Chapter 243: Social Obligations

The professor and the priest spent half a day removing inappropriate elements from the evidence.

In fact, the two held differing views on grinding off the sword emblem from the armor, but Green insisted on doing it and suggested expanding the damage to ensure no one among the heraldists could identify anything.

Before grinding, they cleaned off some rust, sketched the design, and discovered the artifact was far more intricate than imagined.

Besides the central sword shape, it included floral and plant patterns, some pictographic symbols, and geometric base motifs—likely a crest derived from the main sword form.

The specific shape was badly damaged, but traces of leaves, wings, and scales remained; the information was remarkably rich.

According to Green's limited heraldic knowledge, these added symbols were used by collateral branches to distinguish themselves from direct heirs.

Thus, the extra elements suggest the armor's owner was a branch of a branch, possibly even more distantly related.

Considering that era was still close to the founding of the kingdom, when people still followed rules strictly, the heraldry was reliable; Green felt this guess was quite plausible. If it were a multiple-choice question, it could eliminate at least two options.

But even a collateral branch of a collateral branch back then was far closer to the royal family than most people today claiming noble blood.

We should check the Church's records; after all, the Church once had a honeymoon period of cooperation with the royal family—perhaps we can deduce the armor's owner's approximate identity and thus uncover his motive for being here.

Of course, this chance was extremely slim—so slim that completing it could earn someone a research paper as their main work and successfully transition into the promising profession of heraldist, entering noble society.

Researching documents was already exhausting, especially century-old paper records. Sensing the difficulty, Kraft decisively passed the task to Green and left with his spoils.

While Father Green was trying to scare his superiors and emphasize the gravity of the matter, the professor needed to meet with certain people.

People from the Turquoise family.

Obviously, not everyone would accept guests who rudely left mid-feast, wasted a fine horse, performed surgery in their home, and stored corpses there.

But the Xiguo family made an exception, offering the best possible conditions without asking why. The craniotomy patient, now too unstable to move, still lay in the manor, helplessly enduring the doctors' stares, suffering both physically and mentally from a pounding headache.

This gave Kraft great convenience, at the cost of owing many favors.

Even though the other side cleverly mentioned nothing related, that didn't mean he could take it for granted. These debts had to be repaid.

Therefore, it was hard to refuse their offer to supply instruments—both morally and practically. Besides, the plan already required a partner with sufficient production capacity to manufacture instruments in bulk; it was merely a matter of choosing whom.

Now it seemed the Xiguo family naturally occupied that position.

When Kraft returned to the clinic, a slightly overweight gentleman with neatly trimmed mustaches was already waiting, chatting merrily with Doctor Dai Wei.

He couldn't be sure, but in their laughter, he thought he heard the crisp clinking of coins.

Before the mustached gentleman could introduce himself, Dai Wei stood up and introduced him to Kraft: "Professor, this is Mr. Barber, financial officer of the Xiguo family, here to discuss collaboration with us."

"What were you talking about?"

"Hello, Esteemed Professor Kraft, it's an honor to meet you." The man smiled warmly, taking a box from a servant standing behind him and placing it on the table. "I've discovered some promising medicines from Doctor Dai Wei—likely very popular with the right audience."

"And these are some instruments you used yesterday. I heard they felt good, so I brought them over. If you have any special needs, we're happy to handle manufacturing."

Kraft noticed several small bottles on the table—the same ones previously displayed on the shelf, elegantly packaged. He'd never heard Dai Wei mention them once during all that time.

He'd never been well-versed in contemporary pharmacology; out of basic concern for users' rights, he asked curiously, "What are these medicines for?"

"Medicines that help the elderly suffering from declining strength—effective for fatigue, loss of appetite, mental weakness, and certain private ailments."

"Hmm… huh?" Something about it felt off—too many symptoms listed, with a whiff of adding trendy functions; the kind of thing that instantly killed Kraft's interest.

"Alright, I have no authority in internal medicine, so I won't say more." Anyone who ran a clinic this long must know their own limits—ensuring safety, or at least avoiding blame if something went wrong.

"Through our channels, Doctor Dai Wei's medicines will benefit far more patients." Barber stared at Kraft with eager, suggestive eyes.

"If you need anything handled, we're happy to assist."

Last night's banquet was a failure—but it achieved, even surpassed, its original goals.

The craniotomy shocked the cultivators but delighted the hosts; its demonstration exceeded all expectations, making everyone more aware of this new professor's value.

This was a breakthrough to enter the field and leave competitors far behind.

"Yes, I truly need a highly capable partner to produce things ordinary workshops cannot provide." Finally, he heard the one phrase he'd longed to hear from Kraft.

"Including surgical instruments requiring minor adjustments, needles and tubing for artificial pneumothorax treatment of tuberculosis, and… glass apparatuses for anesthesia."

With each item named, Barber's smile grew more unrestrained and sincere—but it wasn't over yet.

"If the quality meets standards, I'll recommend your products to the medical academies in Dunling and Westminster."

The Xiguo family's financial officer pressed his left chest, gasped for breath, and responded at top speed: "A wise choice. Our workshop will not disappoint you."

"I will visit weekly to consult your opinion—I hope this won't trouble you. Also, you may send someone to the manor at any time to find me, Mr. Barber. Even if I cannot decide, I will promptly relay your request to Miss Frances."

"Very well, thank you. I'll provide detailed references later."

"We've prepared a dividend package you'll find satisfactory. The contract is already drafted—would you prefer notarization through the Church or a reputable authority?" Such efficiency clearly meant they had a ready plan, ensuring seamless execution and eliminating uncertainty.

This way of doing business wasn't unpleasant—or rather, such efficiency was rare and valuable in the current era, perfect for someone short on time.

"No rush. I trust the Xiguo family's reputation." Kraft yawned; fatigue, long absent, finally struck. His mind could still hold up, but his body couldn't endure the seamless chain of rain-soaked night, emergency surgery, and long-distance travel.

"Let me rest first. Unless it's a life-or-death emergency, don't knock before dinner—no exceptions, even if dinner is moved earlier."