Chapter 247: Hospital and Ice Cream
"The price of Beyonder materials has gone up quite a bit recently. Is it because of the government's actions a while ago…?"
Lorne, who had just come out of a Beyonder gathering hosted by Mr. A, grumbled.
These past few days, many underground Beyonder gatherings in Backlund had ceased. For example, the gathering hosted by the senior Mr. Eye of Wisdom that he had attended before, he hadn't seen any veiled news about it in the corners of newspapers for a long time.
However, this time's harvest was not bad. He successfully bought a complete venom sac of a "Dark Lurker," which meant that the potion materials Lachi needed for her advancement were almost complete.
It was just that the price was a bit painful, costing him a full 600 pounds, nearly thirty percent higher than the usual market price.
"Sigh, never mind. During special times, it can't be helped to be a sucker once in a while," Lorne comforted himself, putting the lead box containing the venom sac into his personal space.
Unconsciously, he arrived in the East Borough. He originally intended to make a detour to his gun factory to check on the recent production situation.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he turned a corner, a familiar figure unexpectedly came into his sight.
"Xiu?"
Lorne looked at the small figure with golden hair in the distance, sitting alone by the window of a cheap coffee shop on the street, seemingly resting.
"Is she here on an arbitration mission?"
"Perfect, I can tell her about the gun factory."
Thinking this, Lorne put on a gentle smile and quickly walked over to greet her proactively.
"We meet again, Miss Xiu."
"Sc— Mr. Scott?" Xiu was staring blankly into her coffee cup and was startled by the sudden voice. When she saw who it was, a clear look of surprise appeared on her face.
She had just finished an arbitration mission and was looking for a place to rest, never expecting to meet Lorne here.
"You look very tired. Did you encounter any trouble?" Lorne naturally sat down opposite her, his tone filled with concern.
"No," Xiu shook her head, then asked with a suspicious look, "Mr. Scott, why are you here?"
"I just finished my work and wanted to find a place to rest," Lorne said sincerely, "I never expected to meet Sister Xiu here. We really have quite a fate."
Xiu lowered her head somewhat unnaturally, her cheeks slightly flushed. She always felt that every time the other party said "fated," he was teasing her.
"Oh, by the way, Miss Xiu, I happen to have something I'd like to ask for your help with," Lorne changed the subject, speaking in a slightly pleading tone.
"Ah— what is it?" Xiu was a little surprised. A Beyonder as formidable as Mr. Scott actually wanted her help?
But as soon as she spoke, she realized her words were a bit off. She had personally promised back then that she would be willing to do anything if he asked.
"If— if it's something I can do, I will definitely help."
Of course, if it's that kind of thing— I, I'll definitely have to consider it— after all, I don't know him very well yet, and I don't have any plans for that right now—
Seeing Xiu's flushed cheeks and evasive, shy look, Lorne seemed to guess something and couldn't help but chuckle, reassuring her:
"Don't worry, it's just a small matter."
The Loggett Mechanical Factory, compared to its previous lifeless state, clearly had more people, and the sound of machines could be faintly heard from inside.
Lorne brought Xiu here.
"Old Kohler." Lorne walked to the small room next to the main gate, which served as a gatehouse, and called out.
"Cough cough— Mr. Scott!" Hearing the familiar voice, Old Kohler quickly ran out of the room.
"Are you sick?" Lorne noticed that his complexion was a bit off, and he was breaking out in a cold sweat on his forehead.
"Just a small cold, sir. The weather hasn't been good recently, and many people are like this," Old Kohler waved his hand, "Don't worry, I can hold on."
Lorne subtly activated his Spirit Vision, scanning the other person and finding that Old Kohler's spiritual body color was mixed with some Darkness representing illness, but overall, it was still within a safe range.
"If possible, still buy some medicine and don't tough it out," Lorne advised.
"This is Miss Xiu Dilcha," Lorne turned sideways to introduce to Old Kohler.
"This is Old Kohler, the Gatekeeper of the factory."
"Hello, Mr. Kohler," Xiu bowed slightly, greeting him very politely.
"You— Hello, Miss Dilcha," Old Kohler, however, seemed a bit flustered and awkward.
"Nothing happened at the factory these past two days, right?" Lorne asked.
"No, sir. Because of your generosity, everyone is very motivated, and many old workers who left before have returned—"
Lorne nodded slightly.
Mr. Scott is really a good person— Xiu, who was standing by, listened and her impression of Lorne improved a few more points.
"By the way, Old Kohler, have any gang members come to harass you recently?" Lorne got to the point.
"Not yet."
"Yet?"
Old Kohler sighed, a worried expression on his face: "Sir, there are too many gangs in the East Borough. Before, perhaps because this factory was on the verge of bankruptcy, they didn't care for this place.
But now you have not only resumed production but also increased wages for the workers. I'm afraid… I'm afraid this place will eventually be targeted."
"You just need to do your job and stay vigilant," Lorne glanced at Xiu beside him, "If you truly encounter any special situation that you can't resolve, you can go to Sister Xiu."
Xiu also stepped forward and said to Old Kohler, "Yes, Mr. Kohler. If a gang really comes to cause trouble, you can come to me."
Her tone was full of confidence. As for gangs, she had arbitrated countless cases over the years and was quite experienced in this area.
Old Kohler hesitated, sizing up Xiu. Looking at her height, which only reached his chin, he asked hesitantly:
"Does Sister Dilcha know someone at the police station, or does she have other backing—"
"No, she can handle it herself," Lorne said.
"Herself?" Old Kohler's face was filled with surprise. He had seen many gang members in the East Borough; although most of them were bullies, there were also desperate ruffians among them. Could such a short— a lady who wasn't tall enough— really handle it?
"What, you don't believe it?" Lorne saw his doubts and chuckled, "An ordinary gang is no match for her."
"The number of gangs she has 'educated' might be more than you've ever seen. Wouldn't you say so?" He turned his head, glancing at Xiu beside him.
"Of course! I'm very strong!" Xiu understood and even made a flexing motion. Although her thin arms looked completely unconvincing.
"I believe Mr. Scott." Since the boss said so, Old Kohler couldn't say anything more.
They briefly explained how to contact them in case of a special situation, and Lorne also asked Xiu to come around this area often when she had time.
So it was just this kind of thing— Xiu breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, but there was also a faint, indescribable sense of disappointment.
Fortunately, the request was not something embarrassing. The disappointment was— she realized she might have subtly expected something else just now.
Just then, a commotion and argument suddenly came from the factory workshop.
"Something happened?"
Lorne and the others immediately pushed through the crowd and hurried over.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Old Kohler grabbed a familiar worker and asked.
"It's John! John— he suddenly fainted!"
Lorne pushed into the center of the crowd and saw the man in dark blue overalls lying on the cold ground.
His face was green, his lips were black, and he was unconscious with a pained expression.
Lorne immediately activated his Spirit Vision and found that John's spiritual body color was dim, shrouded in a thick, unhealthy Darkness, indicating a very serious condition.
"How was his health normally? Has he always been unwell?" Lorne asked in a deep voice to a nearby co-worker.
"No, no, sir!" The co-worker quickly shook his head, "John's health has always been very good. He's an old worker in our factory and very strong. It's just— it's just that he seemed to have a bit of a cold two days ago, and today while working, he suddenly—"
A cold— could it be complications from acute influenza? Lorne's gaze swept over the surroundings, noticing that while the surrounding workers watching all had worried expressions, no one dared to step forward to help.
Are they afraid of being infected—
"Old Kohler," he came to Old Kohler's side and asked in a low voice, "Are you afraid of being infected?"
"No!" Old Kohler answered without hesitation.
"Alright then," Lorne immediately made a decision, "Old Kohler, lend a hand. We'll take him to the hospital."
Hospital!
Hearing this word, Old Kohler's face showed a difficult expression: "But sir, John's family situation is very bad, I'm afraid— I'm afraid they can't afford the hospital fees."
"I'm the boss, I'll pay for him," Lorne said simply and decisively.
He turned to Xiu beside him: "Xiu, please, go find a hansom cab outside the factory immediately."
"Understood!" Xiu didn't hesitate at all, immediately turned around, and quickly ran out of the factory.
Amidst the complex gazes of shock, admiration, and gratitude from the surrounding workers, Lorne and Old Kohler, one on each side, helped the unconscious John to his feet and lifted him into a hansom cab that had just arrived.
"To the hospital! The nearest one!"
The carriage began to bump, and Lorne looked at the rapidly receding streetscape outside the window, deep in thought.
By having Old Kohler help save someone, his standing in the hearts of the workers would surely greatly increase. If anything happened at the factory in the future, he would also be able to more easily inquire about the information he wanted.
As it was his first time at a hospital of this era, Lorne was not very familiar with the various procedures. It was with the help of Xiu and Old Kohler that he managed to complete the admission procedures.
The doctor's diagnosis was similar to Lorne's guess: severe complications caused by an acute cold. Moreover, because John had not rested at all after falling ill and had continued to work intensely while sick, his condition had rapidly worsened in a short period.
Rest? For them, rest might mean losing their job, meaning starving to death. How could they dare to rest— Lorne sighed silently in his heart after listening to the doctor's explanation.
He first paid two pounds in medical fees for John, then looked at Old Kohler, who also looked unwell.
"Old Kohler, how are you feeling? Do you want the doctor to check you too?"
"No, no need, sir! I'm fine!" Old Kohler repeatedly waved his hand in refusal. He cherished this job very much and didn't want to leave Lorne with the impression that he was physically weak.
Seeing how resistant he was, Lorne activated his Spirit Vision again to scan him. Fortunately, Old Kohler's condition was not too serious. He could only instruct the other party to definitely buy some medicine and not tough it out.
After all the procedures were completed, Old Kohler volunteered to stay at the hospital, saying he would watch over John until he woke up. Lorne and Xiu, on the other hand, left the hospital side by side.
"Being a boss is quite troublesome," Lorne remarked, turning to look at the girl silently walking beside him, "Xiu, thank you for your trouble today, accompanying me on this trip."
"It's nothing," Xiu, who had been thinking about something behind him, was suddenly called by name, paused for a moment, and then replied with a smile, "This way— it's quite nice too."
She paused, then as if plucking up courage, she actively asked: "Did you— just call me by my first name?"
"—" Lorne was slightly stunned, then chuckled and apologized, "I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself—"
"It's nothing—" Xiu lowered her head, her voice a few shades lighter, "Actually— this way of addressing me is quite nice."
"Alright then, Xiu." Lorne shrugged, going along with it.
"Mm." Xiu softly responded, lowered her head, and said nothing more.
The two arrived at the roadside, preparing to hail a hansom cab to go back.
Just then, Lorne noticed a very nice-looking street coffee shop nearby.
He looked up at the sky. After all the busyness, it was already past lunchtime, now it was afternoon.
"Want to grab something to drink? My treat," Lorne suggested.
"—Alright," Xiu didn't refuse.
The two sat down at an outdoor table outside the coffee shop.
Xiu ordered her usual Earl Grey tea.
Lorne, on the other hand, looked at the menu and fell into thought. To be honest, he didn't really feel like coffee right now, and he wasn't used to drinking black tea. After a moment of thought, his gaze fell on the dessert section.
"I'll have a mixed-flavor ice cream."
Huh—
Xiu cast a slightly puzzled glance. She hadn't expected Scott to like ice cream, a somewhat childish dessert?
Lorne saw her thoughts and explained with a smile: "I really like desserts."
The ice cream was quickly brought over. Lorne picked up the small spoon, took a bite, and nodded with satisfaction.
"The taste is quite good."
Although it was still a bit inferior in texture compared to the ice cream at that luxurious restaurant in Bayam, for a street side shop, it was already quite good, even purer than many ice creams he had eaten before his transmigration.
Huh?
Just as he was happily enjoying his ice cream, he keenly noticed another gaze.
He followed the direction of the gaze and found a little boy holding Tarot cards not far away, staring motionless at him.