"... Mr. Liu are we going to die?"

'When Hagan asked me this question, I was speechless, not because of the reply, but because of his look. Being as smart as he is. Hagan can infer that his head was requested by an influential mafia family. Fear was not his primary emotion, I have to search hard for fear in this lone young man.'

'He is not afraid.'

'Is there a fight in him...'

'...What can he do?'

'Men of 30 or more will be coming with weapons, with guns, storming this hospital. The law will not help him, the order will be forgotten. It will be a devil's playground in a few hours.'

'It is no place for a living sane human. Ifone were to be trapped here, becoming a corpse is the best one could hope for.'

'I know these men, not men but monsters. Humanity is long lost on them.'

'What is Hagan going to do...'

"Mr. Liu?..."

"...Yes, Hagan. I wish I could lie to you, but you will know in probably in a few hours. The old man of the w.a.n.g family wants your mom dead."

"They are sending me a Police vehicle to pick me up and take me to the commissioner's office. The moment I leave, all h.e.l.l will break loose."

"I believe we have people watching us already."

"...What about the hospital? Can the thugs' act unbridled inside here?"

"The hospital owner is a friend of mine, the w.a.n.gs threatened to burn down his house and the hospital as a whole, if he doesn't cooperate.

"...he..."

"I understand Mr. Liu."

With a deranged look Hagan continued,"...haha, morals and principles aren't worth a dime when a blade is pressed against your throat. I never knew that life was so simple."

"Mr. Liu... can you least get mum away..."

"...I can't"

Nodding to himself Hagan walks away with his back to Mr. Liu, "My dad always used to say that a knee once bent can never be firm again. He is a man of principles, but he got himself killed."

Without looking back at the downtrodden sight of Mr. Liu, Hagan walks back to his mom's room only to hear a commotion between the doctors.

"What do mean that we are dismissed for the evening? Dr. s.h.i.+hong, I just started my s.h.i.+ft, I will be in charge of the ICU ward" disputed a smartly dressed young lady in a doctor's coat.

"Cuifen, can't you tell the mood in the hospital is off? All the senior doctors have left. I am doing you a favor by asking you to leave. Worry not, your patient will be kept alive. Brother Jaw-Long has specifically told me that this lady should be kept alive," sneered Dr. s.h.i.+hong as he l.u.s.tfully stared at the young lady doctor across him.

'Brother Jaw-Long has asked me a favor of looking after this lady in the ICU. I've heard that Brother Jaw-Long always remembers the favors that he owes. Just you wait, Cuifen, I will forcibly make you mine with the help of Futou gang,' thought Dr. s.h.i.+long as his face turned red from the excitement of his lecherous fantasies.

Amidst Dr. s.h.i.+hong's daydreaming, a calm voice pulled him out of his stupor, "so you know Jaw-long?"

Dr. s.h.i.+long and Dr. Cuifen turned their attention towards a calm young man who was fixedly staring at Dr. s.h.i.+long and walking towards him.

His pace was unhurried but the eerie calm made the duo feel as if any attempt to escape was impossible from this young lad.

~Metal made modern civilization. Human creative complexity is given birth through metals.

A world without metalwork is a world still primitive, but native metal is a rare sight.

Even when found, the lumps of solid ma.s.s cannot be used as tools or as weapons.

It needs to be beaten or heated into shapes needed for it to be used.

A shaped metal is not only of use, but also commands respect,

It invokes pride, make men feel greed, solicits l.u.s.t and more.

As a sword, it becomes a warriors most trusted partner.

As a jewel, it becomes a n.o.ble lady's pride possession.

As a hammer, it blesses a smith with creation.

As a scepter, it bestows a King with prestige.

All the same, all are metals but their destiny is what they are shaped into,

A destiny created through ability to take blows and staying true in the test of fire.~

Young Hagan was born to good parents; he grew up righteous, obedient and pure at heart. His childhood slowly smelted him into an ingot of good metal. But metal by itself is not much of value, it needed to be shaped to its destiny.

In the eyes of Mr. Liu, who had seen Hagan for the better part of his life, sees a change in form. Not yet complete, but change is at nigh. Destiny looks at Hagan...

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