[Ms. Tamesis's mental condition has recovered to health. This quarter's Cross-World House Call has been completed. Completion Grade: S. Your next Cross-World House Call will be triggered at the end of the next quarter.]
[Reward for this mission: Unknown Biological Technology Manual x1 (Fine Quality. Unidentified)]
Fran parted the chaotic pale fog before the door and returned to her own clinic.
"Ms. Tamesis was a very good student—diligent, eager to learn, and intelligent… It's a shame teaching students doesn't increase the Parsing Rate for technologies."
She sat back on the soft sofa, letting out a slightly regretful sigh, and casually began identifying the newly acquired manual.
[Applied Abyssal Studies. (From the Abyss of Abyss)]
[Quality: Fine]
[Effect: After reading, unlocks the related manufacturing system. You will be able to proficiently study how to manufacture 'Magazines' to resist the Abyss's curses. Of course, this manual also contains other Abyssal products. After completing the reading, Parsing Rate +15%.]
[Remark: "Carry your family into battle!"]
"This manual gives a one-time initial Parsing Rate of 15%. Truly worthy of Fine quality…"
Fran cradled this hefty "Applied Abyssal Studies," quickly flipping through it. Compared to neatly printed material, this book was more like a kind of handwritten journal, densely packed with various diagrams. After spending some time, she finished reading the entire journal. The "Applied Abyssal Studies" Parsing Rate also rose to 15%. She got up from the sofa and stuffed it into her tall, crammed-full bookshelf.
"Such a pity. Although I've learned a large amount of basic experimental data, I simply don't have the corresponding raw materials on hand… I don't even have a chance to try my hand at practical application."
She waved her hand somewhat dispiritedly. This was the dilemma she often encountered: clearly having reached the theoretical peak in a certain technology, but being unable to advance further in research due to material issues.
After the ordeal in the sealed chamber, Fran felt slightly hungry. After a simple wash and changing into a blood-free set of clothes, Fran left the clinic… That's right, she was going grocery shopping. To maintain the corresponding senses of a human, she needed to eat normally.
"I really must hire a maid sometime. I've had enough of cooking for myself…"
——
"Fresh eggplants! Crisp, fresh eggplants, edible and usable, just arrived from the South District!"
"Care to look at some jewelry, miss? Citrine bracelet from the Sand-Flow Nation Attilan, can bring you good luck, absolutely great value!"
"Hello, esteemed sir, allow me to introduce to you the sage and guiding light we revere, the 'White Cup' representing wisdom and enlightenment…"
——
The North District market was always bustling. Amidst the shops and stalls, you could find nearly everything needed for daily life. Seasonal fruits and vegetables, local snacks, all kinds of handicrafts, newly emerging mechanical devices… There were even people proselytizing. They handed out pamphlets and eggs simultaneously, surrounded by many onlookers.
Fran in her white coat stood out somewhat in the crowd. In Norlington, people in the doctor profession class generally didn't come to buy groceries themselves… But most people just glanced at her and then looked away, seemingly having no extra interest in her. Like seeing a wildflower or butterfly on the lawn, the impression lingered for an extremely brief moment before fading.
Fran, carrying a bag of prepared meat and some vegetables, was just about to head back when she suddenly noticed a tall, well-proportioned figure standing right in front of her, pale gray eyes fixed directly on her.
Haida was still wearing her deep black overcoat and form-fitting nun's habit, though it seemed due to the dropping temperatures, she had also wrapped herself in a gray cashmere scarf.
"Good day, Sister Haida. Your senses, after the treatment, can already penetrate simple psychological concealment… Seems like you're recovering well."
She gave Haida a friendly wave and politely greeted her.
Sister Haida didn't take up this topic. She inquired quickly: "There have been several missing persons reports filed in the North District recently. Is it related to you, Dr. Fran?"
"Ahem, I'm an old resident here. How can you suspect me? Firstly, ordinary people's bodies are so frail, they simply aren't qualified to be experimental material… Secondly, if it were me who did it, I'd do it very cleanly. You wouldn't be receiving any reports."
Fran slightly furrowed her brows, seemingly trying hard to look offended.
"I see… I understand."
The corner of Haida's eye twitched slightly, then she nodded, roughly accepting Fran's explanation. She had only run into her by chance and asked casually anyway. The recent missing persons cases were probably related to that Outrider Deacon she had torn apart earlier…
After Haida's last mission report was submitted, the response she received from Head Alwin was: "Dr. Fran is friendly, but it is not recommended to get too close to her. At the same time, if possible, maintain a certain degree of contact with her."
Very strange. The Cult even seemed encouraging of her further contact with this strange doctor… She had never encountered this kind of situation before. The higher-ups of the Secrets-Hunters' usual attitude towards potential threats was "exterminate them all."
Considering this, she extended an invitation to Fran. "This case might require an experienced medical examiner. I wonder if you would be willing to accept employment from the Secrets-Hunter Cult?"
"But I'm in a hurry to get home and make dinner. And I just finished a house call earlier, both physically and mentally exhausted…"
Fran blinked her eyes, quite innocently showing the cloth bag with two large green onions sticking out.
"The Cult offers a total case reward of 300 Norlington Silver Coins."
"Let's set off! I'd be delighted to demonstrate my medical expertise to Miss Haida. As for dinner… we can make it on the spot at the reporter's house."
Looking at Fran, who had no principles, Haida pressed her lips together, inexplicably feeling a trace of relief. Although Dr. Fran's medical skills were superb, her temperament was eccentric, and she was hard to fathom, but thankfully, she seemed easily swayed by money…
——
North District 11, Red Pheasant Street 131.
Passing through the stone path over the well-kept small garden, the two arrived in front of a detached villa's door. Haida knocked on the reporter's door.
The one who opened the door was a middle-aged woman. She wore a thick black velvet gown and a pair of genuine leather gloves, covering her skin completely. Her attire wasn't strange; on the contrary, it was very proper. After all, it was late winter, many women liked to dress like this… Her eyes were sunken, dark circles seemingly branded onto her eyelids. Between her brows and eyes was a trace of indescribable dread.
"A-are you from the Cult?"
"That's correct, Ms. Solani. Is the reporter, Mr. Logan, at home?"
Haida politely inquired and presented the Secrets-Hunter Cult credentials bearing the sideways diamond holy emblem. This made Fran narrow her eyes slightly, unable to help but sigh at the Cult's development in recent years. Once upon a time, this was a secretive organization hidden behind the veil, now it had developed to the point of using Cult credentials as search warrants…
"Hello, esteemed Sister, and Doctor Miss. My husband… he's disappeared. Just yesterday, my son Fice disappeared too. The day before, it was the maid Sady… Before that, it was my dog Shasha…"
Solani, with good upbringing, returned Haida's greeting, even not forgetting the less noticeable Fran beside her. But she didn't look at people when she spoke, instead frequently glancing towards the empty surroundings outside the door. Her gaze was fragile and on the verge of collapse, as if beasts were prowling outside, ready to devour everything at any moment.
"Please let us come in and take a look." Haida's expression turned grave. Though using a consultative tone, she had already reached for the door frame, leaving no room for refusal.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Recent events have left my mind in a daze. I actually forgot to invite you both inside. How terribly impolite… Please come in…"
Solani hurriedly ushered Haida and Fran inside. After the two were seated on the living room sofa, she bustled about for a while and served tea and snacks. Black tea from Attilan, the tea leaves even packaged in silk… obviously not cheap. Even well-off middle-class families would only use it to entertain important guests.
The living room carpet was wide and soft, embroidered with a tall white oak tree. A rose pattern was placed to the left of the oak, with two red leaves on either side. The pattern looked somewhat meaningless, not particularly beautiful, but it didn't detract from the carpet's expensive quality.
Fran sniffed; the room was scented with some unknown incense. The fragrance was as soft as silk, sweet to the point of being almost intoxicating. Entering this house gave Fran a suffocating feeling of being surrounded by wealth. The average middle-class family didn't have such luxurious furnishings…
And Haida didn't drink tea nor engage in unnecessary pleasantries. She got to the point as quickly as possible. "So, starting from three days ago, people in your household have been disappearing one after another?"
"Yes." Solani pressed her lips together tightly, visibly uneasy. "First, Shasha in the garden disappeared. We thought she had just run off to play… The next day, the maid Sady went to look, but she didn't return either. My husband sensed something was wrong and went to report it at the nearby Secrets-Hunter church… But just yesterday, he disappeared too."
Solani trembled incessantly, her voice growing thinner, carrying hysterical gasps. "Last night, I held my son to sleep. I was afraid he would disappear like the others… And this morning, there was only me in the bed. The next to disappear… will probably be me…"
From Solani's fragmented and somewhat disordered narration, Haida felt a chill crawl up her spine. This kind of disappearance without any reason was truly terrifying, almost like a divine vanishing, leaving one with no leads and powerless to resist.
No wonder the Confidential Division, during the task assessment, deemed this case related to the mysterious and possessing around level two potential danger.
"Please don't worry, Ms. Solani. The Secrets-Hunter Cult will prioritize your safety."
Solani sensed reassurance from Haida's words, which also allowed her spirit, on the verge of collapse, to achieve a temporary, fragile stability. But in her current state, she couldn't withstand any more stimulation and could completely break down at any moment.
"I don't know what to do anymore… Sister, can you find my family? At least find Fice. He's only five. We just celebrated his birthday last month… Sob…"
"Call me Haida. This beside me is Dr. Fran." She briefly introduced their identities, then continued along the previous topic. "We will do our best. Colleagues from the Confidential Division have already initiated the search process. If there is any news about your family, you will be notified immediately."
Haida couldn't make any substantive guarantees to this somewhat distraught lady before her. Not being good with words, she couldn't even offer comfort, only responding with routine, official language.
For the fate of the missing, she always held the worst assumptions. Once mortals are branded with the mark of a heterodox cult, the speed of their corruption is unimaginably fast… In just a few breaths, a healthy adult can become a breeding ground for Evil Spawn.
This was also why that one Outrider Deacon had almost killed Haida. In a one-on-one situation, a well-trained Burial Attendant held an overwhelming advantage against a Deacon-level cultist. Even if he had become Evil Spawn, as long as he still had a physical flesh body, he could be simultaneously eliminated on both spiritual and physical levels by steel-cored bullets engraved with prayers.
But there were too many ordinary believers blood-sacrificed at the time… This led to her having to face a staggering number of lesser Evil Spawn alone. And this was precisely the most dangerous aspect of heterodox cults.
Solani wept softly. After her mood calmed slightly, she continued: "I'm sorry. I was too emotional, a bit out of control. You must be troubled too. I'm truly sorry. I didn't want to be like this either… Please feel free to search my room. I hope you can find something."
"Thank you for your cooperation." Haida gave a slight nod, offering a slight gesture of respect to this extremely haggard lady.
From the mission information she received, she knew Solani actually came from a rather well-connected rising aristocratic family. Her husband, Logan, was one of the directors of an electric company, considered outstanding among young entrepreneurs. If such a family refused the intervention of the Secrets-Hunter Cult, it could cause some trouble. Though Haida could still forcibly search based on her own authority, she would at least have to write two or three extra mission reports afterward. But since the other party was willing to cooperate, there was no need to worry about these follow-up matters…
"Ms. Solani, the pattern on your carpet is truly beautiful."
Suddenly, Fran, who had been sitting quietly and obediently beside Haida drinking tea, complimented the living room carpet. Her comment was somewhat out of the blue and not very timely. This made Haida glance sideways, unsure of Fran's intentions.
"Dr. Fran, I'm glad you like it. My husband bought that on a recent business trip to Attilan… Those foreign patterns are always strange, but the carpet's quality is indeed high. Have you seen this pattern style before?"
Solani also felt a bit strange, but due to her good upbringing and self-cultivation, she habitually explained the carpet's origin to Fran.
"No, this is the first time I've seen this pattern. I was just commenting spontaneously. Please don't mind it."
+++
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