The Light Over The Horizon [Arknights]

Chapter 10

"Alright. I think we have our privacy..." He pulled up his chair and sat down while having his cane lean over the table. He had led Hellagur toward one of the patient rooms. Given Hellagur's physique, he noticed a few looks their way when he led the man inside the clinic.

At best, he can describe the looks as cautious. It makes sense he supposed. Much thought wasn't placed to why the people were focused on them intensely.

He looked toward the person sitting on the opposite end of him. "There's not that many other places where we can have a private conversation. I apologize, this is the best I can do."

"It's not a problem. This place will do." Hellagur responded as he looked around the room.

"My name is F/N." He said as the two stared off. "Since you already introduced yourself, I thought it should be my turn to reveal my name. It wouldn't be fair otherwise. Now then, I already have an idea as to why you appeared."

"Straight to the point. Looks like you're not one to beat around the bush."

"When it comes to business, it's best to get things out of the way don't you think?"

"I do." Hellagur found himself agreeing with the younger man. "I'll get straight to the point then as well. We of the Azazel Clinic have taken an interest in you. Your medicine...can it really heal anything?"

"All those people outside are patients who I've treated. Their injuries vary from person to person. What you've heard is an exaggeration. Although I can't deny it at the same time. The medicine can heal about anything really, besides fractured bones of course." F/N explained. "Azazel Clinic. Forgive me for being ignorant but I've never heard of such a place during my time here in the city."

"That is to be expected. The clinic isn't widely known to the public given it may lead to exposure and thus cause trouble for us." Hellagur said without much reaction. "Azazel is an underground Infected clinic which provides shelter for Ursine Infected." He revealed without hesitation toward the boy.

"An underground Infected clinic? How cunning." F/N admitted to the reveal, however he closed his eyes. "To reveal such a thing to someone like me. You're a bold one, sir Hellagur. What is stopping me from ratting you out to the government?" He asked without changing expression.

"What reason will there be to rat us out?"

"Money? Fame? Better chance in life? People would do many things for the sake of opportunism." He explained.

"I find it hard to imagine you would. After all, those people out there, you helped them when no one else did. You. An uninfected individual." Hellagur remained the same, not a single look of tension at the mention of being betrayed. "You've helped all those people. Without receiving anything from them. For what reason will you rat us out if all your actions have been helping the Infected?"

"Who knows? Maybe I have an ulterior motive behind my 'free' services."

"Would you really have such a motive? You must've wasted a lot of valuable resources on your medicine just to help people without gaining any profit. You also took the time to renew this abandoned pharmacy. I'd say you lost more than you gained." Hellagur said.

There was a moment of silence as the two had a stare off. F/N's neutral expression broke off as he nodded, and a smile crept up as he sighed. "You're wrong about the fact that I lost more than I have gained." F/N shook his head. "Seeing my patients who were in desperate need of help, and seeing them all recovered is more important to me than profit and business. These people needed help. And so I helped them. To me, I gained more than I lost."

"You'd be considered admirable by many." Hellagur huffed. "Your words... You're such a young person yet you have an admirable spirit. Such a spirit is not that common in this world... Old or young. You don't see such a thing a lot. And it's no surprise why. I take it that talking to me about how you would betray us was a test of sorts and you were playing a character?" He had asked as he received a nod from the boy.