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OP Doctor - Ch 225
🕑 Added 2025-05-16 16:01:24 +0000 UTCChapter 225: War Correspondent - Marco
At this moment, Hancock was completely smitten.
From her perspective, Vir was practically a saint. He didnât scorn her past as a Celestial Dragon slave. He wasnât swayed by her breathtaking beauty. And he was always protecting her in his own way, helping her through everything.
How could she not fall for him?
How could she not want to be with him?
Right now, as Hancock gazed at Vir, all she felt was overwhelming shyness. Here they were, on this bed, with so many people just outside. To others, didnât it look like she already belonged to him?
'This is moving too fast~ This empress... This empress still wants to experience romance properly...'
âV-Vir...â she stammered, her voice soft and hesitant. âCan we... slow down a bit? Isnât this too fast? I-Iâm not quite used to this...â
Her delicate, flustered tone was so tender it could melt anyone. Too shy to even meet Virâs eyes, she tilted her head slightly, glancing to the side. That dainty, vulnerable demeanorâwho could resist it?
Vir, meanwhile, was utterly dumbfounded.
What just happened?
What the hell was going on here?
What heinous crime had he committed now?
Slow down? Too fast? Not used to it?
WTF!?
Sure, he knew she was probably spiraling into some romantic fantasy in her head again. If it was Hancock, her imagination was running at full sail. But saying it like that? Her choice of words was a disaster!
One wrong move, and heâd be facing a "justice"! Rayleigh would have him audited on the spot. Was this the power of an overimaginative mind? Her brain was a whirlwind of self-made drama!
Virâs worries werenât unfounded. Outside, Rayleigh and the others had caught Hancockâs faint but suggestive words. Everyone froze, faces stiffening, before slowly turning to Rayleigh.
Is this what you meant by âcompletely confidentâ?!
Do you hear the kind of scandalous things being said?
What kind of âtreatmentâ could make someone speak in such a bashful tone? That didnât sound like healing at all!
âOld man...â Marco said, brow furrowed. âCare to explain this?â
At this point, the duoâs discussion was the only thing keeping the group from losing it. Marco hadnât entirely lost faith in Virâhis admiration for the guy was still fresh. He wasnât ready to jump to conclusions just yet.
Rayleigh, on the other hand? He was already sweating bullets after hearing Hancockâs words. A thin sheen of perspiration glistened on his forehead. Despite the panic screaming in his chest, he forced a calm facade.
âNo worries, everyone, no worries.â Rayleigh said, voice steady as he could manage. âThis must mean Hancock recognized Vir. Thatâs all! He hasnât stopped the treatment, so everythingâs fine.â
Hearing this, Marco was the first to snap.
âYeah! Obviously she recognized him! But the problem isâthe way she called his name just now, that toneâdoes that sound normal to you?!â
âAnd âhasnât stopped the treatmentâ? No kidding! Whoâd stop with that going on? Would you stop? Youâd keep going till the ship sank!â
Marcoâs razor-sharp words hit like a Sea Kingâs tail. Rayleigh was sweating buckets now, drenched like heâd been caught in a storm.
'Oh no. This isnât actually going south, is it?'
'This Old man is starting to panic here!'
'Was that kid really a beast? Was that âantidoteâ even legit? Why else would Hancock sound like that? It was completely out of character for her!'
âRayleigh-sanâ Marco pressed, like a war correspondent on the front lines. âIâd love to hear your take on âslow down,â âtoo fast,â and ânot used to it.ââ
He even conjured a microphone-shaped flame with his Phoenix powers, shoving it right under Rayleighâs chin with dramatic flair.
After a moment of composing himself, Rayleigh wiped his brow and once again feigned calm.
âWell, that's... easy to explain.â
âYou all know how Vir's treatments are. Extremely rough! So it's only natural Hancock would feel a little... unaccustomed. Yes, unaccustomed.â
Hearing this, even Marco couldn't help but want applaud.
'Bravo!'
'Well said!'
'Spoken like a true survivor.'
'Youâve clearly been on the receiving end of Virâs treatment before.'
'Most old-timers would be cursing out reckless youngsters by now, but you? '
'Youâre out here covering for him!'
'You didnât just let him near your daughter, you practically gift-wrapped her for him!'
'Amazing. Standing ovation, please!'
Their exchange made Robin frown as well.
But the moment she recalled Vir's usual behavior, her worries quickly faded.
Worried about Vir doing something improper inside?
You might as well worry about the world exploding today...
Meanwhile, back inside...
Vir's eyes lit up as he heard the system notification chime in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Youâve earned 30,000 negative points!]
Thirty thousand!
Though a small amount...
This was just the beginning!
The treatment hadn't even started yet!
Just Rayleigh and Marco's voices reaching Hancock's ears had already netted him 30,000 points.
If this kept up, once the real treatment began, wouldn't the points skyrocket?
But Vir knew he had to play it safe.
Anything he said, she might instantly misinterpret.
Every extra sentence was a potential disaster.
He had to keep the situation exactly as it was.
No need to shoot for a higher payout and risk blowing it all up.
The problem was, he could never predict what Hancock was thinking.
So better to play it safe.
Still, he had to explain the treatment process to Hancock.
Leaning down slightly to keep his voice low (he couldnât let the others overhear and ruin the plan), he whispered.
But the moment he leaned in, Hancockâs brain short-circuited.
Her head practically steamed, her eyes turning into dazed, adorable orbs.
Her breathing quickened to a frantic pace.
'Whatâs he doing?'
'Is he... is he going to kiss me?'
'After I just told him to slow down, heâs speeding up instead?'
'Is he afraid Iâll run away? As if I, the Pirate Empress, would ever run!'
'No, waitâwhat do I do? Heâs getting closer! Should I close my eyes?'
Without thinking, Hancock squeezed her eyes shut, her lashes trembling like Rayleighâs grandma with a bad case of Parkinsonâs.
Vir: ...Huh?
What theâ?!
Outside, Marcoâs voice cut through again. âRayleigh-san, her breathingâs getting louder. Whatâs your excuse now?â
He shoved the flame-mic back in Rayleighâs face, expression deadpan.
Rayleigh had nothing left to say.
All he could do was wipe his sweat with a handkerchief like his life depended on it.
At this moment... a new Sweat King was crowned.
