Hades Has Returned

Chapter 007

Everyone froze on the spot, listening to Jack Brooks count.

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

"Four."

When Jack Brooks took the fifth step, Frank Zane suddenly lurched forward.

Pfft!

He sprayed a mouthful of dark blood onto the rocks. His head lolled to the side, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Boom!

It was as if a bomb had gone off in Tom Zane’s head. His mind went blank with panic. He scrambled to catch the old man, cradling him in his arms.

"Dad! Dad!"

Tom Zane frantically began Pinching the Philtrum, shaking his father's body, trying to wake him up. But the old man didn't react. If anything, his condition worsened—his pupils began to dilate, staring unseeingly at the sky.

"This medicine..." Tom Zane stared at the thermos in horror.

"The Old Master suffers from Excess Lung Heat Syndrome," Jack's cold voice drifted back to them. "His energy is stagnant and blocked. To feed him something like Century-Old Wild Ginseng, which is a powerful Qi tonic, is like pouring oil on a fire. It would be strange if he didn't die!"

Jack looked back with indifferent eyes.

Tom Zane was stunned. Then, a spark of realization lit up his eyes. His attitude transformed instantly from arrogance to desperate respect.

"So... little brother... I mean, sir! Can you save my father?"

"Not interested."

Jack turned around and continued walking down the mountain.

He had warned them. Tom Zane hadn't listened and had even mocked him. Why should he go out of his way to help ungrateful people?

Jack's connections reached the heavens. With a single phone call, countless bank presidents would be lining up at his door begging to lend him money. If Apex Bank wouldn't give The Sutton Family a loan, he would just find another bank.

Hearing this, Tom Zane panicked. He shouted apologies at Jack's retreating back.

"Mr. Brooks! I had eyes but failed to recognize Mt. Tai! I said some terrible things, please, I beg you not to take them to heart..."

He trailed off, realizing words were useless. He shot a desperate, pleading look at Ted Wolfe, hoping the billionaire could intervene.

Ted Wolfe saw that a life was at stake and threw caution to the wind. He ran after Jack, pleading urgently.

"Mr. Brooks! Old Master Zane has done good deeds all his life! When he was young, he even participated in the War of Defense!"

"This illness is a hidden injury left over from protecting our country back then. Please, I beg you, don't lower yourself to Colonel Zane's level. Please save the Old Master!"

Tiger Lynch also stepped forward, clasping his fists and bowing deeply. His voice was thick with sincerity. "I offended Mr. Brooks just now. Tiger Lynch is willing to accept any punishment! I only ask that Mr. Brooks saves the General!"

"Participated in the War of Defense?"

Jack stopped. He frowned slightly.

He turned back, walked over to the unconscious Frank Zane, and without a word, jabbed his fingers hard into a spot just below the old man's stomach.

Thump! Thump!

"Wah!"

Frank Zane's eyes snapped open. He clutched his chest and fell to his knees, vomiting a massive amount of black, foul-smelling blood onto the grass.

"What do you mean by this?!" Tom Zane yelled, his protective instincts flaring up again. "If you don't want to save him, fine, but there's no need to beat an old man!"

"Shut up, Tom!" Frank Zane rasped, wiping his mouth. "I... I feel comfortable. Incredibly comfortable."

Frank Zane slowly stood up. The grey, deathly pallor of his face was gone, replaced by a healthy, rosy glow!

He looked radiant, standing straighter than he had in years. It was as if he had never been sick at all!

Tom Zane stood there, thunderstruck. Realizing his mistake, he quickly bowed deeply to Jack, shame burning his face.

"Master Brooks's techniques are god-like. Truly miraculous. It was my misunderstanding."

"You saved my father's life. Please accept my bow!"

"Master Brooks," Frank Zane said, also bowing respectfully. "You saved this old man's life. Please allow me to express my gratitude!"

Jack looked at them indifferently. "If it weren't for the loan matter with The Sutton Family, I wouldn't care if you lived or died."

"Since I saved you, approve the loan."

"Loan?" Frank Zane paused, then immediately turned to his son. "Tom! Call Xavier right now! Tell him to approve the Sutton Group's loan within ten minutes! No excuses!"

Tom Zane immediately pulled out his phone and barked orders. After hanging up, he turned back to Jack with a respectful expression.

"Master Brooks, the loan will be in their account within ten minutes!"

"We would like to invite Master Brooks to a meal to express our gratitude properly. Please give us a little face!"

"Tomorrow," Jack said. Seeing the expectant looks on the faces of the father and son, he thought for a moment and nodded.

Frank Zane had weathered decades of storms. Even in his excitement, he remained calm on the surface. He turned to his bodyguard.

"Tiger, take down Master Brooks's number. Drive him back later."

Then he turned to Jack. "Mr. Brooks, just call Tiger tomorrow, and he will pick you up."

"In the future, if you have any trouble in Northriver, just give the order. The The Zane Family still has some face in this city!"

Jack shook his head. "I will go there myself tomorrow afternoon. No need for anything else."

He had only agreed to the meal out of respect for the old man's service in the war. He didn't want a deep connection with the The Zane Family, nor did he want to be disturbed too often.

Jack turned and walked down the mountain.

The others didn't dare to say anything more and respectfully watched him leave.

Tourists who had witnessed the scene were whispering in shock.

"Did I see that right? The richest man in Northriver, Ted Wolfe, and the father and son of the The Zane Family... they were following that young man like servants! They didn't even dare to stand up straight!"

"The Wolfe and Zane families are the top powers in Northriver. To see them smiling and bowing to a young man, terrified of offending him... that is too terrifying!"

"My god! Look at that young man. He accepts their respect as if it's only natural. His posture is so high. Could he be someone from the Imperial Capital or Metro City?"

Ted Wolfe overheard them and wanted to laugh.

Someone from Metro City?

Even the Sixth Elder of the Imperial Central Command speaks respectfully to Jack Brooks. Let alone the head of the top family in Metro City!

If they saw Jack Brooks, they would probably bow so low their heads touched their belly buttons!

"To have such achievements at such a young age... his future is limitless," Frank Zane murmured as he watched Jack disappear.

"Tom, have the entire residence cleaned from top to bottom tomorrow. We absolutely cannot offend him!"

After Jack left in a car, a red Ferrari drove up toward Phoenix Mountain.

Through the window, Tina Cheney saw Frank Zane in the distance. His face was rosy, and he was walking with vigorous, clanking steps.

She gasped in surprise. "My Lady! Your medical skills are getting more and more incredible! Old Master Zane drank your medicine, and now he doesn't even need his cane!"

Winter Lacy saw it too and smiled faintly.

"I was planning to check on his recovery and maybe prescribe some tonic herbs," she said.

"But seeing him so lively and vigorous, I suppose there's no need. Let's go."

"We aren't going down to say hello?" Tina Cheney asked.

"No need. If Frank Zane tries to invite me to dinner to thank me, it will be hard to refuse," Winter Lacy said. She turned the steering wheel, driving back down the mountain.

"My Lady, your progress is rapid! I think you will surpass your master soon!" Tina Cheney said, her eyes full of worship.

At the airport, she had revived a patient with severe heart failure in less than a minute.

Now, a single dose of medicine had made a dying man walk like a tiger. Looking across The Republic, how many people could do that?

"Low profile. Keep a low profile..." Winter Lacy waved her hand modestly, but inside, she was thrilled.

Her goal wasn't just to surpass The Ghost Medic.

There was a man named "Hades" who was rumored to be able to revive the dead and grow flesh on white bones. His medical skills were transcendent, comparable to a god.

"Hades is the goal I will pursue my entire life!"

Meanwhile.

Tia Sutton received a notification on her phone: Funds Received.

One hundred million dollars had been deposited into the company account. She jumped up in joy.

She immediately dialed Perry Bailey's number.

"Young Master Bailey! Your efficiency is amazing! In just one day, Apex Bank approved the loan!"

On the other end of the line, Perry Bailey looked blank.

He had called Apex Bank, but the President, Xavier Zane, had scolded him viciously and hung up.

He had no idea how the The Sutton Family loan had passed.

Maybe President Zane decided to give face to my father after all? he thought.

"Tia, we are good friends," Perry Bailey said smoothly, recovering quickly. "Since I promised to help you, of course I had to get it done!"

"The Bailey Group is a top enterprise in Northriver. Of course President Zane has to give me face!"

"I called this morning. I didn't expect Xavier Zane to take the whole morning to process it. I'll have to have a word with him later; he didn't give the The Bailey Family enough respect with that delay!"

Tia Sutton was astonished.

The Sutton Group had begged and pleaded to no avail, yet Perry Bailey solved it with a single phone call!

The Bailey Group really was powerful!

"Is the loan resolved?" George Sutton asked, seeing his daughter cheering.

"Yes! Perry Bailey got it done for me!"

"Look at how dedicated Perry is!" Diane Lee couldn't help but exclaim.

"He said he'd help, and the next day the loan is here!"

"Unlike that Jack Brooks. He has no ability, just a big mouth!"

"George, are you sure you want our daughter to be with him?"

George Sutton shook his head. "Young Master Bailey is the son of the Bailey Group. Naturally, his connections are stronger than Jack's."

"But I believe Jack won't be worse than Perry in the future. Don't compare them anymore."

"Tia, Young Master Bailey helped us big time. You need to thank him."

"And President Zane too. We should visit him to express our gratitude."

Tia Sutton nodded. "Okay! The Myriad Dragons Chamber owes us forty million dollars. Perry helped me make an appointment with Director Shaw of the Chamber."

"I have to meet him at the Skydream Club today. I don't have time now, so I'll go to the The Zane Family tomorrow."

"That works!" George Sutton thought for a moment. "Take Jack with you to both the The Zane Family and the Skydream Club. Let him see the world and gain some experience!"

"Jack Brooks?" Tia Sutton frowned.

Ruby Jordan poked Tia in the arm and whispered, "Let him come along. A Hillbilly like him has never been to high-end places. He will definitely make a fool of himself."

"Once he loses face publicly, he will feel inferior. Then he'll be too embarrassed to pester you anymore!"