Madame Butterfly was not surprised by this response, only saying, "You all are oddities."
The two had already reached the downstairs, where Duke Tal was drinking tea in the parlor. Upon seeing Xu Huo, he said, "Don’t keep those spiders anymore, I’m not sure if they’re toxic. I did not sleep at all last night. Young people inheriting from their elders do not have to inherit their odd hobbies as well."
"Those are my uncle’s beloved possessions, I cannot dispose of them at will, but I also do not like spiders very much, so I’m planning to build a butterfly house in the castle, specifically for raising butterflies," Xu Huo said.
Duke Tal set down his teacup, "That’s a good idea, do you know how to raise them?"
"A little," replied Xu Huo.
"That’s perfect, I’m also planning to construct a butterfly house, so don’t bother with it, come and help me with mine," Duke Tal turned his face to ask Madame Butterfly, "Madame, what do you think of my idea?"
"Oh, can I see it today?" Madame Butterfly smiled secretly.
"Yes!" Duke Tal immediately said, "The natural park over there has many, I will have someone catch some."
"It’s no fun bumping around in bottles, let’s go there and see," Madame Butterfly said, "It’s just right. I also would like to visit Mr. Tal’s home."
The smile that had just appeared on Duke Tal’s face was stifled, "The house is currently being renovated, I’m afraid it’s not suitable to entertain guests."
"What should we do then?" Madame Butterfly asked, "I have already checked out of my hotel room, and I don’t want to stay at hotels anymore, there are too many people, and the air isn’t good."
"How about my lakeside villa, the scenery there is beautiful."
Madame Butterfly looked at him with a smirk that was not quite a smile, "As a guest, I cannot visit the Duke’s home, but am supposed to stay at your recreational villa, that doesn’t seem quite right."
Her words carried a distinct pressure.
"It isn’t appropriate," finally recalling she was a player, too, Duke Tal changed his words and said, "Then wherever Madame likes, I will have someone arrange it."
"This place is quite nice." Madame Butterfly glanced over at Xu Huo, "The new heir is hospitable and even came to bring me an umbrella in the middle of the night. I like it here and plan to stay a few days."
Duke Tal looked at Xu Huo with an unfriendly gaze.
Acting as if he did not understand the implication, Xu Huo made polite conversation and invited them to stay, however long they wished.
Duke Tal certainly wanted to, but after several phone calls came in, he lingered for a moment before leaving, instructing Xu Huo to take care of Madame Butterfly, but only in public places.
"He’s overthinking it, not everyone likes an old cow eating tender grass." Xu Huo saw the guests out before turning back to the woman standing not far away, "You’re friends with He Pu, so you mustn’t be young."
This remark did not anger Madame Butterfly, who was toying with her fan, "Don’t worry, I don’t want to kill you right now. I still need to stay here a few days, and killing you would be inconvenient. Steward Dong."
Mr. Dong silently walked over.
"Please help me prepare a few cushions, I’m going to read in the third-floor study," she said.
"The third floor is the master’s private area, we do not host guests there," Mr. Dong said.
Madame Butterfly smiled, "I’ll go wherever I want, and you won’t be able to stop me."
"You need the master’s permission," Mr. Dong insisted.
Madame Butterfly looked at Xu Huo, "Tender grass, may I?"
Five minutes later, the two were standing in the study on the third floor. Madame Butterfly casually flipped through some notes on potions that Xu Huo had taken out. "These notes are all old."
"The man’s been dead for five years." Xu Huo followed behind her, watching as she casually walked up to the bookshelf and pulled out a hardcover "Complete Fairy Tales" and turned to a page where, upon lightly touching the section labeled "Key", a brass key appeared in her hand.
Xu Huo had searched this study more than once. The death of He Pu and the appearance of the fake He Pu were both very strange, and the most likely place for secrets to be hidden in the old castle was the study, but he had never imagined they were concealed in this manner.
Madame Butterfly shook the key at him, "Do you know where the other item is?"
With a key in hand, one must undoubtedly search for the lock.
Xu Huo walked to the middle bookshelf and pulled out a book titled "The Lock".
"There are many books with the word ’lock’ in their titles. How did you know it was this one?" Madame Butterfly asked.
"Intuition." Xu Huo’s answer was dismissive.
Madame Butterfly didn’t mind. She placed the key on top, and a keyhole appeared on the previously intact cover. As it turned, a "click" sound came from somewhere in the study.
The two stepped out from behind the bookshelf and saw that a door had appeared on the floor behind the neighboring bookshelf.
"Mr. Dong’s ancient castle can hide many things; it’s like a container prop. However, the interior is vast, and it’s easy to get lost inside. Follow me."
Xu Huo looked at her with a hint of surprise but didn’t say much.
Madame Butterfly crouched down to open the door, and they walked down the descending staircase.
Behind the door was pitch blackness, with nothing tangible on either side, just the path under their feet felt real. After groping in the dark for a while, Madame Butterfly finally took out a glass lantern and continued forward, supporting it as they walked.
It was unclear by what landmarks she navigated, but about ten minutes later, a light appeared in the far darkness, illuminating an area with a writing desk, a chair beside it, a bookshelf, and a toy wooden horse.
On the desk was only a desk lamp and a square box engraved with an eye pattern.
Madame Butterfly touched the wooden horse’s head and then walked to the desk, pressing her hand on the square box, "Don’t you want it?"
"That’s clearly not meant for me." Xu Huo said. Although he had inherited the castle, what he had inherited was vague. Madame Butterfly knew about this place, and since Mr. Dong did not appear to stop her when the door was opened, it seemed that her actions were tacitly allowed.
Fighting, he wasn’t necessarily a match for this woman.
Madame Butterfly picked up the square box, her eyes fixed on the pattern on top. Xu Huo only glanced at it briefly before turning away and walking to the side of the bookshelf.
There was only one thick photo album on the small bookshelf. He opened it and saw that it was filled with clippings about attacks on the Game Government and records of burning explosions, with a detailed log next to it, recording the location, time, and casualties of each bombing.
The targets of the attacks were mostly Game Government offices or places closely related to the Game Government. The more Xu Huo watched these videos, the more familiar they seemed, until a capital "V" appeared in the flames of one of the burning videos.
"V Fan Xiao, an arsonist." The phrase appeared frequently in the news clippings, especially as the later arson incidents all bore the distinctive "V" mark.
"V Fan Xiao." Xu Huo pressed down on the album, as this name was not unfamiliar to him.
His lighter was the tool used by V Fan Xiao, and the prop description mentioned that after his last arson, he vanished without a trace, leaving behind his fire-setting tool at the scene. The Game Government never identified the true identity of V Fan Xiao, but surprisingly, this album detailed it thoroughly, even including cases before the "V" characteristic started appearing.
Was He Pu actually V Fan Xiao?