Operation Red Book

The process of collecting medicinal herbs did not take long. Bell jumped down the ladder holding a large brown paper bag and led the two to the second floor with a smile.

The space on the second floor is much smaller than that on the first floor, and the two are connected by a winding spiral staircase, which makes going up and down not very convenient.

This floor is where Bell lives his daily life. When you go up to the second floor, what comes into view is a small living room.

White carpet, light pink curtains, a warm fireplace, and a few bottles of tequila on the wooden table... everything is similar to a normal London apartment.

Moriarty and Joshua both sat on the soft sofa, quietly waiting for Bell's treatment.

Joshua felt a little uncomfortable. It had been a long time since he last sat in such a warm and quiet room.

That was the mental health counseling arranged for him by the school, which took place once a week, and every time was his nightmare.

Because the middle-aged female teacher who always wore hand cream always denied everything he said, and then went on to talk about her young son who went to Harvard University.

Joshua swallowed and rubbed his hands unconsciously, as if a pump of hand cream had been squeezed into his palms.

"You seem a little nervous, would you like some?"

Moriarty handed a small glass of wine to Joshua. His face was red and he looked like he had drunk a lot.

“Although it’s not as good as the treasures in Count Vincent’s cellar, it’s still a good remedy for relaxation.”

"I'm sorry, Mr. Moriarty, but I don't drink."

"Ha! You're almost twenty years old, you can drink a little. I'll keep it a secret for you."

"Really, no need... Actually, I'm allergic to alcohol. If I drink, my whole body will be covered with small bumps..."

"It doesn't matter." Moriarty continued to push the glass over.

"As long as you don't die, you can try anything...Joshua, you won't die without being able to taste a sip of delicious red wine...What's the point of living then? What's the meaning of life?"

"Besides red wine, life has other meanings..."

Joshua replied with a smile, but he still took the wine glass and placed it on the small wooden table beside him.

This sentence is not only a response to Moriarty, but also a response to himself.

This is the truth he realized a long time ago: when his parents left him, when he was bullied by his classmates, when he was relaxing on the rooftop, when his life was in danger...

He would think of this sentence from time to time. Strangely enough, such a simple sentence seemed to have become his nerve endings.

Whenever pessimistic thoughts arise, this sentence will appear automatically, and it will soothe my broken heart every time.

I don’t know if this can be considered a kind of strength... Joshua thought silently in his heart.

"Oh! Why did you drink so much?"

With a slight "creak" sound, Bell walked out of the medical room carrying a large tray of medicine.

The accusing voice interrupted Joshua's distraction and stopped Moriarty from drinking.

"I haven't had a drink in a long time. I'm exhausted these days..."

He shook the wine glass in his hand, and the blush on his face became more obvious.

"You can't drink too much, what is this... you drank a whole bottle! What if it affects the treatment? The interaction between drugs is very important!"

"Then you just need to make it for me again!"

"Who do you think I am! Your maid?"

"Then I won't drink it!"

"You don't want to drink? What will happen to your injuries if you don't drink? Don't you want your arm anymore?!"

"I want an arm! I want a drink too!"

"Stop drinking!" Bell snatched the bottle from Moriarty's hand.

"If you don't drink, go to sleep!" Moriarty lay down on the carpet like a child.

Bell angrily slammed the tray in his hand onto the small table, but regular breathing could be heard from the ground.

Joshua was at a loss for what to do. He glanced at Moriarty, then at Ms. Bell... and finally chose to pick at the corner of his clothes...

"Take the medicine to treat you first. It's a new medicine I developed. It takes a while for the effect to come on, but at least it doesn't have any addictive side effects."

Bell picked out a milky white long-necked bottle of medicine from the tray and watched Joshua drink it in one gulp.

The potion was not as cold as usual, but Joshua still smacked his lips twice. He had long missed this refreshing potion.

"Come on, help me carry him to the infirmary over there. First reconnect the bones of his arm, and then feed him all the potion."

Bell continued to issue orders, and Joshua carefully lifted Moriarty's back and sent him into the room behind him with gritted teeth.

After finally lifting Moriarty onto the bed, Joshua couldn't wait to ask about Bell.

He knew that now was the best time.

"Ms. Bell, do you remember Beatrice de Poppa?"

Belle paused, she lowered her eyes, but did not answer a word.

After a long time, Bell turned and walked out of the infirmary, bringing in a tray full of potions.