Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

It's the devil's joke.

The room fell into a deathly silence, and in the distance, a clock tolled heavily six times. Dusk arrived late, seeping in through the gaps in the curtains, drawing a dim, yellowish dividing line between the two.

After a long while, the man lowered his head dejectedly and muttered to himself.

“Merman, Merman... don’t blame me, it’s all her fault, it’s all her doing.”

It is self-deception, but also a form of honesty.

All the facts pointed to this Mr. Murman, and coincidentally, the former's name was among the documents reviewed in the arbitration tribunal that day; he was the apprentice of that nice man.

"Thank you for letting me know. You may leave now, or you may take your leave, sir."

Throughout, she remained indifferent to the other person's name. To Charlotte, all things and people were divided into high and low, noble and base, and of equal importance and urgency.

As they passed each other, her slender and frail figure seemed unassuming, like a cloud that drifted away with the wind. She placed the half-finished cup of tea on the former's head, as if in a casual joke, like a child's playful pursuit.

If the tea is spilled and the porcelain cup falls to the ground, the head on one's neck will be shattered along with it.

Click, the door closed, leaving a soft, lingering echo that resonated deep within the former's heart.

As the man trembled as he reached for the cup of tea, which had long since gone cold, he discovered a smear of bright red on the cup's surface—his palm had been pinched until it bled, without him even realizing it.

......

Outside the doorway, a red-haired girl was leaning against a pillar waiting. When she saw a familiar figure emerge, she raised an eyebrow and inquired about the situation.

"Did you find out?"

"It went more smoothly than expected. Thank you for the clues you provided along the way, Miss Luna."

As strangers, Charlotte addressed the little peacock by his alias instead of the name she knew best.

“Merman, this is the result of the inquiry. I don’t know what’s so special about him, but the gentleman was terrified when he mentioned him and muttered some words that cannot be explained by common sense.”

She handed a folded piece of paper to Sofby, her fingertips brushing against Sofby's wrist as they exchanged the paper.

Sophie took the note but didn't look at it. She just stared at Charlotte silently, clearly wanting to say something but not knowing where to begin.

In the end, she simply looked around in silence, making sure there was no eyeliner before she spoke.

"Speak in another place."

Whether intentionally or deliberately, Sophie leaned closer and took Charlotte's hand, walking naturally towards the nearby flowerbed like close friends.

"To explain the hidden existence and the extraordinary meaning, mere words are far too inadequate. Dr. Bella, are you determined to step into that fog-shrouded, perilous world?"

The fountain's water drowned out their conversation; only a pair of bright eyes met the warm amber gaze, unwavering, searching for any hint of hesitation or discernment.

"Do I have any other choice, my dear girl? I'm already involved, I can no longer stand aside."

"Then, please allow me to show you another side of this world."

After removing the hair flower from beside her ear and moisturizing it for several days, this blue rose has regained the charming beauty it had when we first met.

"The distinction between spirit and flesh is the starting point for the definition of the extraordinary. Flesh refers to the mortal body, while spirit refers to the elevated consciousness. Usually, we only study the processes of matter based on knowledge and science, but it is precisely because of the ability to guide and control these incredible elements such as the soul and consciousness that those who delve into the hidden are called extraordinary..."

Such knowledge cannot be fully expressed in a single conversation, and Sophie is intentionally guiding the conversation.

“Spirituality has an almost instinctive tendency to converge, so extraordinary beings will also attract each other. Spirits originating from the same person will show affinity when they are close, and if there is no resistance at all, it can confirm that the two are of the same nature.”

The indigo roses instinctively sent intimate signals to Charlotte, while the red-haired girl also stared at them, not looking away for a moment.

However, as a misty evening breeze brushed her forehead and lifted the gauze dress that was filled with the scent of medicine, the blooming flower drooped slightly, as if hesitantly retreating.

Seeing this, Sophie's eyes revealed an undisguised disappointment, yet also a hint of relief.

Ultimately, she naively believed that the figure had never left, but was just cunningly playing a game of hide-and-seek with her. Ultimately, she missed him so much that even the slightest resemblance could evoke countless emotions.

Disappointed by the shattering of hope, yet relieved that she hadn't deceived herself.

Contradictory and complex.

"..." After a long silence, the little peacock finally broke free from the vortex of emotions and focused on the events in which it was situated.

“Merman, who was an unknown apprentice just a few months ago, has now been promoted to an advisor thanks to Dr. Bella’s efforts and after a large number of personnel changes.”

"His resume is unremarkable. The only noteworthy thing is that he was once an apprentice of Victor Lines, and after that professor disappeared, he unusually did not seek another way out by joining another family."

"Ordinary and unremarkable" is a rhetorical device that any discerning person could use.

"What research topics did he study during this period? Or, in what position did he hold?"

"Broadly defined areas of pharmacology, disease transmission routes, public health reform proposals... He accompanied his teacher to local almshouses for about four years, in Tingen..."

Obviously, such a description perfectly fits a young man who is willing but unable to achieve his goals and is frustrated and unfulfilled.

Only through years of experience and the practice of currying favor with superiors and subordinates can one truly stand in the spotlight; this is a reflection of the majority of the younger generation.

Is it worth being suspicious of?

Without any connecting clues, perhaps no one would suspect this ubiquitous face. But when suspicion is sown, and coincidences occur frequently, even the most excessive actions can become clues for identification.

"Ordinary is always the best disguise for blending into the crowd."

Yes, now the evidence is conclusive, and it just needs to be revealed.

Chapter 164 Damn it

As dusk falls and twilight descends, the thick yellow glaze gradually peels away from the horizon, revealing the iron backbone of the distant high-rise buildings.

Inside a row of houses on one side of the clock tower courtyard, a thin man with a pale face took off his long gown and stood in front of a full-length mirror, tidying his clothes.

He casually picked up a polished razor blade and began trimming his messy stubble, starting from his neck.

"Isabella, that kind-hearted woman, is certainly hateful for ruining my months of preparations, but this unintentional act has actually done me a great favor."

A sinister smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and the gleaming silver blade moved dangerously across his Adam's apple as he shoved the stubble mixed with shaving cream into the copper basin.

"If it weren't for her foolish pursuit of truth and her voice of the people, those old fogies who hold positions without doing any work would have been occupying those high positions for who knows how long. They clearly don't even have any talent. Do I have to do it myself?"

The blade grazed his jaw, leaving a trace of blood—a careless mistake made in a moment of distraction.

Without showing any anger or embarrassment, the man in the mirror had a scholarly, lean face, and his demeanor and speech were focused and proper, displaying a meticulous attitude.

"Quiet." Even with the stinging yet sweet aftertaste, he merely stroked his wound, his voice carrying a sickly gentleness. "Now is not the time for you to eat."

As the sound rose and fell, a wriggling lump appeared on the skin of his collarbone, which quickly subsided.

Silently, the man unbuttoned the third button of his shirt, revealing a large patch of bluish-gray skin on his chest. Beneath the deep flesh, dozens of tiny bumps could be vaguely seen, pulsating rhythmically like insect eggs.

The kerosene lamp on the desk moved automatically without wind, its flame eerily pointing north. Reflecting the cold light from his gold-rimmed glasses, he then took a sealed glass jar from the specimen shelf.

Floating in the jar was a human finger—with fine, blood-red spots growing from the fingertip.

"Four years." He gripped the scalpel and gently tapped the cup, calming his restless knuckles.

"Teacher, you are right. Compassion is the greatest obstacle on the path of evolution."

A medical degree certificate hanging on the counter fell from a height, tearing a page at the corner and revealing the name of the practitioner—Merman Lines.

“Those contaminated workers, such perfect vessels, humble and insignificant, without human rights, were just right to be the sieve for the plague to select.”

For reasons unknown, Murman laughed, his voice brimming with contempt and arrogance, his demeanor at that moment resembling that of a nobleman facing a commoner, akin to the difference between the mundane and the sacred.

“Isabella, an ordinary healer, does she really think that the so-called antidote can dissolve the corruption of the spirit? How ridiculous. As long as I want, this plague will never end.”

I opened the cabinet door and took out one of the stacked petri dishes. The swollen spots inside seemed to wriggle slightly like living things, and gleamed with a metallic luster under the light.

This was the property of his mentor, the result of Professor Victor's life's work, and the strain that an extraordinary person had devoted half his life to in pursuit of further advancement.

It poses very little threat and is difficult to detect. While it is excellent at concealing itself, it spreads extremely rapidly, and can infest a densely populated city in just a few months.

Simply spreading it in water sources can cause a massive plague, a scene of hell.

In order to obtain it and to transcend the mundane, Merman, for the first time, went against his conscience and handed a dagger to his mentor, extinguishing his life force completely.

"Great teachers produce outstanding students, that's what the world seems to think. Teacher, look at me, I have successfully inherited your mantle, whether it's extraordinary material possessions, social status and knowledge accumulation, or even your treacherous and despicable heart."

"Now, I will also inherit your ideals, cross Sequence Seven, and climb the ladder you have always dreamed of."

Therefore, kindness is the least necessary emotion for extraordinary beings, regardless of the kind of affection or favor they may receive.

"Drinking wine makes one's face flushed, and wealth moves one's heart"—this saying couldn't be more true.

The best 'doctor' will also be the most outstanding 'plague messenger,' remaining behind the scenes, watching the world's painful struggles, and listening to the cries and wails.

There was no need to worry. Over the years, Merman had tested the drug on two villages until the red spots covered their faces and their life force was fading. Those ignorant farmers did not understand that this was a plague, not a curse from heaven.

How pitiful! A year of preparation, and now the thousands who have died in Florence are just the beginning. Soon, those mortals who are still in the incubation period will also follow in the footsteps of their relatives, dying one after another while reliving the pain, becoming the deceased recorded in the annals, and becoming part of the ascension ceremony.

Now, all we need to do is wait for the disease to manifest, wait for the upper Rhine to become a breeding ground for the strain, wait for everyone to believe that hope still exists, to believe that the ridiculous drug can cure such a terminal illness...

At that time, whether it was the colleagues who had humiliated him during the discussion, or those damned church lackeys and lowly commoners, they would all be provided with the spirituality to digest the potion.

The potion has already been swallowed. Tonight, he will induce the source of the disease, and everything will be ready except for the arrival of the east wind.

He picked up his suitcase, brushed the mist off his face, pushed open the door, and went down the stairs.

"You've arrived, Dr. Merman."

"Thank you for your hard work, sir!"

"You look very happy today, that's wonderful."

He received numerous greetings along the way, likely due to the worsening pandemic and his image as a scholar abroad; Murman had already gained a certain reputation among the local residents.

He nodded repeatedly, acknowledging the voices around him. As his pace slowed, he noticed the yellowish-brown papers in their hands, which appeared to be today's evening paper.

He temporarily put aside his original plan to go to the orphanage and called out to a passerby, asking him about the contents of the orphanage.

"Could you tell me what the reporters covered in this issue of the evening paper?"

"Of course. Ms. Valenti met with the Plymouth factory management this morning and discussed new measures for controlling the source of the infection and the epidemic."

As he took the newspaper, his pupils contracted slightly when his gaze swept over that familiar face.

How could it happen to be him?

Looking at the party being questioned, if there are two people who know the only truth about the cause of the epidemic, it is this former owner of the Plymouth factory.

It's not a matter of cooperation, but rather a threat and exploitation. But now, this puppet has been caught by that meddlesome woman. If information is leaked and he is exposed to the public, all the arrangements will be meaningless.

"Sir, are you all right?"

"It's nothing." His fingertips turned white from the pressure, and despite the concern of passersby, he still had to suppress his impatience and force a gentle smile. "I just didn't expect Ms. Valenti to act so quickly."

"Yes, it was because of her that I understood what a doctor's benevolence is and what true virtue is."

He was bombarded with praise, but now, all Merman wanted to say was—

"Damn it."

Chapter 165 Trap and Drama

Unwarranted insults and abuse were pointless. Suppressing his agitated anger, Merman slowly released his grip, folded the newspaper back, and returned it to the passerby.

In that black and white sketch, Dr. Bella still stares directly into the camera with her signature sharp gaze, as if she could penetrate the paper and question the soul of the wicked.

"She is truly admirable and a role model for us in the industry."

Beneath that gentle face, the words of praise burrowed into my ears like poisonous insects, betraying my true feelings.

An overly forced smile can make strangers feel uneasy, prompting them to ask questions out of concern.

"You don't look well, sir."

"Sorry, I'm just a little tired."

Merman waved his hand and turned away. In the brief moment their eyes met, his expression suddenly turned cold.

He quickly turned into a dark alley, loosened his tie, and lowered his voice, as if to suppress an itch. The dormant insect eggs had begun to wriggle and swell, causing several bumps to appear on his chest.

He arched his back in pain and muttered through gritted teeth.

"Since, Isabella, you insist on being the savior, then let me send you on your way ahead of time."

He called out to the carriage parked at the street corner and gave the driver an address: "To the Medical Committee, as soon as possible."

The wheels rolled over the damp cobblestones, and Merman's fingertips tapped unconsciously on the leather case. The petri dishes inside made a soft clinking sound, as if the bacteria within sensed the feast that was about to begin.

"Sir, are you also going to an emergency meeting?" Taking advantage of a lull in the horses' hooves, the coachman murmured, "I heard that Lady Valenti has discovered new clues about the plague..."

"Oh?" Merman's voice was eerily calm. "What clue?"