Republic of Padokea, Heavens Arena
"So the first gathering is happening?"
Inside a well-known private clinic nearby, Machi glanced at her phone calmly and put it away.
"Ambrossa, hmm? It's not far."
Heavens Arena has an advanced transportation system, airships connecting almost anywhere.
There's even a direct airship to Ambrossa.
If she wanted to, leaving today would mean arriving tomorrow.
So…
"With the meeting set in a week, leaving in five days will be plenty."
She ran the calculations in her mind quickly and made her decision.
As long as she didn't miss the gathering, there would be no problem.
So with all this time available, she didn't need to rush.
This way, she wouldn't need to be so hurried, and could even spare some time to stay here…
"Doctor!"
A panicked, desperate shout suddenly came from outside the door: "Is the doctor here?!"
"I heard you can even fix severed limbs, is that true?! Can you fix this?!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A rapid series of knocks followed.
"I'm here."
Machi replied calmly. "Come in."
Business had come knocking, literally.
Clack!
The door was flung open violently, the sound alone showing how frantic the visitor was.
A burly man with a face full of scars burst in anxiously.
Behind him, several figures were carrying a tall, thin man on a stretcher, groaning in pain.
Both of his arms had been severed cleanly, as if by a blade.
The stumps were wrapped in bloody bandages, and beside them, someone carried the two detached hands.
"His condition, I can treat it. His arms can be reattached."
Machi glanced once and immediately gave her assessment.
"That's great!"
The scar-faced man lit up with relief, but before he could celebrate for more than two seconds…
"I have my rules."
Still cold as ever, Machi continued: "I can reattach them, but for now, I can only guarantee normal function."
"If he wants to do more precise or delicate work afterward... That would be difficult."
Just starting her business, Machi was still learning how to make money and explain things clearly to customers.
She had no idea how rare her ability was or what it truly meant.
Forget normal use; even if there were impairments, countless people would choose reattachment without hesitation.
Just like now.
"No problem!"
The scar-faced man nodded quickly.
"And one more thing."
When money was involved, Machi was always patient and generous.
"For the left hand, five million jenny. For the right hand, ten million."
Opening her clinic for the first time, she believed the price was fair.
Unlike years later when she treated Hisoka's arms, charging twenty million for the left, fifty million for the right, and that was already the discounted rate for a friend.
Right now, prices are lower, and as someone new in the business, there's no inflation yet.
But even with these rates, plenty of people were eager to have Machi operate.
"... My rule: payment first, treatment after."
Machi held out her hand.
"Cash or card?"
Because she now had her own ID, she had been able to open a bank account, a very high-level one, thanks to the Heavens Arena.
"Cash."
The scar-faced man said, his eyes flashing with a strange light.
He gestured with his hand, and one of his underlings stepped up and placed a bag full of bundled bills on the floor.
"Follow me."
Machi glanced once and already knew the approximate total.
Then she turned and walked toward her medical room.
"Thanks, doctor... Let's go."
The scar-faced man waved to his subordinate.
They saw his expression and nodded discreetly.
They had long heard of the doctor in the Heavens Arena who could reattach severed limbs.
Have amazing skills and are easy to deal with.
And by easy to deal with, they meant: no weird rules, just pay the money, and she would treat anyone.
Of course, the cost wasn't low, but that was only logical for such miraculous talent.
Someone with skills like hers would be a vip among elites or nobles.
But here, she treated anyone who could pay, ignoring identity or status.
That was extremely generous.
But still… Even with that, there were plenty of scumbags with ulterior motives.
"Just like the rumors… this amazing doctor who can reattach limbs..."
The scar-faced man stared at Machi's back: "... Is just a young, thin little girl."
"She does business here because there are many potential customers… and maybe because she thinks this place is the safest."
"We already checked, she's alone. There's no one else here!"
"To have such incredible surgical skill, while being just a little girl..."
A strange gleam flickered in the man's eyes, violence, greed… but soon, he calmed himself.
"Not yet..."
Hearing his comrade groan painfully on the stretcher, his expression returned to calm.
"Whatever we plan to do, it happens after the treatment."
Since he didn't move, the others simply kept silent.
"Another group like them?"
Walking ahead, Machi wasn't surprised in the slightest.
Since opening her clinic, she has met many such people.
To Machi, they all fell into two categories: Stupid and arrogant.
Those foolish people really didn't think it through.
A young girl who looks so small and innocent, running a shop alone in Heavens Arena and not just any shop, but one specializing in limb reattachment and miraculous surgical techniques.
If she didn't have something powerful to rely on, how could she possibly survive in such a dangerous place?!
Did they really think she was just a cute, harmless, and clueless little girl?
If they truly believed that… then those who thought so are the ones who are actually naive, stupid, and utterly foolish.
Of course, some were a bit smarter.
They could tell she wasn't ordinary, that she likely had a strong background and dangerous skills.
But… they had this mysterious confidence.
Even knowing the target was not normal, they convinced themselves their strength was enough to handle her.
Then they got impulsive and recklessly made a move against her.
And every single one of those arrogant idiots who tried anything toward Machi, let's just say, during the time she trained under Miss Renko, aside from stitches, she learned some of Renko's other... Craft.
Perfect for practice, using these foolish, arrogant idiots as test subjects.
"I hope this group of customers won't be that kind."
Machi thought to herself.
"Otherwise, they will waste the time I could be spending on real business..."
She still planned to use the remaining days to earn as much money as possible, doing what she loves, pursuing her hobby, while not interfering with the Phantom Troupe's activities.