#just in case the barrel game wasnt enough of a clue what chapter it was meant to take place in lol

[mushroompollution]

Ch 53: Humpty Dumpty Sat on a Wall

Previous Chapters: The Sablier Arc Masterpost (35-42) || 43 || 44 || 45 || 46 || 47 || 48 || [ Ceremony Arc: 49 || 50 || 51 || 52 || 52.5 ] Read the manga: imgur || mangaread (ad warning)

Break tells Gilbert that while restaining one of its Contractors, none of the children will be able to use the power of Humpty Dumpty.

Break begins to explain what he knows, and we go into a flashback of a conversation between him and Duke Barma. And Break is holding that barrel game so we know it's meant to be from that chapter they dressed Oz up as a maid to meet Yura lol.

Duke Barma asks if he knows about the House of Fianna, and tells him that the Nightray family have been using those children to conduct research on Chains. He can't judge them, after all, both he and the Rainsworth house are conducting similar research. (which we never hear about again btw yeah it sucks)

But he's interested in what they've been up to.

But even more interesting is that all the children say the same name: Humpty Dumpty.

Barma explains that his ancestor Arthur, who knew Jack and Glen personally, described a similar Chain in one of his journals.

He also suggests that Humpty Dumpty might be the true name of the Chain they've been calling the Queen of Hearts. And that if Break can find one of its secondary Contractors, he should be able to use them to find the primary core Contractor, and perhaps, the Headhunter.

Back in the present, he says if he'd known the children of Fianna's would be there, he would have told Oz and been more prepared.

But Elliot is more worried about one of the children of Fianna's above all: Leo.

Break dismisses his concern and once again orders Gilbert to undress his brother to check for an Incuse. Gil must still be feeling cocky from that roundhouse kick earlier, because he actually stands up to Break.

Their tense conversation is suddenly interrupted by the sound of screaming. A man cries for help from the balcony above, screaming that someone had suddenly started cutting off heads!

Gilbert runs to try and help, only to watch as the man on the balcony loses his head, blood spraying as his head falls onto the steps in front of Break and Elliot.

As they investigate the gruesome scene on the next floor, Gilbert confronts Break. He had said that no one could use Humpty Dumpty's powers if he restrained one of its Contractors.

But the Headhunter had struck again anyway, therefore Elliot couldn't possibly be involved.

Downstairs, the accusation eats at him, and Elliot has to see for himself.

Gilbert demands an explanation from Break, who just laughs in his face. What, he might be able to help?? Break tells him not to flatter himself, that Gil is useless without Oz. Gil's temper flares, and he readies a fist, fully expecting the swordsman to put him in his place.

But the blind Break is caught off guard by a sound behind him and turns, allowing Gil's fist to connect, surprising them both.

Elliot asks about the others, if they're alright. Gilbert says he left Ada with Sharon. No one's seen Vincent, but he's probably alright. But as for Oz....

But instead of that, the scene changes to Break, following those footsteps through the halls of the mansion until he stumbles onto another gruesome scene.