After Ste''s stitches were removed, Old Mr. Wyatt examined her hand carefully.


    He nodded. "The recovery is going well, but you still need to avoid lifting heavy objects for the first three months and avoid overusing it for a year."


    He paused for a moment before adding, "I''ll be staying here for the next year to monitor your recovery. If you injure this hand, you cane to me for treatment anytime."


    For Old Mr. Wyatt to be willing to stay in Solmaris until Ste was fully recovered was an immense favor.


    Ste asked, "Thank you so much for agreeing to treat me, Old Mr. Wyatt. If there''s anything you need that''s within our power, I''ll definitely..."


    Before she could finish, Old Mr. Wyatt cut her off curtly.


    "That won''t be necessary. I''ve already received my payment, so there''s no reason to ept another. Besides... the kind of payment I require isn''t something everyone can afford."


    As he said this, he nced at Joshua, his expression deeply meaningful.


    "Not even this young man here could provide it."


    Joshua''s eyes darkened. "May I ask what it is you require, Old Mr. Wyatt?"


    At that moment, Mr. Burton cleared his throat from the side.


    "It''s just a few secret forms. Don''t listen to his nonsense."


    Mr. Burton looked impatient. "Alright, if there''s nothing else, you two can leave. I still have to study secret forms with this old geezer."


    Hearing that, Old Mr. Wyatt''s eyebrows shot up. His usually emotionless poker face was contorted with anger.


    "You''re two years older than me, and you''re calling me an old geezer?" Old Mr. Wyatt shot back. "You''re the old bastard!"


    The ensuing argument between the two men, whosebined age was nearly one hundred and fifty, was a sight to behold.


    Mr. Burton: "You old fossil!"


    Old Mr. Wyatt: "You undying relic!"


    Mr. Burton: "Your whole family are undying relics!"


    Old Mr. Wyatt: "I don''t have a family."


    Watching the two bicker endlessly, Ste wanted to intervene but didn''t know where


    to start.


    She nced at Joshua, who gave her a slight nod.


    Ste addressed the arguing pair, "Mr. Burton, Old Mr. Wyatt, if there''s nothing else, we''ll be leaving now."


    They were so caught up in their fight that neither of them paid her any mind.


    Seeing this, Ste didn''t linger. She took Joshua''s hand and left.


    Mr. Burton and Old Mr. Wyatt argued until their throats were dry and they were out of breath, finally unable to continue.


    Old Mr. Wyatt said coldly, "If it weren''t for that boy Leonard''s sincerity, I would never associate with someone like you."


    Mr. Burton scoffed. "Are you really moved by his sincerity? Don''t tter yourself. You clearly saw him as a good test subject for your drugs. You have the nerve to talk about sincerity? The price of you ''saving'' someone is harming them so don''t you dare y innocent with me. I''ve despised your detestable ways since we were young."


    A flicker of difort crossed Old Mr. Wyatt''s eyes, but he stubbornly retorted, "wasn''t the one who poisoned him, nor was I trying to kill him. Iexamined his condition and saw that he had developed a resistance to varjous drugs. happened to have just developed a simrpound that could counteract the toxins in his system, and I wanted to test it..."


    At this point, Old Mr. Wyatt seemed to realize he was in the wrong and added, "I admit I''m no saint, but developing forms requires clinical trials. The human body is different


    from an animals, some drugs.can only be tested on people."