Chapter 423: Chapter 423: Servant’s Needle (16)_1 Chapter 423: Chapter 423: Servant’s Needle (16)_1 “We indeed couldn’t save the people here, but it’s not like we came away with nothing.”
Fu Qian’s acceptance was so swift that Brooke had some doubts.
After exchanging a look with Kelly and seeing her give a slight nod, he finally took out a map from behind his back and spread it out on the table.
“Combining the last pieces of information we obtained with the subsequent search efforts—”
He pointed to a spot on the map.
“We can basically confirm that the disturbance began here in a radiating pattern, initially happening here and then spreading outward until it covered the entire city.”
“This precise?”
Fu Qian looked at where Brooke was pointing, which surprisingly turned out to be a public place.
“Is this a—monastery?”
He tried hard to discern the markings on the map.
“Yes, a rather ancient building that has been here almost since the founding of Bee Monkey City.”
“The records show that people were still living there until the incident occurred.”
“So what we hope you’ll do is tell us what happened here at that time.”
Brooke’s expression was as steely as ever, his demeanor serious.
“Did you investigate afterward?”
Fu Qian asked after some thought.
“Not a thing.”
Brooke’s response was very sincere.
“Not a single person remained, nor was there any sign of anything unusual.”
“So we’re pinning our hopes on you.”
Both he and Kelly looked expectantly at Fu Qian.
“Feels like a heavy responsibility!”
Fu Qian looked at the two in front of him, nodding with a meaningful tone.
“So, if I remember correctly, I now need to sink my consciousness back into the cry…”
…
“Hmm, it seems that after treatment, your condition has improved considerably.”
Having completed self-hypnosis smoothly, when Fu Qian reopened his eyes, he heard someone speaking.
And the moment he turned towards the voice, were it not for the change in environment, Fu Qian would have almost thought his hypnosis had failed.
The person wearing the white coat bore a familiar face—Kelly!
Turns out she really was his attending physician!
Seeing Kelly’s amiable face as she sat there, Fu Qian couldn’t help but be moved.
And judging from the surroundings, this was a typical psychiatrist’s office, with trees visible outside the window and seemingly pleasant weather.
He must be back in the hospital he had visited before.
“Dr. Kelly?”
Fu Qian addressed the familiar face in front of him with a smile.
“What’s up?”
The reaction from across confirmed his guess, indeed she was Kelly Landa.
In fact, if the previous medical record hadn’t been damaged, he should have seen her signature on it outright.
“Bee Monkey City will soon be destroyed, like going through a storm.”
Fu Qian pointed outside the window, his tone indifferent.
Huh?!
At that moment, the shock on Kelly’s face was immense, almost as if she was doubting her life.
It appeared she couldn’t believe that her patient hadn’t improved at all and that the recent behavior was all an act.
“Just kidding.”
After staring at Kelly for several seconds, Fu Qian suddenly burst into a smile.
“Thank you for your hard work over this period.”
“You…”
Kelly looked at Fu Qian with a strange expression for a long while.
“Don’t make such jokes, or else I’ll have to schedule another checkup for you.”
“Got it, won’t do it again.”
Fu Qian replied promptly, all the while recalling the expression on Kelly’s face just now.
Naturally, he wouldn’t waste time joking with his doctor; his main intent was to observe Kelly’s reaction when faced with a situation that contradicted her beliefs.
The proof was undeniable that she was surprised just now, but that was about it—there was none of the unusual responses he had encountered before.
She did not show any abnormalities due to cognitive issues.
This place seemed to be in a different world than where he ate the fried egg.
Even the faint baby cries that lingered in his mind were no longer audible.
What’s this? Did his mental issues finally get resolved?
Nightmare dispersed, all is well?
Fu Qian couldn’t figure out this development for a moment.
One could only say that this mission was truly bizarre.
Stepping out of the consulting room, Fu Qian once again saw the hospital’s pristine building and the bustling crowd.
To be honest, after his previous experiences, this scene seemed rather awkward.
But no matter what, his mission was still laid out before him, with no do-overs indicating failure, which meant everything was still in progress.
Moreover, Fu Qian pressed his palm, confirming that the invisible insect was still there.
This thing was quite tenacious.
So it seemed that he still needed to find that Monastery and investigate what was going on inside.
Fu Qian naturally remembered the route clearly, and given that Bee Monkey City wasn’t large, he opted to take a leisurely bus ride there.
And along the way, the sunshine was radiant, showcasing the city’s most tranquil and serene side.
It was hard to imagine that such a place could later turn into that kind of spectral haunt.
Or was it that the spectral haunt was all in his imagination?
But his mission did explicitly mention Nightmare.
As he pondered, Fu Qian’s attention was caught by something.
Truly appearing out of nowhere!
Fu Qian, looking at Bernard in the store, expressed his heartfelt emotion.
Without hesitation, he hopped off at the next stop.
“Sorry, we’re already closed—”
Bernard, who just placed a cigarette in his mouth, almost swallowed it upon seeing Fu Qian enter.
“Shopkeeper Bernard.”
Fu Qian pretended not to notice the distinct aversion in the man’s eyes and greeted him as though they were old friends.
“It’s you!”
However, after his initial shock, Bernard resumed his languid demeanor, picking up a half bottle of alcohol and taking a swig.
“You’ve spilled your drink on the books.”
“No matter, the author might have been in the same state as I am now when they wrote it.”
Bernard didn’t seem to care at all, picking up a book and flicking off the thick layer of cigarette ash.
“Fair enough.”
Fu Qian actually agreed.
“Speaking of which, did you find your friend?”
Remembering the two cups of coffee in front of this man at the hospital, Fu Qian asked tentatively.
“No, and that person can hardly be called a friend.”
Bernard was momentarily confused by what Fu Qian was referring to, then snorted without further elaboration.
This man certainly still remembered the conversation at the hospital!
Fu Qian’s gaze sharpened.
“By the way, how’s your illness?”
Bernard seemed to remember something and asked nonchalantly.
“Pretty good, I’ve been full of energy ever since I was diagnosed with delusional disorder.”
“Delusional disorder? Ha ha!”
Bernard, upon hearing Fu Qian’s reply, first paused, then burst into laughter, slapping the table so hard it echoed.
“Humans always think they’re lucid, but what difference does it really make at their core?”
“Oh, how so?”
Fu Qian became intrigued; something about this person’s strange behavior made him feel that he surely knew something.
“Remember the advice I gave you before?”
Bernard didn’t answer Fu Qian’s question, instead looking distantly at the reflection in the bottle of alcohol.
“The advice that there was no advice?”
“Very good!”
Bernard nodded, then swiftly changed the subject.
“Where are you headed now?”
“To the Monastery at the foot of the mountain.”
“Hm?”
Bernard seemed startled for a moment.
“What are you doing there?”
“Purifying my soul.”
Fu Qian bluffed on the spot.
“But it’s just self-consolation.”
Bernard appeared quite dismissive.