Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1442: Chapter 169: The Grim Reaper Arrives (Part 1)

In front of the emergency room, Mr. Smith and Lady Elura, who were anxiously waiting, suddenly heard the sound of the door opening. They immediately rushed forward to inquire with the doctor who came out.

The doctor’s expression was not very optimistic at this moment… Mr. Smith and Lady Elura’s hearts sank instantly. Mr. Smith could only try to calm himself quickly and asked, “Doctor, what is my wife’s current condition?”

The doctor frowned and asked Mr. Smith, “Sir, does your wife have a heart condition?”

Mr. Smith immediately shook his head and said, “Why do you say that? Deborah is clearly a healthy person. Doesn’t your hospital’s system have her records?”

“That’s what I find strange.” The doctor said with a rather peculiar expression, “I’ve indeed checked your wife’s health condition and past medical records… She indeed had no such medical history, and she even gave birth naturally to her first child.”

Upon hearing this, Lady Elura couldn’t help but exclaim in horror, “Doctor, are you saying that Deborah has a heart condition?”

The doctor sighed and said, “Ma’am, based on the current situation, I must regrettably inform you that this is indeed the case. Moreover, the patient’s condition is very dangerous and with our current capabilities here, the outlook is not optimistic.”

“Impossible! I take my wife for regular health check-ups every week! This is impossible!”

Who could believe it? Mr. Smith felt that it was a prank, it must be—but how could a doctor lie to a patient?

He just didn’t want to believe this dreadful news.

“Based on the current situation, I can only say that it might be a sudden pathological change. To find the exact reason, we might need more detailed research. But in fact…” The doctor took a deep breath and said, “Given the current situation, there is no way to delay.”

Mr. Smith said heavily, “Doctor, please tell me both the best and worst possible outcomes.”

The doctor also glanced at Lady Elura, who, being older, was already somewhat unsteady and could only lean on Mr. Smith. “I’m afraid we can only save one of them, or perhaps neither. There are no conditions for transfer now, and even if it were possible, the outcome might be the same.”

Them… Mr. Smith naturally knew who “they” referred to—it was his wife and his soon-to-be-born second child.

Mr. Smith suddenly sat down weakly, while Lady Elura could only cry on her son’s shoulder.

The doctor could only sigh; this is one of the most difficult situations for a medical professional. He had seen too many such cases. In his view, Lady Elura, at her age, was displaying enough strength.

“I hope you can decide quickly.” The doctor, though helpless, could only present this difficult choice, “I must remind you, every second of hesitation is invaluable for the patient inside.”

“Doctor, please do your utmost.” Mr. Smith tightly gripped Lady Elura’s hand and said solemnly, “My wife is a good person, I believe she will be fine. I also believe my second child wants to come into this world. I…I also believe in you, doctor!”

The doctor could only nod silently; this was the only comfort he could currently offer the patient’s family.

The doctor quickly transferred Deborah from the emergency room to the operating room. Mr. Smith and Lady Elura accompanied her all the way to the operating room door, marking the beginning of a long wait.

But at that moment, the police arrived.

The bad news didn’t stop there—before this, Joe had disappeared, and Lady Elura had already reported it to the police.

“I’ll go see the officer, you stay here and watch.” Mr. Smith said to his mother. As a man, he felt he should face these matters at this moment.

Lady Elura nodded silently. She was lost, unable to make decisions—after Mr. Smith temporarily left, Lady Elura sat by the operating room door, seemingly very defeated, silently praying in her heart—as a believer, she was certain the Lord could hear her voice.

Because Lady Elura knew, the Lord had indeed heard her prayers once—just half a year ago, they had survived that disaster as if by a miracle.

——What are you afraid of?

——Death, or loss?

The voice, deep, tranquil, capable of calming the heart, had once appeared by Lady Elura’s ear—during that disaster when her body was pinned under the overturned car.

Not just a voice, but even…even a figure slowly walking through the flames.

It was covered in the light of the flames, carrying some kind of light around it—Light!

Meow——!

In that moment of distraction, Lady Elura heard the sound of a cat—how could there be a cat in the hospital?

She instinctively looked towards the sound and saw at the end of the hallway in front of the operating room, a black cat had appeared… The black cat just stood there, motionless.

An unprecedented feeling of fear made Lady Elura clutch her handbag tightly—she used her handbag to block her body, and her body began to tremble slightly.

Suddenly, Lady Elura rushed forward, swinging her handbag forcefully at the peculiar black cat, “Leave here! Leave here! Please leave here immediately! Leave—”

She didn’t even know why she did so, she just instinctively wanted to do it—perhaps, she instinctively sensed something, perhaps even knew something, but wasn’t ready to admit it.

Lady Elura’s actions startled the passing nurse.

“Ma’am, what happened?” The nurse quickly approached, steadying Lady Elura, and asked with concern.

Lady Elura stopped her hand; she could no longer see the black cat from earlier. In the empty corridor at night, it was just her and the nurse now… Quietly, she looked at the concerned nurse, moved her lips, and suddenly said sadly, “It’s here…once again.”

She also remembered, recalled the disaster half a year ago—she had actually heard another voice.

——Time is up.

…

…

“I hate dresses and skirts, I’m very uncomfortable.” This was Joe’s original statement, without a hint of falsity.

“Western dresses and skirts only happen once or countless times.” Nero clearly didn’t care about the little dog’s protests, “You’ve already successfully broken through the first time.”

As they spoke, they had actually returned to the park where they initially met, and at this moment, Joe was tied up with a rope, while Nero sat on a tree branch, holding one end of the rope that tied up Joe.

Clearly, this was Nero’s version of fishing.

Though Joe hadn’t learned much, he had often doubted the feasibility of this method—he simply couldn’t escape from the bullying of this wicked big sister—Joe always felt this wicked big sister only mocked him, seeking amusement—just like those older kids who loved to bully him.

“Is this ever going to end? I really want to go home! My grandmother and mother will worry about me, they won’t let me go out anymore… Big sister! Can you hear me? Big sister—”

Joe struggled to lift his head, but to his horror, the wicked big sister on the branch had vanished, leaving the rope tied only to the branch!

Joe had to cry out several times in fear, but no response came—he began to swing his body, but it only dangled in mid-air like a pendulum—Joe felt like a little bug caught in a spider’s silk—he had seen spiders hunt like this before… right in his own backyard.

Unknown how much time passed, Joe grew weary from shouting, his body exhausted, and felt his eyes closing as he slowly drifted off to sleep… But a chilling sensation suddenly startled him awake!

Snake… This time Joe saw a snake slowly crawling along the ground!

Cold eyes, red tongue flicking—the snake slowly slithered along the ground, then ascended the trunk, coiling around it, finally reaching the branch where the rope was tied.

“Big sister! Big sister! Big sister—”

Joe swung himself more fiercely, yet the terrifying snake was now descending along the rope, inching toward him!

Hiss—Hiss—

Its mouth opened, poisonous fangs emitting a toxic glow appearing in front of Joe’s face—so close, barely a finger’s distance!

Ah—!

Joe screamed, only to see the terrifying snake gradually moving away from him—it seemed to be pulled back by someone!

“Big sister!” Joe cried again, but this time his voice was filled with surprise.

Nero appeared!

Yet she ignored Joe, instead picking up the venomous snake and casually tying it into a knot—just as Joe thought it was over, the wicked big sister he knew suddenly opened her mouth and swallowed the knotted snake whole!

Joe’s expression froze instantly, his thoughts too!

“Hmm… This taste is different?” Nero sat cross-legged on the branch, arms folded, pondering aloud, “So strange… Where did it go wrong?”

“Please let me go…” Joe pleaded weakly.

Nero then hung upside down from the branch, pinching Joe’s cheek, “Hey, little dog, have you never done anything wicked before? Such as sneaking into a girls’ bathhouse because you’re young, or randomly touching girls’ bodies? Or perhaps, sneaking up while your parents are clapping on the bed at midnight to pee?”

“Why would my parents clap on the bed?” Joe wondered, then shook his head vigorously, “No! None of that!”

“Oh, then it’s alright.” Nero nodded, casually released Joe, shaking her head, “Seems Mr. Death won’t be tricked again after this.”

He wasn’t tricked to start with… Joe thought silently but dared not speak aloud—who knows how the wicked big sister might bully him next, and he really didn’t want to continue wearing women’s clothes!

“But why can you see all of this?” Nero suddenly grabbed Joe’s collar, lifting him entirely, “Normally people hardly encounter the supernatural, unless they’ve experienced a life-and-death moment… Hey, little dog, have you ever died?”

Joe shook his head, he’d always been alive, how could he have died?

Nero thought for a moment, “Have you ever experienced anything particularly terrifying or dangerous? Been seriously ill? Or stayed in a hospital?”

“Hospital?” Joe pondered, then nodded, “I stayed in a hospital before.”

Nero’s eyes brightened, she inquired, “What happened, why were you hospitalized?”

Joe shook his head, “I don’t remember, when I woke up I was in the hospital. Mom, Dad, and Grandma were there too, we stayed in the hospital for nearly a week before leaving… this happened about six months ago.”

Nero paused, then pulled Joe closer by the collar, “What did you say? You all… no, your entire family stayed in the hospital?”

Joe nodded.

Nero stared seriously at Joe—she stared for a long time, until Joe’s face reddened from the prolonged pressure on his neck, almost suffocating.

But she still didn’t intend to let go—Nero suddenly extended her hand, a beam of light shot from afar… that was from Mr. Smith’s direction!

Shooting over was the Yama Sword that Nero had inserted into Mr. Smith’s house underground.

As the Yama Sword landed in Nero’s hand, this latest Black Soul envoy at the club didn’t hesitate at all, wielding the Yama Sword and slicing at Joe.

With a swing of the sword, the club’s former fighter never seemed to hesitate—as the Yama Sword completed its arc, Joe’s body slipped from Nero’s grip, falling hard to the ground.

Lying on the ground, Joe motionless, while Nero’s palm held a grayish sphere of light—she lifted it and examined it.

“I see…” Nero suddenly squinted her crescent-shaped eyes, a peculiar smile spreading across her face, “Now it’s not so boring…”

Just then, the Yama Sword suddenly hummed, seemingly conveying some message to Nero.

After the Yama Sword calmed, Nero lifted Joe from the ground, slung him over her shoulder, and jumped atop the tree, leaping forward—that was toward the hospital.