Experience

The private research institute arranged by the Anomaly Countermeasures Bureau for Emerald is located in a commercial real estate area under the Anomaly Countermeasures Bureau, in an office building that is not very popular.

The advantage is that it's quiet amidst the hustle and bustle, and not easily discovered; the disadvantage is that it's not a large place and can hardly be described as grand.

During the site selection process, Emerald felt that this treatment was not worthy of her Gem Scepter status and complained about it. However, Lin Yun was unwilling to agree to her demand for "an entire floor", so they eventually compromised and settled on two rooms.

Lin Yun took the elevator to the corridor of the office building and walked side by side with the Fairy Doll until they arrived at the entrance of the Emerald Research Institute.

"Transform first," Emerald suddenly said.

Lin Yun raised an eyebrow slightly, but ultimately remained unsuspecting. She took out the Heart Gem and transformed into the form of Larkspur. After the transformation, she immediately noticed that the door in front of her had changed.

What was originally just an ordinary security door in an office building has now become a metal door engraved with intricate runes and shimmering with magical light.

"--"

Standing before the door, the doll opened its mouth, and a series of sounds completely unlike human language emanated from it. With each syllable it uttered, a previously dim rune on the door would light up, until after it finished reciting the entire sentence, the shining runes finally formed a circle.

Click.

The door opened in response.

Following the doll, Larkspur entered the room, which had been completely transformed. Looking around, she felt that the original office building was nowhere to be seen.

The room's interior is primarily made of copper and iron, while the floor is covered with a type of wood. The furnishings appear magical yet technologically advanced.

The tall bookshelves were crammed with documents and manuscripts written in unknown scripts, exuding an ancient and serene atmosphere. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting golden dappled patterns on the dust on the shelves. On the lab bench by the window, reagent bottles of various shapes were arranged. The liquids inside shimmered with iridescent colors, making them quite eye-catching.

On the wall to the side, several huge mirrors were inlaid among the copper and iron patterns. Above the mirrors, dense data and runes were displayed, seemingly serving as a display screen.

In a corner of the research institute, there was a piece of equipment that looked particularly conspicuous.

If Larkspur wasn't mistaken, it should be a treatment bed. Although it looked very different from the treatment beds in hospitals in the Material Realm, both its size and outline reminded Larkspur of this kind of medical equipment often seen in hospitals.

"So? Why were you so insistent on me coming here?"

After surveying the research institute's furnishings, Larkspur turned to the Fairy Doll beside her. "Is she just showing off her new house to me?"

"Don't be so impatient, young man."

Emerald's voice rang out leisurely. "I suppose you know very well that I called you here, naturally, it's still about the transaction."

"If it's the same conditions as before, I'm afraid I still won't agree," Larkspur replied, frowning. "As I've said before, the better the conditions you offer, the more suspicious I will be of your motives."

"Really, didn't I already tell you? Don't rush me."

The Fairy Doll turned its head, probably trying to make a "shaking its head" gesture. "Since I've brought you here, I definitely have to offer some new conditions."

As it said this, it stretched out its paw, pointing it at the treatment bed not far away:

"For example, let's take a look at that one first."

"... What is that for?"

"As you can see, it's a treatment bed. Its basic functions are the same as those in the Material Realm hospitals, only an optimized version for magic and the soul."

The doll walked to the light screen beside it and reached out to turn a knob on the control panel: "If you agreed to the deal we discussed earlier, that treatment bed should be for your initial conditioning."

"Early-stage conditioning?" This phrase made Larkspur Que raise an eyebrow.

"Yes, repairing the cracks in your True Form is a huge undertaking. After all, you're at the Flower Rank in terms of size, and the injuries are quite severe; it's not something that can be done overnight."

The doll spoke without turning its head, "Although we can only go to the Kingdom for the final restoration work next year, the work before then can still be done."

"Specifically?"

"Specifically, we need to use various methods to stabilize your injuries and ensure that your magic power doesn't continue to leak or overflow. If this continues, you'll regress to the Bud Rank before next year, young one."

The doll looked up at the screen. "It's too much trouble to explain. Just lie down there yourself, and I'll let you try it."

Now?

"Now, there is no need for any cost or exchange of benefits."

The doll turned around, with a simple and honest smile on its furry face like a fairy, "Just think of it as a customer experience part of product promotion, and just feel its effect."

The Larkspur did not speak, but the look of suspicion on her face was completely undisguised.

She approached the treatment bed the Emerald had pointed to, reached out and touched its surface, then raised her hand to examine it. "There doesn't seem to be any unusual magical fluctuation. It doesn't seem to be a mechanism or trap."

"There won't be such a thing."

Emerald sighed, "Although I've said it many times, I still want to emphasize it again: I am a person of noble and virtuous qualities, and I would never do such despicable things."

The Larkspur did not reply. Silently, she placed her hands on the edge of the treatment bed, then used all her strength to lift herself up, lightly leaped, and turned to sit on it.

After sitting on the bed, she paused for two seconds before speaking again, "It's quite comfortable."

"It's just a simple optimization of the human body. You should know that it's considered one of the most cutting-edge achievements in the medical field in our Research Institute."

The doll left the screen wall and walked to the treatment bed. "Even if I wanted to sneak it into the Material Realm, it would take quite a bit of effort."

"... secretly?"

"Yes, secretly. I entrusted my trusted confidant to transport it thousands of miles via smuggling routes."

The doll raised its paw and stroked the outline of the instrument. "You should be proud, young man. This is the first time I've built a research institute in the Material Realm, and currently only the two of us know about this location."

"Is that so?"

With a flat, monotone reply, Larkspur's gaze swept across the room. "Then, if I may ask, is there anything in this room that was transported through official channels, rather than being smuggled in?"

The doll didn't speak, but confidently pointed behind it.

The Larkspur looked in the direction indicated and saw a huge experimental table.

"... That testing platform?" she asked uncertainly.

"No, it's the notebook I put on there," Emerald said definitively.

"Besides this?"

"That's all."

Emerald voice came from the doll. "After all, I didn't even report to His Majesty."

After a moment's thought, the Larkspur raised its head again. "Your Excellency, Chief."

"What's wrong?"

"In our Material Realm, we generally refer to your actions as 'illegal immigration' and 'construction of illegal buildings'."

"That's quite a coincidence."

The doll bent down and tapped the control panel beside the treatment bed. "It seems to be defined the same way in this Kingdom."

"I don't think this is a coincidence, but simply because your behavior violated the rules," said Larkspur without expression.

"Sigh, after all, His Majesty cannot know about this."

Emerald sighed, "Think carefully about what we're going to do next. Whether it's helping you create a fake identity or smuggling you back to the Magic Kingdom, none of it is legal. So, my presence here definitely can't be known to anyone else."

"That's why you used a clone?"

That's why I used a clone.

The doll stretched out its paw and nudged the Larkspur's arm. "Alright, the equipment is all set up. Lie down now."

The Larkspur said no more and lay down on the treatment bed.

She watched intently as the doll tapped on the control panel beside her. With each movement, faint ripples of magic emanated from within the machine, rhythmically swirling around the Larkspur.

A faint magical light enveloped the Larkspur, and a tingling sensation slowly crept up its limbs.

The faint hum of machinery became the only melody in the research institute, accompanied by the tapping of the doll on the screen. After an unknown amount of time, the doll finally raised its paw and looked at the Larkspur, saying:

"Okay, now take your clothes off."

"How many?"

"All."

The doll said casually, but then noticed that the Larkspur was looking at her strangely. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Your Excellency, I remember you just said that you are a person with 'noble and virtuous' qualities."

The Larkspur stared at it expressionlessly. "Is what you just said included in this quality?"

"What do you take me for? I've already said, this is treatment, treatment. It's not for any sordid or despicable purpose! Would you, a doctor in the Material Realm, question me like this at every turn? I'm your attending physician now, young man!"

The doll, hands on its hips, said with displeasure, "Let's not even talk about the absurd interests you're imagining. Even if I did, I wouldn't be interested in a little girl's figure like yours. What are you worried about?"

Larkspur stared intently at the doll for a moment, but unfortunately, she couldn't discern anything from its mere puppet-like body.

After much deliberation, she felt that she didn't really need to be so wary of the other party, so she reached out and placed her hand on her Heart Gem. Her navy blue dress instantly transformed into magical threads enveloped in light, which gradually spread outwards from being dense to being sparse.

Magical girls' costumes are mainly made of magic, and putting them on and taking them off is not as troublesome as normal clothes. In addition, since Larkspur's ability includes threads, manipulating clothing is naturally a piece of cake.

However, just as she was about to take off her clothes, she found that the doll in front of her was staring at her without moving, its pair of emerald-like eyes deep and focused. Whether it was an illusion or not, the Larkspur could also see strangely jumping numbers and runes in its eyes.

"... Your Excellency, just for the sake of basic social distance and etiquette, could you please turn your back slightly?"

"I only placed the clone here; the real body has already turned its back, so you can take it off without worry." Emerald's voice sounded subtly discordant.

"Could you please close the eyes of this clone?" Larkspur asked, his eyelids drooping.

"Sorry, this clone doesn't have the ability to close its eyes," the doll said, blinking.

Larkspur gradually released his hand from the gemstone, and once again silently stared at the doll, the two locked in a long stalemate by the treatment bed.

A short while later, she suddenly sat up from the treatment bed and jumped to the ground:

"Excuse me, that's all for today. I must take my leave."

She always felt that Emerald had ulterior motives for bringing her here, and that the numerous baits she had thrown out beforehand defied common sense. Given Emerald's penchant for "transactions" and "benefits," there was no reason for her to reap so many benefits for no reason.

It was already strange enough that the other party would suddenly appear in Fangting City and offer various forms of assistance, but now they were even offering some kind of "customer experience session"? In addition, the other party insisted on keeping an eye on me throughout the process, which made the sense of incongruity even stronger.

Although she didn't feel embarrassed about exposing her skin and believed the other person wasn't motivated by any "absurd interest," she always felt there was some other reason behind it.

Therefore, after confirming this, she decisively stopped the so-called treatment and planned to leave directly.

"Hey, don't go! I finally got the data I wanted... no, I finally managed to introduce you to the next feature!"

The Fairy Doll tumbled and scrambled off the treatment bed and ran right up to the Larkspur: "It's just taking off some clothes, just a little bit! It's not like you'll lose a piece of flesh!"

"'The data we finally got our hands on'... right?"

Larkspur leaned down and placed her palm on the doll's head. "Your Excellency, could you explain to me what this data is?"

"Hmm... you misheard!"

The doll struggled to reach the Larkspur's hand, waving its claws. "This is all a proposal full of goodwill and sincerity, how could it contain such cold, hard data?"

Having said that, it hooked its arm around the Larkspur's wrist and began to pull it towards the treatment bed. "Come on, let's go back and continue, three minutes... no, just two minutes!"

However, the Larkspur stood there, completely still.

"... It's precisely because your Gem Scepter are always like this that I don't trust you."

Upon hearing Emerald's words, she sighed for some reason, and took another step towards the institute's gate. "No need for you to see me off. I wish you a successful research experience here. Goodbye."

The Fairy Doll, left behind, couldn't catch up no matter how hard it tried, its short legs carrying it. Seeing that she was about to leave the research institute, it finally stopped in its tracks as if giving up, and then raised its voice:

"Alright, don't go yet! I'll talk!"

Although still as languid and nonchalant as ever, Emerald's tone clearly carried a hint of helplessness. "Isn't it just my reason for wanting the Beast Source, and what I really want from bringing you here? I'll tell you. Anyway, come back now."

The Larkspur stopped in its tracks.

However, she did not return to the treatment bed as the other party had suggested, but instead remained silent, quietly looking at the doll on the ground.

Tell me something practical first.

That's what she meant.

"... Should I speak first? You young man, you really don't act until you see the benefit."

Having understood the Larkspur's meaning, the doll could only sigh and shake its head, "Alright, then I'll tell you something first, to truly show my sincerity."

"For example, let me think about it..."

"Oh, how about we start with the 'Claw Mark'?"