Chapter 101

“Where is the person?”

“This way, Professor!”

“Step aside, don’t crowd around… Where is the object?”

The professor arrived and headed straight toward Lucy’s direction. As he walked, his eyes inadvertently caught sight of a red-haired girl standing alone nearby, causing him to pause slightly.

She looked somewhat familiar… wasn’t she the girl he had seen when visiting his disciple Adelle? Why is she from the Tribunal… He remembered then…

Never mind… maybe he still had something to ask of her. Once things were settled, he would tell Adelle not to get too close to her.

The professor nodded slightly toward Xia’er, then knelt beside Lucy and began examining her severely fractured skull.

Xia’er looked up when she saw the professor preparing his tools. In the crowd, she noticed a male “Reformed Monk” from the Salvation Goddess Religion standing by.

Just then, their gazes met. The “Reformed Monk” quickly bowed his head and saluted Xia’er.

What the heck? Am I seeing things? Is that the plague god?

After several seconds, he cautiously raised his head and found the girl still looking at him, waving her hand in his direction.

A cold sweat trickled down his temple. He looked left and right, confirming it was indeed him being called, and carefully bypassed the “physicians,” heading towards Xia’er.

“Your Honor.”

The man deeply bowed his head, respectfully greeting Xia’er in a low voice.

“Watch over this Sealed Object until Lucy wakes up.”

Xia’er pointed at the gold coin on the ground.

Xia’er initially wanted to call a Derton Manor employee to watch over it, but after considering the perspective of a gambler, she abandoned the idea.

Who knows if some gambler might impulsively grab the Sealed Object when no one’s looking?

The Redemption Society’s “physician” couldn’t order anyone else, so he had to rely on someone from the Salvation Goddess Religion. After all, giving money to the “Reformed Monk” might just result in him spending it recklessly.

“Understood.”

The man sighed in relief.

It was just to keep an eye on an item.

He had been racking his brain wondering if he had made any mistakes, ready to plead his case later.

With someone watching over the Sealed Object, Xia’er moved forward, about four meters away, to observe Professor Ashford’s operation.

He poured a familiar green potion into Lucy’s mouth, its faint mint scent wafting to Xia’er’s nose.

It was definitely Adelle’s potion.

Stimulated by the potion, Lucy, who was semi-comatose, gradually regained consciousness. She opened her eyes and saw Professor Ashford’s face, trying to speak but failing to produce any sound.

“Your condition is severe, Lady Hilufa.”

Professor Ashford’s voice came from behind the silver raven mask. He continued, “Your brain has suffered irreversible damage… If I had arrived a few minutes later, you might have lost consciousness and been devoured by the potion.”

“You know the abilities of the ‘Newborns’… If you wish to live, look at me. If you don’t want treatment, close your eyes.”

The Underground Sanctuary was almost empty, leaving only the parties involved, a few assistants, and the “Reformed Monk” watching the Sealed Object. It was eerily quiet inside.

Lucy remained silent, staring unblinkingly at Professor Ashford until her eyes felt sore and dry.

“I understand.”

Professor Ashford nodded and motioned to an assistant.

The assistant “physician” opened a black leather square tool box. Xia’er noticed that the box seemed to be made of extraordinary materials, though she wasn’t sure if it was a Sealed Object.

From Xia’er’s angle, she couldn’t see what was inside the box, but she could see the professor’s white-gloved hands reaching in, grabbing something.

“Roar——!”

A strange howl came from the box, followed by a violent scream. The tearing sound was like someone dragging a chisel across a chalkboard, making Xia’er’s scalp tingle.

After a moment, Xia’er realized the buzzing wail seemed to originate from her own mind.

She held her breath, but everyone else appeared unaffected… Could it be fear?

From the box?

Professor Ashford slowly withdrew his hand from the box.

The originally pure white cotton gloves were now stained with purple-red unknown fluid. In his hand, he held a bizarre, marble-sized yellow-green eyeball with three purple pupils.

“Lady Hilufa, you are not suitable for a paralyzing potion right now. I gave you a high-quality stimulant made by my student earlier; it will keep you awake but amplify your senses… Please bear with it.”

Professor Ashford finished speaking, using two instruments to pry open Lucy’s eyelids. Two assistants helped hold the instruments steady.

Then, the professor picked up a sharp scalpel and slowly sliced downward, making a precise cut from top to bottom.

Blood-stained aqueous humor and vitreous fluid flowed from Lucy’s eye opening. The professor inserted the eyeball, roughly the size of a marble, into the wound.

The tendrils beneath the eyeball seemed to come alive, wriggling into the slit.

“Ugh!!!!”

Whatever pain caused Lucy’s veins to bulge, her hands clenched tightly onto the white bedsheet, which was already torn by her own strength.

Professor Ashford worked swiftly and professionally.

He quickly took out some skin fragments with unknown spots, covered in legs and brain-like patterns, along with various unidentified monster remains from the tool box. He began sewing them onto Lucy’s face or directly inserting them into the cracks in her skull.

This scene made Xia’er feel dry-mouthed, instinctively crossing her arms.

No way? Are all you people in this path performing surgeries like this?

“Newborns”… Are you really changing her race?

If she really lived with such a face… it would barely count as living, let alone the potential side effects.

Approximately ten minutes later, the surgery ended.

Lying on the ground, Lucy was completely unconscious. On her face, countless indescribable “objects” writhed wildly, even her skin losing its original color.

Clearly, the surgery was performed on her head, but the blood and flesh underneath her black formal wear were exposed.

The creature began to stir, as if undergoing some transformation of life.

All the other “physicians” had turned their heads away, unable to look directly, and even the “reformed monk” behind Xia’er had turned around, starting to silently recite prayers.

Professor Ashford, who had been kneeling half-kneeling, slowly stood up, took a deep breath, and then turned back towards Xia’er’s direction.

“Did you call me here, sir?”

Professor Ashford took a few steps towards Xia’er and said, “The ‘treatment’ is complete; how much impact she can withstand from the potions… depends on herself.”

“Hmm.”

Xia’er nodded and said, “Once she wakes up, I will have her send the money to you, triple the amount.”

“Haha…”

Professor Ashford shook his head with a smile and said, “It’s rare to have the opportunity to complete the ‘Replication Ritual,’ so I’ll just take the material fee. Thank you, Miss Xia’er, for giving me this chance.”

After saying that, Professor Ashford turned back to instruct the other “physicians” to leave, including the “reformed monk” behind Xia’er.

Soon, the entire underground sanctuary was left with the unconscious Lucy, standing opposite Xia’er and Professor Ashford.

“I often hear about you from Adelle, Miss Xia’er. Please don’t mind me calling you by your name directly,”

Professor Ashford removed the silver crow mask from his face and said, “I haven’t formally introduced myself yet. My name is Ashford, a professor from the Redemption Society.”

The old man under the silver crow mask looked surprisingly ordinary.

His hair was completely bald, with a tuft of white mustache on his upper lip. His face had several dark spots, and if he were walking on the street, Xia’er might mistake him for an ordinary old man.

However, something seemed to be protruding from under his bald head, looking like an abnormally grown bone, almost ready to break through the skin.

“Xia’er, assistant to Aivana Russell.”

Xia’er nodded without saying much.

After all, she didn’t seem to have any introductions to make.

Hearing Xia’er’s introduction, Professor Ashford paused for a moment, then awkwardly smiled and said, “Haha… Sir, you are indeed humorous.”

Xia’er remained silent, waiting for the other party to bring up the topic.

He was a third-tier “novice reborn” from the Redemption Society, and his respectful attitude toward her now probably meant he needed something from her.

“Actually, I did come over for a reason.”

Through a few exchanges, Professor Ashford had roughly gauged the young girl’s personality.

She was straightforward, and when dealing with such people, one only needs to state their needs; whether or not it would succeed depended on the other person’s own thoughts.

“You should have heard about it. It’s quite embarrassing, but I am Xie Lun’s mentor…”

Professor Ashford shook his head helplessly and said, “I’ve always been preoccupied with new research, neglecting the guidance of my disciples, which led to such consequences. I bear some responsibility for what happened.”

“This time, I came specially for a matter.”

At this point, Professor Ashford paused, but he couldn’t discern what Xia’er was thinking from her expression, so he continued, “I want you to persuade Adelle to return to the Redemption Society.”

Seemingly worried that Xia’er wouldn’t agree, he immediately explained:

“Adelle has extraordinary talent in medicine, especially alchemy. If she stays in the Redemption Society, her talents can be better utilized.”

“Moreover, in the Redemption Society, her safety can be better protected… Didn’t you see in her spiritual notes that she wanted to investigate Adelle? If she returns to An Su with me, she will get more protection and also benefit her academic research.”

“If you’re willing to help me with this, after Adelle returns to the Redemption Society, I will pay you 2000 Su Pounds and do you a favor. What do you think?”

2000 Su Pounds plus a favor from a third-tier Extraordinary Person?

It sounded like a good deal.

But Xia’er only shook her head and said, “Unfortunately, Mr. Ashford, Adelle’s decision is entirely up to her. I have no reason and no right to interfere.”

Upon hearing Xia’er’s response, Professor Ashford took a deep breath and after a long pause, said, “Then I apologize for disturbing you. Lucifer will likely wake up soon. If there are any follow-up treatment issues, feel free to find me for a follow-up visit. I should still be in Borough City for some time.”

Professor Ashford put on his mask again and turned to walk down the dark passage, sighing inwardly.

Why are the friends Adelle makes so difficult to communicate with?

The Miss Russell doesn’t need to be mentioned; she’s as cold as ice and shows no interest in Su Pounds at all.

2000 Su Pounds! That’s enough to buy a country villa or a spacious house in the center of An Su.

Not to mention the favor.

But both of them seem indifferent to this sum of money. Their casual attitude made Professor Ashford wonder when his favors became so worthless.

Am I still a third-tier Extraordinary Person?

Professor Ashford quickly disappeared into the dark passage.

The entire underground sanctuary was left with Xia’er and the unconscious Lucy.

Xia’er lowered her head, recalling Professor Ashford’s words.

It seemed that the main purpose of this professor’s visit was to persuade Adelle to return to the Redemption Society. Could it be that the higher-ups in the Redemption Society saw potential in Adelle?

And in the notebook, there were also records of Professor Ashford seeking out Adelle. It was likely unrelated to his misfortune… but why does the simulated self encounter disasters immediately after meeting him?

Is it not about who one encounters…

But rather…

“Establishing contact with Extraordinary Persons”?

Xia’er quickly recalled the mind map she had drawn in the inn earlier and compared each item. A clearer thread emerged in front of her eyes.

Nearly every disaster she encountered before had some connection with different Extraordinary Persons in some way.

When interacting with Aivana and others, it was just minor troubles, but when dealing with higher-tier individuals, the disasters seemed to intensify?

If this line of thought was correct, most of the disasters could be accounted for.

Could it be that encountering Extraordinary Persons brings bad luck?

Had this ever happened before?

Xia’er’s thoughts hit a dead end.

Just then, a soft cough echoed. Xia’er looked down at the direction where Lucy lay, seeing her slowly open her eyes and then painfully raise her hand to cover her head.

“Gurgle…”

She let out a gurgling sound, as if drowning, as if something was stuck in her throat.