CHAPTER 55: POWER PLAY

In Blissville hospital, clusters of nurses and staff huddled in pockets by the nurses station, in the elevator, even near the vending machines their voices a low buzz of scandal and speculation. The news had spread like wildfire through the overnight shift change. Nurse Lina, the veteran nurse had been promoted to Clinical Nurse II.

Just like that.

No exam, fanfare, no committee review whispers, no waiting list. Her new badge gleamed on her scrubs, the title etched in bold letters, and the hospital grapevine was ablaze.

In the breakroom, a group of younger nurses, fresh-faced and caffeinated leaned over their mugs, their scrubs a rainbow of patterns under the harsh light. "Can you believe it?" whispered a petite brunette with wide eyes, stirring her coffee with unnecessary vigor. "Lina? How could she have gotten promoted just like that. It’s absurd."

Her colleague, a burly orderly with a perpetual five-o’clock shadow, nodded, popping a donut hole into his mouth. "Ridiculous. I heard it came straight from the top. No interview, no nothing. She’s gotta be cozy with someone in admin or higher." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, eliciting a chorus of giggles and eye-rolls.

Across the room, a senior nurse with sharp features and a clipboard perpetually in hand, leaned against the counter, her voice dripping with skepticism. "Cozy? Please. She must’ve used her body or something. How else do you jump ranks that fast? I’ve been gunning for Nurse II for months now and I was told I’m not qualified it."

"This stinks of favoritism."

The gossip rippled outward, echoing in the hallways as staff passed charts and pushed carts. "I’m sure she associated with one of the bosses," muttered a man to his partner in the supply closet, their voices muffled by stacks of linens.

"You don’t get handed a promotion like that without pulling strings or something else." Laughter followed, sharp and envious, the kind that masked deeper frustrations in a high-stakes environment where every advancement felt like a battlefield victory.

Lina herself strode through the corridors with her head high, her new badge catching the light like a medal of honor. Her scrubs were crisp, her steps purposeful, but beneath her proud facade, a flicker of astonishment lingered. It hadn’t even been 24 hours since her bargain with Devon spilling secrets about Helena and Sophie in exchange for this very promotion and here it was, official, stamped, and announced in the morning briefing. She knew Devon was influential,but she didn’t expect the whole thing to happen this quickly ? This was power on another level, a whisper in the right ear turning dreams into reality overnight.

As she passed a group of whispering nurses, she caught their sidelong glances the narrowed eyes, the pursed lips, the barely concealed envy. They didn’t hide it, their stares following her like spotlights. Lina met them with a serene smile, her chin lifted, unbothered on the surface. Let them talk, she’d earned this, one way or another.

Meanwhile, in the seclusion of his corner office, Devon reclined in his chair, the city skyline sprawling beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows like a conquered kingdom. The room was a blend of modern minimalism and subtle luxury polished mahogany desk, a wall of medical tomes, and a sleek holographic display flickering with patient charts. But Devon’s attention was elsewhere, his dark eyes focused on the translucent interface hovering in his vision, invisible to anyone but him.

SYSTEM INTERFACE: Devon Aldridge

Level: 54 (Prodigy Tier)

EXP: 12,670 / 1,450,000

Age: 22

Title: Luminary of Medicine (Grants +10% to all Medical Skill efficacy; Intimidation Resistance +15%)

Core Stats

Intelligence: 89/100 (Genius)

Dexterity: 85/100 (Virtuoso)

Strength: 82/100 (Peak Human)

Charisma: 93/100 (Magnetic)

Vitality: 86/100 (Resilient)

Perception: 91/100 (Eagle-Eyed)

Skills

(Mastered disciplines honed through quests and real-world feats)

Medical Supremacy (Mythic - Rank 14)

Surgical Mastery (Epic - Rank 13)

Martial Arts (Mythic - Rank 15)

Biomedical Innovation (Epic - Rank 12)

Strategic Command (Master - Rank 11)

Knowledge Archives

Medical Omniscience (Infinite)

Description: A living database of all medical knowledge, auto-updating with global advancements.

Combat Physiology (Master)

Institutional Politics (Expert)

Abilities

(Unique powers unlocked through milestone quests)

And more...

Exp points: 152,051

Devon leaned forward, a predatory smile curling his lips as he mentally navigated the System’s shop interface. The promotion for Lina had been child’s play, a quick call to the board, leveraging his influence but now, with his EXP overflowing from recent quests (that high-stakes surgery yesterday had netted a cool 50,000 points alone), it was time to invest.

"System," he murmured aloud, his voice a low rumble in the empty office, "open the upgrade menu."

The interface expanded, holographic icons shimmering like stars. First, he targeted his Martial Arts skill already at Mythic Rank 15, but in a world where threats lurked beyond the OR, more was always better. With a mental flick, he allocated 20,000 EXP, watching the rank tick up to 16.

A surge of energy coursed through him, his muscles tensing as new techniques flooded his mind, advanced pressure points, fluid counters that blended seamlessly with his surgical precision. "Not bad," he chuckled, flexing his fingers.

Next, his eyes landed on a novelty he’d been eyeing, the Hornimeter, a passive ability that gauged a target’s arousal levels on a scale of 1 to 10, with visual cues like a subtle aura only he could see. At 15,000 EXP, it was a steal for a man who thrived on control. "Purchase," he commanded, and the System complied, a warm tingle spreading through his perception stat. He imagined testing it on Sophie watching her "horniness" spike despite her glares and laughed softly. "Perfect for negotiations."

He scrolled further, snagging a few utility boosts: Enhanced Stamina Serum for 10,000 EXP, bumping his Vitality to 88/100, ensuring he could outlast any marathon surgery or bedroom marathon. Then, a Social Engineering Module for 25,000 EXP, elevating his Institutional Politics skill to Master Rank, weaving in predictions for human behavior.

His gaze lingered on the premium items: a new eye augment called Profile Scanner, allowing him to view anyone’s stats, skills, and secrets with a glance priced at 80,000 EXP. "Add to cart," he decided.

Finally, Eternal Youth caught his eye a mythic perk locking his age at 22, with flawless regeneration, for a whopping 5,000,000 EXP. He whistled low. "Too expensive," he said, closing the menu, he leaned back.

"I need to work harder, this lifestyle is quite expensive." He uttered with a smile forming across his face.