Morning came with the hum of anticipation.
News had spread—not fully, not officially—but enough.
The streets outside the clinic were full of people who had nowhere else to turn.
Some held phones, streaming live.
Some whispered rumors, already viral.
---
Dr. Hart adjusted the monitors nervously.
"They're watching. Officials, media… even the consortium."
She glanced at Lin Chen.
"Do you really want to do this here?"
Lin Chen's eyes were cold.
"Yes. Medicine is never silent."
---
The Patient
Today's case was a rare neurological disorder.
No hospital had accepted him.
No experimental program would touch him.
He arrived alone, escorted by his mother.
Fearful, fragile, desperate.
Lin Chen examined him in minutes.
No panic.
No hesitation.
[System Log: Patient Status: Critical.]
[Required Intervention: Immediate.]
---
The Operating Room
The OR was ready.
Cameras for documentation were active, discreetly.
Lin Chen ignored the potential onlookers.
All that mattered was the patient.
He moved with calm precision, every needle, every motion a calculation.
Dr. Hart assisted, silent but alert.
[System Log: Sovereign Pulse — Engaged.]
Within an hour, vital signs stabilized.
Neural pathways showed marked improvement.
The patient opened his eyes.
---
The Public Witness
Outside, whispers became shouts.
People streamed live.
Phones captured everything.
Someone uploaded footage.
Within minutes, social media feeds exploded.
"A doctor performing miracles in secret clinic!"
"How is this legal?"
"Unlicensed? Unbelievable!"
---
The Official Response
A Health Bureau official arrived mid-operation, just as Lin Chen finished suturing.
"You're creating a dangerous precedent," the official said, voice low.
"The data, the patients—everything here is a liability."
Lin Chen met his gaze evenly.
"Or it's the only solution. Decide which you want to endorse."
The official flinched slightly.
Lin Chen's calm, controlled authority was not to be challenged.
---
Consortium Attention
From an undisclosed location, the consortium monitored the live feeds.
Faces in the room stiffened.
"This is… out of control," a man said.
"Exposure level: critical. Contain immediately."
Lin Chen's name circulated.
His presence was undeniable.
The city's shadow network began to take notice.
---
A New Equation
By nightfall, patient numbers doubled.
Word spread that Lin Chen's clinic didn't follow rules—but got results.
Dr. Hart whispered,
"They'll come for us. All of them."
Lin Chen didn't look up.
"They will. And we'll be ready. Because results are proof, and proof cannot be silenced."
[System Log: City Control Progress: 32%.]
[Consortium Risk Assessment: Extreme.]
[Next Objective: Establish Secure Node Network.]
---
End of Chapter