Finally, the Director turned around. They’d been standing off in silence for three minutes. Though older than Ethan, he was only slightly so and looked youthful—not the typical bearded, elderly head of a hospital. However, his eyes, accustomed to life and death, held a familiarity to Ethan’s own gaze.

The Director said, “Mr. Shaw.”

Ethan responded, “Director He Jian.”

The Director continued, “The Zeus Card isn’t something you can just get because you want it. In this place, you’re lucky if you can even save yourself. Our hospital is different; it’s not a sanctuary for saving lives. You’re part of the Dark Forest system, so you should know the rules. The Dark Forest…it’s very dark.”

Ethan replied coldly, “Oh? I’ve yet to see just how dark it is. All I know is that there are no rules in this system. That means…if I want it, I’ll get it. All I need from you is how; don’t lecture me on manners.”

The Director snorted, “You’re a High-Rank Hunter, but do you know what lies above that?”

Ethan nodded, “I haven’t asked, but please, enlighten me.”

The Director explained, “Above High-Rank Hunters are the Mimics. Hunters, even High-Rank ones, are just muscle, skilled only in outputting damage. That’s no real power. Mimics can do everything, and even I don’t know what it takes to become one. They’re the ones with Zeus Cards. Do you understand now? I don’t have the authority to give you a Zeus Card.”

Ethan replied, “That’s fine. All I need is your cooperation. I’ll get a hacker to swap the DNA and treat my friend.”

The Director laughed mockingly, “Why would I cooperate with you?”

Ethan said flatly, “Director, your job is to save lives. Mine is to take them. Let’s put it this way: I only met this friend today, so I’m not overly concerned with her survival. But I am very interested in doing what I want. Right now, I want her treated. Otherwise, I’ll start killing.”

The Director’s voice turned icy, “Are you threatening me?”

“You heard me right,” Ethan replied. “I’m threatening you, your entire hospital, and every living thing in it. When I lose patience, every dog, cat, even roach, and rat will die. Do you understand?”

The Director responded, “You’re awfully bold. Do you know what will happen if I report you as an enemy of the Dark Forest system? Threatening your own people carries consequences.”

Ethan shrugged. “Let me repeat: the only rule I know is that there are no rules. I’m a bit of a philosophy buff, so I might understand this rule better than you.”

The Director asked, “Have you thought this through? Are you really prepared to go against the system?”

Ethan took a moment, then nodded resolutely. “I recognize only my contact. He confirmed once more that there are no rules in the Dark Forest system. If you think being one of ‘us’ exempts you from ending up on the wrong end of a Hunter’s weapon, then you’re likely operating under a lower-level contact. Low-rank against high-rank…that’s a quick path to an ugly death.”

In the end, the Director, realizing that saving lives couldn’t win against taking them, hesitated for three minutes before finally relenting. “Fine. I’ll comply. But you’ll regret this later. Get your hacker.”

Ethan nodded approvingly. “Smart choice. Better yet, you be my hacker. Nobody understands this treatment system better than you do.”

The Director shot him a displeased look and said, “Your friend can be part of a drug trial. There’s a loophole for that; we’re about to start a new trial here. She’ll get a shot, but no promises.”

Ethan replied, “I expect the same effects as the previous drug. Is there another loophole?”

The Director shook his head. “That’s it. Don’t push your luck.”

Ethan nodded. “Thank you, Director. Then I’ll go find a hacker. In three hours, the fate of you and your hospital will depend on whether I find one. Now, give me the complete explanation of your treatment system.”

The Director pulled Ethan and his own AI into a shared channel, where they could study the treatment system together.

Ethan immediately requested that the AI compile all the necessary data a hacker might need and make it downloadable. An hour passed. During this time, the Director considered three times calling security to subdue Ethan. But with each thought, he reminded himself that High-Rank Hunters had hidden skills—skills both in combat and beyond—and the usual security team wouldn’t stand a chance. Reluctantly, he abandoned the idea, resolving instead to report this rogue berserker to the higher-ups later.

Algernon, Ethan’s contact AI, had been silently observing everything. When the three hours were nearly up, he sent a message to the chip embedded in Ethan’s body: Leave within five minutes. Director He Jian has summoned a seasoned High-Rank Hunter, and you’re likely no match for him.

Ethan felt a surge of appreciation. His AI contact was truly reliable, standing by him no matter what he intended to do. Finding a hacker wasn’t going to happen in three hours—he’d need more time.

Ethan quickly returned to the examination room, lifted Bai Ya in his arms without a word, and headed out. The doctor managed an “Oh—” but didn’t stop him. Nicole, of course, hurried to follow.

Maintaining a sliver of rationality, Ethan refrained from harming anyone in the hospital. But as he walked past the elite inpatient wards, he spotted an overweight official berating a nurse. Memories of his own painful past flashed through his mind, and he slipped his hand into his pocket, retrieving the “Gray’s Kiss.” With his hand hidden behind Bai Ya’s back, he activated it, scanning the wards as he walked, his gaze directed at these so-called elites, these supposed “superior” beings who believed they could oppress others at will.

As Gray’s Kiss activated, wearing his specialized contact lenses, he could see radiographic images through walls, allowing him to specifically target patients while sparing nurses, doctors, and guards—eliminating only the elites he despised.

No matter how illustrious your past, how grand your dreams for the future, or how much power you wield, in the face of a death ray, everyone meets the same fate. In that moment, the philosophy lover’s heart was void of sympathy, consumed by the thrill of vengeance.

Of course, by doing so, he effectively condemned Bai Ya to death as well. No one else could save a young woman with cancer that had already metastasized.

He brought Bai Ya to a park to catch a glimpse of the sunset. The three of them sat silently on a bench.

“The world is so beautiful… I don’t want to die,” Bai Ya murmured softly, her voice weak, while Nicole held her hand, crying quietly.

The greatest sorrow, Ethan thought, was when a dying person still found the world beautiful and worth staying for. In a calm voice, he asked, “Is there anything you’d like to do? I could do it for you.”

Bai Ya shook her head slightly, staring blankly at the sunset as a rare blush appeared on her cheeks, reflected in the twilight.

An idea struck Ethan. “If there was a drug that offered a 5% chance of survival, with a 95% chance of accelerating death, would you take it?” He’d just recalled that surviving the Red Mushroom test would earn her a Poseidon Card. But 5%—a near-certain death—was hardly better than suicide. If Algernon had mentioned this risk, Ethan would never have gone through such a reckless experiment himself.

Bai Ya asked in surprise, “Does such a drug exist?”

Ethan replied, “Yes. But what I’m about to say is just for the two of us. Nicole, could you step aside for a moment?” Nicole, used to Ethan’s secretive ways, nodded obediently and moved out of earshot.

Once Nicole was far enough away, Ethan explained to Bai Ya, “There’s a poison with a 95% fatality rate. But if you survive, it kills off many genes and proteins, potentially wiping out cancer cells. Even if it doesn’t, it might grant you a Poseidon Card. However, to join a certain secretive organization, you’d need to prove yourself by killing someone. Do you have anyone you deeply hate? I could capture them for you, so you’d only need to make the strike.”

Bai Ya thought for a while, then said, “Could I just take the poison alone? I don’t want to kill anyone. I don’t really have anyone I hate. I love this world…but sadly, it doesn’t love me back.”

Ethan had anticipated this before meeting Bai Ya, so he’d prepared the powdered extract of the Red Mushroom, encapsulated in a red capsule. He now took it out, holding it in his palm, and presented it to Bai Ya, saying, “This is that poison. Last time, I took it alone without anyone to help. It was miserable. Most people would rather die than take this poison. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”