Just as Mrs. Ryan was about to help clear away some clutter, Glen stopped her with a smile.
"You're pregnant, madam. You should rest and not strain yourself with this," he said softly.
Mrs. Ryan's eyes widened in surprise, and she gasped, "How did you know? I just found out myself!"
"I have some medical knowledge, so I can tell," Glen replied, continuing with his work.
With his keen senses and some basic medical knowledge he had learned in the past, it wasn't difficult for Glen to notice signs of pregnancy.
"That's amazing!" Mrs. Ryan marveled.
By the way, I think I heard someone coughing just now... Is that your husband? Is he ill?" Glen asked as he measured the door frame, his eyes still sharp.
Mrs. Ryan's face changed to one of concern, and she lowered her voice. "Yes, my husband works at the constabulary. He was injured during a mission yesterday, and since then, he's been terribly weak. No doctor has been able to figure out what's wrong."
Having finished measuring the door frame, Glen hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Would it be alright if I take a look? I know a bit of medicine, and I might be able to help."
"Really!?" Mrs. Ryan looked at him with hope in her eyes.
She had been desperate to find a solution to her husband's mysterious illness, even considering taking him to the main hospital in the capital. But the cost would be high, and she had no guarantee of success. Glen's willingness to help, however, gave her a glimmer of hope, even if she didn't hold out much expectation.
"I can only try. Don't get your hopes up too high, madam," Glen said with a faint smile.
"That's already enough. Thank you so much, kind boy."
Following Mrs. Ryan, Glen entered the upstairs bedroom, where he saw Officer Daughtry, the mustachioed officer he had met once before.
The officer was lying on the bed, coughing intermittently.
When the door opened, Daughtry initially thought it was his wife entering, but upon seeing Glen, he froze.
"It's him?" Daughtry said, surprised. "Aren't you the butcher? Why are you here as a carpenter?"
"Do you two know each other?" Mrs. Ryan asked, looking puzzled.
Daughtry nodded slightly. "We met during a case once."
Mrs. Ryan understood now.
Glen scratched his head. "I know a bit of everything, so..." He shrugged, and Daughtry understood the meaning behind his words.
"Having many skills does make it easier to earn a living, but it's a lot of work."
"Tell me about it," Glen agreed.
They exchanged casual words before Glen shifted the conversation back to the task at hand.
"I heard that you've been feeling unwell. I've got some medical knowledge. If you don't mind, I'd like to take a look."
"People call me Chief Daughtry, but my team just calls me Captain."
"Alright, Chief Daughtry. May I examine you?" Glen asked carefully.
"Of course, you're doing me a favor. How could I refuse?" Daughtry replied, his voice weak but appreciative.
Glen moved forward and gently grasped Daughtry's wrist, assuming the demeanor of a seasoned doctor. The couple observed with growing intrigue, both impressed by Glen's confident manner.
In truth, Glen didn't have profound medical expertise. He knew only the basics, mostly learned from his time in the military. But something about Daughtry's condition piqued his interest. His wolf-like senses had detected something unusual, and he felt compelled to act.
Without anyone noticing, his index finger extended slightly, resembling a claw, and he lightly pricked Daughtry's skin.
Controlled by Glen's mastery, the wolf venom coursed into Daughtry's bloodstream, searching for any irregularities.
Though Daughtry felt a mild tingling sensation, he didn't realize anything unusual was happening. The sensation in his wrist was slightly numbing, but he didn't think much of it.
As the venom traveled toward his heart, Glen's eyes narrowed.
He had found it.
A foreign energy was building up around Daughtry's heart, silently draining his vitality. It was like something was siphoning away his life force.
Glen experimented, using the venom to surround this energy, and he was able to draw it out.
With a sense of relief, he turned to Daughtry, a satisfied smile on his face. "I've found the cause of your illness."
"Really!?" Mrs. Ryan and Daughtry both exclaimed in unison.
Glen nodded. "Now, I'll use a technique I learned to treat you."
He raised his hand and formed a "sword" with his fingers. With one swift motion, he tapped several points on Daughtry's chest, while simultaneously releasing the purple mist he had been concealing in his palm.
Daughtry felt an unfamiliar surge of energy through his body. The weakness, chest tightness, and headaches that had been tormenting him vanished in an instant.
"This... this is a miracle!" Daughtry gasped.
He had a vague understanding of what had been happening to him, and seeing the purple mist confirmed his suspicion that dark magic was at play. He never expected that Glen's peculiar method would fix him so quickly!
"Do you... know magic?" he asked, still in shock.
"Really cured!" Mrs. Ryan exclaimed, her hands covering her mouth in disbelief.
Glen, anticipating their astonishment, waved it off. "It's a technique called Sunflower Acupoint Strike. It's specifically for treating hard-to-diagnose conditions like yours, Chief Daughtry."
"Sunflower?" Daughtry frowned, confused, but also impressed. "It sounds strange, but it seems effective!"
Mrs. Ryan was practically in tears. "Thank you so much, Glen. How much do you want for your services? We may not be rich, but we can afford something reasonable..."
Glen smiled humbly. "It was no trouble at all. Ten copper coins should be more than fair."
"Ten copper? That's too little! If we went to the hospital in the capital, the price would be a hundred times that! Please, I insist—take ten silver coins." Mrs. Ryan quickly rummaged through a bag and handed Glen ten silver coins, pressing them into his hands.
Her generosity, and her trust in him, were evident.
Daughtry smiled warmly. "Please accept it. As the town's chief, I make a decent living. This is nothing compared to what we would've paid elsewhere."
Glen hesitated, feeling the weight of the silver coins in his hands. He had no intention of taking too much from them.
With a gentle smile, he returned nine silver coins to Mrs. Ryan. "Thank you for your kindness, but I understand that ten silver coins is a significant amount for you. You still have a child on the way—keep the money for your family. Consider it my small contribution to your future."
No matter how they insisted, Glen remained firm in his decision. The couple exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with mixed emotions.
It wasn't about the money—it was the thoughtfulness and integrity behind Glen's gesture that touched them deeply.