“Was it you who called me here, Your Excellency?” Professor Ashford took a few steps towards Ciel and said, “The ‘treatment’ is complete. How much of the potion’s impact she can withstand... depends on her.”

“Mm.” Ciel nodded and said, “When she wakes up, I will have her send the money to you, triple the amount.”

“Haha...” Professor Ashford chuckled and shook his head. “The opportunity to complete the ‘Reconstitution Ritual’ is rare. I’ll just charge for the materials. Thank you, Miss Ciel, for this opportunity.”

After speaking, the professor turned back, instructed the “Physicians” behind him to leave, and even sent away the “Ascetic” behind Ciel.

Soon, the entire sanctuary was empty except for the unconscious Lucy and Ciel and Ashford standing opposite each other.

“I often hear your name from Adele, Miss Ciel. Please don’t mind me addressing you directly by your name,” Professor Ashford raised his hand, removed the silver raven mask from his face, and said, “I haven’t formally introduced myself. My name is Ashford, a professor at the Redemption Society.”

The old man beneath the silver raven mask looked surprisingly ordinary.

His head was bald, with a tuft of white mustache on his upper lip. His face had many dark spots. If seen walking on the street, Ciel might mistake him for some ordinary old man.

Except on his bald head, something seemed to bulge beneath the skull, looking like mutated bone growth, almost about to pierce through the scalp.

“Ciel, Avena Roswell’s assistant.” Ciel nodded, saying little else.

After all, she didn’t seem to have any other identity to introduce.

Hearing Ciel’s introduction, Professor Ashford paused for a moment, then gave an awkward smile and said, “Haha... Your Excellency is quite witty.”

Ciel didn’t speak, waiting for the other party to initiate the topic.

He was a third-tier “Reborn” from the Redemption Society. His respectful attitude now probably meant he needed something from her.

“Actually, my willingness to come here this time was indeed due to one matter.” After a few exchanges, Professor Ashford roughly figured out the girl’s personality.

She was the type who preferred directness. Facing such a person, he just needed to state his needs. Whether it could be accomplished depended on the other party’s consideration.

“You should have heard, it’s quite shameful to say, I was Sherlon’s mentor...” Ashford shook his head somewhat helplessly. “I was always engrossed in new research and neglected the discipline of my disciple, leading to such consequences. I bear a share of responsibility for this incident.”

“I made a special trip this time mainly for one thing.” Ashford paused here, but couldn’t discern Ciel’s thoughts from her expression, so he had to continue, “I would like Your Excellency to persuade Adele to return to the Redemption Society.”

Seemingly worried Ciel wouldn’t agree, he quickly explained:

“Adele is very talented in medicine, especially alchemical pharmacology. Staying at the Redemption Society would allow her talents to flourish more.”

“Moreover, at the Redemption Society, her safety would be better protected... Didn’t we see in that ‘Administrator Kitty’s’ spiritual notebook that she actually wanted to investigate Adele? If she could return to Ansu with me, she would receive more protection, which would also benefit her academic research.”

“If Your Excellency is willing to help me with this, after Adele returns to the Redemption Society, I will pay you 2000 Su pounds as remuneration, plus a personal favor. What do you think?”

2000 Su pounds plus a favor from a third-tier transcendent?

It sounded like a good deal.

But Ciel just shook her head and said, “Unfortunately, Mr. Ashford, Adele’s decision to stay or leave is entirely up to her own will. I have no reason, nor the right, to interfere.”

Hearing Ciel’s reply, Ashford took a deep breath. After a long pause, he finally said, “Then I apologize for the disturbance. Your Excellency Silva will likely wake up soon. If there are subsequent treatment issues, feel free to contact me for a follow-up consultation anytime. I should be staying in Berren City for a while longer.”

Professor Ashford put his mask back on, turned towards the secret passage, and sighed inwardly.

Adele’s friends... why is each one harder to communicate with than the last?

That Roswell young lady, needless to say, her face is as cold as ice, and she has absolutely no interest in Su pounds.

2000 Su pounds! That’s 2000 Su pounds! Enough to buy a country villa outright or a fairly spacious house in Ansu city center.

Not to mention my personal favor.

Yet both of them ignored the money. Their indifferent attitude made Professor Ashford begin to doubt when his favor became so worthless.

Am I still third-tier?

Professor Ashford’s figure quickly disappeared into the secret passage.

The entire underground sanctuary was left with only Ciel and the unconscious Lucy.

Ciel lowered her head, recalling Professor Ashford’s words.

It seemed the professor’s main purpose here was to persuade Adele to return to the Redemption Society. Did the higher-ups of the Redemption Society... also see some potential in Adele?

And the notebook mentioned the professor looking for Adele. He was likely unrelated to her misfortune... But why did disaster strike immediately after encountering him in the simulation?

Could it be that the person arriving here wasn’t the key...

Who she met wasn’t the key...

The key was...

The act of “establishing contact with a transcendent”?

Ciel quickly recalled the mind map she drew in the inn earlier. Comparing them point by point, a relatively clear pattern emerged before Ciel’s eyes.

Almost every instance of misfortune occurred after she had established contact with different transcendents in some way.

Contact with Avena and the others only resulted in minor disasters, but contact with higher-tier individuals intensified the disasters?

Following this line of thought, more than half the disasters could be accounted for.

I... encounter misfortune whenever I meet transcendents?

Did this happen before?

Ciel’s thoughts hit a dead end.

Just then, a soft cough sounded. Ciel looked down towards where Lucy lay, seeing her slowly open her eyes, then raise her hands painfully to clutch her head.

“Gurgle...” A gurgling sound, like drowning, came from her mouth, as if something was stuck in her throat.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com