After reading this highly provocative letter, Wolfturn's pupils instantly constricted.
The surroundings were utterly silent; even the beating of his heart in his chest became clearly audible.
Snap out of it, snap out of it, damn it! Wolfturn, think about how to fix this...
The Sands of Slumber Bell Tower in Moldway imprisoned the only pure-blooded noble of the Heyl Sirens. Moreover, the foundation of that Sea Ridge secret realm was the ruins of a massive city at the bottom of the Abyssal Sea, containing countless secret ritual knowledge, which was crucial for the entire Stellar Abyss Society...
It was foreseeable just how enraged the decision-makers, the astrologers, would be.
Coincidentally, he was the one who let those three people in today. If held directly accountable, he would be squarely to blame.
By then, being exiled to those chaotic, lawless borderlands to fill the frontlines would probably be the best outcome. If things turned worse, he might even be publicly executed to set an example.
Why is it always me encountering these dreadful misfortunes? Last month's full moon in Foy Port, there was an inexplicable anomaly. Barely back in Moldway, and now someone infiltrated the core of the Sands of Slumber Bell Tower and made off with the entire secret realm...
"Hiss..."
Wolfturn anxiously bit his thumbnail, taking a long, deep breath of damp, cool air.
No matter what, he had to find a way to avoid primary responsibility. Or at least divert the decision-makers' attention to external threats... to buy himself some room to maneuver and negotiate.
Holding onto this idea, he gradually calmed down and began to carefully consider the detailed contents of the letter.
That person actually had the capacity to leave a notice after pulling off such a shocking feat, which meant the power she wielded must be extraordinary.
Even a high priest of the fifth level, with divine blessings, could never possibly move an entire ruin secret realm in such a short time...
The most suspicious, without a doubt, were those thieves of the Six-Eyed Crow.
They were extremely fond of planning such sensational and shocking thefts, and the disciples under that system indeed had the powerful operational capability to turn concepts into reality.
But the letter also said, "Please convey to the Six-Eyed Crow that I will take their hidden treasures during this month's full moon." On the surface, this seemed like a clumsy trick used by the Crows to distance themselves.
However, would an arrogant disciple capable of stealing a secret realm really play such a lowly trick as "covering one's ears while stealing a bell"?
And that signature, Vivian?
A completely unfamiliar name. Six-Eyed Crow disciples usually used parts of their deity's body as codenames. Could this be her real name? But what thief would leave their real name after a theft? That was just too brazen...
"M-Mr. Wolfturn, what should we do now?"
Just as he was still deep in thought, a Starseer beside him, equally shocked, finally snapped back to reality and asked his superior somewhat frantically.
"Notify Society headquarters. Tell them a Six-Eyed Crow disciple may have infiltrated the Sands of Slumber Bell Tower."
After pondering for a moment, Wolfturn gave the order.
Such a major event, which would definitely be discovered, was absolutely impossible to conceal; attempting to do so would be sheer folly.
What he needed to do was report everything as truthfully as possible, while subtly strengthening the description of the infiltrator in his report.
For example, change "I believed they were royal court attendants sent by Gunther, therefore I let them pass," to "The other party may have used some secret art, causing all guards to firmly believe in their identity as royal court attendants, leading to them being let through."
If the adversary was of the same level as himself, then the reason for the infiltration could only be his own negligence. But if that fellow was an ancient Raven-Feather disciple... even if he had sensed something wrong, he would have been powerless to resist.
If a soldier ant fails to repel the invasion of other insects, that is undoubtedly the soldier ant's fault. But if the opponent is a human carrying a flamethrower... then the matter has nothing to do with the tiny soldier ant.
Only after his subordinate Star-Tellers completed the scene inspection and wrote a detailed situation report did Wolfturn finally let out the heavy, stifled breath in his chest.
Now, all he could do was pray.
Pray that the higher-ups wouldn't vent their anger on him, or that they weren't too eager to find a scapegoat to take responsibility for the entire incident.
But who exactly was that lady named Vivian? Taking away the entire Sea Ridge secret realm without warning, this was a feat absolutely unreachable by mere mortals.
Mastering the forbidden secret arts of the Raven-Feather system, yet not aligning with the believers of the Six-Eyed Crow...
Could it be... the Secrets-Hunters' 'Confidential Primus'?
—
Fog Street.
Escape from the cage, regain freedom—this had been Sidonia's long-cherished wish since the Lost Age.
When it truly arrived, she couldn't help but feel a weight lifted from her shoulders. The burden pressing on her heart vanished like smoke, and for a moment, she nearly wept with relief.
Although the curse of the Abyssal Sea still existed, and the decline of the Heyl Sirens was nearly certain... at least... she had escaped the endless imprisonment of the Sands of Slumber Bell Tower, avoiding utter despair in the lightless darkness.
As long as she lived, the Heyl line was not yet extinct.
But following the sense of liberation came intense confusion and bewilderment.
Judging by the current state of this doctor named Fran, the cost of freeing her from the palace ruins was probably not small. But why did she do this? What exactly did she seek?
From beginning to end, this doctor had not revealed her true purpose.
A thread of worry sprouted within Sidonia.
Judging by the strange mist curtain that seized the entire ruined city, she had at least stepped into the sixth level, symbolizing a disciple, but which deity she followed remained unknown.
A being of that level... her current state could only be described as "at their mercy" before them.
Although Fran had said earlier she wouldn't demand payment, if she were a disciple of the Night-Moths, then her promises were utterly untrustworthy.
With this in mind, she slowly raised her head to look at the doctor below the throne.
At this moment, Haida was holding a blood bag, while Fran had slightly opened the collar of her doctor's coat, revealing her fair neck and collarbone.
A transparent tube and needle were inserted into her subclavian vein, slowly transfusing blood.
After the precedent at the Dreamslumber Flowers Hotel, Fran had specifically stored several bags of her own plasma in her medical kit to replenish lost bodily fluids and spiritual energy when necessary.
Following the transfusion of three bags of autologous plasma, her complexion quickly improved, no longer as pale and cold as paper.
"Phew, taking a secret realm of this size nearly drained me into a mummy. Next time, this kind of work should be left to a backup prayer-hand."
Fran removed the transfusion needle, then tore open a small band-aid and applied it to the needle puncture on her collarbone skin.
After completing this series of actions, she gently raised her eyes to look at Sidonia.
"Lady Sidonia, how does it feel to stake your life as a chip and then win the gamble?"
"It doesn't quite seem like a 'gamble'... Dr. Fran."
Sidonia pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Judging by the power you displayed, the current situation seems like it was predetermined."
"Of course."
Fran smiled slightly. After recovering her spiritual energy, she was no longer weak, but she didn't stop Haida from supporting her.
The warmth transmitted through the skin could alleviate the cold bodily sensation from massive blood loss, which was very beneficial for soothing emotions.
"Manipulating the situation and odds from outside the game is also an integral, enjoyable part of gambling. I'm not a penniless gambler; why would I make a desperate, uncertain all-in bet? Compared to 'gambling' by praying for fate's favor, 'winning' by any means necessary is clearly more preferable."
Hearing this, Sidonia slightly closed her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, seemingly expressing agreement with her words.
"I must admit, that is indeed true."
"So, what do you plan to do next?"
Although she had a vague premonition that the doctor before her was different from those humans who coveted Heyl bloodline secret rituals... she still had to guard against the worst possible situation.
The human heart is a treacherous abyss; feelings are always the most unreliable things.
"Next?"
Fran slightly raised her eyebrows, as if puzzled by the question.
"Of course, continue with the second phase of treatment. You are still far from being fully recovered. You must not let your guard down because of a temporary improvement in your condition... that could very well be a precursor to relapse."
As she spoke, she slowly approached Sidonia.
"While suffering from Spiritual Exhaustion Syndrome, you also have a series of mental illnesses. I'd like to start with this aspect... Lady Sidonia, are you willing to answer a few questions for me?"
"Please ask."
Although she didn't yet know what Fran's "second phase of treatment" entailed, she was, after all, the one who freed her. Sidonia had no aversion to cooperating.
Besides, it was just revealing some secrets; she had long stopped caring about that.
"The Heyl Sirens are, after all, a Mythical Creature race. Why did you suffer a complete defeat in the covert war with the Stellar Abyss Society? Even if there was a decline, it shouldn't have reached the point of near extinction as it is now."
Hearing this, Sidonia fell silent for a moment. After recollecting, she gradually began to speak.
"We only came into contact with the Stellar Abyss Society towards the end of the Order of Dust era, and until the end of the Lost Age, we were actually in a cooperative relationship. The outbreak of the covert war was completely unexpected, and... the Tide-Listeners seemed to already know everything about us."
"The Stellar Abyss Society has imprisoned me in the Sands of Slumber Bell Tower for who knows how many years. But it was only in the last century that they began using rituals to siphon my blood and have me bewitch Abyssal Sea aberrations with my song during the full moon."
Analyzing her words, understanding dawned in Fran's amber eyes.
"It wasn't a direct conflict, nor long-standing grievances, but a 'betrayal'?"
"Just as you said..."
The word "betrayal" seemed to touch a fine string in Sidonia's mind. Her emotions suddenly became unstable.
Not a sudden surge, but a dazed low-spiritedness, as if all passion had instantly turned to ashes.
"The betrayers included not only the Stellar Abyss Society but also some nobles within our own race. They wanted to completely rid themselves of the curse of the Abyssal Sea, while those astrologers coveted their ancient bloodline... Both sides eventually reached an agreement."
"The Heyl capital turned into ruins and wreckage. The limbs of our fallen kin were treated as materials, freely dismembered and split apart. Their spilled blood stained both the moonlight and the tides red."
As she spoke, she seemed sorrowful from the trauma of the memory. She hugged her knees again, burying her face in the gauze of her skirt.
When speaking those last words, Sidonia's tone carried a melody-like cadence.
Even though she didn't intentionally channel spiritual energy, the pain and sorrow still seemed to disperse into the air like a certain aura.
"..."
Although Sidonia fell silent, Fran could see two tear tracks slowly tracing down the mythical creature's cheeks at this moment.
Those translucent teardrops were rich in some spiritual element, crystallizing upon contact with the air.
Hmm... So this is how Heyl Sirens' Tears are produced?
Thinking this, Fran walked up to the pale bone throne. She unobtrusively wiped the other's cheeks with a handkerchief, conveniently wrapping up and taking those few Heyl Sirens' Tears.
Sidonia had now entered a strange state, her response to the outside world becoming very faint, and... she no longer seemed to care about the dignity and authority befitting a pure-blooded noble.
"An additional derived illness, personality split triggered by 'Imprisonment Syndrome.' Hiding sadness and loneliness for so long that it gave birth to a self-enclosed alternate personality to self-harmonize the mental trauma..."
Fran circled the pale throne once. The mythical creature showed no reaction whatsoever from beginning to end.
"No reaction or resistance to the outside world. A perfect state. Can proceed with attempting a deep physical examination first."
"Haida, please wait a moment. I need to slightly protect the patient's privacy."
As she spoke, she took out a circular saw and a scalpel from her medical kit. Then, several wisps of mist coalesced beside her, forming a thin, screen-like curtain.
In fact, Haida held the position of 'Head Nurse' at the Fog Street Clinic and could observe the entire diagnostic process in the vast majority of situations.
But Vivian was also here. To prevent the spiritual elements of directly observing a mythical creature from causing her mental harm, some measures were necessary...
Compared to using imaging instruments for internal examination, Fran was more enthusiastic about completely cutting open the patient for the most direct internal inspection.
Perhaps this person had some not-so-pleasant misunderstanding about the last character "palpation" in the traditional four diagnostic methods of "inspection, listening/smelling, inquiry, and palpation" when she first learned about the traditional medical system...
"Luyala, please guide Lady Sidonia into a dream. Her mental state is still weak and needs deep soothing."
As soon as Fran finished speaking, a faint fragrance of Dreamslumber Flowers quietly appeared in the air.
Sidonia's unstable spirit gradually calmed until she finally closed her eyes and fell into a light slumber.
"Truly worthy of being a pure-blooded noble of a mythical creature. Even with such poor mental state, she can instinctively resist Luyala's dream induction."
After briefly exclaiming, Fran started up the small circular saw and officially began the physical examination work.
Conveniently, she could simply record Sidonia's various racial characteristics. This was very beneficial for the study of [Xenology].
"Oh, so these almost transparent white tentacles are part of the caudal fin-like vertebrae? How peculiar. Clearly a chordate, yet limbs can exhibit morphological features of marine invertebrates..."
"There are scales resembling eyeshadow distributed around the eye skin. Somewhat unclear in meaning; the general function is to accumulate spiritual elements."
"The legs and feet are no different from humans', with distinct toe joints, connective tissue presenting a lustrous pearl color. No fish-tail characteristics or traces. Quite different from some document descriptions of sirens."
...
After completely finishing the physical examination and recording a large number of precious Heyl Siren characteristic sketches, Fran placed a green [Cure-Your-Ill 3000] capsule into Sidonia's mouth.
If an ordinary person underwent genetic correction from the drug, most mental illnesses caused by insufficient brain endocrine secretion would show significant signs of improvement within ten minutes.
However, this mythical creature only gradually awoke nearly half an hour after swallowing the capsule, showing the deep-seated nature of the afflictions in her mind.
+++
T/N: Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter and want to support my work, I have a Patreon!
[email protected]/PeakTL