Chapter : 1481

  Lloyd stood up, smoothing his robes. "I am Doctor Zayn. Please, come in."

  The man looked around the small, dusty shop with disdain. "We heard rumors. My servant said you cured his back. He said you have... unusual methods."

  "I have effective methods," Lloyd said calmly. "Who is the patient?"

  "My wife," the man said. "Lady Courtney. She has been in pain for months. The court physicians say it is 'melancholia'. They give her sleeping draughts. But she is in agony."

  Lady Courtney looked at Lloyd. Her eyes were desperate. "It hurts," she whispered. "Here." She touched her side. "Like a knife. All the time."

  Lloyd looked at her. He saw the sweat on her brow. The shallow breathing.

  "Jia," Lloyd said. "Prepare the examination table."

  ----

  Lady Courtney lay on the simple wooden table. She looked out of place in her silk dress amidst the jars of dried roots. Her husband, who introduced himself as Lord Vance, a Deputy of the City Archives, hovered nervously.

  "If you can help her," Lord Vance said, "I will pay you. Well. But if you are another charlatan selling colored water..."

  "Quiet, please," Lloyd said softly. "I need to concentrate."

  He placed his hand on Lady Courtney's side, just above her hip.

  "Close your eyes, my lady," he said.

  She did.

  Lloyd closed his eyes too. He activated the [All-Seeing Eye].

  The world shifted. The skin, the silk, the muscle—it all became transparent layers of data. He zoomed in on the area of pain. He saw the kidneys. He saw the ureter.

  And there it was.

  A stone. A jagged, calcium deposit, stuck in the ureter. It was blocking the flow. It was inflamed. The pressure was building up in the kidney. No wonder she was in agony. It wasn't 'melancholia'. It was a kidney stone. A big one.

  In this world, without surgery or advanced imaging, this was a mystery illness. Physicians would bleed her or give her sedatives until her kidney failed and she died of sepsis.

  Lloyd deactivated the Eye. He opened his normal eyes.

  "I see it," he said.

  "You see what?" Lord Vance asked. "You haven't done anything. You just touched her."

  "I have the sight," Lloyd lied smoothly. "A gift from my grandmother. There is a... blockage. A stone. Formed from the minerals of the body. It is stuck. Here." He tapped the spot.

  Lady Courtney gasped. "Yes! Exactly there!"

  "A stone?" Lord Vance frowned. "Inside her?"

  "Yes," Lloyd said. "It needs to pass. Or be dissolved."

  "Can you cut it out?" Vance asked, horrified.

  "No," Lloyd said. Surgery here would be a death sentence from infection. "But I can break it."

  He turned to his shelf. He didn't have an ultrasound machine. But he had Void Power. And he had Steel Blood.

  He grabbed a jar of 'special oil'—just olive oil mixed with lavender. He poured it on his hands.

  "This will be uncomfortable," Lloyd warned. "But it will be quick."

  He placed his hands on her side again. He focused. He didn't use magic spells. He used physics. He channeled a tiny, microscopic vibration of Void energy through his fingertips. He aimed it precisely at the stone he had visualized.

  Hummmmm.

  It was a sonic pulse. Targeted resonance.

  Inside Lady Courtney's body, the jagged stone vibrated. It cracked. It shattered into dust.

  Lady Courtney cried out, arching her back. "Aaaah!"

  "What are you doing?!" Lord Vance yelled, stepping forward. Ken stepped in front of him, a silent wall.

  "Almost... done," Lloyd gritted out. He sent one more pulse. Crack.

  The blockage was gone. The dust would pass naturally with water.

  Lloyd pulled his hands back. "It is done."

  Lady Courtney lay panting. She waited for the sharp, stabbing pain. The pain that had been her companion for months.

  It was gone. There was a dull ache, a soreness, but the knife was gone.

  She sat up slowly. She pressed her hand to her side. She twisted her body.

  "It's... gone," she whispered. She looked at Lloyd with wide, tear-filled eyes. "The knife is gone."

  She burst into tears. Not of pain, but of relief.

  Lord Vance pushed past Ken. He rushed to his wife. "Courtney? Truly?"

  "I can breathe," she sobbed. "I can breathe without hurting."

  Lord Vance turned to Lloyd. His face was pale. He looked at the humble doctor in the dusty robes.

  "You..." Vance stammered. "The Royal Physician... he said it was in her head. He said she was just seeking attention."

  Chapter : 1482

  "The body has secrets," Lloyd said mystically. "Sometimes, one must look deeper than the skin. The dust will pass in her water. Have her drink plenty of fluids. Lemon water is best."

  Lord Vance grabbed Lloyd’s hand. He shook it violently. "Thank you. Thank you. I... I don't know what to say."

  He fumbled for his purse. He pulled out a handful of gold coins. Not copper. Not silver. Gold.

  "Take it," Vance said. "Take it all."

  Lloyd looked at the gold. He wanted to take it. He really did. But he was playing a long game.

  He took two coins. He pushed the rest back.

  "Two is the price," Lloyd said firmly. "I am a healer, my lord. Not a merchant. The relief of your wife is my reward."

  Vance stared at him. A healer who refused gold? In Saber? It was unheard of.

  "You are a good man, Doctor Zayn," Vance said, his voice thick with emotion. "A rare man. I will not forget this."

  He helped his wife up. She hugged Lloyd, shocking him. "Bless you," she whispered.

  They left the clinic, beaming. The carriage drove away.

  Lloyd closed the door. He locked it. He leaned against it and let out a long breath.

  "Two gold coins," Jasmin whispered, looking at the money on the desk. "That's more than my father made in a year."

  "It's not about the money," Lloyd said, flipping one of the coins. "It's about the man. Lord Vance. Deputy of the City Archives."

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  He grinned. It was a predatory grin.

  "Archives mean records," Lloyd said. "Records mean maps. Blueprints. Supply lists."

  He looked at Ken.

  "We just bought our first key," Lloyd said. "And all it cost was a kidney stone."

  "Nice vibration control," Ken commented dryly.

  "I aim to please," Lloyd said. "Now, close up shop. I'm exhausted. Playing a saint is tiring work."

  They had their first lead. The door to the inner circle had been cracked open. Now, Lloyd just had to kick it down.

  Three days passed. The clinic was busier now. The rumor of the "Saint of the Coil" curing a noblewoman had trickled down. But Lloyd was waiting for something else.

  On the fourth morning, a messenger in livery arrived. He carried a cream-colored envelope sealed with wax.

  "For Doctor Zayn," the messenger said stiffly.

  Jasmin took it, playing the part of the awed servant perfectly. She brought it to Lloyd.

  Lloyd opened it. It was on expensive paper.

  Doctor Zayn,

  My wife, Lady Courtney, continues to improve. Her spirits are lifted, and our home is filled with joy for the first time in a year. I wish to express my gratitude more formally.

  I am hosting a small gathering this Friday evening. A tea gathering for friends and colleagues. It is a casual affair, but I would be honored if you would attend. There are some associates of mine who are intrigued by your methods.

  Yours,

  Lord Vance, Deputy of City Archives.

  Lloyd smiled. "Bingo."

  "Associates," Ken noted from the corner. "That means other officials."

  "Exactly," Lloyd said. "Bureaucrats love to gossip. And they love to complain about work. If we can get them talking, we might hear something about restricted areas. Or secret budgets."

  "A tea gathering," Jasmin said, looking at the invitation. "That sounds... fancy."

  "It is," Lloyd said. "It is the battlefield of the bored and wealthy. And we are going to invade it."

  He looked at his clothes. His scholar's robes were dusty and stained with herbs.

  "We need new clothes," Lloyd announced. "If I show up looking like a hedge wizard, they will treat me like entertainment. I need to look like a respectable, eccentric academic. Someone they can talk to, not someone they hire to clean the stables."

  "And us?" Jasmin asked.

  "You are coming too," Lloyd said. "Jia holds my medical bag. Kasim holds the door. You are my props. But props need to be polished."

  He stood up. "Close the clinic, Jia. We are going shopping. And Kasim... try not to look like you are measuring everyone for a coffin."

  They went to the Merchant Quarter's finer district. Lloyd found a tailor who catered to the lower nobility.

  For himself, he chose robes of deep indigo silk, embroidered with subtle silver thread. It was Zakarian in style but expensive. It said, 'I am foreign, but I am successful.' He bought a new turban, crisp and white.

  Chapter : 1483

  For Jasmin, he bought a simple but high-quality dress of pale blue linen. It was modest, clean, and made her look like a servant from a good house.

  "It's so soft," Jasmin whispered, touching the fabric.

  "Don't get used to it," Lloyd teased. "It's a costume. Don't spill tea on it."

  For Ken, it was harder. Nothing off the rack fit his massive shoulders. They had to find a large tunic and a vest that strained at the buttons. Lloyd added a sash to hide the inevitable knives Ken would be carrying.

  "You look like a bear in a tuxedo," Lloyd commented.

  Ken grunted. He looked uncomfortable. He tugged at the collar. "It restricts movement."

  "Just don't fight anyone," Lloyd said. "If you have to fight, rip the shirt. It will be dramatic."

  They returned to the safe house. Lloyd spent the evening coaching them.

  "Jia," he said. "If anyone speaks to you, you curtsy. You say, 'The Doctor is very wise.' And that's it. Don't engage. Don't talk about politics. Don't talk about the weather."

  "The Doctor is very wise," Jasmin repeated.

  "Good. Kasim. You stand behind me. You look stoic. If someone offers you food, you shake your head. You are on duty. The loyal dog."

  Ken narrowed his eyes. "Dog?"

  "Wolf," Lloyd corrected quickly. "The loyal wolf."

  He paced the room. "The goal is information. I need to get Vance's colleagues talking. I need to steer the conversation towards their work. Challenges. Difficulties. Bureaucrats love to complain about 'special projects' that eat up their budget."

  He looked at them.

  "This is the first step into the deep water," Lloyd said. "If we mess this up, we get kicked out. Or arrested. So, best behavior. No squeaking, Jia. No killing, Kasim."

  "Understood," they said in unison.

  ----

  Friday evening arrived. The hired carriage took them to the Upper District. The streets here were paved with white stone. Magical lamps glowed with a soft, amber light. The houses were mansions, gated and guarded.

  They arrived at Lord Vance's estate. It wasn't a palace, but it was substantial. A walled garden, a fountain, a main house with pillars.

  Lloyd took a deep breath. He adjusted his new spectacles.

  "Remember," he whispered. "We belong here. We are interesting. We are the flavor of the week."

  They stepped out. A servant announced them.

  "Doctor Zayn of Rizvan!"

  They entered the main hall. It was filled with people. Soft music played from a string quartet in the corner. People stood in clusters, holding crystal glasses, murmuring politely.

  Lord Vance spotted them immediately. He broke away from a group and rushed over, beaming.

  "Doctor!" Vance cried. "You came! Welcome, welcome!"

  He grabbed Lloyd’s hand. "Everyone, this is the man! The man who cured Courtney!"

  Heads turned. Curious gazes swept over Lloyd.

  Lloyd bowed deeply, a perfect, humble scholar's bow. "You honor me, my lord. I am but a student of the body."

  "Nonsense!" Vance said. "You are a genius! Come, come. I want you to meet some people."

  He dragged Lloyd into the room. Jasmin trailed behind, clutching the medical bag (which contained nothing but dried mint and a notebook). Ken followed, a silent shadow.

  Vance led them to a group of men standing near the buffet. They looked important. They had the soft hands and tired eyes of career bureaucrats.

  "Gentlemen," Vance said. "This is Doctor Zayn. Doctor, this is Lord Harin from the Treasury, and Lord Silas from the Department of Interior Logistics."

  Lloyd’s internal radar pinged. Logistics. That was the jackpot. Logistics meant supplies. Supplies meant trucks. Trucks went to places.

  "An honor," Lloyd said smoothly. "Logistics. The lifeblood of the city. Without you, the gears stop turning, yes?"

  Lord Silas, a portly man with a red face, puffed up. "Exactly! Finally, someone who understands. Everyone thinks it's just counting beans. But it is the art of movement! The art of supply!"

  "Fascinating," Lloyd lied. "I imagine it must be terribly complex. Keepng a city like Saber fed and watered."

  "You have no idea," Silas groaned. "And not just the city. The... other obligations."

  He took a sip of wine.

  Lloyd’s ears perked up. Other obligations.

  "Surely the military takes up most of your time?" Lloyd prodded gently. "With the... tensions at the border?"

  "The army is easy," Silas waved a hand. "They eat bread and beef. They are predictable. It's the... special divisions. The research wings. They need rare things. Weird things. And they need them yesterday."

  "Research wings?" Lloyd asked, wide-eyed. "For alchemy?"

  Chapter : 1484

  "Something like that," Silas muttered. "Pickyminds. Always demanding fresh... supplies. Biologicals. Hard to transport."

  Lloyd’s heart skipped a beat. Biologicals.

  "That sounds... delicate," Lloyd said. "As a doctor, I know how hard it is to keep biological samples fresh. You must have excellent facilities."

  "We do," Silas bragged. "Top of the line. But the location... nightmare. Outside the city. Bad roads. My drivers hate it."

  "Outside the city?" Lloyd asked innocently. "To the South? The roads there are terrible."

  "No, no," Silas said. "North. Up near the old quarry. The woods are thick there. Damp. Ruins the wagon wheels."

  North. Old quarry. Thick woods.

  Lloyd filed the information away instantly. He smiled.

  "You have my sympathy, my lord," Lloyd said. "Bureaucracy is a heavy burden."

  "It is, it is," Silas agreed. "But enough of work. Tell me, Doctor... is it true you can cure gout?"

  Lloyd spent the next hour charming the room. He diagnosed three cases of gout, one case of eczema, and prescribed a diet for a fat pug dog. He was the life of the party.

  But his mind was racing. North. Quarry. Biological supplies.

  It was vague. But it was a direction.

  As the party wound down, Lord Vance clapped Lloyd on the shoulder.

  "You were a hit, Doctor," Vance said. "Silas liked you. That's rare. He hates everyone."

  "He seemed... passionate about his work," Lloyd said.

  "He's stressed," Vance whispered conspiratorially. "The Obsidian Eye has been breathing down his neck. They are expanding the... facility. Need more resources. It's making everyone jumpy."

  "The facility?" Lloyd asked.

  "The Orchid House," Vance whispered the name like it was a curse. "Don't repeat that. It's not... officially acknowledged."

  Boom.

  There it was. The name. The confirmation.

  Lloyd forced his face to remain calm. He looked confused. "Orchid House? Sounds like a greenhouse."

  "It's not for flowers," Vance said grimly. "Just... stay away from the North Woods, Doctor. Bad air up there. Bad for the health."

  "I shall heed your advice," Lloyd said solemnly.

  He bowed. "Thank you for the tea, my lord. It was... illuminating."

  Lloyd gathered his team. They walked out of the estate and into the cool night air. They got into their hired carriage.

  As soon as the door closed, Lloyd slumped back. He let out a long, shaky breath.

  "Did you hear?" Jasmin whispered.

  "I heard," Lloyd said. His eyes were hard. "North Woods. Old Quarry. The Orchid House."

  He looked at Ken.

  "We have a name," Lloyd said. "And we have a location."

  Ken nodded. "We hunt."

  "Yes," Lloyd said. "But first... we need to get past the Obsidian Eye. If they are expanding, security will be tight."

  He looked out the window at the dark silhouette of the northern mountains. Somewhere out there, Risa was waiting.

  "One step closer," Lloyd whispered. "Hang on."

  The party was in full swing. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over the gathered nobility of Saber. Servants moved like silent ghosts, offering trays of hors d'oeuvres that cost more than a peasant's yearly wage.

  Lloyd Ferrum, disguised as the affable Doctor Zayn, stood near a marble pillar, holding a glass of sparkling cider. He looked relaxed, smiling and nodding as a minor baroness described her poodle's digestive issues in excruciating detail.

  "And then, Fifi simply refused the paté!" the Baroness exclaimed. "Can you imagine?"

  "Tragic," Lloyd murmured, his face a mask of polite concern. "Truly tragic. Perhaps a lighter diet? Boiled chicken?"

  "Genius!" the Baroness declared. "You are a marvel, Doctor!"

  She drifted away to spread the gospel of boiled chicken. Lloyd’s smile vanished for a split second, replaced by a look of intense boredom, before re-fixing itself.

  "I hate parties," he muttered under his breath. "I would rather fight the Boar King again. At least the boars didn't talk about their dogs."

  Beside him, Ken Park stood rigid. He was holding a tiny plate with a single, untouched cracker. He looked like he was calculating the velocity needed to throw the cracker through someone's skull.

  "Smile, Kasim," Lloyd whispered. "You look like you're attending a funeral."

  Ken’s lips twitched. It was the closest he got to a smile.

  Jasmin was circulating near the edge of the room, holding Lloyd’s medical bag. She looked terrified but was holding her ground. She curtsied whenever someone looked at her.

  Lloyd scanned the room. He spotted his targets. Lord Silas and a group of other officials were clustered near the fireplace, drinking heavy red wine and looking miserable.

  "Target acquired," Lloyd whispered. "Going in."