Kisaragi's Long-Strange Collection Notes

Just as Chen Meimei and [Eye of the Moon] finished their quick chat, one recuperating and the other going to sleep.

[Icing layer].

Rosa's Tower.

The small conference room where the highest-level parliamentary meeting was held.

The four clan leaders hadn't even finished taking stock of the losses within their clans when they were urgently summoned here.

The layout of this room is very simple.

A small round table, surrounded by five chairs, corresponding to the Grand Duke and the other four clan leaders.

When Herin Commander, [Pessimism], [Martyrdom], and Luna Scarlet entered the conference room, there was already someone sitting in the main seat representing the Grand Duke.

It was Loran. He heard the door open, but he didn't open his closed eyes or make any movement.

After the four clan leaders entered the house, they all frowned slightly in unison.

Even if Thorn were still alive, Loran, being her mouth double, wouldn't be qualified to sit at the table. She could only move a chair and sit behind Thorn, let alone sit directly in the Grand Duke's seat like this.

Commander Herlin is the one with the most explosive temper.

"Loran, I admire the sacrifice of [Grand Duke Thorns], but that doesn't mean you can exercise all the power of a Grand Duke. You have overstepped your bounds."

Loran opened her eyes.

He opened one eye.

"I am Thorn." It was still Loran's voice, but the tone and manner had completely changed.

"How is this possible!" Four exclamations rang out, and none of the four clan leaders fell.

Loran smiled, gesturing to the chair: "Please take a seat. We have plenty of time today, so let's talk slowly."

After the four people took their seats as instructed, [the one who was to be buried alive with the deceased] immediately couldn't help but ask, "What exactly happened?"

Lorraine clasped her hands together, rested them on the table, and propped her chin up.

This is a common action of the thorns.

"It's a mysterious matter, so I won't reveal everything. I can only give a general outline."

Loran's [mystery] can split himself in two, with himself occupying only one half of the body and the other half housing another soul.

Now, I am the other half of the soul. Before, after my body was devoured, my consciousness lingered within the vines for a long time. Just as it was about to dissipate, Loran activated his ability.

The crowd had no way of finding out how it was launched, its limitations, or the costs; they were only concerned with what would affect the future.

"So you'll be inside Loran's body from now on?"

"Yes, he used half of this body, and I used the other half."

"You're speaking now, but where is Loran? Is he listening or asleep?"

"We divide our bodies and our time equally, each of us for 12 hours a day. When one of us appears, the other soul is completely silent."

"Is it possible for you to become independent in the future?"

"Based on the information I currently have, it's not possible."

[Funeral] suddenly spoke up: "How can you prove that what you're saying is true? Maybe you are Loran, deliberately making up a story to impersonate Thorn."

Loran nodded:

"This definitely needs to be proven."

Confidential documents, daily habits, memories of the past—what I know, Loran, as my accompanying secretary, may also know, so I won't bring these out.

[Mystery] Bound to the soul, it's the only thing that can't be faked, right? Thorns grow thickly.

Several thorny brambles crawled out from the center of the conference room table, and at the same time, a set of clothes woven from thorns appeared on Loran's body.

This is Thorn's unique trick.

Luna Fei gently pressed the thorns on the edge of the bramble vine on the table with her fingers: "This level of mystery isn't that high. The bramble's level is more than that."

"Mysticism is linked to the amount of energy. Loran's body limits me; I can only use power that does not exceed his mysticism level. As he becomes stronger, I will be able to use more."

Thorns had completed their proof, and silence fell over the room.

After his soul entered Loran's body, his appearance changed, he only appeared for half a day, and his strength also dropped significantly. Is this "half" Thorn still considered [Grand Duke Thorn]?

Even if the people in the room accept it, will all the council members and city citizens accept this bizarre form of existence? Wouldn't it be better to let [Grand Duke Thorns] end up sacrificing himself?

Loran, or rather, Thorns, spoke up first:

"This body is named Loran, and I will not continue to serve as Grand Duke while in Loran's body. The reason I have summoned you here today is to discuss the matter of the next Grand Duke."

"This is the first time that the Grand Duke has stepped down from the throne in less than a day. The other three candidates, [Winter], Herlin Meng, and [Filter], have all died. There are no suitable candidates among the younger generation in the short term."

[Pessimistic] interrupted: "[Winter's] death has not yet been confirmed."

"Why wasn't it confirmed? She used the rules of advancement to race against time with her debt of suffering. How could she survive if she failed to advance?"

How do you know she failed?

"That goes without saying, a ghost marriage ceremony..."

"Now you realize it, right? The whole city's blood sacrifice and the whole city's toasting—the two most difficult parts of the ceremony have been completed."

"Even if the ceremony were to succeed by chance, it would still be missing the [Blessing]. Back then, when there was [No Tomorrow], she transformed into the [Eye of the Moon] in the sky, so eye-catching. If the [Blessing] had appeared, wouldn't there have been some reaction?"

"That's true, but don't forget the relationship between [Ghost Marriage] and Chen Meimei, and also, the [Eye of the Moon] was hanging behind Chen Meimei all night."

The moment the name Chen Meimei appeared, the meeting room fell silent again.

Tonight, everyone present has come to know just how capable Chen Meimei is.

That was a heaven-defying existence that could directly confront the Epoch of Suffering, and could summon the Moon and the Mist to delay the darkness, not to mention the bottomless, strange pool on his body.

Luna Fei suddenly burst out laughing.

The other four looked at her, seemingly asking why she was laughing.

As usual, she fiddled with her blood-red short hair, which had become noticeably shorter.

"According to the agreement between me and Chen Meimei, in order to help the city overcome the hardships of the era, my Luna family will join his cause. Now that he has done it, I will support him no matter what he wants to do in the future. I am telling you this clearly in advance today, so don't say that my family is a traitor or anything like that."

[Funeral] bluntly pointed out: "You talk as if you're very trustworthy, but it's just because his side is stronger."

Before Luna Fei could reply, [Pessimistic] spoke up for her first.

"[Funeral sacrifice], the so-called surrender naturally requires the other party to be powerful. What pure relationship is there in this world? Even relatives have exchanges of interests, so the master and servant are no exception. As long as Chen Meimei remains strong, then the friendship and loyalty will remain steadfast."

Will Chen Meimei remain powerful forever? The Eighth Era has only been going on for a year. Even if it's not permanent, it can certainly prosper for another thousand years or so.

Luna Fei sneered: "Don't make everyone sound like they're always calculating gains and losses. They've forgotten the pain once they're healed. Chen Meimei has done a great service to the city and my family. Even if he's no longer powerful, I will still remember his kindness."

Commander Herlin remained silent for a while before finally unleashing her trump card: "Tell me, if Chen Meimei wanted to participate in the Grand Duke election, could anyone else compete with her?"

Luna Scarlet shook her head: "Chen Meimei will not run for Grand Duke; he will not confine himself to [Scarlet House]."

"Clap clap~" Thorns clapped his hands.

"Since Chen Meimei has been mentioned, let's invite him over tomorrow for a chat."

Ladies and gentlemen, a new era has begun for the [Crimson House]. Now, there are eight towers on the [icing layer], with the new tower located in the very center. No one can cut the cake without passing through it.