Chapter 140 – Gianna's Blood Oath
If Ethan went home tonight and told the four nerds that he'd cured a female patient and she got so excited she kissed him on the cheek—
those engineering geeks would probably gain yet another reason to study medicine.
Ethan shook the thought out of his head and forced himself to focus on work again.
By the time evening approached, the clinic had finally quieted down.
As the last patient left, the hallway returned to its usual silence and emptiness.
Ethan changed clothes and chatted casually with Helen at the reception desk while preparing to leave.
Then—
the sensor bell at the entrance suddenly chimed again.
Ethan instinctively wanted to mutter,
"You've gotta be kidding me."
The next second, the clinic door opened.
He froze.
Helen stood up too, looking toward the entrance.
It was John—
finally back from Rome.
And beside him stood the manager of the Continental Hotel:
Winston.
Ethan had just started stepping forward.
"Long time no—"
Before he could finish, Helen rushed past him and threw her arms around John.
The two embraced tightly.
…Alright then.
Ethan wisely turned away and extended his hand toward Winston instead.
"Hey, Manager."
"Good evening, Doctor."
Winston remained as elegant and composed as ever.
Even with an emotional reunion happening directly beside him, his expression didn't change in the slightest—
as though the scene simply didn't exist.
A moment later, John and Helen finally separated.
Ethan gave John a quick hug too.
"So?" Ethan asked. "Is it over?"
"More or less," John answered.
More or less?
What kind of answer was that supposed to be?
This time Ethan had no intention of dragging answers out one sentence at a time.
He turned directly toward Winston.
"There are still some loose ends to clean up," Winston explained calmly.
"There are?" Ethan looked surprised. "Wait—Santino's still alive?"
"No," John answered.
"Then what's left?" Ethan visibly relaxed.
Winston shook his head slightly.
"Continental Hotel Regulations, Article Eight."
"Any act of violence against the High Table constitutes rebellion and will be met with systematic elimination."
"Santino D'Antonio violated that rule and has therefore been eliminated."
He paused before continuing evenly.
"However… John was also involved."
"Santino issued the command."
"John carried it out."
Ethan blinked once, then glanced at John beside him.
Well, the man was standing here alive, so clearly things hadn't reached total disaster yet.
"But that was because of the blood oath," Ethan argued.
"Isn't the High Table obsessed with rules?"
"If the blood oath conflicts with another regulation, which one takes priority?"
"The blood oath," Winston answered immediately.
"Then there you go." Ethan shrugged. "How is any of this John's fault?"
"Honestly, I think the High Table should give him an award."
"Best Loyalty Award."
"Even when the blood oath required him to kill one of their own, he still carried it out."
"Yes." Winston smiled faintly.
"Continental Regulations, Article Five."
"A blood oath may neither be refused nor deceived. Those who violate it lose all rights and become targets for unrestricted execution."
"I knew it." Ethan finally relaxed completely. "So the High Table does have some common sense."
Winston's tone shifted slightly.
"However…"
"…it may not be deceived."
Ethan's brow twitched instinctively.
He suddenly had a bad feeling.
"Doctor," Winston said calmly, "your actions this time…"
"…could be interpreted as exploiting a loophole in the rules."
Helen, who had been listening quietly beside them, finally spoke up.
"That's not exploiting a loophole."
"Gianna D'Antonio did die."
"And Ethan genuinely revived her afterward."
"What happened later was a private agreement between Ethan and Gianna."
"It had nothing to do with the blood oath itself."
"Correct." Winston nodded politely.
"After discussion, the High Table unanimously concluded…"
"…that you did not violate the rules."
"If anything, you transcended them."
Winston looked at Ethan.
"But the problem is, Doctor… you never charged Gianna D'Antonio."
Ethan paused for a moment before immediately understanding.
"So," he asked cautiously, "if I charge her now, and officially turn the resurrection into a transaction… then this matter is settled?"
Winston didn't answer verbally.
He simply nodded.
"Okay!" Ethan relaxed instantly. "I thought this was going to be something serious."
"I save her life, charge a few hundred gold coins—seems fair enough, right?"
Winston shook his head.
"A few hundred… is too little?" Ethan blinked.
"That's not the only issue," Winston said calmly. "The High Table is now aware of your ability."
"Or rather… they always knew the rumors existed. This time, they received confirmation."
"There will be a period of internal discussion next."
"Most likely, they will not act immediately."
He looked directly at Ethan, and for the first time, there was genuine caution in his tone.
"Doctor… your ability is far too difficult to keep hidden."
"If word spreads, people will lose their minds."
"Before, no one truly believed it."
"Now things are different."
"The people who know about this are already in danger."
"Even I cannot guarantee my own safety."
"I understand." Ethan nodded. "But this ability has major limitations. It's not enough to overturn the world."
"Hopefully," Winston replied quietly.
Then he reached into his pocket and took out a metal emblem, handing it to Ethan.
"Gianna asked me to give this to you."
Ethan accepted it and frowned slightly.
"What is this? A badge?"
"A blood oath marker," Winston answered.
Ethan's expression changed instantly.
Suddenly, the object in his hand felt dangerously heavy.
He lowered his head and examined it carefully.
The marker was small enough to fit entirely within one palm.
Dark metal. Muted gold accents.
Its surface looked as though it had been polished repeatedly over countless years.
The weight was surprisingly solid—
a reminder that this was not decoration, but something with real significance.
On the front was a clean, symmetrical crest.
And beneath it, a single oath:
I have served. I will be of service.
A debt of blood, answered without refusal.
Ethan ran a finger along the edge and pressed lightly.
Click.
A faint metallic sound echoed.
The cover sprang open, revealing a thin needle mechanism hidden inside.
The interior structure unfolded completely.
Two symmetrical slots were embedded within the metal casing.
The slot on the right already bore a bloody thumbprint—
Gianna's blood.
The stain had long dried, yet its color hadn't faded in the slightest, as though permanently sealed into the metal itself.
Every ridge of the fingerprint remained perfectly clear.
Beside it was Gianna's signature.
The slot on the left remained empty.
Ethan slowly closed the marker and looked up.
"She gave this to me willingly?"
"That is not the important part," Winston replied.
"What matters is that you now possess her blood oath marker."
"And in the future…"
"…you may possess more."
"One marker ends."
"And another begins."
Ethan fell silent for a second before slipping the marker away.
"So," he asked Winston, "this whole matter is over now?"
"I believe so."
Winston nodded.
"And one more thing—John's bounty has officially been revoked."
"Santino's remaining people are now the targets."
"Some contracts have already been fulfilled. Others have not."
"That silent woman is still outside."
He glanced toward John.
"But that is his business now."
"Okay." Ethan let out a long breath. "Then I'm heading home?"
"You are," Helen said.
"We're going back to the hotel."
"Wow." Ethan whistled softly. "Well then—hope you two have a wonderful evening."
Helen narrowed her eyes.
"Did you forget…"
"…that our house exploded?"
"…Oh."
Ethan immediately raised both hands in surrender.
"Right. Sorry."
"Then… see you tomorrow."