Era of Mist

She was right. I really didn’t have medical insurance, and couldn’t afford it anyway.

Shi Tiexin scratched his head and asked honestly, "How much?"

The Nurse Sister’s fair fingers tapped on the display panel. "Didn’t you see it?"

’So it wasn’t some advanced confirmation method after all! This thing was just a bill! And... it’s way too much!’ Shi Tiexin stared at the display panel, thought about his account balance, and was left dumbfounded. "Th-this much?!"

"It’s not a lot. Emergency fee, treatment fee, equipment fee, labor fee, service fee, bed fee... We’ve already given you a discount." The Nurse Sister tapped the display panel. "Look, here’s the itemized list. Our prices are clearly marked."

"Wait, the bed fee?" Shi Tiexin was quick to spot it, pointing at the display. "The bed fee alone is 246 points? For this iron coffin?"

"If you think the accommodations are poor, we have better ones. Private suites, even floating courtyards and drift pods—we have it all. Want us to move you to a better one?" With a sharp CLAP, CLAP, the Nurse Sister clapped her hands as if summoning her lackeys. "Men! Take this young master to a drift pod and let him enjoy the good life!"

WHOOSH! A crowd of burly, thick-waisted men suddenly appeared outside the door. With sleeves rolled up, they rushed over, looking eager to get to work.

"No, no, no! I was just kidding, just kidding!" Shi Tiexin quickly grabbed the Nurse Sister’s arm. "Gentlemen, please return! This one is fine, really!"

The Nurse Sister waved her hand, and the strongmen instantly disappeared.

"That’s more like it. Since you don’t have insurance, you can’t be a chooser. By the way, I recommend you recuperate for one more day. We’ve only performed level-one treatment on you, but it would be best to get some level-two treatment." Shi Yu Hui fiddled with the controls again, and a 3D silhouette of a man appeared on the display. "This was you when you first arrived."

Large patches of red and yellow immediately appeared on the 3D model, covering his head, neck, shoulders, back, arms, and legs. As he looked at the red areas, Shi Tiexin’s gaze turned cold. He remembered the group beating.

"This is your condition now."

All the yellow areas disappeared, but the red areas remained, though they were a bit lighter. Some were pale red, others a deep yellow. While there were far fewer than before, they were by no means minor injuries.

Shi Yu Hui looked at Shi Tiexin. "So, if you can afford it, I recommend you get the level-two treatment. One day, and you’ll walk out of here as good as new."

He touched his neck. It was still a little sore. Shi Tiexin asked, "How much is the treatment fee?"

"One moment, please~~" The Nurse Sister’s smile became charming once more. She grabbed the display panel with both hands and shook it up and down vigorously, an adorable sight. "I’ll try to shake a discount out for you!"

The numbers on the display panel began to change with a RATTLE, spinning endlessly like a slot machine. With a loud CLANG, before the other digits had even settled, an "8" popped up in the thousands place.

"Okay, okay, you can stop shaking." Shi Tiexin grabbed the Nurse Sister’s arm again. "I’m checking out. I’m checking out right now."

"Then pay up."

"I..." Shi Tiexin looked at his wrist-device. It was an old model, barely functional at this point. He tapped it twice, and a number appeared on the display. His expression immediately became one of pained embarrassment.

points. That was Shi Tiexin’s entire net worth.

"Hm?" The Nurse Sister snatched Shi Tiexin’s wrist. Her slender, pale fingers unleashed an unstoppable force, and Shi Tiexin’s thick, iron-like wrist was completely powerless to resist.

With a CREAK, Shi Yu Hui twisted Shi Tiexin’s wrist to get a look at the display. Then she looked up, her smile gone. An astonishing aura surged from her body, making her uniform flutter in a non-existent wind. Her eyes glinted with a terrifying light as she glared at him. "You wouldn’t be thinking... of not paying, would you...?"

"I’ll pay!" Shi Tiexin said, his voice firm. "You treated me, and I’m grateful. I’ll definitely pay the bill. But... but I’m a little tight on funds right now..."

"Then just borrow money from Post-Horse Credit," the Nurse Sister suggested. "Borrow eight or ten thousand to cover the medical bill, and then you can pay it back slowly over time."

"My credit rating is too low. Post-Horse Credit probably wouldn’t give me a loan."

’Borrow money? As if it were that easy! If borrowing money was a real option, I could have easily gotten through at least half the crushing difficulties I’ve faced in the past.’

"Why is your rating so low?" The Nurse Sister’s uniform began to flutter again, her smile both beautiful and chilling. "Did you do something heinous?"

"No, but I’m still in primary schooling and have no regular job or stable income."

Primary schooling was the most basic level of education, also known as preliminary school. Students at this level were considered pupils and held no formal degree, nor were they recognized by the various gangs, syndicates, or corporations. Only after passing the Lesser Township Exam and earning the status of a Scholar-Initiate could one be considered to possess even the most basic academic qualification.

The Star Worker School was one such primary school. Since Shi Tiexin had not even taken the Lesser Township Exam, he naturally had no degree to his name.

Shi Tiexin’s explanation was simple, but Shi Yu Hui read between the lines. She didn’t beat around the bush and asked bluntly, "You don’t have a guarantor?"

With Post-Horse Credit, even an underage pupil with no degree could borrow money. To be completely unable to borrow anything could only mean one thing: the person didn’t even have a guarantor.

And for a minor, the natural guarantors are their parents.

"That’s right." Shi Tiexin didn’t try to hide it, admitting openly, "I’m from the Mu Yuan District Orphanage."

"I see." Shi Yu Hui considered this for a moment, then nodded. "In that case—"

’In that case, what? Is she going to reduce the bill for me?’

"In that case, let’s sign you up for the medical loan program promoted by the Upper City Central Hospital itself! C’mon, just scan this code to register an account. You can become a member in two easy steps. Participate in the loan program and you’ll even get a small gift. It’s a fantastic deal, you know!"

The Nurse Sister was like a bank manager pitching wealth management products. Her lips curved into a perfect eight-tooth smile, the very model of a smiling Angel. "So, what do you say? Want to sign up?"

Shi Tiexin raised his hand and asked, "What’s the interest rate?"

"Two percent."

"That low?!" ’Oh my god,’ he thought, ’two percent per year? That rate is incredibly low! It’s actually an ethical financial product!’

"Per month."

’Holy crap...’ Cold sweat trickled down his back. ’That predatory smile... she eats people without even spitting out the bones. It’s utterly terrifying...’

The Nurse Sister dropped her standardized, cookie-cutter smile and finally put on a normal expression. "Don’t complain about the hospital’s high interest. Even at this rate, I’m the one taking a risk by being your guarantor to get this approved. You have zero credit rating. How am I supposed to know if you can pay it back? Besides, what if you just run away?"

"In short, the medical bill absolutely cannot go unpaid. If you have the means to get the money elsewhere, then pay it yourself. But if you have no means, and you refuse to take a loan and try to weasel out of paying... then I’ll have no choice..." Her eyes suddenly glowed like a robot’s. SWOOSH! The Nurse Sister’s small, fair hands began to glow.

SNAP! Shi Yu Hui pinched her fingers together, and an incomprehensibly sharp, blade-like pressure swept across Shi Tiexin’s brow, stinging his eyes so badly he could hardly keep them open.