The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

But the being that could be wiped out so easily, like a fly, is utterly beyond the realm of humanity, no matter how you look at it. Is it an "apostle" carrying out the will of the gods? Or... a being of a deeper dimension?

Before anyone knew it, the rain of blood had gradually stopped.

A thick, almost viscous fog enveloped the wide streets, reducing visibility so low that even those around them could not see clearly.

“Dr. Fran, Sister Heda, it’s so good to see you both again. Is this your world? The law operates so harmoniously, it’s so peaceful and beautiful…”

Evonne removed the white wolf helmet, smiled, and came to the two women, giving them a hug.

Hmm... You were the one who dealt with that divine servant who was about to transform into the sacred tree of flesh and blood. So, where did you get that conclusion of "peace and beauty" from?

Faced with this familiar yet unfamiliar woman, Haida remained reserved and silent. But her body did not resist this seemingly overly intimate embrace.

"That servant of the gods has perished, and it's time for me to go. My two teachers, I look forward to seeing you again... This time it was a bit rushed, but I'll bring gifts next time."

As she spoke, Ivani's body gradually transformed into a brilliant golden light, like falling leaves, and the scattered points of light slowly dissipated. (Three/Zero≥5□ˇ)

"……who is she?"

Heda looked at Fran with a puzzled expression, while Fran smiled and gently touched his hand covered with stitches.

"Oh, that's going to be complicated to explain. How about we come to Fog Street Clinic? I can help you speed up your memory process and do some simple checkups while we're at it..."

"...Wait until I finish the cleanup work for the Hunter's Order."

After a moment of silence, she finally agreed to Fran's proposal.

-

Foggy Street Clinic.

After a series of inquiries, health checks, and mental health assessments, Haida was once again semi-forced to take a two-week leave.

Following the guidance of the misty doorway, she slowly entered the bathroom of her room... and then stepped into the misty street clinic, which was lit with a warm yellow light.

"Welcome, Sister Haida."

Fran sat leisurely on the sofa, his brows relaxed, his amber eyes shining like a warm torch.

Her demeanor at this moment was far from dignified; her long, slender legs, encased in black over-the-knee cotton socks, were casually placed on the coffee table, and she was even wearing large velvet slippers.

Two cups of coffee were on the coffee table. Judging from the shrinkage of the milk foam latte art and the faintly spreading steam, they must have been made recently.

Fran subtly removed his legs from the table, then pushed the coffee toward Heida, gesturing for her to sit opposite him.

"Not using the 'pendulum heart clock'?"

Heda noticed that Fran hadn't taken out his signature brass pocket watch and gave him a reminder.

"The brain is the most mysterious organ in the human body, and therefore, I generally take a cautious approach when conducting psychotherapy. Over-reliance on such relic-like amplifying disturbances can cause one to become rusty in their original skills."

Fran tapped the edge of the table lightly, rhythmically, like the rapid counting of seconds on a clock.

“Remember that rule? ‘Nothing can be taken from the boundary before the treatment is complete.’ That’s actually a conceptualization of the boundary crossing effect. Even if the rule itself is lifted, the boundary crossing effect still exists.”

Her thumb rested lightly on her middle finger, tapping it several times, but without making a sound.

"clatter."

When the crisp sound of the snapping fingers truly reached Haida's ears, she felt the speed at which her memories surged instantly, and the years she had spent in the borderlands gradually became clearer.

"The fragmented memories should be pieced together within three days. During this time, it's best to rest and avoid strong emotional fluctuations... Of course, emotional stability has always been one of your strengths."

Fran lifted his coffee and took a sip, then deftly licked the delicate milk foam off his upper lip.

"Cough cough!..."

She seemed to have choked, and suddenly covered her mouth and coughed lightly a few times.

However, Haida focused her attention slightly and keenly noticed a trace of blood seeping out from between Fran's fingers.

"Is Dr. Fran feeling unwell? Hmm... is there anything I can do for him?"

Haida stepped forward to help Fran, who was unsteady on his feet, to his feet.

Through skin-to-skin contact, she could sense that Fran's body temperature was slightly higher than normal, as if he had a fever. But she wasn't really confident in her overly simplistic judgment; after all... it was truly hard to imagine that this doctor could be sick.

"It's just inflammation caused by a burn infection; it's not very serious."

Fran had Heda help her lie face down on the sofa, and then had her help her remove her white coat and the exquisitely tailored suit, revealing her smooth and delicate back skin.

"Usually, for this type of condition, cleaning the wound and then applying some antibiotics is enough... but my case is a bit special. It's not easy for someone else to come to the clinic, could you please apply some topical medication for me?"

As she spoke, she took a clear quartz tube from her small medicine box and handed it to Haida, which contained a small amount of liquid medicine.

“Let me do it. Besides… this should also fall under the 4th position of ‘Head Nurse’ Zero.”

Heda readily agreed; she had received specialized training in battlefield first aid and knew how to treat injuries such as sharp object wounds and burns, but she still squinted when she saw the scars on Fran's back.

Her skin was free of any external injuries, smooth and flawless like a finely glazed porcelain. But within her skin emanated a terrifying heat, a chaotic and raging fire of madness burning fiercely within her.

"The aftereffects of becoming the King of Mad Fire?"

Haida has recovered most of her memories of the border region, but some minor details are still blurry.

“That’s right, these are the marks of the madness. The external wounds have been treated under the pressure of the needles, but it’s still burning my spirit inside. It will probably take several months to heal naturally… but with medication, only one course of treatment is needed.”

Under Fran's guidance, Haida applied the medicine evenly to her palms and then began to gently stroke the burned areas on her back.

As the cool, slippery medicinal liquid seeped into the skin, the restless, frenzied fire gradually subsided, turning into rising smoke.

Fran's expression was not pained, but it also lacked his usual business smile; it was merely a calm, unwavering demeanor.

"The discomfort and rejection are very strong, so the King of Mad Fire's ritual can be categorized as 'high-risk.' However, it's not a gene-based drug, so putting it into production would probably be quite difficult..."

She put on her close-fitting undergarments, then buttoned up the collar of her blazer again, and her breathing gradually calmed down.

"How is Sister Haida's schedule lately? Is she busy?"

"It's very relaxing. After confirming that the servant Yates was dead, the Order began the cleanup process. Most of the combat personnel have already entered a period of rest and recuperation. I have a two-week vacation."

Although Haida didn't understand why she asked the question, she still gave a well-organized answer.

Fran stroked his chin, seemingly pondering how to arrange his time in July.

"Would you be interested in staying at the Foggy Street Clinic during this time? I'll teach you some basic knowledge that a 'head nurse' needs to know..."

“…Dr. Fran, I remember our employment relationship was temporary.”

Heda's expression was rather subtle as she pondered whether she should accept Fran's formal job offer.

"Hmm~ Although the treatment is over, I'm very satisfied with Sister Haida's performance during her probationary period. These days, it's hard to find a head nurse who is proficient in both cold and firearms and arcane arts, and possesses such excellent battlefield mobility..."

“Of course, dear Sister Haida, I have no intention of poaching anyone from the Order of the Mysteries. However… I hope our employment contract can be extended.”

"I won't interfere with your freedom, but I'll invite you to some house calls, how about that?"

"……Can."

After a moment's hesitation and a rapid internal struggle, Haida agreed to Fran's offer.

"That's great."

Fran expertly retrieved a sheet of paper with the treaty already written on it and a quill pen from under the coffee table counter and eagerly handed them to Heda.

"The simplest form of employment contract. If you're not comfortable with it, you can prepare paper and pen to make a copy yourself, but let me state in advance... As a doctor, I personally disdain using the despicable methods of tampering with contracts like those of the Abyss Demons."

Even so, Haida still carefully reviewed the contract and only signed it after confirming that everything was correct. Reasonable caution is a matter of proper etiquette.

"Alright. So... what exactly are the 'common sense' that a head nurse should have?"

Putting down her pen and paper, Haida looked solemnly at Fran.

The doctor, suppressing a smile, blinked slightly his pale, frosty eyelashes, a smug expression on his face.

"Let's start with the 'transcending boundaries' effect. I recommend one of my books, *Passing Through the Silver Key Gate*... After reading it, I will explain the specific principles of crossing boundaries to you."

She stood before the enormous wooden bookshelf, introducing her collection of books with great familiarity, carrying a pure joy in sharing her reading with others.

"Also, I have the original copies of the four Skin-Based Texts of the Crimson Cup. They are 'The Crimson Face,' 'Transformation of Mortals into White Bones,' 'Satiated Desire for Flesh,' and 'The Blood of Ascension.' After reading them, you will understand why you were able to harm that divine servant back then..."

Haida pursed her lips, genuinely feeling excitement... and nervousness.

Although she has consistently achieved near-perfect grades in all her courses since childhood, the "common sense" that this doctor is about to teach her will likely be the most challenging lesson of her academic career.

-

Taking advantage of her rare free time, Vivian came to Norlington South.

Although the main city experienced a blood rain phenomenon and the descent of the Crimson Cup God's servants, everything returned to tranquility amidst the thick fog and the shimmering, deep starlight.

Due to the extremely low visibility at the time, the Secret Service was unable to obtain any eyewitness accounts of the perpetrator. This greatly angered the Silver Hydra Supervisor, who complained about the Chief Hunter almost nonstop.

But that attack was truly too shocking, like the wrath of a real god. So much so that the White Cup Order and the Secret Court have been working overtime like crazy these past few days, sparing no expense to try and uncover the identity of this spellcaster... but ultimately to no avail.

Vivian, on the other hand, was able to escape from the overtime hell because she and Haida were in the same team and both belonged to the Funeral Court.

She walked into a small but exceptionally clean bookstore and began browsing newly released novels.

The bookstore owner, who was taking a nap with his eyes closed by the cashier, slowly opened his droopy eyelids when he heard the sound of customers moving around.

"Little Vivian is here? These past few days have been unsettling. There was a terrorist attack in the main city this morning, and quite a few people died... Sigh, you must be very careful while working for the Hunter's Order."

Vivian forced a smile and comforted the worried old man.

"Grandpa Will, don't worry. I'm just a regular clerk. My work is all within the cult, there's no safer place than that."

"That's good, that's good. Take a look at any books you like... If you want to buy something, just put the money in the counter; you know the prices better than I do."

Will seemed to be in poor spirits; older people tend to sleep less and are always in low spirits.

"By the way, Grandpa Will, has the second part of 'Midnight Hospital, Me and Three Nurses' been released yet? I haven't seen it; it should be a new book..."

Vivian glanced at the bookshelf again and asked Will with some confusion.

"We sold almost all of them a couple of days ago, maybe they're sold out?"

Will scratched his graying temples, then grinned, opened a drawer, and handed Vivian a brand-new, unopened book.

"However, Little Vivian bought the first part from me, so I kept a copy..."

"Thank you, Grandpa Will!"

Vivian paid and thanked him before leaving Old Will's bookstore with the book in her hand, like a child who had just received a gift and couldn't wait to open it.

The old man watched her departing figure, shook his head, and sighed with a smile.

"Vivian is a good girl...it would be better if her taste in books were more normal."

-

Deep within the sewers of the South District, a humanoid figure forged from pure blood surveyed the appalling environment teeming with rats and mosquitoes with an expressionless face, and clicked its tongue in disapproval.

He is Yates, the "servant of the cup," but... he is the other half.

Why are those high priests of the Red Cup so eager to split themselves apart? Clearly, there's little benefit to it other than weakening themselves… that's the reason. A sacrifice of division summons a messenger of division.

"That half of 'me' was actually killed by a mortal? What an idiot... Even the chief hunter, Yaheng, didn't lift a finger."

Why did only the Hunter's Headquarters in the main city appear, while the Norlington Central Museum remained calm? The answer is obvious... because his other half chose to hide and lie dormant.

He wants to wait until he is fully familiar with reality and the material world before he goes to carry out God's will.

His other half was so arrogant and unrestrained not because he was a servant of the gods, nor because he was a "drinker" who had risen from mortal to immortality. Rather, it was because... that was the image he was required to portray in his plan.

He knew all too well that he was not a close advisor to the gods, but merely a servant who could be abandoned at any moment.

“I need more spiritually rich flesh and blood to nourish this frail physical body. When the Lord’s command comes, I will offer the grandest feast for this…”

"Tap, tap, tap."

The faint sound of hunting boots clapping suddenly echoed from deep within the sewer pipes.

"Mortal descendant, I told you not to bother me. Or... have you prepared a worthy sacrifice?"

"I'm sorry, he probably can't reply to you."

Yates looked toward the source of the sound and saw a head, its expression one of disbelief, roll out of the shadows to his feet.

"It's you? The Hunter of the Secrets, Aheng Moira..."

"It is I." A cold, icy voice, like the surging tide of the deep sea, rang in Yates's ears, almost touching.

At the same time, an ominous scythe, forged in shadow, was closing in on his neck.

Yates' body liquefied instantly, avoiding the fatal cut, and then solidified on the other side.

"Mortal, do you really think you can kill me one-on-one? Do you really think... that relic imbued with death alone will allow you to defeat the 'Servant in the Cup'? Arrogant and foolish lower-world creature..."