"Oh?"
Sidonia's gaze shifted slightly at Fran's unexpected statement. But her expression remained as indifferent as ever, not showing any particular reaction.
"If you knew my name from the beginning, why pretend not to know at first?"
After posing this question, she didn't wait for Fran's explanation. Instead, she sighed and began speaking to herself.
"Perhaps, as you say, you truly are not a disciple of the Stellar Abyss Society. I smell the scent of ancient carapace-kind on you... But I am also not interested in night-moths who play with lies and desires, human."
"Even if you really are a doctor, I do not need any form of treatment... For a prisoner of the Sands of Slumber Bell Tower, health is utterly unimportant."
Her emotional state was rather peculiar.
At times, she was as arrogant and imposing as an ancient noble; at other times, she seemed like a lonely, trapped maiden, filled with weariness and sorrow.
"Night-moth scent?"
Hearing this, Fran raised her sleeve to her nose, sniffed lightly, then showed an understanding expression.
A few days ago, while treating Edros of the Moon's Favored, the plague within his bones and blood was transformed and assimilated by the pure moth-element of the Carapace Kind, turning into a state like scales or powder.
While shaking off those scales, the scent belonging to the ancient Carapace Kind had clung to her.
"That's a remnant from the last house call; please do not mind it, Lady Sidonia."
She lightly waved her hand, dispersing some of the scent lingering on her sleeve.
However, she did not activate [Drive Away Dust and Filth] to completely cleanse it.
"Regarding your condition, I already have a preliminary understanding... Please do not avoid treatment out of fear of illness. Additionally, since the medical service is my initiative, I will not charge you any extra consultation fees."
Hearing Fran's statement, a hint of surprise also appeared on Sidonia's expression.
This self-proclaimed doctor before her not only had a bewildering and inexplicable train of thought, but also carried an almost stubborn persistence.
And that was indeed the reality.
Fran would never give up on such a high-quality experimental subject that practically fell into her lap. The trigger mechanism for the Fog Street emergency consultation was similar to "trauma team" protocols, with quite stringent requirements.
The last time she encountered it was during a cross-dimensional house call when she first entered the warp aboard a Dark Age of Technology vessel... Back then, she glimpsed a vast, cold black sun in the infinite distance.
Simultaneously, it triggered her first emergency consultation rated "above the Abyss," the "Revelation (Revelation)."
But at that time, Fran couldn't leave the ship's Gellar Field, let alone travel to the specific location in the material universe where that warp projection manifested. And even if she could truly arrive before its throne, it would likely be difficult to completely cure the other party.
Therefore, she could only watch, with regret and sorrowful tears, as the consultation time ticked away...
Dispelling that unpleasant memory from her mind, Fran spoke again.
"Let's start with the symptoms that have a stronger physical sensation and are easier to perceive. 'Spiritual Exhaustion Syndrome.' Lady Sidonia, do you always feel weak and fatigued when channeling spiritual energy, often accompanied by a wilting of spiritual perception?"
Hearing the words of the person before her, Sidonia's gaze sharpened slightly. Even the tentacles curled beneath her formal skirt momentarily stopped moving.
"You... are you really a doctor?"
Her previously confident tone now carried a hint of uncertainty.
Her condition was indeed deteriorating year by year, probably due to being trapped in the Sea Ridge secret realm for a long time and having her blood siphoned by a ritual every full moon. The endless sense of loneliness was almost tearing her personality apart, making her want to split off another existence to keep herself company.
But she had never shown weakness in front of the Stellar Abyss Society's people; they absolutely couldn't have detected this. So why could this person before her grasp her situation so easily? Moreover, she carried the scent of the Carapace Kind...
Fran seemed to have anticipated the change in Sidonia's attitude. She responded lightly and calmly.
"Being a doctor is my most important main profession; that is beyond doubt. I can even show you the physician's license issued by the Secrets-Hunter Cult. Oh, but my part-time role there is a coroner..."
"So, Lady Sidonia, are you now willing to cooperate with me for the first phase of treatment?"
As she spoke, she actually did take out that coroner's certificate from the Secrets-Hunters from her sleeve.
"But... all this is meaningless."
In an instant, the authoritative, imposing light in Sidonia's eyes gradually became ethereal and gentle.
She no longer even cared about the dignity and image of a Heyl noble. She curled up her legs, wrapping her arms around her knees, and squatted on the pale throne forged from jagged bone. The pale ankles bound by secret ritual shackles beneath her flower-adorned skirt were exposed.
Her state was like that of a young girl seeking a sense of security.
It was a change on the level of "impression." Haida even felt that the current Sidonia was not the same person as before.
"A me without illness would merely become a more valuable prisoner for the Stellar Abyss Society. Death is not frightening; countless of my kin have already embraced death. The reason I am still alive is only so that the Heyl line does not completely die out."
Upon hearing this, Fran shook her slender index finger slightly and began to guide patiently once more.
"Dear patient, please don't be so quick to refuse. It seems you have some misunderstanding about me. In fact, my treatment indicators for patients don't only consider physical health; good mental state is equally important."
"What if I could let you leave the Sands of Slumber Bell Tower? For a prisoner trapped in a cage, freedom will also be a good medicine."
Upon hearing the word "leave," the daze in Sidonia's eyes quickly cleared. She seemed to revert to her previous imposing, solemn state.
"You cannot possibly do that."
"This secret realm is formed from a Heyl palace stripped from reality, and I am the core that maintains the entire secret realm's existence. If I attempt to escape, the spiritual elements of the secret realm will become chaotic and collapse, burying all living things within."
Fran's expression remained as calm as ever; the smile at the corner of her lips didn't change at all.
"Before declaring something 'impossible,' I still hope you can reconsider my proposal."
"This is a gamble with the simplest rules. Win, take all; lose, die together. Your life, mine, and the lives of my three companions here, along with a Calling Bird, will all become the stakes. The outcome is either everyone happy, or no one survives."
As she said this, she could feel a surge of scorching excitement climbing up her spine, and a faint flush rose on her cheeks.
"...How do I know you're not a suicidal maniac?"
Looking at the fervent light in Fran's amber eyes, even Sidonia couldn't suppress her emotional turbulence.
The other party's pure, unadulterated sense of pleasure even gave her the eerie illusion that this person before her was the mythical creature.
This self-proclaimed doctor named Fran seemed to have no fear and genuinely enjoyed the feeling of staking her life.
"Lady Sidonia. If you truly do not fear death, then there is no reason to refuse my proposal. Do you wish to remain imprisoned here until your spiritual energy completely fails, or... trust a stranger to seize this chance to escape from this prison?"
Subtly, Fran had already used her words and demeanor to guide Sidonia's emotions.
The other party's questioning just now meant this ancient mythical creature was already tempted. Her originally placid state of mind had been pried open; she would ultimately agree to cooperate with her "treatment."
Haida, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, suddenly felt a slight tug on her clothes.
She turned to see Vivian behind her, lips tightly pressed, her gaze uneasy.
This Confidential Division agent still hadn't figured out how an infiltration mission had suddenly turned into a situation requiring "staking their lives as chips"... and Dr. Fran had staked her own life without even a moment's hesitation.
"Don't worry."
Haida simply gently stroked her hair in reassurance.
Compared to Vivian, Sister Haida understood Fran much more deeply. She knew this doctor always aimed for maximum control over events and disliked taking unnecessary, meaningless risks.
If she dared to stake everything in a high-stakes gamble, it was probably after thoroughly reading her opponent's mind, using the most precise methods to cheat...
After pondering for a moment, Sidonia nodded, granting this persistent doctor her consent.
"Then, what do you plan to do, Dr. Fran?"
"It's simple."
"Since you cannot leave the secret realm, we take the entire thing away. After that, you will no longer be the core of the secret realm, no longer bound to the palace to maintain its stability."
Seeing her show agreement, Fran then proceeded to explain the specific plan methodically.
In fact, even if Sidonia ultimately chose to refuse... she would still do this. Seeking consent was just a procedural habit.
Although she had mentally prepared herself, hearing Fran's words, Sidonia still couldn't help but feel astonished.
To ingest and transfer a secret realm of this scale in a short time required at least a disciple of the Six-Eyed Crow... Had she already stepped into the sixth level? Was that why she had given her the strange feeling of not being human earlier?
"Time is of the essence; let's begin."
Fran flexed her knuckles, then added a word of caution.
"During this process, please, Lady Sidonia, try to transfer control of the secret realm to me as much as possible. Do not resist, and maintain the stability of the surrounding spiritual elements."
"Mm."
Sidonia agreed solemnly.
As the preparations were fully complete, the bladed caudal vertebrae of the Chimera Spine 'Sphinx' extended from beneath Fran's doctor's coat, cleanly making a cut on her slender wrist.
Crimson blood flowed over her fair skin, then dripped to the ground, transforming into wisps of pale, cold mist.
Almost instantly, the vast Sea Ridge Palace was enveloped in a veil-like curtain of mist; the outlines of everything became blurred and distant.
A clear, soft chant then sounded.
"Door, riddle, key. The twilight shrouding the end surges endlessly. Stars entwine like eyes; thin gloom as thoughts."
"I desire to witness."
"I desire to seek."
"I desire to understand."
Pausing here, Fran stopped, not continuing further. It seemed there was more to the prayer, but she did not utter it.
As the ritual array, taking the form of mist, began to activate and operate, the entire secret realm started to tremble as if in an earthquake.
Some dark seawater even breached the palace's confines and flowed in, but this trend was quickly suppressed by Sidonia.
She could feel her control over the secret realm... being seized by an irresistible force.
This "doctor" named Fran was not lying; she truly possessed the ability to transfer the secret realm, and compared to the methods of a Raven-Feather disciple, it was even more efficient.
As this ritual of unknown name took effect, the anchor point of the secret realm at the Sands of Slumber Bell Tower was pried loose. As the mist curtain, which should not exist in the abyssal sea, completely enveloped the entire palace, this Heyl seafloor city was completely wrapped into Fog Street.
"Phew..."
Sidonia let out a breath, her gaze slightly unfocused.
During the transfer, the spiritual elements of the entire secret realm underwent severe chaos. She almost exhausted all her strength to prevent it from collapsing.
This ancient mythical creature had almost forgotten when she last struggled so desperately. And also... why she had so rashly agreed to cooperate with Fran just now, inexplicably staking her life as a chip.
"Lady Sidonia, you are no longer bound by this secret realm. This is the content of the 'first treatment phase' I promised."
Fran pinched her index finger and thumb together, making a light tracing motion over the wound on her wrist.
The wound closed like a zipper, leaving a black suture line. Then she took out a handkerchief and wiped away the crimson blood that had flowed down her forearm to her elbow.
"You... are you a 'disciple' of the Night-Moths?"
Feeling the long-absent sense of relief at the psychic level, Sidonia had already begun to regard the person before her with importance. Or rather... awe.
The scent of Carapace Kind molting scales, the steel-forged spinal bone emerging from within her body, and an inscrutable, strange attitude—perhaps this person before her was a being that, like herself, had survived from ancient times.
"You're asking too many questions, Lady Sidonia. Answering such inquiries requires an additional fee."
Fran neither confirmed nor denied this.
The positioning of the Hermit's disguised identity was indeed similar to a Night-Moth disciple. But now was during an official medical procedure. Therefore, her answer to all questions about her identity would be only one thing.
Namely, "doctor."
"Can you remove the secret ritual shackles yourself? I'm not in good condition now; it would be difficult for me to do it for you."
Fran's face was now pale as paper; her whole person had reverted to that sickly state.
Clearly, taking away a secret realm of this scale had cost her too much blood and spiritual energy. To the extent that her tone carried a hint of weariness and lethargy. If not for her persistent determination to continue treatment, she might have fallen asleep on the spot.
Haida noticed her weakness and stepped forward to take her arm, supporting her steadily.
"...Mm."
With a sense of unreality, as if in a dream, Sidonia gently lifted her pearl-colored formal skirt.
A nearly transparent tentacle slipped into the gap between the skin of her ankle and the secret ritual shackle, almost effortlessly tearing it apart.
Now, the core maintaining the secret realm's existence had shifted from this mythical creature to Fog Street outside reality. Therefore, even after she severed the ritual connection to the palace, it would no longer collapse.
The shackles were gone, no longer bound. An unprecedented sense of comfort enveloped her.
Even her gloomy spiritual energy seemed to regain vitality.
Before proceeding to the next phase of treatment, Fran gently leaned her face close to Haida's ear behind her and whispered a few words.
The sister, understanding, reached into the pocket of her doctor's coat and took out a letter.
She flicked her wrist, dropping the letter. As it was about to hit the floor, it blurred and then fell into somewhere outside Fog Street.
...
Sands of Slumber Bell Tower.
Sensing the massive spiritual tremor echoing from beneath the tower base, the Tide-Listeners rushed to the location of the massive stone door at their fastest speed.
During this, Wolfturn walked with hurried steps, his face ashen, his back unknowingly soaked with cold sweat.
Damn it, I knew those fools from the Gailethson Royal Court would cause trouble! The Society shouldn't have tolerated Prince Gunther's quirk all along, indulging him in harassing that Heyl noble... He keeps so many non-human monster girls; aren't they enough for him?
A spiritual disturbance of this scale was a precursor to the entire secret realm tending towards collapse. What on earth did those three do to drive her to the point of having to perish together?
Upon arriving at the tower's base and seeing the scene before him, Wolfturn's expression uncontrollably fell into a stupor, difficult to calm for a long time.
The secret realm behind the massive stone door... was gone. Only an empty room covered in prayers remained.
Thinking of the possible accountability afterward, his entire body's muscles trembled. Then, as if possessed, he stepped into the room that should have connected to the seafloor city ruins.
A solitary, brief letter lay on the ground.
[To the Esteemed Members of the Stellar Abyss Society,]
[Thank you for your safekeeping from the Order of Dust era until now. The pearl you imprisoned at the bottom of the Sands of Slumber Bell Tower, I have taken into my collection. Additionally, please convey to the Six-Eyed Crow Cult... that when the moon is full this month, I shall steal the hidden treasures concealed by the Crow under the shadow of the moon.]
[— Vivian.]
It could be seen that the letter was also adorned with a piece of glossy, pitch-black crow feather.
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