The Phantom General:Return of the Ex-Convict

Time's Up, Doctor

Dr. Aris burst out laughing. He pointed a shaking finger at Luke. "You're actually counting down?! You arrogant piece of trash! You just assaulted a security guard! You aren't counting down to my ruin. You're counting down to your own arrest!"

He turned to the remaining guards, who were staring at their screaming colleague on the floor.

"What are you waiting for?!" Dr. Aris screamed. "Restrain him! Call the police! And get this crying woman and her brat out of my hospital! Young Master Vance is bleeding!"

Sarah grabbed Luke's coat. "Luke, please... let's just go. We can find a clinic. If the police come, they'll lock you away again. Zoe can't lose you twice."

Luke didn't move. He stroked Sarah's hair with his free hand, his eyes on the clock.

"Ten seconds," Luke said, his voice cold.

"Delusional beggar!" Dr. Aris spat, pulling out his phone. "I will make sure you rot in—"

WHRRRRRRR!

The windows rattled. The heavy thud of helicopter blades drowned out every sound in the room.

Dr. Aris froze, dropping his phone.

Outside, three massive black helicopters descended onto the hospital lawn, tearing up the grass. At the same moment, ten armored Rolls-Royces screeched to a halt, blocking the hospital entrance.

The emergency room doors were shoved open by two dozen bodyguards in black suits. They poured in, forming a perimeter in seconds.

The whole staff stopped breathing. Even the military medics stepped back.

From the center of the formation, a woman walked in.

She was stunning, dressed in a sharp red business suit. She carried herself like an absolute queen. This was Helena Frost — the billionaire CEO of the Frost Group. The woman who owned half the city.

Dr. Aris's jaw dropped. He shoved a nurse aside and scrambled forward, bowing low.

"Miss Frost!" Dr. Aris gasped. "What an honor! Have you come to check on the hospital? Did you hear about Young Master Vance? Do not worry! I am personally saving him right now! I have secured the VIP—"

Helena Frost walked right past him. She didn't even glance his way.

Her cold eyes scanned the room until they landed on the man in the muddy coat holding a pale little girl.

Helena stopped. She took a deep breath.

Then, in front of everyone — the hospital staff, the bleeding Victor Vance, the stunned Sarah —

Helena Frost dropped to one knee and bowed her head.

"Mr. Dark," Helena said, her voice shaking with respect and fear. "I am deeply sorry. I brought the team. Please forgive my delay."

A nurse dropped a tray of instruments. The sound echoed through the dead-silent room.

Dr. Aris felt his soul leave his body. The CEO of the Frost Group — a woman who wouldn't bow to the Mayor — was kneeling in front of a homeless man?

"M-Miss Frost...?" Dr. Aris stammered. "There must be a mistake. This man is a nobody! He's a violent thug! He assaulted my guard! He brought a dying brat in here and tried to demand—"

Helena stood up. She turned to Dr. Aris. The look in her eyes made him choke on his words.

SMACK!

Her hand lashed out, slapping him so hard he spun and crashed into the reception desk.

"You blind, arrogant pig," Helena hissed. "You dared to refuse treatment to Mr. Dark's daughter? You dared to put Vance family trash above her?!"

Dr. Aris held his bleeding cheek, whimpering. "But... the Vance family... the deposit..."

"You're fired," Helena said coldly. "Your medical license is revoked across the Empire. If I ever see your face in this city again, I'll have you thrown in the ocean. Guards. Break his legs and throw him in the alley."

"No! Miss Frost! Please!" Dr. Aris shrieked as two bodyguards grabbed his hair and dragged him out the back doors.

Helena turned back to Luke, her face softening. She gestured to an elderly man with silver hair, carrying a titanium medical case.

"Mr. Dark. This is Dr. Thorne. The Divine Surgeon. He is the best in the Frost Group."

Luke finally exhaled. He looked at Sarah, who was staring at him with wide, confused eyes.

"Take her," Luke whispered, handing the unconscious Zoe to the old surgeon. "Save her."

Dr. Thorne placed Zoe on a fresh gurney. His hands moved fast, checking her vitals, her pupils, her swollen wrist.

"The wrist is a clean break," Dr. Thorne said calmly. "I can set the bone and give her a painkiller. She won't feel a thing."

Sarah let out a shaking sob of relief. "Thank god... thank you."

But Dr. Thorne didn't smile. He pulled out a small penlight and checked Zoe's gums. He pressed two fingers to her neck, feeling her pulse.

Slowly, his face went pale.

He looked up at Luke, his hands shaking.

"Sir..." Dr. Thorne whispered. "The broken wrist sent her into shock. But that's not why she's unconscious. Her blood is failing."

Sarah froze.

"What?" Luke demanded, his voice dropping.

"It's a severe blood disorder," Dr. Thorne said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Her bone marrow is shutting down. She's been malnourished for years, which made it worse. Setting her wrist is easy. But unless we cure this..."

Dr. Thorne swallowed hard, looking at the floor.

"She has less than a month to live."