There was still a week left before the finals of the Martial Tournament, which would be held in Morhen.Naturally, Frank was not nervous at all and even fell back to his old return of punctual training and rest.He had also won public favor among Riverton martial artists after proposing that they be afforded one qualification berth.His old friends Robert Quill and Gerald Simmons, who were the Riverton commissioner and the Riverton mayor respectively, even paid him a personal visit.They were both righteously indignant that the Riverton Martial Alliance branch manager had been caught cheating but also grateful that Frank afforded their representatives some dignity.Still, neither of them were aware of a dispute when he tried to ask them indirectly about the Zamri mayor and the Zamri commissioner—it was the first they had heard of it.After seeing his guests off, Frank did not even have time to gather his thoughts when he got a call from Helen Lane."Frank… Hurry! I-I got into an
Both police officers were shaking their heads coldly even before Helen could finish.One of them even asked, "Don't you think you're a little too concerned about your career? Also, you're now suspected of a drunken accident. Or perhaps you're trying to make it a hit-and-run?""I-I'm not."Helen sighed urgently. "But this negotiation is very important—""Wait."Frank strode up past the yellow line, walking up to the puddle of blood. "Officers, may I ask where the victim is?" Both officers were speechless. "An ambulance came and took him away.""Took him where?" Frank pressed.The officer snorted, waving him off impatiently. "Zamri Hospital, of course. Do we really have to spell it out for you?"The other officer then whipped out a pair of handcuffs and slapped them on Helen's wrists. "Alright, beautiful. There's no point calling your husband to defend you—you're coming with us."While he was considerate enough to cover the cuffs with a jacket, Frank strode up, stopping him be
Parading a suspect on the streets naked?No respectable police officer would do that!Vicky on the other hand…Frank shook his head repeatedly to throw those messy thoughts out of his head—now was not the time for that!The priority right now was to find evidence and prove Helen's innocence.At the same time, Frank sensed that a conspiracy was in motion, targeting not just him but Helen too.And right now, Shellan Group was the only lead he had.However, before he could head over, he got a call from Winter Lawrence. "Frank… H-Help me!"Frank was certainly shocked by Winter's cry and promptly asked, "What?! Just calm down, and tell me what happened!"Winter was coughing while sobbing, "I don't know. We just received a patient, but he was gone the next instant!""Gone?!" Frank did a double take.It was actually not that surprising for a patient to go missing these days. Some simply did not like their assigned doctors or just bailed on treatment halfway because they could not a
Once Winter hung up, Frank urged the cabbie to speed up, only for them to run into a traffic jam caused by a traffic accident.Every vehicle on the road stayed stuck in place, with drivers blaring their horns incessantly and noisily.Frank got further anxious as he waited, even as it dawned on him that something was strange.By the time he rushed out of the cab and headed to the location of the supposed traffic accident, all he saw was a car without a driver left in the middle of the road, stalling traffic entirely."Fuck!"Frank cursed as he could see right away that the traffic congestion was a staged incident. Then,without another word, he started running in the direction of Zamri Hospital.-Meanwhile, as Winter hung up in her office at Zamri Hospital and put on a face mask, she sighed.Even as she yearned inwardly for Frank's arrival, someone started knocking on her door."Who is it?" Winter asked, looking up at the door in confusion.When the chemical attack began, sh
Winter continued, "Most of our medical staff are suffering from fevers and vomiting, and let me guess—the journalists who are rushing here are yet another one of your gestures of compassion, no?"Fredo laughed and applauded right then. "Good! You're not as dumb as you look, seeing how you've managed to put the pieces together!"His laughter only left Winter scowling harder, and she slammed her hand on the table while pointing at the door. "You will leave this instant! I will make sure to remember everything you've done to Zamri Hospital on this day, and mark my words, this won't go unanswered!'"Well said!"Fredo stood up, clapping endlessly. "I couldn't have put it better, chief. This matter certainly won't go unanswered."He then beckoned at his burly bodyguard, who opened the briefcase on the desk and took out a stack of bright-white documents.As the bodyguard primply put it on Winter's desk, she scowled and asked, "What's this?""The partnership agreement between Zamri Hosp
After a brief silence, Winter eventually picked up the documents that Fredo had passed to her.Right now, she was not just defending her own honor and future—she had to protect all the patients in the building right now, as well as maintain the public's faith toward Zamri Hospital.If those journalists outside managed to break inside and saw the state of affairs within the building, this major security incident would definitely stir endless waves of chaos.And as the chief of hospital, Winter would be compelled to resign amid overwhelming criticism, even though Frank had gone through great lengths to get her this position.She certainly did not want to let Frank down so soon.However, even though Winter was ready to be butchered, she gasped audibly after reading the document Fredo brought and looked up at the man in disbelief."What's wrong, Ms. Lawrence? You look very surprised."Fredo chuckled, but it was clearly faked this time.Even from his point of view, the demands made
Winter continued, "Your actions will encourage doctors to prescribe them the most expensive medicine, and the poor won't ever be able to afford healthcare! Can you really do such a thing against your conscience?!""Yes, I can."Fredo nodded brazenly despite Winter's deafening outburst. "I'm sorry, Ms. Lawrence, but I'm a businessman, not a doctor. Morals and ethics are a joke to me that I have no need for, and all I see is that which makes money."Then, returning to the catch, he leered at Winter as he continued, "So, are you going to comply and sign my agreement, or will you wait until the journalists charge inside and expose this scandal, while you watch as your hospital falls apart?"Laughing, he then added, "Oh, and don't forget—if you don't sign it, we will build another hospital and invest everything we have in it. Not signing it really doesn't matter at that point.""I…"Hearing Fredo's threat, hesitation showed in Winter's eyes.She was in a dilemma, as she remembered th
"Winter… Eh?!"Just as Winter was almost done signing her name while Fredo's grin broadened, the door suddenly swung open."What?!"Everyone turned toward the doorway right then to find a girl standing there, staring at Winter in excitement.It was none other than Mona Fairfax, Winter's personal bodyguard whom Winter had sent away to maintain order in the hospital.Winter was surprised to see her there too. "Mona?! What are you doing here?! Didn't I tell you to stop the journalists from entering?!"Don't worry, Winter! Ahem… We're saved!"Mona was coughing even as she answered in delight. "Master Lawrence has just arrived, and he already had an antidote. He's rushing to the ventilation hub right now—the toxic smoke will soon be gone!""What?!"Fredo, who had been sitting leisurely on the couch, was more shocked by the news than Winter.He was on his feet, glaring at Mona as he snapped, "That's bullshit! Our people have blocked the road here… he'd never make it in time! There'