Chapter 27: She Is Still Alive

Gavial stood in front of Zhou Jinru, slamming her staff heavily onto the ground. "Anyone else can go in, but not you! I was born a warrior; my alertness and reaction speed are top-tier. Amiya won't get hurt until her shield is depleted, and Redcloud is a wilderness hunter—this is her turf, she knows it best. If anything happens to you, Doctor Kal'tsit will surely kill me!"

"I'll just stay outside and get some air, I won't go anywhere."

Zhou Jinru wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, stepping back with lingering fear. He thought to himself that he was indeed the weakest one here; he had nearly lost his life to a trap just moments ago.

Amiya tugged at Zhou Jinru’s clothes. "I'll stay here with the Doctor. Sister Gavial, why don't you go take a look?"

Just then, Ake came running from somewhere, heading toward the entrance of the shack. Zhou Jinru grabbed her. "Don't go there, it's dangerous."

"Oh, it’s you, Uncle. I know I can't go there; Sister Minnie told me not to get close to the door."

At the mention of Minnie, the child’s emotions overflowed with joy. She clearly adored Minnie.

Zhou Jinru asked, "Have you seen Minnie? Redcloud called for her several times just now, but there was no response."

"Huh? I spoke to her while you were talking to those two uncles. She shouldn't be wandering around. Besides, Ake doesn't wander around either."

Amiya smiled. "Ake is the most obedient. Minnie must really like you, right?"

Ake suddenly said, "Sister Minnie doesn't like Ake."

The two exchanged a glance. Zhou Jinru frowned. "How can that be? It must be that you were being naughty, Ake."

"No! Ake is very obedient. There’s a reason Sister Minnie doesn't like me. She used to have a younger brother, but he went to a place very far away. They say it’s their hometown, Ursus. They are both Ursus. Sister Minnie misses her brother so much that she doesn't like me; she says that whenever she sees me, she thinks of him."

Zhou Jinru smiled and remained silent, sighing inwardly. Too many people in Chernobog had lost their loved ones; to have survived at all was a stroke of luck in a sea of tragedy. He connected the things Redcloud had said and done:

Minnie had lost her brother in Chernobog and was severely wounded, likely by Oripathy. The two had relied on each other for over a year. Redcloud accepting an Ursus person meant they shared a common goal. Redcloud’s family and friends had been killed by Ursus people, and she had always harbored hatred for them; it was highly probable that Minnie also loathed Ursus.

A story of two wounded, pitiful souls huddling together for warmth.

As she spoke, Ake’s mood shifted from joy to sadness, perhaps grieving for Minnie’s plight.

Amiya asked skeptically, "Since Minnie is so ill, why doesn't she want to seek treatment? Rhodes Island, which specializes in Oripathy, is right nearby. She could completely ask Rhodes Island for help..."

"Sister Minnie hates Rhodes Island!" Ake suddenly shouted.

Her emotions shifted—sadness and anger coexisting. Ake was deeply resistant to Rhodes Island. Zhou Jinru’s eyes flickered, and he reached out to grasp Amiya’s arm, stopping her from continuing.

"Why? Aren't hospitals meant to treat the sick? Why would Minnie rather stay critically ill than seek help?"

"Ake can't say."

"Perhaps we can help Minnie. She must have some grievance. Redcloud cares for her so much; there must be some misunderstanding. There should be a relationship of trust between a doctor and a patient..."

Ake pouted, looking like she was about to cry. "Sister Minnie said Rhodes Island took everything from her. She hates Rhodes Island, she hates Ursus, she hates Reunion. She has a terrible temper and is always arguing with Sister Redcloud. A few nights ago, Sister Redcloud wanted to go find Rhodes Island, and they had a huge fight. I saw Sister Redcloud leave in the middle of the night."

"Doctor."

Gavial walked out of the shack, followed by a frantic-looking Redcloud. They had searched every corner, but there was no sign of Minnie.

A moment ago, Minnie had been in the room. In the few minutes they spent at the door talking to the Forte, Minnie had chosen to hide. It was difficult to find someone determined to hide in such an unfamiliar environment.

"The kettle is still warm, there is still food on the plate... she couldn't have gone far."

Zhou Jinru looked up at the sky and raised his hand. "Stop looking. She’s already far away."

In his vision, a newly refreshed notification struck his mind:

*You have sensed Misha's sadness and anger.*

Being able to sense it meant that, within a certain range, she was definitely watching them from the shadows.

Zhou Jinru hadn't expected it to be Misha. In the game's story, at the end of the third chapter, Misha appeared on the battlefield as the new Skullshatterer to attack the members of Rhodes Island, only to be killed by the protagonist, Amiya, after she unleashed her power.

It seemed that she had not died after all, and had abandoned her past identity to live as Minnie. Even if her life was difficult, she was still alive.

"Impossible!" Redcloud shrieked. Her panicked state made Misha’s emotions feel even sadder.

Zhou Jinru hardened his tone, staring at Redcloud. "I said she’s far away, so she’s far away. You borrowed loan shark money to pay for her medical treatment. Rhodes Island has been here for so long, and there is no record of you buying medicine, which means you’ve been using the black market. Your income couldn't keep up with the expenses. You only sought help when you were at the end of your rope. She might be angry and hiding because she doesn't want to see you. You can't reason with a woman who is in a fit of rage."

*Swish.*

Four pairs of eyes locked onto Zhou Jinru, making him break into a cold sweat. "I mean... that’s about it. Don't mind me, I didn't mean anything else."

Just then, the two debt-collecting Forte approached. The older one said respectfully, "To everyone at Rhodes Island, my master says that she has always maintained a good relationship with Rhodes Island and does not want to have a conflict over a small matter of debt. She said everything should proceed according to Lungmen Bank's lending procedures. The principal and a small amount of interest, totaling 6,501 Lungmen Dollars, will settle Miss Redcloud’s debt."

"Rhodes Island?!"

Ake stared at the people in front of her in shock. She couldn't help but take two steps back, burst into tears, turned, and ran, disappearing from everyone's sight.

"Bullying a little girl, Doctor, you really are quite wicked." Gavial glared at him.

"It doesn't matter. It’s just trust being broken. Telling a bunch of secrets to strangers, only to find out those strangers are the enemies of one's dear friends—anyone would have a breakdown. Consider it the first lesson of life."

Zhou Jinru didn't care at all. He scanned Redcloud intentionally or unintentionally, and she settled the accounts with the Forte quite decisively.

Before leaving, the two Forte said to Redcloud, "My master says that if Miss Redcloud still wants to borrow money, she can use a Rhodes Island work ID to get an interest-free loan of up to 100,000 Lungmen Dollars. Additionally, my master asked me to convey her deepest apologies to Rhodes Island for the unintended offense caused to Dr. Zhou Jinru."

No one expected the matter to be resolved so quickly. Zhou Jinru had originally intended to borrow the prestige of Rhodes Island to intimidate them, but the Doctor's name carried such weight that the other party simply backed down, charging only a symbolic 1 Lungmen Dollar in interest. He was so stunned that he didn't react for a long time.

*As expected of me?*

"Redcloud, do you want to..."

Before he could finish, he saw Redcloud run over and bow deeply. "Please let me join Rhodes Island. I am willing, I am willing to do anything."

Out of Zhou Jinru's sight, that face, which held both childishness and wildness, was already covered in tears.

...

Sunlight spilled through the large floor-to-ceiling windows onto the wooden floor. A fair hand held a phone, quietly listening to the work report on the other end.

"To think it was the Doctor of Rhodes Island. Not a whisper of news leaked out; they keep things so tight. Oh well, a small hunter—if it's lost, it's lost. Yes, 100,000. Buying a favor is a good deal. And Misha... just let her go. After all, I’m the one who gave her that life anyway."

Hanging up the phone, the owner of the hand laughed softly. "Doctor, we have a long road ahead of us."