(Happy holidays, everyone, I don't know how everyone is doing, anyway, I found out, saving manuscripts or something during the festival, it's not reliable at all.) ）

"Because my sister read the newspaper. Catherine also liked these two innocent and strong children, whose fame in the arts was entirely the result of their own efforts, and the kind of children who tried their best to work hard in a certain field were always endearing: "It was written in the newspaper that you two would perform before midnight. You guys are really amazing, the New Year's celebration performance, there are tens of thousands of spectators, I can't even think of such a thing. ”

"En. Michelle and Ansa nodded vigorously, enjoying Catherine's heartfelt compliment: "Uncle Pannis and my sisters must come to see us perform, don't come." ”

"Of course, we'll all go. Catherine said dotingly, "Don't worry, I'll definitely cheer you on." ”

"You two, give me a good meal. Lina glared at the twins like a mother: "I warn you, if you dare to forget to eat after you only practice, none of us will go then." ”

"Yes~~~~~, I know!" Michelle lowered her head, pursed her lips and said in a long voice, "I promise not." ”

I have to admit that as a part-time chef, Pannis is still very qualified, including Catherine, and the three girls in Nelly's adventure group think so. He can prepare food for seven people in less than an hour, and the diners will not taste the hasty taste of the dish at all, and the ingredients used are the most common ingredients, and the price is quite cheap. That's crucial, at least that's what Catherine thinks. Since Pannis joined the family, there is obviously one more person, but the monthly meal expenses, if you only count those who cook at home, have been reduced from ten gold coins to eight. Of course, it doesn't make much sense for the members of the high-level party to be ten or eight gold coins, but Catherine is always special, at least when it comes to money.

After a simple but sumptuous dinner, the twin girls and the little banshee began their routine at each meeting, and the very large mansion became a paradise for the three girls, allowing them to chase and play in it to their heart's content. Every time it came to this moment, the hall was filled with laughter, and even some of the dark corridors of the mansion were infected by this joy and became brighter.

"The undead and humans can coexist. Pannis sat cross-legged in his chair, with his chin in his hand on his chin as he watched the three little girls run past the door of the lounge, muttering to himself, "This kind of thing is really magical." ”

"What's wrong Pannis?" Catherine tossed Pannis a Pasgo across the table, "muttering to herself?"

"Actually, I hate the undead. Pannis's body didn't move, just turned his gaze diagonally to Catherine: "Very, very disgusted. ”

"Why?" said Catherine, a little surprised, "Anne is so clingy to you, and you are very good to Anne, I thought you liked the undead." ”

"Anne clings to me for a reason, and I hate the undead because of the same willingness. Leaning back on the reclining back of the chaise longue, Pannis lifted Pasko up and said, "The undead often represent only cold death, and the madness and despair of losing their minds. Hatred of living beings is the nature of most undead spirits, and it is quite rare to be able to fight against this nature. Seriously, if it weren't for Anne's level of intelligence and human friendliness at the beginning, I would have slashed with a sword as early as we met. ”

"It's bloody. Lina pouted: "And now, do you still want to cut her?"

"How could it be. Pannis smiled wryly and shook his head: "Although I don't know why Anne is sensible, but now she can no longer be regarded as an undead, but more like a humanoid intelligent creature." In that case, why should I cut her?"

"Then we have to think about how to arrange her in the future," Lina said, "I can't let her stay at home all the time, but it's quite troublesome to let her go out for fear of scaring others." ”

"Actually, I have an opinion. "After a while, find an opportunity to take her to her parents." ”

"You mean the Institute?" asked Lina, "take her to see her parents' bodies?"

"Yes, take her to the place where her parents are dying. Pannis explained: "The existence of the undead is often due to a resentment or obsession that cannot be given up before death, and for Anne, it should be to see her parents again." In that case, it is better to take her to meet her parents. ”

"But in that case, Annie will disappear, right?" asked Lina, "Wouldn't that mean we'd kill her?"

"No, that's not death, she's long dead. "For those who die, that's relief. And, while I'm not sure, it's theoretically very unlikely that she's gone. Only the undead who have no reason will get the final liberation after fulfilling their wishes in life, but Anne she is not, Anne is a death banshee with sanity, I'm afraid it won't disappear so easily. ”

"What do you say, eldest sister?" Lina couldn't be sure, so she had to ask Catherine for help: "You can decide." ”

"What's the matter?" Catherine looked up blankly and asked confusedly, "What to decide?"

"Eldest sister, why are you okay to learn from Vivian. Lina said distressedly, "Having Vivien at home is enough of a headache. ”

"Sorry sorry, I'm reading the newspaper. Catherine listened to Lina briefly explain what had just been discussed, and then thought seriously before saying, "I suggest asking her what she thinks." Of course, from my personal point of view, I support Pannis's view, whether it is liberation or death, what should be faced is still to be faced, things can be escaped for a while, but after all, there must be a day when you must face it, you can't run away for the rest of your life, right, Pannis?"

"Hahaha. Pannis laughed dryly, pretending to be very interested, and changed the subject: "What were you looking at just now?

Catherine squinted at Pannis, but didn't press any further, and took advantage of the situation to avoid the topic that had suddenly become a little heavy just now: "News about the New Year's auction?"

"What's the New Year's Auction?" asked Pannis, puzzled, "Is it special?"

"Not just now...... Oh, by the way, I didn't say that just now. Catherine smiled awkwardly and handed over the newspaper: "It's a special event in the Holy Capital on New Year's Day." Jointly organized by the three major auction houses, the three auction houses take turns to preside, auction some special or valuable goods, the participants are all interested in the auction of people, whether tourists or locals, as long as they are interested, they can participate. ”

"Shall we participate too?" asked Pannis, "Is there anything in particular you would like to photograph?" ”

"Of course not. Catherine said with a wry smile: "New Year's auctions are often very expensive because there are rich people from all over the world who come to play, so even if you have something you want, you can't afford to buy it, so you can't even go." I just looked at the list of auction items, and I found it interesting. ”

"Interesting?" Pannis read through the newspaper, "I didn't feel funny at all!"

"Look at the number one product. Catherine said, "Right at the bottom of the first edition. ”

"The heart of the years?" Pannis was stunned and said dumbfounded, "You're right, it's interesting." ”

The Heart of Time is a crimson gem that has sparked countless fierce battles in the world of Yara thousands of years ago, with at least ten or more demigods falling because of it, more than five empires falling because of it, and countless legends and below the ranks who died for it.

A gem can have such a record, not because of how beautiful it is. Of course, the Heart of Time is indeed beautiful, the crimson surface is crystal clear, exuding a charming brilliance, but with such characteristics alone, it is impossible to cause such a tragic result, and the real reason is because of a legend.

Legend has it that there is a powerful energy hidden in the heart of the years, the energy related to eternal life, and as long as you can absorb this energy, you can obtain the eternal life that most people dream of. For the sake of this legend that has been passed down from nowhere, death and gore have been following this gem, changing owners countless times during this period, but no one has ever felt the existence of energy in the heart of time, let alone absorbed this energy to gain eternal life.

Eventually, people finally understood that everyone had been fooled, that it was just a beautiful gem with no special features, let alone so-called eternal life, and that it was regarded as an ominous curse and avoided it. Of course, this is just a self-consoling statement, and the reason people really avoid it is because the gem carries a lot of history, and many rich and boring collectors are interested in it, and as a result, it is pushed up in price so high that not many people can afford it by normal means.

"It's funny. Pannis put down the newspaper and said thoughtfully: "I didn't expect that the auction would actually put this kind of thing up for auction, but I am very interested in how much the price will be speculated in the end this time." ”

"The starting price is 500,000 gold coins, and the transaction price is probably astronomical. Catherine pursed her lips with a distressed expression: "It has nothing to do with the professionals, the ancient ruins, these are just a simple beautiful gem, there are so many stupid people who will spend a lot of money to rob them, I really don't understand what their psychology is." ”

"No, no, no, this kind of thing, its own value is no longer the point, even if it is a broken stone, it makes no difference. Pannis shook his head and said, "What a small group of rich people really pursue is the history and blood behind it." Of course, there are not many such people, but more of them are another large group of people who just want to use such expensive things to show their wealth and status. ”

"So, a bunch of idiots. Catherine looked envious and finally made a verdict for them.

"Shall we go and see it that day? Pannis asked with some interest, "It looks like it should be lively." ”

"It's a time conflict, otherwise I'd like to see it. Catherine said helplessly: "I promised Michelle that they would go to the New Year's celebration, but it happened to be in conflict with the time of the auction, so I couldn't go." ”

"It's a shame. Pannis sighed and shook his head regretfully.