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*****
Early the next morning. After a night's rest, Mike and his group were refreshed. Once they had eaten breakfast, they set out again. Mike sat
Early the next morning.
After a night's rest, Mike and his group were refreshed. Once they had eaten breakfast, they set out again.
Mike sat in the passenger seat, adjusted the recliner slightly, and gazed out at the scenery through the window, curling his lips in faint disappointment.
The people from the Alkali Genetic Modification Research Facility were truly incompetent—after all this time, they still hadn't managed to catch up.
Sighing, Mike turned his head toward Logan, and his brow furrowed.
Logan's mental state was fine, but his physical condition was clearly worsening.
It seemed he would have to find the right time to deal with Logan's problem.
With a quiet murmur to himself, Mike shifted his posture and closed his eyes.
The sun was shining warmly now—perfect weather for basking.
In the back seat, Caliban curled up in a corner of the car with Charles, both watching Gwen and Laura play a game together.
Over the past few days, Gwen and Laura had grown closer and closer.
For the moment, the car was filled with a rare atmosphere of peace.
By evening, after traveling all day, they decided it was time to stop and rest.
Since the next town was still some distance away, Gwen suggested they camp outdoors.
So they pulled the car into a clearing just off the highway and chose it as their campsite.
Behind them stretched a forest, while a small river cut through the center of the clearing, dividing the land in two—a rather pleasant view.
Then, to the amazement of Charles and the others, Mike began pulling out a pile of supplies from his dimensional space.
Tents, sleeping bags, food, even pots and pans, tables, and chairs…
In that moment, the four of them looked at Mike as though he were a walking department store.
Mike gave a light cough and said, "I picked all this up at a supermarket near the hotel before we left."
"Logan, Caliban—set up the tents."
Mike directed the two of them, while Charles chuckled to himself.
Being a cripple had its advantages—no need to lift a finger.
Gwen pulled Laura toward the forest, shouting to Mike, "We're going exploring!"
"Be careful! Be back before dark!"
Mike called after her. Once he heard Gwen's cheerful reply, he pulled out a barbecue grill.
"You even have that?"
Charles stared in surprise, licking his lips.
Mike chuckled and nodded, then began preparing ingredients for the barbecue.
Half an hour later, once Logan and Caliban had set up two tents, Mike had finished preparing the food.
The first skewer of chicken wings went to Charles.
Charles took one bite, his eyes lighting up. He praised Mike's cooking while smugly showing off his chicken wings to Logan and Caliban, making exaggerated faces just to tease them.
Caliban shook his head helplessly, but Logan's expression remained stony as he shoved a few pills into Charles's hand. "Time for your medication."
When Charles opened his mouth, Logan popped the pills in.
"Swallowed?"
"Swallowed!" Charles snapped, then stuck out his tongue at Logan in mock defiance. "See?"
Indeed, he had swallowed them.
Logan nodded to himself, then glanced at the darkening sky. Looking toward the forest, he muttered anxiously, "Why aren't they back yet?"
"Don't worry. They'll be here any moment."
Mike raised his head, located the girls with a thought, then returned to his skewers.
The savory aroma quickly spread through the air.
Logan unfolded a small collapsible table while Caliban set chairs around it, rolling Charles into place as well.
"Try some."
Mike brought over the grilled meat and vegetables. With a wave of his hand, several cans of beer appeared on the table.
Logan's eyes lit up. "Now that's a handy ability."
Meat skewers with beer—both Logan and Caliban were soon thoroughly content.
Charles, however, tried to grab for a beer but wilted under Logan's glare. He sulked, muttering under his breath about "bullying an old man."
"We're back!"
Gwen and Laura came running, their mouths watering at the aroma. They rushed up to the table, hands already reaching for skewers.
Slap! Slap!
Mike appeared behind them, tapping both on the head with skewers in hand. "Go wash your hands first."
Gwen stuck out her tongue, then obediently dragged Laura away with a bottle of water. But when she noticed Mike simmering a pot of vegetable soup, her eyes gleamed.
She pulled some mushrooms from her pocket and tossed them into the pot.
Laura stared wide-eyed at her.
"Shh!" Gwen whispered. "I picked these in the forest. Add them to the soup—it'll taste so fresh."
Laura looked uncertain. "They're not poisonous, are they?"
"They shouldn't be…"
"Shouldn't?"
"They won't! I'm sure of it!" Gwen insisted. "I've eaten similar mushrooms before."
Besides, even if they were poisonous, her dad would handle it.
If Mike hadn't been here, she would never have dared add them.
When she saw Mike approaching, Gwen hurried Laura along. "Come on, wash up—it's barbecue time!"
"Barbecue!"
Laura licked her lips, quickly forgetting all about the mushrooms.
By now, night had fully fallen.
There was no moon tonight, only a sky full of stars.
On the ground below, the group enjoyed barbecue and beer, swapping stories of their pasts, laughing over the misadventures of recent years. The air rang with warmth and laughter.
Once everyone was full, Mike brought out the light vegetable soup.
Logan drained his bowl in one go, patting his stomach with a satisfied sigh.
He and Charles hadn't felt this relaxed—or this happy—in a very long time.
Leaning close to Charles, Logan murmured, "You should get some sleep."
"Sleep? Hehehe…"
Charles giggled foolishly, his eyes glazing over as he stared at the sky. Suddenly he reached out, grasping at nothing with trembling hands.
"Ororo… Erik… have you come to take me?"
Logan froze.
What was happening?
At that moment, Caliban collapsed to the ground as well, grinning vacantly. He mumbled over and over, "Aliens… big-headed aliens…"
"What's going on?"
Alarmed, Logan turned to Mike—only to see the man already watching him with a weary expression.
In Mike's arms, Gwen was giggling in a daze, eyes unfocused, muttering, "Money… so much money… don't run away, don't run…"
Drawing on his long, hard-lived experience, Logan muttered, "They're… poisoned?"
Mike nodded. "Seems so."
The same question struck them both at once—
How could they suddenly be poisoned?
"Gwen added some mushrooms she picked in the forest to the soup."
Laura, calmly sipping her bowl, offered the explanation.
Her unique constitution made her immune to poisonous mushrooms.
And honestly—the soup did taste a lot better with them.
Smack!
Mike slapped his forehead, looking down at Gwen in exasperation. Poking her forehead gently, he sighed, "You little brat… far too reckless."
(End of Chapter)