Chapter 23 The Surgery Failed
Ernest wasn't exactly a whiz at the game.
He didn't quite understand Alan's purpose in doing this.
But he still chose to trust Alan.
After Alan used the Floating Arrow Technique's combo damage to severely injure Elvus, Ernest made his move.
Five consecutive critical hits, each causing bleeding, took down Elvus.
[Server-wide announcement: Congratulations to the player with a hidden nickname for achieving the first kill of Elvus. We hope all players continue to strive for excellence.]
[Server-wide announcement: Congratulations to the player with a hidden nickname for achieving the first kill of Elvus. We hope all players continue to strive for excellence.]
In the newbie village, in the village chief's courtyard.
At the sound of the notification, Daniel's face darkened in an instant.
Earlier, when he heard that Richard and Joseph had been killed, he felt a bit excited inside.
But this excitement lasted less than ten minutes before he heard the server-wide announcement that his subordinate Elvus had been killed.
"Now you can pick up the items dropped by the NPC." Alan walked over to Elvus and immediately found the Icefire Ore.
"I want this," he said.
Ernest frowned, as it was his quest item.
"You can't take this back. I'm not taking it to complete the quest," Alan explained.
Ernest's cooperation was still required for the next actions.
"You can have everything else on Elvus," he added.
Ernest's eyes lit up as he heard this.
He immediately came over to pick up the items dropped by the NPC.
After picking up the items, his expression improved a bit.
Meanwhile, Alan picked up the items dropped by Richard and Joseph.
[You have obtained Bronze-level and below weapon repair knowledge +1.]
[You have obtained 12 pieces of equipment.]
[You have obtained five gold coins.]
[You have obtained a special item: Corpse Essence Collection Bottle.]
Alan put everything away before looking at Ernest.
"Now that all three NPCs are dead, go back and tell Daniel that you encountered Richard and Joseph on the way, and with the help of your guild, you killed Richard and Joseph."
Hearing this, Ernest was a bit surprised.
"Will Daniel believe that?"
"He has to, because he has no evidence to prove you're lying," Alan replied.
"What about you?" Ernest asked.
Alan smiled and said, "My answer, of course, is that I only saw Richard and Joseph being killed by you guys, and I didn't see Elvus."
Hearing this, Ernest felt like he was being put on the spot.
"If David and Daniel compare notes, I'll be exposed."
"And if Daniel asks who killed Elvus, what should I say?"
Ernest asked.
"Just say you don't know. You hadn't entered the mine yet when Elvus was already dead."
Ernest was silent for a moment before asking, "Can you tell me why you're doing this?"
"For a bigger quest."
Alan's eyes were firm. He had even considered not doing Daniel's quest to hunt ten bosses just to complete the quest on the task scroll.
After discussing the story with Ernest, Alan finally smiled.
As Ernest left, Alan took out the Corpse Essence Collection Bottle.
[Corpse Essence Collection Bottle: Special item.]
[Effect: After killing humanoid monsters, adventurers, or NPCs, you can collect Corpse Essence. If the bottle is filled, you may receive an extraordinary quest.]
[Progress: 46/100.]
Alan raised an eyebrow and collected the Corpse Essence from Richard and Joseph, increasing the progress from 46 to 49.
Still 51 Corpse Essence short of filling the bottle.
However, Alan wasn't in a hurry at all.
If he couldn't collect enough Corpse Essence later, he would have to target those lovely players.
Checking the time, Alan first returned to the newbie village.
He entered the blacksmith shop.
"David, I'm really sorry. I hadn't found Elvus yet when I heard the notification that he was killed."
Alan feigned confusion as if this had nothing to do with him.
David looked at Alan meaningfully. "Ice King, in our village, who else but you has the ability to kill Elvus and my two apprentices?"
This time, David didn't call Alan an adventurer but directly used Alan's in-game nickname.
Alan knew that David was suspicious of him.
"David, I have no reason to do this. There are many hidden experts in the newbie village. I was ambushed by an assassin before, and my partner was instantly killed."
Hearing this, David frowned. He stared at Alan, seemingly trying to see if Alan was lying.
However, he couldn't see anything.
"What a pity for my two apprentices," David said, "And even more for that piece of Icefire Ore. If you can help me find the Icefire Ore, I can give you a platinum-level necklace."
[David has given you a quest.]
[Quest requirement: Find a piece of Icefire Ore.]
[Quest penalty: None.]
[Quest reward: Platinum-level necklace +1.]
Alan raised an eyebrow; it seemed David was desperate to offer such generous terms for that piece of Icefire Ore.
At this stage, even a gold-level weapon was impressive. A platinum-level one could potentially disrupt the current game balance.
"Alright, I'll do my best."
Alan accepted the quest, but he definitely wasn't planning to hand it over just yet.
"Ice King, I'll be waiting for your good news," David said.
After finishing this, Alan logged out of the game to eat.
This afternoon was the time for his sister's surgery.
Although early game time was precious, Alan still went to the hospital after eating.
Watching his sister being wheeled into the operating room, Alan clenched his fists.
"Sis, you have to be okay."
Although Alan had already paid the surgery fee, the doctor had previously told Alan that brain surgery was extremely risky, with a significant chance of failure.
Even if the surgery succeeded, there was still a considerable chance she could end up in a vegetative state.
Even if Mary were to end up in a vegetative state, as long as she was alive, Alan would accept it. After all, even those in a vegetative state could enter Ragnarok.
By increasing her strength in Ragnarok, when the great catastrophe arrived in five years, and Ragnarok merged with reality, the in-game strength could manifest, allowing his sister to recover even if she were in a vegetative state.
Alan waited anxiously outside the operating room.
After about two hours, the door to the operating room finally opened.
A doctor in a white coat came out with a troubled expression.
Alan panicked and rushed over immediately. "Doctor, how is my sister?"
The doctor sighed, which made Alan extremely nervous.
"The surgery failed. The brain hemorrhage has spread to the cerebellum. There's nothing more we can do."
Alan staggered, nearly collapsing to the ground.
"How could this happen!?
"No, no, there must be a way!"
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