The Last Gentleman

[Day 1]

The group of four conducted a basic exploration of the main building of the clinic and the Secret Medicine Tower. Although they hadn’t yet discovered any "remaining secret medicines," they had fully memorized the clinic's layout and architectural structure.

Tomorrow, they plan to conduct a detailed search, inspecting and photographing every room and corner, attempting to uncover any hidden passages or secret rooms that might exist.

At night, The group gathered on the third floor of the main building, choosing a relatively clean apprentice room with intact windows and doors as their resting place during the mission. They even moved two additional beds from the adjacent room, arranging them into bunk beds.

Of course, it wasn’t possible for all four to sleep at the same time. They needed to set up shifts for guarding through the night, as the "False Moon Incident" had also occurred at night. There was a significant chance that the clinic, seemingly safe during the day, might receive some "special guests" at night.

Moreover, survivors hidden in the city's ruins might come up the mountain at night as well.

Knock~ Knock~

Edmund, sitting on the lower bunk, knocked on the edge of the upper bunk.

"William, when the three of us used to operate together, taking turns on night watch became a habit. You don’t need to join the watch this time. Tomorrow’s detailed search will require heavy use of your 'eyes'."

Yi Chen, on the upper bunk, hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

He wouldn’t refuse such an offer. In Yi Chen’s personal philosophy, 'sleep' was crucial. Any lack of sleep would lead to cognitive issues, reduced efficiency, and a series of mistakes that could culminate in severe consequences.

"You still seem to be thinking about the Secret Medicine Tower?"

"Yes..."

What Yi Chen saw in the Secret Medicine Tower made him question the clinic's true nature.

He hadn’t witnessed any gentlemanly behavior, only a desperate, almost mad struggle to survive in the post-apocalyptic world, devoid of any scruples.

Could such actions, which violated gentlemanly principles, lead to mental degradation among the clinic's apprentices and even its powerful doctors?

Edmund’s blonde head slowly appeared over the bunk’s edge, his slightly feather-like blue eyes gazing at Yichen:

"Hmm~ I understand your thoughts.

Since you’re skeptical about the Twilight Clinic and Dr. McCoff, use this chance to investigate thoroughly. Uncover the true nature of the clinic and the truth behind the secret medicine development.

If we find any evidence of wrongdoing, we’ll collect it and report it to the higher-ups through my family connections or Professor Chamberlain on your end."

"Alright."

The clothes made from 'gentleman’s skin' seemed to sense their wearer's need for rest. The "looseness" of the attire automatically adjusted to its maximum, and the outer coat wrapped around the body like a blanket, enhancing warmth.

The fabric's fibers subtly stimulated the subcutaneous nerves, inducing a hypnotic effect that slowed brain activity and facilitated quick sleep.

The raised collar perfectly covered the ears, blocking out unnecessary noise while amplifying any potentially dangerous sounds.

......

Midnight.

When the clock’s hands aligned at the top, the previously hidden moon seemed to part the thick mist with an invisible hand, revealing her bright and full figure to the world—or more specifically, to the hill where the clinic stood. ℞

Moonlight cascaded down...

Whether it was the surrounding forested mountains or the clinic's tiled floors, a thin layer of gray mist began seeping out.

This mist did not disperse with the wind.

It was more like a liquid,

Flowing along the ground,

Creeping up the walls,

And slithering through the pipes.

The once silent, empty clinic seemed to come alive under the moonlight. Lifeless objects stirred from their slumber as the gray mist swirled around them.

Strange noises echoed from the second-floor ward.

It sounded like metal scaffolding repeatedly striking the floor, mixed with the squelching of flesh.

Eventually,

These sounds blended into one… tap, tap! A sharp, crisp high-heeled sound emerged.

It was as if a night-shift nurse, forgetting to change shoes, had begun patrolling the clinic’s corridors.

…

At midnight, the night watchman was Dagobert.

The rest of the team was deep in sleep, enveloped in their protective uniforms to restore their energy.

At this moment,

Yi Chen and Edmund, who shared a bunk bed, both sensed something unusual and woke up immediately.

“What’s going on? Where are the other two?”

In a room meant for four trainees, only the two of them remained.

The door showed no signs of being opened.

Moreover,

Edmund was certain his teammates wouldn’t act alone; something had definitely happened.

“Edmund… the moon has risen!”

Yi Chen’s voice came from the window.

He didn’t look directly at the moon but instead used a piece of broken glass to vaguely reflect part of it.

When Edmund received this information, his face turned grim.

“Could it be? After two full months, the remnants of the ‘False Moon Incident’ have grown stronger in the shadows and can now create a similar ‘moon illusion’ like the pathogenic patients did before?

These entities, which spread disease through the moon as a medium, are active precisely at night.

Does the clinic and the surrounding district only reveal their true nature at midnight?”

Yi Chen nodded and added, “The disappearance of Dagobert and Juliana is likely connected to the moon’s appearance… Considering the worst-case scenario, we need to find them quickly.”

“That’s not a big worry for now.

As long as they’re together, they’ll be fine. Their strength isn’t inferior to mine, and they can hold out for a while in good condition.

Right now, we need to assess our own situation and evaluate the risks within the clinic…”

Before he could finish,

The ground and walls of the room began oozing gray mist,

And at the same time,

Their uniforms started to tremble slightly, resisting the mist’s intrusion.

This sudden development shocked Edmund, and he unconsciously muttered a technical term,

“Gray-Erosion… Impossible!?”

“Gray-Erosion…” Yi Chen recalled the term from their pathology class.

Professor Zed had once given a detailed lecture on it:

“Gray-Erosion is a precursor to an area transforming into a ‘Gray Zone.’ The pervasive gray mist is a special pathogenic medium.

Under its influence, all materials undergo mutations—even the desks we use in class could become infected.

At your current level, exploring a Gray Zone is far too dangerous. Even the pre-formation Gray-Erosion phase is extremely hazardous. If you encounter it, avoid contact if possible.

If you’re confident in your strength, you might try venturing into a Gray-Erosion zone for fun.”

Tap, tap!

At that moment,

The sharp sound of high heels echoed outside the door, interrupting Yi Chen’s thoughts.