Chapter 228: The Hobby of Archaeology

"Young Lady Frances, good morning." Kraft gave a slight nod, then decided to return the greeting after a moment's thought.

This delay of several seconds made him seem socially inept and slightly rude, like an aging scholar obsessed with academia—dull and haughty in his attitude toward juniors.

Yet the lady of the Turquoise Stone family did not mind, nor did she pretend not to notice; she maintained her earlier familiarity, "You also appear to be the type devoted to scholarship, uninterested in social banquets and trivial etiquette."

"People like this often go further, for a craftsman polishing a gem has no time for anything else."

She said this with a natural, easy expression, making it hard to detect any trace of deliberate flattery.

Beyond social skills, Kraft noticed that she seemed aware of his recent movements at the clinic—yet even the academy had only learned of his thoracostomy treatment for tuberculosis after receiving letters.

The Higo family, or perhaps Frances Galat Higo herself, was likely the kind with sharp instincts, broad and timely sources of information.

"Thank you for the invitation. Understanding the current upper limits of instrument manufacturing is vital, for tool improvement is the foundation of progress." Kraft's gaze darted between the small display tables; perhaps one of them held the instrument he had commissioned, but none bore labels.

"It sounds like you know quite a few people at the academy? I always thought the academy was a rather closed circle."

"Business always requires wide connections. To be honest, once you get to know them, you'll find collaborating with the academy is a good choice—you rarely encounter a truly foolish person."

Frances readjusted her hat, shielding her eyes from the slightly glaring sunlight; beneath the brim adorned with transparent beads, her gaze drifted away from Kraft for a moment.

"Not necessarily. The more intelligent they are, the more they enjoy using clever methods to do foolish things."

"Sorry, though it sounds strange, this… is rather charming." Frances covered her mouth, letting out a soft, tinkling laugh.

If you knew what they'd actually done, it wouldn't be charming at all, Kraft thought.

"If possible, could you introduce me to the Higo family's achievements?"

"Of course, I'd be delighted."

The two walked toward the scattered display tables on the lawn. Away from the center, he soon encountered his first acquaintance here.

Lecturer Viren stood alone beside a table holding several pincer-like metal instruments, holding one up to compare it with his wrist. Seeing it was Kraft, he happily offered the brass pincer.

"Professor Kraft, look at this—they actually modified it as we requested—bent the head, added serrations; this should be far more useful than a simple clamp."

Kraft took it and examined it, surprised to recognize in this object the prototype of the hemostatic clamp he knew.

The head was bent, with small serrations like molar teeth interlocking tightly without gaps—satisfying obsessive-compulsive tendencies while making it easier to grip slippery tissues, such as retracted vascular stumps.

The difference lay in the handle: no locking teeth were present, so once clamped, one still had to hold it, unable to simply release it.

"Filing these small teeth and aligning them properly takes considerable time."

Some industrially mass-produced items become time-consuming and labor-intensive when made entirely by hand, especially when demand is limited and prices unlikely to be attractive.

Yet for an anatomy lecturer, it was hard not to want one.

"If you wish, you may take it—consider it a complimentary trial sample." Frances offered an enticing suggestion; Viren gave only token resistance before accepting the gift and promising to recommend it for academy procurement if it proved useful.

Witnesses saw a brand-new instrument go straight from a display table into the academy's procurement list. It was foreseeable that it would then naturally spread beyond the academy.

And all it required was one banquet invitation and a sample gift.

"Does the Medical College of Dunling University have such substantial funding?" Watching Viren take his new tool to share with colleagues, one couldn't help but feel confused about the academy's financial state.

"Didn't you know? The Royal Medical Advisor is always selected from among the academy's faculty, and the academy's funding originates from there. There are also those who actively support the advancement of medicine—like us—who are willing to provide financial support."

"..."

"If you have requirements for special tools, you may also entrust them to us." Seeing Kraft's interest in their instruments, Frances's true intent surfaced eagerly, "We only need usage evaluations and recommendations within the field."

"The hollow needle you use to treat tuberculosis—Dunling might not find a second place capable of producing or improving it."

"You're quite enthusiastic about medicine," Kraft remarked. This luxury goods family, originating from Turquoise Stone, possessed a rare commercial acumen.

"Of course. Ever since I heard of painless surgery, I've believed surgery's status would undergo a complete transformation—and demand will soon increase further." She confirmed her judgment from Kraft's reaction and seized the opportunity to propose,

"We need a sufficiently professional and authoritative figure to assist. In exchange, you will receive a substantial share of the profits; the contract may be notarized by the Church or whomever you deem suitable."

Imagine—in a few years, or even longer—when the entire kingdom adopts this treatment, and we control a large portion of it, just as white glass was monopolized."

"This would be an unimaginable fortune, sufficient to cover all your future expenses."

Having finished, she paused confidently, awaiting his response, her eyes once again drifting toward the jewelry and trinket displays.

But the response she received was not as favorable as expected; the professor showed little interest in the financial prospects, instead turning his attention to other display tables.

"Sounds promising," Kraft made no commitment, "Let's take a further look."

As long as he hadn't refused, it meant he had considered it. To Frances, this was already a good response.

She cheerfully agreed, her attitude growing even more enthusiastic, guiding her prospective partner onward, "Of course, this is merely a suggestion—I'm confident our craftsmanship will convince you."

The rest of the tour proved that the Higo family's proposal was indeed well-grounded.

Their luxury goods business had accumulated considerable technical expertise, excelling in precise polishing and shaping.

Frances explained how they had crafted various oddly shaped instruments according to specifications—some overly idealistic, appearing high-end but offering little practicality or potential for widespread use, serving merely as showcases for artisanal showmanship.

Yet many items were genuinely striking—such as blunt-tipped scissors and glass tubes, small objects that greatly improved usability.

And Kraft saw what he cared about most.

They were among the few conservative designs: glass measuring containers, and various surgical instruments. The latter were more numerous, with no innovative forms—only made durable and sturdy.

They did not use common copper, but forged steel—material akin to that used for sword blades. Their silvery luster made them stand out among all other instruments.

Their variety was extensive, far exceeding what was needed for routine amputation or debridement, and their slender forms were designed for deep, narrow spaces—closer to Kraft's own needs, optimized for precise operation within limited surgical fields.

Some familiar tools had models that didn't match his memory. Especially those clearly from orthopedics: bone saws, retractors, and distractors—all noticeably oversized for adult males.

"Whose request was this?"

"Ah, these were part of Professor Mo Lisen's order. Due to an accident, delivery could not continue, so they were set aside here." Frances explained, "But they're well-made, aren't they?"

"Mo Lisen…" He picked up a retractor, noticing its clearly elongated and deepened design, the tip curved into a claw-like gripping structure, with a perforation at the end as if meant for attaching ropes or chains to pull.

No description on paper could convey the final product's appearance. Even for an eight-pack-abbed strongman undergoing laparotomy, this was overkill.

"Before coming to Dunling, I very much wanted to meet Professor Mo Lisen. What a pity."

"Regrettable. He is precisely the kind of scholar devoted entirely to academia—like you—so much so that he sometimes neglects family. Fortunately, Lady Laisi understands, and does not blame him for failing to fully fulfill his paternal duties."

"It sounds like you're quite familiar with Professor Mo Lisen?" When Kraft first met Frances, she had been hosted by Mo Lisen's daughter—their relationship had been warm.

"Because of frequent contact, we're at least not strangers. Personally, I'm even closer to Lady Laisi." With her social skills, it was hard for her to have anyone she didn't know.

"Then what do you think… Professor Mo Lisen is like?" Kraft asked tentatively.

"Hm?" Frances rested her chin on her hand, puzzled by this sudden interest in Mo Lisen, but she didn't mind interpreting it as curiosity toward a renowned senior in academia.

If this would pique Kraft's interest, she was happy to share some information beyond the clichés.

"Actually, I think Professor Mo Lisen's life isn't entirely devoid of other interests."

"How so?"

"He really enjoys studying the kingdom's history. I don't know when he started, but it's been years."

"We've sent him some ancient artifacts, but he prefers old books—the older, the better—and even asked us to find items related to the royal court of that era, which was truly difficult. " Speaking of this, Frances's demeanor became indistinguishable from a publicist catering to a client's eccentric demands: "We asked several old noble families before we managed to borrow a few pieces."

She lowered her voice mysteriously, jokingly saying, "I suspect Professor Mo Lisen is especially fond of the Stone Sword tale but is too embarrassed to say so, so he secretly collects these items—even willing to flip through the Sacred Texts to read that passage."

"If Lady Laisi hadn't told me, I never would've believed the professor would voluntarily read the Sacred Texts."

"That's strange." A peculiar feeling arose—the collapse of a beloved legend, replaced by the odd urge to seek corroboration in obscure historical records.

"Indeed, so it's just my guess—don't take it seriously."

As they strolled and chatted, time slipped away unnoticed. The sun baked the air, gathering moisture until it condensed again into clouds.

A summer storm, sudden and fierce, brought the outdoor banquet to an abrupt end; everyone scrambled for shelter under the eaves, complaining about the capricious weather. The male guests, who had spent the afternoon being dragged around to view jewelry, were relieved to finally return to their colleagues and resume conversations they truly cared about.

Night fell.