chsdbacks Page 147
Page 147
Fran maintained his friendly smile, gesturing for Albert to adjust to his newfound limbs.
He slightly bent and stretched his fingers, somewhat bewildered, and only after repeating this several times did he confirm that the real tactile sensation was not a phantom limb illusion.
"It feels...good."
The Time Aphid and the Son of the Bearded Tree were highly compatible, so Albert didn't feel anything unusual. It was as if this was his original arm.
"However, that book is a 'holy relic' that I need to return to the order..."
"It's a minor issue, don't worry."
Fran seemed to have anticipated this concern from the zero-side and had already prepared six solutions.
"I suggest you stay in Norrington for a while. During this time, I will make an exact copy of 'The Mystery of Time.' Once it's done, Sister Heda will deliver it to you. It won't be much different from the original."
Upon hearing this, Albert narrowed his eyes slightly.
Whether it was just my imagination or not, it seemed that Ms. Flamel had planned this all along...
She had only spent ten minutes reading this book of scriptures, so how could she have memorized it to the point of being able to make a copy? ... It seems that only the spiritual power of the lamp can grant people extraordinary memory.
No, even the disciples of the Lantern Sect could not possibly be that fast.
Perhaps only the first type of ritual of the White Cup, [hyperthymesia], can reach this level...
-
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Once the giant arm is attached, the updates immediately surge, skyrocket, and explode!
Chapter 42 Secret Talk at Dawn and Night
Albert Schneider, the "Son of the Suzuki," has had his severed arm healed. Your monthly house call is complete, completion rating: S. Your next monthly house call will be randomly triggered next month.
[This consultation fee: Unknown instrument x1 (high quality, unidentified)]
【您的解析度变化：生物义体技术（34%→36%），现代神经学（22.5%→24%），临床心理学（22.3%→23%），禁忌炼金（24%→26%）。】
-
Foggy Street Clinic.
Fran was sitting upright on the sofa in the main hall, almost reclining in the plush cushions, nearly burying his whole body in them.
"Even the Tree of Beards and alchemical formulas made from the skin of the Time Aphids are not as complete as those of the Apollyon... Being a doctor is really tough."
She grumbled softly as she habitually lifted her legs onto the square table in front of the sofa.
Fran was wearing a thin set of casual home clothes, not her doctor's coat or winter socks. Her smooth, fair skin and several black seams were visible. Her toenails were glossy and translucent, faintly reflecting the warm yellow light of the room lamp.
Although it was deep winter, as long as Sigrid stayed indoors, the whole room didn't feel cold... and even the fireplace was no longer needed.
She had already collected and assessed the consultation fees for March inside the operating room.
[Pyrolysis generator (73% damaged)]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Effect: Uses a high-energy entity as its power source to activate 'Light of Return to the Cardinal.' The damage to this device is irreversible; it will disintegrate after one use.]
[Note: "This is the power to rewrite the laws of the abyss..."]
Clearly, this thing also came from Dawn Lord Podoldo. Although Fran liked the device very much, it was a consumable item that broke after one use, which was really regrettable... This had made Fran's mood less than pleasant lately.
Most importantly, she was not familiar with the mechanical technology principles of the Abyss. Even if she could analyze it from the perspective of a higher level of space necromancy, there were still considerable technical barriers.
Fran possesses more technology related to abyssal creatures, but there is no abyssal environment here to test the "Ascending Curse" in practice, nor are there any living abyssal creatures for her to study.
Therefore, her research on the Abyss has been put on hold for many years...
"Forget it, there are no substantial results yet in the research on the Time Aphid, and I haven't finished reading 'The Mystery of Time'... Let's focus on this aspect for now."
As she spoke, Fran picked up a thick, leather-bound book, the very same book as the Xushu Canon, "The Mystery of Time." She not only made a copy for Albert, but also printed an extra copy for her daily reading.
Although she had already memorized the contents of the classics, she still preferred to deepen her understanding by reading them.
"His roots penetrate the earth's marrow, his branches cover the sky. The prosperity and power of the ancient banyan are inexhaustible, bringing life and hope to countless offspring without blood ties... until, his veins permeate the order of time."
"A sudden, unbridled frenzy followed, dispelling the rational radiance that had surrounded Him." 3? 『⊙—，≥】
While perusing the ancient texts, Fran also wrote down his thoughts and understanding of this ancient deity in his diary.
[Records related to 'Ancient Banyan Tree of Time' (Part 4)]
The principle upheld by the Ancient Banyan Tree is not 'time', but 'prosperity'. Its authority over time originates from the Time Aphids, which nourished it with their own flesh and blood. It is known that the Time Aphids caused a natural disaster during the Dust Order era, but it was ultimately averted by the intervention of the Son of the Sudden Tree. Simultaneously, the main lineage of the Son of the Sudden Tree also perished.
[The Time Aphid, the Son of the Tree, Mistletoe… it can be inferred that the ancient banyan tree possessed three or more parasites. Furthermore, its fruit, "Shadow of the Future," is not the main body of the banyan tree; judging from its shape, it is the fruit of the mistletoe. Perhaps the ancient banyan tree was transforming the temporal authority contained within the Time Aphid through its own parasites.]
Meanwhile, the mistletoe near the secret box showed signs of being picked, suggesting that the fruit might not be unique. If this conjecture is correct, it indicates that the thieves from Golmouth did not leave empty-handed.
Just as Fran was engrossed in her reading, a warm, soft blanket was placed over her back.
"Dr. Fran, it's still getting colder these days, so remember to wear more clothes..."
Sigrid's words of advice rang in her ears. At the same time, a cup of hot cocoa, with steaming warmth rising from it, was placed in front of her.
Oh, Sigrid is so thoughtful; she's even worried I'll catch a cold...
"It's not cold inside; one coat is enough."
Even so, Fran wrapped himself in the blanket. While not a necessity, it certainly enhanced his comfort.
She picked up the cup of hot cocoa, took a small sip, and then put it back on the table.
"I haven't finished reading this book yet. Sigrid, sit here with me for a while."
"Hmm." (Jiu)
Sigrid had originally planned to refine the designs for several castings, but upon hearing the offer to stay, she obediently sat down next to Fran. Even in her normal state, her body temperature was slightly higher than that of an average person, and she could almost passively maintain a warm temperature around her.
Fran methodically flipped through the Book of the Bearded Tree in her hands, while Sigrid sat obediently beside her, dutifully acting as a heater...
Hmm... *The Mystery of Time* also records several potions that use honeydew and blood of the Time Aphid as spiritual ingredients. I can try to concoct and improve them later.
As the rustling of Fran's pages gradually subsided, the sound of him stroking the pages faded away.
Before anyone knew it, she had closed her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering, and fallen asleep on the sofa in a reclining position.
-
The Order of the Mystics.
In the maintenance room, Haida is performing routine maintenance and upkeep on the power sword "Nirvana". Although the adamantite material eliminates concerns about oxidation and rust, proper dust prevention and decontamination are still necessary.
Besides, doing this seems to make this person's "mood" very good.
At the same time, Haida sensed that the power sword in her hand seemed somewhat different from before.
Although it was only a change in aura, subtle and difficult to detect, for the Hunter of Mysteries, the weapon ritual in her hand was a "comrade-in-arms" that accompanied her day and night, and she could easily perceive every slight change in it.
Is it because it absorbed a large amount of spiritual energy from the ancient banyan tree and the Time Aphid in the ruins of the library?
She wiped the sword's edge lightly, carefully feeling its edge for a long time before carrying it back on her back.
Firearms, magazines, folding knives—almost every inch of Heda's form-fitting nun's robe was filled with weapons. Unfortunately, she didn't have any important hunting missions to undertake recently…
The servants in the Red Cup had already fled, and most of the other esoteric sects remained in hiding in fear. During this time, Norlington was very safe.
This gave Haida time to train.
Consuming the fruit called "Shadow of the Future" not only allowed her to briefly summon her future phantom, but also granted her a portion of mysterious knowledge from the future. Among these was the first-class mid-level secret technique, [Ember Avatar], used by the last Funeral Minister.
Although it is only a part and not enough to directly constitute a secret technique model, it can still greatly shorten the training time.
"Boom, boom."
The sound of knuckles lightly tapping the door rang out, and a moment later Vivian pushed the door open and walked in.
This preparation room belongs exclusively to Haida's team, and usually only she and Vivian use it, so entering directly is not considered impolite.
“Sister Haida, I went to the General Affairs Department to check today’s assignments. The task is ‘interrogation’.”
As she spoke, Vivian rubbed her slightly reddened eyes, revealing some dark circles, as if she had stayed up late the night before.
It wasn't for any legitimate reason, like nighttime fieldwork, but rather because she finally found "Secret Investigator III" at the hands of a bookseller.
She first encountered this 9-series reading series with the second part, which had neither a prequel nor a sequel, truly frustrating. Now, however, she was captivated by the novel and stayed up late reading, only falling asleep late at night…
“Interrogation…” Haida thought for a moment, then inquired about the specifics.
"Who is the object?"
"The two survivors of the Star Chart Workshop, Ms. Marian performed an 'initial parasite removal surgery' on them. However, Cistanche deserticola can affect the brain, and they have only recently recovered to the point where they can communicate."
"One is a florist who believes in the 'Flower of Creation,' and the other is a poet who believes in the 'Lament for the White Dove'...?"
When asked about the latter's profession, Vivian hesitated for a few seconds before speaking. In this day and age, it's indeed very rare to find someone who makes poetry their sole profession…
Haida nodded slightly, then took the detailed task sheet from Vivian and began to examine the specifics.
Both were attending the Star Chart Seminar for the first time, intending to exchange information. However, they were unexpectedly attacked. Had nothing else happened that day, they would undoubtedly have become a breeding ground for Cistanche deserticola.
In a way, it was Fran's presence that allowed them to survive.
"I understand, let's go."
After reviewing it once, Haida folded the task sheet she had received and then placed it into the storage bag of her nun's robe.
She and Vivian were the presiding judges for this routine interrogation, and coincidentally... she was indeed very interested in what had happened that night at the Mandala Tavern.
……
The interrogation room was dimly lit, illuminated only by a single candle. The light was flickering and dim, creating a cramped and oppressive atmosphere.
Inside the room, there were no other furnishings besides chairs and a square table, and everything was made of cast metal, tightly fused to the metal floor.
This measure is to prevent some interrogators from suddenly grabbing a chair as a weapon... The Hunters have always maintained an almost rigorous level of caution when it comes to "safety" and "control".
Palitzer sat upright at one side of the square table, waiting somewhat nervously. Because he was not a prisoner, he was not currently bound or shackled; otherwise, he would have needed to wear arcane shackles inscribed with the [Isolation Ritual] to meet with the interrogator.
Of course, he didn't even dream of escaping from here.
The interrogation room was located inside the Hunters' headquarters, surrounded by heavily armed Hunters. Among them were many senior hunters from the Funeral Court, and even supervisors... Under these circumstances, attempting to escape by force would be somewhat foolish.
Strictly speaking, I am also a victim of the Star Chart Study Group incident, and I can leave as long as I cooperate with the investigation.
Huff—Palitzer tried to calm his breathing, hoping to relax his tense state of mind a little. But the thought of what happened in the tavern that night sent a wave of fear through him.
The steel limbs extending from the spine, the blood and gore splattering as the gatekeeper's upper body was ripped apart, and the gray gauze robe embroidered with lanterns and moths...
"Click." The metal door to the interrogation room opened.
Heda slowly walked to the opposite side of Palitzer's square table, then bowed and sat down.
"Hello, Mr. Palitzer."
"The poet, belonging to the 'Mourning Choir,' is from Loretown, Saffold, in the North. He has been living in Norrington for 11 months. He was recently captured by the Red Cup Disciples who control the Star Chart Study. Is there anything else to add?"
Out of habit, she checked Palitzer's identity information again.
“No, Madam Interrogator. You probably know this information better than I do.”
Palitzer shook his head, and at the same time, he felt a strange sense of relief.
Fortunately, the person in charge of the interrogation was neither a hot-tempered middle-aged man nor a gloomy old hunter... and he didn't seem like the Raven of the Secret Service either.
"Hmm." It was just a casual question, but Haida quickly got to the point.
"My first question is, why did you come to Norrington? Saffold is quite a distance from here."
If the person in front of you is a tight-lipped, unyielding individual, then you need to break down their psychological defenses little by little through indirect methods—something Haida doesn't have much experience with. However, Dr. Fran is probably quite adept at doing something like that…
But Palitzer was clearly willing to cooperate. This made Heda's job much simpler; all she had to do was keep asking questions.
This question did not surprise Palitzer; it was part of the standard inquiry process.
"I'm looking for an opportunity to touch the second step. A poet needs to experience the world firsthand to find inspiration..."
His tone was quite sincere, but also somewhat embarrassed. Among the disciples of the Lamentation Song, his talent wasn't particularly high; otherwise, he wouldn't have been captured so easily.
Haida nodded and then gestured to the Secret Service agent beside her to take notes.
A moment later, she asked the next question.
"Mr. Palitzer, why were you at the Mandala Tavern on January 15th?"
"I was working as a resident musician at the Mandala Tavern for a while, playing various tunes. I received an invitation from Mr. Schmidt, who invited me to what he called a regular occult gathering. I thought I'd go and see if I could exchange information and knowledge of occult arts..."