Although Leandre was still a member of The Recovery Association, he lost his strength in the battle all those years ago. Thus, he was no different than just an old man now. Besides, this time, it wasn't just about himself. It was about protecting Innswood Village. He didn't want to cause any trouble here. So, he was utterly helpless with Felix's request."Since you're recommending me to join The Recovery Association, once I'm in, won't I be able to use their influence to help?"Leandre's eyes lit up. Felix was right. He wasn't an ordinary person! He was not only a doctor but also a martial artist. The Recovery Association would hold him on a pedestal, and it would be understandable for them to help him."Alright, then. I'll contact them and ask them to send someone over!" The world of martial arts wasn't only about fighting and killing but also connections. Sometimes, connections and favors were more important.If Felix had been alone, it wouldn't have mattered. He could just k
One of the old men smiled and brought out a half-palm-sized wooden card. He handed it to Felix. "This is our association's identification card. It's custom-made. You see this small hole? There's a bug inside of it."Felix inspected it carefully and found a small hole. He wasn't sure what the bug did, however."When you're in danger, or when someone forces a body check, just break the card, and it'll turn to dust. At the same time, your closest ally will sense it, and the bug will come out of its hole. It'll find your ally and guide them to you."How magical! Felix was quite impressed. There were no phones here, but they had found ways to send information. "We have some queen bugs on our hands. The queen bugs can sense all of the bugs, and when there's a mission, we'll reach out to you. You can live your own life for now."How amazing! A lot of thought had clearly been put into this."There's also one more situation when the bug might come out. When an ally is within 30 feet, it'
Felix looked at their expressions that were devoid of shame. He'd figured, long ago, that these people might not abide by the three-month-long agreement. As expected, their real intentions began to bleed out by the beginning of the second month. "What if I refuse to do as you say, then? Kathlynn will have to die alongside Innswood Village and me!"Wagner remained unruffled. "Really? Let's go. I'll show you what will happen if you refuse."They returned to the city, only to learn that Felix had told them the truth, proved by how the other doctors were helpless against the venom flowing in Kathlynn's veins. They'd also ascertained the effectiveness of that medicinal powder, which they were unfortunately incapable of making. If the powder hadn't been applied on Kathlynn's body, the venom would have begun to spread through her body eventually.Wagner had never been subjected to such humiliation, though. When it was time to collect the medicine this month, he took on the task. He'd
Wagner and his accomplices were terrified, tremors coursing through their bodies. "No, no, please! I didn't know it was you, Mr. Longstone! Give me one more chance, please!"As one of the most powerful men in the city, Gras was someone who would put his money where his mouth was. He could kill them all, and their families wouldn't even dare to utter a single word."I know your father, so I'll give you a chance," Gras said.Only then did Wagner start recovering from his shock, breathing a sigh of relief. He wondered why Gras would come to such a small village, though.Meanwhile, Gras turned to Felix. "You're Dr. Zeller from Innswood Village, aren't you?""Yes, it's me," Felix replied politely. Gras smiled. "I've looked at Kathlynn's injuries, and I could see that you're as skilled as they say. It so happens that I need an experienced doctor in my residence. Would you be willing to work there?"Wagner was speechless. Now he knew why Gras would make the journey here—he had set his
Felix had told Gras what to say in advance. Only with that would Wagner and his accomplices give up on harming Innswood Village. They'd also pray for the village not to be targeted by thieves and the like, for fear they would be implicated. It was as he'd expected—Wagner and his men were terrified. This method of associating them with everything was far from reasonable, but when subjected to serious pressure, they had no choice but to comply and make repeated promises. When Innswood Village was quiet and peaceful once again, the villagers thanked Felix while also saying their goodbyes. They'd always known that Felix wouldn't stay here for long, but they didn't expect him to leave so soon.Lincoln, particularly, was crushed. He sat in the clinic silently, a sight Felix found hard to bear."Here," Felix said, handing two books to Lincoln, who took them cautiously."What are these books, Felix?" "Medical books I wrote myself," Felix explained. "If you practice and train following
Even if Felix was eliminated, he could still go back and train hard with his family. If he ended up dead, though, he would lose everything. Five days passed in a flash, and Gras' men had arrived—four martial artists in a carriage. All the villagers, who couldn't bear to say goodbye to Felix, had come to send him off. Not only did Felix not ask for a single cent, but he'd also taught Lincoln medicine. Although Lincoln was still a beginner, he was sure to become more skilled in the future. Having him here would be better than having no doctor, like now. "Mr. Campbell! Take care!" Felix nodded at Leandre once before giving Lincoln a meaningful look.He smiled at Lincoln, who was waving fervently with tears streaming down his face. It was fate that he'd met Lincoln in this unfamiliar village. The martial artists had stayed the night in the village before escorting Felix in the morning. This was the only way to avoid passing by tDesolated Lands at night. The carriage sped up
Gras instantly wore an expression of concern and began asking Ginny countless questions. Beneath his powerful countenance, he was a man who doted on his daughter."What's wrong, my dear? Does it hurt anywhere?" he asked. "Don't worry. Dr. Zeller is a phenomenal doctor who can treat any illness. I wouldn't have gone so far just to invite him over."His words made Felix have a change of opinion. It seemed that the elders at The Recovery Association hadn't given anyone the permission to approach Felix—they knew as well that keeping a low profile would benefit them more.Obviously, Gras was truly searching for a skilled doctor and had come to Felix, who was recommended by someone reliable. This was better in Felix's opinion. He'd feel awkward if he were to be the Longstones' guest, and he'd rather work for them as a skilled doctor. "I'll have to trouble you with checking her over, Dr. Zeller. I'm sorry for putting you to work immediately after a long journey.""It's fine," Felix re
Just as Ginny was about to say something, Felix continued, "However, I have detected symptoms of an underlying chronic ailment. She's fine now, but her symptoms will culminate after ten years if persistently ignored."A chronic ailment? Ginny frowned at Felix's serious expression. "Huh? A chronic illness? H-How can it be treated, Dr. Zeller?" Gras asked anxiously. Why would Ginny be afflicted with a chronic illness when she'd never fallen sick throughout the years?Only then did Ginny come back to her senses, more furious than before because this hack of a doctor had almost hoodwinked her. "Nonsense!" she snapped. "I've been practicing the martial arts since I was a kid, and I've never even fallen sick from minor illnesses! I'd never have a chronic illness!"Father," she continued. "This doctor is obviously as mediocre as those scammers from before. He's just here to cheat money out of us. Tell him to leave!"Felix frowned at the accusations. So this was why Ginny was so hostile
Ginny was naturally present as well, and she spoke up at that moment. "Mr. Goldstein, no one wanted to see Justus die like that. But why did you bring your people to Longstone residence? Are you suggesting that his sudden death has something to do with us?"Joaquin's expression grew darker as he looked at her. He blamed Ginny for this, thinking that none of this would have happened if she had just agreed earlier. And now, they couldn't even determine the cause of death."No connection? That doctor from your household, Felix Zeller—he's the one responsible for Justus' death."Right then, someone spoke up from the crowd. "That's him! That's Felix Zeller!"Felix, who had been calmly sitting in a chair, finally saw Wagner standing among them. And in that moment, everything made sense."Wagner? You've gotten quite bold, huh?" Gras sneered.Wagner flinched at Gras's words, but remembering that he now had the Goldsteins backing him, he stiffened his spine and stood tall. "Cut the crap
In Cloud City, there were a few noble families. Nonetheless, behind the polite smiles, tensions surged. Infiltrating each other's estates with spies had practically become a tradition. While they rarely uncovered major secrets, the information they did gather always gave them a head start.So when the news broke, Gras didn't doubt it for a second. He jumped to his feet, furious. "This is outrageous! Their son dies, and somehow it's the Longstone family's fault?"Ryker looked just as puzzled, agreeing that the accusation made no sense.But Felix let out a quiet, weary sigh. "Mr. Longstone, I'm afraid this is probably my fault. I'm a doctor, and I've gotten a bit of attention lately. After they failed to determine the cause of Justus' death, and given our meeting earlier today, they likely saw an opportunity to drag your family into the mess." Gras's expression darkened, knowing that Felix wasn't wrong. After all, doctors could also be poisoners, and plenty of martial artists had fa
It was clear someone had said something to Justus. Otherwise, this situation wouldn't have escalated to this point.Felix said calmly, "It was a standard therapeutic massage technique, and I was blindfolded the entire time. Does that explanation satisfy you? Or would you rather find someone else capable of treating Ms. Longstone—I'll gladly step aside if you can."Justus sneered, his eyes filled with disdain. "Cut the crap, Felix. Don't act like I don't know exactly what's going through your head. Ginny's the heiress of the Longstone residence—Gras's precious jewel. Everyone knows that marrying her is like securing the entire household. Don't tell me that thought never crossed your mind.""It didn't," Felix said simply.Unfortunately, that answer was never going to satisfy Justus. He snarled, "Listen up, boy! I'm giving you three days to get the hell out of the Longstone residence. If you don't, you won't even get the chance to regret it. Everyone else might be afraid of Gras—but I
As Wagner watched Justus explode in rage, he felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. With what he'd just uncovered, there was no need to exaggerate—it was already explosive enough on its own.After all, Justus' future fiancée was touched in that kind of intimate way by a young, healthy doctor. Any man with a spine would lose it."But Justus," Wagner added with a smirk. "Didn't Felix just get publicly praised by the Green King?"Cloud City wasn't that big. Anyone with any influence had been keeping close tabs on Green King Manor—especially with the mystery man who walked out of Desolated Lands involved. So, the news of Felix being rewarded had already spread far and wide.Justus clenched his jaw. "So what? It's just a flash in the pan. If he was truly skilled, the Green King would've kept him. But as long as he hasn't climbed into the Green King's inner circle, I can crush him whenever I want."Wagner's grin widened. That was exactly the attitude he needed. If Justus had shown
The moment the Flame Monarch mentioned the Healer Sage, the Green King's expression shifted noticeably. "So the Sage really was living out there in seclusion... No wonder. Flame Monarch, does this mean you've taken a liking to Felix?"But the Flame Monarch waved his hand dismissively. "There's no need for that."That response made the Green King secretly rejoice. If the Flame Monarch didn't intend to recruit Felix, then he understood why—and that was perfect. It meant the opportunity to take Felix under his own wing was wide open.The night passed quietly. Felix stood beside Christopher's bedside, noticing the man's breathing had grown steady and stable.At this point, the herb had run its course and was no longer effective. But what was left inside Christopher's soul—a strange, lingering force—was exactly what Felix had hoped for.Christopher was alive but completely unconscious. The remaining energy had no regenerative properties, which meant he'd likely never wake again. For Fe
Felix wasn't the least bit surprised by the Flame Monarch's reaction, but he still feigned confusion. "Flame Monarch, I'm sorry... but I don't understand. What do you mean by soul-related injuries?"Just from that single line, Felix confirmed what he suspected—Aquamarinus had no concept of soul-based matters. Whether it was training methods or anything else, this realm hadn't yet touched that domain.The Flame Monarch stared at him, pressure radiating from his body. Felix immediately felt his limbs start to tremble under the invisible weight."You don't know? Then how could you claim to treat that man's condition?" Felix calmly pointed toward the herbs laid out on the table. "The force inside him is definitely strange. It triggered a memory... I once sensed something very similar, and it came from within that herb. It was purely instinct—when something feels familiar, there's a chance it might work."The Flame Monarch shifted his gaze to the herb, then said flatly, "Start from th
Felix gave him a direct and honest answer. "As long as I have enough herbs. I can treat him. I won't promise a full recovery, but one thing I can guarantee you is that this man won't die."For now, that was the best possible answer anyone could offer.The Flame Monarch replied, "Good. Begin. As long as you can keep him alive, you'll be handsomely rewarded."It seemed the Flame Monarch already knew something and never truly expected anyone to completely cure Christopher. Preserving his life alone would already be a feat."Flame Monarch, please reconsider!" one of the elderly doctors suddenly cut in, seething with resentment. "This boy is barely grown—how could he possibly possess such remarkable skill in medicine?"The Flame Monarch turned and gave him a cold, mocking glance. "If he can't do it, then can you?"The old man went silent. Perhaps fearing the loss of favor or acting out of sheer pride, he hesitated. Eventually, he found the courage to speak again."I admit I can't, bu
The Green King's expression changed instantly, and he turned to Felix in a hurry. "Dr. Zeller, please come with me to greet him.""Of course," Felix replied.For anyone in Aquamarinus, getting the chance to see the Flame Monarch up close was like a once-in-a-lifetime dream, and people would probably die happy just for that. Naturally, Felix put on a show of reverence as well, even if he didn't feel it deep down.As they reached the front gate, Felix saw several figures striding toward them with heavy steps. At the front of the group was a towering man, nearly nine feet tall. Even someone as built as Dave looked like a delicate bystander next to him.What stood out the most was his bright crimson hair, which flared upward like flames, making it look like his head was on fire. His facial features were fairly average, but the power behind his gaze radiated pure, undeniable authority.So, this was the Flame Monarch?Felix studied him closely. He suspected the man had cultivated some
According to the rules set by the Flame Monarch, the position of Minor Kings rotated every five years. Those who made outstanding contributions could keep their titles, but anyone who fell short would have to fight for their place all over again.The Green King knew he wasn't particularly strong—he was painfully aware of that. And with the next year marking the fifth year, the pressure was mounting fast. So when Christopher appeared, it felt like fate. If he could heal this man before the Flame Monarch arrived with his elite doctors, the credit would be immense, and his reappointment would be virtually guaranteed. Anyone who had never held a Minor King title wouldn't understand just how many perks came with it. If they did, no one would give it up willingly."I can treat him," Felix said calmly. "But I can't promise a full recovery."The Green King smiled. "Do your best. Even if you can only keep him alive, that alone is worth it."Two doctors before had said that Christopher's b