Vampire Doctor

Vampire Doctor

When they opened Veil's front door, a wave of stench hit them. Lisa hurriedly took out a handkerchief and covered her nose.

One could imagine the miserable state of a person with paralyzed lower limbs and no one to care for them.

Hobart fanned the air before his nose and stepped inside. There was nothing valuable left in the room; it had clearly all been looted.

A man in his forties lay on the bed. His face was covered in stubble, and he looked utterly disheveled. This was Veil after his injury.

Moldy food and empty liquor bottles lay scattered across the floor. Veil clutched a bottle in his hand and glared at Hobart with bloodshot eyes. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Who I am isn't important." Hobart opened the windows to air out the room. "Where are your parents?"

Veil sneered. "Dead long ago."

"And your wife?"

"That bitch ran off long ago!" She had even taken the savings he had accumulated over the years.

"Allow me to make a bold guess," Hobart said. "In your current condition, you probably won't survive another half a month."

Veil stared at Hobart. "What do you want? I don't remember offending you."

"Or I can give you some money and hire a female servant to look after you for a while, until you get used to living with paralysis." Hobart coaxed him patiently.

Veil was initially incredulous, then seemed to understand something. "What do you need me to do?"

Hobart stopped beating around the bush. "Withdraw the charges against Xue."

Veil said viciously, "Impossible! She made me lose my legs. Let her spend the rest of her life in prison!"

"You didn't die on the spot," Hobart said. "This can only count as intentional injury. With me defending her, she'll be out in three or four years at most."

"Oh, Goddess, look at the state of this world!" Veil drunkenly shouted. "The murderer who crippled me hasn't received the punishment she deserves at all!"

Hobart waved his hand impatiently. "Enough. The fact that you're still alive is already the Goddess's greatest mercy. Let's talk business. I'll give you 300 Pounds, and you withdraw the charges. Or I'll come collect your corpse in half a month."

Hobart had been clumsily using his "Distortion" ability, hoping to distort Veil's thoughts.

But Veil only stared at Hobart, breathing heavily. After a long while, he said, "I want 3,000 Pounds."

Hobart was somewhat disappointed. Clearly, his "Distortion" ability had not had much effect.

The Young Man who had brought Hobart here had been watching the show outside. When he heard Veil's offer, his jaw nearly dropped.

"I'll agree to your demand," Hobart said with a smile. "Then, once you withdraw the charges, I'll spend 100 Pounds to hire someone to kill you."

Veil looked at Hobart's cheerful smile with a hint of terror.

"Brother, your price is too high," Hobart said.

"Then 2,000 Pounds. I won't go any lower."

Hobart still shook his head.

Veil sneered. "My life is worthless anyway. Young Lawyer, come collect my corpse in half a month. But tell that dog-bastard Arbiter to prepare for prison as well."

Hobart considered it briefly. "Then let's change the terms. I'll find you a doctor and get you back on your feet, and then you withdraw the charges!"

Veil was excited at first, but then he shook his head dejectedly. "I've seen many doctors. They all said there's no way I can stand again."

Hobart continued using his "Distortion" ability to influence Veil's thoughts. He said coldly, "Forgive my bluntness, but what kind of good doctor could you possibly afford?"

Veil froze, as if he had suddenly seen the light. Right, what good doctor could a thug from the East End find? Earlier, he had been carried to a hospital in Jowood District, and the doctor there had been the best doctor he had ever seen.

Hope reignited within him. "If you cure me, and give me another 300 Pounds—"

Hobart cut him off. "You can choose either the money or treatment. My patience is limited. If you keep acting like a rogue, you'll get nothing."

He was a little excited inside, because his influence had taken some effect.

"Fine, fine, fine! I choose treatment!" Veil said. "But I won't withdraw the charges until there's obvious improvement."

Hobart nodded and asked the Young Man peeking in from outside, "What's your name?"

"Pete, sir. My name is Pete."

Hobart took out another 1 Pound banknote. "All right, Pete. Are you willing to run an errand for me today? If you are, you'll earn another 1 Pound."

Pete immediately entered the room and reached for the banknote. "Of course!"

But Hobart put the money away. "You'll get it after the job is done. For now, find four vagrants and tell them I'm hiring them for one day. I'll pay each of them 6 Sule."

"Happy to help." Pete turned and went out.

He quickly returned with four vagrants. Hobart then had Pete rent a carriage, and had the vagrants carry Veil to a nearby bathhouse to wash up. He also found someone to shave Veil and cut his hair.

When they came out of the bathhouse, Veil, carried by the vagrants, looked at least ten years younger.

It was already noon. Hobart found a nearby coffeehouse for lunch and had the four vagrants come in to eat with them.

The four vagrants thanked Hobart profusely. Two of them even shed tears; it had been a very long time since they had eaten a proper meal.

Hobart kept reminding them to eat slowly, which kept them from choking on their food.

The food here was extremely greasy, but Hobart still finished every bite. After taking a turn around the East End, he felt that wasting any food was shameful.

Lisa, however, seemed to have no appetite. She barely touched the lunch ordered for her. After getting Lisa's permission, Hobart divided her meal among the four vagrants.

After lunch, Hobart said to the coachman, "South Bridge District, Riverbend Avenue."

The coachman asked, "Sir, what number exactly?"

"I've forgotten too. Once we reach Riverbend Avenue, I'll get out and ask for directions." That was the truth. The address of the Vampire White Family had only appeared a few times. He was already grateful that he could remember it was on Riverbend Avenue.

After the carriage began moving, Lisa asked worriedly from the two-wheeled carriage leading the way, "Mr. Hobart, I'm not a doctor, but even I can tell Veil is seriously injured. Are you sure you can cure him?"

Hobart smiled. "Whether I'm sure or not isn't for me to decide. It depends on what the doctor says."

"But the doctor I know is very special, and his medical skills are superb. If he says Veil can't be cured, then Veil truly is beyond saving."

Lisa did not pursue the topic, and the carriage fell quiet again.

When they reached Riverbend Avenue, most of the residents here were middle-class families. Only walking along these streets did one feel as though they had returned to the human world.

Hobart got out and asked a passerby. He quickly obtained the address of Doctor White, who specialized in Bloodletting Therapy: 48 Riverbend Avenue.

When they knocked on the door of Number 48, a young vampire—no, a young man—opened it for them. "Who are you looking for?"

Hobart asked, "We've come to see Doctor White. Are you Doctor White?"

"No, I'm his son, Emlyn White."

Thanks to Yuzhe for today's 200-point tip.