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Normally, Luya would choose to run away or retreat when encountering ant-like contamination, but the reason she mustered the courage to confront it head-on today was largely due to Dr. Fran in front of her.
The skeleton, born from the curse of the skinner, slightly opened and closed its upper and lower jaws, uttering a series of insane and meaningless babbling.
"Ha... cowards who fear death..."
"Throughout eternity, I will project my deepest fears upon you and all your kind. I am Landugor, I am hunger, I am the skinner... From this moment on, you are too!"
In another instant, its voice took on a strange feminine tone, only more faint and ethereal.
“I must obtain the dream…it is my salvation, and the last key to freeing me from the worm stain…”
It struggled frantically, causing the pure white light wielded by Luyala to fluctuate violently, showing signs of instability.
From these fleeting words, Fran keenly gleaned some of the secrets between the gods.
Is this why the ants are chasing Luyala to escape the Worms?
The sound of her murmuring, which was barely audible to most people, would only cause them mental distress, but she was able to organize and distinguish its contents in a coherent manner.
However, the current situation did not allow her to continue listening. The frost-like light on Luya's body began to become disordered, as if it was about to reach its limit.
But that doesn't matter, Fran called out to Luara... just to restrain this troublesome curse.
The one who truly fights directly against illness is always the patient themselves...
"Take a deep breath, I'm about to begin the final treatment."
Fran held the ant-like skull's head in his hands, letting the ants bite his palms without loosening his grip.
The next moment, a blazing, chaotic fire of madness erupted from her palm!
The flames intensified the burning of the already shattered remains of the skeleton. In a desperate struggle from which there was no escape, the contamination of the Ant Scale Gate and the curse of the Skinner were reduced to golden-red ashes in the flames.
The mark of madness has left Fran; the flames she wields now are the "madness" that has been rediscovered within her own personality...
That is chaos capable of destroying all forms of thought, and destruction that leads everything to collapse.
Fran maintained his pincer movement, as if he wanted to drown the person in front of him, along with his memories of the day, in the blazing fire.
Five... It wasn't until Luya licked the burn marks on her hands that the fervor gradually subsided.
[Foggy Street Doctor Fran Hesser's "Skinner's Curse" has been cleansed. February's monthly house call is complete, Completion: S. Your next crossover house call will trigger at the end of the next quarter.]
[This consultation fee: Unknown biotechnology x1. (Excellent quality. Unidentified)]
Liufran let out a soft sigh, dispelling the pent-up frustration in his lungs, and then patted Luyara's head in encouragement.
"Well done, Luyala, thank you for your hard work."
4. "It just so happens that my research project this quarter is related to you... You can look forward to it, right?"
Luya stretched out her pink tongue and licked her moist lips, then tilted her head and blinked.
"Huh?"
She took a small step back. Although she didn't know what the doctor in front of her was going to do, a bad feeling still rose in her heart...
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Material Body
Norlington Central College, Principal's Office.
Grantham puffed on his briar pipe, examining a paper manuscript placed on the table.
He was so focused and absorbed that he didn't even take a sip of the black coffee "Xunfeng" that was placed to the side, which had completely gone cold.
"Dr. Fran not only has a thorough understanding of the fundamental flaws of the human body since ancient times, but she can also propose corresponding optimization solutions. Such profound academic knowledge, it's just a pity she wasn't a follower of the great pioneers..."
"Otherwise, I would even like to hand over the principal's position to her and let her enjoy her retirement..."
With a sigh that sounded almost regretful, Grantham rubbed his temples before reluctantly putting down the manuscript containing the information about the [Lareman Organs].
At this moment, he had written dozens of pages of thick notes and annotations, as if he had returned to his student days.
"Are there any hidden dangers in the bio-alchemy plan she proposed?"
Terence, standing to the side, asked with a hint of doubt.
He was a history professor whose main areas of expertise were cryptanalysis and mechanical engineering. His knowledge of alchemy was only superficial, and all his medical knowledge came from his early experience as a battlefield medic.
Harboring the most basic caution of a Tantric disciple, he had an instinctive distrust of anything that would be implanted in the body.
Grantham drank half a cup of coffee that was already past its optimal temperature, and then gave his opinion.
"Currently, apart from the possibility of malignant rejection during surgery, the organ does not pose any additional risks after implantation."
"Let the professors in the Alchemy Department try organ cultivation first. As for biological experiments, we can try them gradually later."
In his youth, he was a well-known research fanatic in the entire White Cup Cult, and the more taboo a project was, the more interested he became.
If it weren't for the principal's responsibility to the students and faculty, this guy wouldn't actually care about safety issues at all...
Soon, Grantham thought of a new problem.
"By the way, would she be willing to have an honorary professorship at the college?"
"After finishing her lecture, she excused herself to go to the restroom and then disappeared from the council chamber. I didn't get a chance to talk to her about it alone."
Terence gave a factual account of what happened during the seminar.
This doctor's habit of coming and going without a trace is quite in line with her mysterious and unpredictable identity. She arrives with high spirits and leaves when her interest wanes.
Although Si left quietly, she saved the White Cup Order some trouble with disguise.
Fran used the identity of an envoy of the Star Abyss Society at the seminar, but in reality, the Star Abyss Society did not participate at all.
The Six Goods sect is located far away in Gormouth, in a chaotic and remote place.
Even if some people want to delve deeper into Dr. Fran's identity, they will likely find it difficult to find anyone to ask.
However, if she attends the subsequent banquet, she will inevitably be courted and tested by other esoteric sect members, which will increase the workload for the White Cup Cult in maintaining their lie...
"I see... I'll ask again next time."
Grantham stroked his beard, looking rather regretful, as if he hadn't given up on the matter.
Terence narrowed his eyes and raised a new question, causing the headmaster to briefly overlook his appreciation for talent.
"Principal, there's something that's bothering me."
"The payment this time was collected by Sister Haida on our behalf. But when we inquired about the required materials for nurturing the spirit, the two she suggested were quite obscure. They were the gray hair of the 'Siren' and the conical gray teeth of the 'Abyssal Clan'... Is there anything special about them?"
Grantham seemed to have given this some thought and was not surprised by the question he raised.
"The God of Hunting ascends to the final stage from the ashes of the Dust Order. Therefore, it is not surprising that the secret arts and rituals under the Hunting Mysteries system use spiritually imbued ash matter as a medium."
"But the siren and the Abyss Clan are almost extinct, and even our reserves are empty. If I'm not mistaken, they're probably meant for studying some kind of ancient secret technique..."
At this point, he sighed again with some regret.
"As a result, we obtained a biotechnology for only 800 standard silver coins. A gesture of goodwill turned into an indebted favor."
"Oh, wait."
At this point, he tapped his briar pipe to make the tobacco more compact.
"Next, your History Department will be heading to the Library Ruins with the Sons of Suki. I think that doctor will also be interested in it."
"what do you mean……"
Terence glanced at Grantham, who seemed lost in thought, and narrowed his eyes with a hint of worry.
-
As dawn broke, a damp mist accompanied the fine snow, carrying a slight chill.
Overnight, a thin layer of white frost formed in front of the clinic.
Sigrid, holding a broom, diligently swept the sparse snowfall beside the clinic.
But in fact, if she just stands by the door for a short while, the surrounding snow will melt quickly.
Similarly, Fran would sometimes have her stand for a while next to the clothes waiting to be dried. This not only sped up the drying process but also gave the clothes a "scent of sunshine"... This skill was unique to this family and something that ordinary maids could neither do nor learn.
As the snow melted, she saw a tall and familiar figure walking out of the misty path. She was wearing a fleece-lined, fitted nun's robe and a finely tailored black scarf around her neck.
Sister Heda.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two went inside the clinic. Sigrid also casually changed the wooden sign on the door to the "Open for Business" side.
Not finding Fran in the main hall of the clinic, Heida asked Sigrid about her whereabouts.
Is Dr. Fran still resting? How is her condition?
Sigrid expertly brewed her a cup of winter bud tea, and amidst the rising steam, she explained Fran's current situation.
"The doctor got up very early today and is still in the operating room. As for the Skinner's Curse... it's healed now."
"I see."
Haida nodded slightly, and a vague worry in her heart quietly subsided.
During a previous conversation with Fran, she learned that the "Star God" was a personification of the universe's rules, possessing infinite energy and carrying certain rule-like properties. Such an existence... even a tiny trace of its lingering spirit would be incredibly dangerous.
But she was able to return to her research the very next day, so she must have recovered completely.
"Hmm... Dr. Fran has instructed that if Sister Heda comes to the clinic, she can visit her new research for this quarter. Please come with me."
With that, Sigrid walked towards the corridor. Heda followed obediently behind, and they entered the operating room.
In addition to its primary function of performing surgical procedures, Fran's operating room also serves many other purposes afterward.
For example, the dismantling of rewards, the destruction of hazardous materials, and the processing of raw materials... In fact, it is equivalent to a small alchemy workshop with the highest configuration.
After passing through the isolation passage and knocking on the door, Haida's first sight was several pale female bodies and the remains of some animals.
They were neatly displayed on the display stand, looking distorted and bizarre. Perhaps their bone structure was scattered, or perhaps their organs were external, like flawed products with errors in their birth stage.
She could even hear the sound of a circular saw turning, intense and loud.
Biological experiments?
Haida's eyes narrowed, and her brows furrowed immediately.
She was nearly used as a subject by the alchemist Commons when she was young, so she has an almost natural aversion to such biological experiments. Although it's not exactly traumatic stress, it's enough to make her uncomfortable.
"This one also failed... Is there something wrong with my design concept?"
Fran muttered to himself with some doubt, raising his hand to attach a fair and slender arm to his body.
Immediately, the back of her hand flashed with the light of the alchemical program [Melting Bones and Blood], and her previously disparate bodies were thus joined together.
The next moment, this once perfect body began to mutate and become alien. Facial features were chaotically mixed together, and molten bone and flesh splattered, landing on her white coat and cheeks.
Haida watched this scene and asked in a low voice.
"Dr. Fran... what are you doing?"
"Haidah, you've arrived?"
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Fran slowly turned around, a slight smile playing on her lips.
If you ignore the still-warm blood and bone fragments on her cheeks, the scene is actually quite endearing...
Fran didn't answer Heida's question directly, but instead took her hand and led her to the experimental table. He also made sure Sigrid came over to observe the procedure, like a medical professor giving an anatomy lesson.
"I've recently been thinking of creating a body for Luyala that can move around in the material world, but the precision of bio-alchemy is somewhat difficult to control. The defect rate is very high, and the stability of the finished product is also very worrying."
Her eyebrows were slightly lowered, and a hint of regret flashed in her amber eyes, but she was not discouraged.
"So, these people are..."
Haida looked at the human samples waiting to be used and already had a general idea in her mind.
"I made the 'prayer hand' using cloning technology in my early years."
Upon hearing Fran's explanation, she realized that the size and appearance of those women's bodies were quite similar to the doctor's.
"It was originally intended to be used after the body showed obvious signs of aging. However, before aging arrived, the first type of immortality had already been solved... so these stored materials became useless."
"Let's make the best use of them and assemble a physical body for Luyala."
In her philosophy, the first type of immortality refers to not dying naturally due to lifespan limitations.
The second type involves avoiding physical aging by constantly replacing the body shell. However, the latter process is complicated and risky, so it is only used as an emergency alternative.
"I see."