"I need to break through a technical bottleneck before the next quarterly house call. I can only rush to get it done in these few days..."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Fran's "reminder" had indeed clarified Haida's train of thought, so she also wanted to provide some help to Frank as much as she could.
"Oh... yes, there is."
Upon hearing this, Fran immediately stood up and slowly moved closer to Haida.
"I'm currently in great need of excellent experimental subjects and related biological parameters. If Sister Haida is willing to assist..."
At some point, all traces of laziness had vanished from her amber eyes, replaced instead by an earnest passion for research.
"Is it to continue the surgery from before?"
Haida guessed quite calmly, seeming to have already prepared herself mentally.
"Hmm~ No." Fran propped her cheek with one hand, showing a look of regret and pity.
"If it were a few months ago, I would have invited you without hesitation to finish the remaining surgery, but currently my research project is unrelated to that..."
"And I've had new inspiration for customizing and optimizing the surgical plan. It still needs some time to be fully perfected."
Haida nodded gently, indicating she understood.
"I see. Then... what is it you need me to do?"
"Come to Fog Street Clinic once every three days before the end of December. I will perform some physical examinations on you and record some data."
"As compensation, that copy of 'Aphoristic Silence' is no longer in the category of 'borrowing'; it is now your property."
Fran's light-colored eyelashes fluttered, and a faint glimmer of sly cleverness showed in her gaze.
Sister Haida's attitude toward modification surgery, although still somewhat resistant, no longer seemed so averse... This was good.
Actually, Fran had long prepared a drug that could force a Burial Attendant to fall asleep within one minute. It was non-toxic, harmless, colorless, and odorless. She had considered using it judiciously when needed...
But considering that acting against the patient's wishes violated her medical principles, she had never put it into practice.
She had the desire and the nerve, but hadn't mustered the resolve to act.
Now that Haida showed a voluntary inclination to participate in the surgery, she could permanently shelve this backup plan...
—
The Mirror of Enlightenment Club.
Dorothy idly toyed with the amethyst geode in her hand, observing the coming and going of customers through the silver mirror before her, its surface constantly rippling.
"Oracle, please don't play with the ritual materials."
Dawn, who was sweeping the floor with a broom, looked at the somewhat improper Dorothy and reminded her somewhat irritably.
"It's crystal, not mercury. Touching it won't make it less. I'll put it back later, no problem."
Dorothy lightly tapped the stone shell of the geode with her fingernail, seemingly long accustomed to Dawn's nagging.
"Miss Dorothy, the material accounts we submit to the Veiled Assembly every quarter always have inexplicable discrepancies... Some ritual materials seem to vanish into thin air. Do you have any idea why?"
Dawn put down her broom, placed her hands on her hips, and looked at Dorothy.
"I always balance the accounts in the end. Don't worry, they won't pursue it."
Dorothy cleared her throat slightly to cover her guilt.
"But these losses in ritual materials could have all been properly accounted for... At least we wouldn't leave any handles."
Besides serving as a hostess, Dawn also worked as an accountant and a Mirror-Wiper apprentice. Therefore, most of the club's affairs were handled by her.
"Right." She seemed to remember something, pulling a schedule from her pocket and carefully flipping through it.
"Today is the first Sunday of November. According to the previous appointment, Miss Fran should be coming. I'll go prepare in advance."
Dorothy raised her hand, signaling Dawn to wait a moment.
"Last month, the Secrets-Hunters executed a 'Purge Directive'. The Burial Court has a lot of work; Fran might be too busy to come... Let me do a divination to see if she'll visit today."
She was still somewhat bothered by her previous failure to glean any information from the other party using [Show Tendency]. Although this was a lower-tier third-category secret art, its effect was only related to the caster's psychic talent.
Even fellow Mirror-Wipers could hardly completely shield against it. Unless the other party's skill in divination far surpassed her own, or they possessed a Lamp-system relic.
"'Portrait' means arrival, 'Coat of Arms' means a no-show."
With a flick of her thumb, Dorothy tossed an exquisite silver coin into the air. The secret art [Show Tendency] took effect.
This silver Norlington coin, gleaming with metallic luster, drew an arc in the air before landing on the floor and beginning to spin.
"Clink..."
Portrait, Coat of Arms, or would it stand upright on its edge?
Given the precedent of the failed divination last time, Dorothy actually leaned more towards the last possibility, even though its chance of happening was minuscule...
The spinning force of the silver coin gradually weakened, trembling like a spent arrow. It didn't dramatically stand on edge or get stuck in a crack, but finally fell to one side.
It was the aged and stern face of the first Meredith.
"Portrait, meaning... she will keep her appointment on time."
Before Dorothy's muttering ended, she saw in the [Mirror Image] the figure of Fran, clad in a mottled gauze robe, step into the shop.
She walked through the corridor straight into the Calcite Room, her movements natural and familiar, completely unlike it was only her second visit.
Furthermore, behind her followed a Burial Attendant in a black, form-fitting robe. Not tall, her face hidden under the hood, but one could vaguely see strands of brilliant golden hair on either side of her cheeks.
Was she a Secrets-Hunter bodyguard for Fran, or a client here for divination? Dorothy raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat confused. Hunters of the Burial Court traditionally disdained peeking into and speculating about fate, and generally wouldn't come to a divination house.
And if she was a bodyguard... how would a freelance physician even qualify for the Burial Court to provide security services?
...Forget it. These are headaches for the Prophets of the Veiled Assembly, not my concern.
Dorothy quickly gave up pondering deeply. She stood up, picked up the Norlington silver coin from the floor, and dusted it off with her sleeve.
Although this divination didn't fail, for some reason she felt no sense of accomplishment at all.
The fulfillment was just too fast. It was as if Fran had deliberately not defended against it...
"Since she's a fellow Mirror-Wiper, Grace, you go and receive her and that sister. Use the new tea from Gormouth. It's rare to find someone in Norlington who likes this old-fashioned flavor."
"Okay."
Dawn then prepared to head to the washroom to clean her hands before brewing the tea. But Dorothy seemed to remember something and added,
"Wait. Hmm... If Fran asks about me, tell her I'm away on business, not at the club."
Whether it was a psychic warning or a sign from fate, Dorothy always felt an inexplicable sense of guilt when she saw Fran... especially that gauze robe embroidered with both the Lamp and the Moth.
Although she was sure she had never seen it before, it held a vague sense of familiarity.
...
"D-Doctor Fran, are you sure I won't be discovered here?"
In the Calcite Room, Sigrid, wearing the Burial Attendant uniform, stood somewhat stiffly behind Fran.
Along the way, they could see posters looking for her on the street lamps of Green Maple Street. Even after several months, the Sun-Forgers Cult had not given up tracking her down.
...Of course, Solm hadn't actually put much practical effort into it, but the posture was indeed well-maintained. This Sun-Corona Rider was an exception in all sorts of ways among the core decision-makers, quite a decent person.
"Relax, the people sent by the Sun-Forgers Main Temple to find you are already dead. And all the branch's forces are concentrated on reconstruction work; they won't have free hands for at least half a year."
Speaking of that vampire from Ahanta, Fran felt a touch of absurd amusement. She wanted to laugh but felt it might be somewhat impolite.
To have escaped with his life from Sister Haida, who wielded the power sword 'Nirvana', and was likely immune to sunlight, he must have had some strength.
It's just that this guy's luck was really rather poor...
While escaping into the sewers was indeed the quickest way to shake off Haida, at that time Chief Hunter Ahern and a Cup's Servant were engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse down there... That vampire was doomed no matter which one he ran into.
"Dear Sigrid, staying in Fog Street Clinic all the time will stifle you. Going out from time to time to find something new is necessary to maintain a healthy psychological state, just like me."
As she spoke, Fran handed the Gormouth new tea to Sigrid.
The latter took it with both hands and sipped it gently, her face veiled in the dissipating mist of hot vapor.
At that moment, Dawn's knocking sounded at the door.
"Lady Fran, Mr. Child is here. Hmm... He also brought a female companion."
"Alright, I understand."
Fran stepped forward to open the door, simultaneously curious about whom Child had brought.
I remember Child said last time he would bring Professor Terence. How come the person with him is a lady? I don't think the White Cup has secret arts or rituals that can alter gender... though the Red Cup does.
"Pleased to meet you, Dr. Fran. Hmm... and this Sister Burial Attendant."
Child waved in greeting to Fran, not omitting Sigrid behind her.
He seemed able to maintain this enthusiastic state all the time, like a Golden Retriever that never got tired...
"Welcome to the Mirror of Enlightenment Club, Mr. Child."
After a simple return greeting, Fran turned to Rosalia beside Child.
"This young lady, how may I address you?"
"I'm an investigative reporter for the Norlington Evening News. You can call me Rosalia."
Rosalia was very amiable, her attitude completely different from the pointed questioning she directed at Officer Raymond during the press conference.
It was very necessary to show respect to a physician of the Secrets-Hunters. After all, a Burial Attendant was standing right there... She didn't want to be riddled with a magazine of silver-cored bullets.
"Investigative reporter... indeed a suitable profession for a Moon's Favored. Graduated from the Journalism Department of Norlington Central Academy?"
Fran raised an index finger to her lips, guessing with keen interest.
"...Yes."
After a moment's hesitation, Rosalia gave a slight nod, confirming Fran's guess.
What puzzled her was, she had clearly disguised herself, yet it seemed utterly useless...
Earlier, Sister Haida had deduced the 'Moon's Favored' conclusion in just a few seconds. Dr. Fran seemed not to have thought at all, as if she already knew her identity the moment they met.
"Well then, let's get straight to the point."
As she spoke, Fran lightly lifted the night-moth-grey velvet gauze robe she wore, covering her face, revealing only her deep amber-gold eyes. Like an astrologer from Attilan.
The light in the entire room also seemed to dim, adding an air of profound mystery.
"You two, what kind of revelation do you wish to obtain from the elusive and intangible fate?"
—
Before heading to the Mirror of Enlightenment Club, Child had said to Rosalia "I am introducing you to a very amazing doctor."
And she had just learned some information about Fran from Byers' autopsy report and Professor Terence's passing remarks, becoming quite interested in this freelance physician of the Secrets-Hunters, so she gladly went along.
Rosalia had always thought divination was just a hobby of Fran's, probably not very proficient. Perhaps like Mrs. Belinda, she was a beginner just playing around.
...Until Fran drew the veil over her face, revealing the exotic patterns of the grey moth and shining lamp on her gauze robe.
Intertwining lamp moths clung to the curves of her body faintly visible beneath the thin gauze, the lamp flames flickering, the downy feathers glowing, eroding yet depending on each other.
Just by maintaining her gaze, Rosalia felt her psychic sense expanding and swelling...
As if possessed, she asked the question that had plagued the Nolaria family since the beginning of the millennium.
"Please tell me... how can the Moon's Favored be freed from the 'Blood Plague'?"
Hearing this question, the azure blue eyes of Child beside her couldn't help but widen slightly.
He had anticipated Rosalia might ask some special questions, but never expected one of this magnitude...
Since the beginning of the millennium and the Budding Moon's Apostasy, a malignant disease known as the "Blood Plague" had spread among the Moon's Favored. Was it a remnant of the undead creature's traits, or a punishment from that deity for the apostates? There was no conclusion yet...
The symptoms of the Blood Plague were severe and fatal, and almost incurable. The sufferer's craving for blood would gradually become intense and unbearable, eventually completely uncontrollable... degenerating into a mindless Evil Spawn.
Almost the moment the words left her mouth, Rosalia realized the impropriety of her question and immediately corrected herself.
"Ah... I'm very sorry, Dr. Fran. I asked a strange question. Please allow me to change it."
Even the ancient vampires of the Elder Council couldn't cure this plague. How could a mere human physician have a solution? Moreover, asking it in such an obviously informal setting as "divination"... Would Dr. Fran think I was trying to make things difficult for her?
Rosalia lifted her eyes somewhat guiltily, cautiously looking at Fran.
+++
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