Chapter 89

Chapter 89

By the time all the examinations were nearly complete, Ye Mo looked exhausted.

Arnold pushed through the crowd of medical staff and handed Ye Mo a cup of water. “Hang in there just a little longer—only one item left.”

A member of the medical team brought Ye Mo a white robe. “Please change into this.”

Ye Mo took it. Everyone in the room was watching him, making him feel slightly self-conscious. “Change here?”

A doctor recording data murmured an acknowledgment, his voice gentle as he reassured Ye Mo: “We also need to check for external injuries. You may keep your underwear on—it’s perfectly fine.”

As per protocol, an assistant brought over a tray and placed it before Ye Mo, unconsciously slipping into a tone usually reserved for children: “You can place your clothes and other belongings here for now.”

Ye Mo paused, then began removing the various items Faceless had equipped him with. Under everyone’s watchful gaze, he first unbuckled the dagger from his arm, then extracted the metal wire concealed within his sleeve fabric.

These items landed softly on the tray, drawing the attention of several medical staff members.

Only Norton and Arnold seemed entirely unperturbed—after all, as Grath, they never went anywhere without their swords.

Then Ye Mo began unbuttoning and removing his shirt. He folded it awkwardly before placing it on the tray, followed by his belt—the one Faceless had given him.

It was only then that Ye Mo seemed to recall something. He pressed a spot on the belt, retrieved a medication syringe, and placed it on the tray as well.

Just as Ye Mo was about to continue, Norton—who had approached unnoticed—placed a hand on his shoulder. Leaning down, he reached across Ye Mo’s shoulder to pick up the syringe.

“What is this?”

Ye Mo looked up, recalling Faceless’s words. “It’s a vaccine. Everyone receives it. I’ve already had the first dose. This is the second, to be administered one month later. A third dose is also required.”

Norton held the syringe, turning it slowly in his hands for inspection. With a slight tilt of his head, a staff member immediately stepped forward, grasped the syringe, and turned to have it analyzed.

Norton spoke slowly and deliberately: “Who administered it to you?”

Ye Mo was momentarily startled—the term wasn’t in his vocabulary—but he managed to explain: “It was… my mother’s brother.”

“You saw your mother?”

Ye Mo lowered his gaze. “No. He said she died.”

Norton fell silent. He knew who Ye Mo’s mother was—and he knew her brother: the Ye family’s rebel.

At that time, Grath had been in chaos, the entire nation engulfed in turmoil. There had simply been no time to attend to peripheral matters; nor had they possessed the patience to trace the causes or consequences of the rebellion—everything had been handled swiftly and decisively. Little information about Ye Mo remained.

Norton’s hand moved naturally from Ye Mo’s shoulder to gently brush aside his hair, then stroke his chin and cheek—a habitual gesture of comfort.

Ye Mo instinctively tilted his head slightly, then stilled. Norton’s large hand overlapped faintly with a hazy memory of another hand in his mind.

Already fatigued from the examinations, Ye Mo gradually relaxed.

Norton didn’t say much more. “What else did he tell you?”

Only then did Ye Mo startle, looking up at Norton. “He told me to find Chris and the others—to leave this place with them—and that he would come for me.”

“I’d forgotten about them. Chris is my friend—and so are Katia and Ji Ting.”

At that moment, researchers re-entered from outside the door and stood at the entrance.

Norton straightened up. Before leaving, he glanced down at Ye Mo and said, “I’ll send people to handle it.”

The medical staff parted respectfully for Norton, regrouping around Ye Mo only after he had departed.

Norton walked to the door, which slid shut automatically behind him. Before it fully closed, Arnold remained at Ye Mo’s side, gazing distantly through the narrowing gap—only turning his attention back to Ye Mo once the door sealed completely.

Ye Mo had already donned the white robe.

Arnold reached out to smooth Ye Mo’s hair. No matter what happened, he still had his older brother—his brother would take care of it.

Outside the door.

The researcher presented the medication to Norton, lowering his voice cautiously. “Your Majesty, this is the antidote for an auto-destruct program.”

Norton abruptly lifted his gaze toward the researcher, who instinctively paused for several seconds before continuing.

Several researchers appeared somewhat apprehensive. “This drug is injected directly into the bone marrow. Routine tests cannot detect it, and bone marrow examinations are generally considered unnecessary and rarely performed. Had it not been for this incident, we might never have discovered it—even after repeated screenings.”

“The young master has already received one injection. Two more are required.”

The auto-destruct program had initially been tested on experimental animals. Gradually, some began administering it to human subjects—sparking scandals. Eventually, it was banned internationally as a prohibited technology.

That had occurred long ago—years before Ye Mo was even born.

Norton showed no outward change. “Will administering the antidote produce any side effects?”

“None—but—”

The researcher looked nervous. “Producing the antidote requires the original compound. We cannot synthesize another dose. We must locate an alternative corresponding antidote. We also do not know the timeframe they set. We must act as quickly as possible. As the young master stated, the second dose is due one month from now, and the third six months later. We have less than seven months.”

“I understand.”

Norton took the syringe and gripped it tightly in his hand.

The researchers bowed slightly and withdrew. The one who had delivered the report exhaled in relief. Before exiting the corridor, he instinctively glanced back.

Only Norton remained in the corridor.

He stood outside Ye Mo’s door. The researcher could see only Norton’s profile—calm, unmoved by upheaval, as always.

The researcher thought this—then his gaze suddenly froze. Norton’s hand, hanging at his side, was clenched into a tight fist, veins starkly visible across its back.

If anyone could see Norton’s face head-on at that moment, even the most oblivious person would sense something was deeply wrong.

Norton’s gaze was glacial. He would absolutely not lose Cyril a second time.

…

The starship carrying Faceless had been airborne for some time. He and Zero Three stood in the observation lounge. Through the transparent hull, they watched starships arriving and departing.

Most were Grath warships. Grath had mobilized an unprecedented number this time—many having just returned from the frontline at the rift, still bearing scorch marks and battle damage, radiating a fierce, blood-chilling aura.

From a distance, Faceless and Zero Three watched as nearby Grath warships resumed movement toward the former garbage planet.

Grath had already stationed a contingent of warships on the garbage planet for cleanup operations. Now, many analysts across the StarNet speculated they were likely there to recover wreckage from Ye Mo’s starship—and to reconstruct the scene for subsequent investigation.

Faceless, who had been seated, suddenly rose. He withdrew a syringe and handed it to Zero Three.

“A commission. Keep it safe. Name your price. If I die within six months, find a way to deliver it to Grath.”

Zero Three stared at the vial for several seconds before finally reaching out to take it. "For the money, and for your nephew."

Faceless secretly breathed a sigh of relief and gave a slight nod. He turned to leave the observation hall. Zero Three suddenly spoke up again, "And because you're my only friend."

Like Zero Three, Faceless was almost always alone, not particularly close to anyone. But Faceless was simply not one for deep connections; he was widely considered much easier to get along with than Zero Three. Within the organization, he was practically a brick, moved wherever needed.

In the end, Faceless was assigned as Zero Three's partner. At the time, Zero Three had killed four consecutive partners before being switched to a fifth. Finally, they found someone of equal strength, but then Zero Three lost his fifth partner because of his sarcastic, needling manner.

Faceless had even heard that Zero Three had recently been looking for an opportunity to kill his fifth partner.

Although Zero Three's behavior patterns were almost unpredictable, he was a man of his word. Once he agreed to take on a commission, he would see it through even at the cost of his life, no matter who he had to oppose.

Faceless and Zero Three were partners forced together. Their usual interactions typically followed the pattern of Zero Three mocking Faceless, Faceless ignoring him and always being on guard against Zero Three suddenly attacking.

Was such a relationship also considered friendship?

So Faceless turned back, giving Zero Three a puzzled look.

Zero Three swiftly extended his hand, several small knives extending from between his fingers like a cat's claws. "What's that look supposed to mean?"

Faceless averted his gaze, tugging his cloak's hood back up. He could never get a read on Zero Three. Zero Three was a madman, laughing one second and possibly drawing a weapon on someone trying to please him the next.

He had harbored an inexplicable hostility toward Ye Mo before, but now he showed considerable protectiveness toward him.

"The money will be transferred to you later."

...

The Grath warships swept across the skies above the imperial capital.

The people of the capital had come out of their homes, though they didn't know why. They stood solemnly in the streets, giving the Grath military salute to the warships flying overhead.

On the Star Network, Grath's social media platforms were flooded with the same phrase: "Welcome home."

The flagship landed directly at the Grath Palace.

Many people were already waiting outside the hatch. Old Mr. Grindon stood at the forefront. He had once been the Old King's right-hand man but had stepped down after Norton ascended the throne. He had left the capital and lived in seclusion for a long time.

When he left, Old Grindon said, "I can no longer see Grath's future."

When Ye Mo was found, Kevin Grindon sent him a message, but it wasn't enough to bring Old Mr. Grindon out of retirement. He merely replied with a letter: "Grath's hope is Grath. Help that child well."

But when news of Ye Mo's accident reached the capital, Old Grindon returned. Despite his advanced age, Old Grindon appeared vigorous and energetic. With an S-level psychic power, his aging process was much slower than that of ordinary people.

Now, everyone in Grath, high and low, were followers of Norton, but even these young people had to bow before the venerable Old Grindon.

Adelaide stood at Old Mr. Grindon's side. Further back, Ye Zhiyuan and Mrs. Ye were also among them. Given Ye Zhiyuan's seniority, he shouldn't have been there, but Old Grindon had specifically asked him and Mrs. Ye to come.

August and Ye Yun were still young and held no military rank. They were inconspicuous among a circle of honorary generals and prime ministers. They stood at the very back, with August quietly standing on tiptoe.

When the hatch opened, Adelaide, for once, lost his composure and couldn't help but rush forward a few steps.

As the hatch fully opened, Norton's figure was completely revealed, with Arnold and others behind him. To Norton's right was Ye Mo.

Norton's hand rested on Ye Mo's shoulder. Only Ye Mo knew how much force Norton used to keep him pressed to his side, almost glued to him. Ye Mo went from feeling somewhat restrained at first to finally giving up, standing obediently close to Norton.

But when the hatch opened and he saw so many people, Ye Mo still couldn't help but stir.

Norton noticed. The hand on Ye Mo's shoulder moved to his head, pulling Ye Mo closer to him, like an adult bird extending its wing to gather its chick beneath it.

Ye Mo pressed tightly against Norton.

He heard Norton speak, "Don't be afraid. We're home."

Old Grindon across from them was the first to move. He knelt on one knee, bowing his head. "Long live Grath!"

The others behind him immediately followed, kneeling on one knee. The voices of men and women mingled together, "Long live Grath!"