Chapter 97: Returning Home, Jack-in-the-Box (Bonus Chapter)

Strange Art: Substitute Doll Technique

Witchcraft/Demoncraft: Voodoo · Stabbing the Effigy

Both of these techniques are quite interesting. One is actually a substitute doll, a type of ancient witchcraft that even Taoism later absorbed, turning it into one of their orthodox techniques. It has great utility—adding another means of saving one's life.

The other is the famous "stabbing the effigy," also an ancient witchcraft, often active among the folk and in imperial courts. There was even a period when it made numerous high-ranking court officials panic. Most importantly, this is a long-range curse technique.

However, why are both of them related to dolls? Based on the connection, shouldn't something like this have appeared when I defeated Mary Shaw?

This thought flashed and vanished.

Immediately, he began to examine these two arts in detail.

The Substitute Doll, as the name implies, requires mediums such as birth date, blood, and hair. Finally, one makes a doll out of straw, paper, cloth, or wood. The more lifelike the doll, the better the effect of bearing the damage.

"Doll quality, huh." Louis thought thoughtfully.

This works out perfectly. He hasn't started studying the Mary Shaw notebook he obtained earlier. With the notes of this doll art master, it seems the speed at which he learns this Substitute Doll technique won't be slow.

As for that Stabbing the Effigy technique, it shares the same underlying principles as the Substitute Doll, so Mary Shaw's notes can also be put to use.

Indeed, all accumulation is meaningful; even if it isn't used for a while, it can be used later.

Thinking this way, Louis became even more determined to collect those unusual artifacts, and at the same time, a thought couldn't help but arise in his mind.

Should he try to explore whether this world has those horror movies from his memories?

Besides collecting information just in case.

He could also acquire those strange artifacts.

There are quite a few strange and eerie things in horror movies.

"It is indeed necessary, but such things require a large organization to pull off..."

Currently, he doesn't have the foundation to create his own organization and can only rely on the family's influence. In reality, the family's influence is only strong in Miami and cannot dominate the entire state of Florida; it has its limitations.

Plus, it's only the nineties now, the internet isn't developed, and collecting this kind of intelligence is probably quite difficult.

"Forget it, I'll plan it slowly after I go back."

However, after going back, there are actually still many things he needs to do: find a new base, study the notes, research Jason, make corpse-gu, collect blood beads...

Hiss!

Should I start training assistants?

Miami.

Louis has returned here once again.

In fact, for the past few years, he has returned every holiday to exchange feelings with his grandfather, the old butler Alfred, the Anderson and Andre brothers, Uncle Max, and others.

People are creatures of memory; even if the feelings are strong, they will gradually fade if they don't see each other for a long time.

Plus, his grandfather is getting older, and every meeting is one less; he must cherish it, so Louis basically returns every holiday and never goes out traveling.

This trip was the only one in years, and then... well, let's not talk about it.

Just as he stopped.

A black sedan drove over. Stopping the vehicle, Alfred stepped out from it. "Young Master."

"Hello, Grandpa Alfred."

Alfred had a smile on his face, and his gaze toward Louis was gentle from beginning to end.

Louis got into the private car.

Between the car ride, they soon arrived at the villa.

Walking in with familiar ease, he arrived at his grandfather's room.

But the moment he opened the door, Louis sensed something was wrong.

The spacious room was filled with many people, all elite members of the family, their eyes sharp and muscles bulging. But in the very center, there were only five people: the family accountant, Uncle Max, a strange man, the medium Elise, and Minnie beside her.

And his grandfather, Carl, was sitting behind the desk, chatting with that strange man. On the desk, there was also a square music box with a somewhat ancient style.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, everyone turned their gaze over. Under so many stares, Louis didn't change his expression and closed the door.

"Grandfather."

"Little Louis, you're finally back."

"Yeah, things were just handled."

Hearing this, Carl smiled. "Was your trip this time not very smooth?"

Louis's mouth twitched. "That's right, the trip really wasn't very smooth. Although it was quite fun, we encountered some things that, for normal people... aren't very pleasant. I'll tell you about it later, Grandfather."

"Hahaha, good, we'll chat in a bit."

"But for now, come, Little Louis, come over first and help Grandfather look at this music box."

Louis nodded and approached.

Elise and Minnie beside them saw this and wanted to say something but hesitated.

Only then did Louis see the full appearance of this box.

It was square and upright, with some patterns around its body, especially on the top of the box where there were four things resembling combination locks, with four letters written on them.

JACK.

Jack—because of the 'J' in playing cards, this English word is also subconsciously considered by people to be related to it, carrying the meaning of a clown.

Looking at this box, Louis observed carefully, dripped some ox tears on it, blinked his eyes, and his vision changed.

In Louis's eyes, the box gradually changed as well; he could vaguely see a white clown face inside, wailing, screaming, roaring, crying...

Louis narrowed his eyes, trying to see clearly, but the next second.

It seemed his gaze had been discovered; the clown phantom inside suddenly became clear, staring fixedly at Louis. The black and white eyes instantly turned pitch black, and in these completely black eyes, one could actually see greed!

Ding-a-ling.

The crank on the side of the music box began to turn automatically, and the clown inside also let out an unwilling scream, its eyes returning to black and white.

The music gradually stopped, and the clown inside also fell silent.

Louis's eyes returned to normal. "Grandfather, this thing is not simple."

"Of course, this thing is something I specifically collected. Little Louis, what did you see?" Carl asked.

"A strange... clown soul."

Hearing this, Carl raised an eyebrow.

And the strange man beside them immediately said, "Sir, now it's confirmed, right? I didn't lie to you; this really is the legendary Jack-in-the-Box."

Carl ignored him and instead looked at Elise, saying gently, "Elise, it seems you didn't lie to me."

Elise sighed. "Mr. Carl, I must remind you one more time: this box is very ominous. What is sealed inside it is a demon."

The strange man became anxious. "A demon? A demon that honestly grants wishes without playing tricks?"

"This is the real deal, the box that once gave that priest a child of his own."

"I would rather believe that it was the priest's piety that moved God, granting a blessing, just like the Holy Grail."

Louis, who understood part of it, rolled his eyes. This seller is really good at spinning tales just to sell the thing; he even managed to relate it to the Holy Grail.

Why don't you use it yourself?

Wait, that's right, why doesn't this guy use it himself?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 98 =====