[Bank Balance: $12,105.20]
The automatic doors of City Central Hospital slid open. Ryan stepped inside, bringing with him the smell of dust, sweat, and dried black blood.
People in the waiting area wrinkled their noses and moved away. To them, Ryan looked like a homeless man who had just rolled out of a dumpster. His hoodie was torn, his jeans were stained with mud, and he had a strange, rusty crowbar sticking out of his backpack.
Ryan didn't care. He walked straight to the reception desk.
Sitting behind the counter was a middle-aged nurse with a face sour enough to curdle milk. Her name tag read 'Nurse Karen'. (Yes, really).
She looked up, scanned Ryan from head to toe, and sneered.
"Deliveries are at the back entrance," she said without looking at him again. "And leave that filthy bag outside."
Ryan stopped. He recognized her. This was the same woman who had threatened to throw his sister out onto the street yesterday.
"I'm not here for delivery," Ryan said calmly, placing his hand on the counter. "I'm here to pay the bills for Sarah in Room 304."
Nurse Karen let out a mocking laugh. "Room 304? That bill is $8,000. Do you have $8,000, kid? Or did you come to beg for another extension? I told you, this isn't a charity."
She reached for the phone. "Security, we have a vagrant disturbing the—"
SLAM!
Ryan slapped his phone onto the counter. The screen displayed his banking app with a bright green transfer confirmation.
[Transfer Successful: $10,000 to City Central Hospital.]
Nurse Karen froze. Her eyes bulged. She looked at the phone, then at Ryan, then back at the phone.
"Transfer confirmed," Ryan said, his voice cold. "I paid the $8,000 debt. And I paid an extra $2,000 advance for her medication. Is that enough? Or should I call your manager and ask why you are refusing a paying customer?"
The nurse's face turned red, then pale. In the Spirit Era, cash was king. Someone who could drop $10k instantly wasn't a beggar; they were a VIP.
"I... I apologize, Sir," she stammered, her attitude doing a 180-degree turn. "There must be a mistake. I didn't recognize you. I'll update the system right away."
"Keep the change," Ryan muttered, snatching his phone back. "And if I hear you were rude to my sister again, I won't just pay her bill. I'll buy this hospital and fire you."
(Okay, he couldn't actually afford the hospital, but she didn't know that.)
He walked past the stunned receptionist towards the elevators.
[System Notification: Host's 'Charisma' has slightly increased due to dominant behavior.]
Ryan smirked. Being rich felt good.
Room 304.
The room was quiet. The smell of disinfectant was strong.
Lying on the small white bed was a thin, pale girl. Sarah. She was hooked up to several machines that beeped rhythmically.
Ryan's heart softened. The arrogance of the 'Ghost Hunter' vanished instantly.
He sat on the edge of the bed and gently brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.
"Hey, sleepyhead," Ryan whispered.
Sarah's eyes fluttered open. They were big and brown, but clouded with sickness.
"Ryan?" she rasped. "You smell like... burnt toast."
Ryan chuckled. "It's a new cologne. It's called 'Success'."
"Did you... get the money?" she asked fearfully.
"It's paid," Ryan said, showing her the receipt. "Everything is paid. You aren't going anywhere. In fact, I'm going to ask the doctor to move you to a private room tomorrow."
Sarah smiled weakly, squeezing his hand. "You're the best brother... but you look tired. Did you fight a dragon?"
"Something like that," Ryan winked. "Just a few pests."
He stayed with her until she fell asleep again. Watching her chest rise and fall, Ryan's expression turned serious.
The doctors said she had a rare blood disease called 'Spiritual Anemia'. Her soul was leaking energy. It started three years ago, right when the Spirit Era began.
Money could buy medicine to slow it down, but it couldn't cure it. To cure her, he needed something stronger. Something magical.
"System," Ryan mentally commanded. "Open Shop."
[ --- UNDERWORLD SHOP (Level 1) --- ]
Current Balance: 2060 Fear Points.
Ryan browsed the holographic list floating in front of him.
Most items were locked. But a few caught his eye.
[Basic Exorcism Pistol] - 500 Points (Uses spirit energy as ammo).[Healing Potion (Low)] - 300 Points (Heals physical wounds instantly).[Spirit Binding Chain] - 800 Points (Traps enemies).[Soul Nourishing Pill] - 2000 Points.
Ryan froze.
[Soul Nourishing Pill]
Description: Repair a damaged soul and replenish lost spiritual energy. Can cure low-level spiritual diseases.
"That's it," Ryan thought, his heart pounding. "That can save her."
But the price... 2000 Points.
He had exactly 2060 Points. If he bought this, he would be broke again. He would have no points to upgrade his skills or buy weapons for himself. And the 'Collector' was hunting him.
He looked at Sarah's sleeping face.
"No contest," Ryan whispered. "Buy."
[System Warning: Are you sure? You will be left with 60 Points.]
"Confirm."
[Ding! Purchase Successful.]
[Item: 'Soul Nourishing Pill' has been added to Inventory.]
A small, glowing white pill appeared in his hand. It smelled like fresh rain.
Ryan gently woke Sarah up and made her swallow it with some water.
"It tastes like candy," she murmured, drifting back to sleep.
Almost instantly, the color returned to her cheeks. Her breathing became deeper, stronger. The beeping of the monitor steadied.
It wasn't a permanent cure yet, but it bought her years of time.
Ryan slumped back in the chair, exhausted but relieved. He was broke again (in points), but it was worth it.
Suddenly, his System vibrated.
[Passive Skill 'Ghost Eye' has auto-activated.]
[Anomaly Detected.]
Ryan sat up straight. He looked around the hospital room.
Nothing.
He walked to the window and looked out into the hallway.
The hospital hallway was busy. Doctors, nurses, patients.
But through his Ghost Eye, the scene was different.
Black smoke was crawling on the floor like snakes.
And standing at the end of the hallway, near the elevator, was a Doctor in a white coat.
But he had no face.
And he was holding a clipboard that was dripping blood.
The 'Doctor' stopped. He slowly turned his blank face towards Ryan.
He raised a finger and pointed at Room 304.
[System Alert: New Enemy Detected.]
[Target: The Phantom Doctor (Level ?)]
[Location: City Central Hospital.]
[Warning: This Hospital is a 'Feeding Ground'.]
Ryan gripped the door handle. His rusty crowbar was in his backpack, and he had zero points to buy weapons.
"Great," Ryan muttered, a dangerous glint appearing in his eyes. "I just paid the bill, and now the service is terrible. Time to file a complaint."