Like a Bird Escaping Its Cage, I Spread My Wings and Flew Straight to Kamar-Taj

"Fired?!"

The hospital directors and senior executives were all stunned by Stephen Strange's suggestion.

The directors only wanted to make Richard one of their own, so he could serve them wholeheartedly.

But they had never considered firing a top surgical specialist.

The hospital executives all looked at Strange strangely.

A backstab? Kicking someone when he was down?

How could the ever-proud Strange possibly do something like that?

The doctors wore expressions of disbelief.

"Doctor Strange, you..." President Elwin opened his mouth.

"Everything is for the hospital, President Elwin." Stephen Strange spoke with righteous confidence. "I'm only telling the truth."

However grand he made it sound, he really was stabbing someone in the back.

Because he was afraid!

His status at Manhattan Presbyterian Hospital was high because he was the only top surgeon focused on serving the powerful and wealthy.

But if Richard joined as well!

He would no longer be the only one!

The powerful and wealthy would have another option, and his status would plummet!

"To prove that I'm not targeting Doctor Richard, I declare that I will not leave Presbyterian Hospital for the next ten years."

"This clause can be written into my next contract."

Having said that, Stephen Strange calmly sat down.

But his words threw the hospital directors into an uproar.

"Gentlemen, Doctor Strange is the better choice!"

"That's right! Strange's medical skills are no worse than Richard's, and he has always served us."

"Are we really going to let a world-class surgeon like Richard go just like that?"

"Let him go. Can you really trust someone who isn't on the same side as us to treat you?"

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

The hospital directors quickly reached a consensus.

Fire Richard!

President Elwin gave Strange a disappointed look, rose to his feet, and turned to leave without saying a word.

The other hospital executives exchanged glances and fell silent.

The next day, as soon as Richard entered the hospital, David, the deputy director of the medical affairs office, stopped him.

"Doctor Richard, please come with me to the medical affairs office."

Richard paused slightly, but seeing David's grave expression, he nodded. "All right!"

Medical Affairs Office.

Deputy Director David took out a dismissal notice and pushed it toward Richard.

"Doctor Richard, here is a notice. I hope you can sign it."

Richard took the notice and casually flipped through it, scanning the contents at a glance.

"So the hospital board wants to fire me?"

Richard looked at the notice, completely unable to understand it.

As he had said before, no hospital had ever dared to fire a top surgical specialist without cause.

Had the directors of New York Presbyterian Hospital collectively gotten water in their brains?

Deputy Director David put on a fake smile. "Doctor Richard, signing this notice is good for you and good for the hospital."

Richard tossed the dismissal notice onto the table, crossed his arms, and spoke expressionlessly.

"Because I was shot?"

"Because the police summoned me for questioning?"

Deputy Director David reached out and pushed the dismissal notice toward Richard again. The fake smile remained on his face, but his tone was firm.

"The shooting incident has brought significant negative impact to the hospital."

"The hospital board is worried that if you remain at the hospital, the next attack may very well happen inside the hospital."

A flash of fury passed through Richard's eyes.

"Now that you've put it that way, even if I don't sign, I'll be forcibly fired anyway, right?"

Deputy Director David maintained his fake smile. "It's all for the hospital. Please understand, Doctor Richard."

Richard waved a hand and decisively said, "No need to make things difficult for yourself. I'll sign."

With that, he picked up the pen on the table and signed his name with a flourish.

"Goodbye, Deputy Director David." Richard stood, turned gracefully, and walked away.

Richard had just left the hospital when Christine hurried after him.

Seeing her blue surgical scrubs, Richard gave a bitter smile and tapped her smooth forehead.

"You just ran straight out of the operating room?"

"Richard, why are you leaving?" Christine stared into his eyes, asking with hurt confusion.

"This wasn't my choice, Christine." Richard spread his hands with a bitter smile. "The hospital board fired me."

"What? Did they get water in their brains?" Christine was utterly shocked and baffled.

"Who knows..." Richard had not finished speaking.

Bzzzt~

His phone vibrated in his pocket. Richard took it out and saw that it was President Elwin.

"Good morning, President Elwin."

"Richard, have you left already?" President Elwin's voice sounded exhausted.

Richard noticed it, and his expression softened somewhat. "Yeah, I've already passed through the hospital gates."

President Elwin apologized in a dejected tone. "I'm sorry, Richard. I voted against it at the hospital board meeting, but I was powerless to stop them."

"Thank you, President Elwin." Richard broke into a bright smile. "Hearing you say that suddenly makes me feel much better."

"By the way, President Elwin, who proposed firing me at the board meeting?" Richard was still smiling, but there was a hint of chill in his tone.

"..." President Elwin hesitated before quietly saying, "Perhaps I shouldn't tell you, but it was Doctor Strange."

"Him!" Richard was somewhat surprised. That answer truly caught him off guard.

After hanging up, Christine, who had been eavesdropping beside him, immediately turned into an angry kitten, baring her claws as she cursed, "That bastard Stephen Strange! Why would he do this?!"

Richard chuckled. "Because he likes you."

"Huh?" Christine was shocked, stammering in fright. "Th-that's impossible!"

Christine's adorably dazed expression was so cute that Richard could not resist cupping her cheeks in both hands and kneading them.

"Oh my, who told my Christine to be this adorable~"

"Bastard, let go of me." Christine's face reddened as her little fists repeatedly pounded Richard's chest.

"That isn't the only reason. There's also me." Richard released her with an amused smile and continued, "Remember what I told you? The standard Strange path."

"Ah! So it was that!" Christine suddenly understood, then indignantly said, "Then you two can compete fairly!"

"You're wrong, darling." Richard's smile vanished as he raised one finger. "Being the only one is the standard Strange path."

"Once another one appears..." Richard raised his other hand and held up another finger. "Then there is a choice, and Strange is no longer important."

"..." Christine fell silent. "I'm leaving with you!"

"No!" Richard hurriedly stopped her. "Wait until I get settled again..."

"I can't be that selfish, Christine."

"..." Christine pouted resentfully.

Richard amusedly rubbed her hair and gave another reason. "Remember my nightmare? I need to find somewhere to resolve it."

The moment Christine heard that, she no longer cared about being upset. She quickly grabbed Richard's hand and asked worriedly, "Where are you going?"

"Well, I need to seek out Eastern Buddhism or Taoism to deal with this." Richard gently hugged Christine. "Don't worry about me. Go back to work."

"Then, then you have to call me when you're out there." Christine let go of Richard and reluctantly turned toward the hospital.

Halfway there, she suddenly turned back and shouted, "Every day!"

"..." Richard waved as he watched Christine enter the hospital.

The next second, his gaze turned cold.

"Stephen Strange?"

"The future Doctor Strange?"

"You dared to scheme against me!"

"One good turn deserves another!"

"I now declare..."

"Doctor Strange is being replaced!"