After asking for Chief Reed's address, Hastur left. Once home, he instructed Butler Neil to arrange for a doctor to visit and see if they could help.
------------------------
18 Louis Street, Cherwood Borough.
Inside a row house whose exterior had been battered by wind and rain over the years, its walls faintly blackened.
Sheriff Reed was squatting at the doorway, head bowed, gloomily smoking. Scattered across the ground were seven or eight half-smoked cigarette butts.
When the number of butts on the ground reached over a dozen, faint sounds finally came from the room.
Sheriff Reed immediately stubbed out the cigarette he had just lit, stood up, wiped his hands on his clothes, and looked toward the doctor who stepped out.
Suppressing his anxiety, he forced his voice into calmness as he asked, "Doctor Beard, how is my wife?"
Doctor Beard closed the door, shook his head slightly, and sighed. "The fetus's condition inside the mother is very unfavorable. She must be taken to the hospital for surgery as soon as possible. At this point, it depends on what choice you make."
Sheriff Reed's head felt heavy, his throat dry and hoarse. "What choice?"
"To save the child, or to save the mother."
"..."
Sheriff Reed's face turned pale. His lips moved a few times before he finally said, after a long pause, "Is there no other way?"
"This is the best possible scenario. With your wife's current condition, it's very likely that neither can be saved."
"..."
His face turned even paler. He clearly wanted to say many things, but what came out in the end was only, "I'll discuss it with my wife."
"You must decide quickly. Don't delay the operation."
"Alright, thank you, Doctor Beard."
Sheriff Reed forced a smile. "And also thank Baron Campbell for his kindness."
"I will."
Doctor Beard did not stay long. After leaving some medicine, he departed.
Sheriff Reed stared at the closed door, wanting to step forward, yet feeling as if his body bore the weight of a thousand pounds.
He leaned against the wall, his strength drained, slumping helplessly to the ground without regard for his appearance.
After a long while, he spat on the ground, cursed bitterly, rubbed his face and the corners of his eyes with both hands, then stood up, straightened his clothes, and slowly opened the door to go inside.
...
In the hall, on the sofa, Hastur listened to Doctor Beard's account and asked, "There really is no other treatment?"
"Very difficult. With the current state of medicine, saving even one requires immense luck."
"And with enough luck, both lives could be saved?"
"The probability is very low, unless the Mother Goddess herself bestows her blessing."
"I believe the Mother Goddess would not stand by and watch a newborn life perish."
"Does Baron also follow the Mother Goddess?"
"No, my faith is in the Evernight Goddess."
Doctor Beard left in disappointment.
"Enough luck, huh."
Hastur pondered whether to intervene. After all, he had already sent a doctor; he couldn't just stop halfway.
Luck was actually simple enough, he could borrow some from Will. But to trouble a Sequence 1 Snake of Mercury for something like this… it felt far too absurd.
Better to ask Glaint about his recent work. Maybe he had some medicine that could help.
He could also go to Sheriff Reed's house himself and establish a rule. That would count as doing his part.
Besides, he also wanted to ask Glaint about the mosquito repellent powder research.
...
At Glaint's house.
To study medicine, Glaint had built a basement in his backyard.
According to him, research had to be underground to feel properly mysterious.
When Hastur entered, Glaint was still busy with bottles and jars, keeping an eye on a cauldron of bubbling liquid, spinning like a top.
Standing behind him, Hastur quietly watched for a while. Only when Glaint paused did he speak: "Glaint, what new thing have you been working on lately?"
"Hastur, you're here. Wait a moment, let me finish this adjustment."
Without even looking up, Glaint continued fiddling with his instruments. After ten minutes or so, he finally finished today's experiment.
After washing his hands and face, he said happily, "Hastur, I feel so much better lately, as if I've broken through a bottleneck. Do you think I've fully digested the Apothecary potion?"
"You should know that better than I do."
"Then yes, I've digested it fully, I had the exact sensation you once described."
Hastur smiled. "Congratulations, you're ready to advance to Sequence 8."
Glaint was equally delighted, waving his arms. "I've already gathered the Beyonder materials for the Sequence 8 Beast Tamer. After a few days' rest, I'll attempt the advancement."
Hastur offered his congratulations.
At this speed, his occasional guidance had clearly paid off.
"By the way, Hastur, why have you come today?"
After his excitement, Glaint asked Hastur's purpose.
"It's about the mosquito repellent powder business, and also a medical case."
"The repellent's formula is simple. I even followed your suggestion to add some fragrance. Once we gather workers, production can begin quickly."
Glaint handed over the improved formula, then asked about Sheriff Reed's wife.
After listening, he frowned. "Using one's Beyonder abilities to help others… Hastur, I suddenly feel the greatness of life."
Hastur replied with meaning, "Perhaps that is your Beyonder path."
At the peak of the Apothecary pathway stood Lilith, the Blood Queen, none other than the Earth Mother.
It was natural for the path to influence him this way.
"Maybe it's just my imagination. I don't really have that much time to help others."
He gave himself an acceptable excuse.
"I do have a medicine that nourishes weakness in the body. Ahem… it was an accidental by-product. You understand."
Looking embarrassed, he quickly explained: "My health is excellent, absolutely no problem. I'm just interested in this field, that's all."
"Glaint, I've always believed you."
Believed that your body really is weak, Hastur added silently in his mind.
"This medicine was brewed from many precious ingredients. It's highly nourishing, suitable for both men and women."
Glaint chuckled. "Hastur, want to try one too?"
"I'm not like you, Glaint."
"..."
Glaint blushed slightly, explaining again that his body was perfectly fine.
"Can pregnant women take it?"
"Of course. I blended it carefully. Even gave it to two doctors I know, they both said it works well."
Hastur believed him. Medicines made by Pharmacists were far more effective than ordinary drugs.
Given Mrs. Reed's condition, taking this to nourish her first, then having surgery, would greatly increase the success rate.
Combined with a rule he could set, safety should be assured.
Hastur didn't linger. Taking along one of Glaint's doctors, he went to Sheriff Reed's home.
This doctor had also used Glaint's medicine and could judge the situation more precisely.
Seeing them, Sheriff Reed's eyes turned red with gratitude as he welcomed them.
"Everything will be fine."
Hastur comforted him, then quietly laid down a rule:
Mother and child will be safe, without incident.
He also bestowed a blessing:
The mother shall rejoice at her child's birth, and the child shall be joyful to come into this world.
Though he was only half a Beyonder on the Fate pathway, his blessing should still add a touch of luck.
Not as powerful as Will's blessing, but enough to make a difference.
Soon, the doctor came out of the room and said the situation was not serious. She could take Glaint's medicine for a few days to recover, then undergo surgery at the hospital. The likelihood of both mother and child surviving was high.
"Doctor, are, are you certain?"
After repeated reassurances, Sheriff Reed's eyes brimmed with tears. He could hardly believe the good news.
This morning, everything had seemed so bleak. Doctor Beard's ultimatum, to save mother or child, had plunged him into a cold hell.
But now, in an instant, he had been lifted from hell to heaven.
The joy of it was beyond words.
All of this was thanks to Baron Campbell!
It was he who had helped turn despair into hope.
Reed was deeply grateful that he had once taken Baron Campbell's case and protected him successfully.
"Take good care of your wife. Believe that a miracle will come upon them."
Hastur did not stay long. With the doctor, he departed under Sheriff Reed's deeply grateful gaze.
Alone at last, Sheriff Reed could no longer contain his emotions. He leaned against the doorway wall, wept.
After a while, he straightened his clothes and walked firmly into the room.