?


    Once Winter hung up, Frank urged the cabbie to speed up, only for them to run into a traffic jam caused by a traffic ident.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Every vehicle on the road stayed stuck in ce, with drivers ring their horns incessantly and noisily.


    Frank got further anxious as he waited, even as it dawned on him that something was strange.


    By the time he rushed out of the cab and headed to the location of the supposed traffic ident, all he saw was a car without a driver left in the middle of the road, stalling traffic entirely.


    "Fuck!"


    Frank cursed as he could see right away that the traffic congestion was a staged incident.


    Then, without another word, he started running in the direction of Zamri Hospital.


    Meanwhile, as Winter hung up in her office at Zamri Hospital and put on a face mask, she sighed.


    Even as she yearned inwardly for Frank''s arrival, someone started knocking on her door.


    "Who is it?" Winter asked, looking up at the door in confusion.


    When the chemical attack began, she had issued an order to lock down the entire hospital and for every patient and staff member to stay at their own posts or wards.


    She was naturally wary that someone woulde to her at this time.


    "Ms. Lawrence."


    A youthful man who looked to be in his twenties entered.


    His hair was a conspicuous bright blond and he wore a purple id suit while carrying a briefcase.


    Most importantly, he appeared calm and nonchnt as he stood in the hallway, which was filled with chemicals that could quickly make anyone sick.


    He was not wearing a mask either, allowing Winter to see the smug smile on his face.


    "Who are you?"


    Winter''s expression was cold, watching as the man strutted inside her office with several men-in-ck in tow.


    "Hehehe..."


    The blonde man simply smiled as he sat down on the couch near Winter''s desk, crossing his legs while watching Winter in amusement. "Ms. Lawrence.... You''re really lucky, iming the much coveted position of hospital chief at such a young age!"


    "Spare me the drivel."


    Winter was kind, but she was no fool-the young man in front of her was clearly an enemy.


    He must have something to do with the vanishing patient and the toxic gas filling the entire hospital at the moment.


    The fact that he was showing his face could not be good either.


    "Who are you?!" she demanded. "Why have youe to me?!"


    "Oh, boy..."


    Seeing the wary re in Winter''s big eyes, the blond man shrugged nonchntly. "You don''t have to be so scared of me, do you?"


    Then, flicking his hair, he grinned, "Right, allow me to introduce myself. I''m Fredo Barzini, a board member of Shen Group. I''vee with sincerity, as I would like to discuss a partnership with you!"


    Winter kept staring at him warily. "Partnership? What partnership?"


    Fredo simply smiled at her. "Hehe. See, Shen Group is involved in the pharmaceutical business as well. We were based in Central Draconia before, but a bigwig recently extended an invitation, and we''re now ready to expand into East Draconia.


    "I''ll be honest—we were the ones whounched the chemical attack, as a gesture ofpassion and how serious we are about this partnership."


    "Compassion!?"


    Even someone as calm as Winter almost snapped on the spot, and she snorted sarcastically. "Well, our hospital Certainly doesn''t deserve yourpassion. Thanks to that, forty percent of our ICU patients are suffering from deteriorating conditions."