Chapter 116: The Foundation
"Brother, are you feeling quite happy today?"
"Not bad... You look like you didn't sleep well, did you have a bad dream?"
"Um, something happened in my dream."
"What's wrong?"
"A little girl, it's like me, but maybe not really me... and there's a rice ball."
"It was just a dream, and it will never happen again."
"That being said, suddenly I felt a bit lonely."
Yagyū Simozi looked sad, but Bai Wei didn't say anything to comfort her.
Since Yagyū Yukichiyo's lingering attachment has dissolved into nothingness, her intense feelings of longing are also being set aside. Yagyū Simozi won't inherit them anymore. Being younger and lacking the strong emotional barriers needed, his younger sister, who is less than twenty years old, might undergo a distortion in her personality if she were to accept that attachment.
Remembering the past doesn't always mean it's a good thing.
You from ten years ago and you from ten years in the future, they can't be considered as the same person anymore.
In a way, living means constantly letting go of our past selves, as if we are gradually saying goodbye to who we used to be.
Now that this future dilemma has been resolved ahead of time, it is indeed a cause for celebration for Bai Wei.
Even though the outcome appears to be a happy one for everyone involved.
But in a short amount of time, he really didn't want to experience it again.
In the past and present, there was always a great distance between them, and no one knew if the past version of themselves had been driven to madness, walking around with a golf club. (Translator: this refers to The Last of Us Part II, the protagonist of The Last of Us was killed by the protagonist of Part II with a golf club, which made this game almost the most disgusting game to many players, including the author of this novel, well, and me. Don't buy this piece of shit, please, if my explanation aroused your curiosity.)
This time, he almost came back empty-handed, but luckily he found a few fragments of the Heroic Spirit Principle.
This time, he went out with his sister. They had a little chat along the way, discussing family matters and everyday things. Afterwards, she went to school while the other headed straight to the hospital.
After a whole night, Sakurai Shiru's condition didn't improve at all.
She is still unconscious up until now, and it has been almost a full day in this critical condition.
In normal circumstances, the family would have been notified to prepare themselves emotionally or make funeral arrangements.
Bai Wei, too, doesn't have complete confidence at the moment. He feels a bit anxious and uncertain, but he can only say that he will do his best.
But when he arrived at the hospital, he noticed that something was not quite right with the atmosphere.
Ever since he walked into the hospital, several hospital caregivers have been exchanging secretive glances with each other, and a few bold young nurses rushed over to him.
"Sir, you've come to the wrong place. It's not in this building, it's in Building B."
"If you get lost, I can show you the way."
Every line of text conveyed a message.
--Hurry, leave!
Bai Wei indeed sensed the smell of danger in the air. He squinted his eyes and thought about whether he should come back another time, but he hesitated for a moment.
The elevator doors opened, and several figures walked out from inside. There was a handsome young man, accompanied by two bodyguards. One of the bodyguards had scales all over his skin, while the other one had thick fur all over his body.
One of them is a Lizardfolk. Centuries ago, the Lizardfolk were a servant race of the empire. They were known for their natural aggression, resilience, and quick healing abilities. Many Lizardfolk were commonly seen in the empire's gladiator arenas, with over thirty percent of adult Lizardfolk becoming sword fighters. Nowadays, things haven't changed much as sword fighting has become a form of entertainment and a famous stage performance in the allied nations.
The other one was a Leopard person. Five hundred years ago, they were a primitive tribe living on the empire's grasslands, closely connected to the wild jungle beasts. Besides their exceptional physical abilities, they showed minimal signs of civilization. They were often seen in gladiator arenas and working as guards for households. Even the races that had no written language back then had become like this. It seems that the integration of races in the allied nations has been successful.
These two people clearly came from different countries.
For centuries, Yingzhou has had very little interaction with other species from outside. It is a mysterious island where species are relatively scarce, and even monsters have gradually disappeared. Among the rare sightings of foreign races, most of them are hired bodyguards from Allied Nations' market enterprises.
For the same price, you can indeed get a safer service, but the scent of the foreigners is a bit strong.
Upon seeing the towering and massive two beastmen bodyguards, the nurses immediately scattered. The well-dressed young man headed straight for Bai Wei.
They came prepared.
"Mr. Bai, is it?" the young man proactively extended his hand to greet. "Nice to meet you, I'm Kimura Mifune."
"Bai Wei," Bai Wei shook hands with him and asked, "Do you need something from me?"
"It's like this, we want to talk to you about something related to Sakurai Shiru..."
"Um?" Bai Wei asked. "Are you selling miracle medicine and looking for volunteers for a clinical trial?"
"You're joking, I'm not a pharmaceutical company," Kimura chuckled. "I am actually...". He pulled out his business card.
Bai Wei looked at the business card and slowly read out, "The Watergate Foundation?"
"I am the secretary of the Watergate Foundation's president," Kimura Mifune introduced himself.
"Um, and then?" Bai Wei asked, confused. "What does the foundation want with me?"
"Here's the thing," explained Kimura, adjusting his glasses. "The Watergate Foundation is a big organization that oversees many different funds. One of them is the Happiness Charity Fund. I heard that you turned down their donation offer, so I came here specifically to talk to you."
Before the words could even settle, the nearby orc bodyguard suddenly changed expression, swiftly positioning themselves in front, blocking the way.
The lizard person, who was a former gladiator, spoke in a hoarse voice in a strange language. It was a simple warning.
---Danger, step back!
Compared to the towering height of the two orc warriors, Bai Wei, at a mere 1.85 meters, appeared as small as a child.
He didn't do anything else, except gently tear up the business card in his hand. Then he walked over to the information desk at the hospital and asked for a wet tissue. Carefully, he wiped his right hand with it and then threw it into the trash.
He said quietly, "What a waste of time."
Kimura was not surprised, and he spoke up, saying, "Mr. Bai, I believe that there is nothing that cannot be discussed."
Bai Wei walked towards the elevator and pushed the button.
Kimura continued, "Sakurai Shiru probably won't make it through tonight. It would be beneficial for both of us if she accepts our financial support. Maybe you're having trouble accepting it emotionally, but think about it carefully. It's really unnecessary for someone who is not even related to you and is close to death."
Bai Wei chose to ignore, refusing to let these words anger him. They were not enough to provoke him, at least not for now.
The elevator arrived and Bai Wei stepped inside. Kimura clenched his teeth and followed him into the elevator. Two orc bodyguards squeezed in as well, making the small space instantly cramped.
Bai Wei leaned against the wall, facing the two orc guards, with a calm expression as if he was observing a gecko and a Siamese cat with airplane ears.
The ones who should be nervous are actually the tall and big bodyguards on the other side.
Kimura continued persuading, "I am simply stating the facts. Sakurai Shiru will soon pass away, and we need her heart to save someone else. It is a kind act that will benefit everyone involved."
"Who will we save?" Bai Wei asked suddenly.
Kimura thought that the other person had been persuaded, maybe he was just feeling shy after what happened in the lobby?
Seizing the opportunity, he quickly responded, "A shareholder of the Watergate Foundation..."
"Who is it?" Bai Wei asked.
Kimura hesitated for a moment and spoke in a low voice, "It's the biggest shareholder, Mito Yoriichiro."
"Wow!" Bai Wei chuckled.
"Mito-sama, not only is the president and major shareholder of the Watergate Foundation, but also a member of the parliament. He has a lot of power... Now, his heart is having trouble and he urgently needs a matching heart for a transplant. We have found the most knowledgeable expert, but what we are missing is this heart."
"So, he became interested in Sakurai Shiru, right?"
"No, it's not like he was targeting her, but rather her heart is the most suitable... And her condition is really bad, it's a disease with a very high natural mortality rate." Kimura pushed his glasses up. "We can only say that perhaps this is a destined outcome."
"Destined?"
"Yes, perhaps she was born just to donate her heart to Mito-sama..." Kimura blurted out without hesitation.
At the same time, the leopard bodyguard's fur stood on end. It suddenly felt as if its own head had been beheaded, as if the pervasive sense of danger had already reached deep into its liver, squeezing its heart and lungs into pieces.
Its breathing became fast, and its paw pads started sweating cold sweat.
Ding... The elevator arrived.
Bai Wei took a step forward, and the two bodyguards immediately stepped out of the elevator, making way as if they were animals being held at gunpoint.
"Mr. Bai, I think we can talk some more, and the price can be negotiated," Kimura Mifune continued, trying to persuade him to stay.
Two bodyguards blocked Kimura's path, one in front and one behind. The young man, confused by the situation, wondered, "Why are you stopping me? I was about to convince him!"
The two bodyguards exchanged a glance... Convince?
"Let's go instead, so things don't get worse and end on a bad note."
Kimura unwillingly glanced at Bai Wei's back and then turned around, heading towards the elevator.
The nurse, who understood everything clearly, approached and asked, "The look in your eyes just now... You wouldn't actually want to kill him, would you?"
Bai Wei replied, "No," in response.
He wasn't only wanting to kill Kimura.
