Chapter 9: The Ward

  Location: Science Castle, Medical Center High-Security Care Unit (HSCU)

  Time: Day after receiving Black Cat's intelligence

  The medical center was permeated with the cold smell of disinfectant mixed with some kind of sedative. Dr. Alex Yang was arranged in the HSCU, ostensibly to ensure his complete recovery from the psychological trauma of the attempted assassination, but Thunderhawk keenly sensed the security measures here were excessively tight. Not only standard access control, but two Chaldea Tech internal security personnel stood guard at the end of the corridor, utterly inconsistent with Science Castle's usual relaxed atmosphere.

  To approach Dr. Yang, Thunderhawk needed a reasonable excuse. He used his security personnel identity, attempting to enter under the pretext of "follow-up safety assessment of post-incident," but was politely stopped by the head nurse at the reception area with "the patient needs absolute rest." Clearly, Graham had already given orders.

  Just as Thunderhawk considered other options, he saw Dr. Evelyn Shaw walking from Dr. Yang's ward direction. She still wore her well-fitted white coat, her face bearing a professional gentle smile.

  "Mr. Morningstar?" Dr. Shaw seemed somewhat surprised. "Here to visit Dr. Yang?"

  "Yes, Dr. Shaw. Want to understand his recovery condition to improve security contingency plans." Thunderhawk found an impeccable reason.

  Dr. Shaw nodded, a hint of inscrutable light flashing in her eyes. "Alex's condition has stabilized considerably, physical injuries recovering well. However, this incident had a major psychological impact on him. He now feels very insecure, even somewhat... paranoid about people around him." She sighed softly. "We're conducting psychological counseling, hoping to help him emerge from the shadow."

  These words sounded reasonable, but Thunderhawk detected another implication—she was suggesting Dr. Yang's mental state was unstable, that his words might be unreliable. This was a form of preemptive public opinion manipulation.

  "I understand. Just routine procedure, a few simple questions." Thunderhawk persisted.

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  Dr. Shaw pondered briefly, revealing an understanding smile: "Alright, you're a professional and should know propriety. He's awake now, you may enter for five minutes. However, it's best not to mention details of the attack to avoid triggering him."

  Under Dr. Shaw's "special permission," Thunderhawk finally gained entry to the ward. Dr. Yang lay half-reclined on the hospital bed, face pale, eyes somewhat vacant and frightened. Seeing Thunderhawk enter, he instinctively flinched.

  "Dr. Yang, I'm Thunderhawk, from the security department. Do you remember me?" Thunderhawk tried to make his tone calm.

  Dr. Yang nodded, voice weak: "Remember... thank you."

  "Regarding that day's incident, besides Old Chen, did you notice any other abnormalities beforehand? Or, did you feel your research project might have attracted some unnecessary... attention?" Thunderhawk carefully broached the subject.

  Hearing the word "research," Dr. Yang's gaze flickered, passing through a trace of extreme fear. He shook his head violently: "No! My research is just theoretical models, pure mathematics! Nothing special! That person... that maintenance worker, he must have gone mad, mistook me for someone else!" His reaction was abnormally intense, matching Dr. Shaw's description of "paranoia," but this fear seemed overly specific, as if precisely triggered by something.

  "Just routine inquiry." Thunderhawk placated, his gaze sweeping the ward. He noticed a standard hospital-provided datapad on the bedside table for patient browsing of news and limited entertainment. But the datapad's interface indicator light showed a weak, abnormal read/write flicker frequency.

  Just then, the ward door opened and Dr. Shaw returned, carrying a glass of water and a pill. "Alex, time for your medication, it will help you relax and sleep." Her smile was impeccable, but the timing of her entry was suspiciously precise.

  Dr. Yang seemed to see a savior, immediately taking the pill and water, swallowing hastily as if wanting to end the conversation with Thunderhawk as quickly as possible.

  Thunderhawk knew he couldn't stay longer. He stood to take his leave: "Rest well, Dr. Yang."

  Leaving the medical center, Thunderhawk's mood grew heavier. Dr. Yang's fear was genuine, but that fear didn't stem entirely from the assassination itself—more like fear of consequences his research content might bring. Dr. Shaw's timely appearance and medication administration seemed like a carefully arranged intervention. And that flickering datapad... was it monitoring or even influencing Dr. Yang's mental state?

  Black Cat's intelligence pointed to Dr. Yang's research, while Graham and Dr. Shaw's reactions precisely confirmed the importance of this direction. Dr. Yang's mathematical models, the "Devourer" virus this "ark" claimed to combat... what secrets exactly lay between them? Was Old Chen's attack really to prevent something more terrifying than the virus from being researched, or being exploited by certain people?

  The fog seemed even thicker. But Thunderhawk felt he had touched that key thread connecting countless clues.