The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

However, due to these gatherings, paranormal events often occur on the northern border, and some eerie legends circulate.

This has also attracted some horror novelists and paranormal enthusiasts, and the Hunter Order spends a lot of effort each year to protect the personal safety of these individuals...

……

A somewhat dilapidated tavern sits on one side of the official road, its wooden sign reading "Open for Business" hanging crookedly in the morning breeze.

These taverns served as both restaurants and inns, and there was one every so often, not particularly noticeable.

Although there are routine inspections, it's impossible to avoid the possibility of dirt and grime accumulating...

-

Good morning, is anyone in the store?

A slightly immature male voice rang out.

Child was the first to push open the door to the tavern, the dilapidated wooden door making a sickeningly faint sound.

With a touch of gentlemanly manner, he held the door open for the ladies in his group while inviting his teacher into the store.

His radiant enthusiasm and overflowing energy made Fran squint and sigh, "Young men are so energetic...it's wonderful."

At this moment, all five of them were wearing robes commonly worn by travelers, in order to simply conceal their personal characteristics.

For example, Fran's iconic white coat, the nun's robes and insignia of the Hedana Mystics Order, and the unusually large gun on Child's back...

"Yes, guests. Are you looking for a hotel or a restaurant?"

A middle-aged woman, disheveled yet still charming, slowly walked over from behind the counter; she appeared to be the proprietress.

She rubbed her eyes and yawned. Seeing the crowd, her eyes widened in surprise, as if she hadn't expected so many guests to arrive so early in the morning.

Just as Child was about to continue the conversation, Professor Terence raised his hand and slapped him on the chest, stopping him in his tracks.

After that, he came to the landlady, his eyes deep and sharp, and recited a strange and obscure prayer in a low voice.

"Fill it, shake it, pour it out, and drink deeply from our very bones and blood. Dissolve the living, and irrigate the sacred tree."

The proprietress's pupils suddenly contracted, then a look of understanding appeared on her face. She licked her lips slightly and quickly responded.

"Chewing, swallowing, digesting, in exchange for momentary satisfaction. Transforming into a mortal body to bear blessings."

After reciting the prayer, she finally raised her eyes and looked directly at Terence.

“Dear Bloodline, you are a stranger. I have never seen you in Norrington... Strangers are not welcome here. If you cannot provide the name of the person who invited you or further proof of your identity, then please leave.”

The proprietress's gaze towards Professor Terence held an inexplicable allure, almost dreamy. Leaning down, one could even see the deep, white cleavage of her chest.

But one of her hands slowly groped under the wooden counter.

Heda's eyebrows twitched slightly; she was very sensitive to this movement. It was someone reaching for a gun…

Is this enough?

Terence removed his white silk gloves and then peeled back the skin on the back of his hand. Beneath the skin, bluish veins and yellowish ridges formed a deep, crimson inverted triangle.

That is the emblem of the Red Cup. Wine.

Altar priests! Only those of the rank of altar priest or higher among the Red Cup followers are qualified to have the Holy Symbol of Flesh and Blood inscribed upon them. Temple

“My apologies! I didn’t expect a deacon to be present at this gathering; this is my negligence. Please, please punish me. Ah, I almost forgot to introduce myself… I am Eve, the hostess of this ‘Hunger Club.’”

The proprietress's voice held a hint of unspoken fear as she tremblingly retrieved a leather whip covered in sharp spikes from under the counter. She presented it to Terrence with both hands.

But her expression betrayed an uncontrollable excitement, a sickly flush spreading down her cheeks and neck.

"Hmph." Three

Professor Terence took the whip and lashed it swiftly across the landlady's body. Deep gashes appeared on her pale skin, the skin and flesh even appearing displaced and abnormal.

"Lead the way."

After lashing out once, Terence casually tossed the whip to the ground.

"Cough, cough, thank you, thank you for your kindness. It's wonderful, I will always remember it..." S

Eve's face was covered in sweat from the pain, but her expression held genuine pleasure. She smiled ingratiatingly and extended her hand, inviting the group behind the scenes of the tavern.

Vivian glanced at Terence subtly, finally understanding why the White Cup Order had chosen Professor Terence after learning they could only send two Exorcists… How was he so formidable?

This guy not only recited the Red Cup Order's guiding prayer fluently, but also disguised himself as a heretical assistant priest almost perfectly.

To be honest, if Vivian hadn't known beforehand that Terence could use an ancient artifact to create a blood-and-flesh disguise, she would have definitely believed he was a true follower of the Red Cup.

Fran stood beside Haida, slightly lowering the brim of her travel robe's hood. Haida appeared quite content, maintaining a quiet and unassuming presence.

Fran's job under her employment contract was simply to find the Red Cup's lair, and that was now done. Barring any further danger, she was happy to do nothing and leave the physically demanding tasks to the White Cup's two.

Parting the curtains behind the tavern, the proprietress Eve led everyone to the warehouse where ingredients were stored. She opened a wooden panel, revealing a dark, narrow staircase leading to it.

“Reverend Alderman, please come in. Mr. Sains will be delighted to see you. I never imagined that other bloodlines of Alderman rank would be called by my Lord… Excellent.”

After saying this, Eve lit the lantern placed beside her and stepped into the dark secret passage first.

Vivian seemed a little awkward.

She hated entering such enclosed environments where there was no escape. As an agent of the Secret Service, her habit was to ensure she could escape from any situation at any time. But her instincts told her... entering here would be dangerous.

Suddenly, she felt someone gently pat her. Turning her head slightly, she saw Fran behind her.

Fran maintained his kind and peaceful smile, patted Vivian's hair, and then followed Eve into the secret passage.

She didn't speak, because speaking rashly might arouse unnecessary suspicion.

Beneath walls, in crevices, in shadows, wriggling "ears" may be growing... In such situations, remaining silent is the best option.

Is she trying to comfort me?

Vivian was momentarily dazed, the faint, gentle scent of medicine and plants emanating from Fran lingering around her nostrils.

Vivian's emotions calmed down somewhat for some reason.

She glanced at Heda and understood perfectly what she meant by "Dr. Fran's reliability is unimaginable in most cases."

……

Eve, carrying a lantern, walked slowly at the head of the procession. She swayed her voluptuous body freely, displaying her alluringly slender back.

It's hard to imagine that such a huge space is hidden behind the curtains of this small tavern.

After walking for a while, the group arrived at the door at the end of the secret passage. Next to the door was a huge, bright red, exaggerated graffiti.

By the dim, yellow light of the lantern, one could see the words "Hunger Club".

"High Priest, before entering the club, there is one more question I would like to ask you." Eve suddenly turned around and pressed her soft body almost against Terence.

"explain."

Professor Terence frowned imperceptibly, suppressing his deep-seated disgust with a deeper layer of indifference.

"Since you have come here, you must have received the Lord's call and command. Then you must also know the prayer that my Lord recently gave us... Please let me confirm. After that, the club's doors will be open for you."

Terence's dark brows furrowed, and he fell silent for a moment.

Third, he is not a follower of the Red Cup. The previous guiding prayers came from the secret intelligence of the White Cup Order. How could he possibly know about the new prayers?

The six narrow and dark secret passage steps gradually warmed up... accompanied by an indescribable dampness and stickiness, everything around seemed to be instantly given life, wriggling and surging.

"It seems you need some time to recall, High Priest?" Eve tilted her head and stared straight at Terence.

One could vaguely see some flesh-colored tentacles throbbing beneath her clothes and skin.

"Tsk... Of course I heeded the Lord's commandment."

Terence snorted coldly, then gave Child behind him a signal to prepare to attack.

Their contact team consisted of only five people, making it unrealistic to confront a cult stronghold of completely unknown size. Now that they had located the "Hunger Club," their only option was to force their way out through the secret passage.

The rest is to be handed over to the purging forces of the Hunters Order. These fully armed fanatics are probably ready to launch a mass attack at any time and wipe all life from this heretical nest from the world.

"call out!"

Silent and invisible, a steel needle, almost invisible to the naked eye, pierced Professor Terence's neck.

Terence's eyes momentarily lost focus. He didn't collapse, but stood upright. But his mind seemed to have drifted into a state of disarray.

Heda noticed Terence's unusual behavior. She turned her head slightly and saw Fran fiddling with the brass pocket watch he had just taken out of his white coat.

"Lord deacon?"

Seeing that Professor Terence did not reply, Eve narrowed her eyes and asked him again. In the shadows cast by the hood of his travel robe, she saw a pair of empty and lifeless eyes.

Fran continued to toy with the exquisite brass pocket watch, his slender, stitched fingertips gently pressing a button.

Another steel needle was thrown, piercing straight into Eve's chest. But her expression remained unchanged, as if she were completely unaware of what was happening.

Just as Eve's patience was about to run out, Terence, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.

"The curtain falls, blood rains down. The grand festival of Plum Moon summons the drinkers! You are for me, and I am for you, all are drinkers!"

His tone was solemn and dignified, carrying an unquestionable authority.

With those ethereal, unfathomable eyes, Professor Terence now seemed like an apostle conveying divine will.

Eve immediately knelt down, pressing all four limbs and five parts tightly to the ground, not daring to overstep her bounds in the slightest.

The unusual movements and crawling in the surrounding secret passages also disappeared.

"Your Excellency, I am deeply sorry! As lowly as I am, I have been able to hear divine pronouncements again through your gospel... I even doubted you for a moment. Please punish me severely!"

"You dare to challenge me? Get out of my way!"

Terence's voice came heavy and cold, and he stiffly kicked Eve to the ground.

"Thank you again for your kindness, thank you..." Eve, who had been kicked by him, was overjoyed, her eyes brimming with genuine happiness.

After listening to the prayer, the doors of the Hunger Club opened.

Dazzling light and shadow, intertwined and twisting bodies, dancers stretching their bodies freely, guests indulging in the consumption of flesh and blood... everything that comes into view creates a strong sense of separation, as if the world inside and outside the gate are two completely different worlds.

"Your Excellency, please be patient here with your companions. Mr. Sayens will be here shortly..."

Eve settled everyone on a spacious and comfortable table, then served a tray of delicate stemmed glasses, the contents of which were as red as blood.

Professor Terence's unfocused gaze returned to focus. He looked around with a hint of doubt, his brows furrowed.

He then moved his lips and almost silently chanted a prayer for the white cup.

Suddenly, everyone felt as if they were in another space. Although they were still sitting in the club's seating area, all the noise around them seemed to have been shut out.

"The White Cup Order's third type of secret technique, [Virtual Meeting], possesses a high degree of secrecy. It can temporarily construct a scene for communication using gaps in the dream world."

Professor Terence briefly introduced the methods he used to make mistakes. (Three, Five [±liu$])

"What did you just do to me? I was clearly still conscious, but I lost control of my body. And how did you Hunters know about the new Red Cup prayer?"

In response to Terence's question, Heda glanced at Fran subtly. The latter gently picked up the wine glass on the central table, squinting as he inhaled the clear, deep red liquid within.

"Don't waste it, the wine here is of pretty good quality. Don't worry, these Red Cup believers have good taste when it comes to enjoying things; they don't actually mix blood into the wine. If they want to drink blood, they drink pure blood."

After touching her red lips to the clear cup and taking a small sip, Fran took out her brass pocket watch from her white coat.

"S-0033, the Oscillating Heart Bell. A very safe relic. Its effect is to enhance the user's consciousness disturbance behavior, hmm... that is, hypnosis? In addition, it can fire a mental beam twice a day to briefly manipulate the person hit."

Professor Terence's expression turned serious as he looked at Fran. His initial distrust of the young doctor had vanished. Her demonstrated abilities were more than sufficient to place her on equal footing.

"Did you manipulate me into reciting the Red Cup Prayer? But how did you know?"

“I fired two mental beams, the second one hitting Eve. Through conscious interaction, I stole the information of this prayer from her mind.”

Fran calmly and naturally drank the wine in his glass, a faint blush rising on his cheeks.

"So, did you steal any information from my mind, Doctor of the Hunter?"

Terence looked at her with a cold, sharp gaze. Child, who was standing next to her, also noticed that his teacher was in a bad mood. Although he wanted to offer some advice, he didn't know how to start.

“There is no such opportunity. Your will is too strong, and I can only manipulate you with simple actions and words, otherwise your subconscious will strongly reject it. Moreover, the amount of information in your mind is enormous, and even if I wanted to look at it, I wouldn't know where to start.”

"...Well, let's leave it at that. Thank you for your help, Dr. Fran."

After a moment of silence, Terence nodded slightly, acknowledging Fran's actions.

Childe cast a glance of admiration at Fran, never expecting that this young doctor could calm her teacher down with just one sentence... For members of the White Cup Order, the greatest praise is to acknowledge the other's knowledge.

Moreover, it cannot be done deliberately, as professors detest deliberate flattery.

Fran did this so subtly... That's amazing. Is she a psychologist?