The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

Page 287

"They've already started using the living corpses so quickly; it seems things are going very smoothly with Sister Haida."

Although Gormouth is seen by most as a chaotic lawless place, that is largely a stereotype left over from historical documents from a century ago. For at least a decade, several important cities in the Land of the Deep have become more stable.

Furthermore, the Star Abyss Society, relying on the Heil legacy stolen during the War of Destruction, was able to use the Sleeping Sand Bell Tower to suppress the Abyss Evils that had come ashore under the full moon. They were no longer under real threat from these inhuman beings.

Over time, those who listen to the tides have gradually forgotten what it feels like to "struggle to survive".

Therefore, their reaction to the Funeral Court's purge forces was almost sluggish. Their hastily organized counterattack was weak and ineffective; their advance could have been even faster had the hunters not had to gradually dismantle the protective rituals within the facility.

"Clap."

With the sound of flapping wings, a dark raven-like shadow landed lightly and steadily on Fran's hand.

Mu Ning gently shook her head, obediently waiting.

"Little Mu Ning, please tell Hai Da for me... if possible, it would be best to leave those living corpses with intact bodies. They are different from the corrupted evil offspring; they are not completely dead yet and still have the possibility of recovery."

"Gah."

After memorizing these words, Mu Ning quickly flapped his wings and began to retrace his steps back to Vivian's direction.

"what!"

Suddenly, Detrick raised her hand to cover her mouth and let out a gasp that she could not suppress.

Her eyes widened suddenly, her expression filled with confusion, bewilderment, and disbelief.

Detricka had recently seen some of the world with Fran, and as a raven hunter herself, she was known for her ability to uncover secrets. No matter how horrifying the scene she witnessed, she shouldn't have lost her composure like this.

She saw many living skeletons crowding together in the corridor, most of them highly distorted and possessing deteriorated Heyer features.

But that was not the reason for Detrica's surprise... The reason the raider was so stunned was that she spotted a familiar face among the horde of undead.

It was a lady.

Her appearance was not outstanding; her originally regular features appeared somewhat ferocious due to the superfluous scales and carapace. Yet, Detrika recognized this old friend only from a distance.

"Laures...senpai?"

Detrica had previously mentioned that when she was struggling to survive at the docks of Foy, a "guide" led her to join the Six-Eyed Ravens Order. Although she still struggled financially afterward, at least she was no longer homeless.

Five years ago, this senior was involved in a dangerous deal with the intelligence dealer Louisa, which led him into the fallen city of Morion.

At this point, she vanished without a trace, as if she had evaporated into thin air, impossible to find again.

Although Detrica already knew of the coldness and cruelty hidden in the shadows of the secret world, she vaguely accepted the possibility that her predecessor had probably died in Morion...

But now that she has seen Lauris, who is standing alongside the living corpses and covered in blood, in the heart of the Star Abyss Academy, how could she possibly remain calm and indifferent?

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soup!

Chapter 189 Aphid Honeydew

"Oh, so this must be the 'senior' you mentioned."

Following the direction of Detrica's gaze, Fran noticed the lifeless female skeleton with a blank stare and slow movements.

She immediately raised her hand, and several supple, pure white flower branches shot out from the chain [Dawn Lily], which was modified from "Reaching for the Moon," binding and capturing the now-living, undead Lauris.

The other undead had initially adopted an attack stance, but after approaching within three meters of Xitia, the ferocity and rage in their expressions vanished, replaced by confusion... and finally, they fell into quiet silence, as if asleep.

Shitia felt only disgust towards such degraded things.

In the eyes of this nobleman of Heir, they were the product of the desecration of the ancient clan's bloodline... their form, their aura, and even their very existence were utterly repulsive.

But their transformation into living corpses was not of their own volition.

After a moment's thought, she began to softly sing a "funeral song," soothing the frantic and restless souls within these broken bodies.

Taking advantage of this moment, Fran loosened the restraints on Lauris's undead body. After listening to that ancient Hyel lullaby, she had lost her aggression and was in a dazed and blissful state of tranquility.

The erosion is very deep; in terms of pathological condition, it is in the stage of transitioning from the late stage to the terminal stage.

Fran lightly touched his lower lip and carefully examined Lauris in front of him.

Thanks to the physical strength and vitality granted by the blood of Hyel, her body remained biologically active. There were no signs of decay, nor did it emit the foul odor of protein degradation; even her skin retained its elasticity.

However, this should not be used to conclude that Laurie is "healthy".

Her eyes were sunken, her pupils were unfocused, and saliva dripped unconsciously from the corners of her mouth... Even if she were placed in a psychiatric ward, she would have to be admitted to the intensive care unit.

In addition, Lauris's face was covered with dirty scales, and pale, carapace-like growths could be seen beneath her tattered lab coat. They appeared to be remnants of an incomplete molt.

"Ms. Vivian, can you help Senior Lauris?"

After a moment of serious deliberation, Derica made a somewhat difficult plea to Fran.

5 “To me, she is my only ‘family.’ Without her guidance, I might still be struggling to make a living on the docks of Foyport, living a life of hardship and homelessness, until I die of illness in a dark alley.”

"If you can lend a helping hand... I'm willing to pay any price."

Perhaps due to her upbringing and family environment, Derek had become accustomed to interacting with people cautiously, while also possessing a touch of shrewdness and cunning. After all, this was the survival rule of Gormouth.

But because she has almost never experienced selfless help from others, let alone the possibility of kinship or "love," she is often sincere and devoted when faced with people who are willing to show her kindness.

"Oh? 'Any cost'?"

Fran raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly quite interested in it.

“What if I were to ask for your life? Detrica, you should know that all the money you have comes from me, and I don’t care about it.”

"This……"

Detrika remained silent for a moment, her lips twitching slightly, but she ultimately did not make up her mind.

Assets, her body, or anything else—she was willing to give up these most cherished things for her closest guide. But the Gormouth people's will to survive was so strong it was almost ingrained in their instincts; having struggled and endured so many hardships to get here, how could she be willing to die now?

"There's no need to answer, and there's no need to be nervous about it; it's just a joke."

Fran gently placed his hand on Detrick's head to comfort her.

If Sister Heda were here, she wouldn't even need to think to know the essence of the doctor's question... it was nothing more than a meaningless joke, stemming from Fran's strange sense of humor and his personal quirk of teasing the little girl.

“You’re in luck, Detrica. We’re on official business right now, so I won’t charge you any extra. Besides, she’s someone you know, and I have some questions for her.”

With that, Fran selected a spacious, unmanned laboratory, then pushed open the door and went inside.

She has other things to do within the Star Abyss Academy right now, so it's best not to waste too much time.

Therefore, if we continue to follow the original treatment practices of observation and treatment, it is obviously too slow... Oh, let's abandon the conventional risk management and try the most drastic and effective approach.

As Fran clasped his hands together, the clear, luminous light of [Dust Removal] immediately enveloped the surrounding area.

After completing the preliminary procedures, she placed Lauris on the testing table and then took out the Spirit Bone Scalpel to begin the removal surgery. This Marauder had been in a monstrous state for about five years, and its body was covered with various growths that needed to be completely removed.

“Atavism…and it’s an atavism that transcends time and even eras.”

Atavism in ordinary humans is mostly manifested as "congenital hereditary hypertrichosis," "incomplete degeneration of the coccyx," and "polymastia." It causes ordinary humans to exhibit many ape-like characteristics.

The atavism of fish traits is far too distant, requiring tracing back millions or even tens of millions of years. No matter how significant the genetic characteristics, they will be completely eliminated in the almost endless process of natural selection, evolution, and iteration.

Of those that have survived to this day, probably only "gill cleft deformity" remains.

Within moments, the numerous supernatural creatures on Lauris's body were stripped off along with her tattered lab coat. If it weren't for the lingering aura of a living being, Detrica would have thought she had fully recovered.

Soothingly under the strains of the funeral dirge, she now drifted into a hazy slumber. Her expression was serene, her breathing even, like that of an ordinary human being peacefully asleep.

"A portion of their genes were forcibly reverted to an ancient state before the Dust Order Era through the Abyss Spirit Essence. At the same time, the living skeletons were stripped of their rationality and humanity, retaining only their animalistic voracious appetite."

"And this ancient and primordial state, full of possibilities, is the perfect vessel for implanting the blood of Heil... Although it is somewhat opportunistic, the idea of ​​the Listeners must be commended. Absurd, crude, but practical."

Fran murmured briefly, and as she became increasingly absorbed in her work, her amber eyes began to gleam intensely.

"Using 'DNA repair'? But this technology's advantage lies in restoring the structure of a single mutated gene, and the treatment cycle is too long. The atavism caused by Yuanhailingsu also affects the overall framework of genetic information, and forcibly correcting it carries the risk of being inconsistent..."

“Directly using ‘Dissolving Bone and Blood’ in combination with ‘Carmin’s Tulip’ to reset the body’s genetic information, then extracting the soul, recreating it, and then stuffing it back in? This is too simple and crude, and it’s hard to consider it as the first option.”

"Or perhaps we could ask Ms. Shitia to donate some blood to help integrate and optimize the patient's bloodline structure? However, this would most likely turn her directly into a Heir."

In fact, the doctor wasn't troubled by how to treat Lauris's cadaverization, but rather by the sheer number of options available, making it difficult for her to choose.

"Oh, right."

As a flash of inspiration struck, Fran's eyes narrowed, and he came up with a treatment plan that was suitable for the current situation.

"Although it involves 'atavism' at the genetic level, the effect itself comes from 'time'. The raw materials obtained from the Time Aphid have already been prepared into a pharmaceutical formulation... Why don't we put them into clinical use here?"

As she spoke, she took a bottle of liquid dressing labeled "Aphid of Time" from her medicine box and applied it evenly to Lauris's exposed, mutated skin. Almost immediately, the abnormal flesh and blood on her body began to gradually fade away.

After a few breaths, the translucent liquid dressing was completely absorbed by Lauris, and her monstrous state was significantly relieved.

The medicine made from the honeydew of the Time Aphid can eliminate some of the physical external influences through "retrospection," and since Lauris's monstrous form has only been present for less than five years, the effect is almost immediate.

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After confirming that the test subject did not exhibit any unexpected mutations, Fran took out a green capsule and placed it in her mouth to help her quickly stabilize her condition. This also served to protect her from the honeydew of the Time Aphids.

"Ms. Vivian, how is she?"

Seeing Fran stop what she was doing, Detrica asked him with great concern.

"The patient is now out of danger and in a stable condition. Given the strong effects of the medication used, she should wake up within ten minutes."

"However, the process of becoming a living corpse may have some aftereffects, and I cannot guarantee her consciousness."

"No, thank you very much..."

If it weren't for the fact that they were currently in the perilous Star Abyss Academy laboratory, and that Ms. Vivian's identity wasn't so mysterious, Detricka would have been so excited that she even wanted to give her a hug.

Just then, with a dazed groan, Lauris's eyelids began to twitch and tremble.

After several difficult attempts, she finally opened her eyes.

The moment she regained consciousness, Lauris's first reaction was fear, wariness, and an undisguised panic. Almost instinctively, she wanted to find a dark place to hide, but her movements stopped the instant she saw Detrica.

“…Detrika?”

"Yes, it's me, Senior Lauris."

Derica quickly stepped forward and took Lauris's still-cold hands in hers. Her eyes welled up with tears, which she forcefully suppressed.

"cough."

Fran raised his hand to cover his mouth and coughed lightly.

“I completely understand the feelings of the patient and their family, but before you two begin catching up… I would like Ms. Lawrence to change her clothes first. I think you probably don’t want to be ‘completely naked’ with everyone all the time.”

As she spoke, she took out a set of dark blue striped hospital gowns from her medical kit.

"Okay, excuse me..."

Lauris pursed her lips, glanced down at herself, and then felt a little embarrassed for some reason.

Soon, she changed into the hospital gown provided by Fran.

After this seemingly insignificant little incident, the tension and unease that had been lingering in Lauris's mind were somewhat relieved.

Fran also raised his own question at this point.

"Ms. Lauris, you have just awakened and your consciousness may be confused, which I understand. But please allow me to ask, what did you see in the fallen city of Morion? And why were you in the Star Abyss Society's research lab?"

"That is……"

Recalling that memory, Lauris bit her lip tightly, her shock and fear visibly evident.

"I was commissioned by the intelligence agent Louisa to explore Morion. I avoided the evil creatures of the Abyss and stayed at night... After nearly a week, I arrived around the Sleeping Sand Bell Tower."

"That's the Listening Tide People's temporary testing ground. In the middle is a huge bone instrument. They would use that thing to inject some kind of drug into the captured people, and then observe and record it. Most of the test subjects were young children."

Lauris gently touched her forehead, trying to ease the tearing sensation spreading through her mind.

"After that, my location was discovered, and I was ultimately unable to escape... but I was not executed. They seemed to be in dire need of test subjects, so they didn't mind injecting those who strayed in as well."

As Fran listened to her description, she blinked slightly, seemingly deep in thought.

"So, how do the Listeners dispose of the injected test subjects?"

"First, observe all cases uniformly, then classify them according to the injector's condition." ∏. (〈〇—¨

Laurie tried hard to recall the details from five years ago, attempting to recreate those oppressive and desperate scenes from her memory.

"Those without obvious symptoms will enter the next observation period and be put back in their original place after memory processing. This is what other test subjects told me; I did not see it with my own eyes."

"Those who grow scales or other things but remain conscious will be kept in long-term custody by the Star Abyss Society. I probably belong to that category."