Due to the high-magic environment of ancient civilizations, coupled with the existence of “dragons” in that era, Yvette began to harbor some doubts about the continent of Radiance where Rosalyn was located. However, these doubts were quickly dispelled—if that were truly the case, the origins of the first aberrations would still remain a mystery.

For the next few days, Yvette did not continue her deep dive into the free mythological and historical research materials. On one hand, the sheer volume of information was overwhelming, and there simply weren’t enough hours to read through it all; on the other, her curiosity regarding the origins of the apocalypse in the Origin civilization had not reached the level of needing to uncover every detail.

In contrast, she preferred to observe Dr. Regel Hoffman’s medical processes as a “young intern”—after all, she had already prepaid for the service.

These days continued for a long time, and due to rumors of “a stunning silver-haired girl with red eyes being a new face at the Hoffman Clinic,” the number of patients at the clinic skyrocketed, often causing queues to form at the entrance.

This made the Hoffman family both exhausted and happy each day, as it seemed they could finally pay off their children’s student loans faster.

However, about a month later, such days abruptly came to an end.

That morning, with three police officers showing up, a bombshell announcement shattered the peace of the Hoffman household—Regel Hoffman was reported for practicing medicine without a license, and the police were there to take him in for questioning.

So by the evening, when Hans and Mary returned from school and learned of this news, the entire Hoffman family was engulfed in tremendous pain and sorrow.

“How could this happen…” After returning home from next door, Rosalyn felt confused. The incident came too suddenly, providing no time for preparation.

Just yesterday, she had been happily chatting and playing with Hans and Mary, and sharing dinner with Regel and Mrs. Susan; now, that peace was shattered. With the head of the household in trouble, the expensive student loans of Hans and Mary could no longer be managed by Mrs. Susan alone. The best outcome would be for Hans and Mary to transfer to a regular school, or worse, to drop out and find work.

You never know what tomorrow or unexpected events will bring… Yvette thought, not responding to her apprentice.

She felt helpless regarding the situation. If Mr. Regel had been falsely accused, it would have been fine, but unfortunately, it was true. Moreover, it was compounded by the fact that he had experience purchasing and studying pirated rune knowledge—a riskier offense. With such an accumulation of charges, unless substantial bribes were paid, he was likely looking at a prison sentence of at least ten years. This content belongs to novęlfire.net

And those ten years would be enough to cost Hans and Mary the most critical stages of their lives, effectively severing their chances of breaking free from their social class and dooming them to sink further into the Blackwater Zone.

“Teacher, is there any way we can help them?” Rosalyn pleaded, unable to stand by and watch her only two friends fall into such a painful abyss.

“It’s difficult. While it’s not entirely impossible to assist, there’s really no need because this is merely a dream,” Yvette replied.

She was blunt, and it was indeed the truth. Yes, money could potentially get Regel out of trouble, but she didn’t know when the dream might abruptly end. It wouldn’t make sense to spend her funds meant for essential knowledge on such a purpose; that would be too extravagant.

“Ah, right, it’s a dream…” Rosalyn paused, realizing she was not in the real world but in a dream rooted in a time long past. Regardless of what she did in the dream, she could not change the established facts of the past.

She fell silent, refraining from making unreasonable demands of her teacher but still kept her head down, unable to escape the depths of her dejection.

The next afternoon, standing in the corridor of the 18th floor of the Light Apartment, Rosalyn saw Hans and Mary, expressionless, carrying cardboard boxes out from their home and placing them onto a small cart outside.

She approached them and asked, “Where are you guys going?”

“Mom discussed it with the apartment manager, and they’re transferring our rental to an empty room on the 15th floor, so we can get a small portion of our rent back…” Mary said in a subdued voice, her red-rimmed eyes indicative of how much she must have cried since last night.

“So… don’t worry, we’re still in the same building,” Hans tried to comfort her, forcing a smile that was more painful to look at than crying.

Rosalyn didn’t know how to respond, so she began to help carry some things. As they were moving, a thought suddenly occurred to her, and she lowered her voice, “Um… have you guys thought about… who reported it?”

“I don’t know. The reporter was anonymous. And right now…” Hans sighed, his expression filled with fatigue and helplessness, “What’s the point of finding out who it is now?”

Rosalyn didn’t say anything further; she understood that trying to identify the whistleblower was pointless now. Everything was far too late. Essentially, it was a moment of emotional impulse; she couldn’t help but wonder whether the reporter truly understood the weight of their small action and the consequences it could bring, or if they would regret their actions.

A week passed.

With the last patient leaving with a sigh, the electronic sign representing the “Hoffman Clinic” extinguished its final glimmer. This small clinic, which had operated quietly, officially announced its closure amidst a mournful atmosphere. The news spread rapidly through the neighborhood, and many were taken aback to realize for the first time that the impeccably skilled and affordable Dr. Hoffman didn’t even have a medical license.

However, due to Regel’s past performance and reputation, most offered condolences to the Hoffman family, with many even bringing gifts to their door.

Another week later, without money for a lawyer, Regel underwent trial in court.

But perhaps due to his sincere attitude during the confession or perhaps winning sympathy from the jury based on his reputation, he received a relatively light sentence—six years instead of the ten years originally anticipated.

That was still a significant amount, but it could barely be considered a silver lining.

The night after the verdict, during a conversation with Hans and Mary, Rosalyn learned they had already applied for a transfer.

Unable to sustain the costs of the top-tier Blacktower Middle School, they had shifted to Blackwater Middle School, a school that was as low-tier as it could get.

Mrs. Susan, on the other hand, had set up a street stall on a bustling, messy intersection, selling simple food items. With a meager income, she worked to support her family and repay the burdensome student loan interest.

This was the first time Rosalyn clearly witnessed the process of a family’s ruin.

To her, the Hoffman family had committed no wrong; they were all good people. While Regel may have been unlicensed, his skills were genuinely high, and he saved countless patients at a low cost. He deserved flowers, not handcuffs. Yet now, one anonymous tip had destroyed them, and supposedly all within a legal, compliant framework—there was no way to point fingers at anyone. It felt incredibly abnormal, entirely at odds with her vision of the advanced, beautiful, and prosperous world of the Origin civilization.

“Teacher,” by the window of room 1809, Rosalyn gazed at Mrs. Susan working stooped over at her stall on the street corner. Her voice was low, tinged with deep bewilderment and confusion, “Why is it like this?”

“It’s just how the world is,” Yvette replied without looking up, “You just didn’t see the whole picture at first.”

Rosalyn fell silent. As a 12-year-old girl from a backward civilization, she had held a steadfast belief in the beauty of the Origin civilization, strong enough that even witnessing a gang shootout hadn’t shattered her perception.

But now, she had to admit, she felt a touch of aversion toward this world.

“Gloni Clinic,” Yvette said, looking at the holographic screen.

“What, teacher?” Rosalyn didn’t hear clearly.

“Gloni Clinic, the chief physician is Goss Gloni, the sender of the anonymous report. If you want to know his thoughts, you can go ask him right now,” Yvette said, lowering her gaze and speaking flatly.

…

As night fell, a chilling autumn rain began to fall from the pitch-black sky. At first, it was a light mist, barely audible, but soon it intensified, pattering against the metal walls and cold glass facades. Under the filthy street lamps, the rain formed a curtain shimmering with a faint silver light.

The clinic on a rainy night had hardly any patients; only Goss Gloni sat alone behind the counter inside. He was a man in his thirties, propping his legs up on the table, leisurely watching videos on the holographic display, until Rosalyn pushed the door open. Only then did he put his feet down and ask, “Little girl, are you here for medicine or for a consultation?”

“Are you Dr. Gloni?”

“Yes, do you know me?” Goss smiled.

“No, I want to ask you why you reported Mr. Hoffman,” Rosalyn said straightforwardly.

The smile faded from Goss’s face, replaced by shock and caution. He left his stool, standing up coldly, “What report? What are you talking about?! … Who told you? Did the Hoffman family send you to stir up trouble?”

“I know it was you. I just want to know why you did it,” Rosalyn said, looking up at him. Though she appeared petite, she didn’t come across as weak.

“Why did I do it?” Goss scoffed slightly, and after thinking for a moment, he answered, “Of course—uh, for justice.”

“Justice?” Rosalyn looked at him in disbelief, sensing an indescribable absurdity.

“A scoundrel without any qualifications, masquerading as a doctor and cheating people! I stopped him—how is that not justice? What is justice?” he ground out.

“Shameless! You’re lying! You’re just jealous that Mr. Hoffman’s business is better than yours, and his reputation outshines yours!” Rosalyn retorted through clenched teeth. She had figured this out on her way there, but still wanted to hear him admit it.

Outside, the rain intensified, and lightning flashed through the dark clouds. A sneer crossed Goss’s face: “Even if you say that, I’m still doing it for justice.”

Then, watching the girl’s angry expression, he continued, “If it weren’t for justice, why would my report be smoothly accepted? Why could the police legally and rightfully take him away? Why would a solemn state court treat the case seriously and find him guilty based on solid evidence?”

“Well, that’s of course because… because…” For a twelve-year-old girl, it was too difficult to untangle the logic in an instant and respond. Rosalyn instinctively sensed he was arguing in bad faith, yet she couldn’t pinpoint what the issue was.

“So the answer is clear: Regel Hoffman is an evil criminal, and his wife and children are accomplices who benefit from his sins.” Goss shook his head, using the cybernetic enhancements in his body to silently activate the clinic’s defensive program.

“They aren’t, and your report was just a way to steal customers and make money!”

“What’s wrong with making money? A fraudulent scoundrel should be put behind bars. I’m just doing the work of the heavens while making a little extra for myself—can’t I?” he replied nonchalantly, “From start to finish, it’s very simple: black is black, white is white. And you, dear little girl, what exactly do you hope I’ll answer you? What do you want to hear?”

“You…”

“And even if I said what you’d like to hear, what difference would it make? The one being convicted in court is him, not me! If you have the guts, report me too, but I have medical credentials, after all.”

Hearing this, Rosalyn finally fell silent. Her fists clenched tightly several times and then relaxed; she nearly lost control and unleashed a spell. She still couldn’t believe someone could be so shameless that she wanted nothing more than to exorcise him like a foul demon on the spot, feeling that if she didn’t act, she might actually become aberrant herself.

Don’t retaliate, Rosalyn, don’t retaliate… Think of what the teacher said, consider the consequences… Taking a deep breath, her pupils trembled, and she forced her emotions down before turning to leave, walking toward the exit with Goss’s mocking gaze upon her like a defeated puppy, feeling woefully beaten.

Out in the rain-soaked night, the world seemed to be submerged in a cold, dark sea. As she stepped out of the clinic’s doorway, the chilly, damp air hit her face, momentarily awakening her senses.

Then, through the densely falling rain, she caught sight of an unexpected figure—her teacher.

At this moment, Yvette stood in a black dress, holding a black umbrella, standing a few meters away from the clinic entrance on the sidewalk, keeping a perfect distance from the noisy downpour, like a transcendent deity. After meeting Rosalyn’s confused gaze, the rarest, slight curve curved her cold lips.

“Teacher, I’m sorry, I…” Rosalyn walked over through the rain, lowering her head in shame.

However, Yvette showed no signs of reprimand.

“Earlier, you restrained your impulses and didn’t directly attack him. I’m very pleased with that,” she said, holding the umbrella over Rosalyn’s head, speaking softly, “As a reward, I’ll help you report Goss. Are you satisfied with that?”