[Director of the Third Hospital: Quirls]
[Species: Modified Special Ghost]
[Friendliness: Friendly (He appreciates you)]
[Strength: Red-Eyed Vengeful Ghost]
[Likes: Modifying Ghosts]
[Weakness: Heart Core (Borrowing from the characteristics of the Stitching Monster, this ghost doctor has undergone terrifying modifications to himself. Never underestimate him as a mere ghost)]
[Current Status: His soul remains fuzzy due to prolonged exposure to the Corrupt Soul Incense]
The information from the "Insight Eye" allowed Yi Bai to breathe a sigh of relief.
At the same time, as Quirls woke up, Yi Bai's mind was filled with the notification from the "Horror Game." He now had the right to return to the human world at any time, which finally allowed him to relax. Though there was no immediate danger now, Yi Bai couldn't calm his heart completely until he could return to the real world. The unexpected twists in the horror world were too numerous. Many players had completed their tasks triumphantly one moment, only to be swept away by sudden calamities the next, dying in this otherworldly place. Yi Bai always kept the tragic stories of his predecessors in mind as a reminder to stay vigilant.
"Not bad... I never thought a human player would wake me up one day."
The electronic eyes on the glass container stabilized and emitted a soft green glow. Quirls' elderly voice, sounding as if it came from a hidden speaker, echoed through the room.
"Pure luck," Yi Bai replied calmly.
"No, luck is also a form of strength," said Quirls with a smile, his animated face appearing on the glass container. "Being recognized by Lina is already proof enough."
As soon as he finished speaking, Quirls froze, as if his system had crashed. After a while, his face reappeared on the glass, looking slightly confused.
"Apologies, that scoundrel He Yi must have feared I'd wake up, so he burned Corrupt Soul Incense in my office while I was wounded. The fumes have left my soul in a haze."
Quirls explained, and his octopus-like lower body began to unfold slowly. Before long, the small figure that had appeared to be resting on the sofa transformed into a gigantic, monstrous form. With octopus tentacles wrapped in a metallic exoskeleton, Quirls looked less like a ghost and more like a futuristic "Dr. Octopus!"
The "Dr. Octopus" went about his business, swiftly retrieving various bizarre instruments and test tubes from a nearby cabinet. After a flurry of complicated actions, Quirls concocted two tubes of purple, bubbling liquid. One was poured into the brain floating in the tank, while the other was handed to Yi Bai.
"A small gift. This antidote will negate the poison of a Vengeful Ghost," Quirls said.
"Thank you, Director." Yi Bai took the vial without hesitation and stored it in his bag.
"Ah, that's much better, I feel more awake!" Quirls let out a satisfied sigh as the brain in the tank bubbled. One of his tentacles shot out, piercing the office door with ease.
Moments later, he returned holding the beast-headed copper ring. "Wrong, wrong, wrong! I'm sorry! Please, no!" The copper ring screeched as it struggled.
But before it could finish, the sound of a crushing death echoed as Quirls' tentacle squeezed the ring's eyes, turning it into a lifeless chunk of bronze.
"Young man, I'm someone who values clear debts. Since that scoundrel He Yi is nowhere to be seen, he must be dead by your hand," Quirls said with a serious tone. "The Third Hospital has suffered significant losses due to my mistake, but you've saved it from crisis. You deserve the reward from the Horror Game. As for repayment, I have three options for you to choose from."
Yi Bai's eyes shifted as he listened. Extra rewards? It was hard not to feel tempted, but...
"Taking rewards from others can complicate things." Yi Bai considered carefully. He knew that "Horror Games" weren't just limited to human players—the monsters knew of such deals too. Quirls' offer was likely not as simple as it seemed.
Yi Bai wasn't one to rush into decisions. "Go ahead," he said, waiting for Quirls' explanation.
Quirls smiled and presented his three offers:
100,000 Ghost Coins – A large sum of money, undeniably tempting.Ten materials of Vengeful Ghost-level quality, and Quirls would personally craft a Vengeful Ghost puppet to protect Yi Bai.5% ownership of the Third Hospital – The condition being that Yi Bai would need to assume the position of Honorary Chief Physician and assist the hospital when difficult problems arose.
Yi Bai had to admit, Quirls was generous. Each option held considerable value, but the Vengeful Ghost puppet was the most appealing. After all, in a world full of danger, where both the ghost world and the human world were fraught with risks, a powerful protector would be invaluable.
However, Yi Bai didn't make a decision immediately. His thoughts shifted to the Third Hospital's 5% share. He wasn't sure of the exact value of the hospital's shares, but he wasn't interested in the visible profit. What caught his attention were the hidden benefits of the Honorary Chief Physician position.
It was common knowledge that once a player completed a Horror Game and returned to the human world, they would likely never encounter that world again. But Quirls' third offer demanded that Yi Bai help out with the hospital when challenges arose. The implication was clear—this wasn't a straightforward offer.
Yi Bai thought deeply, weighing his options. "Ghost Coins? After tricking He Yi, I don't really need money right now. As for self-defense, I'm already strong enough as a vampire, capable of facing even the Vengeful Ghosts head-on. But the third option... has hidden value that could benefit me long-term."
Yi Bai knew which choice was most valuable. "I'll go with the third option," he decided.