So, Bernard was the reason...


    Tarquin hadn''t known Bernard as well as Elysia or the boys, so his grief wasn''t as profound. Still, thinking of the man''s face and his boomingughter, he felt a lump in his throat. Such a brilliant, powerful man, gone just like that. A legend had fallen. The world had truly lost Bernard, the man who single-handedly challenged martial arts schools across seven countries and struck fear into the hearts of his rivals. It was a loss not just for them, but for the whole country.


    "...Are you all okay?" Tarquin finally asked.


    "We''re all very sad," Elliot said, his voice hoarse. "Evan is taking it the hardest... But don''t worry about us. Bernard has beenid to rest. We''re not as sad anymore."


    Tarquin took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Is he buried in the mountains? Should we move his body?"


    "No," Elliot said. "Before Bernard passed, he said he wanted to rest in the mountains forever. Oh, and Great-Grandma told me not to tell Mommy about his death yet. It will only make her sad."


    "Okay," Tarquin said. "I understand." He took a moment topose himself, then asked, "Any progress on the virus?"


    Elliot knew he was asking about the 8th-generation virus. "Not yet. Great-Grandma says it will take time. She hasn''t even figured out all theponents yet."


    Tarquin wasn''t surprised. A bioweapon like the 8th-gen virus wouldn''t be easy to crack.


    "Did you receive the supplies I sent in?"


    "Yes, we got everything."


    "...Good. Don''t worry about your mom; I''ll take care of her. You stay there and spend time with your great-grandparents. Andfort Evan. Don''te down the mountain until he''spletely better."


    "Okay!"


    After hanging up, Tarquin was heavy-hearted. Bernard''s sudden death was something he''d never expected. He couldn''t even imagire how devastated Elysia woul@be when she found out.


    Suddenly, he saw Benjamin rushing toward the infusion room. Tarquin forgot his sadness for a moment and walked over. "What''s wrong?"


    "The nurse called me," Benjamin said. "She said Keaton''s IV slipped again. I''m here to see what''s going on."


    Tarquin rubbed his temples. Keaton''s IV had slipped again—for the third time in a single hour.


    They entered the private infusion


    room together. Keaton was the only patient. He was hunched over a trash can, gagging, while a young nurse stood by helplessly. He''d been throwing up constantlytely after eating, after drinking a sip of water, even at the slightest strange smell. Tarquin had been so worried that he''d dragged him to the hospital today for a nutritional IV just to keep him going. The needle kept slipping because he wasn''t careful when he was retching.


    Benjamin walked over, gently patting Keaton''s back. He nced into the trash can. "You''re not throwing anything up."


    "He already threw up the little he ate this morning," Tarquin said. "He had no appetite for lunch, so he didn''t eat a bite. Of course there''s nothing to throw up."


    Benjamin frowned at Keaton. "Keaton, what exactly is wrong with you?"


    Keaton took a moment to recover, then looked up at him. Before he could speak, another wave of nausea hit him. "Ulp..."


    Benjamin was baffled. "We did an


    endoscopy ran all the other tests... you''re not seriously ill. What is wrong with you? Anyone who didn''t


    know better would think you were


    pregnant. These are just like


    morning sickness symptoms."


    Tarquin went rigid, his brain struggling to process the sheer absurdity of the


    statement. "You''re telling me a grown man is having morning sickness?" he asked, deadpan.


    His question was so earnest that Keaton was utterly speechless.


    "What the hell, who''s preg— Ulp..."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!