Chapter 475 Ashley's Medicine is Running Out
When Mary escaped, Ethan immediately suspected Marc was behind it. Without delay, he rushed to Marc's mansion only to discover, as he had anticipated, that Marc and his wife had already fled. Ethan erupted in rage.
"Useless fools!" he thundered. "All these guards, and you couldn't watch two people!"
He had sworn to his father that he would keep Marc under control, but now that they had escaped, if Marc still had the means to attack the palace, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Ian approached cautiously. "Your Highness, please calm yourself. We've already taken the guards on duty for questioning. We have men searching for Marc, his wife, and Mary as we speak."
Ethan nodded tersely. "Find them. Quickly."
"Of course, Your Highness," Ian replied with a firm nod.
Ethan's brow furrowed in thought. "Could there be people in Marc's network we don't know about?"
"We've thoroughly investigated everyone with known connections to Marc, both public and secret," Ian assured him. "All suspects are under surveillance. They couldn't possibly have made contact."
"Someone must have helped them escape!" Ethan insisted.
As they spoke, the guards who had been on duty—about twenty in total—were brought in for questioning.
Ethan exchanged a meaningful glance with Ian, who gathered everyone in the great hall. Emanating an intimidating aura, Ethan addressed the assembled guards coldly. "Who let Marc and his family escape? Anyone who continues to hide the truth knows the consequences."
"Your Highness!" one guard pleaded, "We've been monitoring every exit. Recently, we've been checking even the servants who come and go. Marc's escape had nothing to do with us."
"How dare you deny responsibility!" Ethan roared. "Did they simply vanish into thin air?"
One guard seemed to have a realization, hesitating visibly. Ethan noticed his discomfort immediately. "You have something to say?"
The man's voice trembled. "Your Highness, I just remembered something. While on duty, I saw a stray dog crawl through a hole into the grounds. I wonder if... perhaps Marc escaped through that same hole?"
"A hole?" Ethan turned to Ian questioningly.
"Don't just stand there," Ian snapped at the guard. "Show us."
The guard led Ethan and Ian to the hole, located in the back courtyard beneath dense shrubbery—easily overlooked unless one was specifically looking for it.
Examining the area carefully, Ethan spotted a torn piece of fabric. "What's this?"
"This fabric..." The guard reflected for a moment. "I believe it matches the color of the Countess's dress. She must have torn it while crawling through."
Ethan's lips curved into a cold smile. "So the great Earl and his wife escaped by crawling through a hole. How adaptable of him. Bring tracking dogs! Follow their trail from here. We must find them!"
"Yes, sir!"
Guards brought tracking dogs and began searching from the back hill.
Ian looked concerned. "Your Highness, we don't know how long ago they fled. Is it still possible to catch them?"
"As long as they're still in Gold Valley District," Ethan replied with a grim smile, "we'll find them, no matter where they hide."
The Docks
Jacques had found a witch doctor for Mary—an Aivalian named Andrei Kidd. Having lived in Gold Valley District since childhood, Andrei had devoted himself to studying medicine, though his unconventional methods had prevented him from obtaining a license. His treatments were unpredictable, with success often seeming more a matter of luck than science, earning him the local nickname "witch doctor."
After examining Mary, Andrei clicked his tongue. "Her injuries aren't the main problem. I can heal her."
Mary's parents embraced in joy. "Thank God! Mary will be saved!"
Andrei raised a cautionary finger. "However..."
Marc held his breath anxiously. "However what?"
"She's taken several doses of a powerful emergency medicine. It can rescue someone from the brink of death, but each dose severely damages the body. After multiple treatments, even if I save her now, her life expectancy will be greatly reduced."
Hearing this, Marc and his wife collapsed to the floor. "How can this be? She's so young, not even married yet. How can she have so little time left?"
Andrei shrugged. "Do you want me to treat her? It's $10,000 per session. With injuries like hers, she'll need at least ten sessions to show improvement."
Mary suddenly regained consciousness, having overheard Andrei's words. "Dad... Mom..." she whispered weakly.
"Mary!" Her parents embraced her gently, afraid of causing further injury.
Mary's chest rose and fell with difficulty, each breath requiring tremendous effort.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as her eyes filled with hatred. "Dad... save me... I don't want to die. I want to live... I want revenge... make them... pay for what they've done..."
After these words, Mary lost consciousness again.
"Doctor, I'll pay you immediately," Marc said desperately. "Please, you must save her."
Having received payment, Andrei's demeanor instantly shifted to professional cheerfulness. "Don't worry, I'll certainly save her. I need to take her to my laboratory now. I'll bring her back once she's recovered."
Marc hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. "You won't..."
"Regardless of gender," Andrei replied coldly, "patients are merely bodies to a doctor."
Despite his misgivings, Marc had no choice but to entrust Mary to him.
Andrei loaded Mary into his vehicle and drove away.
The Medical Research Institute
As Yaakov approached the institute's entrance, someone intercepted him. "Excuse me, do you know Asclepius? I heard he'll be coming here soon. I work for the palace and need to purchase medicine from him."
Yaakov raised an eyebrow. "What medicine?"
"This one." The man produced a photograph. "We previously bought a vial through an intermediary. Our prince urgently needs it now. Please help me contact Asclepius. I can compensate you generously."
The man offered a stack of cash.
Yaakov scoffed contemptuously. "That pittance won't buy Asclepius's medicine."
As the man began to respond, Yaakov cut him off. "Asclepius does have this medicine, but a friend's family member recently had an emergency and he's reserved his supply for them. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait."
With that, Yaakov turned and entered the institute.
The man watched him leave, sighing in disappointment.
Andrei arrived at the institute in time to witness this exchange. "Are you looking for Asclepius?" he inquired.
"Yes, I am."
"What a coincidence. I am Asclepius. What do you need from me?"
The man repeated his request to Andrei while, in the distance, Yaakov noticed the two men talking. He turned to a nearby staff member. "Who's that man in black?"
"Mr. Ford, that's Andrei Kidd," the staff member replied dismissively. "He's just a troublemaker. If you ever need to dispose of garbage, call him."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
