But for Your Sake（1）

The next day, Baia brought some gifts to visit the neighbors, the Greens, a couple known for their erudition and precision.

Professor Green believed that Baia should go to school rather than waste her youth at the Black Clinic. Baia concealed the fact that she was an undocumented resident and simply nodded in response.

Upon returning home, she carried a large stack of slightly old medical textbooks borrowed from Professor Green.

With the help of Selina and Matches Malone's favor—indeed, he was no ordinary hoodlum—Baia only saw Polly and José once or twice after that day. However, they did not linger long. Nobody dared to cause trouble in the area anymore, especially after Selina nearly crippled a green-haired punk who tried to extort protection money.

Not far from the clinic was a bakery where Baia had once learned the recipe for soufflé from the owner. He had two children, José, 18, and Leanna, 10.

José didn't often appear in the area. He dropped out of school early and, like all the misguided Gotham youths, joined a gang. Baia had no interest in learning about his tragic story, but she didn't expect that she would meet her first client, Polly, and José again in such a manner.

As the days grew shorter, they were about to close the clinic for the night. Suddenly, a pretty but haggard woman appeared, carrying a heavily bleeding José.

"P-please, please save him, please!" Polly knelt before Baia and Holly, her voice hoarse from crying, while the young man lay unconscious on the ground.

Baia frowned, about to squat down and check José's condition, but her arm was firmly grabbed by Holly. Holly had never exerted such force on her, and her hazel eyes were filled with coldness.

It was fair to say she was indifferent.

Holly, well-versed in Gotham's survival tactics, sensed danger like a cat smelling a vicious dog and immediately perceived the threat.

"Take your troubles and leave, Polly," Holly snapped, "we don't get involved in this."

Polly's eyes widened with tears, "No...just save him! Save him! Nothing will happen—"

Realizing that Holly was unmoved, she turned her gaze towards Baia.

She humbly clutched at Baia's skirt.

"Please," she pleaded with pale lips, "aren't you a doctor? He's going to die, are you going to watch him die? How could you?"

Holly retorted coldly, "On the contrary, we won't watch. If you want him to die here, it's up to you."

With that, she pulled Baia inside and closed the door without hesitation.

The sky had completely darkened, leaving only a few dim streetlights illuminating the woman's distressed figure. The bustling buildings flickered with lights, young men and women coming and going from bars, but none of it mattered to Polly.

"Trust me, this is for your own good," Holly said, trying to pull Baia upstairs.

Once the door was closed, Baia leaned against it, knowing that someone was dying behind it. She rubbed her face with her hand, exhaling deeply.

"I'm not sure if we should do this...Holly, I'm a doctor. I've taken an oath."

"Don't be foolish, you're just a kind-hearted sorceress who enjoys role-playing. Don't save dangerous people," Holly grabbed her shoulder, "If you could cast a heart-piercing spell like in novels, we wouldn't have to worry about anyone, but you can't. Haven't you realized? Someone wants him dead, and if this attempt fails, they'll start looking for reasons, and the reason will be you."

Baia hesitated, burying her head into Holly's neck, muttering, "I'm considering it, but watching someone die at my clinic's doorstep isn't part of my career plan."

"So what else can we do? Gotham has its rules," Holly patted Baia's back, "Either you crush them completely, like Batman or Red Hood, or you bow your head."

The system, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up: So, is this how it ends?

Baia didn't respond immediately: Huh?

System: Is this how it ends? Just a few days ago, you were talking about your grand ambitions, and today you decide to play by someone else's rules?

Baia frowned: Are you trying to manipulate me?

System: Holly is also manipulating you. You're the one making decisions here—after all, why don't you make decisions for yourself?

Baia fell silent.

But you're wrong, she said in her mind to the system. From the moment I appeared in Brookhaven, all the decisions I've made have not been influenced by others but by my own conscience.

As time passed, the young man's body was gradually cooling, and she held him in her arms, sobbing, but it changed nothing. Sometimes, Polly didn't know what she had done wrong; or perhaps Gotham was just accustomed to displaying its indifference and cruelty.

Perhaps the souls clinging to each other in the mire were reaching the moment of separation.

And just before she fell into despair, with the faint sound of the door opening, Polly lifted her bewildered head.

A black-haired, green-eyed girl looked down at her, sighing softly. "Come in."

"Are you out of your mind? Do you know how much trouble we'll get into?" Holly rarely expressed anger so sincerely, her voice barely above a whisper as she vented at Baia.

Baia shrugged. "Good thing I'm not afraid of trouble."

[Jose Garcia] 6%

Since acquiring this ability, Baia had never seen such a low life value, and even as time passed, his life value continued to plummet rapidly.

Cutting away the blood-soaked clothing, Baia found that this young man had suffered a great deal of beating and torture, while also being shot in the thigh and abdomen. It was evident that the assailants had deliberately tortured him to prolong his death.

This undoubtedly involved something Baia didn't want to dwell on. She took a deep breath, but the cold air didn't help her calm down; instead, it only let the scent of blood linger in her nostrils.

"System," Baia commanded, "Angel's Song, right now."

In fact, her excitement now far outweighed any fear or negative emotions.

These abilities weren't just for treating minor illnesses for her neighbors. She could completely change a person's fate, she was giving life, she could become a warrior, and her only opponent was death itself.

To some extent, this ability could also be said to be close to that of a deity.

Skill points reset, and the angelic wing symbol on the skill interface suddenly lit up, bursting with brilliant white light.

[Angel's Song] immediately restores 8% of the target's health, with a chanting time of 5 minutes.

The soft light orb flickered in the fair palm of the young girl, growing larger and larger, gradually enveloping her entire body as Baia's indistinct chanting wrapped around her. The ethereal song floated like a light veil in the night, and those who heard it would doubt if the siren's voice was their hallucination. Restless Polly was settled in the living room, while Holly, who witnessed everything, was almost dumbfounded.

The strong light seeped through the door crack, and Polly blinked in disbelief.

Of course, Baia hadn't forgotten to help stop the bleeding for this young man on the verge of death and then administer continuous treatment.

The Angel's Song lasted for half an hour, and when Baia stopped, she felt a bit drained. Rubbing her sore temples, it felt like there was a drum pounding inside.

Jose's life value was now close to 60%, long out of danger. Continuing would likely cause him to wake up and see things he shouldn't, so Baia thought it best for him to remain unconscious.

"That's it," Baia said wearily, her voice devoid of emotion. "I've done what I can, take him away."

The black-haired girl yawned, and a little golden mist dispersed from her fingertips, disappearing into the air, as she floated up the stairs with ethereal steps.

"Hey!" Holly exclaimed angrily, "So I'm left to deal with the mess?"

"Yeah," Baia's mind wasn't quite clear, she leaned her arm on the railing of the corridor, sweetly blinking at Holly, "Thanks."

Holly was stunned for a few seconds, but she knew sometimes Baia could be like this, and there was no hope of her being coherent for a short while. She might fall asleep within a minute and forget even to take her shoes off.

Polly shrank back, feeling a bit scared.

"Thank you..." she said uncertainly, "I really appreciate it."

Holly sneered at her gratitude. "Hmph, if you really want to thank someone, forget everything that happened today, then leave Gotham with your little boyfriend overnight and never come back. That's it! Now go!"

"If anyone finds out about today's events," the girl threatened menacingly as she approached Polly, "I promise it'll be hard for even the sanitation workers to sweep out your two bodies. You know what we're capable of."

After delivering a fierce threat, Holly bundled the two out and slammed the door shut.

Inside a narrow, dimly lit but neatly organized apartment.

"We really can't stay in Gotham anymore," Polly said fearfully. "I've bought tickets for tomorrow morning. We'll both go to Metropolis together. Let's go!"

"Hiss..." Jose, who had just regained consciousness, groaned in pain as he pressed on his wounds. "No. I can't leave. Everything I have is in Gotham! Even if it's death—"

He paused.

"Why am I not dead?" He grabbed the woman's shoulders tightly, his nails digging in, his tone frantic. "Why am I not dead?"

Polly recoiled, shaking her head weakly. "I can't say."

"You don't understand at all! Right now, someone important needs this!" Jose yelled at her, but then realized that this would only scare Polly. His tone softened. "This is an opportunity, Polly. As long as we seize it, we won't have to leave our home. Do you remember that house you loved the most? We can have enough money to buy it, and even get a dog..."