susan seems to be more than a little higher than him.

"On this question," said Albert, "I think I should be able to give you half of the answer - although I don't know what this girl is all about, and why A.R.X thinks so highly of her, but from what information I have gathered now, she and A.R.X have been in contact for more than a year or two. ”