Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"What did you say!?"

Dalian glared at Isaac, but Isaac remained unmoved.

These two people seemed to have been at odds from the moment they met.

"Hmph, isn't your purpose in staying here the same as Hugh's—to be unable to resist that woman with the body of a child?"

Hugh: "Childhood size? You mean Miss Lilburn?"

Isaac: "Who gives you the right to judge others? She has a toddler's body type, so are you an embryo?

"You rude scoundrel!!"

Dalian was so provoked by Isaac's words that she rushed up to him and kicked him in the right shin.

clang!

"Ouch!!!"

It wasn't Isaac who screamed, but Dalian, who rolled around on the ground clutching her foot.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, I lost my right leg in the war, and the leg you kicked was made of alloy."

"Well……"

Dalian's large eyes glistened with tears as she looked at Isaac with resentment.

"Alright, alright, can't the two of you get along amicably?"

Hugh gently picked up Dalian and placed her on the sofa, rubbing her sore feet.

"You'll remember this... you damned alchemist."

"I can't remember, Miss Embryo~"

"Hughie, don't stop me! I'm going to teach him a lesson today!"

"No, no, Isaac, you should say less."

Hugh quickly grabbed Darian, who was acting like a cat with its fur standing on end.

……

"Taking care of such an annoying brat must be exhausting."

"Actually, it's alright."

Dalian was sulking in the study, reading to herself without saying a word, while Hugh took Isaac aside to chat.

He knew that putting the two of them together would probably lead to another argument, and it would be one of Dalian getting angry all by herself.

“Dalian was entrusted to me by my grandfather. Although she has a bad temper, I would really be very lonely without her.”

"I understand, all this noise does make your house much more lively."

Isaac laughed, stroking the books on the bookshelf next to him.

"You mentioned before that this house is cursed, right?"

“Yes, besides the letter Miss Lilburn sent, a gentleman also told me about something related.” Hugh nodded and said, “A lot has happened to the Lilburn family recently.”

"for example?"

“She should be of marriageable age by now, but she’s still not married.” Hughes frowned. “The reason is that all her fiancés have been killed, and almost every one of them wants to escape this villa.”

"Wasn't that just a simple murder case?"

"That's not the case."

It wasn't Hugh who spoke, but a young man who walked in from outside the study.

"You are..."

“I’m sorry for not greeting you sooner, Your Excellency Diswald, and…” The man looked at Isaac, as if asking for his name.

"Isaac".

“Yes, Your Excellency Isaac,” the man continued. “I am Gisele Lilburn, Estella’s cousin.”

"You just said 'that's not the case,' right?"

"Yes."

Gis nodded in confirmation.

"The first major death toll in the Lilburn family occurred fifty years ago, when nearly one hundred people associated with the family died."

"Periodic killings? Does your Lilburn family have any generations of enemies?" Hugh asked.

No.

Isaac asked, "Sir, do you also live in this villa?"

“No, I live elsewhere. I’m just responsible for delivering Estella’s food supplies,” Giss said. “Miss Estella can’t even leave this villa.”

"Is she unwell?"

“Not quite.” Geese stared at Hugh and said, “Does Lord Diswald know the real reason why Miss sent you here to appraise the illusory book?”

"Isn't it for making money?"

"Actually, she hoped to find that illusory book and get rid of it quickly. It was a cursed book, and it was this book that imprisoned the young lady in this villa."

……

"Hugh, what do you think?"

"Could this be..." Hughes thought for a long time before blurting out, "...a curse-induced murder orchestrated by the Illusion Book?"

Can the Phantom Book operate on its own?

“Theoretically, it’s impossible. The Book of Illusions only records knowledge; it won’t produce any effects unless it’s interpreted,” Hugh said. “So it’s very possible that someone is using the Book of Illusions… Could it be that Geese from earlier?”

"That's unlikely. That person is also an heir to the estate. If the young lady of this family can't get married, he'll be the one who suffers the loss."

"So if we want to find the Phantom Book, we have to wait for them to make their move. It's said they'll target Miss Lilburn's fiancé, but there isn't one right now... Isaac, why are you looking at me like that?"

Snapped.

Isaac patted Hughie on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs up.

"Isn't it great to have you as a tool?"

"..."

Chapter 984: Attack

"Huh? A curse?"

Dalian looked at Isaac and Hugh as if they were two idiots.

Are you kidding me?

“I found a clipping about old things on the Lilburn family’s bookshelf. Quite a few people died and quite a few went missing in this villa.” Hughes said, taking out an old book. “Estella and the people who lived here, including her parents, have died or gone missing a total of nineteen people in ten years. That’s not normal.”

"..."

"Several of Estella's fiancés also died here. It is said that their common goal was to take her out of the villa."

"You suspect it's a curse just because of this? Are you stupid? Even murderers can do something like that."

Dalian looked at Hugh with disdain.

Hugh shrugged without explaining, and continued.

“At least that’s what Geese thinks. He hopes we can find the phantom book that has been passed down from our ancestors and is hidden somewhere in this villa.”

"You really like to cause trouble."

It was already pitch black.

The streetlights outside the window lit up, and as the clock tower played music, Hugh opened his pocket watch and found it was already midnight.

"Dalian, it's almost time for bed now."

"I refuse if you want me to sleep with you."

"That's not how it is. Dalian, your room is across the street, right? If you want to continue reading, you can go to your own room."

"Don't worry too much about me."

“No, that would be too much of a hassle for me… Never mind, I’ll just go to the other side.” Hugh said, turning to leave. “Isaac, your room seems to be next door.”

"I see."

"Wait...wait a minute."

Just as Hugh was about to leave, Darian suddenly grabbed the hem of his clothes.

"what happened?"

"Isn't it impolite to go to a woman's dormitory?"

"Isn't it you who's been refusing to leave my dorm room?"

Isaac: "Why don't you come to my room, Hugh? I need to investigate this villa tonight."

"Oh, that's a huge help."

"Wait, Hugh, you can't go back now, at this hour..."

Seeing that Darian still wanted to argue, Hugh suddenly had an expression of sudden realization.

"Dalian, are you afraid to sleep alone at night?"

"Varied……"

Dalian's fair cheeks flushed instantly.

"You idiot! What nonsense are you spouting?! I, so magnanimous, am being worried sick and losing sleep because of you, this is simply..."

Her voice became shrill, and Hugh seemed to enjoy her current expression.

"Don't you not believe in curses?"

Darian: "That's right, the curse doesn't exist at all."

Isaac: "Your expression clearly means you believe it."