Chapter 1: The Back Alley Doctor

Remiferia, the 'principality of the beautiful north,' was renowned across Zemuria for its advanced medical care. Its modern, well-funded hospitals attracted skilled doctors from a multitude of countries, and its cutting-edge medical technology was developed by specialists from the finest manufacturers the principality had to offer.

However, despite how brilliantly this nation's medical excellence shone, it concealed a dark side as well. Implementation of orbal technology had been put off for years in the poorer downtown district. As a result, it lacked not only the quality of life, but the level of hospital care that the principality was so known for. Deep in this quiet, run-down area--where the already-chilly region's winds seemed to bite with a pronounced sting--stood only a single clinic.

The 40-year-old building's age was apparent with but a glance. Its dilapidated exterior did a thorough job of extinguishing any hope of finding a decent general practitioner within. On this particular day, the silhouettes of two people could be seen through its dirty, cracked windows.

'O-One m-million mira?!' shouted an older man as his eyes hysterically darted across the sea of zeroes that flooded his bill.

Across from him sat a large man in his mid-thirties, sporting an unkempt beard that perfectly accented his apathetic demeanor. Few would recognize this massive, muscular figure as a doctor if not for the filthy, frayed lab coat he wore.

'Ah, my bad. Got that number wrong, didn't I?' the doctor answered in a low voice. He took the bill from the older man and quickly scribbled an extra zero on the end. Seeing the price jump by tenfold in an instant, the old man's face changed from an anxious pale to a furious shade of red just as quickly.

'D-Dirty swindler! Th-These treatment costs are ridiculous! I refuse to pay this!' And indeed, it was far beyond what any legitimate doctor was legally allowed to charge for medical services in Remiferia. Watching the outraged old man sputter and curse, the doctor couldn't help but laugh.

'Something tells me you've got more than enough mira sitting around. Hard to say if any of it's clean, but I'll still accept it, kind man that I am.'

The patient was a corrupt politician, his infamy bolstered by unending rumors surrounding his bribery and tax evasion. He had come to the doctor that day with three bullets in his body.

It was apparent by his choice of physician that the politician had landed himself in some manner of serious trouble. Trouble that would ruin his reputation if his wounds had become publicly known. As this particular doctor had extracted the bullets in secret, however, the standard surgery costs had been bolstered by a few additional fees to ensure his silence.

'I figured that would be more than a fair price in exchange for one's life,' the doctor said with a calm tone that only barely concealed the threat behind his words. However, this simply served to provoke the old man even further. In a rage, he drew a concealed orbal gun and thrust it into the doctor's back. The doctor, unperturbed, simply continued smiling.

'Oh? Well, as your physician, I feel I should advise you: your treatment isn't quite complete just yet. If you put a bullet in me, I certainly won't be able to take that last one out of you.' He turned and pointed his finger at the old man's stomach.

Running his hand over the spot the doctor indicated, the old man felt a jolt of pain. There was something hard still lodged under his skin. The doctor had intentionally left the last bullet untouched. Realizing the position he was in, the old man slowly lowered his gun, a look of pained defeat on his face.

'I trust that clears up the issue of the bill, then?'

The flames of anger left the old man's eyes. All that remained was fear.

Shortly afterward, the doctor finished the surgery.

The doctor's name was Glenn. Despite being an exceptionally talented doctor, he was unaffiliated with any of the hospitals in the principality. Known as a 'back alley doctor,' he treated everyone from politicians to illegal immigrants to murderers, and demanded outrageous prices in return for his secrecy.

A few days later, Glenn sat in his worn-down chair and gazed absently at the suitcase containing ten million mira that had been delivered to his clinic.

He moved his gaze to the window and stared at the heavy drops of rain splashing against the pane. It was uncommon to get such laden raindrops in the colder northern climate of Remiferia.

Surely, no clients would be showing up today of all days, he thought to himself as sheets of water began pounding on his window and the din of the rain grew even louder outside.

'P-Pardon me.'

The sudden sound of a voice from behind him snapped Glenn out of his thoughts. He turned his head to see a nurse standing in the hallway of his dilapidated clinic.