Chapter 85: Sponser
Marie blinked, her head tilting as she studied Phineas with sudden intensity. Something in his response had clearly surprised her. "You sure are passionate."
Phineas’s grin returned. "But of course. Ever since I was a boy, I wanted to give my work the chance to shine and the stage it deserves." His expression shifted into interest. "But now I’m curious, why are you all here? Don’t tell me one of you got injured."
Reinhard’s mouth opened, but before sound could emerge, another voice rang out across the clinic reception.
"There you guys are! I’m glad you haven’t left yet."
Martha approached quickly, her elegant gown now covered by a white doctor’s coat. In her hands, she carried two bottles filled with white liquid. "Here, take some of these Pain Relievers. Just drink some if the pain spikes up again."
Marie smiled, turning to accept the medicine with both hands. "Thank you, Miss Martha."
Martha’s expression smiled in return, and then as her gaze shifted past Marie and landed on Phineas.
Her eyes lit up immediately, and she said. "Hello, Mr. Phineas! What do we owe the pleasure of your visit today?"
Reinhard, Marie, and Joseph all blinked in surprise, their heads turning between Martha and Phineas with visible confusion.
Phineas chuckled as he said softly. "I just wanted to see how the clinic was holding up. I also wanted to see if I can offer any more help and support if needed."
Martha’s smile grew even wider while shaking her head. "Mr. Phineas, you and the Bolner Group are doing more than enough. Any more help and I will feel like we’re taking advantage of you."
Phineas laughed before grinning. "Think nothing of it. The current medical practice should be changed to a far more gentle one. I was telling these three about what you have accomplished, but it seems they already had firsthand experience."
Martha giggled with her hand rising to cover her mouth briefly. "I met them by chance."
Marie blinked before she turned to Phineas. "You’re sponsoring Miss Martha?"
Reinhard’s eyes widened slightly, but his mind was already working through the implications. Of course, this explained how the clinic could constantly afford good materials and medicines even though it was losing money. With sufficient sponsors who could supply funding or materials themselves, such practices became sustainable.
But then the questions began forming.
Why would Phineas do this unless this clinic or Martha was a key component for his performance? Or perhaps he simply needed a good identity and a mask to help hide his true plans for the city.
The possibilities branched outward in Reinhard’s mind, each leading to different conclusions.
Martha laughed as he nodded. "Yes! Mr. Phineas and the Bolner Group have been helping us. I’m not sure we would have reached where we are without their help."
Phineas laughed as he waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t sell yourself short, Miss Martha. I’m sure you all would have attracted another sponsor and still reached this same level in time. After all, what you’re doing is absolutely amazing."
Martha beamed at him while the trio glanced at each other.
"What is the Bolner Group?" Reinhard asked with a tilt of his head
Phineas chuckled, adjusting his glasses slightly. "We’re just a group of movers and storage."
Martha nodded and stepped in to elaborate. "They have multiple buildings around that they use to help store things for the people of the city."
"That’s amazing, it would save people lots of time and effort." Reinhard said with a faint smile
"Right? It’s something I felt this city needed, you know?" Phineas said with a smile while his shoulder slightly eased.
Martha nodded. "I agree completely."
Reinhard nodded once, then straightened slightly. "Well, we should be going. Thank you, Miss Martha, for helping us, and thank you, Mr. Phineas, for your advice."
Martha waved at them with a bright smile. "Don’t be a stranger but also don’t come back here too often for injuries!"
Phineas waved his hand in an elaborate gesture. "It was great talking to you three! I hope to see you all again sometime."
Reinhard, Marie, and Joseph all waved in return, their movements simpler and more restrained. They turned toward the doors, their boots clicking softly against the clinic’s clean floors.
Once they left through the door, they felt the afternoon sunlight hit them as they emerged.
The street beyond had people moving about their business, street performers continuing their work.
Reinhard paused just outside the doors, his eyes scanning the street ahead, and his mind was already turning over everything they’d learned. While Marie stretched beside him, her joints popped audibly after the tension of the last hours. Joseph moved more carefully, testing his range of motion and smiling.
"So," Marie said quietly with a sigh. "Phineas sponsors the clinic."
"And runs a moving and storage business." Joseph added.
Reinhard said nothing but nodded his head as he furrowed his brows. Phineas was more connected to this city than they’d initially understood, more invested, and unlike how he was in Mensis Town.
They thought he would be a hidden figure or a person hiding, but he is out in the open and connected to business in the city. Which raised questions about what his "performance" actually entailed, and what role they were truly meant to play in it.
Reinhard took another glance at Phane City and wondered if it would be alright if Phineas really unleashed his performance. They headed down the steps, their footsteps carrying them away from the building’s white stone.
"Still seeing him makes me wish I could punch him, he is so annoying... And he dares to act like he is helping Anasha." Marie said after a bit with a slight frown.
Reinhard sighed, but he nodded in agreement.
Joseph scoffed and sighed as he said. "He kidnaps her and acts like she willingly came."
Marie nodded emphatically, but then her expression was complicated and her brows furrowed, creating lines across her forehead. "Yet I can’t help but admire his passion... I can tell it’s not fake, yet that’s what makes it so disgusting...His lack of care for anything as long as the plots he wants are put into reality."
Reinhard glanced upwards to the sky and said. "He doesn’t even care for himself... But that doesn’t matter right now. Joseph, tell us if you feel anyone trailing us or staring at us for longer than five seconds."