Rhodes Island does not exist.

"Skadi?" The doctor sensed something subtle.

"Doctor, do you know what day it is tomorrow, and what day it is today?" Skadi bent down slightly, picked at the laces of her boots with her fingertips, loosened them, and then used the friction of her feet against the ground to take them off.

The doctor realized that he might not be able to escape certain things tonight.

"Tomorrow will be the beginning of spring, and I will leave here." She kicked off her second boot, letting her pale and smooth feet touch the ground, revealing a faint red tinge.

"And you must also leave me to do what you have to do, to follow in the footsteps of that woman... the woman whose name I don't really want to mention today."

Skadi stood in front of the Doctor.

The two were so close that they could feel the warmth of each other's breath and smell the delicate fragrance mingling between their hair.

The red in her eyes at that moment made her look like a true hunter.

“Tomorrow…yes, let’s do it tomorrow then.” The doctor didn’t avoid her gaze, even though he tried to look away.

So, what day is it today?

The doctor didn't ask.

He knew that even if he didn't ask, Skadi would inevitably continue talking.

Moreover, he didn't dare to ask.

So Skadi answered, as he wished.

"Today is Valentine's Day, Doctor."

Skadi spoke slowly.

Her voice was as cold as ever.

But that cold tone is merely a layer of floating ice on the surface; beneath the ice lies an inextinguishable fire of sulfur.

Valentine's Day.

This is a holiday that the PhD has never paid attention to.

But now, he has to face it.

“Our first meeting was destined.” Skadi placed her finger on the second button on her chest.

“So I don’t want our second meeting to be a coincidence.” Her knuckles bent, pushing the button out of the gap, opening a tiny chasm.

Do you remember what I said before?

When you need help, just call my name... No matter how far apart we become in the future, as long as you call my name, I will definitely appear.

She spoke softly, as if she could no longer suppress the surging fire beneath the ice.

"What I need to do now."

What I need to do tonight.

"It's about making that statement a reality."

Because the Deep Sea Hunters are connected by blood.

Therefore, as long as our bloodlines are intertwined, I will always be able to find you.

"This is a Valentine's Day gift, please accept it."

The fabric fell to the ground, and the moonlight hid behind the clouds.

Her fingers gently climbed up.

-

Hello everyone, some things have happened in my family recently.

In short, I have returned from the far reaches of the universe.

The sequel to this side story will be placed in a place where it does not exist.

Then comes the customary thank-you segment.

Thank you to the classmate of Iizuka Maru Ryu Virtual Singer Nann Tiannuo Zasui Mu En Zhi Yan Niang Lin Jia Kang Lai You You Bei Lai Wujiaohao Fu Hua for the monthly tickets and blades, thank you.

Chapter 303, 298. Immaculate Tenderness

The doctor is actually quite familiar with seawater.

The Agor people spend their entire lives away from their homeland, a land abundant with seawater.

During his previous travels, the Doctor naturally developed numerous connections with Agor, so his familiarity with the sea was inevitable.

"Doctor? May I ask you a question?"

The doctor was sitting on a tattered sofa, observing the liquid in the bottle, when a familiar voice suddenly reached his ears.

"Ok?"

There was no doubt that the sound came from the ghost shark, but it was strange.

After all, Specter never asks the professor questions; he always waits for answers.

But now, she is clearly expecting some kind of answer from the doctor's side.

At this moment, her identity transformed from a solver to a seeker of knowledge.

The doctor looked at the aloof nun with a hint of curiosity: "What's the problem?"

“You mentioned earlier that you wanted to find a smaller anomaly—cough cough cough, may I ask the reason behind this?” Her blood-red eyes shimmered with light as she gazed at the Doctor with clear eyes.

It seems she really wants to know.

"About this," the doctor thought there was probably no need to hide it, "Do you know that there's a room on the tenth floor that can restore inanimate objects back to life? Or more accurately, the device inside that room."

“Ah, of course.” Ghost Shark nodded. “In fact, that’s why I’m asking you—cough cough, you’re not planning to put that small anomaly into the device while it’s still alive, are you?”

"I did have that idea at first."

The PhD student spoke frankly.

"That……"

“But you said that the weirdo on the sixth floor can communicate and has its own consciousness, so I’ve given up on it for now.” The doctor shrugged. “I wouldn’t do something like that anyway.”

"Wouldn't you?" Ghost Shark countered the doctor's question, her voice slightly weak. "Ahem, if I told you that the anomaly on the sixth floor is the only one whose size is just right to fit into the device, what would you choose?"

"I will choose to ask you." The Doctor looked at Specter, his eyes calm. "You will tell me, right?"

“Of course, it’s my duty… cough.” Her already pale face was now even paler. “So, what do you want to ask? I will answer you to the best of my ability.”

“Then I’ll just ask you directly—what’s wrong with your body?” The doctor got up from the sofa and met Ghost Shark’s red eyes.

"Huh?" Specter was probably taken aback by the Doctor's question and was momentarily stunned.

She had expected the doctor to ask a question that was at least the same as or similar to the previous topic, but she didn't expect him to ask this one.

“This question…” Her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but perhaps due to the influence of Rhodes Island’s rules, she ultimately couldn’t bring herself to speak.

"Is it prohibited?" The doctor smiled wryly. "Even revealing one's physical condition has become prohibited?"

"I'm sorry." Specter bowed deeply to the Doctor, her eyes and face full of apology and helplessness.

But her apology and helplessness could not erase the sickly look on her face.

“Listen, although I don’t know why you look unwell,” the doctor gently placed a hand on Ghost Shark’s shoulder, “you should know that I used to be a doctor, even if I wasn’t licensed.”

“I understand.” Specter looked up at the Doctor.

“I will help you.” The doctor’s tone was sincere. “As long as you are willing to believe in me and rely on me, I will help you. After all, you said you are my guide. In order to repay my reliance on you, I am willing to become your reliance as well.”

"Where did you learn all these... cough cough, sweet talk?" After a short cough, Ghost Shark chuckled twice. "You don't seem like that kind of person."

“I know I’m not,” the doctor said, scratching his head slightly embarrassed. “It’s just that I always want to try saying these lines once.”

“After all, none of the women you’ve dated before were the kind of people who would make you say these things… cough cough.” For some reason, Specter Shark showed an expression that seemed quite understanding.

"You know quite a lot. The so-called guide of Rhodes Island is probably just a facade, right?" The Doctor carefully examined every feature of her. "Pale hair, blood-red eyes, and that familiar scent... You should be a Deepsea Hunter, or you are still a Deepsea Hunter."

"The details are for you to understand yourself," Ghost Shark shook his head.

This means that her identity was also considered part of the prohibited items.

Even if the doctor had already figured it out, she couldn't tell him proactively.

"It's alright, I didn't ask any more questions, since I already know. But I do have another question." The Doctor looked at Specter and slowly began, "Do you... know Skadi?"

Deep-sea hunters are connected by blood.

It's impossible for her not to know Skadi.

It's just a matter of whether she admits it or not.

If she admits it, it means she has also indirectly admitted her identity.

But Ghost Shark said nothing.

"PhD."

She simply put her index finger to her lips, then looked at the doctor and shook her head.

This means there is no answer.

Even though she undoubtedly knew Skadi.

Of course she knew Skadi.

How could she not recognize her?

But the doctor wanted to hear that answer from her.

In fact, the doctor herself understood that the question was meaningless, since the answer was already in her heart whether she answered or not.

But the person in front of him was none other than another deep-sea hunter.

He wanted to hear Skadi's name from this deep-sea hunter, as if doing so would grant him the chance to meet Skadi herself.

That was the long-standing loneliness buried deep within his heart.

This loneliness was awakened by a deep-sea hunter.

"Doctor, although it's not my place to say this... but, cough cough, perhaps you should take a rest." Specter removed the fingers from her lips, extended her hand towards the Doctor's head, and then gently lowered it.

"It's alright, I don't need it." The Doctor let Specter gently stroke his head, his expression gradually relaxing. "I just... saw a shadow of someone else in you. I'm sorry, that's a very low emotional intelligence statement of mine."

“I don’t care, because I am your guide.” Ghost Shark smiled slightly. “Some of the prohibitions we mentioned today, you already know the answers to, while the answers to others… cough cough, you need to discover them yourself.”

"But whether you find out in the end or not, I hope..."

A touch of innocent tenderness shone in her eyes.

"You can always think of me."

-

Hello everyone, I'm back from the endless hell of overtime.

During my long 997 work schedule, I gradually realized something: the harder you work, the more you realize that there is never enough work to do.

So, I'm not going to work—no, I really have to keep going, I'm so sorry.

Getting back to the main topic, the restricted content that I promised to follow the three side stories has been published on a non-existent website. Those who wish to read it can search for my name on the non-existent website, or directly join our reader group [Rhodes Island Labor Reform Committee] to view it. Thank you for your cooperation.

The following is the customary thank-you section.

-

Chapter 304, Part 299: Farewell and Reunion

The doctor rested for about half an hour in the warmth of the ghost shark.

He himself knew that keeping his nerves too tense was not conducive to his actions within Rhodes Island, and that sometimes proper relaxation was more beneficial for future developments.

But what he understood even more clearly was that it wasn't that he didn't want to rest, but that he had nowhere to rest.

Although this was once his final resting place.

There used to be people he could rely on and places where he could rest here, but now there's nothing left.

That is why the ghost shark's gentleness is all the more precious.

Therefore, the doctor couldn't help but think that the Skadi shadow she saw on the Specter might not be such an illusion after all.

After all, in a sense, she and Skadi are perhaps similar—both started out unsettling and later became gentle and tender.