CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 2: DOCTOR

The work of an investigator is relatively easy.

Night Watchers need to take shifts, but investigators only go out when they have a mission; when there’s no task, they can be leisurely wanderers on the streets.

However, in recent years, bizarre events in the real world have happened frequently, making everyone busier than before.

"It’s possible that an Ancient One is about to awaken!..."

This is the conclusion Shawn deduced, having forcibly remembered much knowledge from Ms. Hecate. Historically, whenever bizarre events frequently occurred in the real world, it indicated an Ancient One was about to awaken. The timeframe for this is uncertain because an Ancient One could temporarily awaken and soon fall back asleep; only when the stars align does it pose a significant challenge to the real world.

Clockwork Nirvana Twelve Realms.

Humanity’s miracle has always protected the real world well.

Shawn organized his things, placing a box of bullets into the drawer. The first Spell he mastered is a first-circle Secret Hand, and now he can summon two Invisible Hands. The power of the Invisible Hand has increased significantly. After becoming specialized in Spell, it can ’escalate,’ meaning a first-circle Spell can be forcibly enhanced to the power of third or fifth circle by consuming more Primitive Magic Power.

If he can reach Ms. Hecate’s Realm, the Invisible Hand may even break through the limit of ninth circle.

"An investigator’s salary is 2,000 dinaars."

"As a Wizard Apprentice, I also receive an additional 1,000 dinaars in allowance," Shawn calculated his finances with a pen, muttering to himself, "I’m quite short on money right now."

"Benjamin’s 1,000 dinaars haven’t been repaid yet."

I’ll repay it tomorrow.

When Shawn returned from his walk, he bought an envelope, counted ten 100-dinaar bills, and placed them inside.

His salary for the past three months totals 9,000 dinaars.

"After repaying 1,000, there will be 8,600 dinaars left." Shawn frowned slightly, counting money silently, thinking, "Monthly expenses here might require 300 dinaars."

"The truly discretionary funds aren’t much."

"Still need to hunt."

When investigators handle bizarre events, there can be some extra gains; part can be kept personally, and submitting some yields rewards. Relying solely on a fixed salary, although it’s high, doesn’t satisfy the advancement needs.

Shawn doesn’t plan to lower his quality of life.

He is an investigator, and investigators don’t compromise on material life; moreover, modern lifestyle suits him, though daily expenses are higher due to this lifestyle.

Investigators and Night Watchers both earn ’risk money.’

No one knows when their time might run out.

"If there are no accidents, I can save about 2,500 dinaars each month."

Reflecting on past experiences, Shawn quietly thought, "Ordinary Extraordinary Relics are worth at least several thousand dinaars, and it might take three months to afford one to increase additional Spells."

"This is too slow."

"Moreover, the daily expenses on the Wizard Path aren’t low either; I need to continue accumulating mysterious knowledge. If studying Alchemy, expenses would increase exponentially."

"No wonder they say Transcendents on the Casting Path often lack funds."

Shawn decided to carefully think about the ways to make money, of course, avoiding anything illegal, as the law is the foundation of reality, and supernatural illegal incidents are always key targets for Night Watchers.

A few months ago, Benjamin pursued a wandering poet who used Charming Ability to seduce noble ladies; it’s said he’s already been sent to labor in the Extraordinary Prison.

Once a rogue Transcendent is on the wanted blacklist, they might face Death Pilgrims rather than Night Watchers!

"Can I come up with a little invention?"

Shawn pondered for a while and eventually gave up reluctantly; he truly isn’t suited for scientific research, nor is he that familiar with the real world.

Better to consider whether he can find a young and beautiful wealthy woman.

"The Wizard Path requires daily accumulation and consumes a lot of time; my main focus should be on digesting mysterious knowledge right now."

Shawn closed his eyes and entered a meditative state.

A silent night.

The next day, Benjamin arrived at eight o’clock; Shawn had been to the Night Watcher headquarters once, encountering no trouble, with Gemma handling the reception. After completing the procedures, it was considered an official appointment.

Then, Shawn went off duty.

There have been no Extraordinary events recently; other investigators are on vacation, and Hank isn’t returning until three days later.

If there’s a special event, someone will notify Shawn.

"Indeed, investigators are quite relaxed."

In the afternoon, Shawn took a walk in the Wharf District. Night Watchers all need to take shifts, and tomorrow, Benjamin will be working, leaving Shawn more at ease alone.

Living such a leisurely life suddenly, Shawn felt a bit unaccustomed.

Library.

While Shawn was methodically accumulating his knowledge, a cold-faced man in his thirties found him in the reading room, showed his badge, and said in a deep voice, "Investigator Sean."

"The infirmary needs your help handling something tricky."

Work came?

But why the infirmary?

Shawn carefully checked the man’s badge; his knowledge told him there was no issue.

Fifteen minutes later.

Shawn saw a somewhat familiar woman; he had met her once during events in the Old Town District.

Infirmary.

A blonde woman wearing rimless glasses approached; her face was gentle and gracious like water. She was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, draped in a white coat in a doctor’s attire.

At this moment, she hurriedly walked to Shawn, speaking in a solemn voice, "Undying Touch, can you do it?"

Undying Touch?

Shawn nodded silently.

"Then come with me, follow my orders." The woman pushed open the door, signaling Shawn to enter, then said in a solemn tone, "When I give the command, use Undying Touch to paralyze the target."

There was a filthy pool of blood on the ground.

Shawn heard the painful wails of a patient; before his eyes, a young man dressed like a Night Watcher was locked tightly hand and foot on the sickbed, vomiting blood stains everywhere, struggling fiercely while pinned down by a burly man.

"Carol, hang in there!" the burly man said heavily.

A nurse-like girl quickly approached, addressing the woman before Shawn, "Doctor. The anesthesia simply doesn’t work on him."

The woman swiftly picked up a scalpel, glanced at others, and said in a solemn voice, "Hold him down."

"Don’t let him move!"

After speaking, she quickly cut open the young man’s clothes and pants on the sickbed. On a pair of powerful, muscular thighs, Shawn saw things squirming as if swollen boils, accompanied by a thread of fresh blood oozing. The patient’s skin broke open, exposing ten-centimeter-long dark red flesh and blood tentacles.

The doctor tore open the patient’s clothes; on his body surface, traces of abscesses spread and slowly moved toward the heart and brain.

Amid the vein and muscle patterns, one could still see bizarre dark green traces twisting like earthworms slowly spreading.

"Flesh rampage?"

"Is it contact with bizarre creatures? Or is he about to lose control himself?" Shawn’s expression was grim.

The doctor turned her head, her face stern, glancing at Shawn, saying, "Don’t zone out! Undying Touch!"

"Now! Immediately!"

Shawn quickly approached; when his finger touched the other party, a momentary cold, death-like negative energy appeared, causing the young man who was struggling intensely to freeze immediately, not just himself, but even the peculiar creature squirming beneath his skin like an earthworm was completely paralyzed by the power of Undying Touch.

"Don’t cease casting." The doctor picked up the scalpel and cut open the skin.

Blood spurted forth.

Strange dark red flesh and blood roots grew within the muscle patterns, some extending to organs; beads of sweat appeared on the doctor’s forehead as she silently took the scalpel to excise these mutated flesh and blood tissues.

Shawn maintained the power of Undying Touch throughout, not considering whether the patient could endure multiple Spells.

The whole surgery lasted nearly half an hour, with Shawn witnessing the doctor slice open the patient’s skin little by little and remove the mutated flesh within.

It was practically a live skinning surgery.

Outside the infirmary.

Finally able to catch his breath, Shawn vomited with a ’wah,’ expelling it all out.

"Are you alright?"

A slender hand gently patted Shawn’s back, comforting him, saying, "You’ll get used to it."

She handed over a tissue, watching Shawn slowly recover, and reached out, saying, "Inid-Bela. Doctor."

Shawn silently reached out, saying, "Sean. Investigator."

Wah!

Under the doctor’s slightly teasing gaze, Shawn vomited once more.

He swore it was the most disgusting and bloody scene he’d ever seen.

He might need some time to adapt.

.........