Era of Magic and Martial Arts-Chapter 209 - 193: Explosion and Order

Qian Huan's eyes revealed a hint of depth as he slowly said, "No need, Forensic Doctor Qin, just carry out your duties as required. After the matter is concluded, perhaps you could privately disclose some information about Feng Mu's condition before his death to Li Bashan."

Feng Mu was still very much alive and kicking, yet Qian Huan and Qin Liang were already busy with posthumous matters on his behalf. Having such forward-thinking leaders and colleagues was indeed a great fortune for Feng Mu.

Suddenly, the buzzing of a mobile phone interrupted their conversation.

–– Buzz buzz buzz ––

Qian Huan turned his gaze towards Qin Liang, who, perceptive as he was, stood up and walked toward the door.

Qian Huan answered the call, his expression changing dramatically: "What? Something happened to my uncle? Oh, okay, I'll head to the hospital right away."

Qin Liang's hand paused in mid-air as he was about to pull open the door. He turned back, puzzled, to look at the prison director: "Prison director, what has happened?"

Qian Huan took a deep breath, forcing a smile as he replied, "It's nothing, there was a leak in the underground pipeline on Qiming Street, which accidentally triggered an explosion. My uncle happened to be driving by and was unfortunately caught in the blast, and his vehicle was blown away."

Qin Liang's eyes widened with shock, thinking to himself: "This is nothing? This scene is enough to write an autopsy report on its own."

Qian Huan continued to explain, "Fortunately, my uncle's vehicle had been reinforced with explosion-proofing, so now he's only in a coma and has been rushed to the hospital. He should be out of danger."

Listening to Qian Huan's words, Qin Liang glanced at the explosion-proof glass in front of him, and finally understood who Qian Huan inherited his cautious nature from.

As the director, Qian Huan could leave work at any time, and no one dared to check his attendance.

At this moment, he hurriedly started his vehicle, driving towards the Fourth Hospital in the city.

On the way, Qian Huan encountered several checkpoint stations set up, obviously, officials from the Arresting Bureau and Patrol Office were still intensely searching for Hou Wendong's secretary throughout the city.

However, judging by the current situation, this search did not seem to have yielded significant results.

The vehicle came to a slow stop, joining the queue, awaiting inspection.

During this waiting period, Qian Huan's thoughts involuntarily drifted to Hou Wendong.

Qian Huan wasn't particularly familiar with this secretary, having only met him a few times in his uncle Qian Tong's office while working for the company, which left him with a vague impression of Hou Wendong.

However, he had to admit that his transfer from the company to become the prison director at the Second Prison was closely tied to Hou Wendong.

After all, although the company had signed the "Second Prison Equity Restructuring Five-Year Agreement" with the Executive Government, many of the operational details depended on Hou Wendong, the secretary to Member of Parliament Wang Xinfa.

It was Hou Wendong's negotiations and push that enabled the implementation of the "Second Prison Equity Restructuring," even leading the prison system to make compromises, filling the vacancy left by the former director's overwork-induced death, which found its way into the company's hands.

"Hou Wendong is quite the talent, I hope he can be rescued," thought Qian Huan.

Bam.

The trunk was closed, and an officer from the Arresting Bureau waved a hand. Qian Huan snapped back to reality, driving through the checkpoint, just passing by Qiming Street.

He slowed down the car, glancing out of the side window.

What came into view was a long trench torn open by the explosion, flanked by collapsed buildings, exposing their internal rebar and bricks.

Several vehicles lay in shattered pieces, with twisted metal wrecks scattered around like abandoned skeletons.

Flames still licked a few cars, and charred corpses were wrapped in smoke, emitting a strange scent of roasted meat. The trees lining the road had been uprooted, and broken utility poles lay sparking on the ground.

Amid the ruins, shards of glass, bricks, and debris lay everywhere. Some blasted remains hung precariously on shattered window ledges.

The air was heavy with the smell of burning and cries of distress.

Qian Huan took a deep breath, murmuring to himself:

"Pipeline leak, hmph, this must be one of those shoddy projects approved by the Executive Government's Members of Parliament. Lucky my second uncle lent me that car some time ago, and I had it reinforced. My uncle being able to survive this incident means I should expect better treatment from him in the future."

He slowly rolled up the window, pressing the gas pedal, the vehicle darting away from the ruins like an arrow.

Twenty minutes later, his car quietly came to a stop in the parking lot of the Fourth Hospital, where many blue-and-white vehicles and ambulances were parked.

The inspection corridor leading to the emergency room had stretchers lined up, waiting in queue.

Spotless nurses were verifying the civic grade and account balance of the injured.

"I'm sorry, your civic grade is E-level, you need to move to the back of the line." The head nurse maintained her professional politeness, crouching down to gently speak to the comatose, severely burned woman on the stretcher.

Immediately, two strong male nurses approached, smoothly lifting the stretcher to the end of the line.

Outside the inspection corridor, the woman's husband's eyes were wide with rage as he furiously shouted inside, emotionally trying to rush in, only to be easily blocked by the fully armed security at the entrance.

"Sir, please calm down and do not interfere with the hospital's normal treatment procedures."

The head nurse walked softly to the door, wearing a professional smile, her tone gentle and firm as she explained to the anxious relatives waiting outside the corridor:

"This hospital strictly follows the Lower City Health Resource Management Ordinance, prioritizing treatment based on civic grades. This measure is aimed at preventing chaotic competition for medical resources, ensuring most patients receive proper care in an orderly environment, while also maintaining the common interests of humanity and social order."

Separated by the fully armed security, she sincerely called for understanding and order among the people: "Please understand this regulation and maintain necessary order."

However, the man struggled like a trapped beast, his voice filled with despair and anger: "You call this treatment? This is outright murder!"

The head nurse remained calm, her gaze unwavering, her tone steady:

"Sir, please understand that civic grades and resource management methods are post-catastrophe societal consensus and rules that must be adhered to. Your wife can follow this system even while unconscious, as her husband, you should support her, not disrupt this order."

Qian Huan walked into the hospital amidst the chaotic cries, frowning slightly as he presented his civic credentials and was led into the VIP corridor.

Within the VIP corridor, the emotions of the family members sitting on the sofas were much more stable.

Two flamboyantly dressed middle-aged women were speaking softly: "The noise outside is unbearable, don't they know the hospital needs to remain quiet?"

"True enough, these lower-class citizens have not only low genetic levels but also a lack of basic quality."

Qian Huan's gaze lightly brushed past them, and the two women immediately noticed, nodding slightly in apology, and then discreetly lowered their voices even more.

Qian Huan calmly retracted his gaze, turning to proceed towards the deepest part of the corridor, where the waiting room was prepared for VVIPs.

The room was unusually quiet, with only one well-maintained woman in her early fifties, elegantly seated in a chair, holding a cup of clear tea, her eyes focused through the glass window on the operation room opposite.

Inside the operation room, several doctors in pristine white coats were intensely focused around the operating table, working in an orderly manner with each other.

The patient on the operating table was closed-eyed, pale, but breathing steadily, as if in a serene sleep.

Various high-tech monitors around the operating table displayed real-time physiological indicators of the patient, projections of which also appeared on the exterior glass.

Qian Huan seriously checked the fluctuating indicators on the glass, his tense nerves gradually relaxing.

"Don't worry, your second uncle is fine. The impact of the explosion was mostly blocked by the vehicle body. It's just the side door that was hit, resulting in a few fractured ribs, but he's not in danger. The surgery should be done in about half an hour, after which he'll be transferred to the recovery ward." The woman put down her tea cup, her expression calm as she spoke.

"Mom, you always say I'm too cautious, but if it weren't for me retrofitting that car for my uncle..."

Qian Huan looked at his mother proudly, his tone carrying a hint of seeking recognition,

"I just passed by Qiming Street, and the scene there is truly shocking."

The woman gazed at Qian Huan, her eyes briefly lit with a faint smile, but at the same time, there was a slight hint of worry in her eyes.

She softly said, "Indeed, thanks to you. Once your uncle wakes up, you must have him properly thank you. However, even when he wakes up, he will likely need to recuperate in the hospital for a while. Therefore, I must discuss with you certain matters about the prison beforehand..."