pappabearbooks Chapter 24 The Mules to Rome
Chapter 24 The Mules to Rome
The troubles of the world are always there.
While the great scientist Liu was working hard to benefit all mankind, a few blocks away in a cheap hotel, Marinho was hunched over his desk, writing furiously.
To do everything in one's power to hinder human progress.
Having lost his job, he was evicted by his landlord because he couldn't pay the rent and was forced to stay in a cheap hotel in the port area.
However, Marinho didn't care about any of that.
A thick stack of documents lay on his desk—clinic admission and discharge records, data collected from various sources. Some were obtained through legitimate channels, while others were secretly copied by nurses he had bribed.
Of course, the most important thing is the death record—this evidence directly proves his inference!
Unlike last time when he gullibly trusted that guy Alessandro.
This time, he conducted a very thorough investigation!
"This time, I will definitely send them all to prison!"
With a gleam of triumphant revenge in his eyes, Marinho wrote down lines of shocking numbers:
"Since adopting the so-called 'fever therapy,' the Federillo Clinic has treated a total of 117 patients, of whom 23 have died. The mortality rate is as high as 19.7%!"
"Nearly one in five patients dies from treatment!"
"And that Easterner who called himself 'Louis' had absolutely no medical qualifications! He wasn't a doctor! He had never even received formal education at any medical school!"
"What is he doing? He's experimenting on people! Those poor souls who flocked there are nothing but sacrifices to test his ideas!"
Marinho became more and more excited as he wrote, and his eyes grew increasingly bright with excitement.
To him, all miracles and the so-called treatment with salt and sugar were nothing but a joke.
After all, over the years, he had seen far too many patients die because of quack doctors.
"Treatment with salt and sugar? Are they trying to turn cooks into doctors? What a bunch of idiots!"
Finally, he put down his pen. He read it from beginning to end, and a slow smile spread across his face.
"Alright, as long as this investigation report is published in the newspaper, it will definitely send you all to prison and the gallows!"
Although Marinho recorded cases of recovery in the survey data, he did not consider it important.
The important thing is—he must take revenge.
He needs to prove to the world that Marinho is right!
After reviewing the investigation report once again, Marinho leaned back in his chair and smiled.
Normally, he would go to a nearby brothel to express his love and release his inner excitement.
However, Marinho now appears to be very cautious.
He looked at the manuscript repeatedly, then put it in his bag. Next, he picked up a newspaper. The newspaper read—"El Salvador, Academician of the House of Forty, refutes the absurdity of fever therapy for syphilis."
"Academician El Salvador..."
Muttering the name, Marinho nodded and muttered to himself:
"If I had such an authority figure supporting my views, taking them down would be incredibly easy!"
Of course, he had to go to Rome!
This time, he won't make the same mistake as before.
He will no longer publish this investigative report in the Genoa newspapers; the journalists there have all been bribed by that swindler.
He was going to Rome to show all of Italy the true face of that swindler.
"Just you wait, Louis. You're finished this time."
He slung his bag over his shoulder, pushed open the door, and headed towards the train station!
……
Meanwhile, Alessandro, who was in his office, looked up at the boy in front of him.
"Marino went to Rome?"
Giovanni is a street thief, and Alessandro has been keeping an eye on Marinho for the past few days.
Perhaps Liu Yide could disregard it, but Alessandro couldn't afford to ignore it, since his interests were now intertwined with Liu Yide's.
Without Liu Yide, what would he be considered in the eyes of the upper class?
He's just an insignificant nobody.
But now?
"Your Honor, he has been investigating the clinic recently and has also met with a court clerk who is responsible for issuing death certificates on several occasions."
Giovanni answered with utmost respect.
"Investigating the clinic? Death certificate?"
With a cold snort, Alessandro muttered to himself:
"That's all the guy can do. What else can he do? Prove through death certificates that Louis's fever therapy could kill people? Unless he's God, how could any treatment not kill people? Besides..."
A smile spread across Alessandro's face as he thought to himself:
"No one has died at the clinic for days! God help us... This is something even God couldn't do, but Louis did it!"
Thinking of this, Alessandro felt even better!
How could it not be good!
The fewer people die, the more tempted those in the upper class will be, and the more tempted they are, the more likely they are to approach him.
What is human sentiment?
It's wealth, it's status, it's everything.
Therefore, we must protect Louis's safety at all costs!
Having made up his mind, Alessandro looked at Giovanni in front of him, thought for a moment, and said:
"Well, there's something I need you to do."
Giovanni quickly replied:
"Sir, please give me your instructions."
Giovanni, a thief, knew very well that his life was in the judge's hands; if he wanted, the judge could send him to prison at any time and let him rot there.
In high spirits, Alessandro took out a wad of cash from his wallet, but then put a few bills back in before placing them on the table. He then said to Giovanni:
"I need you to go to Rome."
"To Rome!"
Giovanni was stunned!
"Your Honor, I... I've never been to Rome!"
Rome, that's a big city!
Moreover, he had never been there before.
"That's not important."
Alessandro shook his head, then said:
"You just need to go to Rome and take care of this. Okay, here's the money for your travel and lodging in Rome, take it..."
As they were talking, Alessandro handed the banknotes to Giovanni, giving him no chance to refuse.
Can I refuse?
Giovanni certainly knew the answer.
If he refuses, he will be sent to prison without even leaving this office, and there are many thieves like him on the streets of Genoa who are willing to do favors for the judge.
As he reached out to take the money, Alessandro didn't immediately release it, but instead stared at him while holding the money and said:
"Giovanni, do you know what will happen if you don't come back?"
"Sir, God help me, I'm from Genoa! Even a dog wouldn't go to Rome!"
Giovanni's answer made Alessandro nod, and he said softly:
"Good that you understand. What I need you to do is very simple: you just need to find Marinho, and then..."
Following the judge's instructions, Giovanni glanced at the time and then said:
"Your Honor, I know what to do. Don't worry, I definitely won't let you down!"
After saying that, he hurriedly left the judge's office.
……
Genoa train station.
When Giovanni arrived at the station, Marinho was still waiting for the train in the hall. Seeing this, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Alright, now we don't need to go to Rome!"
Thinking about the few hundred lira the judge had given him, which would now be in his pocket, Giovanni's face lit up with joy. He picked up a newspaper and stood in the train station, peering through the cracks at Marinho.
When the station attendant rang the bell to remind passengers to check their tickets before boarding, Marinho quickly took his ticket and went to queue up to board the train. Giovanni followed him and accidentally bumped into him.
"Excuse me, sir."
After apologizing, Giovanni left the station. Once outside, he tossed his wallet with a smug look on his face.
"Piece of cake, Rome...a place even dogs wouldn't go!"
The dog refused to go, but Marinho insisted on going. At that moment, he had no idea that his wallet had been stolen.
As the train roared out of Genoa station, spewing out coal smoke, a terrifying glint flashed in his eyes as he sat by the window—Rome, here I come!
This time, no matter what, I will ruin Louis's reputation!
Feeling pleased with himself, Marinho decided to treat himself, so he went to the dining car, ordered food, and even a drink.
How long has it been since I've relaxed like this?
Marinho had no recollection of what was happening; at that moment, he was completely absorbed in the joy of about to reveal Luid's secret.
However, this joy did not last long. Soon, when it came time to pay the bill, he was dumbfounded when he reached into his pocket.
"Damn it! Where's my wallet?"
He searched his entire body but couldn't find his wallet, leaving him completely bewildered.
My wallet is gone!
What should I do after I arrive in Rome?
Where do you live? What do you eat?
Just then, he heard the waiter say:
"Sir, that'll be 2 lira and 25 cents in total!"
He looked up at the waiter, Marinho's expression shifted, and he forced a smile.
"Sir, I think I've been robbed. Could you please make an exception for me...?"
Damn it, Louis!
As he said those words, he felt the gazes directed at him, and his hatred for Louis intensified!
The waiter paused for a moment, then glanced at Marinho a few times:
"Sir, perhaps you could go to the front of the locomotive and shovel some coal; I think that should cover your meal expenses!"
Although he hadn't even arrived in Rome yet, Marinho had already experienced what it was like to be a mule.
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(This is a new book, and I'm facing some tough challenges. Please, all you big names, don't wait until it's finished to read it! I'm begging you to read it!)