Lynn nodded and took out the bill, thinking for a moment before speaking.
"Although this might not be the best time, I still need to discuss this with you. The surgery fee is a total of 300 Skull Coins, but since it's my first time, I'll give you a 20% discount. That comes to 240 Skull Coins, plus a stitching fee, making it 280 coins altogether. Would you mind signing here?"
"Aaahhh—Aaahhh—" The Pig-headed Demon let out a pitiful squeal, on the brink of mental collapse.
"Sew it up! Sew it up!" he trembled.
Lynn nodded, pointing to various threads on the wall. "We offer options: hemp thread, wool thread, cotton thread, iron wire, or steel wire. Each has a different price. Which would you prefer?"
A tear trickled down the demon’s cheek. He muttered, "Hemp thread…"
Lynn nodded, took the hemp thread, and asked, "Do you need anything else—"
"Sew! Just sew!!" he yelled.
Lynn nodded, skillfully picked up his steel needle, flicked the hemp thread, and, biting off the end of the thread, walked over to the Pig-headed Demon.
"Hold still and bear with me for a bit. I'm starting now."
【Sewing Skill Experience +1】 【Sewing Skill Experience +1】 【Sewing Skill Experience +1】
Finally, a few minutes later, Lynn snipped off the end of the thread with scissors and patted the butterfly knot he tied on top. He took out a potion, poured some into his mouth, and sprayed it onto the demon’s wound. Instantly, the stitched flesh began to close up, healing rapidly.
【Ding! You have completed a hidden task. You’ve earned 50 Skull Coins, 50 Surgery Experience, and 50 Diagnosis Experience!】 【Ding! Pig-headed Demon Fear Level +200】 【Ding! Your Reputation in Ghost Alley +10】
Lynn took off his mask, unlocked the handcuffs on the operating table, held the little ghoul baby, and smiled.
"Congratulations, the surgery went very smoothly. You saw it yourself—this was just a routine spirit infestation. Fortunately, you found me, or things could’ve gotten much worse!"
In an instant, Lynn's vision blurred as the Pig-headed Demon, clutching his belly, scrambled off the operating table and bolted toward the door at lightning speed, vowing never to return.
Getting treated here felt like being slaughtered! Just one visit left him with a psychological scar!
...
"Hey! You left your kid behind! This is a potion shop, not a babysitting service!" Lynn chased after him, shouting all the way to the door. But in the darkness, the Pig-headed Demon was nowhere to be seen.
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Sighing, Lynn turned to the shadows and shouted, "If you get a stomach ache again, come on back, and I promise to give you anesthesia next time. Also, come pick up your newborn daughter!"
Silence fell over the bustling darkness as Lynn returned to his shop.
He hurried over to the counter, rummaged through a drawer, and pulled out a small bottle of potent healing potion, pouring it over his right eye. The eyeball he’d gouged out earlier gradually regained its vitality. Though it still hurt, the results were decent.
Rubbing his red, sore eye, he muttered, "Living in this world really keeps you on edge…"
He was willing to gouge out his eye, not because he was ruthless, but because he knew he had access to high-grade potions in the shop—stock left by his teacher, strictly for personal use.
【Ding! Multiple skills are available for upgrade. Your reputation in Ghost Alley has improved. Check your panel for details.】
Startled, Lynn opened his system panel.
* Attribute Value Name Lynn Level 3 Race Human Strength 4 Agility 5 Intelligence 8 Constitution 4 Available Points 4 Skull Coins 250 Reputation 15
BASIC SKILLS
Skill Level & Experience Intermediate Household Skills 909 / 1000 Beginner Potion Making 90 / 100 Intermediate Surgical Skills 203 / 1000 Beginner Knife Skills 26 / 100 Beginner Diagnostic Skills 55 / 100
Description: A slightly twisted apprentice at the Blood Saw Potion Shop. Many patients have experienced a great deal of hostility here, and it seems he's gradually inheriting his teacher’s disturbing style...
Lynn: "..."
What was with that evaluation? Completely uncalled for. Aside from not using anesthesia, he was fully responsible for his patients. This was blatant bias!
Lynn shook his head. But he soon noticed he had leveled up from 2 to 3, with four points to allocate.
Without hesitation, he put all four points into Constitution.
He knew that in this chaotic world, a weak body could be the final straw in life-or-death situations.
"Confirm."
Immediately, a warm energy surged through his body. The exhaustion from the surgery quickly faded, replaced by a surge of strength.
Taking off his shirt, he looked at his abdomen. Within minutes, his once-flat belly now bore the beginnings of a few abdominal muscles.
He marveled at the sensation of having a healthy body.
"Waah—Waah—"
From the counter behind him, the ghostly baby let out a cry. Lynn walked over, cradling the bloody infant. Upon closer inspection, he noticed something concerning.
The baby hadn’t fully developed and was only the size of about four adult fists. Apart from a gaping mouth that looked like a black hole, the rest of its face was smooth, like it was covered in silk.
【Unformed Ghostly Blood Infant】Gender: FemaleLevel: 2
Lynn: "???"
Just a moment ago, this ghostly infant was Level 1, but now it had already risen to Level 2? Could it be rapidly maturing?
Then, a system notification echoed in his mind.
【Ding! Optional Hidden Quest Triggered: Ghostly Infant Transformation. Due to premature birth, the ghostly energy within is rapidly distorting the infant's appearance. The more terrifying it becomes, the greater its malice will be when it awakens.】