"Move! Move, damn it!"
The two burly security guards, their hearts screaming in frantic panic, could feel their bodies frozen in place. The oppressive aura of the red-clad ghostly figure around them rendered them completely motionless.
"Jack, what wind brought you to my Third Hospital?" The director, Quails, appeared just in time, his octopus-like tentacles waving casually to dispel the ghostly energy surrounding Jack.
"Director!" The two security guards, as if pulled from a steam bath, hurriedly shouted, their faces flushed with embarrassment.
"Go on, don't let this old fool get to you. Some of the old ones like to bully the young; it's not your fault," Quails waved his tentacles dismissively, signaling the two guards to retreat into the hospital with a knowing gesture.
At the Hospital's Main Entrance.
Quails, with his distinct appearance, faced off against Jack, who was entirely shrouded in his long, tattered trench coat. Their powerful ghostly auras clashed like two forces of nature, neither side willing to give an inch.
The malevolent energy swirled around them, causing the crows perched on the nearby dead trees to squawk and scatter in fright.
"Heh-heh-heh..."
"Kekekek..."
After a brief moment, the surrounding monsters watching from the hospital's gates were left in stunned disbelief. To their surprise, both Quails and the figure known as Jack suddenly burst into laughter, as if they were long-lost friends meeting again.
What followed was even more shocking.
Quails' octopus tentacles casually draped over Jack's shoulders, and Jack's gloved hand found its way to Quails' "head," as they exchanged a gesture of camaraderie that made them seem like old pals.
"Old Jack, it's been a while! What brings you to my Third Hospital? Come for another... small Kun?" Quails quipped, his tone both teasing and mocking.
"Ah, you old fool, you guessed it right!" Jack's voice, coming from beneath his mask, sounded strangely distorted. "But it's a shame... I was hoping to find a new one, but tell me, do you really think there's still a good Kun left in your Third Hospital?"
Jack's words were like salt rubbed into a wound.
Quails' glass container face froze momentarily, but he quickly forced a grin. "Jack, you can't possibly be interested in that second-hand stuff, right? If you ask, I'll stop everything and personally craft a brand new Kun for you. A fully automated one. How about that?"
"Hmph! Keep that junk for yourself, you old bastard!" Jack shot back with a snort, clearly irritated.
Jack's eyes scanned the Third Hospital's lobby, then settled on the long queue at the registration desk.
Behind his mask, his cold eyes gradually returned to their usual calm. "I heard that a human player came to your Third Hospital? In just one day, he managed to take down He Yi and become the Honorary Chief Physician?"
"Heh-heh-heh..." Quails sneered. "What's wrong? No more pretending? You old fool, you and He Yi were plotting to ruin my Third Hospital, but you didn't expect someone like this to shake things up, did you?"
Jack didn't hide his smirk. "It's true, my plan got messed up. I didn't expect a human to interfere like this."
"So, you're here for revenge against that human kid?" Quails' mechanical eye flickered with a cold red light.
"No, I'm here for treatment," Jack said with a twisted chuckle.
"Do you really believe that yourself?"
"Why not?" Jack's mask cracked into a sinister grin. "Is the esteemed director of Third Hospital going to stop a patient who's desperately seeking help?"
"Heh..." Quails chuckled darkly. "Then I'm afraid you'll need to wait in line! Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, Dr. Yin's reputation in our hospital is so high that his appointments are booked for a week!"
Jack: "..."
Inside the VIP Consultation Room.
Yi Bai reclined comfortably in the chair, his posture relaxed. Behind him, Lina's hands gently massaged his shoulders, her gaze soft and adoring, as though everything in her world now centered around him.
In front of the desk, a skinning ghost cautiously picked up a few ghost coins that Yi Bai had "accidentally" dropped. With great reverence, it placed the coins into a small box and then wiped its bloodstained hands, offering them respectfully to Yi Bai.
Yi Bai, without a word, began to "take the pulse" of the ghost.
Soon enough, the skinning ghost left, thoroughly satisfied with the outcome.
"Next."
Lina's icy voice cut through the air.
The door to the consultation room opened. But this time, it wasn't just one monster—it was two.
One of them was Quails, whom Yi Bai had just seen not long ago. The other...
Yi Bai immediately activated his Insight Eye.
The feedback that appeared before him made his brows twitch with interest.
[Black Raven Hospital Director: Jack]
[Race: Parasitic Scarecrow]
[Affection: Neutral (He seems to be interested in recruiting you)]
[Strength: Red-Clad Vengeful Ghost]
[Likes: Oppressing Quails (He's been competing with Quails for decades and enjoys putting him down)]
[Weakness: Fire (Ordinary fire doesn't work on him)]
[Current Status: Curious about Yi Bai, the "human player" who caused such a stir in just one day. Under the guise of seeking treatment, he intends to make an offer, but if rejected… (Resolution options: Ignore him, Quails won't let this slide; or you could choose to ally with Jack, he might offer you an interesting contract.)]
Recruiting... Yi Bai thought deeply, realizing that the ghost doll incident earlier was likely orchestrated by this parasitic Scarecrow Jack.
Black Raven Hospital seemed to be an intense rival to Third Hospital, its enemy faction.
During Quails' incapacitation, Jack had secretly allied with He Yi. One sought profit, the other aimed to undermine Quails.
The plan had been going smoothly. Jack only needed to wait for the day when the truth came to light, and Quails would be removed from his position by the hospital's board, losing his authority as the director.
As for He Yi? He was merely a pawn, destined to disappear once his task was complete.
But then, a human player appeared—one who tore Jack's perfect scheme to pieces.
Now, Jack wanted to see just what kind of human player could unravel his grand plan so effortlessly. And if possible, he had no qualms about making things even more difficult for Quails, once again throwing Third Hospital into chaos.