"Not a party? Bringing me to see something?"
Listening to Mr. James's words, Harold said with a puzzled expression. Having only just arrived in Igwinte, he received an invitation from the prominent Igwinte figure, Mr. James, and thought it would be a gathering of Igwinte's upper class. Unexpectedly, the other party directly said Captain was going to show him something? This made Harold somewhat confused for a moment.
"Uh... Mr. James, I don't know what Captain wants to show me..." Harold said, puzzled, while looking at the Shan Dian Hospital behind him, wondering what there was to see by coming to a Shan Dian Hospital.
"Heh, please follow me."
Facing Harold's question, Mr. James smiled slightly, then turned and walked towards the Shan Dian Hospital gate behind him. Seeing this, although Harold was confused, he didn't hesitate and followed him inside.
Following Mr. James's footsteps, Harold walked along the corridor of the Shan Dian Hospital building. The pungent smell of disinfectant made him pinch his nose, and he scanned the weak patients lying on the benches along the corridor with disgusted eyes. Contempt flashed in his eyes towards the commoners lining up for treatment. He felt very uncomfortable with the somewhat noisy environment in this public Shan Dian Hospital, as if he would leave immediately if it weren't for Mr. James inviting him.
Following Mr. James, Harold turned left and right, walking all the way to a quiet corridor within the Shan Dian Hospital. After passing through a large iron gate with security, he arrived at a special area with iron bars sealing the outer windows. Strange sounds echoed in the space here, as if many people were howling in the distance.
Entering this slightly eerie place, Harold felt a little flustered, but he still bravely continued to follow Mr. James forward. After a while, he arrived at a corridor. The ward doors on one side of the corridor were all sturdy iron doors, and through the windows with vertical iron bars, one could see the abnormal patients inside.
These patients were all children around ten years old. They stayed in their respective wards, some crying and howling, some struggling, some biting the sheets, some tied tightly to the beds... The sound of banging doors and howling intertwined, vividly presenting a scene from a mental asylum.
"Mr. James, this is a madhouse, isn't it? These are all lunatics, right? Captain, why did Captain bring me to such a dangerous place!"
With a somewhat panicked expression, Harold said to Mr. James beside him, while Mr. James spoke quietly.
"Lord Harold, these are not lunatics. They are children charitably adopted by Viscount Field over the past few years. Unfortunately, Viscount Field's convoy was attacked by a pack of wild wolves in the mountains and he passed away unexpectedly. These children were all in the convoy at the time and witnessed the cruelty of the beast eating people and Viscount Field's death, and were so frightened that they became like this."
Mr. James slowly explained to Harold. After listening to his explanation, Harold paused slightly, then looked at the children in the ward again, and then forced out a trace of sympathy on his face, before speaking with a tone of regret.
"Oh... these are the children adopted by Viscount Field. How truly pitiful. Born as orphans, they were clearly adopted by my benevolent cousin with great difficulty and could have lived a prosperous life, but alas, fate is cruel. Now they have all become like this pitiful state. Will they be like this for the rest of their lives? Saint Father... why did You recall my benevolent expression so early? Wouldn't it be better to let him do a few more good deeds in the world?"
Harold spoke emotionally, his expression moved and sincere. By the end, he even took out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of his eyes. Seeing his performance, Mr. James also spoke.
"Lord Harold, the condition of these children is not without hope of recovery. As long as there is sufficient time and funding as support, they all still have hope of returning to normal."
"What? They can still get better?!" Listening to Mr. James's words, Harold was stunned, then spoke directly in surprise, and Mr. James also slowly nodded in affirmation.
"Yes, as long as the treatment continues, the symptoms of these children can still be reversed at this stage, but this requires considerable funding. Since they currently do not possess normal mental conditions, they cannot inherit Viscount Field's legacy."
"Therefore, I hope that if Lord Harold, Captain, can successfully inherit the legacy in the future, Captain can continue the responsibility of Viscount Gerry Field and provide medical expenses for these children so they can continue treatment."
"Although Viscount Field has left us, I believe his charitable spirit is worth passing down. Lord Harold, Captain, don't Captain agree? Lord Harold..."
Mr. James spoke to Harold beside him. Listening to Mr. James's words, Harold couldn't help but his expression darken. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke.
"Ah... you're talking about this... Well, honestly, Mr. James, Captain also know that Viscount Field passed away suddenly, with no descendants, no will, and no close relatives. So, several distant relatives of Viscount, including myself, have come to Igwinte wanting to inherit this property. The competition is actually quite fierce, and I don't know if I will win in the end. Therefore, I can't promise anything here. If I don't inherit it later and have promised something, wouldn't that be a joke?"
"I think... Mr. James, Captain might be able to find the others who have come seeking the legacy and talk to them. I think the chances for the others might be a bit higher."
With a smile, Harold said to Mr. James, while Mr. James replied silently.
"I have already found the other few people. They either directly refused or gave a similar answer to Captain just now. Lord Harold, Captain are now the only hope for these children."
"Ah... Captain have already looked for them..." Listening to Mr. James's words, Field was slightly stunned, then after glancing around somewhat anxiously, he looked at Mr. James and said with a smile.
"Heh heh... Mr. James, I think it's a bit too early to talk about this now. Let's discuss this matter after I am truly confirmed to be able to inherit the legacy."
Listening to Harold's words, Mr. James's expression darkened, and then he replied.
"Lord Harold, compared to Viscount Field's wealth, this amount of treatment fees is insignificant. To gain a good reputation with this small amount of money, don't Captain really consider it?"
"I'll consider it only after I can inherit. In short, now is not the time. Oh right... I suddenly remembered I have something important to do, so I will take my leave now, Mr. James."
With a clearly evasive tone, Harold said to Mr. James, then bowed slightly and prepared to leave. Seeing this, Mr. James spoke to try and keep him.
"Wait a moment, Harold..."
"No need to keep him, Mr. James."
Just then, a childlike, clear voice came from the other side of the corridor. Hearing this voice, both Mr. James and Harold were slightly startled. After turning their heads, they saw a small figure standing at the other end of the corridor.
A white hospital gown, a thin body, long, loose golden hair, and large, spirited blue eyes. Standing before Mr. James and Harold at this moment was a girl around ten years old.
"You are... one of those children..." Seeing the girl in front of him, Mr. James muttered as he recalled. Meanwhile, Harold, who had been preparing to leave, looked displeased at the scene before him, then spoke sternly.
"Where did this brat come from, daring to interrupt us!"
Listening to Harold's words, the girl bowed slightly, then straightened her back, and spoke to introduce herself.
"My name is Anna Field, and I am the seventh adopted child publicly and legally adopted by my respected father, Lord Gerry Field, before the esteemed gentlemen and notable figures of Igwinte. And now I am his only legal heir, the next Viscount Field."
While speaking, Anna looked at Mr. James, who had a somewhat astonished expression, and then continued to speak.
"Mr. James, Captain do not need to place hope on these outsiders. These poor, suffering people are my brothers and sisters. I will not abandon them."