Hospital 444
Chapter 409 - 26 Family Interests Above All

Chapter 409: Chapter 26 Family Interests Above All

"Sorry, have I disturbed you?"

The door to the training classroom for the intern doctors was pushed open slightly, and a head peeked in.

Virgil looked over and saw that it was Alucia.

She had been arranged to start her internship at the hospital around the same time as himself.

Compared with him, Alucia’s status in the hospital was much more awkward. Although she was a member of the Faust Family, it was clear to everyone that she was an illegitimate daughter. This status doomed her to be unfavored within the Faust family; otherwise, she would not have been arranged to enter into a marriage alliance with the Dalen Family. In other words, the Faust Family had long been prepared to sacrifice her; she was nothing more than a façade for maintaining a false peace between the Dalen and Faust families.

Therefore, Virgil found that he, as the future husband of the Faust Family’s legitimate daughter, was given more attention and favor by the doctors than Alucia, the illegitimate daughter.

"Um, Miss Alucia, is there something you need?" It was obvious that William was not as enthusiastic as he had just been.

"I, I was just listening to your lecture. I have some questions, may I ask... Dr. William? Please."

After all, she was a lady of the Faust Family, and some face must be given. So William asked, "What do you want to ask?"

"About Abyssal Invasion, I’m a bit confused. In fact, a few days ago, I observed the autopsy process of a Second-level Abyssal Invasion Patient. I..."

"I’m sorry." William shook his head. "The vice-dean has told me that knowledge of Abyssal Invasions doesn’t need to be taught to you for the time being."

"Dr. William, I, I want to study well, and in the future my aspiration is to become a chief physician like my brothers and sisters...

"I dare not disobey the vice-dean’s orders. Miss Alucia, please leave."

Alucia’s face looked somewhat ugly, but in the end, she could only sigh and close the door.

Then William turned to Virgil and said, "Sigh, she doesn’t understand at all. Once she is married off to the Dalen family, the Fausts have no hope that she will ever come back alive."

"This..." Virgil was very surprised by this statement, "Can’t come back alive?"

"She’s a fool." William shook his head. "She still thinks that the Fausts are sincerely treating her and that she can truly become a member of the family. Everyone knows that of the Dalen and Faust families, only one will survive; the loser’s entire bloodline will be eradicated, without exception."

"Is it really that cruel..."

"Yes." William said very seriously, "Our Dark Demon Surgery is a faction of the Faust Family. That is why I am telling you this. Since you are going to join the Faust Family, you must remember that you are already in a life-and-death conflict with the Dalen family."

Virgil looked towards where the door had been. At this moment, he felt a twinge of sympathy for Alucia.

Just then, his cell phone suddenly rang.

Klein had given him a phone that could be used for contact within the hospital and could also bridge spaces, connecting between the real world and inside the hospital.

Virgil answered Klein’s call, saying, "Hello..."

"Listen. Tonight, I will arrange for you and Alucia to patrol the hospital corridors together."

"Hmm?"

"Then, take Alucia to the place where you encountered... last time. You know what I mean, right?"

Virgil clearly understood the implications of what he omitted, but still said, "But after all, I am just an intern..."

"I will arrange for Alucia to carry a magical item to assist you. With this item, I can guarantee your survival."

"A magical item? Why not give it directly to me?"

"The use of this magical item requires two conditions. First, one must have the blood of the Faust family, and second, using this magical item poses a risk to one’s life. Therefore, Alucia is the most suitable."

Hearing this, Virgil could hardly believe his ears.

"Klein, did I hear you correctly? What you just mentioned, the second point is... using this magical item poses a risk to life?"

"Yes, it’s a side effect of the Curse Backlash. Of course, it’s only a possibility, not a certainty."

"So you let Alucia... she, she’s your sister..."

"My half-sister. Her mother was just the lowest woman in the slums. She was only lucky enough to catch my father’s eye and become his mistress."

Virgil took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, and said, "No need, I would never..."

"Your life is much more valuable than Alucia’s. I have already explained the situation to Alucia, including the risks and side effects of using the cursemaster."

"Did you really explain the risks to her?"

"Virgil," Klein’s voice grew colder, "Have I been so courteous to you that you’ve developed some sort of misconception? I am the eldest son of the Faust Family, the son of Deputy Dean Mephisto Faust. What I mean is what my father means. In this hospital, Mephisto Faust’s will is to be carried out absolutely. What I said to you was not a discussion; it was an order."

Virgil gripped his phone tightly and asked that question again.

"Lailiya, does she also... mean that?"

He absolutely did not believe that Lailiya thought the same.

"That is what I mean."

But at that moment, Lailiya’s voice came through the phone, "Virgil, to me, the family’s interests are above everything else. Moreover, this concerns the whereabouts of my sister Mary."

"Alucia is your sister too..."

"My half-sister," Lailiya said without hesitation, using the exact same words as Klein: "Tonight, we hope to obtain further clues. Klein and I will be responsible for the coordination. Alucia herself has agreed; she has promised to dedicate herself for the benefit of our Faust Family."

The family’s interests above everything...

Yes.

Virgil knew that the real reason Lailiya was willing to marry him was for the family’s interests.

"Is Alucia doing this for the family’s interests? Is she doing it for..."

"Kinship? Family? It doesn’t matter; it’s all the same concept. If the Faust Family fails, the Dalen Family will kill every one of our members, including her. Sacrificing for the family’s interests is what she should be doing."

Virgil remembered the college campus from back then, where he received Lailiya’s comfort for not wanting to associate with those students. At that time, he had no relatives, no friends; Lailiya was his only ray of moonlight.

"I’ll ask you one more time, Lailiya, is that really what you think?"

On the other end of the phone was Lailiya, with her decisive tone: "Yes. That’s what I think."

Later, during Virgil’s wedding ceremony with Lailiya, when the priest asked that question, "Do you take this woman?" Lailiya’s "I do" had the same tone as now.

For Lailiya, there were no personal likes or dislikes, love or hate; it was all for the Faust Family.

And for Alucia Faust, she had no sisterly affection either. Perhaps the same was true for her full-sister Mary. Or perhaps, in her view, her sister, who had always advocated for peaceful coexistence between the two great families, was going against the family’s interests.

"I understand. Since this is your wish... I accept it."

His hand slowly dropped.

All for the family’s interests... but the one speaking chose their own sister to sacrifice for the family.

Lailiya had always been like this, so calm, so graceful, so noble, but now it seemed... there was also a trace of cruelty behind it all.

And even though Virgil now knew this, he found... he still loved her.

Loving someone, sometimes, has nothing to do with that person’s good or evil.