As Auren and Vanessa get nearer to the shacks used as a temporary field hospital for all serious injuries related to the wilderness—not work accidents—a woman wearing a full-body-covering medical suit and a mask approaches them. "This is the special medical zone—it's quarantined, please back off."
However, as she stares at Auren, her face soon grows pale. "Excuse me, Vice-Leader, I didn't recognise you. Please go ahead. I'll escort you to the boss."
"It's fine. Who's the boss anyway? An Elder?" Auren inquires.
"Dr. Bafu," the woman replies. "One of our senior members in charge of hospital duty. He's not an Elder, but he's a genius doctor, and it wouldn't surprise me if he becomes one sooner or later. I've heard every Elder on this mission has vouched for his character and skills."
She keeps walking, speaking quickly, seemingly enjoying gossiping. "I've been told he's quite famous in the Republic, which makes it even more admirable that he sacrificed all his fortune and his fame to join our cause," she explains, leading them forward, close to reaching the shacks.
"I guess so," Auren says, seemingly agreeing with her.
That isn't necessarily something noble. He could have a certain obsession, or he could be aiming for power to take revenge. Maybe he hates the V5. Whatever—so long as he's loyal, I don't care. However, making assumptions is always risky and may end up leading you down the wrong path. This woman talks too much.
A few minutes later, they arrive at one of the shacks. Inside, Auren sees a large wall made out of thick plastic curtains, completely separating the shack into two halves. One side has many desks with various equipment on them. Around half a dozen people wearing white medical suits—revealing no skin, the suits completely covering them—are busy working with different instruments, clearly focused on their job.
"They are researching... a disease? Poison?" Auren mutters.
"Various things," the woman replies. "Some of the victims have been bitten by animals and various insects and have been infected by something. One scout has lost a leg after a wolf bit him. His body is also infected." Her tone turns grim. "A few more people got poisoned by dangerous plants. I could go on. The people here are all carrying at least one disease, in addition to other injuries they may have sustained."
She gestures lightly towards the sealed-off side, taking a few steps toward it. "We are currently researching all these cases, and we've taken sufficient samples to continue our research. Honestly, though, after we received information about your arrival—while we still want to learn about these things—we focused on keeping the patients alive. It was Dr. Bafu's orders."
She pauses, then continues, trying to explain herself and their morals.
"We can research the diseases after our patients are saved. As I said, we have ample samples. Despite aiming for the greater good of Hollow Blade, individual survival is valued as much as scientific research. We did our best to keep these patients alive for as long as humanly possible. I beg you, save them."
"That's good to hear..." Auren says, nodding along. "Of course, I'll save them, that's why I'm here."
Hmm. That she feels the need to point that out might be concerning to some people... but I guess the world is a cruel place. I can't fault Hollow Blade regarding their behaviour. Their approach this time seems commendable. It might sound cruel, but both things mentioned are important. A careful balance is required... we can't risk months of progress to save just one worker. On the other hand, we can't sacrifice people without blinking an eye. The current decision-making seems to make sense. I want to meet this Dr. Bafu.
"I want to know more. Bring me to the doctor," Auren orders, staring at her, causing the woman to immediately spring into action.
"Yes, the doctor will tell you the details," the woman says, pressing forward hurriedly.
As they arrive in front of the wall separating the building, she hands them both masks and similar medical suits—the kind she and the other workers are currently wearing—able to completely cover their bodies. "Please put on a suit as well," she says, pointing towards a few folded suits on a desk.
Though not strictly required, as he can simply heal himself, Auren takes a suit regardless and quickly puts it on over his clothes, Vanessa doing the same, only slightly slower, struggling to pull it over her sizable curves.
"So... tight..." she complains.
Finally, her body pressed into a suit, she briefly lifts her mask and smiles at Auren. "How do I look? Like a Doctor from all these medical movies or dramas? Do you want to be nursed back to good health by Dr. Vanessa?"
"You best be studying some medicine, I fear you'll need it in the future... with your character, you're bound to get in a lot of trouble," Auren dismissively replies.
Why do I enjoy this bickering? It really feels a little like having an older sister.
She sticks out her tongue at him before pulling the mask back over her face.
"How old are you?!" Auren asks himself, unable to believe her childish display.
"I'm still in my mid twenties, the best part of a woman's life, don't think mentioning age is gonna affect me," she says, huffing.
I was insinuating that she behaves childishly... looks like she is indeed worrying about her age. What a silly woman.
Finally, they enter through the curtain, which turns out to lead into a small hollow area in between both sections—an enclosed space that properly seals them in as they're sprayed by a small stream of vapour through certain holes. A few seconds later, completely disinfected, as they exit the chamber onto the other side, Auren immediately sees multiple beds, with exactly ten patients in total. A few doctors and nurses are tending to them.
A large, very tall man stands near one of them, wearing a black lab coat, but not a medical suit whatsoever. However, to Auren's shock, he wears what looks to be a voodoo mask, seemingly made out of wood, with colorful feathers adorning it. He stands in front of a bed where a woman lies, looking frail, with barely any colour in her face, barely managing to stay conscious, with multiple IVs attached to her.
Gyo!
With his Aura focused on his eyes, Auren can't help himself from staring at the mask. Though he suspects it, he can't confirm whether it was created with Conjuration or is a real object.
Is that mask real? It feels special... either it's an item that would fit right into my collection, or... it's conjured.However, I can tell one thing for certain. That man is a skilled Nen user.
Upon seeing Auren and Vanessa, the man quickly approaches them, stepping in front of Auren and towering over both of them.
"Damn... he's tall!" Vanessa mutters behind her mask. "You don't scare me!" she adds, raising her fists.
Slightly annoyed by Vanessa's reaction, Auren smacks her on the butt, causing her to jump into the air.
"Excuse my... student for her silly reaction," Auren says. "I'm Auren. I've been told you are Dr. Bafu, the senior member directly selected by the Elders—currently in charge of this facility and the patients inside?"
"Indeed, Vice-Leader," he says, suddenly taking off his mask, holding it in one hand, and bowing down towards him.
His skin is very dark, and his eyes are light brown, almost glowing in the artificial light of the temporary field hospital. After taking in the man's appearance, which makes him look like a very handsome and kind man in his late thirties, Auren can't help but stare at his exposed arms and face for a moment.
I see... his skin. How? Everyone else is wearing full body suits.
"You are not... wearing a suit or a mask?" Auren asks, slightly confused by his behaviour.
"My mask... is my Hatsu," he says, grinning slightly, revealing extremely white and well-cared-for teeth. "It protects me from various diseases, even if I take it off for a moment. More importantly, it lets me see them as well, so I'll be fine."
"It lets you... see them?" Auren questions him. "That sounds like a very specific use."
"Not only them... but much more," Dr. Bafu adds, an air of mystery surrounding the man.
He's not too eager to reveal his full Nen abilities. I guess I can understand. I'll ask him later.
"Well, I'll accept that explanation," Auren responds. "And I can feel that you are a skilled Nen user. Even if you're only half as good a doctor, I'll trust you."
"It's the other way around," Dr. Bafu says, his tone calm and measured, not trying to sound arrogant. "I only care about my medical abilities—my Nen ability is just auxiliary, merely a tool to increase my capacity as a doctor and researcher."
I see....
"Briefly tell me the situation," Auren orders. "There is no need to let the patients suffer any longer."
"An admirable suggestion. I'll walk you through our cases here. There are a few more patients in the other buildings, but they're relatively simple, though their injuries are anything but," Dr. Bafu explains. "The victims there are not in danger of dying, but some of them are crippled and severely wounded."
"Why... are they kept outside the main city, inside the shack, if they're fine and not in danger of dying and not carrying diseases? Just put them somewhere more comfortable, or even ship them back home," Vanessa asks, immediately suggesting a solution.
"It's not a completely unwarranted question," Auren adds.
"See! I am useful!" Vanessa remarks proudly. "I'm sure you're glad you brought your smart older sister along."
"Don't overdo it," Auren says, immediately regretting praising her. "Even I can think of a reason. Is it about panic?"
"Indeed, young Vice-Leader. You are not only talented and blessed with a miraculous power, but also wise and knowledgeable," Dr. Bafu muses. "It's an order from the Elders. If people saw their horrific injuries—their bodies half-eaten, crippled, skin torn off, their minds broken, their bodies put through the purgatory of the wild—it would destroy morale." His voice stays even, almost clinical. "Fear spreads faster than any disease. We can't have that."
"Purgatory of the what now?" Vanessa asks sceptically, as she glances at Auren, who glares at her. "I... I'll shut up."
"Walk me through each case!" Auren commands.
Time to get to work.
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