Chapter 208
Meanwhile, out in the hallway, Jason was practically stumbling as he ran.
His mind was a complete mess. Isaac’s gray, lifeless face kept replaying in his head over and over.
He shook his head hard, trying to force the images away, but he never slowed his pace.
He had to save his uncle. He had to.
After turning a corner, the lounge door finally came into view. Jason rushed forward and slammed the door open so hard it crashed against the wall with a deafening bang.
All three people inside looked up at once.
Suzy had been drinking water and nearly choked from the sudden noise, coughing twice as she set down the cup.
"Jason?" Leonard stood up immediately, staring at his bloodshot eyes and pale face. "What happened?"
Jason gasped for breath, clutching the doorframe as he bent over, unable to speak for a moment.
He had run too fast. His lungs felt like they were on fire, and his throat tasted of rust.
He sucked in shaky breaths, eyes glistening as he looked at Suzy.
"Suzy..." The word finally forced its way out. "Please...please save my uncle."
Suzy set down her cup and rose to her feet, her brows knitting together slightly.
"What happened to your uncle?"
"Infection." Jason’s voice trembled violently. "Acid rain infection. It’s serious. Doctor Riato said...he said they can’t save the arm anymore. They’ll have to amputate it. And if it keeps spreading, even his life won’t be saved."
As he spoke, he stumbled closer to Suzy. Then he bent down abruptly and yanked up his pant leg, exposing the already-scarred wound.
"Suzy, look. Your medicine healed me. It was still rotting this morning, and now it’s already healed over. Uncle’s injury is worse, but what if your medicine works on him too? What if it does?"
He lifted his head. His brown eyes shimmered with tears he stubbornly refused to let fall.
"Suzy...please." His voice dropped into a heartbreaking plea. "Just come take a look. If it doesn’t work, I won’t blame you. But if you don’t go...my uncle’s arm is gone."
Leonard stood nearby, glancing between Jason and Suzy without speaking.
Thomas also rose to his feet and walked quietly to Suzy’s side, waiting for her decision.
But Suzy herself was frozen in shock.
Jason’s injury had healed this quickly?
She was completely stunned. What kind of ratio had her system used while making that ointment for her?
Was that little workshop mixing ingredients like a mad scientist? Had the spirit spring water not been diluted at all?
Otherwise, how could Jason’s recovery be this terrifying?
Still, now was not the time to dwell on that.
Suzy looked at Jason’s pale face, and something inside her tightened faintly. She lifted her eyes toward Thomas and Leonard.
Both men immediately understood her answer.
"Let’s go," Suzy said.
Jason froze, almost as though he had misheard her. "Suzy..."
"I said let’s go." Suzy grabbed her backpack from the table and patted his shoulder lightly. "Lead the way."
The tears Jason had been holding back finally spilled over.
He nodded hard, spun around, and rushed toward the door. After taking two steps, he hurried back again as though afraid Suzy might change her mind, grabbing her sleeve and practically dragging her along.
Thomas and Leonard exchanged a look before following behind them. Under Jason’s lead, the group hurried through the corridors.
Three minutes later, they finally arrived outside the infirmary.
The guards at the door already recognized Jason. They did not stop him, though they gave Suzy and the others several wary glances.
Jason shoved the door open and nearly burst into the room.
"Rob! Suzy’s here! She’s here!" His voice rang loudly through the infirmary, urgent and bright with hope.
Robert spun around immediately, his gaze landing on Suzy. The moment their eyes met, Suzy gave him a calm, reassuring smile.
For some reason, the restless anxiety clawing at Robert’s chest suddenly eased.
Even he was startled by the change.
Maybe... Maybe she really does have a way.
The thought surfaced in his mind without warning.
Riato also turned toward Suzy, though he did not move from where he stood.
He remained by the window with his arms folded across his chest, watching her with cold, restrained eyes. His lips pressed into a thin line, his expression openly resistant.
"So you’re the senior Jason mentioned?" His voice was flat and emotionless.
Suzy nodded and walked straight to the bedside, lowering her gaze to Isaac’s arm. She ignored Riato’s attitude completely, focusing only on the wound itself.
It was even worse than she had imagined. Far worse than Jason’s. Nearly twice as severe. But... not untreatable.
A few mouthfuls of spirit spring water would fix it.
By now, Suzy was completely certain that the spirit spring could suppress the acid rain infection. No matter how severe the injury, enough spirit spring water could heal it.
"What medicine are you planning to use?" Riato’s voice sounded from behind her.
"Do you even understand the nature of Commander Hunter’s injury? Do you know how far the infection has already spread? Do you—"
"Doctor Riato." Robert interrupted him quietly, but his tone allowed no argument. "Let her look."
Riato fell silent immediately, though his expression darkened further. He turned away and faced the window again.
Suzy did not particularly care about his attitude.
Anyone worthy of being addressed as "Doctor" by Robert clearly held a significant status. When she had passed him earlier, she had caught the faint scent of medicinal herbs lingering around him. His identity was obvious enough. He was most likely some renowned holistic physician.
Suzy had no interest in clashing with him. What interested her more was Robert’s earlier use of the title Commander Hunter.
The man on the bed had that kind of background?
Commander Hunter... The title sounded strangely familiar.
As Suzy’s thoughts drifted briefly, she reached into her backpack and pulled out the ointment she had used on Jason earlier that day.
To be safe, she also took out a small bottle filled with undiluted spirit spring water, sealed inside a transparent porcelain vial.
She handed it to Jason. "Give this to your uncle."
Jason nodded immediately and took the vial, preparing to feed it to Isaac.
"Wait." Riato spoke suddenly.
Everyone in the room turned toward him.
His expression remained calm as he said, "Let me examine it first. You don’t mind, do you?"
Jason frowned at once, ready to defend Suzy, but Suzy answered first.
"Of course."
She gestured for Jason to hand the vial over. Clearly dissatisfied, Jason reluctantly passed it to Riato.
Riato accepted the porcelain bottle and removed the lid.
The moment it opened, a cool, refreshing scent of herbs and fresh greenery spread quietly through the room.