Inside the operating room, several doctors were gathered around Saskia''s bed, discussing treatment options.


    One doctor said, "A craniotomy? Her brain is filled with blood. She could die mid- operation."


    Another added, "It''s either that or we wait and hope the blood gets absorbed on its own."


    "A craniotomy?" a third scoffed. "Who would dare perform such a difficult surgery? You''d need a miracle worker like Nocturne for that."


    "Nocturne? Are you kidding? That''s just a legend in the medical world. We don''t even know if they''re real," the first doctor retorted.


    Juniper ignored their chatter and walked straight to the bedside. Saskia was lying there, lifeless, an oxygen mask covering her face.


    "Give me all her test results," Juniper said, steadying her emotions, not wanting to waste a single second. The shadow of her grandfather''s death still haunted her.


    "Who are you?" one of the doctors asked, staring at her in confusion. "Where did this kide from? How did she get into the OR?"


    "Where are the reports?" Juniper raised her eyes, her voice as cold and sharp as ice.


    The doctors were taken aback by hermanding presence.


    "Ms. Payne, the reports," the head surgeon said, immediately handing her the file and signaling the others to be quiet. He figured she just wanted to see the results to prepare for the worst. It''s not like she could even understand them.


    Juniper quickly scanned the reports. Saskia''s condition was indeed dire. Without effective treatment in the next two days, she wouldn''t make it.


    "Youngdy, have you made a decision? Surgery or medication?" the head surgeon asked gently.


    With medication, she would die


    slowly. With surgery, she could die on the table, but there was a chance she might live. Given their hospital''s capabilities, that chance was slim. Either way, the patient was ingrave danger. The girl should be prepared.


    "Don''t touch her," Juniper said after finishing the report, her words clipped and cold


    as she hurried out of the operating room.


    "Juniper," Shanley said, rushing to her side. "How is she?"


    "Saskia needs a craniotomy," Juniper said, pulling off her mask, her tone deadly serious. "And I''m going to be the one to do it."


    "What?" Shanley froze for a few seconds. He knew she had medical knowledge, but a craniotomy was major surgery, something even experienced doctors hesitated to perform.


    "This hospital won''t let me operate," Juniper said, her hands clenched at her sides,


    a sheen of sweat on her brow. "I need a private operating room."


    In all of Era City, the only person who could arrange that on such short notice was Shanley. "Well, maybe that old geezer from Sigma Network too, she thought. But he was an enemy and would never help her.


    BUMS


    "Juniper, do you know what you''re saying?" Shanley asked, his gaze fixed on her, his voice low and serious.


    "I do," Juniper said, pressing her lips together and emphasizing each word. "I''m doing the surgery. I''m the only one who can do it. And I''m the only one who can guarantee she''ll live."


    Shanley was stunned, his eyes filled


    with disbelief. He knew she was ridiculously talented-dancing, racing, academics-but now medicine too? And not just basic knowledge either How could someone so young know so much?