Chapter 22: Habit

With the awakening of Roddy, a series of examinations immediately followed.

First, the attending physician assessed his basic physical condition, and upon confirming that Roddy was doing reasonably well, promptly scheduled a "psychological evaluation."

Any resident leaving the city must undergo a psychological screening upon their return, let alone individuals like Roddy who had encountered accidents during new practical training activities.

This psychological evaluation was far more complex than those conducted in school. Roddy was fitted with a full set of brainwave monitoring equipment and, while in this state, had to complete a written test consisting of one hundred items, including multiple-choice, open-ended, and timed judgment questions. If the monitoring equipment showed any abnormal fluctuations during the test, the process would restart; three consecutive abnormal fluctuations would result in an automatic failure.

After about an hour, Roddy handed the answer sheet to the psychologist nearby.

"The result is [Good], consistent with your previous test scores. Get some rest."

With the conclusion of the psychological evaluation, the door light of Roddy’s hospital room changed from red to green.

A bespectacled young man, who had been waiting outside for some time, became the first visitor. He did not greet Roddy immediately, but instead placed a bouquet of daffodils into the vase on the bedside table.

"Roddy, I never imagined you knew someone of that caliber."

The visitor was Gao Yuxuan. He looked to be in good health, being the only member who had not been injured during the training.

However, Roddy’s first question was not about the training or his companions. "Vice Squad Leader, how much time has passed? Are we still on holiday?"

"Yes, you’ve been unconscious for less than a day."

"How are the Squad Leader and Anna?"

"The Squad Leader was just moved out of the intensive care unit. Due to significant blood loss, she is still unconscious, but all her vital signs have basically stabilized. As for Anna, she is in the room right next to yours; her condition is similar to yours, and it is only a matter of time before she wakes up."

"Has the source of the accident been identified?"

"It is suspected that a 'Mimic' appeared among their internal staff—a Mimic capable of deceiving basic detection mechanisms, who had planned everything in advance. He had been working in the practice area for a long time and knew the loopholes in the training protocols perfectly. After we killed the zombies, this person cut off multiple power sources in the management area and initiated an emergency containment mode, preventing the outside from knowing our status and trapping us inside for a while. If it hadn't been for the person you knew, Roddy, we likely wouldn't have made it back."

"This incident is no small matter. The relevant personnel at the research institute will be held accountable, and the new training program will be re-evaluated. Of course, our performance will also be on record; I expect we will receive an exceptionally high evaluation for this practice."

Roddy’s thoughts, however, were not on the research institute's negligence; instead, he felt a strange sense of gratitude for such an "accident."

"An exceptionally high evaluation?"

"Yes, people from the Municipal Bureau have already spoken to me. After all, we encountered two consecutive incidents, especially the high-difficulty possession event associated with the accident. The fact that we found a way to break the deadlock and have everyone survive will be recorded in our files as a special high-difficulty practice, which will be very beneficial for our future academic advancement. We should all receive some form of compensation as well—they certainly won't be stingy, and we might get something quite good."

Roddy was satisfied with this; his academic advancement next year was directly tied to his family’s future, and his parents were counting on him to land a position at a major corporation.

"Which hospital am I in?"

"It goes without saying—with such quality medical care, it must be the First Municipal Hospital. The expenses are covered by the research institute, so just focus on recovering. By the way, haven't your family members come?"

"They went on a trip and won't be back until the holidays are over."

"I see. Anyway, your health seems fine; you’ll probably be discharged in two days."

Gao Yuxuan moved his backpack to the front and took out several books related to exorcism, including some classic exorcism novels. "These are all books I’ve read. I’ll give them to you; I imagine being in the hospital alone must be quite boring."

"Thank you."

After neatly stacking the books on the bedside table, Gao Yuxuan stood up and cleared his throat. He seemed to have spent a long time preparing himself before squeezing out a sentence: "We haven't exchanged phone numbers yet, have we?"

"I suppose not."

"Let's save the numbers quickly. Call me once you're discharged, and I'll treat you to a meal."

"No need for that—the Squad Leader will be treating us anyway. Let's just exchange numbers."

Roddy habitually raised his left arm, only to find nothing there; his wristband had been crushed during the practice.

"Oh right, your wristband is gone. I'll leave my number; add me once you apply for a new one."

Gao Yuxuan used his ballpoint pen to leave his number on the flyleaf of one of the books, then stood up and paced the room twice. Both of them were not particularly talkative, and without the common goals they had during the practice, being alone in the room was truly awkward. Gao Yuxuan, who had originally wanted to say more, finally managed only a "I won't disturb your rest," and turned to leave.

Just as he was about to step out of the room:

*Click!*

That familiar, bone-deep "tongue-clicking sound" echoed in the empty hospital room.

Gao Yuxuan’s body reacted instinctively; cold sweat broke out from his pores, soaking his back.

*Click!*

The sound rang out again in the room. Gao Yuxuan immediately determined the source: it was the hospital bed. However, unlike the clicking heard in the old mansion, there were no other environmental changes here, nor was there any sign of that hellish heat.

The clicking continued with a steady rhythm. Gao Yuxuan retreated until he reached the foot of the bed, looking at Roddy, who was reading.

"Roddy, are you... still normal?"

Only after Gao Yuxuan asked did Roddy realize he was clicking his tongue unconsciously.

"It’s fine. I don't know why, but whenever I focus on something, I click my tongue without realizing it. It seems to have become a habit. I clicked a few times during the psychological test earlier, and it didn't trigger any possession response, and the doctor’s examinations were all normal. It’s likely just a common habit brought on by the 'possession'."

"You clicked during the test too? Well, if that’s the case, then it should be fine. Phew... that was actually a bit scary."

"Really?"

Roddy was unbothered, perhaps even a little delighted. To him, this accident, which had nearly cost him his life, felt more like a special experience that aligned with his interests and offered commensurate rewards.

"Ahem... I'm heading out. Let's stay in touch after discharge."

"Yeah."

***

[Hospitalization Time]

It must be said that the services provided by the hospital were top-tier. Luxurious sets designed to aid physical recovery were delivered on time, and nursing staff were available at the press of a button. However, the only visitor seemed to be Gao Yuxuan.

Roddy’s "running mate"—the key person who resolved the accident, Mr. Lufei—had not come. He likely had to deal with the aftermath with the senior management of the research institute since he had personally intervened in the incident. Roddy planned to contact him as soon as he was discharged, not just to express his gratitude, but to ask about the specific details of exorcism, as well as matters regarding hell, especially that mysterious symbol.

Unknowingly, the day drew to a close. When a nurse came to remove his IV, she also brought a bowl of matsutake chicken noodle soup as a late-night snack.

After absorbing the ample nutrition, Roddy, who hadn't moved much all day, got out of bed on his own. He returned the empty bowl to the nurses' station. Although the nurse reminded him again to rest, Roddy chose to walk back and forth in the quiet hospital corridor. When he passed Anna’s room, the door still displayed a red marker; she had not yet awakened.

Roddy walked to the end of the corridor and stepped into the stairwell marked [Emergency Exit]. Because the First Municipal Hospital was equipped with numerous high-efficiency, multi-functional elevators, the emergency stairwell was essentially deserted, especially now that it was night.

After exercising by climbing the stairs for a while, Roddy sat down in the stairwell to rest. As he sat, he instinctively reached his hands forward, wanting to do a few push-ups, but ultimately held back.

"I'll finish these when I get home."

Roddy had not been sitting in the stairwell for long when:

*Zzzzzzt—*

The bright lights in the stairwell began to flicker abnormally...