In the hospital corridor, hearing Anna's declarative words, Mr. James and Harold couldn't help but be taken aback. After a moment of reaction, Harold's expression flickered between shades of gloom and brightness. Finally, he stretched out his hand, pointed at Anna, and burst into curses.
"Where did this crazy brat come from! How dare she impersonate the Viscount's daughter here, Mr. James, let's quickly notify the doctors and have her locked back up!"
Harold said to Mr. James beside him. Mr. James looked at Anna before him, remained silent for a while, and then slowly replied.
"There's no need to notify anyone. This Miss Anna is right; she is indeed the adopted daughter publicly adopted by Viscount Field, not long ago, at Igwinte's annual charity event, in front of many people."
"What..." Hearing Mr. James's reply, Harold was stunned, his pupils slightly contracted, and then he spoke loudly with clear anger.
"Mr. James, wasn't it said that the children adopted by Viscount Gerry Field all went insane from excessive fright? That's why we came to Igwinte; what is going on?"
Listening to Harold's words, Mr. James's expression was calm and composed. He looked at Anna ahead and asked in a gentle tone.
"Anna, did something happen to you? I remember when I last saw you, I was still worried about when you would recover."
"Hmm... Actually... I'm not really sure what happened. For the past few days, I've felt groggy, but since a few days ago, this groggy state seems to have started to lessen. When I woke up this morning, my head was especially clear, just like before. The doctor uncles today were also surprised by my condition; they all said it was the grace of the Holy Mother." Rubbing her temples, Anna recalled and said. Mr. James nodded after seeing this.
"The grace of the Holy Mother... If that's the case, then nothing could be better. Hehe... Anna, your recovery is the best news I've received these past few days." Mr. James said with a tone of relief, though a hint of light still flickered in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Harold, looking at the girl, had a ashen face, his breathing was somewhat rapid, and his body trembled slightly. He seemed to want to curse something out but couldn't after glancing at Mr. James beside him. Finally, after taking a few deep breaths, he managed to force out a stiff smile and said.
"Oh... Father above, thank goodness there's such a miracle in this world. This must be God's reward for the good deeds the Viscount did during his lifetime. Hehe... It seems our trip to Igwinte was in vain..."
"Of course, it wasn't in vain, Lord Harold, at least I witnessed your demeanor." Mr. James beside him said with a hint of humor. Hearing his words, Harold's mouth twitched slightly, and then he still responded with a smile.
"Haha, to be appreciated by Mr. James means my trip wasn't in vain. Alright, it's time for me to take my leave. The public in Igwinte is still immersed in the grief of the Viscount's accidental death. I think this good news right now might be able to slightly disperse this sorrow."
While speaking, Harold turned around and walked outside. Not long after he left, his expression suddenly darkened.
'Hmph, a bastard without a drop of Field blood wants to inherit the title? What a joke! Just wait, this matter isn't over yet...'
'Little bastard, now that you've woken up, you've offended a lot of people!'
With a gloomy expression, Harold quickly walked away.
...
During the daytime, on a bustling street somewhere in Igwinte, a barefoot newsboy ran through the streets holding a large stack of newspapers, shouting loudly as he ran.
"Extra! Extra! The benevolent and charitable Viscount Gerry Field tragically perished after encountering a wolf pack! Seven adopted children went mad from fright, only one miraculously recovered! Extra! Extra! The benevolent and charitable..."
The newsboy kept shouting the major headline loudly. The surrounding crowd, upon hearing it, were startled and gathered around, buying newspapers from the newsboy. In a short while, all the newspapers in the newsboy's hands were sold out.
On the main street, countless pedestrians gathered in twos and threes, looking at the newspapers in their hands and discussing animatedly, their faces full of disbelief.
On the street, a black carriage was moving forward with the surrounding traffic. Dorothy sat upright in the carriage, looking at the front-page news in her hand about Viscount Field's death in the wilderness after encountering a wolf pack, and muttered to herself.
"Heh, it's finally in the news... This time they're not saying it was done by thugs? Right... If thugs were committing serial murders and weren't caught, it would probably cause panic, especially since this time they killed someone in the Viscount's house."
After speaking, Dorothy closed the newspaper and began to think about Anna's matter.
The reason Field's children couldn't inherit Field's estate was the mental derangement caused by drugs and Spirit Sight. Because Anna had only ingested the Spirit Sight from """Lamb Song""", Dorothy was able to clear it. Once Anna's sanity returned to normal, her right as Field's adopted daughter to inherit would become effective.
As long as Anna could inherit Field's estate and become the new Viscountess Field, then with the Field family's financial resources, covering the treatment costs for the other children would be effortless. This was Dorothy's method for solving the problem of the children's treatment costs.
Dorothy checked. Under Prit's law, adopted children have the same inheritance priority as biological children. Anna's adoption procedures were fully completed; she is now the sole heir of the Field family, with an inheritance priority so high that distant relatives couldn't win a lawsuit no matter how they tried.
Furthermore, Dorothy doing this had another benefit: if she were to later develop Anna into a covert follower of akasha like Vanya, then she would be able to borrow the power of the Field family to a certain extent.
For example, she could borrow money from time to time when she's short on funds in the future.
Dorothy checked. The Field family is the largest landowner in Igwin County, besides the Kingdom government, an old and traditional noble family. If the previous Viscounts Field had been willing to spend a bit more money to curry favor with Tivian's upper nobles, they would have been promoted to Earls long ago.
If Anna could fully accept Field's inheritance, then Dorothy felt she could stop working hard for the rest of her life and rely on a rich woman.
Of course, given Anna's age, even if she successfully inherits the estate, she would likely be deemed too young. The main assets would certainly be entrusted to other third-party organizations for management until Anna gains full legal capacity to take complete control. But even so, she should have a considerable amount of funds she can control.
'So borrowing some money shouldn't be a problem then!'
Dorothy thought this. She was already contemplating how to approach her student in the future.
'However, it's not like things are a sure bet right now. Anna waking up will definitely become an eyesore for those who originally had a chance to inherit the estate; her situation will be somewhat dangerous.'
Dorothy continued thinking, but she wasn't too worried about Anna's safety because someone would help protect her.
'With the Spirit Sight affecting Anna suddenly disappearing, the An Yin Bureau will also feel something is off, right? An observation and protection period will definitely be necessary.'
Dorothy thought this. Her clearing Anna's Spirit Sight would definitely alert the Hunters, who would likely arrange surveillance, but this would actually indirectly protect Anna.
Under the Hunters' noses, ordinary people can't accomplish anything.
Of course, as long as no other extraordinary factors intervene.