Wilbur's Contact

Hope went to see Wilbur again.

He could no longer see that distant shadow at all.

Wilbur's destination—Larry Miller—

Larry Miller:

Self-Being: 1.00, Spirit Body: 1.49, Self-Sense: 1.01, Inspiration: 0

All within the normal range.

Using the "Exchange" tactic, Larry Miller found nothing to exchange except attributes; he had no magic.

He has zero Inspiration and cannot use spells—unless he possesses any special abilities, he is just an ordinary person.

"May I have the honor of knowing your identity?" Hope asked. "You look like—a professor at this university?"

"Yes," Larry Miller nodded. "I'm an associate professor in the history department."

An associate professor in the history department—that's probably a position similar to Dr. Morgan's.

"So—I suppose you can come and go from school freely, right?" Hope licked her lips. "If you suddenly drive out, the guards won't check your car."

Professor Larry frowned again.

"No, Professor," Hope explained, "I'm not leaving here, nor do I need your identity; I'm just asking."

Professor Larry nodded hesitantly.

Wilbur wants to leave Miskatonic University — Miller — Miller Family —

Professor Larry is returning early for some reason—it sounds like something Wilbur would do—

Turn the possible into the inevitable.

Professor Larry stopped at Hope's place, but didn't go directly to Wilbur.

He didn't recognize Wilbur.

No, Wilbur is so huge that even a distant silhouette should be easily recognizable— Professor Larry didn't recognize him—

He didn't know Wilbur would come, so he didn't associate the huge figure with Wilbur.

Professor Larry seemed to suddenly remember something. "Oh, I know, Hope Love, the white-haired Love, you're the one in the school newspaper."

Damn Jeffrey.

"Yes, it's me," Hope replied.

Professor Larry stared at Hope's face. "And you are—excuse my bluntness, but you're albino. How do you drive? After all, your eyesight is like this—"

How do you drive? This car isn't...

Hope was trying to figure out how to explain.

Did Wilbur tell Professor Larry that he was driving?

But then, Professor Larry suddenly looked frightened and leaned back.

Hope paused for a second, then finally realized the reason—he was holding Jack's dagger in his hand.

"No, Professor Larry— " Hope was about to explain, but he quickly thought of something else.

Wilbur went to that building—and Professor Larry Miller was going there too—

It's difficult to determine whether Professor Larry was Wilbur's inside man or whether Wilbur was planning to kidnap Professor Larry.

Wilbur probably did want to use Professor Larry to leave.

Professor Larry seemed unaware of Wilbur's arrival.

But perhaps it was Wilbur's intuition that told Wilbur he could wait for Professor Larry in the office—

Professor Larry stopped halfway through because of Hope.

Wilbur's intuition couldn't predict Hope —so he wouldn't know that Professor Larry had already been stopped by Hope.

If Professor Larry doesn't show up, how long will Wilbur choose to wait?

Perhaps we can keep Professor Larry here to hinder Wilbur.

Using violence?

Professor Larry did indeed know Wilbur, but he didn't seem to be Wilbur's accomplice—though this might be a disguise by Professor Larry.

Perhaps kidnapping Professor Larry would be a good option.

"You're injured," Professor Larry said, frowning.

"Um?"

Hope was stunned.

He felt the hand holding the dagger was sticky, so he raised it and brought it to his eye.

Below his little finger was a wound several centimeters long, the blood of which had stained Hope's shirt red.

The bone appears to be visible through the wound.

Hope completely forgot about it—because of the painkillers.

Even with Jack's prior warning, Hope still forgot about the wound because of her lack of pain sensation.

After obtaining Hope's consent, Professor Larry took the dagger and cut off a piece of his own shirt.

After Professor Larry took the dagger, Hope raised his injured hand above his head. This way, he could easily flick blood into Professor Larry's eyes.

When dealing with someone who might be Wilbur's accomplice, it's always wise to exercise caution.

"You could actually use my shirt," Hope said.

But Professor Larry gave Hope a disdainful look. "If you want your wound to get infected, of course you can."

Hope sighed. "I'll find a way to get you a replacement shirt."

He remembered the royalties August hadn't yet paid him; although it wasn't much, it was his first paycheck since arriving here.

After he finished writing those translations, he never went back to August's former dormitory, so August never had the chance to pay him.

"Of course you have to pay," Professor Larry said, "But now I need to take you to the infirmary first."

Medical Clinic ---- Medical Clinic?

"Didn't you have some things to do and need to go back to your office?"

"I'm still going back," Professor Larry replied. "And you coming with me won't take much time."

He didn't mention the police officer again.

But Hope believed that Professor Larry would definitely take him to the police officer.

Wilbur will go to the office to wait for Professor Larry.

"Well, sir, I think it's more important for us to get to the infirmary first," Hope said. "You see, my hand injury is so bad—"

"Come on," Professor Larry said dismissively. "Any student in this school who fell off a car would be more seriously injured than you."

Does it happen frequently at your school that students fall off vehicles?

Hope was somewhat embarrassed.

It seems his injury wasn't serious enough to require Professor Larry to temporarily suspend his work.

If it weren't for the fear that Professor Larry was a charlatan, Hope would have already revealed his identity as "Professor Armitage and Professor Rice's special envoy" and tricked Professor Larry into coming with him.

"But, Professor," Hope said, "my wound is—"

He glanced at the tire he had shot out next to him.

The edges of the metal wheel rims are sharp, acute angles, possibly due to manufacturing defects or wear.

It was covered in dirt, oil stains, and other unidentified substances.

Hope said, "It was scratched by the wheel rim; it was so dirty, my wound might fester."

This has a sense of moral blackmail, since whatever injury Hope suffers has nothing to do with Professor Larry.

But because of Hope's words, Professor Larry still showed some concern.

What a great professor.

Hope praised him in her heart.

At the same time, he finally had some strange sensations, sensed something— Hope was trying to use the disappearance of fate.

Silently, without Professor Larry noticing anything, Hope tried to avert Professor Larry's fate of going to his office.

"Alright," Professor Larry said, "I'll take you to the infirmary first; after all, what I need to do isn't anything important."

Hope looked delighted.

He crawled out from under the car.

"But we still need to go to my office once," Professor Larry said. "My car keys are there."

Hope was stunned.

His first attempt at "disappear" failed.

Hope gritted her teeth.

"Please wait a moment, Professor Larry," he said.

Is there anything else?

"Please—let me go back to the car to get something," Hope said.