Chapter 13: Contact
2023-05-02 Author: Yue Shang Xintou
"Mr. Luper, congratulations. The wound is healing even better than expected..."
Anti-World, Metropolis General Hospital.
After examining Colin's wound, the doctor gave his latest diagnosis.
"I believe it won't be long before you can be discharged."
"Thank you, doctor."
Lying in the hospital bed, Colin nodded.
Watching the doctor leave after his rounds, Colin raised his hand and moved his shoulder, assessing his body's recovery. Aside from the faint, stinging pain that still lingered at the site of the wound, his body had, in fact, mostly recovered.
Colin guessed that his rapid recovery was more or less related to his traversal between the Dual Worlds.
Every time he woke up in the Main World, he could feel the pain in his wound lessen by a degree.
Unfortunately, this recovery speed was still within the scope of a normal person's and wasn't exaggerated to the point of healing in the blink of an eye like some people.
Therefore, Colin's hospital stay in the Anti-World had to continue.
...
"...According to the latest poll, the female Democratic Party candidate for Mayor of New York, who had previously held a substantial lead, has seen her numbers slide. Her support has dropped from the original 24% to 15%. Taking her place is Wilson Fisk, who has consistently shown a strong performance and has now claimed the top spot with 21% of the support."
"The poll's analyst stated that the main reason for this shift is the recently exposed bribery scandal and suspicions of discrimination against ethnic minorities. The successive scandals have severely damaged the Democratic candidate's momentum, causing her to lose some of her supporters."
"This is now the second candidate in the New York Mayoral Election to be hit by a scandal. The first was the former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation. It is because of these frequent scandals that many New York citizens have dubbed this election the most controversial Mayoral Election in history."
"If the current polling trend continues, it is highly likely that Wilson Fisk will become the new Mayor of New York."
Time had not stopped just because Colin was hospitalized.
The news reported the latest developments in the New York Mayoral Election, with the businessman candidate Wilson Fisk 'unexpectedly' taking the lead.
However, just how much of this poll's 'surprise' was actually intentional...
Perhaps only Wilson Fisk himself knew for sure.
Colin thought to himself as he looked at the campaign photo of Wilson Fisk, or rather, Kingpin.
He put down the newspaper and shifted his gaze to the text before his eyes.
[Black Iron Mark (1/10)]
[Faith (95/1000)]
The Newsboy's hard work had not only increased The Messenger's sales by two hundred copies but had also earned him two more points of Faith.
Having figured out how to acquire Faith, Colin naturally focused his attention on the other matter: obtaining the Time Shard.
Originally, he had planned to wait until he was discharged from the hospital and returned to the Daily Bugle News Agency to try it on his boss, Jameson.
However, a more suitable target now seemed to have presented itself.
...
"...Fractured Spinal Cord Fusion... It might sound a bit jarring, but this is a groundbreaking technique... Stimulating Central Nervous System Regeneration. This technology can save thousands of lives... Do you think I need to prove anything to him... Please, I *am* the authority..."
Metropolis General Hospital, emergency room.
Stephen Strange removed his mask, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone in the hallway.
"Alright, I admit you're amazing, Mr. Authority."
Beside him, fellow surgeon Christine Palmer threw up her hands, replying with an exasperated tone.
"Don't think I can't hear the sarcasm in your voice, Christine."
Strange raised an eyebrow at Christine, gesturing with his fingers as he spoke.
"Really? And here I thought I'd hidden it so well..."
To this, Christine replied in a deliberately 'fake' tone.
"I'm guessing that was more sarcasm... Did I do something to annoy you today?"
"Is there any part of you that *doesn't* annoy me? Strange, you are a walking, caustic machine."
"Wow, your description is surprisingly flattering."
As they walked out from the emergency room corridor, Strange heard Christine's description of him and an exasperated look crossed his face. He stopped and was about to say something more.
"Dr. Strange!"
Suddenly, a voice from behind interrupted him.
"And you are?"
Turning around, he saw a young man in a hospital gown standing there.
"It's an honor to meet you. I once attended your lecture on Laminectomy in person. It was incredibly groundbreaking, and the content left a lasting impression on me..."
The man strode up to Strange, extending his hand excitedly as he spoke.
"Is that so?"
Strange glanced down at the man's outstretched hand, then exchanged a silent look with Christine beside him before hesitantly reaching out to give it a light shake.
"Thank you."
After the brief, perfunctory handshake, Strange looked at the hospital gown the man was wearing and asked with a raised eyebrow, "But, what's this about?"
"A small accident."
The man didn't elaborate on his situation. He glanced at Strange and Christine before saying, "Well, I won't disturb you two any longer, Dr. Strange."
Watching the man's retreating back, Strange shook his head and turned to resume his previous conversation.
"...Strange... Strange... Strange..."
"...Remember... reality... is not... what you see... wrong..."
An intermittent whispering suddenly echoed in his ears. The sounds drifted, near then far, like the static-filled noise from a radio.
Shaking his head, Strange raised a hand to clutch it.
In a daze, he saw that his long, slender fingers were covered in dense, ugly scars like centipedes.
"No, that's not right, my hands..."
A look of terror crept onto Strange's face as he stared at his scarred hands.
"Strange, Strange!"
Just then, Christine's voice pulled him back from his horror.
"Christine."
Coming to his senses, Strange saw the familiar surroundings and his own still-perfect, slender fingers. His expression was one of bewilderment.
"Are you okay, Strange?"
Seeing the dazed look on Strange's face, Christine asked with concern.
"Hoo~"
Taking a deep breath and clenching his fists, Strange shook his head.
"I'm fine. Probably just tired from the surgery. I'll be fine after some rest."
(end of chapter)