SSS-Ranked Surgeon In Another World: The Healer Is Actually OP! - Chapter 252: When The Pillars Shift!

Chapter 252: When The Pillars Shift!

Meanwhile, the staff gathered quickly, bowing respectfully as Lucy stepped forward. A man in his late forties spoke up, his clothes neat but worn from long use, posture straight despite exhaustion that sat deep in his eyes.

There was no doubt. He was the leader among them, the one who had held things together in her absence.

“Madam,” he said, voice steady but heavy, “please allow me to report.”

Lucy nodded. “Go ahead.”

The man inhaled, choosing his words carefully. “Madam… things aren’t looking good.”

The sentence alone carried crushing weight.

“One of the mutant beasts, a boar, collapsed earlier today. At first we suspected mana exhaustion, but upon closer inspection…” He hesitated briefly before continuing. “We discovered it was infected by a microscopic mutant parasite.”

Sophie’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“The beast died shortly after,” the man said. “What worries me more is that several of the remaining beasts are showing similar symptoms. Weak mana circulation. Internal agitation. Loss of appetite. Based on my experience…” His jaw tightened. “I suspect the same type of microscopic mutant has already spread to them as well.”

Lucy’s eyes darkened, though her voice remained composed. “Any good news?”

The man swallowed. “The good news,” he said slowly, “is that the relatives who’ve been pestering the company for months… suddenly stopped. Completely. No visits. No messages. Nothing.”

Bruce’s gaze turned cold.

So that’s how it is.

The man lowered his voice. “Madam, if my suspicions are correct, there’s a risk the infection could spread further. Possibly even to handlers who spend extended time near the beasts. The safest option…” His hands clenched. “Is to euthanize the remaining infected beasts and burn the remains with magical flame to ensure the parasites are completely destroyed.”

Silence fell across the compound.

Under normal circumstances, such a decision would mean the immediate collapse of the company. But Lucy didn’t react the way anyone expected. She didn’t argue. She didn’t panic.

She stepped forward instead.

One by one, she observed the beasts in her care, her eyes sharp and experienced. She saw it clearly now. The subtle tremors beneath fur and hide. Unstable mana patterns. Faint discoloration tracing veins that should have glowed steadily with vitality.

The man was right.

But her expression didn’t break.

“There’s a safer method,” Lucy said suddenly.

Everyone froze.

“One that decomposes the host entirely,” she continued calmly, “and eliminates microscopic parasites without exception.”

She turned her head slightly.

“Bruce.”

He understood instantly.

In the next moment, shadows surged.

Ten Shadow Wolves emerged soundlessly, flowing out from darkness like living night. Before anyone could react, they moved. Swift. Precise. Merciless. There was no blood. No panic. No drawn out struggle.

The beasts were devoured cleanly. With perfect beasts like Shadow Wolves who would not take space or any stuff like that, why waste time with such sickly beasts. Even if Bruce decided to heal them while they would be better and loyal, they would take space quickly. They were not like Shadow Wolves that could easily occupy shadows without need for space.

Meanwhile, Bruce activated Life Glance.

Within the devoured remains, he saw them.

Tiny and microscopic.

Faint, writhing life forces clinging parasitically to what little remained of their hosts.

’Found you.’

He activated Heal, using Mirrored Surgeon on the microscopic mutant. It instantly multiplied. Soon the place was filled with multiple loyal microscopic entities ready to defend that entire area against any more microscopic mutant beasts that might get into the area.

A faint tremor rippled through one Shadow Wolf’s stomach as those microscopic beings all surged out.

Barely noticeable. Lucy didn’t see it. The staff didn’t notice. But Sophie did.

Her eyes flicked briefly toward Bruce, sharp and knowing, but she said nothing. After all, she knew he was doing all this to help.

In the same seamless motion, Bruce shifted control, silently anchoring one thousand SS Shadow Wolves into Sophie’s shadow, their presence folding into her like an unseen army awaiting command.

“Mom,” Bruce said calmly, as if nothing extraordinary had just happened, “let’s talk inside.”

Lucy nodded.

They headed toward her personal office while Sophie remained outside, posture relaxed but senses fully alert, eyes tracking every movement as the Shadow Wolves melted back into the ground and the stunned staff slowly began to breathe again.

Inside the office, the door closed softly behind them.

The room fell into a heavy silence.

It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was loaded. The kind of quiet that pressed down on the chest, filled with things left unsaid, with years of strain, sacrifice, and restraint sitting between them.

Bruce exhaled slowly.

He walked a few steps forward, stopping near the window that overlooked the compound grounds. For a moment, he simply stood there, hands in his pockets, eyes unfocused.

Then he spoke.

He said quietly, breaking the silence, “I’ve already made a decision.”

Lucy looked up from the desk, attentive but calm.

“I’m going to fund the Ackerman Transport Company,” Bruce continued. “Forty million gold coins.”

The words landed like a thunderclap.

Lucy froze.

“…What?” she asked, genuinely unsure she’d heard him correctly.

“Forty million,” Bruce repeated, turning to face her now. His tone was steady. Certain. “As starting capital. Use it however you see fit, expansion, manpower, infrastructure, contracts. Whatever you need.”

Lucy stared at him.

For several seconds, she didn’t speak.

Shock flickered across her face first, pure, unfiltered disbelief. Then came hesitation. Then something deeper. Something complicated.

“Bruce…” she began slowly, her voice tightening, “that’s… do you even understand how much money that is?”

“I do,” he replied simply.

She stood up abruptly, pacing once before stopping in front of him.

“Forty million gold coins isn’t something you just decide to give away,” she said, trying to keep her composure. “That kind of money…”

“I can afford it,” Bruce interrupted gently.

Lucy paused.

She looked at him more closely now.

At the calm in his eyes. At the lack of hesitation. At the way he stood, solid, grounded, carrying a weight that went far beyond wealth.

Slowly, realization dawned.

With his rank.

With his strength.

With the kinds of beasts he hunted. The kinds of things he faced.

Earning that amount of gold was no longer unrealistic for him.

It was… natural.