Fran maintained a friendly smile, signaling for Albert to get used to his newly acquired limb.
He somewhat dazedly flexed his fingers slightly, repeating the motion several times before confirming the real tactile sensation was not a phantom limb illusion.
"It feels... very good."
The Time-Aphid material and the Whiskered Tree Child had excellent compatibility, so Albert didn't experience any sense of strangeness. It was as if this was his original arm.
"However, that scripture is a 'sacred relic' I need to return to the cult..."
"A minor issue, no need to worry."
Fran seemed to have anticipated this concern from the other party and had already prepared a solution.
"I suggest you stay in Norlington for a while. During this period, I will transcribe an identical copy of The Mystery of Time. Once it's ready, Sister Haida will deliver it on my behalf. It won't be much different from the original."
Hearing this, Albert couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly.
Maybe it was his imagination, but Ms. Flamel seemed to have planned this in advance...
But she had only spent ten minutes looking through this Whiskered Tree scripture just now. How could she already have memorized it enough to transcribe it?... It seemed only Lamp-phase spirituality could grant someone extraordinary memory.
No, even a Lamp-Light Disciple couldn't possibly be this fast.
Probably only the White Cup's first-category ritual [Hyperthymesia] could reach this level...
—
[The amputated arm of the 'Whiskered Tree Child' Albert Schneider has been healed. This month's routine house call task is complete. Completion rating: S. Your next monthly house call will be randomly triggered next month.]
[Payment for this appointment: Unknown instrument x1 (Fine quality. Unidentified)]
[Your Parsing Rate changes: Biological Prosthetics Technology (34%→36%), Modern Neurology (22.5%→24%), Clinical Psychology (22.3%→23%), Forbidden Alchemy (24%→26%).]
---
Fog Street Clinic.
Fran was sitting upright on the sofa in the main hall, leaning back almost fully into the velvet cushions, nearly burying her whole body.
"Even using a Whiskered Tree scripture made from Time-Aphid skin and an alchemical formula, the completion level still doesn't reach Abyssal (Apollyon)... Being a doctor is really hard."
Complaining softly, she habitually lifted her legs onto the square table in front of the sofa.
At the moment, Fran was wearing a thin set of casual home clothes, not her doctor's coat or winter socks. One could see the delicate, fair skin of her legs, and several black sutures covering them. The nails on her toes were lustrous and translucent, faintly reflecting the yellowish light of the room lamp.
Although it was deep winter, as long as Sigrid stayed in the room, the entire space wouldn't feel cold... even saving on the fireplace.
The payment for March had already been collected and identified by her in the operating room.
[Disintegration Generator (73% Damaged)]
[Quality: Fine]
[Effect: Uses a high-energy entity as a power source to activate 'The Light of the Return Pivot.' The damage to this instrument 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 the Dawn Lord, Bondrewd. Although Fran liked this instrument very much, it was a consumable item that would break after one use, which was truly regrettable... It had put Fran in a less-than-ideal mood recently.
Most importantly, she wasn't familiar with the mechanical technology principles of the Abyssal Depths. Even though she could deconstruct it from a higher-level perspective using Necron concepts, significant technical barriers remained.
What Fran held more of was technology related to Abyssal creatures. But there was no Abyss-like environment here for field-testing the "Ascension Curse," nor were there living Abyssal creatures for her to study.
Therefore, her research on the Abyssal Depths had long been in a state of suspension...
"Enough. There's no substantial progress in the research on Time-Aphids yet, and The Mystery of Time isn't finished... Let's focus on this aspect first."
As she spoke, Fran picked up a thick leather-bound scripture, precisely the Whiskered Tree scripture The Mystery of Time. She had not only transcribed a copy for Albert but also made an extra one for her daily reading.
Although she had memorized the scripture's content, she still preferred to deepen her understanding by reading.
"Its roots spread into the earth's marrow, its branches obscure the heavens. The prosperity and might of the Ancient Banyan are endless; it brought life and hope to thousands of children without blood ties... until its veins soaked into the flow of time."
"Baseless fanaticism followed, dispelling the halo of reason that once surrounded It."
While flipping through the scripture, Fran also wrote down her insights and understanding of this old deity in her diary.
[Records related to the 'Temporal Ancient Banyan' (Part Four).]
[The principle the Ancient Banyan masters and upholds is not 'Time' but 'Prosperity.' The time authority it holds originates from the Time-Aphids nourished by its own flesh and blood. It is known that Time-Aphids once triggered a calamity during the Dust Order Era, but it was ultimately eradicated by the Children of the Whiskered Tree Simultaneously, the main lineage of the Whiskered Tree Children was also wiped out.]
[Time-Aphids, Children of the Whiskered Tree, Mistletoe... It can be inferred that the Temporal Ancient Banyan has three or more types of parasites. And its fruit, 'Shadow of the Future,' is not the main body of the banyan tree. Judging by its form, that is the fruit of the Mistletoe. Perhaps the Ancient Banyan is using its own parasites to transform the time authority contained within the Time-Aphids.]
[Also, there are picking marks on the Mistletoe near the secret box, suggesting the fruit might not be unique. If this speculation holds, it indicates the thief from Gormouth back then did not leave empty-handed.]
Just as Fran was immersed in her late-night reading, a warm, soft blanket was draped over her back.
"Dr. Fran, the temperature is still dropping these days. Remember to wear more clothes..."
Sigrid's reminder sounded by her ear. At the same time, a cup of hot cocoa wafting warm steam was placed before her.
Oh, Sigrid is so thoughtful. She's actually worried I might catch a cold...
"It's not cold inside. One layer of clothing is enough."
Even as she said this, Fran wrapped herself in the blanket. Although not a necessity, it did significantly enhance comfort.
She picked up the cup of hot cocoa, took a small sip, and then placed it back on the square table.
"I haven't finished this book yet. Sit here with me for a while, Sigrid."
"Mmm."
Sigrid had originally planned to work on the design drafts for a few crafted items, but upon hearing the request, she obediently came and sat down beside Fran. Even in her normal state, her body temperature was slightly higher than an average person's, and she could almost passively maintain a warm temperature around her.
Fran methodically turned the pages of the Whiskered Tree scripture in her hand, while Sigrid sat quite obediently beside her, dutifully acting as a heating source...
Hmm... The Mystery of Time also records several medicinal recipes using Time-Aphid honeydew and blood as spiritual ingredients. I can try preparing and modifying them later.
As the rustling sound of Fran turning pages gradually ceased.
Without her noticing, she had closed her eyes, her lashes lowered, falling asleep on the sofa while maintaining her reclined position.
---
Secret-Hunters Cult.
Inside the equipment room, Haida was performing routine maintenance and upkeep on the power sword "Nirvana." Although adamantium material didn't have issues like oxidation or rust, proper dust prevention and cleaning were still necessary.
Besides, doing this seemed to put Nirvana in a good "mood."
At the same time, Haida felt the power sword in her hand seemed somewhat different from before.
Although it was just a change in aura, subtle and hard to detect. But for a Secret-Hunter, the ritual weapon in hand was a "comrade-in-arms" shared day and night; she could easily notice every slight change.
Was it because it absorbed a large amount of Ancient Banyan and Time-Aphid spirituality in the library ruins?
She gently wiped the blade, carefully sensing it for a long time before sheathing it on her back again.
Firearms, magazines, folding knives—almost every available space within Haida's tight-fitting nun's robes was loaded with weapons. But unfortunately, she didn't have any important hunting missions to carry out recently...
The Red Cup's Cup Servants had already fled, and other secret cults were mostly lying low in fear. The public order in Norlington during this period was very good.
And precisely because of this, Haida had leisure time for training.
Consuming the fruit called "Shadow of the Future," besides allowing her to briefly summon her future phantom, had also granted her a portion of mysterious knowledge from the future. This included the first-category, middle-tier secret art [Cinder Incarnation] used by the last Burial Primus.
Although it was only a portion, insufficient to directly form a secret art model, it could greatly shorten her study time.
Knock, knock.
The sound of knuckles lightly tapping the door frame sounded. A moment later, Vivian pushed the door open and walked in.
This equipment room was exclusively for Haida's squad, usually only used by her and Vivian, so entering directly wasn't considered rude.
"Sister Haida, I went to the General Affairs Division to check today's task assignment. The content is 'Interrogation.'"
As she spoke, Vivian rubbed her slightly reddened eyes. Dark circles were visible, suggesting she had stayed up late last night.
It wasn't due to any proper reason like a night patrol, but because she had finally found Confidential Division Secret Investigator III from a certain bookseller.
She had first encountered this series with the second volume, having neither the prequel nor the sequel, which was truly vexing. Now, excited by the find, she couldn't resist reading late into the night, only falling asleep deep into the night...
"Interrogation..." Haida thought for a moment, then inquired about the specifics.
"The subjects are?"
"Two survivors from the Star Chart Research Society. Ms. Marian performed 'Initial Parasite Removal Surgery' on them. However, the Cistanche affects the brain; they only recently recovered to a state where communication is possible."
"One is a gardener who worships [The Constructed Flower], the other is a, well... poet? who worships [The Mourning White Dove]."
When mentioning the latter's profession, Vivian thought for a few seconds before saying it. In this era, people who purely work as poets are indeed very rare...
Haida nodded slightly, then took the detailed task sheet from Vivian to check the specifics.
Both had attended the Star Chart Research Society for the first time, originally intending to exchange information. But they were caught off guard by the attack. If no accident had occurred that day, they would undoubtedly have also become breeding grounds for Cistanche.
In a way, it was Fran's attendance that allowed them to survive.
"I understand, let's go."
After reading through it once, Haida folded the task sheet she received and placed it in a pocket of her nun's robes.
This routine interrogation would be conducted by her and Vivian as the lead interrogators. And coincidentally... she was indeed very interested in what happened that night at the Mandala Tavern.
...
Inside the dim interrogation room, only a single candle lamp provided illumination. The light was dim and flickering, cramped and full of pressure.
Within the room, aside from chairs and a square table, there were no other furnishings. Everything was cast from metal, fused tightly with the metal floor.
This measure was to prevent some interrogatees from suddenly grabbing chairs as weapons... The Secret-Hunters always maintained an almost stringent caution regarding "safety" and "control."
Palitzer sat on one side of the square table, feeling somewhat nervous as he waited. Because his identity was not that of a prisoner, he currently had no restraints or shackles on him. Otherwise, he would at least have to wear secret art manacles inscribed with [Severing Rite] to meet with the interrogators.
Of course, he wasn't foolishly thinking of escaping from here.
The interrogation room was located within the Secret-Hunters headquarters, with fully armed Secret-Hunters outside. Among them were veteran hunters from the Burial Court, even supervisors... Under such circumstances, attempting a forced escape would be rather foolish.
Strictly speaking, he was also a victim of the Star Chart Research Society incident. As long as he cooperated with the investigation, he could leave.
Haa— Palitzer tried his best to steady his breathing, wanting to relax his tense mental state a little. But the moment he recalled what happened in the tavern that night, fear couldn't help but spread from his heart.
The steel bone limbs extending from the spine, the rain of minced flesh and blood when the Doorkeeper's upper body was shattered, and that gray gauze robe embroidered with lamp light and moths...
Click.
The metal door of the interrogation room opened.
Haida walked slowly to the opposite side of Palitzer's table and then took a seat.
"Hello, Mr. Palitzer."
"Affiliated with the 'Mourning Song Choir,' a poet from the northern country of Loredon, Sappho City. Has been residing in Norlington for 11 months. Recently captured by the Red Cup Disciple who controlled the Star Chart Research Society. Is there anything you need to add?"
Out of habit, she verified Palitzer's identity information once more.
"No, Interrogator Ma'am. You probably know this information better than I do myself."
Palitzer shook his head. At the same time, he felt inexplicably relieved.
Thankfully, the person in charge of the interrogation wasn't a hot-tempered middle-aged man, nor a gloomy, depressed old hunter... and didn't seem like a crow from the Confidential Division either.
"Mmm." It was just a casual question anyway. Haida quickly moved on to the main topic.
"First question, why did you come to Norlington? Sappho is not close to here at all."
If the person before her was a tight-lipped hardliner, she would need to break down their psychological defenses bit by bit through indirect means—something Haida wasn't very experienced in. However, Dr. Fran was probably quite adept at such things...
But clearly, Palitzer was willing to cooperate. This made Haida's job much simpler; she just needed to keep asking questions.
This question wasn't unexpected for Palitzer; it was part of the standard inquiry procedure.
"I was seeking an opportunity to touch the Second Step. A poet wanting to find inspiration must personally experience and see the world..."
His tone was quite sincere and also somewhat embarrassed. Among the Mourning Song Disciples, his talent wasn't particularly high; otherwise, he wouldn't have been captured without any resistance.
Haida nodded, then signaled the Confidential Division 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?"
"A while ago, I was responsible for live music at the Mandala Tavern, playing tunes and such. Midway, I received an invitation from Mr. Schmidt. I heard it was just an ordinary occult gathering, so I wanted to see if I could exchange information and secret art knowledge there..."
+++
T/N: Hey readers~! New Translator here! Before I say anything, I'd first like to thank the original author for creating this wonderful story. Without them, I wouldn't have the chance to share this adventure with you. I hope my translation does justice to their work, and that together, we can enjoy this story.
With that said, I'm happy to let you know I'll be uploading daily chapters. And for those who wish to support my work and gain early access, I've set up a Patreon where advanced chapters will be available.
[email protected]/PeakTL