Chapter 69: Principal Plus Interest, A New Patient

Chapter 69: Principal Plus Interest, A New Patient

"Tsk, truly impossible to guard against!"

"Is this what they call 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind'?"

Though Ji Yan hadn’t fully trusted the Rat Player’s words from the start and had remained cautious, he never expected her to silently steal directly from his Toolbar!

How utterly absurd!

To think she could open another player’s game Toolbar and pilfer Supernatural Artifacts…

As Ji Yan pondered this, he then recalled that his own [Lies Parchment] was arguably even more outrageous, so his reaction softened somewhat.

Losing the Supernatural Eyeball didn’t sting as much, but the Rusted Hatchet was a real treasure—even if it was damaged, repairing it might even allow it to ascend to [Legendary] quality.

"Cunning, thievery… truly fitting for that zodiac’s nature."

Thinking of the Rat Player’s feigned innocent and vacant expression, Ji Yan had to admit that even with only 12 players in this Instance, each one was more slippery than the last, all playing mind games.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a note the Rat Player had slipped in at some point, bearing just four simple words:

"Thanks for the gifts."

"Heh, quite the gloat."

"She’d better hope we never cross paths again."

"Otherwise, stolen goods will be repaid with principal plus interest."

Closing the Toolbar, Ji Yan shook his head with a wry smile and got into bed to rest.

Gains and losses—he took them lightly.

---

Meanwhile, in another resting room.

The Rat Player was tallying tonight’s spoils, which were scattered but plentiful.

She held up the broken Rusted Hatchet and an eyeball that kept rolling around.

"This goat’s got quite the stash."

"Pity I only managed to snag two items. Who knows how many more treasures he’s hiding?"

She gleefully stored them away, feeling like even her sleep tonight would be sweet.

"I worked hard performing surgery on him and even used the [Flawless Medical Needle and Thread] on him out of pity. Taking a little interest isn’t too much, right?"

With that thought, the Rat Player drifted peacefully to sleep.

---

Early the next morning.

Hazy white mist seeped through the window, settling over bloodstained sheets.

Ji Yan, having slept only two hours, woke up on time, washed up briefly, and donned his white coat.

By daylight, Room 444 was desolate and quiet, a far cry from the bustling crowd of Female Supernatural Entities the night before.

Come morning, whether under the bed or inside the wardrobe, none of those nursing Supernaturals remained—clearly, they were NPCs that only spawned during Nighttime.

The moment Ji Yan stepped out, he found the Goat Supernatural Doctor already waiting at the door.

Its tall, slender frame exuded a soul-piercing eeriness even in broad daylight.

Compared to yesterday, its white coat was now stained with even more blood, while the fur on its head appeared even whiter.

Its pitch-black eyeballs, bulging from their sockets, fixed on Ji Yan, making his skin crawl. He forced a dry chuckle and greeted, "Good morning, Teacher."

"You left your room late at night."

"I—"

Before Ji Yan could speak, the Goat Supernatural Doctor cut him off as if reading his mind:

"You went to a very unclean place."

"You reek… of corpses."

The Goat Supernatural Doctor’s gaze was razor-sharp as it raised a hand and pressed it against Ji Yan’s crown.

Ji Yan's back was involuntarily drenched in cold sweat. Fortunately, the Goat Supernatural Doctor's icy tone soon softened: "You should be glad you weren't infected."

"Don’t go there again."

"That underground area is full of infection sources. I’ve told you before—if you get infected, your assessment fails, and I’ll have to train a new intern."

Ji Yan nodded vigorously.

But his keen instincts told him that the Goat Supernatural Doctor was nervous.

It was nervous—no, afraid—of him going to the Morgue!

What could possibly lurk down there that even a Zodiac Supernatural Doctor would fear?

"Still, I’m pleased you killed the Dog Supernatural Doctor’s intern."

"That dog has always been my sworn enemy. Losing its student must have dealt quite a blow."

The Goat Supernatural Doctor’s lips curled, revealing blood-red gums in a grin so horrifying it sent shivers down the spine.

The sight was too grotesque. Ji Yan couldn’t bring himself to meet its gaze and simply nodded in agreement.

"Today, you’ll be treating a special patient."

The Goat Supernatural Doctor handed him a report. Ji Yan glanced at it—A44 Ward, condition: Severe, transferred from the Emergency Building to the Inpatient Building due to improvement.

"Another transfer from the Emergency Building, and a Severe Patient at that..."

Seeing those glaring words on the report, Ji Yan thought to himself—this was stacking every death buff imaginable.

His internship was down to its final day, yet the Goat Supernatural Doctor seemed determined to make sure he didn’t survive!

"This patient is very important to the hospital. Recently, its condition has been worsening."

"There might—possibly—be a risk of the illness spiraling out of control, but as long as you’re careful, it should be fine."

Ji Yan’s heart sank.

If the Goat Supernatural Doctor was using words like "might possibly," this patient was beyond dangerous.

"Another Player will be assisting in the treatment."

"The one who passed the 'C-section' interview with you. That Zodiac has no conflict with us Goats, nor is it hostile."

"But don’t let it steal the spotlight. Even on your last day of internship, I expect a satisfactory performance."

With that, the Goat Supernatural Doctor turned and left.

The one who passed the C-section interview—was it a Pig or a Goat?

Puzzled, Ji Yan took the report and headed to the mission location.

A few minutes later, he arrived at A44 Ward in the Inpatient Building.

Standing outside the ward was a figure—but not the other Zodiac Player.

Instead, it was the Ghostly Nurse, clad in a yellowed, bloodstained uniform, her curvaceous figure wrapped in layers of gauze.

She looked straight out of Silent Hill.

"Goat Doctor, it’s time to begin the treatment."

"The patient has been waiting for you," the Ghostly Nurse intoned coldly from beneath her bandaged head.

"Where’s the other doctor?" Ji Yan glanced around but saw only himself and the Ghostly Nurse.

"The Pig Doctor has already entered the ward."

Hearing that the other had gone in first, Ji Yan wasn’t worried about losing the initiative. The patient in A44 was bound to be far more troublesome than Liu Yan in A22—he was counting on that Pig to scout out a few Danger Zones for him.

After the Ghostly Nurse opened the door, Ji Yan stepped inside.

The darkness faded, revealing an unexpectedly normal ward.

No filth.

No blood or horror.

Instead, it was clean, bright, and meticulously organized.

By the window seat, a woman in a luxurious black dress leaned against the sill, her long hair cascading like a dark waterfall. Her face was beautiful, her features flawless.

At that moment, she gazed out the window, her eyes hollow and lifeless.

Ji Yan scanned the room but saw no sign of the Pig Player—only the patient.

Where was he?

Just then, the woman by the window slowly turned her head toward Ji Yan and spoke softly, "The Pig just left... and now the Goat arrives."

Ji Yan rubbed his nose and responded as naturally as possible, "Hello, I’m the Goat Doctor assigned to treat you."

"Where... did the other doctor go?"

At Ji Yan’s question, the woman lifted her head, staring at the empty ceiling.

Her voice was eerie as she murmured, "The Pig Doctor?"

"My children didn’t like that doctor."

"He’s already in their bellies... Goat Doctor, don’t dwell on meaningless things. Please begin your treatment."

Her obsidian-black eyes, devoid of emotion, fixed on Ji Yan—cold, indifferent, and utterly empty.