Chapter 52 Gift

Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Gift

The next day, Lars decided not to continue smithing until he found a proper place to work. He wandered around the apartment building, searching for a location that could be used as a workshop.

"An open space isn’t a good idea either. It will be stressful if someone kept watching me while I worked," he muttered. "Well, I guess I will think about it later."

He then glanced at the calendar on his phone. Tomorrow was his younger sister’s birthday. This year, he planned to attend after being absent for the past few years.

He wanted to show his family that he had finally changed, that he was no longer the lazy Lars they used to know.

He then rode his scooter toward the business district. The area was filled with dozens of malls and shopping centers. Since it was the weekend, the place was crowded with people.

"Now, what kind of gift would a high school girl like?" Lars scratched his head as he stood in the middle of the shopping mall.

He wandered through countless stores, looking for something his sister might love. However, there were simply too many choices, leaving him unable to decide.

A few hours later, he sat down on a bench, still without buying anything.

"I never thought this would be so difficult! It’s even harder than choosing which class to create," Lars complained.

He then looked at his phone, hoping to ask someone for suggestions. However, there weren’t many contacts in it.

Besides Max and Justin, who he was sure would be just as clueless as he was, there were only a few other numbers. Then, his eyes stopped on one particular name.

Melodie.

He immediately recalled their last meeting a few weeks ago at the Auction House.

’I totally forgot about her. Will she be angry if I suddenly call her just to ask about this? Hmm...I will just give it a try.’

Lars pressed the Call button.

Tuut... Tuut...

(Hello. Who is this?)

A gentle female voice came from the other end of the line. Lars’s heart immediately began beating erratically. After all, the person on the other end of the call was once considered the most beautiful girl in his school.

"Err... it’s Lars. Are you busy right now?"

(Lars? Ahh! Is it Lars the Bully? I have been waiting for your call!)

Melodie giggled from the other end of the phone. She sounded genuinely excited. Lars, on the other hand, frowned.

"Can you stop calling me by that nickname? It really brings back bad memories."

(Sorry, sorry! So, why are you calling me? Have you finally agreed to sell me those exclusive Class Books?)

(Oh, by the way, I voted for the Frontline Fighter class in your voting forum, although it doesn’t look like it’s going to win.)

’She sure talks a lot.’ Lars thought.

"That’s not why I called you. I still haven’t decided about that yet. The real reason I called is because there’s something I want your opinion on."

(Go on.)

Melodie replied.

’Her mood suddenly changed. Is it because I still don’t want to sell the class to her yet? ’

"Err...I want to buy a birthday gift for my little sister. So, do you have any idea what kind of gift a high school girl would like?"

(...)

Melodie suddenly fell silent.

"Hello? Are you still there, Melodie? Hello?"

(Sigh. I never thought someone would call me just to ask what kind of gift his little sister might like. You really are full of surprises, Lars.)

(But I will answer your question. The fact that you called me means you either trust me, or I’m the only girl in your contact list. The gift that most girls would like is...)

Lars’s eyes widened as he heard her answer. It had never even crossed his mind.

"Thank you, Melodie! You have been a huge help!"

(I’m not finished yet! When are you going to give me your decision?)

"Just give me a little more time, please."

(You better not drag this out for too long. Otherwise, I will expose your identity and your background to the public.)

"Fine! I will give you my answer later. Just wait a little longer," Lars replied.

Soon they conversation ended and Lars immediately go to buy that gift.

---

District 22 Dungeon Hospital

The situation at the emergency department was hectic as usual. Doctors and nurses ran back and forth, voices raised in urgent shouts and cries.

Inside one of the emergency rooms, a woman was pressing down on a patient’s chest in steady in desperate rhythm as she performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while another staff member squeezed the ambu bag, forcing air into the man’s lungs. It had been like this for the past thirty minutes.

She had long black hair tied into a ponytail, and her red scrub top was damp with sweat.

"Doctor."

She kept pushing, her hands not stopping.

"Doctor!"

Still, she didn’t respond.

"Doctor Lia!" a nurse called out, louder this time.

Lia finally paused, turning her head toward the voice. The nurse silently shook her head.

"Time of death, 15:33 hours. Please inform the relatives," another doctor announced. The medical staff around them began to disperse. All their faces heavy with fatigue.

Lia looked down at the young man on the bed, another unlucky soul attacked by monsters in a dungeon today. His body was covered in blood, his wounds brutal and deep. Another victim claimed by the cruelty of dungeons.

She exhaled slowly, wiping the sweat from her forehead. The door opened, and the grieving family entered. The moment they saw him, their cries filled the room. Lia bowed deeply to them before walking out with heavy step.

This had been her routine for the past three years as a resident in the Emergency Department of the dungeon hospital. The dungeon hospital was built with a focus on treating medical conditions or trauma related to dungeons.

Year after year, the number of cases gradually shifted from standard hospitals to dungeon hospitals. Fewer people died from road accidents or diseases now as more deaths came from dungeons instead.

As she washed her hands, another male doctor approached, scrubbing his hands beside her.

"Another busy day, huh?" Terry said.

"Hmmm." Lia only hummed in response. She wiped her hands on a tissue before walking out.

"Why don’t you take a day off? It’s been ages since I saw you take one," Terry suggested. They had been working together for three years now and had grown close.

"I don’t need a holiday, Terry. The patients need me." She reached for the door handle, but Terry stepped in front of her.

"No, this is an order from Dr. Khoo. He says you look like a zombie these days, working non-stop. Go take a day off tomorrow and see your family, okay? The work will never end."

Lia sighed. "Fine. I will. Are you happy now?"

"Yes!" Terry grinned.

Just as they stepped out of the door, a triple bell rang, signaling an emergency case that required urgent attention.

"Are you kidding me? That’s the fourth time today," Terry groaned, walking lazily while Lia immediately dashed toward the red zone.

At the entrance, two stretchers were being rushed in. Lia immediately inspected the victims.

"What’s the case?" she asked the paramedic who had brought them.

"These are ambulance call cases. They were injured in the dungeon. One of them has stable vitals, but the other is critical," the male paramedic explained.

Terry examined one of them. He was bleeding, but the wounds were only superficial. The other one, however, caused everyone, including Lia, shocked as she opened the man’s shirt.

A gaping hole was in the middle of his abdomen, blood pouring out in an endless stream. It was a miracle he had even survived the ambulance trip here.

"Tcch!" Lia clicked her tongue. This was too serious.

"Terry! Call the anaest! We need to take him straight to the operating room. And... inform Dad, I mean, Mr Richard. Tell him we have an abdominal trauma case," she shouted.

All personnel immediately sprang into action.

"Sigh...this will be another long day," she muttered to herself.