Three months later, in Dottore's log cabin.
Steam rose from the stove as Dottore, wearing the apron Sally had often used, busied himself brewing medicinal potion.
On the floor of the cabin lay a thin infant, his sunken eyes lifeless and vacant as he stared at the ceiling.
Distinctly visible on the baby's chest were the outlines of three hearts, pulsing faintly.
"Teach, Jorna, Bella, don't worry. Daddy's almost done with the medicine. Once you drink it, you'll get better," Dottore cooed gently, his voice brimming with paternal warmth.
Yet even as he spoke, his tall body trembled uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face and dripping into the pot.
The cabin door suddenly creaked open, and Hiruluk burst in, panting heavily.
"Huff... huff... Dottore! Amazing news—come with me to Kureha's place! Now!"
Dottore stiffened, hastily dropping the ladle.
He turned around, revealing a haggard face covered in stubble.
"What news? Hiruluk, could it be...?"
His lean body shook violently as if he'd guessed something.
Hiriluk glanced at the infant on the ground and smiled.
"There's a mysterious research institution that heard about your child's condition. They said they have a way to cure him. Come with me quickly to find Dr. Kureha!"
"R-really? I... I... Okay, I'll go right now, I'll go right now."
Dottore's lifeless eyes suddenly burned with fervent light as he hastily wrapped the child in a blanket and rushed out of the wooden cabin after Hiriluk, not even bothering to close the door.
Along the way, he carried the child and ran even faster than Hiriluk, who had nothing in his hands.
Finally, they arrived at the cabin at the foot of the snow-capped mountain.
This was Dr. Kureha's residence, where she had lived for decades.
According to Hiriluk, she recently planned to move to the mountaintop, where there was an ancient castle from centuries ago—a much quieter place.
Dottore burst into the house and saw Dr. Kureha speaking with a tall man entirely shrouded in a black robe.
"D-Dr. Kureha!"
Dottore called out urgently.
The tall man raised his head, revealing only two cold, eerie eyes that seemed capable of seeing through a person's body.
Dottore instantly felt a chill down his spine, as if he had been completely exposed.
The man walked up to Dottore and looked down at the infant in his arms.
After a moment, he spoke in a grating voice, like a rusted old telegraph machine.
"Three hearts, three souls, one body. An excellent research specimen."
Dottore's face paled, and he instinctively clutched his child tighter, eyeing the black-robed man warily.
"Research specimen? Who are you? What do you want with my child? Dr. Kureha!"
Dr. Kureha sighed. "They're from a research institution in the North Blue. They have a strong interest in studying peculiar phenomena in the world. Your child's condition is unique and has caught their attention. So, they sent someone here. If you agree, he will take you to the North Blue. With their technological capabilities, they can absolutely restore your child's health. However, they have one condition."
"What condition?" Dottore asked urgently.
"During the treatment, you must not disclose anything about this research institution. Moreover, both you and your child will have to live within the institution's grounds. Your child will serve as their research specimen, undergoing certain drug trials or biological studies."
Dottore's face twisted in intense conflict.
He opened his mouth, then looked at the black-robed man.
"Ten days," the man said flatly, staring at the child in Dottore's arms.
"Your child urgently needs energy replenishment. With so many hearts, his energy consumption is too high, and you can't help him. At most, he has ten days left before he dies."
The man's words struck Dottore like a hammer to the skull, leaving him dazed.
"Come with me to the North Blue. Within a month, your child will be cured. In exchange, you will remain within the research facility forever, never permitted to leave. Your child will serve as the institution's specimen and, if necessary, will be compelled to undergo various experiments. As for you—you're a decent doctor. You may join the institution as a junior researcher."
The black-robed man's tone was utterly devoid of inflection, sounding completely emotionless.
Like a machine, Dottore struggled for a long time, looking at the hollow-eyed child in his arms, before finally making up his mind.
Gritting his teeth, he said, "I agree. Please take us to the North Blue immediately and cure my child. I'm willing to work for you!"
Upon hearing this, the black-clad man directly opened the door of the wooden cabin and strode out without even saying goodbye to Kureha.
Dottore turned to look at Dr. Kureha and Hiriluk, nodding at them.
"Thank you for your care, Dr. Kureha, Hiriluk. I will never forget you! Farewell."
Dr. Kureha and Hiriluk stood before the wooden cabin, watching as Dottore followed closely behind the black-clad figure, step by step, until they disappeared into the swirling snowstorm.
"Ah, what a pity. If only I had found my panacea, Dottore wouldn't have had to go to the North Blue," Hiriluk sighed.
Dr. Kureha raised her head to gaze at the towering, chimney-like snow-capped mountain and murmured.
"I'm moving to the castle. There's too much suffering in this world—it'll give me wrinkles."
...
Half a month later, on an island in the North Blue, within an expansive research facility.
"Wonderful, simply wonderful! Mr. Judge, thank you, thank you for saving my child!"
Dottore stared at the plump, fair-skinned infant lying on the hospital bed, scarcely believing his eyes.
This baby, with his large, dark eyes, was actually Teach—the same Teach who had been on the brink of death just days ago when he was brought here.
If not for the distinct birthmark on the thigh and the three slightly protruding hearts in the baby's chest, Dottore would never have believed it.
Standing before him was a tall young man with long golden hair, wearing black-framed glasses that gave him a scholarly air.
The youth was handsome and well-mannered, exuding the grace and composure of a noble young master.
Despite being only sixteen years old, he was already a senior researcher at this institution, second in rank only to a handful of top-tier researchers.
His name was Vinsmoke Judge, a descendant of the legendary family said to have once ruled the North Blue.
When Dottore first entered this mysterious research facility, it was this very youth who had received him.
"Heh, it's no trouble at all, Dottore. Your child... is extraordinarily gifted, you know?"
-----------------------------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator