Chapter 167: 160 Hospital Trap
In a major tertiary hospital in Imperial Capital, Liu Yun watched the long queue of people, glancing at her delicate ladies' watch, feeling somewhat impatient.
Not long ago, she had resigned from her original company. The newly established telecommunications headquarters had inevitably made personnel adjustments, and being a newly hired employee, she found herself within the scope of these adjustments. Also, having no desire to stay in such a place any longer, she chose to switch jobs.
By now, she had become an employee stationed in Jing for Flashpoint Technology. Although the working conditions were a bit worse compared to Ruyi City, it was, after all, closer to home.
In front of the long line, a few elderly ladies were chatting incessantly. One of them said, "My goodness, how long do we have to queue up? My back is not good, and I can't stand much longer."
Another elderly lady responded with a smile, "Even if you can't endure, you have to. Once you go through this, your body won't have so many ailments anymore. We older folks just fear sickness and disaster."
Another elderly woman added importantly, "You know, Old Zhang from our family, his boss, he had liver cancer. He went to the hospital for a checkup and treatment, and came out that very afternoon. After visiting the hospital about four or five times, just a month later, he is as sprightly as a young man. It's really something."
The first elderly woman remarked, "Indeed, they work wonders here. I don't know what high technology they use, but it seems to cure all ailments, even said to increase one's lifespan."
The second elderly woman lamented, "Those with urgent illnesses get to go to the front of the line. For those of us in between, not clearly sick or healthy, it really is bad luck if we don't get moved up for the checkup."
At this moment, the first elderly woman noticed Liu Yun and started talking to her very familiarly, "Oh dear, young lady, which company do you work for?"
Liu Yun was somewhat impatient with chatting with such middle-aged women but responded diplomatically, "I work for a foreign enterprise."
The third elderly woman commented regretfully, "Ah, foreign enterprises used to be good places to work, with high salaries, but not anymore. I heard from our family's man that foreign companies unable to get technology authorized by Star Alliance are now in a tight spot. They're busy registering companies in our own country to manage some channels and keep their operations going."
Liu Yun couldn't help but say, "Our company is also part of the Star Alliance." Experience new stories on empire
These sharp elderly ladies caught on quickly. The first one immediately responded, her smile growing warmer, "Ah, you are so lucky, young lady, to work in a company of the Iridium Star people. I heard from our son that it's tough to get a job at their companies. What are your benefits like? Do you have the 'Five Insurances and One Fund'? Oh, right, you are so pretty.
Do you have a partner?"
Liu Yun looked visibly frustrated; she could hardly stand such conversations. It felt as though these completely unfamiliar elderly ladies were about to set her up with someone.
Her visit to this hospital was for the Genetic Advantage Liberation, and now people nationwide were queuing up for it. Hospitals equipped with the devices and medical workers from Iridium Star were dedicating nearly half of their efforts to this cause. After all, once it was done, a person's health conditions would significantly improve.
Although not wholly immune to diseases, the likelihood of falling ill would be significantly reduced.
With a population of 1.3 billion, a single Genetic Advantage Liberation session involved three trips to the hospital, totaling 12 hours. Even with Iridium Star providing as many devices and personnel as possible, completing such a massive project in two years was a conservative estimate.
Individuals in poor health and the elderly were prioritized for Genetic Advantage Liberation. Younger adults tended to queue later, and during this process, large corporations clearly had an easier time securing earlier slots than small-medium enterprises and individuals.
Of course, the entire screening system was automatic, and transparent; no shenanigans could be pulled off. Otherwise, this being a life-and-death matter, the lack of transparency would inevitably lead to doubts and dissatisfaction.
Even now, with all schedules accessible and all conditions clear, there were still those who maliciously speculated that there were underhanded dealings behind the scenes. Such is human nature—those who didn't get priority suspected others out of malice; those who did reveled in their own success.
Liu Yun had no idea how to deal with the three aunts when suddenly, a floating car flew into the hospital's parking lot from outside.
In these days, Imperial Capital had grown accustomed to floating cars that streaked across the sky routinely. Young people, eager to embrace new things, were everywhere asking when they could buy such cool vehicles. The floating cars running in Imperial Capital were actually low-flying aircraft primarily used by agencies handling Star Alliance affairs, and more often than not, by military vehicles.
After the vehicle, which looked like a mini-bus floating car, stabilized, over ten SWAT officers dressed in navy blue armored gear jumped out.
Not only had the military switched to better artillery, but the police had also adopted new equipment. The SWAT officers, when carrying out non-riot and counter-terrorism tasks, did not carry guns. This was because their armored gear provided enough suppression against criminals and of course, it was equipped with attack components.
The SWAT officers rushed into the hospital like a gust of wind, appearing intimidating; many people in line unconsciously moved aside for them, and Liu Yun felt her heart pounding wildly.
A few aunts, however, got quite spirited. Aunt Jia said with a typically gossipy tone, "There must be some trouble inside."
Aunt Yi shook her head and said, "People wouldn't be so foolish. If there's trouble here, their schedule might get pushed back to who knows when. If they catch something in the meantime, that would be a real loss. No matter how angry they are, they'd have to grin and bear it until it's over; afterward, they can strut all they want."
Before long, several SWAT officers came out carrying an unconscious, well-fed man whose hands and feet were shackled. From the looks of him, this chubby man didn't resemble a criminal at all; he looked more like an ordinary businessman.
The aunts discussed what this man might have done, speculating why a squad of SWAT was needed just to apprehend someone at the hospital.
Someone picked up their phone to take a photo until a SWAT officer stepped forward and informed them that photos couldn't be taken during the special operation and asked for cooperation. Most people honestly put away their phones, though some tried to sneak photos, only to soon discover that videos and pictures were automatically deleted.
Before long, Bai Zhongqi in Ruyi City received news—a high-ranking executive from a major enterprise who had recently been transferred to Imperial Capital, was found to be a Brain Worm host during his Genetic Advantage Liberation and had been apprehended by the quickly informed SWAT team.
This was already the sixth Brain Worm caught in the Genetic Advantage Liberation project.
Since the Genetic Advantage Liberation was a universal activity, everyone had to undergo it no one would refuse enhancement of physical fitness or the extension of life. Even though United Heart Society advised Brain Worms not to make direct contact with Iridium Star inhabitants, avoiding Genetic Advantage Liberation was impossible.
Bai Zhongqi specifically instructed to "take care" of those wealthy, influential entrepreneurs.
Brain Worms who couldn't defer and those who refused or procrastinated were secretly investigated—it was impossible to escape the eyes of Iridium Star inhabitants.
Though it was unrealistic to capture all Brain Worms in C-country in one go, the results were steadily incoming. Bai Zhongqi was also continuously using means to control Brain Worm intelligence deeply embedded in the political and economic circles of Western countries.