“I need to get out of here. I can’t stand being locked up with this lunatic any longer. If push comes to shove, I’ll have to use my the favors.”
Eric Vaughn narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.
As the only disciple of his three revered masters, they had entrusted him with all their personal connections before he left the mountains. But unless absolutely necessary, he had no intention of relying on those favors.
Just as he hesitated, the door to the holding cell swung open with a loud creak.
A young police officer stepped inside, his expression unreadable. “You, there’s been a development in your case. Come with me.”
Hearing this, a smug grin instantly curled at the corners of Eric’s lips.
‘Heh… Took them long enough.’ By his calculations, the old man from the Kleinberg Family must have finally reached his limit. Without another dose of his special treatment, the so-called ‘acupuncture’ he had given would soon turn into a death sentence.
Three days… That’s all it takes. If I don’t administer another one in time, not even a deity could bring him back.
By now, the Kleinberg Family must have completely lost their minds with panic.
Eric scoffed internally. ‘They thought they could use me and then toss me aside? Who the hell do they think they are?’
With his hands clasped behind his back, he strode forward arrogantly, stepping past the officer like he owned the place. As he walked, he turned his head slightly and spoke in a lazily commanding tone.
“Go tell the Kleinberg Family that if they want me to forgive them, they’d better show some sincerity. I want a red carpet rolled out in front of the police station and a hundred taels of gold as compensation.”
His voice deepened, laced with mocking amusement.
“And the one to personally escort me out—” he sneered, “—must be that woman Sera herself. If they fail to meet even a single one of these conditions… Heh. Then they can just turn around and leave the same way they came.”
The room fell into a dead silence.
The officer stood completely dumbfounded, staring at Eric like he had lost his damn mind.
‘The hell did I just hear?’ His expression twitched. ‘Did this guy get brain damage while locked up?’
‘You’re telling me—this bastard, who’s in custody for practicing illegal medicine and worsening a patient’s condition to the point of death, still has the audacity to act like a king? Rolling out a red carpet? Who the hell does he think he is, the president son?’
Suppressing the urge to laugh, the officer led him into the interrogation room.
Once inside, he picked up a stack of documents and slammed them onto the table in front of Eric.
“You’re gonna be disappointed,” the officer said dryly. His tone was sharp, almost mocking.
“The old man from the Kleinberg Family? He’s dead.” The moment the words left his mouth, Eric’s entire expression shifted violently.
For the first time, the confidence in his eyes cracked, flashing between shock, disbelief, and something dangerously close to fear.
“That is Impossible. Absolutely impossible!”
Eric’s voice rose in a frantic shout, his eyes wild with disbelief. “That old bastard couldn’t have died! There’s no way! There has to be something else going on!” His mind raced. ‘No… my diagnosis was flawless.’
‘My technique was precise. The acupuncture had never failed before. No matter how critical his condition was, as long as he had even a breath left, my acupuncture should have ensured his survival for at least three days. There’s no way he could have just dropped dead before then!’
The young officer studied him for a long moment before speaking. “Mr. Eric, I suggest you calm down. The Kleinberg Family’s Head was already suffering from a terminal illness. Given the circumstances, your charges are likely to be illegal medical practice and assault. Technically speaking, this doesn’t constitute murder.” His voice was calm, even understanding, as if trying to console him.
“Lacking medical skills isn’t a crime. The charges for fighting might be more severe, but as long as the hospital doesn’t pursue damages for the equipment you destroyed, we can try to be lenient.”
Eric’s expression darkened instantly, his breath hitching in rage. ‘Lacking medical skills? This bastard dared to question my expertise? If it weren’t for these damn cuffs, I’d show him with a single needle how fragile his arrogance really is.’
“The old man couldn’t have died,” Eric growled, his hands clenching into fists. “My acupuncture Needles ensured his survival for three days. He wasn’t supposed to die until after that! Someone must have done something. Someone is framing me!” His fists slammed against the metal table with a loud thud, his eyes burning with desperation.
The officers exchanged subtle glances, their expressions unreadable. Finally, the young officer arched a brow. “So, what you’re saying is… he was supposed to die after three days? Not before?” His voice held a hint of amusement. “Meaning you admit that your treatment would have ultimately killed him?”
Eric froze. His heart skipped a beat as he realized his mistake. His mouth opened, but no words came out. Shit. He had walked straight into their trap.
“N-no, that’s not what I meant!” His voice cracked slightly, panic creeping in. “You’re twisting my words! I didn’t kill him! I—”
“You got that on record?” the young officer asked casually, glancing at a colleague.
“Yeah,” came the immediate reply.
“Good.”
The young officers in the room exchanged glances, still processing what had just happened. What was supposed to be a routine interrogation, just a standard interrogation after receiving the Kleinberg Family Head death notice, had unexpectedly turned into something far bigger. No one had expected a simple inquiry to yield such a major case.
Initially, they had assumed this was just about a street brawl, maybe a charge of illegal medical practice at worst. Nothing too significant. But intentional homicide? That was a whole different story. A case like this could mean commendations, promotions, and bonuses.
One of the officers shook his head in disbelief. “Damn… The old man was already on his last legs. The hospital had issued multiple critical condition notices. He probably wouldn’t have made it more than a few days anyway.”
“And this guy still thought he wasn’t dying fast enough?” another officer muttered, throwing a glance at Eric Vaughn, who sat frozen in his seat, his face pale.
“Not just that—he wanted to personally send him off,” the first officer added, voice dripping with sarcasm.
There was a brief silence before someone let out a low whistle.
“Damn… that’s some next-level lack of conscience right there.”