Chapter 34: The Sacrifice, Dante

The prison doctor looked down at Lu Xiao.

"I forgive you, my friend!"

"So, would you like to study medicine with me?"

Lu Xiao nodded. "My friend! Once I have resolved the curse upon myself, I will certainly study medicine with you!"

The prison doctor nodded, no longer dwelling on the matter. "By the way, do you know the detailed way to use the bone spur that Ivan gave you?"

Hearing this, Lu Xiao nodded. "I stabbed it into my thigh, and the effect was quite good!"

The prison doctor nodded with a smile. "When you feel you are in danger, try stabbing it into your heart. Perhaps there will be an unexpected surprise!"

Hearing this, Lu Xiao's eyes lit up. He immediately took out the bone spur, unable to wait to try it out. Seeing this, the prison doctor’s sharp voice carried a note of alarm. "Lu! Promise me, do not attempt such things recklessly!"

Although Lu Xiao remained curious about what that surprise might be, he was a person who followed medical advice, so he decisively gave up the idea. "I understand, Mr. Prison Doctor! I will only try it when I am in danger!"

Hearing Lu Xiao's words, the prison doctor finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Lu! You really are a madman!"

Lu Xiao said with great seriousness, "Mr. Prison Doctor, I never doubt your diagnosis, but I am truly not a madman!"

The prison doctor: "..."

***

No sooner had Lu Xiao returned to his containment cell than the Doctor's voice echoed from all directions. "S292, in half an hour, someone will come to take you to complete a containment mission!"

Hearing the Doctor's words, a hint of pleasant surprise appeared on Lu Xiao's face. "A mission right after coming back?"

At this moment, Lu Xiao wished to stay in the real world at all times. He tidied up his things and waited for the staff to come and collect him. In truth, the only thing he needed to prepare was the bone spur. He pressed the bone spur against his chest, as close to his heart as possible. This was to ensure that if he encountered another anomaly like the marionette, he would not be caught off guard. Lu Xiao trusted the prison doctor's words unconditionally, with the sole exception of the doctor's claim that he was a madman.

Sure enough, before long, a researcher in a white lab coat rang his doorbell. Lu Xiao followed the staff member to an elevator. The staff member took out a headset and handed it to Lu Xiao. "S292, this is a barrier-free communicator. You must wear it at all times!"

Lu Xiao took the headset and put it on. The researcher then produced a watch.

"This is the dedicated system carrier for the Jailers. It has comprehensive functions; the Doctor will explain the specific methods of use to you!"

Lu Xiao took the watch, put it on immediately, and then looked at the researcher. "Why am I the only one?"

The researcher shook his head. "It was arranged by the Doctor!"

Hearing this, Lu Xiao had no desire to pursue the matter further. Once the researcher saw that Lu Xiao had put on the watch, he turned his attention to the access control system next to the elevator.

[Iris verification passed!]
[Identity: C-level Researcher Li Haiqun!]
[Thank you for your contribution to humanity!]

A synthesized system voice emanated from the access panel. The elevator doors slowly opened. Li Haiqun looked at Lu Xiao. "Go up the elevator; someone will be waiting for you!"

Lu Xiao nodded and stepped into the elevator. The elevator ascended. When the doors opened again, they had arrived at an underground parking garage. Lu Xiao stepped out and looked around. The parking lot was empty, save for an ambulance parked not far away. The words 'Magic City First Psychiatric Hospital' were printed on the vehicle's body.

At that moment, the ambulance's headlights flickered, and the Doctor's voice reached Lu Xiao's ears. "S292, get into that ambulance!"

Lu Xiao opened the passenger door. A scruffy, middle-aged man sat in the driver's seat. He squinted one eye, eyeing Lu Xiao up and down, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. "S292? I've read your file!"

Lu Xiao offered a kind smile. "Hello, my name is Lu Xiao!"

The middle-aged man started the engine and said, "My codename is Dante."

Lu Xiao nodded. "Mr. Dante!"

Dante turned his head, looking at Lu Xiao with some surprise. "I didn't expect you to be so polite! You don't seem like a human who has lived in the Dark Prison at all!"

Lu Xiao did not take the bait, instead asking, "Mr. Dante, what is our mission this time?"

Dante rested one hand on the steering wheel, the other holding his cigarette, and flicked the ash carelessly. The ash landed right next to Lu Xiao's hand. He did not answer the question immediately but introduced himself instead.

"Let me introduce myself first! I am a sacrifice for the Jailer organization—you can think of me as cannon fodder sent to die!"

"We sacrifices are not the same as those regular soldiers! The sacrifices are mainly involved in the containment of anomalous creatures that hold malice toward humanity! For example, monsters or some supernatural beings."

He took a deep drag of his cigarette. "Under normal circumstances, our containment targets are ghosts."

As he spoke, he opened the center console, took out a pistol, and handed it to Lu Xiao. "The bullets in this gun are mixed with mercury. They can inflict a slight amount of damage on those anomalous creatures!"

While they were talking, the ambulance drove out of the parking garage. Dante greeted the parking lot security guard before looking back at Lu Xiao. "By the way, do you mind if I smoke?"

Lu Xiao shook his head to indicate he did not mind. Dante lit another cigarette. "If you minded, you'd just have to hold your breath!"

From the moment Lu Xiao got in the car until now, Dante had already smoked two cigarettes back-to-back without a single pause. Lu Xiao frowned. "Mr. Dante, I don't think smoking like this is good for your health!"

Dante shrugged. "I'm just cannon fodder. What does physical health matter to me?"

Lu Xiao shook his head, looking quite serious. "I have a friend named the Prison Doctor. You should go see him for a diagnosis; I suspect there is something wrong with your lungs!"

Dante took a sharp drag and said dismissively, "That guy, the Prison Doctor? He has diagnosed me before! He said I had lung cancer and that I could be cured with a minor surgery!"

Lu Xiao nodded in strong agreement. "Mr. Prison Doctor's medical skills are absolutely reliable. So, did you have that minor surgery?"

Dante grinned. "I asked him what kind of surgery it was, and guess what that guy said? That guy told me it was a lung lobe removal surgery!"

Seemingly amused by his own words, Dante laughed loudly. Lu Xiao, however, said with a straight face, "Mr. Prison Doctor's diagnosis is flawless! Just a moment ago, I personally witnessed Mr. Prison Doctor perform a surgery on a patient with kidney deficiency! That lucky patient will never have to worry about kidney deficiency again!"

Hearing Lu Xiao's deadpan nonsense, Dante's mouth couldn't help but twitch. "No wonder you two can hang out together!"