Traffic Accident
In those five minutes, Persephone soothed her with Doctor expertly refined rhetoric and explained everything she wanted to know.
"Your body is in excellent condition. All your ailments, infected wounds, and the hidden injuries left by the Ursus people when they tortured you have been completely cured. Now you are as healthy as a normal person." Persephone changed back into the white lab coat that researchers usually wear, operating various sophisticated instruments while also taking a moment to talk to the red wolf.
"Like...a normal person?" Ludmila pondered the words carefully. Her voice was somewhat hoarse.
"Yes, literally, like a normal person— the Originium infection in your mouth has been greatly relieved. In other words, as long as you take an inhibitor once a week, you will no longer need to wear a mask to cover the Originium traces in your throat. Of course, some necessary costs will naturally be incurred. The most significant one is that the infected organ that you use to generate smoke cannot function as normally as before."
"I suggest you have it removed, just like removing a diseased tonsil. It won't have any impact on your body. At most, it will cause some changes to your voice, and removing it can also help prevent the recurrence or even worsening of Originium Infection."
Persephone tilted her head slightly. In front of this red-haired Lupo, she appeared as a weak and helpless researcher, utterly powerless.
"You can start a new life, Reunion Movement cadre, Crownslayer, Ludmila. The organization you served no longer exists. Just take off your mask, change your clothes, and adopt a new voice. No one will be able to recognize you in your new identity—if you're interested, I can also introduce you to Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals. Here you can receive paid treatment, but at least you won't be squeezed out of treatment by infected individuals. After all, many of your former comrades have become members of this organization."
Ludmila didn't answer her, but instead looked at the restraints on her body and the testing equipment.
"It's just normal medical treatment, but it also has some limitations. After all, I'm just an ordinary person," Persephone said shamelessly without changing his expression.
"If you feel threatened, you should have a powerful warrior guard me." The red-haired Lupo spoke calmly, but her ears trembled slightly without her even noticing. "I've heard that you Rhodes Island have a swordswoman who is skilled in using fire; she is very powerful."
Her shallow probing was full of flaws, but Persephone did not expose her.
"Oh, you mean Surtr? She is indeed very capable... but she has her own things to do. And I don't think you would do anything bad."
Persephone said that instead of directly controlling the drone, she took out a soft measuring tape and measured herself.
"Surtr ..." Red-haired Lupo murmured the name softly. Her tone was complex, and as she pronounced the name completely, her tail swayed slightly involuntarily.
Wolves do wag their tails, but only on very few occasions. The vast majority of the time, it's when they are pledging allegiance to the pack leader.
She raised her head, as if she had made up her mind.
"I agree. I agree to temporarily join Rhodes Island. Are there any procedures required?" She emphasized the word "temporarily."
She saw the purple-haired researcher in front of her holding a soft measuring tape and measuring it against her body.
"I need a uniform... Oh, sorry, I misspoke. Some simple paperwork, filling out some medical records and forms." Persephone shrugged apologetically. She pressed several buttons on one side. With a soft click, the released restraints freed the dangerous predator from the iron bed.
Ludmila nimbly jumped off the instrument, stretched her body, and after confirming the strength within her, seemed to lower her guard slightly as she looked around.
Ludmila was not entirely ignorant of Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals.
At least, she knew one name. A name she harbored a deep grudge against, but which she had gradually ruled out as a suspect over the past few days.
She knew Kal'tsit.
She knew that Kal'tsit worked at Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals.
She had previously believed that Kal'tsit had killed her father, and this obsessive belief nearly led her down a dark and uncertain path. However, now, many details she had known in the past but deliberately ignored were telling her that things weren't entirely as she had previously thought.
When exactly did it begin? Ah... it seems to have started when Frostnova encountered the Demon of Incineration, and I was also caught up in the calamity... I wonder if Yelena can still sing softly as she used to?
Is she alright? Is she still alive?
The woman before us had previously mentioned that many members of the Reunion Movement had joined Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals. So perhaps we can expect Yelena to be on the list?
Ludmila turned her gaze to the researcher in front of her who had taken her measurements and then turned away to attend to other trivial matters—she knew that her relationship with Yelena was not deep, and that she knew that Yelena was just looking for an excuse to stay.
Why stay?
For revenge? To confirm the truth of that intuition? Or is it simply that all I want to do is follow that flame burning in my dreams, that illusory warmth, that name that murmurs deep within my heart, not noisy but rather melodious?
Surtr... did he stay behind for the sake of that Surtr?
For that wisp of undying flame that she had never met, yet inexplicably felt she could entrust everything to?
She didn't know, she didn't understand, she... didn't want to admit it!
—I... have a reason for staying.
—I'm going to see Kal'tsit. I need to verify my suspicions. I need to know... if it really is her!
An excuse surfaced in her mind, and it easily convinced her. She moved closer to the thin researcher in front of her, glancing over her. She noticed that the purple-haired girl seemed to be preparing a simple meal.
Ice cream, and some high-calorie foods—it looks like a dinner for someone with a sweet tooth. The likelihood is high that it's a woman.
—Is it her friend? Because she's busy working overtime, she's planning to prepare dinner for that friend?
—I'm sorry, I have things I have to do.
Her fingers trembled. For a fleeting moment, she wanted to grab the girl by the throat and force this frail researcher to take her to Kal'tsit. As if doing so would prove that she was truly there to uncover the truth.
She was confident she could succeed; the girl before her must be very weak. She thought she could take on ten people with one hand. However, just before she was about to make her move, she hesitated.
Is it necessary to do this?
—I... I just need to wait for her to take me to complete the onboarding procedures for Rhodes Island, and then I will naturally meet Kal'tsit, right?
The excuse he made at the last minute suddenly became fragile. The red-haired Lupo found himself forced to confront the depths of his own heart.
She wasn't looking for Kal'tsit, nor was she worried about Yelena.
She just wanted to see that blazing fire.
She lowered her hand, and without realizing it, her foot, already half-stepping into a death trap, silently moved forward. So she chose to wait, to wait for the girl before her to finish the dish. Then she would ask.
"When do I need to complete this procedure?" she asked, trying to remain calm and use a steady tone.
"Tomorrow," the purple-haired girl answered cheerfully. She packed the food box, a bright smile playing in her eyes.
"You passed the test"—for some reason, this thought popped into Ludmila's mind.
Then, she saw the girl hand her the food box.
"Can I ask you for a favor?" the purple-haired girl asked with a smile. "Could you deliver some food for me?"
I checked the backend and found that the previous lesson from 9 AM this morning had been re-reviewed... I was shocked. Can this even be reported?
Section 114 Traffic Accidents
"I'll knit a plaid skirt and give it to Warfarin."
"After knitting a set of white stockings, Persephone ~"
"I'll knit a dress to reward Amiya ~"