The following day, after finishing her breakfast, Mirabe phoned Adler, asking him to gather the research materials for their meeting at his ce. But before heading over, she made a quick stop at the hospital to drop off the medicine she had prepared the previous night for Nick, along with giving him another round of acupuncture.


    "You''re doing well," Mirabe noted after feeling his pulse. "Just a few more days and you''ll be discharged." She pulled a delicate silver needle wrapped in parchment from her pocket, motioning for Nick to lie back and unbutton his shirt.


    "That''s what the doctor said too," Nick responded with a nod.


    Mirabe raised an eyebrow, her pale fingers expertly handling the slender needle, and pressed a point on his chest. "This might sting a bit," she warned.


    With precision, she inserted the needle into the acupuncture point. Nick clenched his fists, suppressing a groan. It wasn''t just a little sting; it was quite sharp. But gradually, the initial pain subsided, reced by a curious sensation of energy flowing through him, leaving a tingling and slightly swollen feeling in its wake. After twenty minutes, Mirabe removed the needle. As she cleaned and disinfected it, she said, "This will be yourst acupuncture session. From now on, the medication should do the trick."


    Nick let out a relieved sigh, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he buttoned up his shirt. "Your technique seemed different today," he remarked.


    Mirabe simply nodded, not borating, and handed him a jar of ointment from her bag. "Apply this morning and night. It''ll help the wound heal quicker."


    Even though the medical school incident was pinned on Ben for now, Nick''s wound still needed swift healing.


    "Got it," Nick agreed, well aware of his sister''s effective remedies. Her idea of ''quick'' was usually an understatement.


    Checking her watch, Mirabe stood up. "I''ve got another appointment. I should get going."


    Nick just nodded, not prying further, and wished her well.


    Mirabe left the hospital and drove over to Adler''s ce.


    When she arrived, Adler had just finished organizing the research materials and had also brought over the cell samples for the project. His privateb, though not as fully equipped as a research institute, was sufficient for basic


    им


    experiments.


    "Here are the materials I''ve put together," Adler said, handing Mirabe hisptop.


    The screen disyed detailed diagrams of cell structures,plete with annotations in English.


    "I''ll have a look," Mirabe replied, quickly skimming through the data.


    Adler, respecting her focus, started cing the pathogen samples under the analyzer. The device adjusted automatically, scanning the cells and transmitting the initial data to the bioputer beside it.


    In just over ten minutes, Mirabe finished reviewing the materials. Moving closer to Adler, she nced at the bio-data on the screen and asked, "Have you considered checking the cells'' origin?"


    Adler adjusted his mask, turning to her. "The origin?"


    "Yes," Mirabe confirmed with a


    nod. "The cells'' endless division and rbination into new pathogens likely result from interactions


    between fungal cells. To pinpoint the cause, we need to identify the variety of fungi involved."