Workshop (Nineteen)
It couldn't reach the point of boiling, but given enough time, it should have no trouble cooking an ordinary carbon-based life-form.
As he drew conclusions from the test results, Fu Qian carefully studied the body beneath the cloak.
Though it was grotesquely deformed, like a rag doll ravaged by violence, the constantly festering, bursting blisters melted into the surrounding liquid, and no aroma of human flesh emerged.
Even the blood-red eye still twitching proved that although the body had lost its mind, its basic physiological responses remained.
If someone insisted that this was a form of treatment, it might even sound plausible.
But proving that supernatural forces were involved wouldn't be difficult either—removing the belt and waiting a while should be enough to settle the question.
The belt certainly caused pain, but it was probably also what kept this body alive.
However, under Ess's watchful gaze, Fu Qian didn't try to remove the belt. Instead, he reached deeper and picked out a limb, swollen like a corpse.
Smooth, round, and elongated, it was clearly not a normal body part.
Only the several finger-like protrusions at its tip, joined by webbing, faintly suggested that it had once been an arm.
And the only one, at that.
Fu Qian was certain this was the most human-looking part of the body.
When he lifted it, he could even feel it recoil as though startled.
"That's her hand, all right. What are you trying to prove?"
Ess offered her assessment at just the right moment, looking a little surprised by Fu Qian's actions.
"And it's her only hand. What I mean is, a hand like this probably couldn't leave such a neat signature in the register."
As he corrected Ess, Fu Qian added his own comment.
"Oh? What signature?"
Ess's smile faded