In De Carmas Springfield Vi Hotel, Eunice was on a call.


    The person on the other end was Eunices friend who worked in the private ports. He informed her that a fleet of heavyweight space freight shuttles carryingpressed modr structures had docked in the port, dered as being for medical use on the review specs.


    Thesepressed modr structures were basically prefabricated structural modules made of a special mix of intelligent metal and architectural materials which could bepressed for easy transport, as well as extended and restored in an instant.


    In this manner, a city could be built in just a few hours.


    When did it start? Eunice asked.


    It starteding in earlier in the morning. Its the fourth batch now. the other said, Theres also a shipment of medical equipment and quarantine cabinsing in at the same time.


    On the Cliffs space shuttles?


    Yeah. After all, as a big-name family, inspections do spot checks on them far less often than they do on others.


    Which other ports have these heavyweight shuttles gone? Eunice listed a few before being prompted. Let me guess. Tian Qin? Redstone? Alls with viral hotspots should have seen movement, right?


    Youre not wrong.


    Eunice went on to say, Then where are the goods transported after theynd at port? Shall I give it a guess?


    Despite calling it a guess, her tone waspletely certain, sessively rattling off a few addresses.


    These addresses mapped to old property buildings that were mostly abandoned. They had unorthodox locations. Some were nicknamed ghettos in the heart of themercial hub, while others were deep within residential areas, but always upied the most chaotic corners.


    In essence, they were smack where trouble was most likely toe knocking.


    Besides having unorthodox locations, these old properties had anothermon feature:


    They were all bought by the Manson brothers.


    The other said, Bingo, those ces. There was no activity before, but theyre not even covering up their movements now. Predictable of the Mansons.


    They had made countless spections when the Mansons bought those old property buildings. Yet, there was no follow-up action after that, as though they had bought them just to let them lie idle.


    Now, there were precision demolishers, medical-standardpressed modr structures, and an assortment of medical equipment and quarantine cabins. Whenbined with the press release made by Westshore Pharmaceutical, the Manson brothers objective was in as day.


    Eunice stood in front of the window. She crossed her arms and snorted, slightly vexed. Whats wrong with me seriously How did I not think of it before?


    But leaving aside her vexation, she was actually well aware that, even if time were reversed, she would still have a hard time deciphering what the Manson brothers were up to.


    The Mansons wanted in on the action in the healthcare fieldthat much was more than obvious ever since the Manson brothers appeared on the scene. But due to the Yves Spring Ivy, it actually wasnt that easy for them to edge in.


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    If there are no surprises, well be seeing treatment centres for the infection topped with the Mansons family crest erected across the alliance in less than a few hours. the other said, They seized the initiative and won the public over. After some time, these emergency treatment centres will be upgraded to a chain hospital, and thats that.


    After the call ended, Eunice sat at the office desk, her brows furrowed in thought.


    Anothermunications request cut in.


    Has your brother gone mad? It was Eunice and Joes mutual friend this time, and he flung this sentence over the moment the call connected.


    What happened? Eunice asked.


    The person on the other end soundedpletely befuddled. Hes getting me to go through all of the port security documents in the past few years in search of a silly bird.


    Didnt he tell you why? Eunice, conversely, wasposed.


    The young master was quite agitated. I dont know if he was too angry or whatever, but I suspect it might have slipped his mind. When I tried to call him back, I could only get the busy tone. I guessed I might not be able to squeeze into the queue on my own, so I simply came to you.


    Eunice said, Im already surprised that he managed to articte himself well enough to ask for your help. When he came to me half an hour ago, I wanted to take him to see a doctor.


    So why a bird?


    Because that bird has been associated with almost twenty cases involving loss of human life over thest thirty years, Eunice said. And youve heard of Ke Jin, right? You helped quite a bit with that in the past. Joe and hiswyer friends just found some clues that we missed out


    Hm? What do you mean?


    Its possible that Lawyer Kes mental condition was man-made.


    Man-made? Their mutual friend was astonished. You mean its not just because his mind cant ept that Lee Connor is still on the loose?


    Eunice said, Pretty much.


    In actuality, by noon that day, everyone that Eunice and Joe could trust in theirwork received ams.


    From those in the healthcare system, those in the juridical system, those in the media, as well as a few other well-connected friends. All of them had helped Joe look into Ke Jins case. While there was some progress at first, it had been stalled by theck of vital links, and there was no progress at all in thest two years.


    They had thought that that was the end of the matter, but they never imagined that there would actually be new developments.


    Most preposterously, the new development was a bird.


    Well, then. I get why Joe is in such a terrible mood now, the person on the other end said. Ill do my best. If its really caused by someone jesus. Thats seriously fucked up.


    Let alone that idiot, even I was furious when I heard about it. Eunice sneered at the mere thought of it.


    Furious at what? A low voice suddenly resounded in the room.


    Eunice whipped her head around to see her father, Devore Yves, standing at the suite door, his hand raised as though he was about to knock.


    Nothing, Eunice unconsciously said.


    The friends that she and Joe sought help from were roughly around their age, awork that they had developed outside their fathers influence over the years. They had relied on these same people to help look into Mr Devore Yves past involvements.


    Gazing into Yves eyes past his lenses, she inexplicably felt guilty,ced by faint remorse.


    Ke Jins situation used to be apart from this, but now because it was linked to the herdingbird and the Sweeper, it also ended up being linked to the rtionship Devore Yves had with the Manson family. As such, it wasnt convenient to talk about.


    Thatll be it for now. Thank you. Eunice hung up thems, turning her head to exin to her father, I just got word from the port. Westshore is likely working with the Mansons to set up the treatment centres they talked about. But the news came a bitte. They already made their preparations and should be announcing it to the public in the afternoon. If their move into the medical sector goes smoothly, Spring Ivy


    Devore Yves touched his sses. Unhurriedly, he knocked on the door twice before entering his daughters office space.


    The blonde of his younger days had receded into silvery grey, and the wrinkles on his face deepened with the passing of the years. Yet, he still kept himself as immactely groomed as a refined gentleman in his years.


    In fact, Eunice felt that Joe the Idiots descriptionOld Foxwas rather apt.


    Devore Yves, in his years, really did look like a silver fox at times.


    There was a time in her childhood when Eunice felt as though her father would never do any wrong. He doted on her and taught her, reacting withughter in moments of adoring resignation.


    Until Joe the Idiot bounced into existence, forcing their father to pick up an ashtray every now and then


    Spring Ivy will be affected, thats inevitable. Devore Yves sat on the guest sofa, tinkering casually with the decorations on the table. Have you been keeping an eye on the Mansons again?


    Yeah.


    Devore Yves chuckled, but his tone was helpless. Missy, didnt I tell you to leave the Mansons alone?


    Eunice pursed her lips. What? Are you still thinking about working with those brothers? Ill be honest, dad, with the way things are going, our cooperation is just a unteral boost to the brothers. Theyd be even more unscrupulous and then take over our territory. Theres nothing good in it for us, so why?


    Recently, the times that the father and daughter had a proper conversation were few, and even then most of it was provoked by the Mansons.


    Eunice braced her arms on the office desk, going on a rare tirade analysing the current situation for Spring Ivy and the Mansons, the way to move forward, the best opportunity and timing for Spring Ivy to develop, the best distance to keep from the Mansons, etc


    Throughout all of it, Devore Yves watched her, listening attentively to her.


    He made an asional correction to Eunices wordsnot exactly corrections, either, but rather inputting his own views on the matter. For example, Eunice believed that the moment the Mansons established a position in the medical sector, theyd expand aggressively, upying as much territory as they could. When it equalled Spring Ivy in terms of hospitals, their strength would naturally be matched, and thereafter it would be a logical step to overpower Spring Ivy.


    However, Devore Yves was certain that, in the short term, they wouldnt be looking to expand their position in healthcare but focus on research.


    This was more in line with their coboration with Westshore to push out a cure.


    Shall we bet on it? Devore Yves said.


    Eunice rolled her eyes at her father.


    A smile tugged at Yves lips.


    Sometimes, Eunice would even catch a trace of pride in his expression.


    He approves, Eunice thought to herself.


    Yet, after saying that, Devore Yves insisted on his earlier stance. I meant what I said. Stay out of it.


    Eunice red at him suspiciously.


    Devore Yves raised a hand to block her line of sight, teasing her as he did when she was a child, cooing, Yeah, yeah. I know you have big eyes, but your eyeballs are going to fall out if you keep ring, and Id have to pick them up for you.


    He smiled, then got up and left the office suite.


    Eunice actually still had a lot on her hands to do, but she didnt call her secretary over.


    She sat alone behind the office desk. She swivelled the chair and gazed out of the French windows at the open view of theke, feeling an indescribable mncholy. It was very slight, and it was hard to tell if it was her brothers call or her fathers joke that made her feel this way.


    She knew that she wouldnt be able to get hold of Joe at this time, and she didnt know how to express her thoughts.


    After a long silence, she still decided to send her younger brother a message.


    I might be overthinking it, but I feel like dad is deliberately ying along with Manson.