Chapter 315 90. Half-Bad, Not Bad (Combined)
“Our hometown is located on the hillside of Sema Snow Mountain, all the houses are built against the rock wall, so we have been jumping and walking in the cold mountains since we were young, which makes our bodies a bit stronger.”
“Then why not migrate inside or outside Sema Snow Mountain? There are plains below the snow mountain, and the environment inside Sema Snow Mountain seems much better than here.”
The sheepkin Bafi sat on a chair made of stacked boxes behind her, watching as Fisher gently reached out to touch her hard skin. His movements were quite restrained; even the doctors in the Northern Region were a bit clumsy in comparison. For Bafi, who had been working outside for years, there was nothing embarrassing about it—at least, as long as she didn’t look at Fisher’s face.
Even for a sheepkin like her, having the handsome gentleman staring at her body wholeheartedly made her feel shy.
“Ah, it seems indeed that other people have moved away, but not from our village, from other villages. But where to live seems to be a rule set by our ancestors, moving around randomly doesn’t seem good. If it weren’t for my father asking me to go work, I probably would have stayed in the village.”
“I see.”
Fisher was steadily recording information, while behind him, Valentina had completely wrapped herself in thick winter clothing. Her legs were numb, not moving at all, but her body kept shaking, clearly freezing. Heidi Lin, nearby, couldn’t bear to watch but knew the lady’s temperament, so she refrained from advising her, quietly tightening the doors and windows behind her to prevent more cold wind from seeping in.
“It’s not that simple. The subhumans near Sema Snow Mountain have strictly defined distribution areas. Moving towards the area below Bafi’s village leads to the very exclusive Snow Fox Tribe, and venturing into Sema Snow Mountain is very dangerous—every year many outsiders and locals go missing inside. Few races really survive there. As for why there are sheepkin who have migrated, it probably has to do with the avalanche that occurred at Sema Snow Mountain before.”
Even in the freezing cold, Valentina interjected to explain to Fisher after hearing his conversation with Bafi, as Bafi clearly did not understand many things and the background.
“Avalanche?”
“Ah.”
Valentina covered her body, interestingly her legs seemed completely numb; when shaking they moved only from her upper body, making her shivering motions quite amusing.
“It’s said that over a decade ago, a massive avalanche occurred at Sema Snow Mountain, burying many races living inside and around the snow mountain. Unfortunately, I had just been born back then and don’t know the specifics of what happened.”
“I see.”
After Fisher attained a certain understanding of the ecological distribution of subhumans near Sema Snow Mountain, he caught a glimpse of Valentina’s severely shaking body from the corner of his eye and suggested,
“The weather outside is just too cold; why don’t you go down to rest? Don’t worry, I won’t do anything strange to this sheepkin. Besides, your health is already poor, and it wouldn’t be good if something happens.”
Initially, Valentina was a bit swayed by Fisher’s words, but after hearing his last comment, her expression suddenly dropped, and she became unhappy, perfectly embodying the so-called capriciousness of young girls. She simply shook her head and said,
“It’s fine. I can still help you answer some questions you are unclear about. Didn’t I just tell you about Sema Snow Mountain?”
“Then let Heidi Lin go down to get you another piece of clothing.”
Fisher glanced at Heidi Lin behind Valentina; Heidi Lin wholeheartedly agreed and took off her own outer garment to drape over Valentina. Once the clothing was off her, she immediately took a sharp breath, shivering from the cold, and had to quickly cover her body as she ran outside.
“Miss, wear mine first to avoid getting cold. I’ll go grab a piece of clothing and come back! Brr! So cold!”
Valentina, hastily draped in two large pieces of clothing, looked like a large penguin; her white long hair peeked out from the tightly wrapped garments, her frozen rosy cheeks adorably tucked inside. She turned to see Heidi Lin darting away.
But soon, she felt uncomfortable with the loose clothing and shook her head, not expecting that her movement would cause the not-so-securely draped clothing to tumble to the ground.
“Clothing.”
The cold wind rushed in, causing Valentina to tremble once more. She intended to pick up the clothing on the ground, but her legs felt like frozen parts, unable to shift. Biting her teeth, she struggled to bend her upper body down but couldn’t reach the garment at all.
Just as Bafi was about to move, Fisher sighed and walked over to her wheelchair, picked up the piece of clothing, dusted it off, and draped it back over Valentina.
This time, Fisher tied the front knot to prevent it from falling again, then took a step back, satisfied to see Valentina transformed back into her penguin-like appearance.
She met Fisher’s gaze, feeling uncomfortable, shook her head briefly, and after a two-second pause, said somewhat shyly,
“My hair. It’s a bit tight; please help me loosen it.”
“You’re welcome.”
Fisher calmly nodded, finding it a bit amusing as he looked at the bundled-up Valentina in the wheelchair. It was clear that she had previously doubted the usefulness of his research on subhumans, hence arranging for the robust and tall Bafi to appear before him for study.
Yet now, not helping her loosen the tightly bound clothing around her hair was a small punishment for her distrust.
Valentina understood Fisher’s meaning; she lifted her head from the garments to glare at him but inadvertently tugged at her hair, wincing at the pain, her little face scrunched up. Her hands, enclosed by the clothing, tried to reach her head but couldn’t extend her fingers to help untangle the tight clothing.
“Ugh.”
That annoying Nali person!
Valentina angrily touched her head, but she didn’t dare to move even slightly, fearing further pulling at her hair, maintaining her tilted position and ‘menacingly’ staring at Fisher, lacking any trace of real threat, instantly reminding Fisher of the little girl from the orphanage who he bullied to tears.
Back then, relying on his age, he had snuck a piece of the little girl’s malt candy, leading to her crying. Afterward, he not only got a beating from Sister Teresa but was also punished to transcribe the Genesis.
However, unlike his younger self who would not relent while being scolded, the current Fisher did not bully his boss anymore. Instead, he stood in front of her and slowly began to pull away the clothing bound around her head, lifting her restraints.
In an instant, her white long hair erupted like white carnations, but before the strands fell, Fisher had already gently let go, while Valentina gripped her ring tightly, not daring to move, yet in her peripheral vision, she saw Fisher’s long fingers deftly evade her cascading hair.
She pondered for a moment until Fisher’s gaze returned to her and broke her reverie,
“Is it better now?”
“Um, you can continue your research.”
Valentina gently released her hold on the white ring, leaning back in her chair and speaking up.
Fisher nodded, preparing to return to studying Bafi. However, when he turned his head, he spotted Bafi still sitting on the box behind them, not daring to move, having quietly observed the brief exchange. Realizing Fisher was turning back to her, she cleared her throat and extended her right hand, which Fisher had been examining earlier.
“Shall we continue?”
“Alright.”
In fact, the progress in studying subhumans like the sheepkin from the Northern Region was quite fast, similar to when he studied Renee before. Aside from the sorceress’s unique traits, as long as Fisher could recognize that she was not much different from other humans, he could achieve biological research progress.
Interestingly, the sheepkin from the Southern Continent were soft and cuddly, resembling harmless sheep, whereas those from the Northern Region were strong and tall, much like goats or antelopes. However, the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans categorized them as one type, indicating they possess nearly identical racial traits.
Hmm, in other words, this two-meter-tall sheepkin in front of him is very similar to the sheepkin favored by the noblemen of Shivali who enjoy male attraction?
Fisher suddenly realized this, and it led him to recall content from the Soul Supplement Handbook he had seen earlier.
Previously, the Western Continent and the Southern Continent were connected, and it was the grand war involving mythical beings that split them apart. So, is it possible that the sheepkin from the Southern Continent are branches that migrated from the Northern Region?
For a period afterward, Fisher diligently inspected Bafi’s body while contemplating this question. Behind him, Valentina waited for some time but didn’t see Heidi Lin return, so she addressed Fisher,
“Have you finished? I see you’ve been deep in thought about something.”
“Yes, most of the records are complete. I just need to ask a few questions about the sheepkin settlements.”
Valentina tilted her head, watching Fisher writing in his book, and suddenly asked,
“I’m a bit curious. What exactly are you researching these subhumans for? I’ve heard that the Western Continent is not very friendly to them, and that attitude has certainly carried over into academia. Unlike Balzak, who wishes to discover the Frost Parasol Tree to research subhumans for his family, what is it for you?”
“Of course, it’s because of interest.”
Fisher lied with a calm expression, causing Valentina to roll her eyes.
“That’s a lie. Or rather, not entirely true. While you seem to be quite friendly towards subhumans, your research on them clearly carries ulterior motives, whether for their bodies or… chirp!”
As Valentina spoke, she suddenly sneezed uncontrollably. She paused for a second, and her blushing cheeks deepened in color from the cold. Then, she lowered her voice slightly,
“Or perhaps, for some other purpose unknown to me.”
The enormous sheepkin Bafi instinctively moved back at the mention of Fisher’s research being for “bodies,” but for some reason, the man in front of her always gave off a very endearing vibe that made her hesitate to doubt his intentions. She wanted to refute Valentina’s words, but as soon as she remembered that Valentina was her boss, she wisely shut her mouth.
Fisher possessed an enhanced affinity for the Northern Region’s species; he would elevate his affinity with all subhumans besides phoenix types to a certain degree.
Fisher neither confirmed nor denied this. At this moment, he felt the temperature of the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans in his arms gradually rise, seeming to signify that his research progress on the sheepkin had reached a new stage. He looked back at Valentina, who for the first time seemed a bit noisy, and expressionlessly admitted,
“I’m researching them for their bodies.”
Valentina froze at his words, as if wanting to push her wheelchair back a bit, but those chubby hands wrapped in clothing couldn’t reach the joystick beside her. Just as she managed to touch it, the large door behind them suddenly swung open, revealing Heidi Lin carrying two steaming cups.
She had changed into warm clothing, gasping for breath, and then cast a puzzled glance around the room,
“What happened? Why does the atmosphere feel a little off? Oh right, I brought hot tea for you to warm your stomach!”
“Why did you take so long?”
“Oh, me? I made a bit of hot tea. By the way, the captain also asked me to relay a message to the lady, saying that our news of going to Miya has been communicated to the military there. They are currently coming to escort us in. The port in Miya is sealed off at the moment, and without their guidance, we can’t get in. The captain wants to know your opinion.”
Valentina had stopped pushing the joystick; she glanced at Fisher, who had turned back to his research, pursed her lips, and then looked at Heidi Lin to speculate,
“Is it because of that precious ice? The Sardinia Kingdom must know the whereabouts of the precious ice. The dilemma for small countries lies here. If the Sardinia Kingdom obtains the precious ice, they can openly announce their legitimate claim to the Frost Phoenix faith, while Miya cannot. No problem, let them take us into the Miya Kingdom. I’ll go talk to the captain and relay some messages home.”
Valentina cast another glance at Fisher’s back, letting her thoughts simmer for a moment before saying,
“Then Mr. Fisher can continue his research here for now; I’ll head back.”
“Alright.”
Fisher nodded in response. After a second or two, when the door closed, he breathed a sigh of relief and stood up. Suddenly, he heard Heidi Lin’s teasing voice from behind,
“Did the lady trouble you just now?”
“You didn’t leave?”
Previously, Fisher thought Heidi Lin would leave with Valentina but didn’t expect her to stay in the room. He turned to look, and Heidi Lin placed the remaining cup of hot tea into his hands, winking at him.
“I never said I was leaving. Ah, do you mean to say you’ve already categorized both me and the lady as troublesome?”
Fisher took the warm tea she offered but instead handed it to Bafi, who was sitting behind him, causing her to reject it in surprise. For someone like her, a lowly laborer, it was unexpected that this gentleman would directly serve her tea, making her hesitant to accept.
“It’s very cold here. Since you’ve been here for so long, warm yourself up. I’ll be going down for a bit; I don’t feel cold right now.”
“…Thank you.”
Bafi cautiously glanced at the smiling Heidi Lin. After receiving a nod from her, she took the hot tea from Fisher’s hand, sipped a little, and found it much better than she imagined, thus finishing off half the liquid in the cup.
“Mr. Fisher is really gentle. I like you even more now. It’s fine; if you want another cup, I’ll brew it for you. I have lots of this kind of tea. But Mr. Fisher, you still haven’t answered me. Did the lady trouble you earlier?”
“Trouble? What do you mean?”
“Well, for example, arranging Bafi to come and let you study her this morning, to prevent you from touching the subhuman ladies? Or asking you questions while you were working, distracting you? Or being very stubborn and refusing to leave even though it’s freezing cold?”
“…That’s what you said.”
“…”
On Heidi Lin’s smiling face, a series of noticeable veins suddenly appeared, vividly indicating her anger. It was obvious she hit the nail on the head, yet he was too lazy to admit he felt that way.
What a bad man! Do you enjoy peace so much with women you don’t like?
Heidi Lin massaged her temples and sighed,
“Well, you are indeed quite the bad man; no wonder you were wanted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth to this extent, making her yearn for you. But today I’m not saying these things to flirt with you; I’ve given up since the night you rejected me, so you can rest assured, no need to be so defensive.”
Bafi blinked, silently took another sip of tea without daring to say a word.
“Mr. Fisher, you know, if a person is born with a disability, then that painful defect will embed itself deep in their heart like a bone-deep injury, ever-present and impossible to shake off for a lifetime. When they’re far away, like Balzak and Felis, they can’t feel such details. But you are different, Mr. Fisher.”
“Before Helder’s death, he made the lady believe in you. Even if she doesn’t want to admit it, she inadvertently feels a bit of trust for you. For someone like the lady, trust is both a blessing and a curse. Because of her disability, she possesses extraordinary resilience while also having the most sensitive vulnerabilities; because of her disability, she has both overwhelming confidence and the most glaring insecurities.”
“I don’t understand what you wish to gain from earning Lady Valentina’s trust, but as a servant who has accompanied her for a long time, allow me to offer you a piece of advice: once you give her a trustworthy signal, you must persist till the end. Otherwise, take this chance to decisively distance yourself from her.”
Heidi Lin embraced her chest, leaned against the door of the room, and gazed at the snowstorm outside, saying with a hint of sarcasm,
“If you were a pure bad man, I wouldn’t be sharing these with you, because a truly bad man should have jumped into bed with me that night. However, ah, Mr. Fisher, a man who is half-bad and not entirely bad is the worst kind of person, especially for the lady.”
After saying this, silence suddenly enveloped the room. Fisher stared at Heidi Lin’s vacant expression, unsure of what she was thinking, but the next second, Heidi Lin’s calm eyes were instantly covered with a smile, returning to her cheerful appearance.
“Ah, did I say too much? Have you finished your research? Mind if I smoke a cigarette now?”
She brandished the box of Northern Region cigarettes in her hand, and without waiting for Fisher’s response, she struck a match and lit the women’s cigarette she held. The ignited tip rose like a massive flame, engulfing and igniting the tobacco, producing wisps of ethereal white mist, much like the ambiguous meaning of her earlier words.
The research didn’t continue; only mist diffused through the air, accentuating Heidi Lin’s distant expression leaning against the window.
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(The End of This Chapter)
