Chapter 69: Charles Michel

“An interesting choice.”

Looking into my eyes, Vladimir suddenly let out a soft chuckle and closed the heavy tome in his hands.

“You would rather let her become a monster than a perfect machine—even if she were perfectly indistinguishable from a normal person?”

Vladimir's gaze grew profound.

“You should know, the changes brought by aberration are not just limited to appearance. Her spirit might become twisted, her personality might alienate, she might even completely forget who you are.”

“That's still better than becoming a pile of data.”

My tone did not waver in the slightest.

“What I want is the real Veronica, not a cold substitute.”

Hearing this, Vladimir fell silent for a moment, then stood up and looked at me meaningfully.

“What you're saying doesn't sound like something a follower of Knowledge would say.”

He studied me and said.

“This kind of reckless, headstrong style makes me feel instead—that you should be a Shepherd of the Red Moon.”

As soon as he finished speaking, my pupils suddenly shrank.

Just as I was thinking about how to explain, Vladimir continued on his own accord:

“Cixin Hospital's branch is in the east district of Ireland,” He walked back to his desk and took out a business card from the drawer.

“Go find this person.”

Vladimir handed the card to me.

“Just tell him I sent you—he will help you.”

I took the business card, on which was printed in gilt lettering:

Chief Soul Surgeon of Cixin Hospital: Alexander Holman.

Address: 21 Noske Street, West District, Ireland City.

Next, Vladimir picked up the phone on the desk.

After giving some instructions to the person on the other end, he hung up and looked at me.

“I have prepared a carriage for you. After you leave, get into the black carriage at the entrance, and the coachman will take you to your destination.”

“Thank you, Mr. Vladimir.”

“You are the Shepherd chosen by It, this is as it should be.”

Vladimir smiled.

“I wish you all the best, Miss Mel.”

When I walked out of the library, I saw, as expected, a black carriage parked at the bottom of the steps.

The body was made of ebony, the wheels inlaid with brass decorations, and the harness was also adorned with exquisite metal fittings.

A coachman in a black formal suit was standing by the carriage, waiting.

“Tap, tap, tap—”

The crisp sound of leather boots on the marble steps echoed as I walked to the carriage.

The coachman glanced at me, as if confirming something, then pulled open the carriage door for me.

The carriage slowly drove away from the Lyceum, traveling through the streets of Ireland.

I sat inside the carriage, looking around curiously.

The interior was exquisitely decorated—the seats were of fine leather, the curtains were of deep red silk, emitting a faint fragrance.

“Isn't this a bit too extravagant....”

I couldn't help but say, sitting on the soft seat.

Outside the window, the scenery was rapidly receding.

Gradually, a huge hospital building appeared before me.

“We've arrived at our destination, miss.”

The coachman said.

“Thank you.”

I thanked him, then got out of the carriage and walked towards the hospital entrance, still clutching the business card given to me by Vladimir.

Walking into the hospital lobby, the space inside was spacious and bright, the polished marble floor reflecting the light from the electric lamps.

The surrounding walls were hung with various medical awards and certificates of honor, displaying the status of this hospital.

Doctors and nurses hurried back and forth, while patients and their families sat or stood, talking in low voices.

The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant, mixed with a faint, almost imperceptible scent of blood.

I walked to the front desk and handed the business card to the receptionist.

“Hello, I would like to see Dr. Alexander Holman.”

The receptionist glanced at the name card, then shook her head, her brow slightly furrowed: “I'm sorry, Dr. Holman doesn't usually see guests without an appointment.”

“Mr. Vladimir sent me.”

I added.

Hearing this name, the receptionist's attitude changed immediately.

She quickly stood up and said respectfully, “Please wait a moment, I will inform him for you right away.”

A few minutes later, a tall, middle-aged man walked over quickly.

He was wearing a spotless white coat, with a nameplate that read 【Alexander Holman】 pinned to his chest.

“You must be the young lady Mr. Vladimir mentioned,” Dr. Holman asked with a smile, “Please come with me.”

He led me through several corridors to a private consulting room.

The room was filled with various precision instruments, and on the walls hung human anatomy charts and diagrams of brain structures.

At this moment, an old man was also sitting in the room, accompanied by a butler.

“Your examination for today is complete, Lord Count.”

Holman's attitude towards the old man was very respectful, “I must trouble you to come back for a follow-up at the same time next week.”

“No need.”

The old man shook his head, “I'm afraid... there won't be a next week—thank you, Mr. Alexander.”

He said, then slowly stood up.

The butler at his side quickly stepped forward to support him, and the two of them slowly moved to the door.

Before leaving, the old man's gaze lingered on me for a moment, then he suddenly frowned.

“What is it, my lord?”

The butler asked softly.

“No, it's nothing.... let's go.”

The old man shook his head, then gestured for the butler to lead him away.

After the two left, Holman closed the door to the consulting room, then gestured for me to sit down, while he sat behind the desk.

“Vladimir just told me, you want to undergo a soul surgery, correct?”

I nodded and briefly explained Veronica's situation.

“This situation is a bit tricky. I assume you've never had any contact with soul surgery.”

Holman said after pondering for a moment.

“If you ask me, your best course of action right now is not surgery, but to maintain the status quo. At least from the current situation, your sister's soul is preserved in the ring and is not in any danger. On the contrary, if we forcibly remove her soul and place it in an unknown body, it could very well damage her soul. Simply put, this is an irreversible path. From a professional standpoint, I do not advise you to do this.”

“But....”

I seemed to want to say more, but was interrupted by Holman.

“And taking a step back, even if I agreed to perform the surgery for you, you don't have a suitable container—Be it a corpse or an alchemical golem, you have none of these, and my services do not include them.”

Dr. Holman's words plunged me into silence.

I looked down at the ring in my hand, feeling a bit lost for a moment.

The ring emitted waves of residual heat, as if to soothe my uneasy mood.

“Let's leave it at that for now,” Holman stood up, “I suggest you think it over carefully, Miss Melantha. Soul surgery is not a joke. Many people think this kind of surgery can bring the dead back to life. But in reality, nine out of ten who undergo the surgery end up regretting it.”

He walked over to me and patted my shoulder.

“Come find me when you've really thought it through—of course, you'll need to bring your own container.”

“I understand, thank you, Mr. Holman.”

I nodded, then stood up.

“Take care.”

Holman opened the door for me and watched me leave.

I walked out of the hospital with a sense of confusion.

Just as I was considering whether to go check out Hermes Workshop next, a voice of greeting suddenly came from the side.

“Please wait, miss.”

I turned my head and saw a butler in a tailcoat walking towards me.

And he was the same butler I had just seen in the consulting room.

“May I help you?”

I asked, a little wary.

“Lord Count Michel has a few words for you. Would it be possible to trouble you to come over?”

The butler pointed to a carriage not far away and asked very politely.

Hearing this, I hesitated for a moment, but ultimately nodded and agreed to his request.

In broad daylight, and right at the entrance of Cixin Hospital, even if the other party really wanted to do something bad, they probably wouldn't have the means.

At worst, I could still use Void Walk to escape.

With that in mind, I followed the butler to the luxurious carriage.

The interior was exquisitely decorated, and the leather seats exuded a faint fragrance.

An old man with white hair and a white beard was sitting inside; it was the same Count I had seen in Dr. Holman's consulting room.

“Please sit, young lady.”

The old man said with a smile, gesturing for me to sit in the seat opposite him.

I sat down cautiously, studying the old man before me who seemed to be of high status.

“I am Charles Michel.”

The old man introduced himself.

“I would like to ask you, are you interested in participating in a game?”