Manager, give me a membership card too!

“Three days. I'm only giving you three days. If you can't give me a clear answer within three days, I'll file a complaint against you with the Arkham Police Department. Mr. Delapour and Mayor Wayne of Arkham are very close; the consequences of deceiving the Delapour family are something you can't afford. Of course…”

After wielding a big stick, Norris naturally had to offer some rewards as well. Having finished his threat, Norris began promising a prize.

“If Miss Valentine can truly resolve Mr. Delapour’s… ‘trouble,’ then you will gain the friendship of the Delapour family. Wealth and status will be within your grasp.”

To Norris's surprise, Jill didn't show any excitement upon hearing his promise. Instead, she silently adjusted her police cap and replied in a flat tone:

“No need for that, Mr. Norris. Protecting Mr. Delapour is a task assigned by my superiors, and all I’ve done is complete the task. If you really want to do something, recruit more workers after the factory on the outskirts of the city is built. At least that way, the young people in the city will have jobs, and our task will be easier.”

In fact, Jill didn't even have to wait until the third day; she proved herself right late on the second night.

It was the same bedroom, the same two chairs, and the same people.

As Norris and the others sat with Jill and Matt in the middle of the night, putting on a show of staring at each other, the cross on Jill's chest became scorching hot once more. This time, however, Jill didn't rush into the house. Instead, after gesturing to Norris and the others, she silently drew her sidearm.

Seeing the policewoman's alarmed expression, Matt and the other men exchanged glances and hesitantly drew their weapons. However, almost the instant Norris and the others drew their weapons, a scream all too familiar to the manor guards rang out from Old Delapour's bedroom, quickly echoing throughout the entire Delapour manor.

Upon witnessing this, Norris merely cast a surprised and bewildered glance at Gil, then expertly kicked open the sturdy mahogany door and led his guards into the bedroom to search for the unseen monster.

Most of the men, including Matt, stormed into the bedroom with weapons, leaving Jill standing quietly outside the bedroom door. She stroked the gradually cooling crucifix on her chest while thoughtfully staring at the white-haired old man who was standing next to the bed, panting heavily with a grim expression. She silently began to make her own plans.

Synopsis of "Tyrannosaurus Rex Standing Tall on the Earth" (from PY Time): George loves dinosaurs. Then he becomes a dinosaur. Thus begins his chaotic battle across different dimensions. He bites off a crocodile's head, kicks a Megalosaurus to death, tears a Shark Tooth alive, and devours a Giganotosaurus raw. From Abrams to powered exoskeletons, he's invincible!

Chapter 421 Reversing the Future

Chapter 421 Reversing the Future

On the morning of the third day, Jill, after taking a nap, found an excuse to slip out of De La Puy Manor. She wandered around Arkham Town seven or eight times, and after confirming that no one was following her, she cautiously entered Rorschach's private clinic to seek help from this 'professional'.

“Mr. Rorschach, based on my observations of Mr. Delapour over the past two days, he is likely in a period of transformation, just like Paul before him, and has not yet completely become one of those things. His mental state and behavior during the day and his panic and fear when he is awakened at night do not seem fake, but the cross you gave me suggests that there is something wrong with Mr. Delapour. My limited knowledge and understanding can only lead me to this conclusion.”

Jill's tone was worried. Although she wasn't familiar with old Delapour, he was the main investor in the suburban machine shop. If something really happened to this wealthy man, the factory's construction plans could very well fall apart. Not only would the construction workers lose their jobs, but hundreds of young people who could have been the breadwinners of their families would also be forced to wander the streets, aimlessly causing trouble.

After listening to Jill's story, Rorschach stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then suddenly stood up and began putting on his coat and top hat. The policewoman sitting opposite him looked on, bewildered, at the shop manager who was adjusting his clothes, and instinctively asked:

"Mr. Rorschach, what's going on?"

"You're making house calls? Isn't that what you came for? There aren't many patients today, so I'll accompany you."

“But…didn’t you say that I shouldn’t reveal anything about the ‘mysterious’ unless absolutely necessary? To conceal your existence, I even used my professional skills to circle the city and make sure no one was following me before I came to visit you…”

Upon hearing this, Luo Xia, who was patting his top hat, shook his head with a slight chuckle and slowly put the black hat on his head.

"I meant you shouldn't reveal anything about 'mysterious' matters unless absolutely necessary, not that I can't. You're just an unknown cop; many people can make you disappear with a flick of their finger. But me..."

Holding the silver, intricately carved cane on the side table in his palm, Rorschach straightened up, his face radiating a nonchalant smile that said, "I have the power of money."

"They are the kind of people who can make them disappear with a flick of their fingers."

With the still bewildered policewoman in tow, Rorschach left the reluctant Nyarlathotep at the clinic, called over Sakura and Abigail, and got into his Auburn 8-88 and headed towards the outskirts of Arkham.

After about twenty minutes, the sapphire blue sedan stopped in front of a rather large estate.

Luo Xia opened the car door and let the ladies out one by one. Looking at the luxurious building in front of him, which was comparable in size to a small park in later times, Luo Xia nodded in satisfaction.

Hmm, very good. It seems New Hope College will have one more board member. I just wonder if Mr. Delapour will be generous enough.

The guards on duty at the manor gate naturally saw Rorschach and his group getting out of the car. One of the scarred guards, who had been on watch with Jill the night before, whispered something to the others and then walked towards the policewoman.

"Who are these people, Ms. Valentine?"

"Professionals" are people who specialize in handling things that ordinary people cannot handle.

Jill emphasized the word "professional," while giving Captain Norris's confidant a knowing look. The scarred guard nodded knowingly, recognizing this person as someone with special abilities like Jill Valentine, then turned and returned to his post, opening the manor gates.

A high-end black Ford sedan slowly drove out of the manor's gate and stopped beside Luo Xia and his group. The driver got out of the car, opened the door, invited the ladies to get in, and then came to Luo Xia's side to ask if he needed directions.

After handing the keys to his Rioburn 8-88 to the driver, Rorschach instructed the driver to take good care of his car before getting into the driver's seat of the Ford sedan.

Two cars, one black and one blue, drove into the old De La Pue Manor. The blue car quickly turned towards the manor's parking lot—a necessary security procedure. Meanwhile, Rorschach and his companions' black car, guided by Jill, headed towards the manor villa's main gate.

After handing the car parked at the door over to the servants, Rorschach and the others, led by Jill, went to the reception room to have tea and wait while she went to make preliminary negotiations with old Delapour.

About ten minutes had passed. Just as Luo Xia was feeding the two teenage girls beside him with cookies brought by the servants, the door to the reception room slowly opened. An elderly man with a gloomy expression and obvious dark circles under his eyes, but who still tried to keep a good spirit, walked into the room accompanied by several burly guards.

Jill, who followed the crowd into the room, stepped forward to introduce the two sides, but before she could speak, a slightly surprised, aged male voice rang out from the crowd.

"You... could you be Mr. Rorschach?"

Luo Xia, who was wiping the crumbs from Loli Sakura's mouth with a handkerchief, raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and looked up at the white-haired old man with a bewildered expression walking at the front of the crowd.

"Oh? You know me?"

After his initial surprise, old Delapour's experience and composure quickly restored his calm, and a smile with a touch of emotion appeared on his face.

"Of course, your appearance is now one of the 'key pieces of information' that businesses must have, so I will keep it in mind."

“I never expected that I would have the honor of meeting the president of the Umbrella Corporation, Mr. Rorschach, the most successful scientist, physician, economist and youngest Nobel Prize laureate in Medicine in the 20th century, in such a small place as Arkham.”

Old Deraper was genuinely moved. He hadn't expected that Arkham, this little-known town, would not only hide a prestigious family like the Wayne family with a long history, but also a young dark horse like Rorschach, who had risen like a comet in recent years, with businesses spanning various industries and constantly achieving one dazzling success after another.

What a coincidence!

The thought of exchanging ideas with the head of a company hundreds of times larger than his own family business at its peak instantly lifted Old Delapton’s spirits. His complexion became rosier, and he looked twenty years younger, full of fighting spirit.

For the next few hours, Norris, Jill, and the others watched as Rorschach and old Delapour engaged in a fascinating conversation. They started with business and soon expanded to the situation between nations, local customs, the direction of technology, future trends, medicine, film, art, industry, and even the possibility of war, weapons development, and the ultimate outcome.

The relationship between the two men evolved from initial awkward politeness to a warm and intimate connection, as if they had known each other for a long time. It wasn't until the servants came to remind them that lunchtime had arrived that old Delapour realized they had been chatting for several hours and it was already lunchtime.

The still-enthusiastic old gentleman, in high spirits, invited Luo Xia and his party to lunch, and the restaurant manager readily agreed. Thus, their conversation moved from the meeting room to the restaurant, and their topic shifted from the usual wide-ranging discussions to the meal itself.

The meal featured renowned dishes from various countries, a selection of fresh ingredients, expertly controlled cooking techniques and flavors, accompanying drinks, and desserts. When Jill, who had been dining with her, put down her knife and fork, she inexplicably felt that Rorschach and old Delapour seemed to have a closer and more friendly relationship than she did with Rorschach. This surreal reality left the policewoman speechless with disbelief.

Finally, when Rorschach and old Delapour moved their conversation to the picturesque back garden of Delapour Estate, the old gentleman, who had been smiling as he watched Matou Sakura and Abigail chasing butterflies in the garden, seemed to finally remember something and turned to look at Rorschach, who was enjoying an authentic English afternoon tea.

"Dear Xia, what brought you here to see me today?"

Hearing the old man's question tinged with doubt, Luo Xia put down his teacup without changing his expression and replied with a smile:

“Gill asked me to help you with your troubles, De Lapur. You know I have some knowledge of medical research, and sleep and dreams are also topics that interest me, so I should be able to help you.”

"Miss Valentine?"

Upon hearing this, Old Delapour glanced at the policewoman who was standing not far away watching the two little ones playing, and silently nodded.

“My people investigated her past messages and records, and she is a good police officer.”

“I think so too,” Luo Xia replied with a smile.

Old Delapour paused for a moment after speaking, his gaze complex as he looked at the two lively figures not far away, his voice low and tinged with melancholy:

“You know what, dear Xia? If my son Alfred hadn’t died of illness, perhaps he would be married now, bringing a new life into our De La Pour family and continuing our bloodline. That child would surely be like little Abigail, obedient, lively, well-behaved, and sensible, able to stay by my side and listen to me tell stories of my youth.”

"He may be exceptionally talented or mediocre. But whatever his future holds, he is ultimately a member of the De La Pue family, carrying on our family name and heritage, growing up with the hopes and blessings of us elders, and eventually becoming a father or grandfather like us, continuing the cycle of life."

“But now everything is gone, Xia, nothing at all. My son was seriously wounded on the battlefield. He bravely endured years of cruel torture, but in the end, he still left this world. He took my soul and hope with him and went to heaven alone, leaving me, an old woman over sixty, all alone in the world.”

The white-haired old man paused for a moment, seemingly thinking or perhaps gathering his emotions.

"Originally, because of everything that has happened recently, I had a vague feeling that my life was coming to an end, but I was not afraid, after all, I had nothing left to lose. But when I watched little Abigail and the others playing so happily, and listened to their energetic and vibrant laughter, I suddenly felt that there were still some things in this world that I could cherish, things that I could continue to look at."

Old Delapour watched the two teenage girls, now rolled around on the soft grass after their wrestling match, and a kind smile unconsciously spread across his face. After a moment, the old man turned to Rorschach beside him and spoke in a very calm tone:

“I am willing to accept your treatment, my friend. But I hope you can grant me one request.”

"What request?"

"In case, I mean in case. In case the treatment fails and I eventually leave this world to reunite with my son and wife in heaven. I hope to use all my inheritance to establish a foundation to support soldiers and the poor who have been hurt by the war, and to help homeless children grow up well, so that they can have a safe haven, food to eat, and books to read."

"And you, my dear friend, I hope that you can take over the operation of this foundation after my death, so that it can operate effectively and for a long time. Let the De La Poul family name and history be passed on in a completely new way."

Looking at the old man in front of him, whose eyes shone with a certain brilliance, Luo Xia put down his teacup and nodded solemnly.

"I have granted this request."

Regardless of the reasons why the elderly man with white hair made this request, his kindness and willingness to help the vulnerable were genuine at that moment. Actions speak louder than words; if Rorschach had previously only come to check on the situation out of respect for Jill, then Rorschach was now helping the man before him for the sake of the poor and orphans who would receive aid.

Almost the instant Rorschach made the decision to help old Delapour, a slightly blurry image flashed before his eyes.

In a room covered with white protective padding, old Derapour, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace, kept slamming his head against the surrounding walls, completely disregarding whether he would get hurt.

A white straitjacket, the kind worn by high-risk criminals or the mentally ill, bound his hands, restricting his movements. This didn't stop him from incessantly screaming incoherent, incoherent ravings, interspersed with bursts of sinister, malevolent laughter. It seemed he was cursing everything in the world, or perhaps praying to some unknown evil god.

Outside this meticulously arranged 'cell,' several men and women in white coats were observing everything inside through a specially left window, discussing something in hushed tones. Among these people was a figure that Rorschach recognized very well.

A blonde, blue-eyed, curvaceous and beautiful doctor—Harley Zequel.

However, before the store manager could observe the other elements of the scene further, the already blurry image suddenly exploded with a bang, scattering into countless white specks of light, which then reformed into a brand new image a few seconds later.

On the spacious playground and in the clean corridors, countless boys and girls in some kind of school uniforms walked towards the teaching building not far away, their faces beaming with hope and vitality.

Inside the teaching building, which boasts a strong classical English architectural style, old Delapour, dressed in a neat suit, stood in front of a clear and bright floor-to-ceiling window on the top floor, looking at the students swarming in below, his face beaming with a gentle and loving smile.

A moment later, the light faded, and Rorschach's consciousness returned to the back garden of the Delapour Manor. Not far away, Matou Sakura and Abigail, who had fallen, were helping each other to their feet, now brushing grass and leaves from each other's hair, occasionally letting out a soft, suppressed laugh.

Looking at the old man staring at him with a knowing gaze, Rorschach silently stood up and nodded to old Delapour.

"Let's begin, my friend. I have a feeling that your future will not be as short as you imagine."

........

The following day, the De LaPour family, returning to Arkham after decades, announced their participation in the New Hope College construction project, becoming the college's third trustee. On the same day, New Hope College, having already completed preliminary site selection and resident relocation, officially broke ground.

Chapter 422 Those who save themselves will always be saved by others.

Chapter 422 Those who save themselves will always be saved by others.

The residents of Arkham City have been living very well recently, with many earning several times or even ten times their previous earnings.

First, the De Lapur Estate was renovated, then a suburban machine shop was built, and now a large slum in the city needs to be demolished to build a huge comprehensive university, reportedly even larger than Miskatonic University. Whether it's professional construction workers, laborers helping to move materials, or even the owners of nearby food stalls, there are now hopeful smiles on their faces.

With projects come money, and with money comes the ability to avoid starvation, eat well, and even do things that we would never normally dare to dream of.

I heard that the generous Mr. De Lapur invented something called 'work points'. As long as you work for him for a certain amount of time or meet certain conditions, you can get a card that records your work points.

This card can not only be exchanged for a specified amount of US dollars, food supplies of the same value, but also, after accumulating a certain amount, can be exchanged for the opportunity to work in the completed machine processing plant or to send the family’s children to 'New Hope' College.

I heard that the factory not only provides three meals a day and generous pay, but also assigns a beautiful and spacious dormitory to employees after a certain number of years of service. The college, on the other hand, not only doesn't charge tuition, but students with excellent grades can even earn a salary comparable to that of a regular job.

Faced with such generous offers, everyone in Arkham, young and old, was tempted. As residents of a small town with an excellent university like Miskatonic University, the people of Arkham deeply understood the principle that 'knowledge is power, knowledge is money'.

Scholars with extensive knowledge can earn in a week what an average person earns in a year, and professions like medicine are stepping stones to the middle class or even the upper class.

While it's easy to understand, 'knowledge' is also very expensive, even luxurious, in itself, as it can conveniently lead to wealth.

Even someone like Gordon, who is considered a big shot by ordinary people, could barely afford to send Barbara to Miskatonic University for one semester if he didn't eat, drink, spend, or use his entire monthly salary, provided that this bureau chief's daughter, like her father, didn't eat or drink, didn't buy any textbooks or tools, and simply sat there listening.

Unlike Rorschach's previous life, where a righteous official generously subsidized schools, allowing their children to attend university at a very low cost, here, all the school's operating expenses are borne by the students. This includes faculty and staff salaries, maintenance of school buildings, consumables for various experiments, and exorbitantly priced equipment—a sum that would be unimaginable to most people.

In America, a country obsessed with money, running a school, especially a university, is an extremely lucrative business—something most people wouldn't even dream of. A few thousand dollars a year for tuition to go to college? Do you think capitalism is a charity?

As for those free church schools, not only are there limited places and strict requirements, but the curriculum is mostly religious texts. While one can learn to read, that's about it. For the closed and conservative church, 'science' is blasphemous and unnecessary. A true American only needs to be able to read the Bible; as for anything else? The great Lord will save you, Amen.

In the past, Arkham people had no choice. Most of their children could not attend church schools and had to drop out of school and stay at home, either doing nothing all day or going out to find a job at a young age to support themselves and their families.

But now a brand new opportunity is presented to everyone. As long as you work hard and are diligent, you can not only get a stable job, but also have the opportunity to send your child to a real school.

I heard that the teachers there are all top students from Miskatonic University. If they have excellent grades, they might even be admitted to this sacred hall in the hearts of all Arkham people, becoming highly educated intellectuals in the eyes of others, able to support their families with just a few words of writing, instead of doing the hard labor of breaking stones and carrying bricks under the sun and wind like them.

With the purest and most beautiful ideals for the future, the people of Arkham began their new day. Meanwhile, on a street in downtown Arkham, Rorschach's private clinic remained open as usual.

Although the shop owner runs the clinic with a semi-public welfare mentality, charging only a symbolic amount for medical treatment that is affordable for ordinary people, the residents of Arkham are still reluctant to come to him for treatment. Instead, they choose to drink more hot water and tough it out, only seeking medical help when they absolutely cannot bear it anymore.

In fact, Luo Xia understood this idea quite well, after all, he was one of the people who drank more hot water in his previous life.

However, precisely because of this, the shop manager's daily life is actually quite leisurely. Most of the time there are not many patients, so he can only pass the time by holding his own little girl while watching movies or by holding other people's little girls while watching movies.

Today was just such a rather boring day.

With Sakura on his left and Abigail on his right, Rorschach was happily being fed by his adorable little girl, his eyes half-closed. He chatted with the two little ones while watching a comedy show on the TV not far away.

The three of them now resemble a burly, majestic tiger with a golden shaded cat and a purple ragdoll cat lying beside it. The two kittens are even snuggling affectionately in the tiger's arms, licking each other's fur, showing great intimacy.

Smiling, the shopkeeper ate a kernel of popcorn offered by Sakura Matou, then nuzzled her head with his chin, eliciting a burst of laughter. The little girl, nestled in Rorschach's arms with her beloved teddy bear, looked at the two people cuddling together across from her, and as if suddenly remembering something, raised her head to look at the man beside her.

"Mr. Rorschach, I have a question, and I wonder if I can ask you?"

"What's the problem, little Abby?"

"Was it Mr. Rorschach who gave that 'work point' system to Grandpa Delapour?"

Luo Xia was taken aback when he heard this, wondering why this little guy would care about such things, but he still nodded to confirm.

"Yes, what's wrong?"