The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

Page 271

"Oh, it seems you've lost something. Please be careful when you travel in the future. I don't want you to have a bad impression of our bookstore because of this."

As she spoke, the maid carefully took a raven from her pocket and placed it steadily on the table. Vivian followed her gaze and, in the next moment, saw Mu Ning, who should have been hiding at the rooftop sentry post.

Logically speaking, if Mu Ning were attacked, he should have immediately alerted his master... but instead, he was captured without any warning and brought right before him.

"who are you?"

Vivian took Mu Ning from her, and between words, she leaned heavily toward the window behind her, seemingly planning to jump the moment she was certain of a dangerous contact.

“Little Vivian, don’t be nervous, and please don’t be angry… It was just a joke. If you really jump out of the window and fly away in public using [Raven Avatar], the entire bookstore will be sealed off and searched by the Listening Tide people who come after hearing the news for at least half a month.”

"The owner here is an elderly woman in her seventies who has always been in poor health and cannot accept this kind of business setback."

The maid spoke naturally and directly, revealing Vivian's real name and her hidden intentions.

"You know me...have we met before?"

Vivian frowned, a hint of confusion appearing in her eyes.

She had sensed Mu Ning's emotions through the [Calling Bird] technique; there was no fear, no panic. Everything seemed normal… Did this mean the person before her truly posed no threat?

"It is indeed our first meeting, but I remember the appearance and information of every Secret Service agent. Whether it's Silver Hydra or you."

As she spoke, the maid introduced herself.

“You can call me ‘Cluster Feather’, um… your mentor, Silver Feather Hydra, was once my student.”

Upon hearing Cuyu's words, Vivian had a vague idea of ​​the person before her. Amidst her astonishment, a strong sense of absurdity welled up within her.

She remembered that Director Silverfeather Hydra had said that her mentor was this year's Secretary of State, or rather, "Chief Agent." Rumor had it that he could appear anywhere in any guise and was responsible for providing exclusive intelligence to Funeral Director Aheng for many years.

What are the specific characteristics of the Silver Feather Hydra Lady?

Although Vivian could vaguely sense that the person in front of her was not lying to her, she still intended to verify it again.

"feature……"

Cluster Feathers lightly raised an eyebrow, then began to meticulously list each point. □》Three@Three♂♂0^⊥

"The most striking feature is her red hair. I advised her to dye it black before, as it's understated and stylish. Or she could dye it silver, at least it would match the code name 'Silver Feather Hydra'."

“Of course, little Vivian, I have an even more reliable token.”

As she spoke, she raised her wrist, displaying the platinum bracelet hanging on it. The prayer inscription engraved on it faintly revealed the golden-red light of burning ashes, a testament to her status as one of the "Four Ministers" of the Hunters.

Since you were carrying a platinum keepsake with you, why didn't you take it out from the beginning...?

Looking at the smiling maid in front of her, Vivian couldn't help but mutter a curse to herself. However, at this moment, it was clearly more important to inquire about the important matter.

"Then...why are you here?"

"It's very simple."

Cuyu sighed softly, then gently lifted her cheek and looked directly at her with the eyes of someone looking at the culprit.

"Because a thief named Vivian visited the Sleeping Sand Bell Tower and took away an item that was treasured by the Royal Court and the Star Abyss Society. The entire Six-Eyed Raven Order was also implicated, and I happened to be working there part-time."

"The situation had eased somewhat, but recently that kid Gunther's mansion was ransacked again, and the royal court has also started to take action. The current situation is more tense than ever before. If any friction occurs anywhere, a covert war could be ignited almost immediately."

"Hmm... dear Agent Vivian, please tell me, is there anyone else here named Vivian?"

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soup!

Chapter 171 Medical Court

The reason why Cuyu asked, "Are there any other people here named Vivian?" was not because she believed that Vivian was the one who committed those major crimes... The reason is simple: the young detective's personal abilities do not support that.

Even Cuyu herself wasn't confident that she could do those things perfectly.

Infiltrating Prince Günther's mansion and stealing its collection and treasures was not difficult for him, but "Vivian" had also broken through the secrets of the Sleeping Sand Bell Tower, taking away something extremely important, and then calmly slipped away from the Oak Shadow Nest right under the nose of the High Priest of the Forgotten Eyes. Zero

For Tulipe to achieve this level of achievement might not be entirely impossible, but it would inevitably come at a tremendous cost. Zero

Rather than believing that Vivian, a mere novice who has only just entered the third tier, is capable of accomplishing the aforementioned feats, it's more credible that Aheng will treat the mutated evil offspring under his scythe with kindness and gentleness. (Seven)

It's impossible anyway. Lu

“Ms. Cluster Feather, Golmouth is a medium-sized country near the Abyss Sea, with a dense population and a huge flow of people. It wouldn't be surprising to find someone with the same name as me, ‘Vivian,’…” Jiu

Vivian was unsure whether she should directly tell Cuyu that Dr. Fran was behind all those things, so she chose to use a clever approach to change the subject. Although she would have to write a summary report back in Norrington, at least she would have some time to carefully consider her wording.

“Of course I don’t believe you did those things, Vivian. To infiltrate the Raiders’ lair, steal things, and get away unscathed—even an Apostle would have a hard time doing that.”

"At first, I also thought it was just a coincidence, but... judging from your reaction, I'm certain you know something. Even if you weren't the executor or the planner, there must be some connection."

As a Confidential Minister renowned for his mystery and elusiveness among the Hunters, interrogating prisoners and reading people were skills that Cu Yu had honed for countless years. Even though Vivian had received some training in this area, it was still too much of a stretch to conceal her emotional changes from him. Lu

"However, we are both in our working hours right now, so it's obviously inappropriate to discuss this further. How about this, if you've figured out how to report, or if you need any small assistance, you can use this to call me."

"Hmm... Also, you have excellent taste in books. Speaking of which, I have an unfinished manuscript of the prequel to 'Lady of the North Wind in the Snow Country' in my collection. I can make a copy for you when we get back to Norrington, okay?"

Now that Cuyu was a waitress at this secondhand bookstore café, it would be too conspicuous for him to linger at this seat for too long. He took a feather from the eagle owl "Gulid" from his jacket pocket, left it on the table, and then gracefully left with the tray of food.

Watching the cluster of feathers gradually disappear into the distance, Vivian felt a strange sense of unreality.

It's hard to believe that I was actually approached by that elusive Secret Agent while having coffee at the secondhand bookstore... You know, the thing that Lady Silver Feather Hydra complained about most often in Norlington was that she couldn't get in touch with this guy.

She picked up the cup of coffee and took a small sip, and her tense state of mind gradually eased.

But the current situation is not unusual, since the cult's internal documents describe the Confidential Secretary as "able to appear anywhere in any form." His vision covers every corner of the city, so it's perfectly reasonable for him to find Mu Ning and follow the connection to find himself.

Speaking of which, Lady Silverfeather Hydra usually refers to the Confidential Minister as "he". However, the true gender, age, and even background of Cluster Feather are all unknown mysteries. Perhaps he was originally male like Gardener Glandular, or perhaps that was also a disguise.

Perhaps only the one in the General Affairs Department knows the details about him...

Vivian gradually finished the bitter and slightly sour coffee in her cup, exhaled deeply, and her expression returned to its usual calm, her scattered thoughts also subsiding.

Since an unexpected incident occurred during routine surveillance, the next step should be to consult Sister Heda at the Fog Street Clinic. Although the feather of this [Calling Bird] came from the Secretary of State, it shouldn't be enough to trace it back to Dr. Fran's residence.

Having made up her mind, Vivian got up from her seat and quickly left the secondhand bookstore.

Although this unexpected meeting was abrupt and rushed, she actually had a very good impression of Cuyu. After all, this was the first time in her life that this Secret Service agent had been praised for her reading taste…

Sensing Vivian's departure from the secondhand bookstore and her sudden loss of awareness of the feather's spirituality after a period of time, Cluster Feather, who was serving food to other customers, raised her hand to stroke her lower lip, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

My connection to Gurid's feathers was severed by an unknown secret ritual... Sure enough, that child was hiding some kind of secret.

However, keeping things to oneself is one of the characteristics of Secret Service agents, and it seems Vivian has indeed inherited this excellent quality. But as the nominal and de facto leader of the Secret Service, what is there that she can't tell me?

Never mind, I'll ask more questions next time we meet.

Speaking of which, both the Star Abyss Society and the Royal Court of Garonson have been intensifying their pursuit of "Vivian" recently, showing no signs of being determined to take her head. Even the abnormally manic members of the Listening Tide Clan are almost coming after them.

Since this identity has already become a key target on their blacklist... I might as well do my part and add a few more entries to her long list of crimes.

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Norrington, Headquarters of the Hunters, Medical Court.

For Marianne, the brief respite after noon is the most important time of her day. The morning's hustle and bustle is over, and she needs some time to adjust her physical and mental state to prepare for the rest of the day's work.

Although the medical staff of the 0th Medical Center are usually busy, there have been no large-scale group injury incidents this year, and the workload has stabilized, allowing the Hunters' medical team to finally get a moment's respite.

Although the arrival of the "Drinker" last year did not cause any extremely serious consequences, it still resulted in injuries of varying degrees to many residents. Furthermore, the unusual spiritual flow caused a surge in cancer cases, keeping her extremely busy during that period.

"Um……"

Marian got up from the makeshift bed in her office, stretching her slightly sore back. There was still some time before lunch break ended, so she could get up a little early and make herself a cup of tea to perk herself up.

"I wonder how Heda is doing in Gormouth. It's too far away, even writing letters isn't very convenient. She's also inherited all of Aheng's bad habits; once she spots her prey, she completely forgets to eat."

As the doctor was tidying up the messy hair that had gotten from her afternoon nap, she glanced around and noticed that someone had entered her office and was sitting on the sofa next to her desk.

"As Ms. Marian said, Sister Heda often eats only to ensure her mobility during missions and doesn't care about her health. However, judging from her development, you have clearly put a lot of effort into ensuring her diet."

The speaker was Fran.

Although the doctor agreed to help Haida bring the report on the delayed quarterly transfer back to the Hunters' headquarters, given her current situation, even with her status as an external coroner, it was still not convenient for her to deal directly with the hunters...

As for finding the chief hunter, Yaheng... that's not impossible. Although their relationship isn't exactly friendly, it's not hostile either. It's just that this guy's daily whereabouts are a mystery, and he spends most of his time wandering in the most dangerous forbidden areas of foreign lands.

The hope of seeing him in Norlington is extremely slim.

Unfortunately, there was still an "old acquaintance" in the medical ward. Although Marian and Fran had never had direct contact, she was, after all, Viola's best colleague, and as a fellow doctor, she could avoid a lot of unnecessary words when communicating with her.

Upon seeing this unexpected guest, Marian's gaze momentarily lowered, and she unconsciously reached out to gently touch the beauty mark under her eye.

"If I'm not mistaken, you are the 'Dr. Fran' who treated Sister Heda and provided her with the necessary medicine?"

"I'm glad you know me, Ms. Marian."

Fran responded to her question with a slight wave of his arm, performing the hunter's salute.

Marian simply pursed her lips and let out a soft, slightly weary sigh.

“Even if you wanted to be unaware, you couldn’t, Dr. Fran. Although the ‘autographer’ in your file is an external employee of the Funeral Court, he is nominally affiliated with our department, so the Medical Division is also responsible for this.”

"However, I recall you seemed to have gone to Gormouth with Heda. How come you've suddenly returned to Norrington?"

Clearly, neither of them were the type to engage in lengthy, meaningless small talk. After a brief greeting, Marianne got straight to the point, inquiring about the doctor's true purpose for coming.

“Sister Haida has a report to send back to the Hunters headquarters, and I happened to be going back here, so I brought it over for her. There’s no need to worry about it; it’s just an explanation of the extension of the quarterly transfer order.”

"If all goes well, she should be back in Norrington by the end of July."

With that, Fran placed the letter written by Heda on Marianne's desk, which Marianne picked up and gave a cursory examination. The sealing wax, the cipher format, and the handwriting all unmistakably came from the nun; there was no doubt that it was genuine.

“Okay, I understand. I will give this report to Supervisor Alvin later.”

Upon seeing Marianne accept the letter, Fran nodded slightly and then spoke of another purpose for his visit.

“Ms. Marian, there is one more thing I need to tell him. It concerns some small-scale research that the Star Abyss Society is currently conducting. Here is a detailed analysis of their experiments, which I have written. Please take a look.”

After speaking, she took a paper file from her medicine box and handed it to Marian. The latter took it and examined it carefully.

"The research and creation of living corpses, biological experiments that transformed humans into the Abyssal Kin, spanned a thousand years, affecting approximately one-fifth of Golmouth's total population..."

Looking at the realistic yet cruel illustrations and detailed examples in the paper files, Marianne frowned and her gaze became deep and serious.

"Do the Tide Listeners want to subtly turn all Golmouth people into a hybrid of the Abyss? But... why? It's pointless and will only make them increasingly ill-suited to their current environment."

Though calamities rage across the land, the darkness and gloom of the deep sea only bring greater peril and unpredictability. The fact that even the remnants of the ancient Heir were forced to set foot on land and abandon their homeland is the most powerful proof of this.

"Who knows? But the Star Abyss Society has indeed pushed this experimental project to its final stage. If possible, I hope to convey this to the chief hunter of the Funeral Court; I'm sure he'll be interested."

When he said this, Fran maintained a friendly smile, making no attempt to hide his intention to provoke conflict between the two sides.

The reason is actually quite simple.

In fact, Yaheng didn't care at all whether his act of slaughtering evil creatures was being used by others.

His judgment of his hunting targets was simple and clear: "Does the target deserve to die?" If the target was indeed a wicked or depraved person, then his thinking would naturally switch to "How should I kill him?"

As for worldly relationships, ties of interest, or social interactions... those are insignificant matters and can be considered after one has taken the head of the target.

Using the chief hunter as a tool for murder is not inherently wrong, but the planner should ideally be free from corruption and evil deeds. Because most of the time, that guy will also conveniently eliminate those who use him.

"Inform the Chief?... I understand. I will discuss this with Alvin first. But no one except the other members of the Four Ministers knows exactly where the Chief is located. This may take some time."

Transforming flesh and blood, altering races, using the entire population of a nation as experimental subjects, and transferring enormous unknown risks onto them... The research of the Tide Listeners has undoubtedly crossed the line that the Hunters of Mysteries can tolerate.

As an experienced medical professional who had been through the pandemic, Marian felt only a chill run down her spine.

"By the way, Dr. Fran..."

When she spoke again to ask about something, Fran had vanished without a trace and could not be seen again.

In the utter silence, only a wisp of damp, grayish-white mist remained in the office.

Did you leave after receiving a response?

Marianne lowered her gaze slightly, then sighed softly, feeling a pang of disappointment. She wanted to ask the doctor if he knew Viola, or if the woman was the "teacher" her former colleague had secretly mentioned.

She desperately wanted to know what exactly happened on the day the Great Plague ended.

Why did the epidemic disappear? Why did Yaheng remain silent? And why did that gentle, quick-witted "Medical Secretary," who was like a younger sister to him, die?

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soup!

Chapter 172 Grantham