After Lowell finished exining, Tarquin turned to the town mayor. "Please help us contact a construction crew. I''ll cover the costs. We will arrange for the school''s teachers. Once the libraries are built, we''ll stock them with books."


    The town mayor was overjoyed. "Wonderful! Do you have a location in mind for the libraries?"


    Tarquin said, “One library for each vige, centered in themunity. While we''re at it, let''s upgrade the vige clinics, too. We''ll pay for everything."


    The official nodded eagerly. "Excellent, excellent, that''s wonderful.”


    They had dinner at the old man''s house. They couldn''t cook the fresh venison at the inn, so they prepared it at the Suttons'' and everyone ate together.


    After dinner, back at the inn, Lowell finally said, "You saw the photo I sent, right? The person we''re looking for is Dane''s father!"


    “But he''s been dead for years, and he never left this area. He couldn''t have been the one who brought the virus back!"


    "But he definitely has a connection to Mr. Bradford. He owned a collector''s edition of *The Lord of the Rings* that Mr. Bradford gave him. It has Mr. Bradford''s signature in it."


    Tarquin''s brow tightened. "Are you sure it''s my father''s signature?"


    "Positive. Dane was right there, so I didn''t dare take a picture in case he got suspicious, but I am absolutely certain it was Mr. Bradford''s signature."


    Lowell continued, "Also, ording to the vige doctor, back in their time, the only person from the vige who ever left was the crazy guy-the one who pushed me down the hill."


    "I was originally suspicious of him, but Dane''s father is the one we''re looking for!"


    "So here''s the situation: Dane''s father had a connection with Mr. Bradford, but he never left. The crazy guy left when he was young and could have brought the virus back, but he''s not the person we''re looking for."


    Tarquin frowned and asked, "Is he really mad, or is he faking it?”


    Lowell shook his head. "I''m not sure. Everyone in the vige says he''s genuinely lost his mind."


    Tarquin asked, "What''s his rtionship with Dane''s father?"


    "They were childhood friends, grew up together. Now, the crazy guy attacks anyone he sees, but he listens to Dane. Dane has been taking care of him all these years."


    Tarquin thought for a few moments. "Are you certain Dane''s father is dead?"


    "Certain. One hundred percent certain."


    Tarquin fell silent, his brow furrowed in thought. It was a long time before he spoke again.


    "Go back there tomorrow. Try to feel out the crazy guy and Dane. They might not know anything about the Gen-8 virus, but we can definitely find clues from them Focus the investigation on the crazy guy!"


    The virus wasn''t brought back by Dane''s father, but his own father had pointed him to Border City for reason. It had to be connected him!


    He was the only person his father had a tie to in Border City. Since he was dead, the clues must lie with his family and friends.


    The crazy guy had left the area before. He was the prime suspect!


    Lowell frowned. “Getting information out of a crazy guy is going to be tough."


    Tarquin said, “Then your first step is to find a way to confirm whether he''s really crazy or not!"


    If all went as expected, the clue was with him. If they could confirm he was faking it, then they would have their answer.