The witchers, panting, put away their swords and looked around, hoping to find the black cat and dog to guide them to their next destination.
But they didn't see those two. Instead, suddenly, footsteps were heard coming from a door at the back of the hall.
The steps were very light, they should be a woman or a child. Also, the rhythm was disordered, as if the person was in a hurry.
Everyone's gaze immediately turned to that place.
The door opened, and a familiar figure appeared in everyone's vision.
She was wearing a black dress, with a black veil adorned with small pearls.
Iris, the mistress of the estate, Olgierd's wife. She was also the target of everyone's dream journey in the painting.
Her face was paler than in any previous memory, her makeup messy, giving a touch of gothic darkness to her face and figure. She was not striking, but she was beautiful.
It was not surprising that a woman like her could attract both Olgierd and the Prince of Ofir, and it could be said that this entire plot was triggered by her.
At this moment, Iris had an indescribable expression on her face, and the many murderous witchers in the house did not make her show a trace of fear.
"You are not him..."
The voice echoed in the empty hall.
"Who are you? I remember... I had a very long nightmare, and you were in it."
Finally seeing the target of his group's trip, Lann stepped forward and introduced himself to Iris: "We are not your nightmare, on the contrary, we are here to end your nightmare. If you think about it carefully, you should still remember that we buried your body."
Iris's face showed a distressed expression. She stared at Lann's face, and her frown gradually relaxed.
"I slept for a long time… Before I fell asleep, I remember lying in bed, looking at the purple rose that Olgierd had given me before he left. Several days passed like this, until it turned to dust…"
Suddenly, her eyes fell on her hands, which were clasped together on her abdomen, holding a beautiful purple rose.
"Am I dead? It seems so... You buried me and let the purple rose reappear in this world. Then I woke up from the dream, just like my beautiful rose."
Iris, who had just woken up, gradually recalled everything. Perhaps it was because she hadn't seen other living people for a long time, or maybe Lann didn't seem like a bad guy to her, she smiled at this moment.
It was a faint smile, not like the one she showed at the wedding, but it was still beautiful.
"Thank you. I also saw the portrait you took out of the room, which reminded me of how clumsy I was when I was learning to paint." Iris's grateful smile was fleeting. "You just said you wanted to end my nightmare, why did you help me?"
"Because while helping you end your nightmare, I am also helping me." Lann lowered his voice and tried to make himself look gentle. "We want to kill Olgierd, and this requires your help. After he dies, your nightmare will end."
It is a bit too ridiculous to say that you want to kill someone's husband in front of his wife, even if they are a couple who have already divorced.
Iris's hands tightened, causing the violet rose to tremble.
"You are his enemies? That's right, given his character." Iris shook her head and asked hesitantly: "What did he do?"
"Almost every evil thing you can imagine."
This statement had a much greater impact than listing Olgierd's crimes one by one.
Iris lowered her head sadly. "I'm sorry, he must have done terrible things to you."
Lann stepped forward and comforted: "You don't have to apologize to anyone for him. Now you are also one of his countless evil deeds, and even endured some of the most terrible ones."
Hearing Lann's words, Iris was silent for a long time and said: "I don't know if I still hate him. If he dies, it may be a relief for him and me. But I don't know how I can help you, and I don't want to cause his death myself, so I'm sorry-I can't help you."
Lann shook his head. "Actually, your presence is the greatest help you could offer me."
Iris showed a confused expression, and then saw Lann turn his hand, revealing a jade sculpture. The appearance of the sculpture shocked her so much that she brought her hands to her mouth, an inconceivable idea arising in her mind.
In addition to this statue, a huge canvas appeared in Lann's other hand. When it was spread out on the ground, it turned out to be a huge moon drawn in simple strokes.
Lann placed the jade statue of Olgierd on the canvas and began to chant, with chaotic energy surging all over his body.
Then the statue lit up with light and began to expand, throb, and tremble. Its jade-like shell was peeling off, and finally a naked man appeared.
"Olgierd..." Iris brought her hand to her mouth, nostalgia and fear reflected in her eyes, making her slowly back away until her fragile back rested against the living room wall.
Olgierd, holding his head, struggled to overcome the impact of the spell. Being an anomalous being who does not suffer permanent damage from the [Artefact Compression] spell, he experienced only a brief daze before regaining his composure and beginning to look around.
"This is... my Manor, and... Iris?"
Olgierd saw his wife.
"Lannister! I thought you would be an interesting person! Are you going to threaten me with my wife?!"
"Don't compare me to you, Olgierd." Lann said coldly. "Don't pretend to be a loving husband. You killed your wife's father and used demons summoned by black magic as guardians to keep her imprisoned in this mansion, preventing her from leaving even a step, and that led to her death."
Olgierd gaped and turned sharply to Iris. With his mastery of the dark arts, he immediately recognized the true nature of his wife's life at that moment.
"Iris... are you dead?"
The ghost of the woman, shrouded in the black veil, looked down. During the time she was trapped in the mansion, she held on to memories of her husband, but seeing him actually in front of her, she only wanted to get away immediately.
Iris briefly replied to Olgierd: "As you can see."
"Impossible! That Man of Glass promised to grant us both immortality, that's a contract!"
"O'Dimm, come out and face me! You violated the contract!"
Olgierd couldn't accept the fact that his wife had turned into a spirit, and he lay on the ground and shouted the name of the Master Mirror frantically.
Lann said expressionlessly: "Since you are already familiar with the Master Mirror, you should know how many different meanings can be extended from written words. Your wife is not dead now, but she is not alive either - look at what she has endured because of you?"
"You don't have to shout anymore, the Master Mirror will come out soon."
Lann flipped his left hand and took out the jade statue of the Toad Prince that he had prepared early in the morning.
"Turning your love rival into a hideous toad using the dark arts and locking him in a sewer to live there for years as a monster, unwittingly consuming countless innocent girls and soldiers… I must admire your creativity when it comes to revenge."
"Now you have seen enough of his suffering and decided to end his life." Lann waved the jade sculpture in front of Olgierd. "This is your first wish, I brought it to you."
Olgierd looked at the jade statue and stretched out his hand in surprise to take it.
A system notification sound resonated in Lann's mind at that moment.
[Mission - Heart of Stone · Part 2 - Completed]
[Character Level Increase +1]
The mission was completed as planned. Lann turned his wrist and took back the Toad Prince before Olgierd touched the jade sculpture.
"The first wish has been fulfilled, and the second one is next."
Olgierd was stunned, and then, furious, he said: "I want to kill him, and you haven't given him to me yet!"
Lann sneered: "Your wish is to bring him back, and I did so, so the wish has come true. Now tell me your second wish."
Olgierd staggered to his feet, unconcerned that he was completely naked.
"What do you think I am? In this place, in this situation..." Olgierd pointed at his feet, and then pointed at Iris. "Do you really think I will make a wish to you obediently? Lannister, you are indeed a humorous person, but you are too humorous now."
Lann shook his head, anticipating this reaction. "This is a contract, you must make a wish. If you refuse, it will be a violation of the contract. Master Mirror can come and take your soul now. I thought you had a clear understanding of your situation."
Olgierd stared at Lann, but he knew that the other party was right.
After a long silence, he began to speak through clenched teeth: "I have a brother… No one loves parties and celebrations more than he does, but he hasn't had many lately. I want you to find him and let him experience again how much fun the world is."
The system sound rang again.
[New Quest Discovered - Heart of Stone - Part 3:
You managed to bring back the Toad Prince and stopped him from doing any more harm. The Devil Merchant then made a second wish, which seemed warm and beautiful, but there is actually an unexpected secret behind this wish, which is far from being as easy as it seems.]
Very good, everything is going as planned.
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