After a moment''s pause, Manuel finally recounted the events of that night. "I was


    so caught up with things in theb, I didn''t really pay much attention to Ben. Later, he mentioned he was chasing someone and did disappear for a few minutes."


    For someone who knows the institute inside out, swiping some data in just a few minutes isn''t impossible.


    Dr. Ray''s expression turned serious. "Did he say when he''d be dropping by today?"


    Manuel shook his head. "I''m not exactly sure. Should I give him a call toe over now?"


    "No," Brack interrupted. "Someone that meticulous would get suspicious if we just call him out of the blue."


    Dr. Ray turned to Brack. "So, what do we do?"


    Brack tapped his fingers on his knee, his square face looking serious, momentarily stumped for a good solution.


    The room went quiet.


    Manuel, his mind swirling with thoughts about Ben, suddenly remembered the new drug form in theb. He looked up and said, "Maybe I have a way to get him toe to us."


    Since the new drug''s manuscript came from Ben, using it as bait probably wouldn''t raise any red gs.


    **


    Meanwhile, elsewhere.


    Ben had just woken up, looking pale. His mind was still stuck on the scene from the carst night.


    Beside the hospital bed stood a tall man, his face masked except for a pair of striking blue eyes.


    Seeing Ben open his eyes, the man didn''t say a word, just calmly injected a syringe into Ben''s forearm.


    As the clear liquid flowed in, Ben''s fingers clenched the nket involuntarily, like he was enduring some serious pain, only rxing when the man pulled out the syringe.


    After a few minutes, Ben slowly sat up, the nket slipping off to reveal his bare upper body. The gunshot wound on his chest had been treated and bandaged.


    His torso was covered with old scars.


    Ben lowered his gaze, his voice hoarse, "Thanks."


    The man gave him a nce, tossing the syringe into the trash. "Poppy roots have elements that can paralyze neurons. Did you run into a medicine expert?"


    Hearing it was poppy, Ben''s face darkened. No wonder he got caught off guardst night.


    He thought his body had built up a resistance to drugs, so how could he be taken down?


    "Not sure, it was a really young woman."


    The man tilted his head slightly, his usually calm blue eyes showing a flicker of interest. "A young woman?"


    "Yeah, I didn''t see her face." Ben''s eyes were clouded with gloom. He never thought he''d be outsmarted by a woman, let alone one he hadn''t even seen.


    Just then, a phone started ringing in the room.


    Hearing the ringtone, Ben knew it was from the research institute. He got out of bed, walked over to the wall, and picked up his coat, fishing out his phone.


    Seeing the call was from Manuel''s direct line, Ben''s gaze sharpened as he wondered what the call


    about. Quickly, he answ" was


    "Manuel, were you looking for me?"


    His voice was still smooth and polite, giving away nothing.