All rooms must be filled before wards can be allocated in sequence, with no skipping of numbers permitted.


    Currently, patients are organized across more than twenty wards, ranging from 1730 to 1709. Hank has been admitted to the hospital and is assigned to ward 1708. Should another patient arrive, they will be ced in 1707, and the process continues ordingly.


    Following Hank’s admission, the doctor assessed his injuries. Typically, rib fractures are not severe, especially since Hank’s injuries are on the right side, away from the heart. Therefore, the situation is not overly concerning.


    The doctor provided basic fixation and pain relief for Hank, but further examination would have to wait. Taking advantage of the lull before his examination, Hank decided to first inform Charlie about what was happening.


    At that moment, Charlie was back in New York and on his way to Manhattan Hospital. When he received Hank’s call, he asked, “Hank, are you at Manhattan Hospital?”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    “Yes, Charlie,” Hank responded quickly. “I’m here and currently in the ward on the 17th floor. Peter Zhou is also on this floor, but I can’t get close to him yet.”


    Charlie then inquired, “Have you reached out to Howard?”


    “Not yet,” Hank replied. “I wanted to update you first and see if you have any instructions for me.”


    Charlie replied, “I don’t have any specific instructions for you. You should contact Howard and find out what he wants you to do next.”


    “Understood!” Hank said respectfully. “I’ll reach out to him right away.”


    After hanging up, Hank called Howard.


    Once connected, Hank informed Howard, “Sir, I’m at the hospital, but I can’t get close to Zhou Liangyun. The FBI has set up heavy security and an istion zone here. If I try to approach, it will alert them.”


    Howard clenched his teeth in frustration and eximed, “It’s absurd for these idiots to create such a massive security operation for a thief!”


    “What should I do now, Mr. Howard?” Hank asked.


    After a moment of thought, Howard responded, “First, send a few smart individuals to your location under the pretense of visiting. I’ll reach out to the FBI’s leadership to see if I can negotiate for their cooperation.”


    “Got it,” Hank said. “I’ll make those arrangements.”


    Howard ended the call and promptly contacted the FBI chief.


    To his surprise, the usually responsive official took an unusually long time to answer this time.


    Frustrated, he sent a message that read: “Don’t ignore my call unless you want to make an enemy of the Rothschild family!”


    After sending the message, he dialed again. After several rings, the other party finally picked up and said, “Mr. Rothschild, what can I do for you?”


    Howard replied coldly, “I need to meet with Peter Zhou urgently. Please arrange for your team to facilitate this.”


    The official hesitated before responding, “Mr. Rothschild, the situation with Peter Zhou has put us in a very difficult position. The eyes of the nation are upon us. If I allow your team to contact him now, and another scandal arises, it could jeopardize my position and even the President’s approval ratings!”<fn179b> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? </fn179b>


    Howard reassured him, “Don’t worry, my people will only ask him questions; there won’t be any issues.”


    “That’s not possible,” the official insisted firmly. “Mr. Rothschild, if you could simply get answers by asking questions, he wouldn’t be held captive in a secret underground facility in Brooklyn and tortured. I must be honest; many media outlets are watching us closely. If we engage in any improprieties for personal gain, it will reflect poorly on the Rothschild family as well.”


    Feeling defeated, Howard angrily suggested, “Then I’ll withdraw theint to the police and im it was all a misunderstanding. Would that mean you no longer need to protect Peter Zhou?”