At Dex Restaurant, Dexter put away the fruit platter and checked the time.
A little more than half an hour until 5:00 PM.
He figured, since things kept happening one after another, and he had some downtime... he might as well go buy some guns to prepare for any future robbers who might target the restaurant. "I'm heading out for a bit."
After giving a heads-up, Dexter walked out. Just outside the restaurant, he suddenly remembered his car keys were still with Kevin. He had to head over to the Alibi Room.
Kevin was still sighing and muttering to himself, being adorably stupid.
Seeing him, Dexter smiled and shook his head. "Kevin, my car keys."
Kevin froze for a second, then hurriedly apologized while fishing for the keys. "Sorry, sorry, forgot."
"I'm in a hurry. We'll talk tonight. Gone," Dexter took the keys, dropped that line, and walked away quickly. He got into the car and headed toward the main city area.
Gun stores are very common in America. There are tons of them, practically everywhere.
So, after driving for only about fifteen minutes, Dexter found a decently sized gun store, over a thousand square feet. He parked, retrieved the Concealed Carry Permit and cash from the System, got out, and entered the shop.
Guns are good things.
Dexter liked them very much.
So... pistols, submachine guns, shotguns, hunting rifles, semi-automatic rifles... whatever the shop had, he took one of each.
Of course, he needed lots of ammo!
The shop owner recognized Dexter and was a bit surprised. "Mr. Ding, what are you doing buying so many guns..."
Dexter grinned. "Lots of robbers lately. My friend just got robbed at noon. Makes me feel it's necessary to be prepared."
The owner understood instantly and said indignantly, "Those scum! They have hands and feet, but they refuse to do honest work! Mr. Ding, look here, let me recommend some good ones. I guarantee if anyone dares to rob your restaurant, you can turn them into Swiss cheese!!"
"Remember, Mr. Ding, when the time comes, let the robber pull their gun first. Then you can go rat-a-tat-tat and kill them!"
"Otherwise, there might be some trouble later."
See? In this regard, America is quite interesting.
Dexter laughed. "Okay, got it. Thanks for the tip, Boss. Now hurry up with the recommendations. I'm in a rush to get back for business."
The owner nodded with a smile. "You got it! Come on, let's look at the guns!"
Ten minutes later.
Dexter paid, carried a heavy bag full of guns back to the car, and returned to the restaurant.
Back at the restaurant.
Dexter carried the guns behind the bar counter. Clatter. He opened the bag and took out the guns one by one. With incredibly practiced movements, click-clack, he checked them and loaded the magazines.
Seeing this scene.
Veronica, who was naturally timid, was scared. "?????"
Vivian didn't have much of a reaction; she still looked happy.
Mickey, however, got excited.
Driven by excitement, Mickey walked up to Dexter and asked with a beaming smile, "Boss, are we switching careers to rob banks?"
Rarely seeing Mickey joke, Dexter smiled back while organizing the guns. "Robbing banks is too much hard work, not worth it. I already make plenty of money, don't you think?"
Mickey choked. "...Boss, talking like that will get you beaten up."
Dexter laughed. He lined up the loaded guns on the counter one by one. Clank, clank, clank. "With this firepower, who's gonna beat me up?"
Mickey was speechless. He stopped talking, turned around, and went back to work.
But in reality, at that moment, deep down, Mickey was actually a little scared.
The reason was simple.
On one hand, Mickey hadn't forgotten his first encounter with Dexter. On the other hand, Dexter's handling of those guns just now was way too fucking proficient...
What normal person is that skilled with so many different types of firearms?
This Dexter was definitely not a normal person. Maybe he committed a major crime somewhere else and came to this slum to lay low.
Mickey thought about it and recalled Dexter's previous "business trip."
A restaurant owner going on a business trip was indeed weird.
But if Dexter went to New York to do his "old job," then it made perfect sense.
Mickey's mind raced.
At this point, Veronica, looking at the dark muzzles of the guns, couldn't take it anymore. "Boss, can you put them away? I'm scared looking at them. And you're scaring the customers outside."
There were indeed quite a few customers outside staring at the guns on the counter.
Some of them were reasonably frightened.
Dexter smiled at the people outside, didn't waste time, and neatly stashed the guns under the counter. Then he smiled at Veronica. "Don't be scared. Open the doors for business."
---
Hospital.
Because it was the ER and not a regular clinic visit...
After several hours of tossing and turning, by this time, Carl's test reports were out.
Bianca took the reports to Carl's bedside. She first smiled gently at Carl, then turned to the anxious Fiona. "I've looked at the reports. aside from a tiny bit of nerve necrosis in the brain and some malnutrition, Carl is healthy in other aspects. No major issues."
"You don't need to worry. You can take him home."
Hearing this.
Debbie let out a huge sigh of relief.
Fiona and Lip, however, did not. Their expressions remained tense.
"Doctor, what's this about brain nerve necrosis? Is it because of the coma?" Lip asked urgently.
Bianca nodded. "Yes, basically. A coma can lead to insufficient oxygen to the brain, which causes nerve necrosis."
"But it's only a tiny bit. No impact. Don't worry."
Actually, the report showed Carl was slightly mentally challenged; his brain nerves weren't well-developed to begin with... so this little bit of necrosis really wouldn't affect anything.
Of course, the mental deficiency had nothing to do with the current condition, and Bianca wasn't stupid enough to mention it.
"Really no impact?" Fiona was still worried. "Will he become an idiot?"
Hearing the word "idiot"...
Bianca couldn't help it; she thought about the "mentally challenged" part, and her smile widened slightly. "No, no. Instead of worrying about that, you should focus on getting him better nutrition. He's at a growing age."
Fiona felt guilty hearing this. "Thank you, Doctor."
"You're welcome. I'll have a nurse come help you with discharge," Bianca said, turning to leave.
Once Bianca was a bit further away.
Fiona, Lip, Debbie, and Carl—the four Gallaghers—looked at each other.
"We should go," Lip spoke first. "Carl, can you handle it alone?"
Carl smiled confidently. "Of course!"
"Then we'll wait for you on the street outside the hospital," Lip said.
"Okay."
Lip didn't waste time. He picked up Liam and walked quickly toward the exit.
Fiona and Debbie followed immediately.
Carl didn't delay either. He stood up decisively and walked straight to a nurse. "Where's the bathroom?"
The nurse didn't suspect anything and pointed the way.
Carl strutted toward the bathroom with his signature swagger.
About five or six minutes later.
Outside the hospital main gate, on the side of the road.
Carl successfully reunited with Lip and the others.
The five Gallaghers, having pulled off their mischief, walked toward the Gallagher house, chatting and laughing.
---
Hospital.
Hearing the nurse's report, Bianca was dumbfounded: "????"
The patient disappeared in the blink of an eye? Ran away?
"Why?" Being in the ER and just a resident, Bianca had been lucky enough not to deal with the Gallaghers before. She didn't understand.
The nurse was different. She shook her head helplessly. "Skipping the bill. That patient was a Gallagher. The Gallaghers never pay medical bills."
Bianca's eyes widened in shock. She didn't know what to say: "????"
"Bianca, now you have a report to write," the nurse comforted her. "It can't be helped."
Hearing this, Bianca subconsciously checked her watch.
She was about to pack up and go to dinner.
Now great. The patient skipped the bill. She was going to get chewed out by the attending physician and had to write a pile of reports.
Bianca sighed silently and thanked the nurse. "Thanks. I'll go get yelled at by the attending now."
The nurse couldn't help much. "Working in this hospital, any doctor who encounters a Gallagher is unlucky. The attending won't yell at you too much. He probably knew this would happen, that's why he let you take the case."
Bianca was shocked again: "?????"
Is it that treacherous?
A few minutes later.
Bianca found the attending physician and explained the situation.
The attending had indeed expected it and laughed heartily. "Haha, sure enough. Don't blame me. Working in this hospital, learning a lesson from the Gallaghers isn't a bad thing."
"Alright, write the report, and I'll sign it."
Bianca: "..."
People are treacherous.
What could Bianca say? She obediently went back to her office.
Sitting down in her office.
Bianca took out her phone and texted Dexter: [Sorry, a patient skipped the bill and ran. I have to write a report unexpectedly. Can't make it. I'll go tomorrow.]
Bianca really wanted to go to the restaurant to see the fruit platter with the mini version of her...
Dexter, busy in the kitchen, saw the text. Instantly, a possibility came to mind: [Was the patient who ran named Gallagher?]
Bianca was surprised again: [How did you know?]
Dexter laughed.
How did I know?
It's just too reasonable for the Gallaghers to do something like this.
---