The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

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That being said, Fran had serious doubts about whether the contents of this technical manual from Gosnik could be used on humans... After all, not everyone is like the orcs, who reproduce with large fungi that reproduce through spores and possess an outrageously tenacious vitality.

The same level of surgical intensity, when applied to a human... would likely directly eliminate their vital signs from a physical perspective.

However, Gosnik had captured and meticulously and cruelly dismantled a former Space Marine of the Silver Templar Chapter, and Fran was quite interested in this information.

The reason she didn't complete the remaining modification surgeries for Haida was mainly because she was waiting for the recovery and accumulation of biotechnology.

Whether ordinary Space Marines or Primitive Forged, there exists an insurmountable "upper limit," an inherent chasm in terms of life level and form. This represents whether an individual can truly grasp the essence of the warp and psionic energy.

What she wants to do is to create the true prototype herself, just like Fabius Bayer, the master of cloning.

Fran currently lacks crucial academic materials and resources, and most of his previous knowledge has been lost in the self-splitting experiments. Therefore, restarting the "Primarchitecturalization" project requires sufficient preparation time.

Fortunately, this doctor was never short of patience and had plenty of time.

-

Abyss Sea, Sulan Bay, Leviathan.

In the captain's cabin, which is inlaid with many ecological water tanks, Captain Niflough is surrounded by a variety of marine creatures being raised, and he is smoking a meerschaum pipe with great interest.

He was holding a newspaper in his hand; it was the "Foy Evening Post" from the Foy Daily News.

"Hey, Utus, it seems you guys have made quite a mess in that godforsaken place of Morion, managing to provoke both the Star Abyss Society and the Royal Court. You're all acting like wildcats that've been kicked in the ass."

“Those self-important fools are very concerned about putting on an act... If their core interests hadn't been threatened, they probably would have only been preparing to act in secret. But now they don't even bother to hide it anymore, as if they don't care at all that their abnormality will cause tension in the situation.”

Nifl put down the newspaper with the headline "Royal Court Decides to Reclaim Morion Within Two Years," and then turned his gaze to Professor Utus, who was sitting beside him. Clearly, his mention of this was more of a veiled hint.

Since returning from Morion, this kid hasn't given me any detailed updates, only a brief overview of the situation, like he'd been subjected to some kind of shock. Of course, his mental state isn't the problem; he'd probably just seen something incredible.

Having spent so many years on this cursed sea, even the ghost ship of Heyle wasn't the first time I'd seen it. What on earth could it have seen that could elicit such a strong reaction from this tough, spinning-top-like kid?

No way, even if it costs me my bottle of Farrar amber rum, I have to get the truth out of him.

"Captain, please don't get too agitated about what I'm about to say."

Sensing that the time was right, Utus decided not to remain silent any longer. Of course, if the oceanography professor knew that the old captain intended to bribe him with his own prized wine, which he himself hadn't even dared to drink, he would probably regret responding so readily.

"Tch, I've seen more deep-sea storms in my entire life than you've actually caught a fish. What could possibly excite me?"

That being said, Utus’s solemn demeanor and tone did indeed arouse Nifl’s curiosity.

After a few breaths, Utus carefully recounted what he had witnessed in the fallen city.

“He is a living ‘Heir nobleman’.”

"cough!"

Upon hearing this, Niflü coughed violently several times, nearly dropping his meerschaum pipe. Ignoring his nearly singed beard, he almost immediately continued asking the question.

"Heyir, a nobleman, and still alive? Are you sure?"

“I saw with my own eyes that she used her own tassels as the vessel for the Mercury String, and I heard with my own ears that she chanted the ‘Elegy of the Coffin’ from the Deep Sea Scripture. And although I did not witness the entire battle, she did kill the Gardener’s Gland after Karmion’s upgrade.”

Given his professionalism as a professor of oceanography, Utus gave an extremely detailed and undeniable answer.

"There really are still nobles in the world..."

Nifl knew that Utus wouldn't lie to him, and the reason he verified again was simply to obtain more information.

This made him feel inexplicably disoriented... He had wandered for countless years in the Abyss and the former land of Heil, searching for survivors of the war of destruction, but he had never found anything, and even the city-state of the sea ridge had disappeared without a trace.

And yet, when he had no hope whatsoever, a living Heil suddenly appeared?

"So, the reason the Star Abyss Society is in such a hurry is because a nobleman from Heir has broken free of their control? Damn it, those old bastards really weren't telling the truth..."

"I knew it! There couldn't just be singing zombies inside the Sleeping Sand Bell Tower; there must be real survivors!"

Nifl took a medicine bottle from his desk drawer, then took out a white pill and chewed it.

The formula for this stuff comes from a Dust Order era relic, and the White Cup Order provided the technology to reproduce it... It seems to be called "Nifedipine," and its main function is to lower blood pressure.

Now Nifl was genuinely worried that his blood vessels might burst from the excitement. The captain had lived too long, and even with a certain degree of longevity, many signs of aging were inevitably beginning to appear on his body.

"Captain, have you also been to the Sleeping Sand Bell Tower?"

Utus couldn't help but feel a little puzzled by this.

In his memory, this captain rarely stayed on land for long. He usually only made short stops in Foy Harbor for resupply or when he needed to check accounts at the Black Sea Tavern, and he also had a subtle hostile relationship with the Star Abyss Society.

“That was a few years ago, when you were holding a conference in Norrington. The Star Abyss Society invited me, the remnant of the Six-Eyed Raven, and Bernhard of the Moon's Favor to a 'scholarly visit' with a rather wicked sense of humor.”

After taking the medication, Niflé felt a little calmer and then put down his pipe to begin recounting the story.

"The Tide Listeners demonstrated their skills in manipulating corpses. Those guys turned the Heirs who died in the 'War of Annihilation' into mindless living corpses, which drove them to chant endless songs to appease and ward off the evil things that climbed onto the land under the full moon."

"This 'making the most of everything' technique is indeed effective enough that there has never been a large-scale surge of evil objects to this day."

The old captain seemed unwilling to comment further on the matter and instead inquired about other details from Utus.

"What do you know about the noblewoman who appeared in Morion? Have you communicated with her? Also, where is she currently residing, and is her location safe?"

"It's a great pity that I didn't have any direct verbal communication with her."

Speaking of this, Utus seemed to feel a little regretful himself. That was a noblewoman from the Heir, a living embodiment of the history of the Abyss, and if she were willing to offer some assistance... the archaeological work on the Abyss Scrolls wouldn't have required so much time and effort.

"However, she is currently with Dr. Fran and Sister Heda, whom we brought earlier, so there's no need to worry too much about her safety. Hunters are always good at lying in wait and hiding themselves."

"That's good."

Hearing this, Niflü felt slightly relieved, but still had some lingering worries.

After all, finding Hail was his lifelong dream, and now that he had learned of the appearance of a living nobleman, how could he remain calm?

"I'm willing to believe that doctor who was hired by the Hunters; the way she looks at people is very interesting. It's like she's scanning someone's internal organs and bones through their skin... This inexplicable and subtle sense of dread has only ever been evoked by that old man Grantham."

"If possible, I would like to meet that noblewoman. Can you contact her?"

Upon hearing the old man's words, Utus frowned slightly, a hint of difficulty in his eyes.

"Hmm...that might be a bit difficult."

"The hunters of the Funeral Court mostly remain hidden and silent when carrying out missions, communicating only through specific secret commands and [Calling Birds]. Although I have access to the White Cup Order's information channels, I have absolutely no idea where Dr. Fran and the others are right now."

"Humph."

Niflü narrowed his eyes and gave a disdainful snort. He then took a bottle of amber rum from the Farscha Islands from his wine cabinet and tossed it to Utus.

"Is there any way now? Don't tell me you really did nothing after you met the Heir nobleman."

"Of course there is a way."

Utus took the bottle, uncorked it, and took a satisfying sip.

"Among those who are traveling with us to Morion, there is a Moth cultist who was originally a member of the Obscure Society, named Inchworm. He was recommended by Dr. Fran, so he should have a way to contact her."

"Hmm... no wonder you agreed to let that potential conman with the flashy glasses stay on the ship."

Nifl nodded, indicating that he understood.

He then summoned a boatswain and instructed him to bring the inchworm to the captain's cabin, reminding him to be polite when speaking to it.

Although there was some prejudice against this Moth devotee in private, he was, after all, the only person on the Leviathan who might be able to contact Fran, so the necessary respect was still indispensable.

After Niflü finished smoking a half-pipe of cigarette, Inchworm followed the boatswain into the captain's cabin. This was his first time stepping into the core area of ​​the Leviathan, so he was somewhat surprised to see the ecological aquariums that almost filled his field of vision.

He adjusted his silver-rimmed square mirror and greeted the two people in the room.

"Good day, Captain Niflår and Professor Utus. May I ask what brings you here?"

The inchworm displayed a rather humble demeanor.

When he traveled with Utus in the fallen city of Morion, he was deeply impressed by the oceanography professor who shattered the ribcage and spine of the sea monster with a single punch. And then there was Nifl Hamilton… this old man was a true legend of the sea, and at least half of the existing nautical charts are from his pen.

In addition, according to the records of the Misty Society, he had served as a navigator and swordsmanship instructor for the "Pirate King" in his early years. He was even older than the later pirate family.

Nifl waved for him to sit down first, and then asked his question.

"Mr. Inchworm, the person who recommended you to participate in the trip to Morion was Dr. Fran of the Hunter's Order, right?"

"……Yes."

Upon hearing the name "Dr. Fran," the inchworm felt a chill creep through its body. Almost instinctively, it wanted to swallow, but thanks to the Moth Dancer's control over its muscles, all small movements were forcibly stopped before they could occur.

Why did Captain Niflår suddenly bring this up? What was his intention? If I give an inappropriate answer, could I expose the Hermit Lady?

Before the inchworm could sort out its thoughts, Nifl spoke again.

“Don’t be nervous. I just wanted to know if you could get in touch with Dr. Fran. She has had a lot of academic collaborations with our White Cup Order, and there are some things I need to discuss with her recently. But she and Sister Heda are currently in a state of silence and are not carrying any communication devices.”

After a moment's thought, the inchworm responded with a "come".

“I can indeed contact her through secret arts. But please allow me to ask… Mr. Niflöll, do you only need to deliver a letter, or would you like to meet her in person?”

"It concerns some secrets within the cult, so a face-to-face meeting is best."

Although Nifl initially accepted the title of honorary professor of the White Cup Order with great reluctance... when it came time to use that name and identity, he would unhesitatingly adopt the title of honorary professor and refer to any matters that were inconvenient to discuss in detail as "secrets within the Order".

"Okay, I will convey your message."

The inchworm obediently agreed.

For the Hermit Lady, the role of the Hunter's Physician should be entirely public knowledge; she could openly accompany the Funeral Maidens and engage in academic exchanges with the White Cup Order. The concept of "exposure" is presumably irrelevant.

Therefore, it's reasonable for me to help make the contact myself.

After all, he would probably be living on the Levia for some time to come, with his food and lodging provided by the captain in front of him... so it was necessary to cultivate their relationship.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the inchworm returned to its cabin.

He lay down on the bed and fell asleep after a while, his consciousness gradually rising into a hazy, ethereal deep dream. The enchanting light shimmered like shattered mirrors, and the phantom of a huge doe, its color like glass, appeared in the pure white doorway, its head raised, gazing solemnly.

No matter how many times you see it, you can't help but be surprised that a dream creature of this caliber would willingly serve as a messenger at the beck and call of the Hermit Lady...

There was probably some kind of hierarchical difference among the apostles.

The oppressive aura of Morion's gardener's scales was almost suffocating, but it was nothing compared to that of the Hermit Lady. If he were to become a priest who worshipped her, promotion might be within reach.

-

-

Goodness gracious!! (My perfect attendance bonus for the month hasn't dropped yet!)

Chapter 168 Creation and the Creator

"Na!"

A soft touch came, accompanied by the delicate fragrance of Dream Flower, as Luyara approached Fran's bed.

Even though she has begun to use her half-human, half-deer body in the material world, this mythical creature still retains her previous habits, such as expressing affection by licking... although it is currently unknown whether she needs to replenish salt.

"Hmm... what's wrong?"

Rubbing his still weary eyes, Fran looked at Luara, who had somehow slipped into his bedroom. She was currently in her pure deer form, indicating that he was in a dream.

Due to some unknown racial talent, Luara can quickly restore the spirit and spirituality of those who enter deep dreams. However, this can also easily cause the dreamer to confuse reality with dreams, since the two are almost indistinguishable.

Just like Fran, who was currently wearing a thin bear-patterned pajama and covered with a summer blanket, the bedroom's decor remained unchanged. The only way to quickly distinguish them was by observing the deer's movements nearby.

After seeing Fran enter a stable dream state, Luara placed a letter she had been holding in her mouth into her hand. A faint, glassy hoofprint with the texture of sealing wax could be seen at the seal.

The inchworm communicates in its dreams through "oral expression," but Luara can translate that language into written form. Interestingly, she only became proficient in this skill after becoming a messenger for the Foggy Street Clinic…

"Let me think about the letter from the inchworm... He should still be on the Levia, so the matter he mentioned should be related to Ms. Shitia."

Although she hadn't opened the envelope yet, she could roughly guess the inchworm's intention in sending the letter. 【@”.<｜＄】

Professor Utus witnessed the initial engagement between Sydia and the Gardener's Glandular, and would naturally react upon learning of the appearance of the Heil nobles. However, since the inchworm was the intermediary between the two sides, the letter's contents might not be directly related to Sydia.

[To the Hermit Lady.]

Captain Niflüger of the Leviathan expressed his desire to see "Dr. Fran." He stated that the White Cup Order has an academic project requiring your direct contact, and asked me to relay his message. The chosen location is the Black Sea Tavern in Foyport, but other options are welcome.

Whether this is his true intention is currently unknown, and I hope you will make your own judgment.

I apologize for any inconvenience caused.

[—Your loyal messenger. Sylvie Humphrey.]

A few breaths later, Fran had finished reading the rather brief letter. She pursed her lips, then stretched slightly on the bed.

As she had imagined, the inchworm merely relayed Niflü's desire to meet. As for the so-called "academic exchange" at the white cup, that was clearly just a pretext that both sides tacitly agreed upon.

"Luara, please reply to the inchworm for me. Tell him that I have agreed to Captain Nifl's request for a meeting, and as for the location... let's choose the Black Sea Tavern as he suggested. If possible, the time should be noon the next day."

Foyport is the largest ice-free port in Sulmouth, with a huge daily flow of goods and people, and a mixed bag of people... It was indeed the most suitable place to meet when Mordway was under high martial law.