Nightmare Paradise : Starting as a Doctor

Chapter 171: Caught in the Crossfire

Lynn stepped forward, his foot snapping out to deliver a few more quick, expertly placed kicks to the fallen gangsters. Each strike was precise, targeting vital points that would keep them incapacitated without causing fatal injuries.

With the Special Investigation Bureau crawling all over the outer district, he chose not to eliminate them. Leaving a trail of bodies would only attract the wrong kind of attention and risk escalating the situation beyond his control.

"If you dare to cause this girl trouble in the future, I will hunt you down, no matter where you try to hide," he coldly uttered. The defeated thugs could only whimper in response, their courage long gone.

Turning to Izzy, he gestured for her to follow. "We cannot stay here any longer," he declared, his tone softening slightly. The poor girl had endured enough trauma, and he had no intention of abandoning her.

As they made their way through the dimly lit alleys, she stuck close to him, steps quickening to match his pace. The fear still clung to her, but there was also a flicker of relief and gratitude in her eyes.

"T-thank you, Doctor," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you had not shown up, I can't imagine what might have happened." Lynn glanced at her briefly, feeling empathy for her plight.

"You do not need to thank me," he reassuringly replied with a subtle nod, noticing how her grip on his sleeve squeezed with each step. "I simply did what was necessary. Your safety is what matters now."

"But why were you out so late today, all alone?" he continued, unable to shake the confusion that had been nagging his mind. "Haven't you heard? The streets are dangerous at night, especially with everything happening lately."

Her gaze dropped, nervously fidgeting in shame as she struggled to find the right words. "I-I am sorry," she stuttered again, suppressing a sob. "I did not mean to cause you any trouble. I just... I could not..."

Observing her distress, he furrowed a little bit. The shadows cast by the flickering lights seemed to mirror the turmoil in her heart. He stopped, allowing her a moment to collect herself. "Take your time. There is no rush."

With a deep, shuddering breath, Izzy recounted the events that had led her to her condition. "The authorities have been cracking down hard. They have set up checkpoints and patrols all over the place."

"Yesterday, they even started displacing people from their homes, saying it is for our safety and security, but..." Her voice trailed off, uncertainty creeping into her tone as a flicker of worry crossed her face.

Intently listening, his brain quickly pieced together the implications. For the inhabitants of this lawless territory, the sudden involvement of law enforcement likely signaled an operation to uproot the abandoned district.

Although the true motive behind this intervention was to deal with the werewolf apparitions, the consequences for the residents were the same. "They are preparing for a major action," he confirmed without giving more details.

She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yes, that is what I heard too. The soldiers created a refuge inside the central district, and I went there," she paused, her grasp tightening. "However, I could not find my father."

"Last night, he went out to do something, and he has not returned since," she finally revealed the real reason behind her dangerous venture. "I have searched everywhere, but no one has seen him."

His expression softened further as he watched the young woman struggle to hold back her emotions, understanding the urgency of her situation. "So you sneaked out to search for him," he concluded, his tone gentle yet firm.