Chapter 57
Walter’s face lit up with joy as he rushed toward the elevator, Queenie trailing closely behind. As soon as the elevator doors closed, however, Queenie’s expression changed. She frowned, clutching her stomach, and seemed uneasy.
The elevator reached the fourth floor, and Queenie dashed out in a hurry, visibly distressed.
Nash, still sitting comfortably with his teacup in hand, took a slow sip before muttering under his breath, “The laxative works quite quickly.”
“Huh?” Brian turned toward him, thinking Nash was addressing him.
Nash shook his head. “It’s nothing. We should go.”
Brian chuckled lightly, “You haven’t received your consultation fee yet.”
“You’re right,” Nash acknowledged. “Let’s wait a little longer, then.”
“Grandmaster, were those really parasitic bugs?” Brian asked, still processing everything.
“Probably, but I’m not entirely sure what kind they are.” Nash’s voice grew more thoughtful. Although he was a master in holistic medicine, parasitic bugs were a different realm. He wouldn’t have resorted to surgery to remove them if he had known more about them.
“Can’t we figure out what they are with medical equipment?” Brian asked again.
“There are many types of parasitic bugs,” Nash explained. “Some are regular, but others are abnormal. The abnormal ones have special abilities.”
Nash glanced over at the tray on the other side of the coffee table. His fingers lightly tapped the table, and, without any visible effort, the tray slid toward him as if pulled by an invisible force.
Brian, astonished, suppressed his shock as best he could. They both leaned in to examine the tray, only to realize that two of the white bugs had vanished.
Brian’s face grew serious. “Where did they go?”
Nash picked up a teaspoon and gently stirred the clotted blood on the tray. To his surprise, it began to thicken before their eyes. More white bugs emerged from the blood, wriggling about.
Brian stared, dumbfounded. “What’s happening here?”
“This is likely an abnormal type of parasitic bug,” Nash explained, his voice calm yet tinged with intrigue. “They have incredible camouflaging abilities and can fuse with blood. These bugs release an anesthetic toxin that numbs all the cells in the host’s body, which is why Mrs. Watson has been unconscious for so long.”
His eyes narrowed as a thought struck him. “Could this be the Longhorn?”
He paused, thinking back to a conversation he had with his master about such bugs. The Longhorn were a rare, dangerous species. They existed as both male and female, constantly reproducing. They fed on bacteria and fungi, making them nearly immortal within a host’s body. These bugs could induce an eternal sleep in their victim, keeping them alive but in a deep, irreversible coma.
It wasn’t intended to harm—rather, it was a twisted form of immortality.
But why had someone used these bugs on Mrs. Watson? She wasn’t terminally ill. Why would they put her into such an unnatural state?
Before Nash could dwell further on his thoughts, the elevator doors opened, and Walter stepped out, his face brimming with excitement. “Dr. Calcraft, my wife’s awake! You’re unmatched in your field. I truly admire your skills.”
Nash smiled politely. “How is the madam doing?”
Walter grinned. “She’s still a little weak, but she’ll recover in time. It may take a while for her to fully recuperate.” He pulled out a check from his pocket and handed it to Nash. “Here’s the hundred million dollars for your consultation fee.”
Nash accepted the check without hesitation and tucked it into his pocket. “Thank you, Mr. Watson.”
Walter chuckled warmly. “It’s well deserved, Dr. Calcraft.”
Nash’s gaze returned to the tray with the parasitic bugs. “These bugs have significant research value. I wonder if you would consider giving them to me as a gift.”
Walter’s face hardened at the suggestion. “These bugs put my wife into a coma for three years. I will make sure they’re destroyed.”
He turned to his housekeeper and gave a firm order. “Take these bugs and burn them. Not a single one is to survive.”