Brave Enough for a Break, Ghosts on Maternity Leave?

In the VIP Consultation Room.

As Quirles and Jack entered, the atmosphere shifted, growing distinctly eerie.

Lina stepped forward, her vigilance clear as she positioned herself between Yi Bai and Jack.

"Mr. Director, may I ask who this is?" Yi Bai asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he smiled politely.

Although he already knew the reason for their visit, he still had to play his part, keeping up appearances.

"This is Mr. Jack," Quirles said, casually throwing an arm over Jack's shoulder. "Well, he's something of an old patient here at Third Hospital—an old mental case, to be honest. He heard about your remarkable skills and came specifically to meet you."

Jack: "..."

He couldn't be bothered to engage in any further verbal sparring with Quirles. His eyes locked onto Yi Bai, and beneath his mask, a sinister smile spread across his face.

"Yi Bai, please, diagnose me."

With that, Jack willingly sat in the patient's chair, seemingly cooperative.

However.

"Please leave," Yi Bai said flatly, his expression cold. "I don't treat made-up ailments here."

Not just Jack, but even Quirles froze in place.

Well, well!

It seemed that Yi Bai wasn't one to back down. Jack was here to cause trouble, and Yi Bai had just ripped the mask off the situation, showing no fear. Wasn't this a bit disrespectful to a Red Ghost like Jack?

The room grew colder, the tension palpable.

Under the cloak and mask, Jack's figure seemed to stiffen at Yi Bai's blunt words.

Lina stood beside Yi Bai, her gaze icy as she watched Jack. It was clear that, should Jack make any wrong move, the surgical knife at her fingertips would become a deadly weapon in an instant.

Quirles also silently positioned himself between Yi Bai and Jack.

As an old "friend" of Jack's, he understood the nature—or rather, the species—of this visitor. A parasitic scarecrow, rare and vicious by nature. Its parasitic methods were so strange and dangerous that even Quirles tread lightly around them. His earlier act of putting his arm around Jack's shoulders was to prevent Jack from using his "scarecrow curse" in Third Hospital.

But now, the man he held in high regard, Yi Bai, had boldly exposed Jack's true nature without a second thought!

The tense atmosphere in the room stretched on until Jack let out a soft chuckle.

"An interesting human."

Yi Bai had heard such a description from ghosts before. It didn't surprise him anymore. To most ghosts, humans were supposed to be frightened of them, yet Yi Bai's calm demeanor led them to label him as "interesting."

"Mr. Jack, if you're done here, please leave. I still have work to do," Yi Bai said, his tone still calm and polite.

After all, he had two powerful Red Ghosts on his side. While Quirles might have been injured, he was no simple figure. Lina, too, was a unique and dangerous entity. Yi Bai had no real reason to fear for his safety. Besides, he had connections, like the Count of Roses, a noble vampire, and Ralph, who owed him a favor.

Yi Bai hadn't realized it until now, but he'd unknowingly become a well-connected figure in this frightening world.

"Double the offer! Whatever Quirles is paying you, I'll pay you twice as much! If you're willing to join my Black Crow Hospital, how about it?"

Jack's words were bold, and the animated face on Quirles' glass container turned pale.

Yi Bai smiled faintly, shaking his head.

In his new, more authoritative guise as "Yi Bai," he gently took Lina's cool hand in his.

"Even if it were ten times, a hundred times the pay, it wouldn't matter. If the right ghost isn't there, no amount of reward will convince me to join," he said decisively.

His words were firm, resolute.

Lina, her heart as cold as death, seemed to soften at that moment. She leaned against Yi Bai, her gaze filled with nothing but him. If the room hadn't been occupied by Quirles and Jack, the sheer force of Yi Bai's words might have caused the very world to tremble.

Jack: "..."

Silence. Shock. Confusion...

A torrent of complex emotions surged in Jack's mind.

He wanted to wipe his nonexistent eyes and then wipe Yi Bai's eyes, then solemnly tell him: You do realize the nurse you're standing next to is a ghost, right?

Not just Jack. Even Quirles, who had caught a glimpse of what was happening, felt bewildered. It wasn't odd for a man to pursue a charming woman, but to openly chase after a female ghost? Wasn't that pushing things a bit too far?

"Ahem." Quirles couldn't help but cough loudly, bringing the increasingly awkward atmosphere back to reality.

Jack snapped out of his daze, his gaze toward Yi Bai growing even more peculiar.

Before, he thought Yi Bai was merely an "interesting human." Now, the word "interesting" could only be replaced with "outrageous."

He had seen bold people before, but never someone who wanted to send a ghost on maternity leave.

Stunned as he was, Jack didn't forget his purpose. His thoughts turned, and he spoke again.

"This beautiful nurse... if you're willing, I can offer you double the salary as well. I sincerely invite you to join my Black Crow Hospital."

"Jack, don't you think you're underestimating me?" Lina had yet to respond, still floating in her own little world, but Quirles was beginning to get furious. Jack had been trying to poach his staff right in front of him.

As the director, if he didn't react soon, it would be seen as a sign of weakness.

"Lina's salary will be doubled!" Quirles said, his voice sharp. "As for Yi Bai…"

Quirles paused, thinking. If Jack hadn't caused trouble by showing up right now, the benefits he had planned to offer Yi Bai would have been very generous. The Soul Lock storage device alone was worth more than ten thousand ghost coins to a human player. But Jack had come at the worst possible time, right as Yi Bai had yet to fully settle back into the living world.

Moreover, Jack had gone and doubled the offer before he even had a chance.

Yi Bai had stayed at Third Hospital because of Nurse Lina. But if Quirles didn't respond now, Yi Bai might start entertaining thoughts of joining Jack's side.

Quirles was now racking his brain, trying to figure out how to keep Yi Bai committed to Third Hospital.