Aureon hesitated, his mind weighing the risks of contacting the unverified local broker. The "significantly reduced rate" likely meant he would lose a substantial portion of the 500 Galactic Credits, and there was no guarantee the broker was trustworthy. With Elleaner's condition worsening, he couldn't afford to be scammed or left with insufficient funds.
He glanced down at Elleaner, her face pale and her breaths shallow. The medical module had given him some basic knowledge, highlighting the need for antibiotics and proper rest – things he couldn't provide in their current situation. Time was of the essence.
A decision formed in his mind. He would try to get Elleaner to the clinic he had seen on the system's map. It was in a poorer part of the city, which might mean they were more likely to receive help, even without immediately being able to pay exorbitant fees. The 500 Galactic Credits, however they could eventually be used, would be his backup.
Using the basic medical knowledge he had absorbed, Aureon tried to make Elleaner as comfortable as possible. He found some relatively cleaner rags amongst their meager belongings and used a little of their precious water to dampen them, gently dabbing her forehead to try and bring her fever down. He propped her up against the wall, trying to ease her breathing.
"We're going to go to a doctor, Elleaner," he said softly, his voice trying to sound reassuring even though he was far from certain himself. "I'm going to get you help."
Elleaner's eyes fluttered open, her gaze hazy with fever. She managed a weak nod, her trust in Aureon absolute.
Carefully, Aureon helped her to her feet. She was unsteady and leaned heavily on him, her small body wracked with coughs. The journey to the clinic, which appeared relatively short on the system's map, felt like an insurmountable distance.
They moved slowly, Aureon supporting most of Elleaner's weight, his own strength fueled by a potent mix of fear and determination. The abandoned building was on the outskirts of a sprawling urban area. As they walked, they passed through bustling streets filled with people going about their daily lives, oblivious to the desperate plight of the two children. The sights and sounds of the city – the calls of street vendors, the rumble of traffic – seemed a world away from their silent struggle.
Elleaner's coughs grew more frequent and more painful, each one shaking her frail body. Aureon had to stop often, allowing her to rest against a wall or a lamppost, his anxiety growing with every labored breath she took. The sun climbed higher in the sky, beating down with a heat that felt oppressive despite the underlying chill in the air, further weakening Elleaner.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the district the map had indicated. It was a poorer area, the buildings more rundown, the streets less crowded. Aureon scanned the signs, his eyes searching for any indication of a medical clinic.
He spotted a small, faded sign above a doorway: "City Clinic - Basic Medical Care." It was exactly as the map had shown. With renewed determination, Aureon helped Elleaner towards the entrance, his heart pounding with a mixture of hope and trepidation.
The clinic was small and smelled of antiseptic and illness. A stern-faced woman sat behind a cluttered desk, her eyes scanning them with a practiced indifference.
"What do you want?" she asked brusquely, her tone not unkind but certainly not welcoming.
"My sister… she's very sick," Aureon said, his voice pleading. "She can barely breathe."
The woman's gaze softened slightly as she looked at Elleaner, who was leaning heavily on Aureon, her face flushed with fever. "Bring her here."
She gestured towards a row of worn chairs against the wall. Aureon helped Elleaner to sit down, his eyes never leaving her face. He had gotten them this far. Now, he just had to hope they would receive the help they desperately needed.
The waiting room was filled with other people, their faces etched with worry and weariness. It was a stark reminder that they were not alone in their struggles, but it also highlighted the long wait that might lie ahead. Aureon sat beside Elleaner, holding her hand, his thumb gently stroking her skin. He had no local currency to offer, no insurance, nothing but a desperate hope and a digital wallet full of credits that might as well be dust in this moment.
He knew, however, that he wouldn't give up. He had to find a way to use the lifeline the system had given him. He had to save Elleaner.
After a seemingly endless wait, a middle-aged nurse with tired eyes and a kind smile called Elleaner's name. Aureon gently helped Elleaner to stand, supporting her as they followed the nurse into a small, sparsely equipped examination room.
A young doctor, his face also showing signs of long hours, listened to Elleaner's chest with a stethoscope, his brow furrowed in concern. He asked Aureon a few brief questions about her symptoms and how long she had been ill.
"She has a severe chest infection, likely pneumonia," the doctor said, his voice grave. "She needs antibiotics and rest. We can start her on a course of medication here, but she really needs to be in a proper bed where she can recover."
Relief washed over Aureon at the diagnosis, but it was quickly replaced by a knot of anxiety. "Thank you, Doctor. We… we don't have much money right now." He hesitated, unsure how to explain their situation.
The doctor sighed, a familiar weariness in his eyes. "This clinic offers basic care, but we do have our limitations. We usually require a small fee for treatment and medication." He looked at their thin clothes and gaunt faces, and his expression softened slightly. "Let's get her started on the medication first. We can discuss the payment later."
Aureon's heart swelled with gratitude. It wasn't the full cure Elleaner needed, but it was a start. He watched as the nurse administered a dose of medicine to Elleaner, hoping it would bring her some relief.
As Elleaner sat on the examination table, looking slightly less pale, Aureon knew he couldn't rely solely on the doctor's initial kindness. He needed to find a way to pay for her ongoing treatment and, ideally, a place where she could rest properly. His thoughts turned to the 500 Galactic Credits sitting in his system inventory.
He approached the doctor, who was washing his hands. "Doctor," he began hesitantly, "I have… a different kind of currency. Would you perhaps be familiar with… Galactic Credits?"
The doctor stopped washing his hands and looked at Aureon with a puzzled expression. "Galactic Credits? I'm afraid I've never heard of those. Is that some kind of foreign currency?"
"It's… from far away," Aureon mumbled, feeling a wave of awkwardness wash over him. How could he explain something so unbelievable? "The… system gave them to me. It said they can be exchanged."
The doctor raised an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism in his gaze. "The system? What system are you referring to, young man?"
Aureon knew he sounded crazy. Talking about a holographic interface and a voice in his head was hardly convincing. He decided to try a different approach. "It's a form of digital currency," he explained, hoping the term would be more familiar. "I have 500 of them, and I need to exchange them for local currency to pay for Elleaner's treatment and a place for her to recover."
The doctor listened patiently, though his expression remained unconvinced. "I'm afraid we don't have the facilities to process digital currencies here. Our transactions are mostly cash-based." He paused, then added kindly, "Look, I understand you're worried about your sister. Let's focus on getting her stable for now. We can see what resources might be available to help you later."
Aureon's hope faltered. He had imagined the Galactic Credits would be their immediate salvation, but it seemed the reality was far more complicated. He had a fortune in a currency that no one around him recognized. The unverified broker seemed like his only option, but the risk of being scammed still loomed large.
He looked at Elleaner, her eyes closed, her breathing a little less strained. He had to do something. He couldn't let this opportunity slip away. The system had appeared for a reason, and he had to figure out how to use it to its full potential, starting with saving the girl who meant everything to him.
He nodded to the doctor, a newfound determination hardening his gaze. "Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate your help." He knew he would have to find another way, a way to bridge the gap between the miraculous gift of the system and the harsh realities of their world. The journey of a tycoon, it seemed, began not with grand acquisitions, but with the desperate need to exchange an alien currency for the chance to save a loved one.
As the doctor moved on to attend to other patients, Aureon sat beside Elleaner, his mind buzzing with possibilities and anxieties. The doctor's kindness had bought them some time, but he knew it wouldn't last. He needed a more permanent solution, and that meant figuring out the Galactic Credits.
He pulled up the system interface in his mind, focusing on the "Currency Exchange" tab. The "Local Broker (Unverified - High Risk)" option still mocked him with its limited potential. But then, his eyes scanned the interface further, noticing a smaller, less prominent link at the bottom of the screen: [System Support].
Hope flickered within him. Maybe the system itself could offer some guidance on how to utilize its currency in this world. He focused his intent on the link. A new window opened, displaying a series of frequently asked questions and a text input field labeled [Request Assistance].
Taking a deep breath, Aureon mentally typed out his plea, his thoughts forming words on the holographic screen:
"I have received 500 Galactic Credits from the system. I am in a location where this currency is not recognized. I need to exchange it for local currency to pay for medical treatment for the Second Beneficiary. Are there any other options for currency exchange available through the system, or any other way I can utilize these credits to help her?"
He hesitated for a moment, then added another urgent sentence:
"The Second Beneficiary's condition is critical. Time is of the essence."
He mentally sent the request, a feeling of both hope and trepidation washing over him. He had no idea how long it would take for the system to respond, or if it even could offer any real help in this situation.
While he waited, he kept a close eye on Elleaner, who was now resting more comfortably on the examination table, her breathing slightly less strained. The initial dose of medication seemed to be having a small effect.
A few tense minutes passed. Aureon's anxiety grew with each silent moment. Just as he was starting to lose hope, the system interface flickered, and a new message appeared in the support window:
[Response Received:]
"Acknowledged, Primary Beneficiary. Your situation has been assessed. While direct conversion to local currency through verified channels is currently unavailable in your immediate vicinity, the system can facilitate a temporary solution through a designated intermediary."
A new option appeared in the "Currency Exchange" tab: [Designated Intermediary (System Verified - Temporary): Initiate secure transaction for limited local currency exchange.]
Aureon's heart leaped with relief. A verified intermediary! This sounded much safer than the "high risk" local broker. He quickly selected the new option. Another window appeared, prompting him to specify the amount of Galactic Credits he wished to exchange. The exchange rate was still less than ideal, but it was significantly better than what he had assumed the unverified broker would offer.
He quickly calculated in his mind how much he would need for Elleaner's immediate medical needs and a few days of rest and proper food. He input an amount equivalent to 200 Galactic Credits, hoping it would be enough.
[Initiating secure transaction. 200 Galactic Credits will be exchanged for the equivalent in local currency. Funds will be transferred to a temporary, anonymized account accessible through a designated point of contact at this clinic.]
Another message followed almost immediately:
*[Transaction Successful. Please speak to the clinic administrator. Inform them that funds have been received under the reference code: [SYSTEM-GC-749-ALPHA].]
Aureon stared at the screen, his mind struggling to fully grasp what had just happened. It seemed too easy, too miraculous. But the system had delivered. He had a way to pay for Elleaner's treatment.
He stood up, a sense of determination coursing through him. He had to speak to the clinic administrator, to navigate this strange new world of systems and galactic credits. But for the first time since finding Elleaner so desperately ill, a genuine glimmer of hope shone in his eyes. They might just make it through this after all.