Chapter 471: Otherworldly Cancer
When Henwell arrives, Phoebe Crow grabs his arm and says, “You’re just in time! I’ve found a very strange case, a patient with an evil parasite inside his body. It has no active consciousness but is destroying his body.”
“I’ve wanted to operate for a while, but without a top expert nearby, I worried about the parasite’s dangers. Now that you’re here, you’re a skilled professional and should be able to handle this hidden threat.”
Henwell gets pulled into the surgery.
Unlike usual, he doesn’t assist Phoebe directly. Instead, clad in armor and holding his sword, he stays alert and ready.
He’s curious about the parasite but prepared to act immediately if things go wrong to protect these top medical talents.
Outside the operating room, along with Jax, the Technical Research Institute’s leader, is Dalton, the new commander of the Lord Iron Guards.
Two Grand Knights, over ten Battle Knights, and nearly a hundred other knights stand guard.
Inside the room, Henwell himself, a top Iron Knight, is present.
If the Church saw this, they’d probably think Henwell was gearing up to take down a high-ranking hell war demon!
Phoebe Crow calls Henwell over. “Look, this is the parasite. It seems to lack consciousness but has fully integrated with the patient’s body.”
Henwell leans in, examining the growth on the patient’s liver, frowning.
After a moment, he says uncertainly, “This looks like a tumor.”
Phoebe Crow asks, “A tumor? What’s that?”
Henwell scratches his head, trying to explain. It’s a blind spot in his knowledge.
He gathers his thoughts. “It’s a kind of pathological growth the body produces. It’s very hard to remove completely. Even a tiny bit left behind can keep growing, and it can stay active for a long time. It’s like endlessly multiplying cells, though that’s not entirely accurate. In short, it’s a troublesome disease.”
Phoebe Crow asks, “What causes it? Why does someone get this? How do you treat it?”
Henwell rubs his forehead. “Director Phoebe, I’m just a knight, you’re the doctor. This is for you to research!”
Phoebe then removes the tumor and places it into a rare magical container.
He orders the patient to be moved to the special disease ward, emphasizing the patient must not die. He wants to study this precious sample thoroughly.
After wrapping up those tasks, Phoebe Crow reports to Henwell about the Pharmacy Department’s status.
“In six months, we’ve run hundreds of trials, but the death rate remains too high. The only effective case is Subject 22 from Potion Eight. His condition has stayed stable. From the third batch of test subjects up to the seventh, he’s the only one who survived without any aftereffects, and he’s shown noticeable physical improvement.”
With that, Phoebe leads everyone to the testing area, a series of separated cells.
Inside the cells are prisoners wearing numbered uniforms. The rooms are surprisingly clean, with proper bedding, tables, chairs, and even books to pass the time.
There’s also a small yard where prisoners can get fresh air and exercise.
The guards here are elite veterans of battlefield combat, rigorously trained, mostly knight attendants.
They patrol in squads of eight, led by a knight-ranked captain.
The guard-to-prisoner ratio is two to one, each fully armed guard watches over two prisoners.
If guards sense any unrest, they have orders to act decisively and eliminate threats.
Under Phoebe’s guidance, they find the target subject.
He isn’t particularly tall but is lean and muscular.
At this moment, Subject 22 sits by the table reading a book.
Henwell studies him for a moment, then frowns slightly. “Dalton, get me this man’s file.”
Soon, the information is handed over. The man was convicted of kidnapping and murder in Peace Haven.
Henwell speaks again, “Dalton, contact Intelligence and the Constabulary. Bring me all case files on this man.”
Jax, leader of the Technical Research Institute, senses something off. “My lord, is there a problem with this man?”
It’s time for the prisoners’ outdoor break. Under guard watch, the test subjects start coming out of their cells, heading to the exercise yard.
Henwell tells Jax, “Let’s just observe for now. It’s only a suspicion, we need to verify.”
The yard is fenced off, and Henwell and the others watch the subjects from outside as they go about their activities.
Some soak up the sun, others work out using barbells, dumbbells, and other equipment.
Suddenly, a group wearing white lab coats approaches the yard to enter.
Henwell asks, “What are they here for?”
Phoebe Crow replies, “They’re here to record the subjects’ physical data. This is usually done during break time.”
Henwell waves them off. “Hold on. Stop them. Get me a set of clothes. I’m going in to take a closer look.”
Soon, Henwell and Jax change into white coats and enter the yard.
They follow the researchers like assistants, helping record data.
Nothing happens at first, but just as the researchers finish and prepare to leave, the test subjects suddenly erupt, capturing several researchers, including Henwell.
Seeing this, the guards immediately draw their swords and charge in.
Facing the elite guards, the subjects quickly retreat.
However, a few test subjects unleash surprising combat power.
They first slam several guards away using barbell plates.
Then, wielding barbell bars, they push back the guards’ advance.
Some even strip off their shirts, binding them into ropes tied to dumbbells, creating makeshift flails.
The Technical Research Institute’s alarm blares. The entire base springs into action.
War defense machines across the facility activate.
The cavalry battalion guarding the perimeter drops their meals, mounts horses, and charges toward the Institute.
A reorganized battle group advances, raising further alerts.
From tens of miles away, the First Cavalry Corps dispatches two battalions of ready cavalry.
These troops stay armored at all times, prepared for emergencies.
As Peace Haven’s war machinery kicks into gear, a green signal flare rises from Blood Hill Manor.
This signals the stand-down order.
Though units halt movement temporarily, they remain on high alert, reforming ranks and donning armor.
Communications officers are dispatched to Blood Hill Manor to inquire about the situation.
Dalton has already relayed Henwell’s orders: no need to worry.
Meanwhile, Dalton, carrying files, heads to the Technical Research Institute with the Military Intelligence Office commander.