Chapter 6

Evan was quite at ease when facing Reuben's antagonistic attitude. He asked instead, "Since you're claiming that I'm a conman, can I ask how much you're being paid by the Nolans to treat the patients?"

Reuben grunted coldly. "Why are you asking this? It's none of your business."

Evan did not answer, so he looked at Deidre instead. "If you don't mind, Miss Nolan, can you answer me?"

"Ten million."

"That's a lot, isn't it? Ten million."

Evan looked straight at Reuben. "The Nolans spent so much to hire you, but you didn't manage to cure the patients. I came here without accepting a cent and you're claiming that I'm here for the Nolans' money. Who's the real conman here?"

"You scoundrel! How dare you say I'm a conman?"

Reuben was enraged to hear Evan's words.

He had been a doctor for decades and was now a professor at Harken Bay Hospital. Reuben was confident enough to say that no one else in Harken Bay was more skilled than he was when it came to medicine. Besides, many wealthy men were his patients.

Reuben was popular enough to decide which patients to see regardless of how much they offered him.

However, the young man in front of him accused him of being a conman. It was humiliating and very insulting!

Evan replied calmly, "I'm just reminding you not to accuse someone else of being a conman without evidence. You shouldn't be flaunting your skills when you're not good enough."

"You rascal! You're the first person to say such a thing to me!"

Reuben was enraged. "Miss Nolan, either you kick this man out or I'll stop treating the patients inside."

Deidre looked upset. She agreed with Evan that Reuben was just showing off.

He was even threatening her to kick Evan out. Did he think he could order a Nolan about just because he was older?

Evan sniggered. "Can you cure the patients if you continue treating them? You're even threatening Miss Nolan now. Do you think you're the only person in the world who can treat patients?"

"You…"

Reuben was rendered speechless by Evan.

"That's enough. Stop arguing." Deidre stepped up to interrupt the argument. "Dr. Keen, the patients are in critical condition. We should let Mr. Carlton have a look at them. There may be a chance he can help the patients."

"Miss Nolan, if you insist on trusting him, I won't stop you," Reuben said coldly. "But I need to warn you in advance. If this man treats the patients, I refuse to be a part of it no matter what happens in the end. I can't afford to be embarrassed."

If word got out, Reuben would be accused of being unable to treat the patients, even needing the help of a young unknown. This was a humiliation he could not accept.

"Follow me inside, Mr. Carlton." Deidre led Evan through the door. "Dr. Keen, you may wait outside for now."

Reuben wanted to follow them inside, but Deidre stopped him and closed the door right in front of him.

His face contorted in anger. "How dare you be so rude to me, young woman?! Just you wait!"

Evan saw five patients in bed the moment he reached upstairs.

Life support equipment was set up next to the beds. They indicated that these patients were in a weak state.

Evan went up to check all five patients. They were pale, and their lips were black.

"They've been poisoned." Evan noticed the symptoms immediately.

Deidre nodded. "That's correct, but we aren't able to find out what kind of poison this is."

"Tell me what happened to them."

Deidre explained, "They spent three days on a trip to the Northern District. They were there to break into the market. One day before they were supposed to return, they suddenly lost contact. We weren't able to contact all five of them. After that, they returned to Harken Bay but got seriously sick not long after."

Evan listened as he approached their beds to check their pulse.

"Fortunately, there's still hope for them."

Deidre got agitated when she heard his words. "Is that true, Mr. Carlton?"

Evan did not reply to her. He took out some silver needles and prepped them. He closed his eyes to familiarize himself with the needle technique. The next second, Evan's eyes opened, and there were two flashes of light.

Evan moved speedily as he dealt with the needles quickly. The silver needles pierced accurately into the meridian points.

As the silver needles pierced into them, all five patients' cheeks started to look rosier, and the black on their lips began to diminish. However, the dark liquid began flowing out of their orifices.

"Is that blood?"

Deidre gulped. She had never seen black-colored blood before.

"No. It's a type of blood parasite from Halem."

There was a sharp look in Evan's eyes. "Once it enters the body, the blood parasite will turn into a black liquid to infect all the organs in the body and erode it. All it needs is ten days for the human body to be left with only bones."

Deidre exclaimed, "Who could be so ruthless as to poison them?"

"If I'm not mistaken, someone must be out to get the Nolans."

Evan looked serious. "These blood parasites aren't easily found, and they only got sick after returning from the Northern District. Think. Did the Nolans offend anyone in the Northern District? Otherwise, they wouldn't be harmed in such a cruel way."

"It's true that the Nolans have offended many people. Otherwise, we wouldn't be where we are today."

The look in Deidre's eyes dimmed. "I can guess it's…"

Before Deidre could finish, Reuben entered the room with a middle-aged man who came toward them aggressively.

Reuben pointed at Evan with a dark look on his face. "Mr. Nolan, that's the conman I was telling you about. Miss Nolan was tricked by him."