But looking at the hand, one would feel that a corpse lay on the bed, exuding a deathly stillness so distinct from the living.
"Pharmacist Carl," Lula tried to keep her emotions steady, but her voice still trembled slightly as she gestured, "Please take a look at this patient's condition."
A patient? Who could it be? With some guesses already in mind, Carl's face remained expressionless as he sat on the stool beside the bed.
Then he reached out and grasped the protruding arm. Diagnostic Spell! Hmm?
A grim, icy, deep, and terrifying aura quietly emerged, causing Carl's expression to change drastically. He instinctively released his grip.
"..." Carl's face was grave as he slowly shook his head. "I've never encountered a situation . Miss Lula, you should find a more skilled practitioner for diagnosis."
"Ah?" Lula's eyes dimmed with disappointment, though it was not unexpected. She nodded. "Thank you for your efforts, Pharmacist Carl."
"Carl," Susan said urgently, "what exactly is the situation? Miss Lula has already consulted doctors, but they've found no clues."
"This..." Carl hesitated for a moment before saying, "I can't be certain, but it seems the patient might be afflicted with the water plague, only far more severe. Yes, it appears so."
"Water plague?" Susan frowned. "Only commoners get infected with the water plague. Knights are immune to it, let alone... this person."
"Yes, theoretically, that's true," Carl was equally puzzled. "In any case, it's unfortunate, but I'm unable to assist with this matter."
"It's all right." Lula forced a smile. "Susan, please escort Pharmacist Carl out."
"Yes," Susan complied.
After Carl departed, the room felt empty. Lula swayed, almost collapsing to the floor.
"Enough of your weakness!" an icy voice rang out. Accompanied by heavy footsteps, a tall woman wielding a wooden staff approached.
"Your father isn't dead yet. Even if he were, do you think crying would bring him back to life?"
"Mo... Mother." Lula took a deep breath, holding back the tears in her eyes, and nodded in response, "Yes."
"Water plague?" The newcomer pulled back the curtain, revealing the silent figure on the bed. A flicker of barely noticeable sorrow crossed her eyes. "How could it be water plague?"
The patient on the bed was none other than the head of the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce, Zimorman, known as the Dragon King of the Endless Sea. The woman who had drawn back the curtain was his wife, Emma, a Great Knight with wood elf bloodline.
"Mother," Lula's voice trembled, "I asked Uncle Crow. During his last voyage, Father's ship once fell into an endless vortex."
"Afterward, the merchant ship managed to escape, but Father's mental state became somewhat odd. Some say they heard him talking in his sleep, muttering things like, 'Evil God, get away! I want to go back!'"
"Evil God?" Emma's facial muscles twitched slightly. "Are there really such things as Evil Gods? We must not let anyone else know about this, especially the two vice presidents. The news must be kept secret!"
"Yes." Lula's expression hardened. Suddenly, Zimorman, on the bed, started trembling and convulsing wildly, froth forming at his mouth.
"Father!" Lula rushed forward.
GURGLE... SPURT... Zimorman's tightly closed eyes snapped open as he spewed a jet of water from his mouth.
Following that, small squid, crabs, fish, and shrimp started flooding out, covering the floor in no time. The creatures spewed from his mouth were still alive, squirming and scuttling about.
GURGLE... Zimorman glared at the two women, growling in a muffled tone, "Leave... go... Freedom Port..."
GURGLE... Countless sea creatures kept spewing from his mouth, yet his stomach showed no sign of deflating, as if it hid another dimension within. The scene was eerily terrifying.
Before long, the room's floor was completely covered with these creatures. A fishy stench began to permeate the air.
"Leave?" Gazing at her husband, who was convulsing uncontrollably, Emma's eyes showed a trace of sorrow. She closed them and took a deep breath. "If we leave here, where can we go?"
"To the dead city of Lord Mevia? My love, when will you understand? Ever since this world lost Divine protection, we... all of us... have had no escape."