Dominic failed to detect anything wrong with Austin’s pulse until his condition worsened.
Later, Lily mentioned a virus that was difficult to detect had caused the devastating outbreak in
Burnwken.
‘Perhaps all the viruses the research institute had developed share the same traits"
Dominic thought, ‘These viruses are good at avoiding detection, just like the organization. Therefore,
it's normal not to detect anything, and we shouldn't feel ashamed"
It was not that they were incompetent, but the organization was simply too cunning.
Austin smiled bitterly, knowing his granduncle was trying to console him.
"So, what do you think of your condition, Uncle Dom?"
‘He's highly experienced, and I'm sure he knows his body best"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Well, you already know the answer, don’t you?"
Dominic smiled.
Austin noticed the older man’s casual expression and could hardly fight back his tears.He looked away,
not wanting to cry in front of his granduncle.
Austin also blamed himself for being so weak compared to Dominic.
"Well, at least I'm okay for now."
Dominic patted the back of Austin’s hand, then added, "I feel so great that I could eat a cow."
"I'll go make you some steak!"
Austin took his granduncle’s words seriously and wanted to get up.
However, Dominic held onto Austin’s hand, stopping him.
"Hey, I can hardly chew, okay? Stay put.I have something to tell you."
"Y-Yes?" Austin hastily asked.
"I've thought it through.It isn’t a symbiote but a virus.What we saw deceived us!"
Dominic’s voice was husky and weak, but his words shocked Austin.
"What?"
Austin looked toward his granduncle’s arms.
Although Dominic's skinny arms showed no traces of things moving within them now, Austin could not
forget the horrific scene and was sure that was what he saw.
"We were misled because the symptoms were highly similar.Furthermore, we assumed that symbiotes
caused our sickness because we knew little about them.However..."
Dominic paced his breathing and continued, "If the symbiotes caused the virus, the transmission
method and symptoms would've been different.Besides, one can quickly contain symbiotes compared
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmto this virus.If I'm right, it has already started spreading."
"What are you talking about?"
Austin was shocked.
"The virus, of course!"
Dominic coughed, then cleared his throat, gesturing for his grandnephew to get him some tissues.
Austin hurriedly fetched him some, and the older man coughed a mouthful of bloody saliva into them.
"Uncle Dom!"
Austin was alarmed by what he saw.However, Dominic simply waved, brushing it off.
"The fact that I still can talk to you shows that I’m fine.However..."
He paused, looking grave.
"I have no idea how much longer I can stay awake like this."
"You're going to be okay!" Austin uttered.
However, he could not even convince himself of his own words.