Chapter 1725: Bitter Fruit (13)

I have to admit, Brother Dorian has quite an eye for aesthetics.

Purely in terms of physical appearance, there was very little difference between Hilaria and the Doll.

Yet, seeing them side by side right now, they felt entirely different.

Deathly still, withered, and hollow. More than just her physical body, her mind seemed ravaged by the long passage of time, exuding an even more profound sense of pallor.

Even though it was an almost perfect replica, Brother Dorian had instantly breathed a sort of vitality into the Doll simply by tweaking the cut of its clothing.

The change was so striking it almost brought out a different side of her—a kind of superego.

The only problem was that he was the one carrying the Doll, and the woman it was modeled after was watching him.

No matter how you looked at it, the situation felt a little sleazy.

Fortunately, Fu Qian had never cared about such things.

"Hilaria?"

Facing the woman, who seemed so shocked she had forgotten to pick herself up off the floor, Fu Qian gave a slight nod and casually said hello.

Without even waiting for a response, he walked over, sat down in a Chair, and brazenly held up the Doll to compare the two.

...

It seemed Excellency Akons's peace truly hadn't been disturbed.

Fu Qian had chosen a seat very close to the center of the Church.

From here, he could clearly see that neither the Statue nor the Emblem had suffered any real damage.

Just as he had guessed, even though the believers had abandoned the Deity who failed to protect them, they still held onto a final shred of reverence. They hadn't stormed His Sanctum to vent their fury.

In fact, compared to the Healing Dreamscape, this place looked significantly neater and cleaner.

Fu Qian turned to glance at Hilaria.

Since she hadn't been driven into the basement this time, she had clearly been fulfilling her duties as a steadfast believer.

Even now, as the initial shock wore off, she finally managed to push herself stubbornly up from the floor, her movements a bit stiff.

"I am Hilaria."

Her voice was very similar to how she sounded in the dreamscape—calm and deadened, without any of the rustiness of someone who hadn't spoken in a long time.

"Do you have business here, sir?"

Once she was on her feet, an aura of unwavering devotion—like a green lamp and ancient Buddha—practically washed over him. She stared straight at him, her gaze laced with a hint of vigilance.

...

She truly lived up to her role as the final keeper of the faith.

Seeing that despite being visibly shocked by the Doll in his hand, her immediate focus was still on his intentions—likely out of fear that he was some Oathbreaker or heretic—Fu Qian couldn't help but inwardly applaud her piety.

Furthermore, judging by her tone and demeanor, he could deduce that in the backstory the Warehouse had arranged for him, he had never formally met her.

"Don't worry. I'm an outsider."

Even as he analyzed the situation, Fu Qian pointed at himself and earnestly declared his identity.

His reason for emphasizing this was simple: someone who wasn't one of the Natives was far less likely to harbor a grudge against Excellency Akons.

After all, didn't Brother Dorian use the Church's setting for his treatments?

When it came to easing Hilaria's vigilance, claiming this identity was far more effective than any verbal assurances.

He was right. As soon as the words left his mouth, her rigid posture visibly relaxed.

"No wonder you look so unfamiliar. But that thing you're holding..."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Hilaria was finally able to direct her attention to the matter most relevant to her. She frowned at the item in Fu Qian's hands.

"As you can see, a Doll."

Fu Qian didn't try to hide anything, casually placing the therapeutic tool onto the empty seat beside him.

Besides, judging from her bewildered reaction, this likely belonged to Doctor Dorian's exclusive, closely guarded medical repertoire.

Even the remarkably high recovery rate the Old Lady and the others had mentioned seemed to be true. Otherwise, with people like him wandering around outside, rumors would have inevitably spread.

"It was made by a doctor named Dorian."

Just like he was doing right now, for instance.

...

"Dorian!"

She gasped, unable to suppress her alarm. It was clear the answer had thoroughly shocked her.

"How could this be? Why would he make such a thing?"

She couldn't help but step closer as she spoke, carefully observing the intricate details of the Doll. She seemed completely baffled that such an exquisite piece of work could have come from Dorian.

"To cure illnesses. It's a medical service tailored specifically for outsiders."

Gesturing for her to examine it as much as she liked, Fu Qian held nothing back as he explained its origins.

Before he set out, Brother Dorian hadn't asked for the Doll back, nor had he given any special instructions. Since the man didn't seem worried about him spilling any secrets, Fu Qian saw no reason to hold back.

"Ah..."

It seemed Hilaria was somewhat familiar with outsiders coming to seek medical treatment.

Though still surprised, she didn't question that part of his story.

"So, he didn't cure you?"

Even after hesitating, visibly wanting to say more, she still didn't ask how the Doll was actually used.

She had clearly drawn some unsavory conclusions and wanted to avoid the topic. She even subconsciously raised a hand to cover her chest.

"Why do you say that?"

Fu Qian merely watched her with amusement.

"Outsiders always appear in a hurry and vanish in silence. Very few ever continue wandering around this place after their treatment."

Hilaria shook her head. Reaching out, she finally touched the Doll's eyes and veil before carefully scooping it into her arms.

"It sounds like he has a very high recovery rate. Has Dorian been doing this for a long time?"

He had to admit, watching someone cradle a replica of themselves was a rather bizarre sight.

Taking in the surreal scene, Fu Qian casually asked about the Attending Physician's past record.

"He has always been an excellent physician..."

She raised her hand, then lowered it again. It was obvious she was internally debating whether to lift the Doll's veil for a closer look.

Fu Qian's question seemed to offer her a welcome reprieve. She seized the opportunity to push the thought aside, slipping into memory instead.

"It's just that there are fewer and fewer people here now. Outsiders like you must be his main patients these days."

With a soft sigh, Hilaria suddenly seemed to remember something.

"So, why did you bring this tool of his... all the way here?"

"Oh, my illness wasn't cured. He said it was because the tool wasn't good enough, so he sent me here to gather fresh materials for an upgrade."

Fu Qian answered naturally, with his usual, astonishing honesty.

Fresh materials—

A look of confusion crossed Hilaria's face as she subconsciously repeated the phrase. Then, her body went rigid, and the Doll slipped right through her fingers.

It never hit the floor, though. Moving as if he'd been expecting it, Fu Qian casually snatched it out of the air.

"That's right, he meant you. He also mentioned that you didn't necessarily have to be alive."

He offered the Doll back to her with a slight nod, confirming her realization.