Hospital 444
Chapter 384 - 1 Virgil

Chapter 384: Chapter 1 Virgil

Virgil still clearly remembers that afternoon to this day.

The weather was very good that day.

But for Virgil, it was a terrible day.

Because in his hands, he was holding countless bills.

And correspondingly, was his increasingly exhausted bank account.

He pulled open the drawer and looked at the Colt M1911 pistol lying inside.

Of course... even with towering debts, he would not consider suicide. The reason he looked at the gun was to recall some of the family’s past glories... even though there wasn’t much of a family to speak of now.

It was the pistol his grandfather had used during World War II.

His father insisted on keeping this heirloom gun, but in the end, all he had left was his honor; honor did not prevent him from dying from illness.

Virgil looked at the translation manuscript on his desk that he had already completed more than half of. Proficient in Latin, he had always relied on translating manuscripts as his main source of income. But publishers repeatedly docked his wage, making it difficult for him even to pay for social security.

Just then, his cell phone on the desk rang.

Virgil picked up the phone with a puzzled look, then froze.

Because the caller was...

"Lailiya Faust???"

Virgil picked up the phone, and for a moment, he even doubted if he had seen the name correctly.

About a month ago, his college classmates had organized a reunion.

At that reunion, Virgil saw those classmates from the past. Most of them were doing much better than him.

The reason he went to the reunion was actually just to meet with a few of the few people with whom he used to get along.

And at the reunion, Virgil saw Lailiya Faust again.

Her distinctive surname and astonishing beauty were unforgettable.

Virgil stared at the phone, stunned, for several seconds. At that time, exchanging phone numbers was just a courtesy among classmates; he never thought that this campus celebrity, who even overshadowed the cheerleader captain of the school football team with her beauty, would actually take the initiative to contact him?

In the end, Virgil answered the phone.

"Hello... hello?"

"Hello, Virgil," came her voice from the phone, distinctly different from American English, it was a very standard British English accent.

Back then, everyone had heard that Lailiya Faust was a noble lady from Europe. The most exaggerated rumors even suggested that her family were guests of honor at Buckingham Palace. Though exaggerated, as Americans knew little about the British aristocracy in distant Europe, many believed it. At least, there was no doubt that Lailiya Faust’s family was very wealthy.

Virgil had always wanted to save money to travel across the Eurasian continent. His grandmother was French and his mother Chinese. Hence, he had always wanted to travel across the Eurasian continent, but now, he could not even afford to pay his bills.

Many Americans feel superior in front of Europeans, even believing that an American can conquest love freely in Europe because the whole world yearns for America. Virgil could not understand this sense of superiority; America’s history is less than three hundred years old, while Europe’s cultural heritage is much longer.

At the reunion, Lailiya had mentioned she would not stay in America for long, so was she still in America, or... had she gone back to Europe?

"Um, are you free tomorrow? I’d like to meet with you, there’s something I want to discuss with you," she said.

Meeting tomorrow... that means she’s still in America? Yes, specifically, is she still in Los Angeles?

"Okay, okay. I’m free tomorrow."

The translation of the manuscript was also nearing its end.

But the question is... why did Lailiya want to see him?

In college, he and Lailiya were just average friends. That was because he was very good at European history, so he could have a decent conversation with Lailiya, and they surprisingly shared the same views on history.

"I’d like to make a suggestion to you. This is something I’d like to talk about in more detail when we meet tomorrow."

"A suggestion?" Virgil remembered the moment at the reunion when he had mentioned his current employment situation to Lailiya.

"Can’t you say what the suggestion is now?"

Could it be... she wanted to offer me a job based on our old classmate camaraderie?

Looking at the stack of hefty bills next to him, a job was indeed a matter of urgency for Virgil now. Relying solely on translating manuscripts could hardly cover these bills anymore.

"I’m sorry, this isn’t something that can be explained clearly on the phone. However... I must warn you, this proposition comes with danger. But with danger also comes tremendous profit. You have one day to consider, let’s meet tomorrow morning at eight, I’ll send you the address by text."

"Danger?"

"Yes. You need to think it over carefully."

Danger alongside profit... It wasn’t a proposition for some illegal occupation, was it?

But considering his impression of Lailiya from their student days, Virgil thought it unlikely. She didn’t seem to be that kind of person.

"Alright, I’ll consider it."

...

That night, Virgil pondered over Lailiya’s call repeatedly.

When the class first saw Lailiya, the exchange student from England, countless people were astounded. She looked no less outstanding than those Hollywood stars on the Walk of Fame, turning heads with her beauty and figure wherever she went.

Many clubs invited her to join, but she showed no interest.

She also didn’t stay in the dorms, always commuting from home. A Rolls-Royce Phantom picked her up each time.

Back then, if someone had said that it was James Bond coming to pick her up, people would have believed it.

And at the last class reunion, when everyone saw Lailiya, many instinctively checked her left ring finger first. After seeing no wedding ring, many were eager to catch up with her. Besides whether she had a boyfriend or not, everyone was also very curious about her current occupation.

And her response was... she had inherited the family-run hospital and become a surgeon.

This surprised everyone because no one had ever heard her express a desire to be a doctor before, nor was her major in college related to medicine.

The next day.

After some thought, Virgil decided to go anyway.

He would see how dangerous the suggestion was and then make a decision. If it was indeed a particularly hazardous job, he could just refuse it.

...

...

His reminiscing paused there.

Escorted by a large group of people, Virgil walked up to the entrance of the mansion, passing under the heads of the Darren Family’s ancestors, to meet Dai Wei.

"Hello," Virgil said to the young Dai Wei in front of him, introducing himself, "My name is Virgil Faust, and now, I will take you to see Vice Dean Mephistopheles."

Seeing Dai Wei escorted by the Melroll twins to this place, Virgil was reminded of himself back in the days.

If, back then, he hadn’t responded to Lailiya’s call and gone to meet her the next day, what would have happened?

But now, perhaps Dai Wei was facing a choice similar to the one he had made.

Looking at those hanging heads, Dai Wei seemed somewhat weak in the knees. After all, they weren’t merely heads, they were cursed objects!

"They... they seem to be watching me..." Dai Wei had noticed early on that the eyes of these heads were focused on him.

"Don’t worry, now, they are all cursed objects under the control of my Faust family," Virgil reassured Dai Wei.

"Is... Damon Dailun among them?" Dai Wei had heard that name more than once since entering 666 Hospital.

"He is not," Virgil shook his head slightly, "he has been dealt with in a special manner."

The older of the Melroll twins behind Dai Wei then said, "Remember, when you meet the Vice Dean, do not mention that name in front of him."

The younger Melroll twin added, "Damon Dailun was an utter fool. Had it not been for that witch, Rosa Medel, he wouldn’t have brought ruin to the entire Dalen Family."

"Let’s go," Virgil said, "don’t be nervous, today... the Vice Dean will give you a suggestion. One that is dangerous... but could also bring great profit."