Just then, a colleague rushed over from the office area, quickly scanning the room before heading straight for James. "Hang on, James," he called out.


    It was Brack''s secretary, holding a piece of paper. As he approached, he said, "James, Brack needs your signature on this."


    "Hmm?" James''s gaze sharpened, curious.


    The secretary was quick to exin, "It''s just a formality. The folks from the


    virology institute are public officials too. With your endorsement, it''ll smooth things over with our department."


    Mirabe, overhearing,zily lifted her eyelids to nce at the paper in the secretary''s hand.


    James reached out to take it, and seeing this, the secretary promptly pulled a pen from his pocket and handed it over.


    After signing, James returned the endorsement, and the secretary visibly rxed. Just then, the elevator arrived, and he respectfully nodded to James, "Take care, James."


    James turned his attention back to Mirabe, took her hand, and stepped into the elevator.


    Adler hurried in after them. As the elevator doors began to close, he caught a glimpse of a group escorting Ben in handcuffs.


    He thought Ben looked familiar but didn''t have time to figure out why before the doors shut.


    Adler turned his gaze forward, noticing James and Mirabe holding hands beside him, and discreetly moved to the corner.


    Meanwhile, outside the elevator:


    "What are you staring at? Let''s move," one of the officers snapped impatiently, giving Ben a shove.


    Ben stumbled a bit, finally snapping out of it. He clenched his fists, suppressing the dark thoughts swirling in his mind.


    Seeing that woman here wasn''t a total shock.


    Because of that man.


    But the fact that someone from the virology institute was being vouched for by a Shepherd family member, with Mirabe also there...


    If the virology, institute had ties with the Shepherd family, the security bureau wouldn''t dare arrest them so recklessly. So... the person from the institute must know Mirabe, prompting the Shepherd family member to step in.


    And the person from the institute was nabbed by the bureau because of Nick.


    Nick, Mirabe, Shepherd?


    Ben suddenly shivered. If those two were connected, then his injuries and today''s twist at the medical academy made total sense.


    His chest ached faintly, leaving Ben a bit dazed. None of this was what he expected.


    **


    In the car:


    Adler sat uneasily in the back seat, hands resting on his knees. After a quick nce at the front, he asked quietly, "Leaving like this, is it going to cause you any trouble?"


    Mirabe nced up at the rearview mirror, "If there was any trouble, we''d already know about it."


    Adler rubbed the tip of his nose, "Thanks."


    Mirabe adjusted her coat, leaning backzily in the seat, "You were there because of my brother. If anything, I should be thanking you."


    At the mention of Nick, Adler quickly asked, "Your brother''s out of danger now, right?"


    Mirabe nodded softly, "He should be discharged in a few days."


    "That quick?" Adler was relieved but surprised.


    Nick''s injuries had been serious.


    Mirabe just smiled, letting it go without furtherment.


    Remembering something, she pulled out her phone, opened her notes app, and listed a bunch of medicinal ingredients. She took a screenshot and found Grant''s number in her Messenger contacts.


    She sent him the screenshot.