The Observer had already traced the override key. The results painted a chilling picture.
Source: Private medical consortium linked to international capital.
Probability of coordinated influence: 82%
Estimated financial stakes per delayed case: $120,000–$500,000
Lin Chen leaned forward. The numbers weren't just statistics—they were motives.
Private hospitals thrived on inefficiency. Delayed emergency protocols meant more interventions, more revenue. And now, it seemed, they were orchestrating interference at the system level.
The Observer highlighted entities and connections:
Entity A: Global Health Equity Fund
Entity B: Westlake Regional Hospital executive board
Entity C: International Medical Oversight Consortium (indirect funding)
Observation: Flow of funds and influence suggests deliberate restriction of Observer efficiency.
Lin Chen's eyes narrowed.
"Observer, map all financial vectors connected to IMOC," he commanded.
The system projected a three-dimensional network, showing capital flows, board members, and influence paths. Red lines indicated high-probability interference; yellow lines, potential conflicts; green lines, neutral.
The picture was daunting.
One branch showed a significant investment in Westlake Regional's high-cost surgery department. Delays in Observer-guided interventions directly correlated with revenue spikes.
Observation: Delays = profit. Speed = loss.
A chill ran down Lin Chen's spine. They were playing a game where lives were currency. And he had just entered the table.
He sat back, fingers steepled. "If they profit from delay, then slowing me is their business strategy."
The Observer piped in:
Predictive Assessment: Hidden sponsor unlikely to stop voluntary interference.
Suggested countermeasures: Monitoring, exposure, and public transparency.
Lin Chen nodded. He had already begun the first step—transparency. But now he had to be proactive.
Decision: Identify the key human agents. Predict their next actions. Neutralize without detection.
He ran simulations:
Direct confrontation: High risk, immediate exposure, potential media scandal.
Silent tracking: Medium risk, slower impact, maintains public trust.
Financial disruption: Long-term, indirect, may provoke reaction.
Lin Chen analyzed probabilities. The Observer calculated optimized combination strategies.
Optimal Plan: Silent tracking + selective exposure.
Probability of preventing next interference: 73%
He leaned back, eyes on the network visualization. The hidden sponsor had resources, connections, and influence—but they had underestimated him.
Observer Prediction: Private hospitals prioritize profit over public image.
Weakest link: Executive directors with direct profit exposure.
Lin Chen's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Slow play," he muttered. "They make the mistakes, I just document them."
The Observer displayed another alert:
Threat Vector Update: Hidden sponsor influence spans multiple institutions.
Estimated financial leverage: $15M+
Predicted next interference attempt: ≤48 hours
Lin Chen stood, hands on the console. The stakes were higher than ever. But so were the tools at his disposal. Lives, data, and transparency were his weapons.
He tapped a series of commands. Live tracking of Westlake executives, IMOC board members, and potential corporate allies began immediately.
Numbers: Monitored entities: 17
Active alerts: 5
Predicted preventable incidents if ignored: ≥3
For the first time, Lin Chen felt the thrill of chess in real time, each move a life saved or lost.
Decision: Wait for the next move. Prepare countermeasures.
Threat: Human intervention with profit motive.
Numbers: 17 entities monitored, 3 preventable deaths at risk.
Lin Chen exhaled. The hidden sponsor was no longer invisible.
They were real. And now, so was he.
End of Chapter 107
Observer Alert: Hidden sponsor influence confirmed. Probability of repeated interference: High.
Next predicted escalation: ≤48 hours