Paul first clarified that the source of information was from working in the hospital as missionary work.

  He volunteered to visit sick people who didn’t have family members to care for them.

  In some cases, they were abandoned at the hospital.

  As such, the staff were used to his presence and didn’t care where he went.

  Alex asked why they could trust him so much.

  To which Paul generously said it was because the patients were very fond of him.

  Plus, his prayers and optimism seemed to give them some sort of peace.

  The good impression extended to the staff members of the hospital, and they let their guard down around him.

  Alex, intrigued by Paul’s serious expression, asked if he found anything.

  Paul slapped his thigh and exclaimed that Alex hit it right on the mark.

  Paul wasn’t someone who would snoop around normally.

  It’s just that the older women on admission would get bored and gossip.

  Then they would drag him to a corner and pester him to find out more.

  Paul spoke about this in embarrassment, quoting how he couldn’t refuse them, so he became a spy.

  But he didn’t do it deliberately and never spread false news—just reported the truth to those old ladies to get a smile on their faces.

  Eventually, he ended up learning some things.

  Things he didn’t dare to tell those old ladies but readily told the police.

  The result was that his report had no follow-up with the police.

  Paul, feeling something amiss, went back to the station only to receive coded threats to just drop it.

  Belatedly, Paul realized one crucial factor he had forgotten.

  The hospital was run by a noble family.

  A noble family that could stand toe to toe with the government.

  Reporting was useless in this case.

  Paul felt powerless and opted to rely on prayers and do as much as he could.

  So he transferred his missionary work to the Special Disease Center.

  A building solely reserved for those with unique diseases.

  Unique in the sense that they had sprung up after the natural disasters were over.

  The imbalance of the weather plus the radiation from the new ores popping up created this set of diseases.

  A range of illnesses never seen before that left the medical sector in confusion.

  The Shae family had already come from a long line of medical doctors and seized the opportunity to spearhead the research into these illnesses.

  They were able to discover drugs that could be produced from the ores.

  But these drugs could only alleviate the symptoms, not treat the disease.

  So they placed them in a special building solely dedicated to curing them.

  At least, that’s what the public was told.

  Alex, with an eyebrow raised and a voice dripping with sarcasm, just had to reply that reality was the opposite.

  Paul nodded with a heavy expression.

  He revealed his expectations of professional doctors and peaceful patients.

  But what he found was a pit of despair.

  The doctors didn’t care about the patients and made it quite obvious.

  They would regularly remind them of their impending death.

  They only worked to study their blood and bodies in order to find a way to make new drugs.

  After all, the formula of the drug production was gotten from those with these illnesses.

  The patients were locked up, their communication with the outside world strictly monitored by the nurses.

  They endured pain and discomfort without any care, because the doctors only performed the basic necessities to keep them alive.

  A lot of patients tried to escape, which was futile because of the bodyguards.

  Those who reached the edge and went straight into desperation tried to kill themselves.

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  Ironically, the doctors and nurses showed the results of their degree only in that situation.

  In a few minutes, said patient would be dragged back from the brink of death and strictly monitored.

  Paul felt a heavy dread on his first day and instinctively wanted to flee.

  He could only mutter prayers under his breath and bravely take a step in.

  Paul really did try hard to save them from the abyss.

  He would chat with them as they stared silently at him.

  Eventually his words grew shorter and his mouth parched.

  So he did the only thing he knew—held their hands, praying for them.

  He would visit each person and chat about random news, then end it in prayer.

  He slowly worked on them and was able to bring them back.

  Not completely, but just enough for them to learn to take it one step at a time.

  Paul claimed that the credit wasn’t solely his own merit.

  He chuckled as he talked about a particular bright patient.

  It was a young girl who had boundless energy.

  Even though she was more of a prisoner than the rest—

  Constant supervision.

  Strict staff.

  She couldn’t step past the door, only watching as the other patients strolled around the hospital with a nurse to monitor.

  Paul found out that they had confined her to her room in the beginning, but then she tried to jump out the window.

  They put steel bars on the window.

  So she tried to drown herself in the bathroom.

  They started monitoring her bathing time.

  Somehow she managed to sharpen a pencil and threatened to poke out her eye.

  Feeling frustrated, they agreed to her request to walk around the building freely.

  So Paul had a new companion to chat with the patients.

  Paul smiled fondly remembering the girl.

  Sigh, unfortunately she was someone pronounced dead by the Shae family, meaning she would forever be trapped in the hospital.

  Though she did mention finding a chance to attend school, but that too was under strict management.

  Thinking about it, Paul felt this apocalypse was a good thing.

  At least the teenager was free from the Shae family and this hospital full of despair.

  ---

  Far away, Shae Harris was browsing through a menu.

  The restaurant they were seated in was comfy and small.

  Just like any other common restaurant.

  The only thing different was the fact that they specialized in making pizza.

  The drive had been silent due to their most boisterous member still feeling sullen.

  The other members of the car weren’t ones for words and feared they might aggravate her more.

  So they sat in dead silence.

  Until the silence was broken by the sounds coming from Shae Harris’ stomach.

  “I guess it’s lunchtime,” Wei Zhi seized the opportunity to speak.

  “Eating should make you feel better,” Mori Aoi smiled.

  “I can’t believe I neglected my precious tummy for that stupid fatty. What a sin!” Shae Harris rubbed her flat stomach and wiped a fake tear.

  “Where do you want to eat?” Yi Zheng asked from the driver’s seat.

  “I know a great pizza place that one of my fellow patients loved to talk about,” Shae Harris said before giving directions.

  Now here they were, seated in front of a round table while waiting for her to choose.

  “Just pick already,” Wei Zhi eventually got annoyed by her sluggish behavior.

  “Choosing food requires patience and expertise,” Shae Harris raised her eyes slightly above the menu to glare at him.

  Wei Zhi promptly rolled his eyes.

  “Of course, take as much time as you need,” Mori Aoi encouraged while casting a glance at Wei Zhi.

  Wei Zhi, feeling rebuked, pouted.

  “I always knew you were the one for me. Who needs men?” Shae Harris wrapped her arms around the girl and kissed her cheek.

  Mori Aoi blushed and hugged back.

  Wei Zhi glared at Shae Harris but dropped it when Mori Aoi turned to him.

  He was about to smile at her when he caught the smirk on Shae Harris’ face.

  Then the cheerful girl proceeded to rub her cheeks on Mori Aoi, causing her to giggle.

  Wei Zhi felt very irritated and had thoughts of pulling them apart.

  His glare was sharp, but Shae Harris paid no mind.

  “He’s bullying me,” she pouted, looking wronged while pointing at Wei Zhi.

  “He didn’t mean it, right?” Mori Aoi comforted her, not even sparing the boy a glance.

  Wei Zhi was speechless.

  “Just choose already,” he huffed and looked away with his arms crossed.

  “What do you think I should get?” Shae Harris held the menu to Mori Aoi’s face, coincidentally blocking her sight from Wei Zhi opposite them.

  Wei Zhi: shameless.

  “What about this one?” Mori Aoi pointed at the one she had seen customers buy the most when she worked at another pizza place.

  Plus, her sister with strict taste also seemed to like it.

  Maybe that was why she didn’t force Mori Aoi to eat her leftovers that one time.

  At least that’s what Mori Aoi thought that day, as she watched her sister throw the empty box—with stains—at her face.

  “Alright, I’ve decided,” Shae Harris smiled.

  “Get on with it then,” Wei Zhi urged, hoping Shae Harris would be stuck eating and leave Mori Aoi alone with him.

  Realizing his thoughts, Wei Zhi blushed at the back of his neck.

  Then turned around looking shifty, wondering if anyone saw it.

  Yi Zheng, seated behind them alone on an empty table: smile.

  Wei Zhi: !!!

  He shrunk his head back and focused on the conversation while dying in embarrassment inside.

  “What is it?” Mori Aoi asked curiously.

  “I want everything,” Shae Harris smiled triumphantly while slamming the menu down on the table.

  “Are you sure you don’t have a black hole hidden in your body?” Wei Zhi rolled his eyes.

  If it was anyone else he would question their ability, but he had already seen how gluttonous Shae Harris was.

  “No, it’s called natural talent,” Shae Harris raised her chin high.

  “That’s amazing,” Mori Aoi clapped.

  “That’s useless,” Wei Zhi retorted at the same time.

  Both were startled and looked at each other.

  “See, he’s being so mean to me even after I just watched the guy I like die,” Shae Harris, playing the role of the aggrieved wife, clung to Mori Aoi.

  Mori Aoi pursed her lips and looked at Wei Zhi sadly.

  Wei Zhi felt his throat block and an ache in his chest.

  “Actually it’s an amazing talent—after all, some people can’t even eat a bite while she could eat a whole house,” Wei Zhi panicked.

  “Now he’s saying compared to others I have an eating problem,” Shae Harris wailed even more and clung tighter.

  Mori Aoi’s gaze became even more complex.

  Wei Zhi: shameless.

  “You aren’t fat at all, just skin and bones,” Wei Zhi blurted out.

  “Now he’s saying I’m so skinny that I could never have a boyfriend because I’m too ugly,” Shae Harris hiccuped and buried her head on Mori Aoi’s shoulder.

  Mori Aoi soothed her.

  Wei Zhi wanted to curse but wisely shut his mouth.

  He had realized Shae Harris’s formidable tongue.

  Shae Harris, who was pretending to be sad, was smirking in her mind.

  Want to go against me? Dream on.

  I could contend one-on-one with my parents and those awful doctors to get my way.

  Although the apocalypse happened on my first day outside, at least I never lost when it comes to words in front of them.

  A coward like you shouldn’t even dream of beating me.

  Wei Zhi: girl, I can hear you gloating in your mind from over here.

  “I’m going to bring out your pizza as an apology,” Wei Zhi forced a smile and went straight for the kitchen.

  Mori Aoi glanced at his angry figure and bit her lip.

  “That idiot forgot he doesn’t know how to cook or anything related to preparing food.

  Sister, why don’t you go too?” Shae Harris rubbed her face against the girl one last time before sending her away.

  “Okay,” Mori Aoi snapped out of her daze and hurried to the kitchen.

  Shae Harris clapped her hands, feeling accomplished, and brought out her console.

  “Hey Yi Zheng, wanna play?” Shae Harris waved it at him.

  Yi Zheng wanted to say no at first but then changed his mind.

  He sat down opposite her on the seat beside where Wei Zhi had sat.

  “I believe you can figure it out,” Shae Harris handed him the console.

  True to her words, the young man easily handled it.

  “You know, next time sit with us,” Shae Harris smiled while holding her head up with her hands.

  “Huh?” Yi Zheng asked her in confusion.

  “You’re too uptight all the time. Relax.” Shae Harris patted his shoulder.

  Oddly enough, Yi Zheng felt his shoulder easing slightly.

  “Well good enough. Now, are you ready to lose, old man?” Shae Harris shrugged.

  Yi Zheng snorted, then began to play a random game.

  ---

  In the kitchen, Wei Zhi was blushing and gazing at the hand that tugged at his sleeve.

  “Don’t be angry,” Mori Aoi said softly while biting her lips.

  Wei Zhi got distracted and became focused on her lips.

  Mori Aoi thought he was still too angry and bit her lips tighter.

  “Don’t,” Wei Zhi, who was not thinking straight, raised a finger to her lips.

  Mori Aoi was stunned, while Wei Zhi was now out of his daze and mortified.

  He placed the same hand on her head and rubbed it fiercely.

  “Hey!” she pouted and pinched his arm.

  “Cute,” Wei Zhi smiled at her reaction.

  Mori Aoi huffed and snatched a stack of pizza boxes out of the warmer, then walked out.

  Wei Zhi followed behind her, also holding a stack while grinning foolishly.

  The group dived into their food after that with light-hearted conversation, and Yi Zheng sat at the same table.

  ---

  Meanwhile at the hospital base, Paul had finished telling his story.

  “That’s it, huh?” Alex said, rubbing his chin.

  He wasn’t surprised at the hidden evil of the hospital, since after all, it was owned by a noble.

  Nobles, unlike their name, were hypocritical, treacherous, and vile human beings.

  Being killed by them in his previous lives had taught him that.

  But right now, that wasn’t enough to investigate anything about the evil entity.

  Neither had the system revealed any hint.

  “Ah, right—the leading doctor who oversees the patients with special illnesses is the leader of the base,” Paul slammed his forehead as he remembered.

  [ Investigate the leader of the base ]

  the system prompted.

  Alex let out a chilling smile.

  Paul shivered and moved back.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Alex glanced at him.

  “Nothing, I just realized we’ve been here quite a long time,” Paul said, glancing at the door.

  Alex didn’t bother to say goodbye and swiftly left the room.

  He took a walk while trying to formulate plans on how to sneak into the building, browsing through the system shop.

  Paul, on the other hand, sighed in relief, then went off to look for people in need of help.

  The two were busy till the end of the day and didn’t cross paths, much to Alex’s satisfaction.

  Now it was dark and everyone was asleep.

  Paul glanced at the empty mattress beside him and then at the door, which hadn’t been opened by Alex since morning.

  Paul hesitated whether to look for Alex or not, then thought about whether he would be left alive by his neighbor if he did.

  Paul tossed and turned until he fell asleep after praying.

  Alex, who he was worried about, was on his way to the building for the special patients with unique illnesses.