Chapter 33: Crime |
It was natural for minor disturbances to occur in a hospital from time to time, but they usually ended quickly. No one truly wanted to cause real trouble in such a place.
Besides, Yeruashi was a well-known physician.
No matter how powerful or influential a person might be, the day would eventually come when they would need a doctor's help.
Thus, people generally went out of their way not to provoke Yeruashi.
However.
Tonight's patient portended significant trouble...
Night fell silently.
A man with a gruesome gash, who had been resting quietly in his hospital bed until now, suddenly snapped his eyes open. He climbed out of bed, showing no trace of drowsiness despite his injuries.
He took a few clumsy steps in front of the bed to regain his mobility before sighing, opening the door, and stepping out into the courtyard.
He crept down the hallway and cautiously reached for the door handle.
Just before he could open it, the lights in the corridor flared to life.
The man froze, looking around in bewilderment. Behind him stood two figures: Yeruashi, who had clearly just gotten out of bed and was wearing a loose robe, and Mitsuri, holding a lantern by his side.
"We told you to rest with such a serious injury!" she grumbled, placing her free hand on her hip before softening and approaching the wounded man. "Come on, back to bed."
"I appreciate the help, truly, but you should let me go if you don't want unnecessary trouble..." he sighed helplessly in response.
"I won't hear another word of it!" Mitsuri declared firmly.
"I'm from the southern district of the city, which is under the terror of the Phantom Head gang... their people crossed the line yesterday, so I killed one and fled," the man explained, seeing no other way out. He sighed helplessly and added, "They'll never let me go. Please, let me run as far from here as possible. Good people like you shouldn't have to suffer!"
A flicker of fear crossed Mitsuri's face at his words. She had harbored suspicions, but she hadn't expected them to be confirmed so starkly.
She cast an uncertain glance at Yeruashi.
A matter this grave was beyond her authority. It was one thing when she didn't know the full story, but now she had to consult Yeruashi, as this involved a criminal syndicate.
Meanwhile, a calm Yeruashi was about to speak.
At that exact moment, a loud bang echoed from the door—not a simple knock, but a blow delivered with such force that the latch tore away with splinters of wood. The door swung wide open.
A moment later, over a dozen men burst inside, dressed in uniform black clothing featuring silver embroidery in the shape of a phantom's head.
It was also worth noting that the leader had a scarlet phantom's head embroidered on his clothes.
"Hmph, did you seriously expect to walk away alive?" the leader of the Phantom Head gang spat coldly, a mace gripped in his right hand.
The Phantom Head was a small criminal organization from the local slums, numbering only a few dozen members. They primarily made their living through simple extortion and racketeering, aided by a secret arrangement with the local authorities.
"Hmph... well, I guess it didn't work out. Bad luck!" the wounded man replied with a cold smirk, showing no sign of fear or hesitation.
"Seize him and drag him back! We'll make this bastard beg for death, though even that's too good for him!" the leader snarled.
Following his command, several gang members stepped forward.
But at that moment.
A peaceable voice rang out from ahead.
"Please, do not cause a disturbance in my hospital. You may settle your grievances as much as you like once the patient has left on his own two feet," Yeruashi addressed the gang leader calmly, showing no trace of fear before the dozen bloodthirsty thugs.
The gang members halted immediately; even they knew the famous doctor from the neighboring district.
"Doctor... I respect your rules, of course, but this bastard killed one of my men. It would be best if you just looked the other way," the leader said, tempering his fury with a strained smile.
Even he held a measure of respect for Yeruashi, who had helped wounded members of the Phantom Head in the past. Many of them would have easily ended up in the afterlife if not for his peerless medical skills.
Furthermore, the leader wasn't particularly keen on offending a physician. With his lifestyle, he knew it was only a matter of time before he caught a blade between the ribs himself...
"This man became my patient the moment he crossed the threshold of this hospital and paid for his treatment. The rules apply to everyone equally," Yeruashi replied impassively, shaking his head.
"Doctor, don't you think you're a bit too fixated on the rules? I'm going to kill him the moment he leaves the hospital anyway, sooner or later. It's a waste of medicine," the gang leader said, his brow furrowing slightly.
Yeruashi responded with silence, stepping in front of the wounded man.
Rage flared on the leader's face at the sight. Respect and fear were two very different things. If Yeruashi refused to cooperate the easy way, then things would get ugly! A single doctor wasn't worth this much trouble...
"I said seize him!" the leader of the Phantom Head roared.
Obeying the order, the thugs rushed toward the wounded man. Some of them even called out, "Sorry, Doctor!"
They reached out to shove Yeruashi aside and grab their target.
But just before they could touch him...
Bam!
Those reaching for him were sent tumbling backward.
"No laying hands... in our hospital!" Mitsuri exclaimed coldly. She had suddenly appeared in front of Yeruashi, sweeping several thugs away with a sharp swing of her long staff.
Her eyes shone with determination. She worried that this violent side of her might disgust Yeruashi, but ensuring his safety was far more important right now; she would worry about the rest later.
"Y-You..." the gang leader's eyes widened in shock. He never would have imagined that this fragile-looking girl possessed such strength.
Recovering from the surprise, he took a few steps forward and swung his mace down in a heavy overhead strike.
Crack!
Mitsuri swung her staff at the same time. She put superhuman strength into the blow, yet the wood still shattered into splinters upon impact with the steel mace.
However, the leader didn't come out unscathed either. The heavy mace was knocked from his hands, and he crashed into the hospital wall, staggering back nearly a dozen steps.
Meanwhile, the wounded man stood with his mouth agape at the sight.
Who could have guessed that the fragile girl beside the doctor possessed such extraordinary power—the kind of strength that would make any man envious!