After the local official had left, Lowell immediately asked, "Tarquin, the old man''s reaction when he shook your hand seemed off. Did he figure something out?"
Tarquin''s tone was calm. "He realized I''m stronger than him. He guessed I wasn''t here to learn."
"How did you exin it?" Lowell asked, rmed.
"I didn''t tell him the truth. I smoothed it over."
Not telling the truth was a precaution against leaks. Besides, sometimes knowing more just puts you in more danger. The old man was safer not knowing.
Lowell let out a breath of relief. "The fact that he could tell you''re more skilled than him means he has real abilities."
Someone who didn''t understand martial arts couldn''t possibly gauge another''s strength from a simple handshake.
Lowell continued, “I spent today going door-to-door with the local official. I didn''t see anyone suspicious."
"Just like our intel said, this ce is poor, but the people are simple and honest."
"No one doubts our reason for being here. They all think we came to learn from the old man, and they''re hoping we might help improve their economic situation.”
“Find a channel to help them,” Tarquin said.
Lowell nodded. "Okay, I''ll arrange it tomorrow."
Tarquin picked up his phone and opened the photo gallery. "I''ll stay here with the old man tomorrow. You find a way to get to the nomad settlement. Try to get a feel for the situation there, and focus on finding this person."
He pulled up a photo and showed it to Lowell. "This is a picture of him when he was younger. He should be in his fifties now. He used a fake name when he was abroad.
I don''t know what he goes by now; I haven''t investigated yet."
Lowell''s expression shifted rapidly. "He knew Mr. Bradford?!"
"Yes."
Lowell understood in an instant. "!"
On the way to Border City, he had asked Tarquin how they would find clues about the 8th generation virus. Tarquin hadn''t answered at the time, and Lowell hadn''t pressed.
Now, it was clear that the man in the photo was the clue.
The reason Tarquin hadn''t investigated him yet was to avoid tipping him off.
When dealing with the 8th generation virus, every step had to be taken with extreme caution.
Lowell stared at the photo for a few more seconds. "I''ve got it. I''ll find a
reason to go over there
tomorrow Gontent
The two talked a while longer before Lowell went to his room next door to sleep.
Tarquin took a quick, hot shower. After lying down, he started a video call with Elysia.
When she answered, she saw him half-reclining on the bed and asked curiously, "You''re in bed already?"
"Yeah. What are you up to?"
"We just got back to the hotel. We haven''t even washed up yet.”
As soon as Elysia finished speaking, the little ones mored to get on screen. "Daddy!"
Elysia turned the camera toward them.
"Daddy, are you getting ready for bed? Did you miss me?" Baby asked.
"Daddy, Daddy, is it fun over there?" Evan chimed in.
Elliot and Elijah wore solemn expressions. "Is everything okay?"
Tarquin smiled, first giving Elliot and Elijah a piece of reassurance. ē "Everything is fine. Don''t worry about me tmiss you all very much. Border City is quite fun I''ll bring you here to y next time."
Elliot and Elijah quietly took a deep breath. “.....”
Evan said, "I heard the girls there are really pretty."
Baby added, "I heard the food is yummy and the fruit is sweet."
Tarquin replied with augh, "The food is good, the fruit is sweet, and the girls are pretty, but they''re definitely not as pretty as your mommy."
"Of course!" Evan said immediately. "My mommy is the prettiest in the whole world."
"Big brother, am I pretty?" Baby asked.
"You are,” Evan said. “You and Mommy are tied for the prettiest in the whole world."
The kids chatted with Tarquin for a little while longer before giving the phone back to Elysia.
Tarquin hadn''t seen Emmett and asked, "Where''s Emmett?"
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