Chapter 17 A Bizarre Discovery

The moment Deleon stepped out of the room the provocative doctor took my arm in her grasp; sat me down on the operational table. “So Anna was it? I heard my sweetheart poured his heart out to you and you stepped all over it. Now, why would you do that to such a kind man? Are you not interested in men or are you into those bad boys? I could tell by how conservative you’re dressed. Nice girls like you love to pretend as if you’re into kind men but the truth is that you love to be roughed up, am I right?”

Tsk! This damn woman could actually read the fine prints on my tainted pages, what a calculative bitch. Though I despised her braggadocious titties that were hanging in my face, I made sure to keep my negative emotions from becoming apparent. Thus I frown lightly then responded to her veiled threats:

“What are you on about, Ms Kate? What is between me and Deleon how exactly does that concerns you? I came here tonight because I am scared of hospitals, if you’re just going to stand here and mock me then I rather leave.”

Seeing my displeased expression, moreover, recognizing my retreating legs, this detestable bitch cracked a fake smile and apologized.

“Sorry! Sorry! I was just messing around. Please sit back down and let me take a look at your arm. Do me a favour and don’t let Prof. Shaw find about what I said earlier. Otherwise, he might fire me if he knew I place pressure on the girl he likes.”

“Fire you?” When I heard this my face was stunned.

“Yeah, didn’t he tell you? This company is practically his. He owns 61% of the company’s shares. Bio-Ace Pharmaceuticals was started by his grandfather and he inherited the majority shares when his father passed away a couple of years back. I thought he already told you this since you’re so close with each other.”

“You misunderstood. We’re not that close.”

“Is that so? Anyway, let me look after your arm. Hmm, how strange. The excessive bleeding has already been staunch. Also, it seems as if the laceration is closing. What miraculous regenerative ability!”

“Yes, I have a rare constitution which heals rather quickly than others.”

“Could this be the reason why you hate public hospitals? If they found out about your rare blood work they would definitely pester you.”

“Yes, yes, that’s why. So please don’t mention this to anybody else and I promise not to say anything to Deleon about you lashing out at me.”

“I understand. My lips are sealed. Now that I’ve discovered your secret, I no longer need to apply any stitches to your wound. This thing is basically mended already. I’ll just disinfect the parted flesh, apply some antibiotics then you’re good to go.

“Thank you for taking caring of me, Dr Kate.” My arm was looked after very quickly. The doctor did what she promised; wrapped my arm up in a cute looking bandage. Due to my business being finished in the infirmary, I said goodnight to Kate then went outside to search for Deleon.

“Now where could he be? Should I just wait for him here? He did say that he was coming back soon.”

My sense of exploration wouldn’t allow my legs to maintain their stillness. I moved away from the infirmary and began stretching my feet around the prohibited edifice. During my inquisitive search of the underground floor, I accidentally stumbled on a lab which caught my interest.

“Huh? Was that…? Could it be?” To verify what I had just glimpsed inside the lab that had its door left ajar, I sneakily advanced to opening and peeked inside. “I am sure that is what I saw.”

Lo and behold my suspicion was confirmed. Located in the secret lab being researched by scientists was an array of fully grown Dark Bloom Orchids. These mystical orchids were impossible to come by unless Master Odok sanctioned it. They were native only to the bottomless scorpion abyss present at Mt Venom. No normal person could approach those dark orchids without being poisoned to death and yet here they were being experimented on by a group of scientists wearing anti-biohazard suits.

“What are they trying to use it for? If something goes wrong while researching it then…”

“Anna? What are you doing here?”

“Awe!” I was suddenly startled by the unexpected presence of the wimpy man who snuck up behind me. As I turned around to face him, he closed the door abruptly.

“You shouldn’t be wandering around here without me by your side. If the guards had discovered you first it would have been troublesome.”

“Sorry for being so nosy. I got lost trying to find you.”

“Oh, how come Dr Kate let you go so quickly? Did she do a good job stitching up your arm?”

“Yes, there is no problem here. She did such a great job patching me up, I will surely be free of pain by the morning.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Since we’re finished here, let’s get you home shall we? By the way, where do you live?”

“Oh, it’s the same place as my shop. My apartment is directly above it. I own the entire building.”

“Really? Will you be okay going back there? What if those bad men come back demanding more money?”

“I’m not worried about them. I’m sure by now the cops have already apprehended those gangsters.”

“Don’t put too much trust in our justice department. They are only swayed by money. I recognized that those thugs were a part of the Demon Triad and a lot of officers on the force works for them. Are you sure you want me to bring you back there? I don’t mind renting a hotel room for you to spend the night.”

“I told you already, it is fine. My girl Ember is spending the night at my place so I won’t be alone.”

“Is that so? How come I didn’t see her while I was at the shop?”

“Oh, that? She was out like a log when we came back to the shop. We went drinking earlier to celebrate her promotion.”

“You gave her a promotion in the flower shop? What is she now, general manager?”

“Not really. If I told you her secret she might get angry and come murder you in your sleep.”

“Ha-ha-ha-ha! I had no idea you know how to make jokes, Anna. You’re really funny you know that?”

‘But I wasn’t lying you, damn dolt. If you discover our secret, you would be dead before you could even blink.’ I voiced this thought of mine internally. Deleon thought I was joking about Ember killing him in his sleep. It’s a pity he didn’t know that I was her mentor in the tainted arts of assassination.

As we chatted while heading back, I tried finding the right moment to ask Deleon about the Dark Bloom Orchid that I accidentally identified in his lab but he was so damn talkative that I didn’t get the chance to. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of my vandalized shop.

“Alright, Ms Anna. Be safe.” Deleon wished me goodnight then went back to his car. I stopped him as he settled in the driver’s seat then spoke softly in a shy manner.

“Deleon wait.”

“Hmm, what is it, Ms Anna? Did you change your mind about staying here tonight?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then what?”

“That offer that you proposed the other day when you visited my shop. Is it still valid?”

“Offer? Are you perhaps talking about my confession?”

“Ah, yes. I had a change of mind recently and I was wondering if you would still like to go on a date.”

“What? For real!” The excitement on Deleon’s cute face was blatantly exposed. To reassure him that I was serious about going out with him, I smiled as how any nice girl would and said:

“Yes. I would love to get to know you better. What do you say?”

“Of course I agree! How about this weekend? Will you be busy with work?”

“I don’t think so. My shop will be under repair so I’m free for the time being.”

“Alright, I’ll come by then. Please stay safe and have a good night.”

“You too.”

[Vrm! Vrm!] Deleon finally drove away. The silly expression on his cute face when I asked him out was so thrilling. Why did I agree to his date? Wasn’t it obvious? I changed my mind because I wanted to find out why he was secretly researching Dark Bloom Orchid and how Bio-Ace Pharmaceuticals had gotten their hands on them.

“Deleon, oh Deleon, what are you hiding from me?”

The night was no longer young and I was feeling sleepy. Those thugs who I massacred in the alley took quite the pound out my rejuvenation. Noticing an addictive yawn forming my mouth, I closed the doors of my shop then went to my apartment upstairs to give my minion an earful. The audacity she had to have slept through all the commotion that took place below.

I discovered Ember sprawled out on my bed like a flying monkey. She slept in such a ludicrous manner, no space was left on the bed for me to sleep on. “This freeloader.” I decided not to disturbed her sleep; saving her punishment for the next day.

“Tsk, for a Coloured Scorpion this girl sleeps really dead. I will properly instruct her in the morning.” I stepped away from the bed; went to the bathroom to cleanse the dry bloodstain on my flesh. Finished with my cleansing, I went into the medicinal bath inside my secret space. I unwrapped the bandage from my left arm. The wound was almost completely healed.

While I was in the bath my earpiece which was sitting on a desk beside me started producing an audible vibration. This indicated that I was receiving an incoming transmission from my mentor. I tapped the earpiece, switching it on speaker-mode then answered.

“Master Odok?”

“Tainted Scorpion I heard from Amethyst that you have awoken. How are you feeling?”

“I’ve recovered 68% of my original heath.”

“That’s no good. I need you at your best before I can issue your new assignment. Get well soon otherwise, you’ll be disposed of as rubbish.”

“Oh, how sweet. Thanks for your kind words, sensei. I will surely get better soon.”

“Alright, then I’m logging out.”

“Wait, before you hang up I want to ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“Is it possible for outsiders to be in possession of Dark Bloom Orchids?”

“It is possible. However, I’ve made sure to secure the growth area for 5 decades now. Only two persons alone other than myself have been allowed personal access to the pit, you and White Scorpion. Why have you asked?”

“Ah, nothing. Just curious. Bye, now sensei.” [Beep!] I quickly hang up in fear of spilling more than I should. I didn’t want Deleon to get involved with the league. I thought it was best to handle the matter myself.