Chapter 953: Private Hospital

Knock, knock, knock—

“Lord Chitong, the information you requested has arrived.”

“Read it.”

Chitong, who had been burying himself in official duties, spoke wearily.

“After leaving the church, Chen Ling drove directly to the largest hospital in the current domain and stayed there for nearly two hours.”

“Two hours? What was he doing inside?”

“He visited every consultation room, spoke to the dean and doctors to understand the situation, inventoried all the drug reserves in the pharmacy, and… distributed survey questionnaires at the entrance.”

“Survey questionnaires?”

“Yes, he was collecting information from every resident entering the hospital and asking for their opinions on the current medical facilities. He collected a thick stack,” the Torch-Snatcher continued. “After leaving there, he immediately rushed to the next hospital, following the same procedure… He spent the entire day visiting almost every hospital, large and small, in the city.”

“He certainly is diligent…” Chitong nodded. “It’s good to give him something to do, so he doesn’t just loiter around me all day.”

Chitong paused for a moment.

“Have those people from last night been found?”

“…No, they left too many diversions along the way; we lost their trail.”

“Where did you lose them?”

“Near District Eight, just like last time.”

“Keep investigating. Disappearing there twice is definitely suspicious…”

“Yes, sir.”

Chitong glanced at the sky outside, which was gradually dimming, then at the thick stacks of documents before him. He let out a long sigh and quietly stood up from his desk.

“Are you done for today?”

“Yes, I’m tired… We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

“Do you still want updates on Chen Ling’s activities?”

“Just report the key points.” The mention of “Chen Ling” made Chitong’s temples throb. As if remembering something, he specifically instructed, “Oh, and if Chen Ling comes back tonight and says he wants to chat with me, tell him I’m not here, understood?”

“Understood.”

The dim yellow sunset gradually sank below the horizon.

A car slowly stopped in front of an empty, desolate street.

“…You’re not done yet?” Hong Xiu had expected Chen Ling to go back and rest as it was getting dark, but he surprisingly had another target. “You’ve been running all day; isn’t that enough?”

“There’s only one last private hospital left, and I want to investigate it all at once.” Determination filled Chen Ling’s tired face. “Even though I don’t agree with the Silver Government’s policies or the King of Silver, I now have a chance to fight for the residents’ rights, and I don’t want to give up this opportunity… I don’t want to waste a single second.”

Hearing this, Hong Xiu couldn’t help but glance at him several times, her gaze complex.

“…As you wish.”

As soon as Chen Ling got out of the car, his face paled slightly, and he raised a hand to steady himself on the car door.

Seeing this, Hong Xiu’s expression changed.

“What’s wrong?”

“I…” Chen Ling awkwardly rubbed his stomach. “I might be a bit hungry… I haven’t eaten anything since this morning.”

Hong Xiu immediately recalled Chen Ling’s ravenous, beast-like eating during the banquet, and her expression turned odd.

“Miss Hong Xiu, could you help me buy some baked flatbreads?”

Chen Ling sniffed the aroma wafting through the air and pointed to a shop across the street.

“Alright, you can come with me,” Hong Xiu nodded.

“This is the last private hospital, and I want to finish investigating it so I can go back early,” Chen Ling said earnestly, looking into her eyes.

“This private hospital looks like it’s about to close down, and there aren’t many people. I’ll just take a quick look and come out, it’ll be fast… Besides, these two places are less than a hundred meters apart, and with your strength, Miss Hong Xiu, my safety shouldn’t be a concern, right?”

Hong Xiu glanced at the empty, desolate three-story private hospital, then at the flatbread shop just a few steps across the street. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded.

“Alright.”

With Hong Xiu’s strength, she could destroy an entire street in minutes. If Chen Ling were truly in danger, she could instantly eliminate any enemy from the flatbread shop entrance in less than half a second. This was her absolute confidence in her own power.

Seeing this, Chen Ling quickly entered the private hospital, carrying his survey handbook.

Though called a hospital, its size made it seem more like a clinic. It had three floors, but each was less than two hundred square meters, easily surveyed with a glance.

Furthermore, as it was late, the hospital was deserted, with no patients or doctors in sight. There were only locked consultation rooms, and through their frosted windows, the interior furnishings were unclear, only vague shadows visible…

‘This must be the place…’ Chen Ling thought to himself as he walked up the stairs to the second floor.

This was the hiding place Spade 8 had told him about previously: the private hospital on Goethe Street. Chen Ling had gone to all this trouble today just for these few brief minutes, to be able to legitimately enter this place.

The moment he stepped inside, Chen Ling specifically activated his ‘card’ ability, reviewing events within eight seconds to confirm no one was tracking or observing him.

Inside the dimly lit, empty private hospital, the person in the large red opera robe ascended the stairs alone.

If the first floor housed the pharmacy and consultation rooms, the atmosphere changed somewhat upon entering the second floor… Heavy doors stood everywhere, each labeled ‘Operating Room.’ However, Chen Ling opened them one by one to inspect them closely, but found no precise surgical equipment, not even shadowless lamps for surgery.

Inside the operating rooms, tiled with white ceramic, there were only steel operating tables, most of which appeared to be rusted, showing no signs of recent use.

Seeing this, only one thought came to Chen Ling’s mind…

Is this a legitimate, legal private hospital?

Filled with doubt, Chen Ling headed for the third floor. As he stepped onto the stairs to the third floor, he saw a figure in a white lab coat leaning against a table, occasionally glancing out the window, seemingly observing the direction of the flatbread shop.

Seeing that person, Chen Ling’s heart finally relaxed.

“I can’t believe you actually managed to gain the King of Silver’s trust.” Spade 8 turned his head, looking at him with a strange expression. “As expected of you, Heart 6…”

“I’ve only just established a foothold; true freedom is still a long way off. To get here today, I’ve been preparing all day.”

Chen Ling looked at Spade 8. His complexion was much better than when Chen Ling had first rescued him, but his build was still quite sturdy. The lab coat looked tight and awkward on him, no matter how one looked at it.

“So, your disguise in the Wuji Domain is that of a doctor?” Chen Ling asked.

“Me? I’m no doctor.” Spade 8 shrugged. “I’m just borrowing someone’s place and identity…”

“Someone?”

“You don’t know?”

Spade 8 pulled out a name tag from a drawer and placed it on the table. “The former owner of this hospital was also one of our members…”

Seeing that name, and then recalling the strange operating rooms on the second floor, Chen Ling’s expression immediately turned incredibly odd!

“Spade 7, Chu Muyun?”