Mu Lin started speaking on the phone in a distorted voice, “Hello! Is this the police station? I’ve detected something unusual in a villa near Chinatown. There’s a pungent smell coming from the house, and people have fainted around it. I suspect someone inside is using gas bombs! I need to stop others from approaching now. Goodbye!” Without waiting for the other party to ask for his name or address, Mu Lin hung up. Then he called several prominent media outlets, including The New York Times, confident they would love to cover such a breaking news story.
After hanging up the phone, Mu Lin didn’t wait for the police to arrive. He hurried back to his clinic. He had to return before the police and those monitoring him could locate him, leaving no clues behind. Otherwise, his long-maintained low profile would be compromised.
In the villa’s living room, he had left two copied video tapes. One showed himself being hypnotized, and the other captured a discussion among several criminal gangs plotting against him. Additionally, he had extracted from the minds of several gang leaders a list of high-ranking officials who had aided them. He typed the list into a table using the villa’s typewriter and left it in the living room. He needed to use this incident to gauge the reaction of the U-country elites, which would help determine his future course of action.
Returning to the clinic, Finney and the others were still waiting for him. Seeing him come back, all three rushed to embrace him. Mu Lin knew they had never seen his abilities firsthand, and they had been worried about him during every mission. He offered no explanation, simply pulling them all into bed and slowly recounting everything that had happened that day. There would be much for them to perform tomorrow.
Mu Lin began speaking in a distorted voice over the phone: “Hello! Is this the police station? I’ve noticed something unusual at a villa near Chinatown. There’s a pungent smell coming from inside, and people around the villa have collapsed. I suspect someone is using poison gas inside! Alright, I need to stop others from approaching. Goodbye!” Without giving the other party a chance to ask for his name or address, Mu Lin hung up. He then called several prominent media outlets, including *The New York Times*, confident they would jump at the chance to report such a sensational breaking story.
After hanging up, Mu Lin didn’t wait for the police to arrive. Instead, he hurried back to his clinic. He needed to return before the authorities—or those surveilling him—could track him down, leaving no trace that might expose his long-maintained low profile.
In the villa’s reception room, he left behind two copied videotapes: one showing his own hypnotic state, and the other capturing the recent discussion among underworld gangs plotting against him. He also compiled a typed list of the influential figures backing these gangs, extracted from the memories of the gang leaders, and left it in the same room. This was all part of his plan to gauge the reaction of the U.S. power brokers and determine his next steps.
Back at the clinic, Fanny and the others were still waiting for him. The moment they saw him, all three embraced him tightly. Mu Lin knew they had never witnessed his abilities firsthand and had been worried sick during his absence. Without explanation, he simply pulled them onto the bed and began their dual cultivation session, gradually recounting everything that had happened that day—because tomorrow, they would all have roles to play in his next act.
Before dawn, the wail of police sirens echoed around the clinic, followed by a burst of gunfire that quickly subsided. The noise startled everyone inside, and the guards swiftly took their positions. Then, the phone in Mu Lin’s bedroom rang. He picked it up. “Hello, this is Dr. Daniel speaking. Who is this? How can I help you?”
“Thank goodness, Dr. Daniel! This is Chief Hoffman of the NYPD! Are you alright?” Mu Lin assured him he was fine.
Without waiting for further response, Hoffman continued, “Listen, Doctor, stay inside the villa and don’t go anywhere. There are people threatening your life. Our SWAT team is outside to protect you. I know you have questions, but we’ll discuss everything tomorrow, alright?” Before Mu Lin could reply, Hoffman hung up.
Moments later, his two secretaries—both off-duty NYPD officers assigned to him by Hoffman as a gesture of goodwill—burst into his room, weapons drawn, ready to protect him. At least now they were finally serving their intended purpose.
Mu Lin relayed Hoffman’s message to Fanny, instructing her to inform everyone in the clinic to stay calm and avoid going outside, as the police were now guarding the premises.
After Fanny left, Mu Lin sat on the sofa, pondering the implications of Hoffman’s call. He hadn’t expected the police to uncover his planted evidence so quickly—or to appear outside his clinic. The earlier gunfire was likely them apprehending his surveillants. Based on standard police response times, he had assumed they wouldn’t show up at his villa until morning.
The fact that they were already here suggested Hoffman had taken independent action. By tomorrow morning, he’d know the true intentions of those in power.
After breakfast, the staff handed him the morning papers. The *New York Times* headline blared: *Chinatown Gang Linked to Bio-Weapons, Dozens of Officers Hospitalized*. The article vaguely described the discovery of an unspecified number of deadly biochemical weapons in a Chinatown gang’s compound. Dozens of officers had reportedly been injured during a search and were now hospitalized. The public was warned to avoid Chinatown to prevent accidental exposure. Other papers carried similar headlines and content.
As Mu Lin finished reading, a surge of dark fury rose within him. *Damn it!* he cursed under his breath. The U.S. was shamelessly protecting its lackeys—twisting the narrative to pin the blame on Chinatown’s Chinese community, even though the real culprits were the Japanese Black Dragon Society. Once again, they were scapegoating the Chinese, diverting public outrage onto them. And once the storm passed, they’d toss a few crumbs of compensation and half-hearted apologies to sweep it all under the rug. *Hmph. Not while I’m around.*
The sheer audacity of these power brokers amused him. Did they really think they could both appease him *and* shift the blame onto the Chinese? Did they honestly believe the world worked that way?
After a moment’s thought, Mu Lin instructed the two policewomen to call the media and announce a press conference at the clinic that afternoon.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before his secretary informed him that the mayor of New York and a group of influential figures were on their way. Following protocol, Mu Lin stepped outside to greet them.
Spotting him from a distance, the mayor extended his hands and rushed forward, clasping Mu Lin’s in a firm grip. “Dr. Daniel! Chief Hoffman told me someone was threatening you, so I came immediately! Are you alright?”
Mu Lin smirked inwardly. *So they already know the whole story—they just don’t want to admit it, and now they’re fishing for my reaction.*
Playing along, he replied politely, “I’m perfectly fine, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for your concern.”
The tension visibly drained from their faces as they began exchanging pleasantries. Mu Lin feigned ease, matching their tone.
Eventually, they couldn’t hold back any longer. The mayor gave his aide a subtle signal, and the man smoothly interjected, “Dr. Daniel, we heard your clinic is holding a press conference this afternoon. Is there anything we can assist with?”
*Finally, the real question.* Mu Lin pretended innocence. “Oh, it’s nothing major. I’ve grown somewhat weary of this country, so I’ve decided to end my operations here. I’ll be announcing the donation of all my clinics and foundations to charity, free of charge. Then, I’ll be relocating with all my Chinese staff to another country.”
The moment these words left his mouth, the entire group paled. Even the mayor’s refined demeanor shattered, his face twisting into something ugly.
This was no laughing matter. If Mu Lin publicly declared his disillusionment with the U.S. and shut down his clinics, the backlash from the nation’s elite would be catastrophic. The mayor’s political career—his entire future—would be over the moment Mu Lin walked away.
“Thank God, Dr. Daniel! This is Chief Hoffman from the New York Police Department! Are you okay right now?” Mu Lin replied that he was fine.
Before Mu Lin could say anything else, Hoffman continued, “Alright, Dr. Daniel, stay inside the villa and don’t go anywhere. Some people are threatening your life. Our SWAT team outside will protect you. I know you have many questions, but let’s discuss everything tomorrow, okay?” Without waiting for Mu Lin’s response, Hoffman hung up.
Shortly after, his two secretaries, weapons in hand, rushed into his room to guard him. These two secretaries were actually active-duty police officers. To appease Mu Lin, Hoffman had assigned them to his side under the pretense of protection. Now, they were finally fulfilling their purpose.
Mu Lin told Finney about Hoffman’s call and asked her to inform everyone at the villa not to panic or go outside, as the police were now protecting them.
After Finney left, Mu Lin sat on the sofa, pondering the implications behind Hoffman’s words. He hadn’t expected the police to discover what he had left so quickly or to appear around his clinic so soon. The gunfire earlier must have been from the police capturing those who were monitoring him. Based on the usual pace of police operations, he had expected them to arrive at his villa the next morning at the earliest.
The police’s current actions were clearly Hoffman’s initiative. Therefore, by tomorrow morning, he would likely understand the true intentions of the elites.
After breakfast, the servants brought the morning newspapers to Mu Lin. The headline on the front page of The New York Times read: “Biochemical Weapons Found in Chinatown Gang Operation; Dozens of Police Hospitalized.” Mu Lin skimmed the article, which vaguely stated that a large number of highly destructive biochemical weapons had been discovered in a gang estate near Chinatown. Dozens of police officers were injured and hospitalized after entering the estate for investigation. The article warned citizens to avoid Chinatown to prevent accidental harm. Other newspapers carried similar headlines and content.
After reading, Mu Lin’s mood darkened, and his calmness gave way to anger. “Damn it!” he muttered under his breath. It seemed the U-country people truly went all out to protect their lackeys. They clearly knew it was Japan’s Black Dragon gang, yet they vaguely referred to it as a “Chinatown gang” in the media. This way, they shifted the blame onto the Chinese community, successfully diverting public attention toward them. After all, it wasn’t the first time the U-country had oppressed Chinese people there. Once the storm passed, they would offer minor compensation and a few apologies to the Chinese in Chinatown, effectively burying the issue.
“Hmph, with me around, do you really think you can get away with this?”
Thinking about it, Mu Lin couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at the despicable nature of these elites. They wanted to appease him while shifting the blame onto the Chinese. Was the world really that convenient?
After a while, he instructed the two young female officers to call the media and announce that the clinic would hold a press conference that afternoon.
Sure enough, not long after, his secretary reported that the mayor of New York and several other high-ranking officials were on their way to the clinic. Following protocol, Mu Lin stepped out of the clinic’s entrance to greet them.
From a distance, the mayor extended his hand and quickly approached to shake Mu Lin’s hand, saying, “Dr. Daniel, I heard from Hoffman that someone was threatening you, so I came to check on you immediately! Are you alright?”
Mu Lin thought to himself that these people must already know what had happened, yet they still tried to extract information from him with veiled questions.
Mu Lin replied deliberately, “I’m fine, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for your concern!”
The expressions on their faces immediately relaxed, and they began chatting casually with Mu Lin. He, too, pretended to be at ease and responded politely.
After a while, they finally couldn’t contain themselves anymore. The mayor signaled to his assistant, who quickly jumped in, “Dr. Daniel, we heard your clinic is holding a press conference this afternoon. Is there anything we can assist you with?”
Mu Lin thought to himself, “So you couldn’t hold back after all.” Still pretending to be clueless, he replied casually, “Oh, nothing major. I’ve grown somewhat tired of this country, so I’ve decided to end everything here. I’ll hold a press conference to announce that I will donate all my clinics and foundations in this country to charity. I plan to immigrate to another country with all the Chinese staff I’ve recruited for the clinic.”
Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the visitors changed dramatically. The mayor finally lost his refined demeanor, his face turning grim. If Mu Lin publicly announced his weariness with the country and closed all his clinics there, he would face backlash from the entire upper class nationwide. His political career and future would end prematurely due to Mu Lin’s departure.
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