Chapter 1600

"How is he?" Lily asked the doctor, though Greg had been there all night and would likely know best.

"Unconscious," he replied simply.

Alexander remained unconscious, but his condition hadn't worsened. He was in a coma. Lily removed her glove and checked his pulse; it was weak but stable. His body was still fragile, but the toxin appeared to have been cleared. This poison was peculiar; its toxin was sometimes undetectable. Initially, Lily had mistakenly believed it was completely gone, only realizing its persistent presence when Alexander's illness recurred. The toxin wasn't eradicated; it was merely suppressed, acting almost independently, seemingly choosing when to lie dormant and when to strike. She made a mental note of this observation.

After disinfecting her hands and replacing her glove, she looked at Greg, whose eyes were wide. "Aren't you tired? Alex's bodyguards are here; you can rest."

He shook his head. "I'm okay."

"Everyone needs sleep," Lily insisted. "I don't think Alex will wake up soon. You must be exhausted."

"In the mountains, I once watched my prey for three days," Greg replied flatly, then abruptly stopped.

Lily, however, understood his implication. "You've fought in a war?"

He shook his head. "It was a long time ago. Nothing more to it."

She didn't press him. Glancing at the time, she realized it was late. "I need to go. I'll come back when I'm free. I'll find a way to deal with the poison. Thank you for watching over him."

"Okay," Greg nodded.

"If anything happens..." she began.

"I'll call you," he assured her instantly.

Relieved to have him watching over Alexander, Lily felt she could leave with peace of mind. She'd agreed to work with X Department for Dominic's sake, knowing they were researching a plague. If they found a cure, they could save Alexander.

Lily took the elevator down, following Dr. Blanc's address. Its proximity surprised her; she assumed research bases were usually located in remote areas. The elevator descended, a crisp "ding" signaling her arrival on the ground floor.

Just as she was about to step out, someone blocked her path. Looking up, she gasped. "Mike?!"

She froze, completely unexpected.

"Long time no see," Mike nodded, seemingly unsurprised, even expecting her. Stepping aside, he asked, "Do you have a minute to chat?"