The hearse glided smoothly toward Nevermore. The interior space was deceptively larger than it appeared from the outside.
Pugsley sat excitedly opposite Vic, his small hand tracing a weak arc of electricity in the air.
"Watch this, brother-in-law!"
Pugsley focused, and his fingertips crackled with a blue spark, illuminating his proud, grinning face.
"This is my new trick!"
Vic sat up straight immediately, his eyes shining with wonder and envy.
"Cool! How did you do that?"
He leaned closer, almost touching the jumping arcs.
"That looks awesome."
Pugsley lowered his hand, and the electricity vanished.
He shrugged, flashing a proud smile:
"Stick your fingers into a socket enough times, and you're bound to learn something."
"Really?"
Vic actually put on a serious thinking face. His gaze drifted, clearly already planning how to "practice" once back in the dorm—
Maybe find an unnoticed socket, or convince Venom to help "bridge the connection"?
Just then, a cool voice pierced his dangerous fantasy like an ice pick.
"Vic."
Wednesday didn't even look up, yet her voice reached Vic's ears precisely, carrying unquestionable resolve.
"New dormitory rule: Inserting fingers or any conductive object into power sockets is strictly prohibited. Imitating Pugsley's 'recharging' behavior is forbidden."
"Eh?! Why—"
Vic's face fell instantly. He dragged out the syllable, turning to Wednesday and blinking his peach-blossom eyes hard, trying to launch a "pitiful" beam.
"Wednesday... darling... just a little try? Just once? I promise I'll be careful!"
Wednesday finally looked up. Her pitch-black eyes gazed calmly at Vic. Her pale face held no expression, but her words were like a precise scalpel:
"Trust me, Vic. The primary harvest from personally 'touching the wire' is usually not the discharge ability you anticipate, but a simple and painful physics lesson—
"220 volts of alternating current likely won't kill an idiot like you, but it is sufficient to provide an unprecedented sensation of paralysis and the aroma of burnt meat. Aside from that, there are no benefits."
Her wording was sharp as always. The word "idiot" even made the corner of Morticia's mouth curve up almost imperceptibly.
Even Lurch, who was driving, twitched his shoulders slightly.
"Fine..."
Vic agreed verbally, looking persuaded, but his shifting eyes and slightly pursed lips clearly read "I'm not convinced" and "I still want to try."
Pugsley giggled at Vic's defeat. He deliberately conjured a slightly larger ball of electricity in his palm, making a louder crackling sound.
It was like a taunt, or perhaps a continued temptation for his brother-in-law who had zero resistance to "cool" abilities.
Watching this, Enid face-palmed and whispered to Wednesday:
"I think... rules alone might not stop him."
Wednesday returned her gaze to her book, her tone calm but certain.
"Therefore, I need to prepare a backup defibrillator and a detailed post-electrocution first-aid protocol."
Wednesday's gaze swept between Vic and Pugsley. The familiar, almost "bro-like" interaction between the two clearly hadn't escaped her observation.
Her pale face remained expressionless, but her cool voice cut in precisely:
"You two seem... much more familiar than I anticipated."
"Of course!"
Vic took over the conversation immediately, a hint of smugness on his face.
"We wrote letters all summer! Pugsley is one of my most loyal pen pals!"
He reached out and ruffled Pugsley's soft black hair. Pugsley cooperated by lifting his face, revealing a bright smile with a touch of malice.
"Yeah!" Pugsley nodded vigorously, his voice chirpy.
"Brother-in-law sent me tons of interesting stuff! A skeleton model that dances on its own, a deep-sea fish eyeball in a jar that glows..."
He listed them like treasures, his eyes sparkling. Clearly, he was extremely satisfied with this "brother-in-law's" taste.
At this point, Morticia, who had been sitting elegantly as if admiring the passing Gothic scenery, turned her head slightly. Her red lips curved into a charming arc, her voice lazy but filled with sincere praise:
"Speaking of gifts, Vic, I must thank you again for the bouquet of Atlantean Roses you sent.
The spectral blue glow flowing along the petals when they bloom, and that unique cold fragrance mixing deep sea and moonlight... it is truly intoxicating.
I placed them in the darkest, dampest corner of the greenhouse to keep my carnivorous plants company. They get along... exceptionally well."
Vic's eyes signaled: See? Handling the mother-in-law? So easy!
Clearly unsatisfied with just this, he immediately expanded his "achievements," turning to Enid on the other side, his tone light:
"By the way, I sent stuff to your side too, Enid! Your little brother Karl seemed to really like the glowing firefly amber and the perpetual motion spinning tops I sent from Hotel Transylvania!"
"Huh? My side too?"
Enid looked surprised, but then a warm smile appeared on her face, clearly happy with Vic's thoughtfulness.
However, Vic's next sentence froze that smile instantly and transformed it into invisible killing intent.
As if suddenly remembering something, he added with slight confusion:
"Just don't know why Karl recently sent back a lot of... um, photos of various girls? All kinds of types. He's quite enthusiastic about it."
?!!
The smile on Enid's face stiffened instantly. Although the corners of her mouth remained upturned, a raging fire was already burning in her beautiful eyes.
You little traitor, Karl! I feed you and raise you, and you dare to secretly collect photos of pretty girls to undermine your sister and introduce them to your fox-friend?!
She gritted her teeth internally but maintained a "kind" smile like a spring breeze on the surface.
"Hehe, is that so... Probably wanted to introduce his 'friends' to you."
In her mind, she was already rapidly listing the "gifts" she would bring home next time—
Five-Year Magic, Three-Year Simulation (Advanced Werewolf Pup Edition)—ten sets! No, twenty sets! She'd make sure he had no time for wild thoughts!
Vic completely missed the stormy seas beneath Enid's smile and nodded happily:
"Possible! Karl is a real bro!"
Gomez Addams, who had been silently observing the "battle," finally let out a booming laugh:
"Haha! Well done, Vic! Such charisma! No wonder you attracted my little scorpion! Say, consider this: next family gathering, we could host a small 'matchmaking' tea party? Right by the cemetery, the atmosphere would be perfect!"
Morticia covered her lips and chuckled lightly, her eyes filled with amusement at the scene.
The smile on Vic's face froze instantly. He felt the air pressure around Wednesday dropping at a speed visible to the naked eye.
He laughed dryly, waving his hands frantically:
"Uh hehe... no need for a tea party, really... I have Wednesday and Enid, that's enough, really, enough!"
Wednesday finally closed the book on her lap slowly. Her dark eyes swept over Vic calmly, her tone devoid of emotion:
"It seems your 'diplomatic' activities this summer were indeed... colorful."
Just then, the hearse gave a slight jolt and came to a smooth stop. Outside the window, the familiar gates of Nevermore Academy were in sight.
School had arrived.