5. The Crumpled Paper

Ma En stood at the doorway, watching the spot where the woman’s figure had vanished.

In his discharge plan, Dr. Xu was one of the most critical figures. Had this incident not occurred, Ma En had intended to find an opportunity to meet with his attending physician within the next two days.

Should he go to Ward 721 to meet her? The suspicious woman’s behavior made it seem as though she were being watched by someone. In a normal world, Ma En might have dismissed her as mentally ill. However, he had just suffered a memory collapse following an attack by an ability user a few days ago, and Dr. Li, with whom he had a cooperative relationship, had died in an "accident" last month. Consequently, Ma En held a skeptical attitude toward the thin woman’s words.

This was certainly not the ramblings of a madman, but if he were to foolishly place his full trust in her, he might be led, step by step, into a predicament that could cost him his life. Moreover, from Ma En’s perspective, Dr. Xu killing his former partner was not the issue. The real questions were what Dr. Xu’s goals were, whether there was an irreconcilable conflict between them, and if the doctor was capable of rational communication.

Even if the suspicious woman hadn’t lied to him, it didn’t mean Ma En had to cooperate with her. He was no masked vigilante. Perhaps this Xu Wen was a villain who had killed Dr. Li last month and had been plotting something against Ma En just minutes ago, but what did that have to do with the current him?

He held significant leverage in his hands. Furthermore, he possessed a powerful ability that allowed him to negotiate with most living creatures. The Ma En of the past had even noted in his journal that when necessary, he could display his level of danger in a measured way... because, just like him, most anomalous entities did not want to die.

Judging by his own sensations and the descriptions in his notebook, even if his opponent were a monster with a metallic body and self-healing abilities, he had ways to kill it. Theoretically, with proper preparation, he could handle quite dangerous attacks. Even while he slept, ordinary firearms could not penetrate the psychic barrier he maintained around his body.

Ma En slammed the door and headed toward the nearby residence of Ning Changkong. Of all the people he had encountered, this young girl was the most suitable for gathering intelligence.

But before he had walked far, a familiar female figure appeared before him: Dr. Liu Yujun, who hosted the support group.

The doctor walked straight toward Ma En, stopped in front of him, and said with an unpleasant tone, "Ma En, I have something I need to talk to you about."

Before coming to find him, Liu Yujun had gone to see her superior, Xu Wen, to request that Ma En be removed from her group, even going so far as to lie that his mental state had recently become unstable. However, Dr. Xu had righteously refused her: "I don't think that is a suitable reason. Lu Yide’s danger level is far higher than his; if you want to kick Ma En out, you might as well put Lu Yide in solitary confinement first."

What a jerk, Liu Yujun thought, gritting her teeth. If that old codger surnamed Li hadn't died last month, Xu Wen wouldn't have been parachuted in as her direct superior, and she couldn't even blame him.

"What is it?" Ma En looked at her with a calm expression. He had already realized that Liu Yujun didn't like him, but compared to the imminent crises he was facing, this minor matter was nothing.

Liu Yujun stared at Ma En with cold eyes. "You shouldn't have said you wanted to be discharged. I have to submit a report on everything you say in every group session. Now my superior thinks you are mentally unstable. Do you know what that means?"

Ma En asked, confused, "Should I be more careful next time?"

"How could it be that simple?" She glared at him viciously. "They are now placing you in a three-month danger observation period. Not only will you be unable to be discharged for these months, but your subsidy eligibility might also be re-evaluated."

Ma En was puzzled. "What..."

Liu Yujun interrupted him, pulling a clipboard from her chest and handing the paper and a black pen to Ma En. "I went to great lengths to convince them to give you another chance. Sign this, spend a week in the isolation ward, don't cause any trouble, and you can go through the normal discharge procedures next week. Stop saying things like that in public."

She was lying. Once he signed the contract, she would have the justification to transfer him to another group. Although this matter wouldn't stay hidden for long, considering the sum of money she was about to receive, the risk was negligible. Three million Federation credits. Once she pulled off this deal, she would resign from her job immediately and live the life she had always dreamed of. Normally, an intern like her would only make two hundred thousand, and the original amount already exceeded the total she had earned in her eleven-year career. She had the unlucky Dr. Li to thank for that.

"Thank you for looking out for me," Ma En said with a gentle smile. "But no, thank you."

Ma En didn't know what a danger observation period was, but he couldn't afford to waste time, and he had never intended to follow the rules for his discharge anyway.

Upon hearing this, Dr. Liu’s face turned black instantly. She hadn't expected Ma En to reject her "help." He couldn't afford the consequences.

"You didn't hear me," she said, her tone hardening. "Sign this. Don't be selfish. You know your sister can't afford the full costs..."

Ma En watched her without answering immediately. She didn't seem to be truly helping him.

Ma En asked in a gentle tone, "Dr. Liu, is there something you want to tell me? If there is, there must be a way to handle this that is acceptable to both of us..."

She suddenly grabbed the black pen, staring at Ma En with icy eyes. "Sign it, unless you want to be the next Dr. Li..."

*Snap.*

Ma En narrowed his eyes, studying her expression carefully, and lowered his voice. "Do you know what happened to Dr. Li?"

Dr. Liu looked down at him. "At the Victor Sanitarium, all accidental deaths have only one cause: someone offended the wrong person."

It seemed she didn't know. Ma En explained calmly, "Actually, I have more money than I look like I have. If..."

"That money of yours can't buy anything." Liu Yujun had no interest in his pittance. "And even if you had money, it wouldn't matter. This isn't about money anymore. Sign it and leave it on my desk, Ma En... You have a responsible sister; think about her."

She shoved the consent form into his hands and turned to walk away without looking back, as if she didn't care at all what Ma En chose.

Ma En watched her retreating back, subconsciously crumpled the consent form into a ball, and tossed it in a perfect arc, watching it drop precisely into the center of the trash can.

Are there lunatics everywhere in this hospital?