The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

Fran gently stroked the soft downy hair on Luya's neck to soothe her. Although her movements were gentle and delicate, Luya still showed signs of pain.

"...There are things moving inside the skin, and quite a few of them. They are probably under the free dermis and attached to the fascia."

She sensed something amiss during the palpation, and her gaze turned serious. But along with this rose a fierce and intense excitement…

Fran had always regretted not having studied Luyara's body structure more thoroughly back then... After all, mythical creatures still active in the material world are really rare these days.

"Hmm... Based on my experience last time, I should be in a dream right now."

Fran looked around the main hall and found that Heda and Sigrid had both disappeared. The entire Fog Street Clinic was quiet and desolate, with only the two of them, a man and a deer, remaining.

"Sure enough."

She was very interested in this ability to enter dreams without warning.

This fawn almost completely bypassed the immunity of mental power, pulling itself into a dream in an instant that was imperceptible to most. This had already transcended the realm of ordinary abilities of mythical creatures…

"Let's start treatment. Your condition is not very good... If it were any other doctor, they would be preparing to issue a critical condition notice by now."

Luyala's body was covered in gruesome wounds, like corrosion or biting. Thick, black blood stained her once soft, smooth fur, leaving behind many scar-like clumps.

Fran carried her into the operating room, and with a clasp of his hands, a faint, clear light of "dispelling dust and impurities" immediately spread out.

"The difficulty of the surgery is similar to removing the Crimson Corruption from the Fragment Kings in the Borderlands, but back then we could use Runes to assist in the treatment... However, now I have the home-field advantage."

The scalpel's mirror-like blade sliced ​​through Luyala's skin without any resistance, and what gushed out was not blood or purulent tissue fluid... but a rapidly writhing, living contaminant.

In the blink of an eye, it climbed onto Fran's palm like a malignant tumor.

"I never imagined I'd be attacked by the same pollution twice... and even during the treatment of the same patient. Oh, I mean, a sick deer."

The jet-black contaminant almost instantly pierced Fran's skin, quickly seeping in and then crawling through his muscles... It was a dense swarm of ants.

"...Being in such a hurry to enter someone else's body isn't a good habit, you know. You need to be patient and take it step by step..."

Fran remained calm, and even as the excruciating pain surged from his fingertips to his brain, the faint smile on his lips did not waver.

A blazing, chaotic fire of madness erupted from her blood and veins, instantly engulfing the swarm of ants formed from the pollution. An explosive burst followed, spreading and pure, manic flames surging into Luyala's body along with the pollution.

Fran also took this opportunity to further the separation of the contaminants, and incidentally treated the new burns on her body...

The last swarming black ant was crushed on a fingertip, and the strange scent of the ant's acidic fluid spread out.

Fran breathed a slight sigh of relief and announced that the surgery had been successful again. However, Luara was currently very weak and could not leave directly as before.

This is probably due to the burns from the epileptic fire... but given her condition, it's a medical miracle she survived. There's nothing more to ask for.

Luya breathed heavily, a few dried tear tracks around her glassy eyes. Unable to be hypnotized or anesthetized, she could only remain conscious as Fran peeled her open and sewed her back up…

"Hey?" she chirped softly.

"So you can make a deer's call..."

Fran, leaning against the operating table, stroked the fawn's face, and the fawn then stuck out its tongue and gently licked her palm.

Luya slowly and wearily closed her eyes, and the surrounding scenery blurred and dissipated... A strong sense of loss came again.

……

Fran suddenly opened her deep amber-gold eyes and found Heda and Sigrid looking at her with concern and confusion.

Sigrid breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Fran wake up. She took Fran's wounded hand in her hands, seemingly wanting to bandage it... but then suddenly remembered that she knew nothing about it.

"Dr. Fran! What's wrong? I thought you were resting on the sofa, but suddenly black contamination and flames are gushing from your hands..."

Heda knew that conventional medical treatment would not be effective, so she chose to observe first and did not rashly wake Fran.

"Has the mark of the Mad Fire gone out of control?"

"Actually, no, the specific situation is a bit complicated. How should I explain it..."

Fran blinked, seemingly unsure where to begin.

Chapter 51 The Silent Secrets (Revised)

"I just helped a lovely patient in my dream, but her condition was a bit serious... This caused some phenomena from the dream to manifest in reality."

Fran's hands, which were already covered in stitches, were now even more scarred.

The scorching marks from the raging fire, mixed with the bites from the living contaminants, nearly hollowed out the skin and flesh of her four metacarpal bones, exposing the pale veins that hung sparsely on them. It was almost to the point that just looking at it would give her nightmares.

"Looks like my cooking plans for today will have to be put on hold, what a shame. I was planning to roast the new pigeon I just bought..."

"The patient in the dream?"

Sigrid was somewhat surprised by the wide range of patients Fran accepted, that he could even make house calls while in a dream... while Heda remained calm, already used to it.

Her previous trip to the border region had greatly raised her acceptance threshold.

After witnessing the fragmented king who possessed the shards of law, the moon princess who walked towards the dark stars, and the god who reawakened humanity from the recovered destiny... healing patients in dreams suddenly became commonplace and reasonable.

"It's just some minor external injury; I can treat it myself. There's no need to worry."

Before he finished speaking, the complex wounds on Fran's hands had already begun to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Muscle fibers clung to the exposed bone, growing and twisting like the new shoots of a young willow. Layers of skin and muscle membranes overlapped, eventually covering all the missing parts.

"...I haven't even started bandaging yet."

Fran noticed that Heda and Sigrid were watching him, so he immediately raised his hands to prove his innocence and to indicate that he hadn't started yet.

"Was this a return gift from that 'patient'?"

Heda examined Fran's palm.

Her skin was fair and soft, and her fingers were long and slender. Apart from a few black sutures, there were no other signs of trauma.

“That’s right. Come to think of it, she did the same thing after she recovered last time.”

Fran clenched his fist slightly, feeling a slight stiffness. The newly formed nerves and muscles were still recovering, and their sensation was not very sensitive.

[The pollution originating from the Mother of Worms has been cleansed from 'Lura the Glass Deer'. This month's routine medical duties are complete, Completion Level: A. Your next monthly house call will be randomly triggered next month.]

[This consultation fee for the ninth time: 14 unknown biological raw materials (3 ordinary quality, 3 unidentified)] 0∵｜5:

[Your resolution change: Heterogeneity (32.5% → 33.5%)]

[Your Special Ability Change: Cleansing and Purification (Proficient Level. Level: 81% → 84%)]

Although Fran's hands no longer showed any visible wounds, she still carefully wrapped them in bandages to prevent the reactivated madness from accidentally leaking out. Under these circumstances, completing the task of cooking was clearly a stretch.

While Sigrid works as a maid at the Foggy Street Clinic, as a craftswoman, she's completely clueless about such matters. Every time she tries to cook, encouraged by Fran, it turns into coal refining…

Therefore, Heda ultimately had no choice but to take on the responsibility of cooking dinner.

Fortunately, as one of the most outstanding funeral maids among the hunters, she had some knowledge in many areas, and the food she made was not bad.

Fran himself, at least, quite misses this slightly home-style flavor...

……

As dusk settles, the hazy gray mist rises with the shimmering starlight, lingering under the warm, golden streetlights.

The fog-shrouded street remained as quiet and still as ever. No one knew where the streetlights got their electricity, nor where the moths that danced around the lights came from...

Just like this neighborhood that shouldn't exist, everything is shrouded in mystery.

Heda wrapped herself in a black, fitted nun's robe. August in Norlington was hot and humid, but the temperature on this street remained consistently low. Even in the height of summer, there was no sign of heat.

She skillfully stepped into the dust and mist at the end of the street corner, letting it envelop her.

Compared to when she arrived at the clinic this morning, she now carried a thick book of ashes under her arm, the very book "The Sayings of Silence".

Generally, Fran would not lend out his collection of books.

Some of the knowledge in the lost scriptures is indeed too dangerous, and if something goes wrong, she will have to clean up the mess in the end... She doesn't hate trouble and variables, but she doesn't like unnecessary complications.

There aren't many taboos in "The Silent Proverbs," and Haida is simultaneously the hunter of secrets and her own head nurse... She still has the privilege of borrowing this book.

However, while there are no dangerous and uncontrollable ancient rituals, the book does have many interesting aspects.

First, it records many practical secret techniques that the Order of the Mystics has lost; second... it records many secrets that can be considered dark history among the gods.

-

Norlington Central College, Principal Grantham's office.

"Terrence, what's your opinion on the incident involving the Sunforge branch?"

Grantham put down his newspaper and stroked his meticulously trimmed, pale beard. The man even had braids in his beard, which made him look even more like a wizard from the Middle Ages.

Professor Terence sat upright on the sofa, rubbing his eyes wearily.

Lately, so much has happened; the aftermath of the "Drinker's" arrival alone has already given them a huge headache. How could the Crimson Cup possibly bypass so many investigations and security measures to inscribe ritual prayers in the entire city's sewer system?

Who was that person who annihilated the drinker with a single, cold, black star strike? No, was he even human? Has he already left, or is he still hiding in Norrington?

In the midst of this busy period, the Sunforge Order vanished overnight...

It was a deeply entrenched and secretive sect, and even its branch had been operating in Norrington for at least sixty years.

Even if the "servant in the cup" who had previously touched upon divinity were sent on a night raid and massacre, at least a few survivors would be left. The entire population wouldn't be wiped out.

"The Secret Court and the Sunstone Order immediately joined forces to block the scene and the flow of information. Although we obtained some information through the city hall, it was mostly just speculation. What could I possibly believe? I'm a history professor, a refutationist of the White Cup, not a spy."

Terence picked up the whiskey with the spherical ice cubes on the table and replied irritably.

As the wine went down his throat, his agitation subsided slightly.

"Based on the information currently available, the incident involving the Sunforge Order is most likely endogenous. It was probably caused by the loss of control of some dangerous creation. The Department of Astronomy has ruled out the possibility that a large-scale 'Class I ritual' has been held recently."

Grantham paused slightly, his aged eyes revealing a complex expression.

The demise of behemoths usually doesn't come from direct confrontation or external invasion, but rather from silent self-destruction... This makes perfect sense.

“I had a premonition long ago that the split between the beliefs of ‘Sun Casting’ and ‘Primordial Sun’ would lead to irreparable and terrible consequences, but I never expected it to come true in this way.”

Terence then went on to explain his views, gradually moving from the surface of the events to the key points.

"According to intelligence obtained from city hall officials, Haida and the head of the Secret Court, Silver Feather Hydra, were the first to appear at the Sunforge Tower, even before the Sun Rider Somur. The Sunforge Order's permission for them to investigate first likely indicates some kind of agreement..."

"Both cults are now searching for a highly talented young craftswoman. Even if she is not the mastermind, she is deeply involved in this matter."

Grantham stroked his cane, letting out a soft sigh tinged with regret.

"I remember that child's name was Sigrid. I saw her at an academic conference a few years ago. Life is truly unpredictable..."

Terence then picked up the conversation.

"We don't yet know how Sister Haida handled this incident. However, judging from the attitudes of Somur and the Sunforge, they seem to be quite satisfied with the results of the Hunter's investigation."

"Given her impeccable resume, she'll probably be promoted to supervisor next year..."

“In addition to that… Dr. Fran was also present at the scene; she appears to be the first witness to the case.”

Grantham showed no surprise, clearly having known this all along.

"Perhaps it's a coincidence, or perhaps she really is connected to this matter in some way. But that's not something we should worry about... The only thing we should be concerned about, the Sunforge Order's headquarters, is looking completely calm. We can just wait and see."

After Terence mentioned the need to be wary of Fran, Grantham began investigating the doctor's background.

However, the outcome was naturally fruitless.

She was not among the licensed physicians registered in Norrington, and the name Fran Hesser could not be found in the White Cup intelligence network either; her existence seemed to have been fabricated out of thin air.

With the cover of the Secret Service, achieving this level of secrecy wouldn't be impossible. But who is worthy of such a level of confidentiality, and why does she seem so indifferent to it?

"Avoid provoking her unless absolutely necessary. Although this doctor behaves strangely, she has not shown any threat."

Grantham set the tone for the White Cup Order's contact with her.

After all, the other party might be the current "Medical Minister" of the Hunter's Order. If the investigation really leads back to her and they are discovered... that would be rather awkward.

Terence downed the whiskey in his glass in one gulp, his eyes flickering inexplicably.

"In some ways, Dr. Fran could even be considered 'friendly.' Of course, all of this was based on the premise that both sides maintained proper etiquette."

Fran seemed to have an innate quality that earned her the respect of others; she was always impeccably polite and treated people with gentleness and humility.

Most people either start to respect her upon meeting her, or they start to respect her when she cuts open someone's abdomen and neatly arranges the still-twitching organs...

“唉……比起8那位医生，5我们自己的麻7烦更值得6注意一6些。”3∏＆4∑∥4%∝2℃〔

Grantham sighed softly, then took a sip of bitter, rich black coffee, hoping to cheer himself up a little.

The complaint letters from the research and development department have nearly filled his desk in the past few days. Because of the Suncasting Cult incident, a large number of orders for instruments and precision parts have lost their suppliers.

Although the White Cup Order possesses self-production capabilities, this has significantly slowed down research and development efficiency, which is truly frustrating...