Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1429 Medical Technology (First Update)

The medical report that Laura Crawford saw was incomplete.

The hospital established in Kamar-Taj could not only diagnose physical ailments; accurate mental diagnoses were the Emperor's original intention in establishing the hospital and merging the medical departments of Kamar-Taj. The mental health reports were compiled by the medical staff of Kamar-Taj and the Immortal City and then sent to the Emperor. They were then passed on to Bayonetta and Joan of Arc through the Royal Guard. The papers even arrived at the manor before the Emperor did.

The Emperor's idea was to use the manor as a sanatorium for Laura Crawford to recover her mental health, much like a tuberculosis sanatorium in the last century—it couldn't completely cure her, only alleviate her symptoms, because no ordinary person could remain mentally sound while witnessing the dead in their memories. While this wasn't Laura Crawford's first encounter with the supernatural—one could say every adventure of hers was accompanied by supernatural events, and her experience in the library wasn't even dangerous—it was her deepest contact with an outer dimension. Another world had taken notice of her, spewing venomous whispers at her, reaching its filthy claws towards her soul, a soul even more conspicuous than that of a typical spellcaster in that dimension.

"Why do I smell herbs?" Laura Crawford finally had time to notice the details of her body, including her scent and the oil on her skin. "What is this smell, sage and lavender? Don't tell me that the treatments here include replacement therapy. I've never believed that applying essential oils is any good."

"You can think of my casting the spell as a delicate surgery; I also need some medical equipment." The Emperor didn't intend to tell her that he had directly reached into her chest and removed the cursed bullet from her heart, using a spell to maintain her heartbeat, lung contractions and relaxations, and neuronal electrical signal transmission, preventing her from dying after her heart stopped—this wasn't the first time he'd done something like this; in a sense, if done in time, it wasn't resurrection but a life-saving measure. However, this was too sensational and wouldn't do Laura any good for her mental recovery. Laura Crawford didn't need him to permanently maintain her vital signs with magic. In contrast, another person who received the same emergency treatment, Victoria Hand, wasn't so lucky; her body was already cold when the Emperor found her. To this day, Victoria Hand doesn't know how she was saved; all information about it is sealed off and buried under mountains of documents in the archives.

"The bad news is you'll need to rest for a few days; the good news is you'll be resting at my estate. The books there will satisfy your curiosity, and my retinue will provide the best service. Consider it a visit. If you prefer, I can even produce an English title deed, and then we can go together to the authorities to demand the return of the Windsor estate." With that, the Emperor casually produced an old parchment, on which the ownership of the Londinion estate was clearly written.

"Ha, how interesting!" Laura Crawford rolled her eyes and gave a dry laugh. "You'd better tell Winston (Crawford Manor's butler), or he'll keep nagging." In fact, once Laura Crawford arrived at Oxfordshire Manor through the portal, this little problem was hardly worth considering. Although she was very curious about how the portal worked, the ensuing cocktail party and the sumptuous breakfast the next morning made her temporarily put those questions aside. What surprised her even more was that while she was enjoying afternoon tea with the witches and reading books she had taken from the Emperor's office, a small helicopter landed at the manor—Winston, the loyal butler of the Crawford family, dressed in a sharp suit, walked unsteadily up the garden path of Oxfordshire Manor, escorted by soldiers and braving the hot wind from the engine.

“I told you, he’s a sweet little guy,” Bayonetta promptly relayed to Laura Crawford. She winked mischievously, as if showing off something Laura Crawford couldn’t comprehend. “Now it’s time to pay your bet, archaeologist.”

“The helicopter fuel cost from Surrey alone is more than a hundred dollars’ wager. I didn’t expect you’d use a helicopter for something like this,” Laura Crawford said, somewhat bewildered. She thought Bayonetta’s comment was just an attempt to ease her embarrassment and discomfort with the hospitality and unfamiliar surroundings. However, she couldn’t quite remember the wager—she’d drunk a lot the night before. Even the spiced wine hadn’t completely neutralized the alcohol, not to mention she’d switched to whiskey later, so when she woke up this morning she couldn’t remember how much she’d drunk or how the maid had led her to her room. She admitted she desperately needed to relax; her tense mind needed reassurance, because she couldn’t even remember if she’d had a dream the night before.

In the early morning, after washing up, Laura Crawford thanked the witches, expressing her gratitude for the attentive care she received. She also thanked another guest at the table—the somewhat eccentric woman—who was at that moment clutching a piece of bacon from her plate, staring wide-eyed at Milia, who was doing the same. Fortunately, there were no strict rules of etiquette at the manor's table; everyone could choose their preferred way of eating, so the woman's behavior wasn't too rude.

"But my wallet is still at Kamar-Taj. Please forgive me, I must show some respect to my old butler; he's too old to hold a tray properly." She threw off the blanket on her lap and stood up. "Winston has witnessed three generations of the Crawford family, and now he's my only family. He'll be very worried if he doesn't see me."

“Don’t worry, he’s our guest too. Diana will take good care of him. He’s here to offer guidance, not to provide services,” Joan said. “The gardening plan for this estate came from his suggestion, and I’m sure he won’t get lost in the garden. We wouldn’t let an old man get into danger here. Besides, your bet isn’t just a hundred dollars… For the next few days, you’ll be the storyteller at the after-dinner cocktail party.”

As the Croft family's butler, Winston was skilled in gardening, cooking, dining etiquette, and scheduling. It can be said that without Winston of the Croft family, Diana would not have been able to so quickly master the skills of managing a vast estate and combining it with daily military training and logistical support.

"That doesn't sound like a bet I'd make while drunk." Laura Crawford blushed slightly, feeling the witch had been too kind to her. She had to change the subject to hide her embarrassment. "I haven't seen him since he rescued me from the library last night. Is he still working at Kamar-Taj?"

"He left for work before you woke up." The witch didn't reveal the Emperor's workplace. Few people in the world had access to the Emperor's complete schedule; Bayonetta and Joan of Arc were among those with full authority. Without hesitation, they assumed Laura Crawford shouldn't know that the Emperor was currently at the Skysword space station. "But I'll pass on your thanks, Laura," Joan of Arc said. "He'll be very happy."

I have a headache and runny nose; I'll get a checkup tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)