Mystery: The Undead Don't Die from Linking the Fire

Chapter 136 How could you do that to another woman in front of Audrey?

Audrey's personal maid gently knocked on the door and softly reminded her:

"Miss Audrey, Miss Islant is here to visit you. She's in the living room now. Would you like to see her?"

"Miss Islant."

A hint of surprise flashed in Audrey's eyes. Was this what Emperor Roselle meant by "speak of the devil and he appears"?

Audrey instinctively looked at Ember, seeking his advice. Ember, however, was also looking at her, his eyes clearly telling her to make the decision herself. This left Audrey somewhat helpless, and after thinking for a long time, she slowly said:

"Anne, may Miss Islant please come to the small drawing room next door?"

"Yes, miss."

Annie's voice came from outside the door, and soon her footsteps faded into the distance.

Audrey turned her gaze to Ember, and was about to speak when she heard Ember suddenly ask:

"Now that you're a psychiatrist, are you confident you can hypnotize her without being discovered?"

Audrey was clearly taken aback, and after a long while, she whispered:

"Yes, but it would be best if she were in a... well, absent-minded state."

"no problem."

Yu Jin nodded slightly, knowing what Audrey was worried about, and said proactively, "Don't worry, I'll be careful."

"All right."

Audrey nodded, choosing to believe in Ember.

They quickly left the piano room and went to the small living room next door.

The golden retriever, Susie, stuck out her tongue and tried to follow, but Audrey stopped her with a look and gently shook her head. Susie looked up, somewhat puzzled, because it was always present whenever Audrey and Islant were alone; after all, Audrey wasn't entirely unsuspecting.

Susie glanced instinctively at Ember beside Audrey, then winked at Audrey, understanding dawning on her. Audrey had a man now, so she no longer needed Susie's company. Having figured this out, Susie wagged her tail and left the small living room, crouching down in the hallway by the door.

"Ember, you..."

Audrey took a candle from the drawer, about to say something, when footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door, forcing her to swallow her words. She quickly put her hands behind her back, concealing the candle with her body.

"Tap~ tap~"

A girl's sweet voice came through the door after a knock, "Miss Audrey, may I come in?"

"Please come in."

Audrey glanced at Ember, then took a few steps back at his signal before speaking softly.

"Click!"

The door to the small reception room was opened, and a young girl in a light green dress walked in. She had long, black hair that reached her waist and a pair of lake-blue eyes, and she was three or four centimeters shorter than Audrey.

Despite being an adult and even a psychologist, this woman has a rather small and cute baby face, making her look like a teenage girl still in public school or grammar school.

"Huh?"

As Islant entered the house, she was slightly taken aback when she saw Ember standing at the door and Audrey standing some distance away.

"This is Viscount Ash Black."

Audrey introduced, "This is Miss Islant Osisleka, she is my psychology teacher."

"A jealous boyfriend?"

Island immediately realized his situation and felt a mixture of amusement and disdain. These noble scions only had their status and power because of their ancestors' influence, yet they were all as naive as children.

Despite considering herself superior, Islant was not angered. Instead, she smiled gracefully and extended her hand to Ember.

"Hello, Viscount Black."

As an exceptional extraordinary individual, a Sequence 8 mind reader, she could accurately discern what these young noblemen were thinking. They were simply worried about something going on between their girlfriends and teachers. But now that they saw her as a young and beautiful woman and had taken the initiative to extend their hand, they were bound to develop feelings for her.

Just as she was thinking this, Islant saw Ember reach out and shake her hand, which made her feel even more contemptuous. But for some reason, she caught a glimpse of a bell in Ember's other hand.

Just as they were wondering what was going on, an invisible force suddenly erupted from Ember's body, creating a white ripple that spread outwards through the air it swept up. Islant, who was closest to Ember and was directly hit by the ripples, was sent flying, his back slamming hard against the door that had just closed!

"Bang!"

With a painful groan from the girl, she was pinned against the door by an invisible force. But it all seemed to happen in an instant, because the force vanished without a trace the next second, and her petite figure lost its support, falling heavily to the ground like a dead duck once again.

The Force

The miracles learned by clergy who wield weapons in their early years.

It can release shock waves.

It does not directly cause harm.

Instead, it can knock away surrounding enemies, causing them to stagger.

It also has the effect of defending against flying arrows.

"..."

Audrey stared in disbelief at everything. Although she was unaffected by the warning from Ember and kept her distance, she couldn't help but look at Ember with a questioning gaze, as if to say, "You call this knowing your limits?"

Yu Jin understood the girl's gaze, yet remained calm and composed, saying:

"Don't worry, this miracle caused no harm."

Audrey rubbed her forehead, feeling a bit of a headache, but knew this wasn't the time to assign blame. She skillfully lit the candle hidden behind her back, then strode forward to Isilant, who was groaning in pain on the ground.

Although the Force did not cause any harm, Islant was essentially just an ordinary girl—although she was an Extraordinary, her low-sequence Audience Path clearly lacked the ability to enhance her physical body. Therefore, after being struck twice in succession, she was clearly unconscious at this moment.

Audrey knelt down in front of Islant, placed the candle in front of him, and said softly:

"What's your name?"

Isilant, who had been groaning in pain, suddenly became dazed, her eyes fixed only on the dim candlelight, and answered blankly:

"Islant Osisleka".

"call."

Seeing that the hypnosis was going very smoothly, Audrey secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was the first time she had used her mind-reading ability on someone else. She looked down at the girl lying on the ground, carefully considering what questions to ask. In the candlelight, the girl's eyes seemed to be tinged with gold, and deep within her pupils, there was another eye, a vertical eye.

Audrey asked gently:

Why did you suddenly come to find me?

Islant answered mechanically but sincerely:

"Inviting you to the afternoon's 'academic' seminar was actually a test to see if you were qualified to join the Psychological Alchemy Society."

Audrey continued to ask in a gentle voice:

Are you a member of the Psychological Alchemy Society?

"Yes."

"Do you know any other members of the Psycho-Alchemy Society? What level of extraordinary individuals are they?"

"Mrs. Norma, whom I introduced, was an audience member introduced by Sequence 9; Mr. Hilbert Arucal, who introduced me to the Psycho-Alchemy Society, was a Sequence 7 psychiatrist. And Mr. Stephen Hempress, who was also a Sequence 7 psychiatrist. In addition, there were Miss Al, Miss Rachel... They were all just ordinary people."

"These are all people I know." Audrey was somewhat surprised, astonished that they had already recruited so many people, and pressed for an answer:

How do you recruit members?

"We are in the same group, and we have always developed members from the group down."

Under Audrey's persistent questioning, Island slowly revealed the names and ranks of her colleagues one by one. This caused Audrey to frown slightly, as the highest-ranking member of the group was only a psychologist, a stark contrast to her expectations.

Audrey paused for a moment, then asked:

Do you know any high-ranking members of the Psychological Alchemy Society?

Islant replied blankly:

"I don't know him, but Mr. Stephen and Mr. Hilbert should know him."

Even under hypnosis, Islant insisted on using the title "Mr.", clearly showing great respect for these two "Mr."s. This was because she held a relatively low position within the group, likely only slightly above Madam Norma, while the other noble ladies probably didn't even know about the Psychological Alchemy Society.

Audrey seemed to be thinking about this carefully, then asked:

Do you have any guesses about the identities of the higher-ups?

"have."

Island's expression remained blank, but his tone was unusually certain as he said, "I once saw an old man at Mr. Hilbert's house. Although I was hiding in the bedroom at the time, I could tell that Mr. Hilbert treated the old man with utmost respect. I later tried to ask Mr. Hilbert about the old man's identity, but Mr. Hilbert avoided my question. I think he must be a high-ranking member of the Psychological Alchemy Society."

Audrey was both excited and nervous. She didn't dwell on why Islant was in Hilbert's bedroom, but quickly asked:

"who is he?"

Herwin Rambis.

Upon hearing this name, Audrey naturally pictured a kind old man. This gentleman came from an aristocratic family, graduated from the University of Perth, possessed extensive knowledge and outstanding insights, had served as a royal advisor for over ten years, and was a recognized scholar, good man, and gentleman.

Yu Jin noticed the unusual expression in the girl's face and asked:

"Do you know him?"

"Um."

Audrey nodded slightly, her tone somewhat complicated as she said, "He's a royal advisor. I've met him many times, and I never thought he'd be connected to the mystical world. I always considered him a pure scholar, a scholar with a broad perspective. Perhaps..."

"That's settled then."

Yu Jin shook his head, interrupting the girl, and said, "Since he's a royal advisor, he should be at the New Year's Eve party, right?"

"Um."

Audrey's previously complex expression immediately turned strange, and she nodded silently.

"Then there's no problem."

Without hesitation, Yu Jin said, "I'll refuse her invitation to avoid any complications. I'll take care of Mr. Herwin at the New Year's party in two weeks."

"But……"

Audrey hesitated for a moment, then said, "He's a good man."

Ember shook his head and said calmly:

"His apparent kindness and gentleness are merely a facade. His position as a high-ranking member of the Psycho-Alchemy Society indicates that he is at least a demigod. And given his long tenure as a royal advisor, the royal family must be fully aware of his true identity."

Do you think he might be secretly handling matters for the royal family that they can't handle openly?

Audrey's expression faltered slightly, her lips pressed tightly together, and she murmured:

"This...this is just your guess."

Ember shrugged and said casually:

"Then you might as well ask Miss Islant."

Audrey hesitated for a moment, then turned her gaze to Islant and asked hesitantly:

What's your impression of Herwin Lambis?

Island's expression suddenly turned terrified. Her eyes remained blank and lifeless, but her expression was one of utter horror, startling even Audrey who was asking the question. The next second, Miss Island screamed in terror:

"A devil! He's a devil!"

Audrey's expression changed slightly, and she quickly reassured her:

"Calm down, Miss Islant, please calm down. He's just an old man; there's nothing to be afraid of."

Audrey used a combination of psychological suggestion and reassurance to finally calm the terrified Miss Islant down. This only made Audrey more puzzled: why would Islant react so strongly to Herwin, whom she had only met once?

"Ask her what happened that day."

Yu Jin suddenly spoke.

Audrey nodded without hesitation and said softly:

"Miss Island, what exactly happened at Mr. Hilbert's house that day?"

"I……"

Islant's body trembled slightly. "I met Herwin Lambis at Mr. Hilbert's house. He ordered Mr. Hilbert to assist in the assassination of a nobleman."

Islant's voice suddenly turned shrill again, screaming in terror, "He raped me in front of Hilbert! He even made Hilbert kill me! He's a monster!"

Audrey's gaze and mindset underwent a subtle shift, and a hint of pity crept into her eyes as she looked at Miss Islant. The situation was now quite clear: Miss Islant was at Hilbert's house for reasons she couldn't disclose.

And so she ran into Herwin Lambis, who had come to see Hilbert. Herwin instructed Hilbert to assist in the assassination of a nobleman, and also to rape the poor Miss Islant, and then to have Hilbert kill the culprit to cover it up.

Ultimately, it was perhaps Mr. Hilbert who convinced Herwin Lambis that Islant was not killed, but rather hypnotized by Hilbert. Through psychological suggestion, Islant was able to forget this painful memory.

But now, because Islant has been hypnotized by herself, she has inadvertently touched upon memories that had been sealed away by psychological suggestion, causing her to recall this painful past—which is why she calls Herwin Lambis the devil.

Ember calmly said:

"I think the outline of events is quite clear now. You should also have a fairly clear understanding of what kind of person Herwin Lambis is, right?"

Audrey looked at Ember with mixed feelings, and opened her mouth:

"Ember, I..."

She didn't say everything, but she knew that Ember would understand what she meant.

"What?"

Yu Jin deliberately asked a question in return.

"I……"

Audrey bit her lip, took a deep breath, and said in a low, hoarse voice, "I hope you can kill him at the New Year's Eve party."

"no problem."

Ember nodded slightly and said softly, "Audrey, kindness and innocence are excellent virtues, but not everyone deserves your kindness. At least in the mysterious world, there isn't a single one."

"I know."

Audrey remained silent for a long time before whispering, "I've always known, I just..."

I can't accept it all yet, and I can't accept it as naturally as you and Mr. "The Hanged Man" do.

Yu Jin lowered his gaze and did not continue to persuade him.

Audrey is kind, but also intelligent. The fact that she willingly allowed herself to kill Herwin Lambis shows that she has already accepted the way the mysterious world operates; she just needs time to fully digest it.

Ember looked at the girl curled up in fear on the ground and asked:

"Can we hypnotize her again?"

"Um."

Audrey nodded slightly, her gaze towards Miss Islant incredibly complex. Hilbert could use psychological suggestion to make Miss Islant forget this memory, and so could she. However, she still felt a pang of resentment towards Miss Islant's fate.

She never imagined that such a kind and benevolent old man could be so hypocritical in secret. Perhaps this was what Emperor Roselle meant by a beast in human clothing?

Audrey gently placed her hand on Miss Islant's head and said softly:

"Look into my eyes..."

Islant raised her head blankly, and under Audrey's soothing and suggestive guidance, the fear on her face gradually subsided. She sealed away that painful memory once again, as well as the memory of this hypnosis.

Embers instructed:

"It's best not to go to that academic conference either."

Audrey whispered:

"How could I possibly go again?"

She certainly didn't want to suffer the same fate as Miss Islant, or she'd regret it too late. Anyway, the New Year's Eve party was in two weeks, so there was no rush.

Seeing that the girl's attitude was clear, Yu Jin felt relieved, turned around and prepared to leave the room, leaving the rest of the time to Audrey.

Audrey suddenly spoke up to stop her:

"Wait a moment."

"Um?"

Ember froze for a moment, and before he could react, he saw Audrey suddenly take a deep breath and shout, "Ash! How could you do this to Miss Islant?!"

"Um??!"

Ember looked utterly bewildered, while Miss Islant, curled up on the floor, was also jolted awake by the shout. Upon waking, she felt aches all over her body, and her previously hazy memories became clearer—she remembered entering the room, being introduced to him by Miss Audrey, extending her hand to Viscount Black, and then being punched in the stomach under the guise of a handshake…

"Ouch~!"

With a pained expression, Islant stood up with Audrey's concerned help, her forehead covered in cold sweat from the agony. When her gaze met that of Ember, who wore an 'innocent' expression, she felt even more furious.

You hit me, so why can you still pretend to have an innocent look on your face?!

"Look what you've done to Miss Islant! Get out of here!"

Audrey scolded playfully.

Yu Jin looked speechless and sighed:

"Okay, it's my fault, I apologize, Audrey."

After saying that, Yu Jin left the room without looking back.

As Islant watched Ember's departing figure, her eyes were filled with anger and resentment.

I'm the one who got beaten up! And you didn't even apologize to me, you didn't even look at me! These aristocratic kids are still so arrogant! Just you wait, if I don't make Miss Audrey break up with you, I'm not Isilant!

(End of this chapter)