Lu Yuan remained silent for a moment.
"Is this the reason you came to say goodbye?"
"Yes," Lawson admitted candidly this time.
Lawson then took out an envelope from his coat.
It was made of high-grade parchment, the seal stamped with wax and the address written in gold foil lettering.
"Dr. Lu, I have one more request."
He handed the envelope to Lu Yuan.
"This is a letter written to my daughter."
Lu Yuan took the envelope, his gaze falling upon the address:
【Empire · Polymath Tower · Alchemy Department · For Laurina】
"She is currently studying at the Polymath Tower in the Empire, learning alchemy," Lawson's tone softened slightly.
"She is a clever child, much more so than I."
"In the letter, I told her that I passed away from an illness, and I hope she can live a good life and never return to Gelimu Port."
Lawson looked into Lu Yuan's eyes.
"Dr. Lu, I don't trust anyone else, but I trust you."
"After I am gone, please help me send this letter to her."
Lu Yuan looked at Lawson's earnest gaze, paused for a moment, and eventually nodded.
"I will."
Lawson seemed to set down a heavy burden, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you."
Lawson then stood up and pulled a heavy coin pouch from his pocket, placing it on the table.
"There are sixty-five imperial gold shields here, as payment and as compensation for the materials I promised to bring but failed to deliver."
Lu Yuan's brow twitched slightly; sixty-five imperial gold shields was no small sum.
"Also, Dr. Lu," Lawson looked at him.
"Could you prepare more of that medicine I drank a few days ago?"
Lu Yuan was puzzled.
"Aren't you leaving?"
Lawson gave a bitter smile.
"It is precisely because I am leaving that I need it."
Lu Yuan looked into Lawson's eyes and suddenly understood something.
"You have... things you need to do in the deep sea city?"
Lawson did not hide it, simply nodding.
"Yes."
"Although I am to become one of them, my consciousness remains clear before the transformation is complete."
He then lowered his voice.
"Those... kind in the deep sea city are preparing a major operation."
"They intend to create chaos in Gelimu Port and weaken all the forces here."
"As a newly appointed sacrificer, I have been ordered to participate in this operation."
Lu Yuan's pupils constricted at the news.
"When?"
Lawson shook his head.
"I don't know the exact time, but it should be within the next few days."
"I will try my best to stall, cause some minor trouble, and delay their actions."
"But there is only so much I can do; those potions can help me maintain my Sanity for longer."
Lu Yuan did not hesitate and immediately stood up to walk toward the medicine cabinet.
Although the stock of medicinal herbs was nearly exhausted after Andrew's incident, there were still enough remaining materials to barely produce a few bottles.
Following a series of operations by Lu Yuan, five bottles of Deep Sea Sedative (Improved/Hidden Version) appeared in his hand.
【Medicinal Herbology: +0.5, 13.5/50】
The experience, unsurprisingly, had decreased.
Lu Yuan had discovered long ago that once he mastered the production of a certain potion, the experience gained from making it would drop significantly.
He had originally intended to wait for his wages from the Nightwatchers to be paid before purchasing a new batch of medicinal herbs, but with the imperial gold shields Lawson had just provided, this plan could be moved forward.
"Is this enough?"
Lawson took the potions and carefully tucked them into his coat.
"It is enough, thank you."
He looked at Lu Yuan with a complex expression.
"Dr. Lu, you are a good man."
"If there is a next life, I hope to be an ordinary person, living a plain and simple life."
"No longer worrying about rent, no longer fearing mutation."
Lu Yuan said nothing.
Some words would only sound hollow if spoken aloud.
Lawson reached the door and suddenly stopped.
"By the way, Dr. Lu, there is one more thing."
He turned his head.
"Those... kind in the deep sea city mentioned a name."
"The Iron Whale."
Lu Yuan was startled.
"What happened to the Iron Whale?"
Lawson's expression grew solemn.
"They said the Iron Whale is 'Mother's' gift."
"The people on that ship have all become nourishment for the deep sea."
"Only a few were chosen to become new sacrificers."
Lu Yuan's face darkened.
"The people on that ship..."
Lawson shook his head.
"I don't know the details, but it sounds... not very optimistic."
He pushed the door open, the sunlight hitting his face, yet it could not pierce the gloom in the depths of his eyes.
"Dr. Lu, you all had better move quickly."
"I can only stall this far."
"Gelimu Port... may not last much longer."
With that, Lawson left without looking back.
Lu Yuan stood at the doorway, watching Lawson's back disappear around the street corner.
He held the letter for Laurina in his hand, the gold foil lettering shimmering in the sun.
Ink drifted out from the notebook and settled on his shoulder.
"That fellow... still has a bit of a conscience."
Lu Yuan nodded.
"Yes, a pity..."
He did not finish the sentence.
A pity for what? That he had eventually stepped into the abyss? That his Sanity would not last long?
Or perhaps, that this world never gave ordinary people many choices?
Brent walked out from the next room.
"Dr. Lu, did Mr. Lawson leave?"
Lu Yuan put away the envelope, tucking it into his coat.
"Yes, he... went somewhere very far away."
Brent nodded, seemingly understanding yet not entirely, and did not press further.
Lu Yuan turned and walked back into the clinic, his mind racing.
The evening sun had turned a dusty amber, casting long shadows through the window and into the clinic.
Lu Yuan sat at the table, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the surface.
Lawson's warning echoed in his mind.
The major operation of the Deep Sea Church, the three-to-five-day deadline, the conspiracy to weaken the Nightwatchers...
This information had to be relayed to Old Morgan as soon as possible, but the old man should have already left for the Ascension Society; he hoped he would return soon.
Lu Yuan stood up, preparing to head to the base.
Just then—
"Woo—woo—woo—"
The low blast of a horn suddenly rang out, piercing the evening's tranquility.
Lu Yuan frowned.
What was that?
He had never heard this sound before, but the sense of urgency contained within the horn made him instinctively alert.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Rapid knocking sounded at the door.
Lu Yuan stepped forward and pulled the door open, finding a figure cloaked in black standing outside—a member of the scout team.
"Dr. Lu!" the scout's voice was urgent.
"Emergency alert! Evacuate to the base immediately!"
"What happened?"
"Enemy attack!" The scout had already turned to leave.
"A large number of unknown enemies are moving toward the base! All conscripted personnel must retreat!"
"That horn..."
"Level 1 Alert!" the scout said without looking back.
"Every Nightwatcher knows what this means! Move!"
With that, he disappeared around the street corner, clearly heading to inform others.
Lu Yuan's heart sank.
Lawson's warning had come true, and even faster than expected.
He turned and rushed back into the clinic, grabbing the enchanted standard revolver from the table and tucking away the Timekeeper.
"Brent! Mina!"
Brent ran out of the next room, his face pale as he had clearly heard the horn as well.
"Dr. Lu, what's happening outside?"
Mina followed behind him, her small face full of unease.
"Pack your things and follow me. We're going to the base."
Lu Yuan's tone left no room for argument.
Ink drifted out from the notebook, its beady eyes filled with solemnity.
"Something's happened?"
"An enemy attack. For now, only the base is safe."
Lu Yuan tucked the notebook into his coat and led the two of them as they rushed out of the clinic.
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