Volume 2 Chapter 11: Little Miller

While Qin Lun and Baron Albert were drinking tea and chatting in the courtyard, the door to his empty guest room quietly opened a small crack. A figure slipped in through the gap.

When the young man left with the old butler in the morning, the time was quite rushed. The curtains in the guest room were not drawn open, so the room was dimly lit and somewhat dark.

The figure muttered something softly, took out a night pearl the size of a pebble from his pocket, and the faint light illuminated the room again. The figure seemed very familiar with the room’s layout. After hesitating only for a moment, he walked towards the medical kit Qin Lun had placed in the corner of the room.

However, halfway there, the figure’s attention was caught by a single piece of letter paper on the nearby desk. Actually, there had originally been a stack of notes on the desk, but now only this one remained; the other papers had been disposed of by Qin Lun.

This piece of paper was naturally the note that Qin Lun had first thrown off the cliff, but which had later strangely returned to the desk. This time, however, all the writing on it had been blacked out by him, making it impossible to see what was written. Qin Lun’s idea was simple: since he couldn’t get rid of it, he would blot it out.

The figure picked up the letter paper and examined it under the glow of the night pearl. He found the writing was no longer readable. However, when the figure rubbed his fingers over the paper, a hint of delight appeared on his face.

The paper used for letters in this era was quite thick. Qin Lun, not being from this world, was not used to writing with a quill. When he wrote, he pressed down hard, leaving faint impressions on the back of the paper. If the figure returned to his own room, he could use something like charcoal to reveal the mirror-image writing on the back.

“Crack!” Just as the figure was secretly pleased, a loud noise came from behind him, and a cold gust of wind blew against his back.

The figure’s hair stood on end. He turned his head and saw that one of the windows at the back of the room had swung open. A strong wind billowed the curtains, making them flutter and wave.

“Phew…” The figure let out a soft sigh of relief. He was about to leave when, as if guided by some ghostly influence, he stopped. He turned and walked towards the window, lifted the curtain slightly, and reached out to close the window again.

“Bang!” Perhaps the wind was strong at that moment. One of the double window panels suddenly swung back and hit the figure’s elbow as his arm rested on the windowsill.

“Ouch…” The figure gasped, feeling a numb sensation run down his arm. All feeling was gone; it seemed he had accidentally hit his funny bone.

“Oh no!” the figure exclaimed softly. The letter paper he had been holding had flown out of the window and was being carried away by the strong wind.

The figure quickly reached out to grab it. “Rip!” The paper tore into pieces as he grabbed it. Most of it scattered and flew away; he only managed to catch a small corner.

“Bad luck!” the figure muttered resentfully under his breath. He turned to look out the window, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. He had a feeling that the paper seemed to have been actively torn apart by some force even before he grabbed it.

The figure looked at the scrap of paper in his hand, feeling helpless and frustrated. It wasn’t the part with the writing on it. With the letter paper gone, the figure finally turned his attention back to the medical kit in the corner.

…

Qin Lun lowered his head to drink tea, using the teacup to hide his flickering gaze. The Serial Killer was not a man skilled with words. Normally, he just used a gentle smile to hide his true self.

Although during his half-month at Moonlight Forest, Academy Eiflit Bogg had taught the Probationary Apostles various manners and social etiquette based on the civilizations of Shattered Starry Sky, the time was too short. Qin Lun still could not control the flow of conversation very well.

Fortunately, the old baron before him was not a crafty Goblin Elder. In their relatively honest exchange, Qin Lun finally obtained the information he cared about most.

Baron Thomas Albert had two sons and one daughter. His wife had passed away long ago, and he had not remarried. His eldest son, Stephen Albert, had died over a year ago. His second son, Bonnie Albert, was twenty-four years old. His third daughter, Laura Albert, was twenty years old; they had already met Qin Lun at last night’s banquet.

The little princess of the Albert family, Elizabeth Albert, was the daughter of Stephen Albert, and the granddaughter of the old baron.

To Qin Lun’s surprise, the fifth family member the old baron mentioned did not refer to the deceased Stephen, but to Stephen’s other child, the old baron’s grandson, Miller Albert!

The old baron had invited Qin Lun over not only to represent the Odia authorities in expressing their appreciation and gratitude, but more importantly, to ask him to treat an illness.

The old baron’s only grandson, Miller Albert, had also contracted that terrible epidemic disease!

No wonder Laura had disregarded a young lady’s modesty and waited for him in the castle corridor without even changing her outdoor clothes! No wonder Bonnie had questioned the authenticity of Qin Lun’s surgery at an informal occasion like the banquet!

If the sick person was their own nephew, then all of this made perfect sense!

However… Qin Lun frowned slightly. He felt that there was something he had overlooked, some doubt he couldn’t let go of. And what was the deal with that supernatural note that said, “Please save us!”?

“The onset of this epidemic disease is very fast. Your Lordship should have told me this bad news yesterday!” Qin Lun put down his teacup and said seriously. “Now, let’s go see how young master Miller is doing first!”

Qin Lun did not ask for the old baron’s opinion. He stood up directly, interrupting the half-finished morning tea. As a doctor, this was his right. Not to mention a baron; even if a king were present, he could not object. Otherwise, he would risk being suspected of murdering the patient.

“Steward Jason, please send a maid to summon my attendant, and also have my medical kit brought from the guest room. I will go see young master Little Miller first!”

“As you wish!” the old butler said solemnly, bowing deeply.

…

The bedrooms of the Albert family members were on the upper floors of the Main Keep. Because the overall structure of the Main Keep was like a tower, the higher one went, the smaller the floor area became. The upper floors were far from the servants’ quarters. Usually, only some cleaning maids came here, so it seemed very quiet and deserted.

“Creak!” The stairs leading to the upper floors of the Main Keep were somewhat old. Under the tread of many people, they often groaned as if unable to bear the weight. Compared to the bustle and noise of the lower levels of the Main Keep, this place seemed like another world. The atmosphere felt desolate and chilly.

Old Steward Jason led the group to a bedroom door near the top floor of the Main Keep and then stopped. However, he did not open the door. Instead, he took a few steps back and stood behind everyone.

Qin Lun was a little surprised but didn’t think too much about it. He stepped forward and turned the doorknob himself.

“Don’t!” Seeing Qin Lun’s action, both Baron Albert and the old butler behind him cried out in alarm. They seemed to have forgotten to tell the young doctor something.

Fortunately, as soon as Qin Lun pushed the door open, his face changed. He quickly stepped back, “thumped” the door shut again, turned around, and launched into a sharp scolding without preamble: “What is going on? Why is there such a strong smell of the epidemic disease inside the room!”

Baron Albert and the old butler looked at the doctor’s grim expression and smiled wryly. They didn’t blame Qin Lun at all for his rude words.

“Get some alcohol and wet towels over here!” Seeing their hesitant, faltering expressions, Qin Lun said with a stern face.

Regardless of his strong words, given the situation just now, even if Qin Lun had started shouting curses, it wouldn’t have been excessive. As soon as he entered the room earlier, the Death Notice had warned him that the environment inside was unsuitable for human survival, its severity comparable to that of the old Stan building.

He needed to remember that the plot body he replaced, Wellington Stan, had died in such a polluted environment. Even the strong, hunchbacked servant Frank had almost died from it.

After the servants downstairs brought the towels and alcohol, the Hunchbacked Servant also arrived with the medical kit. Behind him were the other two Alberts, Laura and Bonnie. Only Elizabeth, that little girl who acted older than her age, was not seen. Probably, everyone didn’t want her to come into contact with the patient.

Qin Lun dampened a towel with alcohol, covered his nose and mouth, and entered the room again. He opened the room’s windows as quickly as possible to let the strong wind from outside the castle disperse the accumulated poisonous air inside.

Watching the doctor’s actions, the Albert family members exchanged meaningful glances but did not comment. Old Steward Jason initially seemed to want to say something but was stopped by a look from Baron Albert.

When the Death Notice no longer showed a warning for continuous damage, Qin Lun walked into the bedroom again and looked at the little boy lying on the ornate bed.

Miller Albert, ten years old, the second youngest member of the Albert family. Grandson of Baron Thomas Albert. Eldest son of the mission target Stephen Albert. Nephew of Bonnie and Laura. Brother of Elizabeth!

The unconscious little boy on the bed had a pale face and a thin body. His limbs were skinny. Under the wide sheets, there was hardly any outline of a human body. If not for his small head sticking out from under the sheets, someone entering the room might not even realize a living person lay there.

Qin Lun sat upright on a wooden stool that Frank had brought over. He carefully examined the little boy, and a strange light gradually appeared in his eyes.

There was a small amount of green liquid in the little boy’s mouth. His lips and tongue coating were slightly green. He indeed had that strange epidemic disease.

However, unlike the epidemic patients Qin Lun had seen in Audiya Town, although the little boy was thin and unconscious, his breathing was steady, and his heartbeat and pulse were strong and stable. He didn’t seem like a dying patient at all.

During the examination of Little Miller’s body, Qin Lun also discovered something very interesting. The little boy actually had bedsores on his back! How long had he been lying in this bed? A month? Two months? Or over a year…

A peculiar smile appeared on Qin Lun’s lips. This was really interesting! Could it be that this little boy was…