Chapter 208

Chapter 208

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 208: Bigamy (13)

Brian appeared impeccably dressed in a wrinkle-free gown, with Erica by his side.

“Hey, little brother, how’s your health?”

“I’m more than ready for action, big brother.”

“You’ve lost quite a bit of weight since I last saw you. Why not get checked out at the hospital?”

“I’m fine.”

“Still…”

You should listen when someone is talking.

Of course, this sly fox wasn’t just trying to hospitalize me out of concern – he must have had some ulterior motive.

“You were in the ICU just two days ago. What if something serious happens?”

“Big brother, I know my body best.”

“Don’t be stubborn. What do you think doctors are for?”

“I’m swamped with research. I’ll get a check-up once I finish.”

“You might collapse before then.”

Brian sighed, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“Just stay in the hospital for a week. If the tests show nothing’s wrong, I’ll discharge you immediately.”

“A week?”

“I’ll let you work on your thesis while you’re here.”

“…Well, if you’re going to go that far, big brother.”

I knew if I refused, he’d just keep pestering me. Better to get it over with.

A few hours later, I was admitted for testing.

“This way.”

“This is quite spacious for a general ward.”

“I personally requested this room for you. Nice and clean, isn’t it?”

“Yes, cleaner than I expected.”

So this meant they’d keep me under 24-hour surveillance here. Such touching brotherly love indeed.

After settling into the hospital room, I stacked my research papers on the side table and lay down. This should keep me occupied for the week.

“What’s all this?”

“Just papers.”

“You could view these on a tablet. Why print them out like someone from the Stone Age?”

As Brian reached for the papers, I quickly slapped his hand away, shaking my head.

“Tsk, please don’t touch them, brother.”

“Can’t I just take a quick look?”

“I haven’t even read them yet – you can’t be the first.”

“Why not?”

“How would you feel if someone else touched your girlfriend?”

“…Alright, fine.”

Brian turned away with a resigned expression. The room was fairly crowded – besides me, Sonia, Zelnya, and Rustila were all present.

“Hey, who’s this?”

“Oh, this is Rustila Kersil, a friend of Ceti’s.”

Brian’s brow furrowed as he leaned in to whisper in my ear.

“Little brother, bringing another girl into your room when you’re engaged… you know…”

I glanced at Zelnya, noting her unusually serious expression. After Brian’s meaningful nod, I took the initiative.

“I understand what you’re saying, brother. Don’t worry – I’ll handle everything.”

I quickly checked Rustila’s reaction.

Thank goodness.

Despite her keen hearing – she must have heard our exchange – Rustila remained perfectly composed, her expression unchanged.

By now, she had probably sensed something was off and used her ‘inner eye’ or ‘mind’s eye’ to understand Brian’s true intentions.

Brian presented the results from my previous EEG test.

“Look at this – the readings show your EEG pattern is similar to Descartes’. I believe you’re mentally unstable.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You’ve been to Alcatraz once, so while there might not be any Outer Gods involved, there’s a high chance of Pron accumulation. Left untreated, this could develop into something serious.”

“But I feel fine.”

“How can you say that with these test results?”

“The testing equipment must be faulty.”

“A scientist blaming the equipment…”

“Precisely because I’m a scientist, I question the equipment. Take lasers, for instance – if the timing is off by even one ten-thousandth of a second, they fail. Why would more precise equipment be any different?”

“Ah, fine! I get it!”

Brian sighed, removing his glasses to clean them vigorously with a handkerchief.

“We’ll re-test you with better equipment anyway.”

“Starting when?”

“Well, it’s top-tier equipment, so booking time isn’t easy. I’m not sure when a slot will open up.”

“I’m royal. Doesn’t that come with any privileges?”

“Royal? Where did you pick up that attitude?”

“From Dad.”

“…”

“Actually, I heard it from my wife.”

I glanced at Zelnya with an exaggerated smile. She merely shrugged while Brian rubbed his head.

“Look, you don’t get special treatment just because of who your father is.”

“My spouse says that’s a lie. They say you secretly get priority access. Isn’t that true?”

“No, absolutely not.”

He denied it so earnestly that I pretended to believe him. Some truths in this world are better left unspoken.

Bzzz.

A vibration suddenly broke the silence – not from my phone, but Zelnya’s.

“What is it?”

“Oh, Father wants me to return to the main house immediately. Brother-in-law, would it be alright if I leave now?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Then I’ll excuse myself.”

Zelnya gathered her belongings and departed. The timing was too perfect – she received the message right after I arrived here.

I was beginning to piece things together.

Brian and Jerome were likely conspiring, probably scheming, to bring me into the Adelwein family as a son-in-law.

As if on cue, Brian checked the time and adopted a hurried expression.

“Sorry, little brother. I need to be somewhere else too. I’ll leave Erica with you – she’ll help with anything you need, especially in emergencies.”

“Thanks for the consideration.”

“I’ll be going then.”

Now, only I, Rustila, Sonia, and Erica (aka Unit 1, my personal surveillance camera) remained in the room.

I fixed my gaze on Erica.

“Wha-what is it? Do you need something?”

“Unit 1.”

“My name is Erica, not Unit 1…”

“Have you considered joining our lab?”

“Pardon?”

“We could always use another graphics card.”

Erica was startled, shaking her head vigorously.

“I-I serve Young Master Brian. You have Sonia, don’t you, Young Master Aidel?”

“Unit 2 is currently following me.”

“I’m different. Even if the sky falls, I’m loyal only to Young Master Brian.”

Such loyalty.

Well, unlike Unit 2, she hadn’t experienced betrayal – her 25 years of devotion remained unshaken.

“Fair enough.”

“Thank you for understanding. Is there anything else you need?”

“Hmm, could you just stay quiet?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m going to study now, so please maintain silence.”

Being hospitalized wouldn’t stop my research.

I communicated remotely with the professors while awaiting inspection time. Eventually, Brian returned with my examination schedule.

Rustila observed Brian carefully, feeling a chill from his brief words. She used ‘Inner Eye’ and ‘Mind Eye’ in succession, and what she discovered was troubling.

Brian was someone whose exterior masked his true nature.

While he pretended to support Aidel, he actually harbored more wariness and hatred than anyone else. He might deceive others, but he couldn’t fool Rustila’s eyes.

“His condition isn’t that good. He should spend an extended period recuperating at the Holy Spirit Hospital or a reformation center or perhaps undergo frontal removal surgery.”

Though his tone was kind, his intentions were sinister. He was attempting to diagnose Aidel with a mental illness to strip him of his position as head of the family.

The revelation was both shocking and infuriating.

Though the head position was already decided, such infighting would surely throw the Reinhardt family into chaos. As Aidel’s future wife, Rustila felt compelled to help him.

Just then, her smartwatch vibrated.

It seems like it will take about five days for me to return there.

The message was from Zelnya.

Five days? Why so long? Rustila was secretly pleased at the prospect of having Aidel to herself. However, Zelnya’s next message sobered her quickly.

Take good care of Aidel while I’m gone.

Something felt off. This request from the proud Zelnya, directed at her of all people?

What’s going on? This is sudden.

Didn’t you sense it earlier? His brother is plotting against Aidel. If things go wrong, we could face serious problems.

I did sense it.

Through their various encounters, the two women had come to understand each other well – their personalities, weaknesses, and even what triggered them. When it came to Aidel’s health and safety, they became remarkably united and vigilant.

I’m asking you because of you. I won’t elaborate further. If anything happens, protect Aidel.

Understood.

After sending her brief reply, Rustila contemplated Ire’s previous warning:

If Aidel dies, everything you both did would be meaningless.

She realized the truth in those words. Their personal rivalry could wait until other threats were eliminated. Constant fighting between themselves would accomplish nothing.

This wasn’t the time for petty romantic jealousy. Paradoxically, it was a moment for rivals to become allies.

Another message buzzed through.

If I’m right, the brother-in-law will suggest ‘frontal lobotomy’ to Aidel. It’s an unproven new surgical procedure. You must prevent it if he suggests it.

How?

Use the resonator. If there’s any trace of Descartes or Maxwell Legion Outer Gods, insist on using it. If that’s not possible, at least delay the surgery as long as you can.

After acknowledging the message, Rustila looked up to find Brian explaining his diagnosis to Aidel, having completed several tests.

“The EEG results from our new equipment confirm our previous findings. There’s no alternative now. You should rest at the Holy Spirit Hospital for now; then, we’ll decide about proceeding with the frontal lobotomy.”

“Brother, I keep telling you I’m fine.”

“That’s what many mentally ill patients say. Listen to me – you might feel fine now, but without timely surgery, serious problems will develop later.”

“Will it kill me?”

“Yes.”

“Then I should marry quickly.”

“You can recover first, then take things one step at a time. You’re only in your twenties – why resign yourself to a shortened life?”

Aidel’s forehead creased with concern.

“About this frontal lobectomy – isn’t that brain surgery?”

“How do you know about that?”

“My wife told me.”

“You’ve been misinformed.”

“So you’re saying you can perform a lobectomy without opening the skull?”

Aidel’s voice carried clear irritation.

“One slip of the scalpel after opening my head, and I’ll be reduced to an idiot, unable to complete my thesis. I have four ongoing projects – if even one fails, the professors will hold you responsible.”

“The young master speaks the truth. Any harm to him will make enemies of the entire scientific community.”

Sonia interjected.

Brian grabbed his neck, taking a deep breath to calm them both.

“Everything will be fine. The best surgeons will perform the operation. You’re the head of the Reinhardt family – they won’t dare make any mistakes.”

From the recent exchange, Rustila had confirmed two disturbing facts:

First, the succession process for the Reinhardt family leadership wasn’t truly complete.

Second, Aidel faced the risk of severe brain damage – potentially at his own brother’s hands.

It seemed incomprehensible.

How could brothers…?

Of course, there remained the possibility that Aidel had genuinely been affected by an Outer God.

If that were the case, that entity would need to be eliminated at any cost.

A benevolent Outer God?

Rustila scoffed internally at the notion. Could an Outer God ever truly benefit humanity?

She herself had lost her home planet to one of these beings.

Her thoughts threatened to overwhelm her, but she forced herself to focus on the immediate concern.

“Just a moment.”

I must protect Aidel’s mind at all costs, she thought determinedly.

“What if we tried treating him with a resonator instead of performing a frontal lobotomy?”

Rustila proposed, following Zelnya’s instructions.

“What nonsense is she spouting now?”