George hadn't worked overtime last night, so he received the news at home and then informed his assistant to clear his schedule for this morning.
Therefore, if there were any clues, George's study should have them.
However... Hawk couldn't leave yet, after all, a son-in-law is half a son.
It's the same everywhere.
Gwen watched Hawk walk over after finishing his call, then tearfully threw herself into his arms.
"Hawk, my dad..."
"Don't worry, George will be fine."
Hawk hugged Gwen, comforting her, and looking down at her eyes, which were already red, he whispered, "Did you forget the Christmas gift I gave George when I came back?"
Gwen looked up with teary eyes at Hawk, remembering the gift Hawk gave at the family dinner the day they returned from Waterfall Town.
"A feather?"
"That's a Nirvana Phoenix Feather."
Hawk twitched his lips: "That's formed from my divine authority. A phoenix doesn't die, it only undergoes Nirvana."
Whoever holds his Nirvana Phoenix Feather, no matter who they are, can undergo Nirvana on the spot once they die.
Because 'Nirvana' is his divine authority.
Initially, when Phoenix Heart went all-in on him, 'Immortality' and 'Nirvana' could only be used by himself.
To bestow 'Nirvana' upon others, logically speaking, he would have to wait until his Phoenix Universe was fully materialized.
But he cheated.
Although the Phoenix Universe hasn't materialized yet, Hawk used the Reality Stone to place his Phoenix Universe in a quantum state between 'reality' and 'illusion' even before it materialized.
It was precisely because of this that he could barely manage to bestow blessings upon others.
However... 'Nirvana' is formed from divine authority, and how formal it is. Even after he obtained the Reality Stone, the Phoenix Universe only produced two 'Nirvana' slots.
When Hawk returned from Waterfall Town, he heard that George's case hadn't been fully investigated. After some thought, he simply swapped the tie he had prepared for the Nirvana Phoenix Feather and gave it to George.
George was initially stunned, but still accepted it with a smile.
After all, a phoenix feather imbued with 'Nirvana' was quite magnificent and beautiful in appearance alone.
So... George won't die, he will only undergo Nirvana.
"It's just that..."
"What?"
Gwen also remembered Hawk mentioning the effect of the Nirvana Phoenix Feather when they returned home. She had just breathed a sigh of relief, but then seeing Hawk's hesitation, her heart sank again.
"What's wrong?"
"George probably won't need it."
"What?"
Gwen was slightly stunned, then seemed to realize something: "Mom put that feather away, saying it could be a specimen. Is it because he didn't bring it?"
Hawk watched Gwen, who was about to run home to get the Nirvana Phoenix Feather, and quickly stopped her: "What I mean is, for the Nirvana Phoenix Feather to work, there's a prerequisite."
Gwen blinked, then seemed to realize something.
"Dad has to... die first?"
"Yes, how can there be Nirvana without death?"
Hawk shrugged.
A phoenix doesn't die, it only undergoes Nirvana. It doesn't mean a phoenix truly doesn't die, but rather that after a phoenix dies, it enters the Nirvana process and then returns.
Just like Hawk's last battle against Dark Elf Malekith at Stonehenge in London.
He died.
Mephisto, who invited him for a drink between life and death at that time, could attest to this.
But he returned through Nirvana.
So—
To undergo Nirvana, one must first die.
However, although George's injuries were severe, Hawk did not feel the Netherworld Prison's call for him, so George most likely wouldn't need Nirvana.
Gwen blinked.
"Netherworld Prison?"
"That's right."
Hawk looked at Gwen, who seemed a little confused: "You forgot, I took the jurisdiction over the life and death of everyone related to me from Mephisto to the Netherworld Prison. George is your father, and my prospective father-in-law, so his soul naturally falls under the Netherworld Prison's jurisdiction."
At this point.
Hawk raised an eyebrow and looked at Gwen: "So, look on the bright side, even if George really has an accident, he'll return to our Netherworld Prison, not to hell."
Gwen listened to Hawk's comfort and opened her mouth, feeling an inexpressible sensation.
Hawk shrugged: "If George returns to the Netherworld Prison, it's like returning to his own home. I can't just throw George into the Netherworld Prison and let him experience coldness and ruthlessness with Alexander Pierce in the frozen Netherworld Prison, can I?"
Gwen listened to Hawk comforting her like this, talking about throwing her father's soul into the Netherworld Prison to suffer, and she couldn't help but laugh.
"Hawk."
"Hmm."
"If you dare throw Dad into the Netherworld Prison, I will definitely bite you to death while you're sleeping."
Gwen's tears turned to laughter as she glared at Hawk, then took a deep breath and looked at him seriously: "So, Dad will be fine?"
Hawk met Gwen's red eyes and nodded: "I promise."
If it were anyone else lying inside, Gwen would have relaxed after he explained it once.
But George was lying inside, and he was her father.
So... concern makes one flustered.
Therefore, it was quite normal for Gwen to want his repeated assurance.
Just as they were speaking.
Click!
Helen looked at the suddenly extinguished operating room light and subconsciously called out, "Gwen!"
Gwen turned her head and also saw the operating room light extinguish. She looked back at Hawk, and then the two walked over to Helen's side together.
After a while.
The operating room door opened, and the chief Doctor removed his mask.
Helen, Gwen, and Detective Hale quickly stepped forward.
The Doctor's expression was relaxed, and he didn't try to be dramatic or stern-faced.
After all, that was for ordinary patients.
For members of the New York Police Department, if he dared to put on a stern face and act mysterious, who knew if some short-tempered officer would just pull out a gun and shoot him.
So... "The operation was very successful."
"However, the patient lost too much blood and still needs observation. If there are no problems after twenty-four hours, then there will basically be no problems at all."
"Oh, God!"
"George!"
"Dad!"
As soon as the chief Doctor spoke, Hale exclaimed "God," while Helen and Gwen exchanged glances and embraced each other.
Whether it was Helen or Gwen, the tension and worry on their faces almost visibly disappeared.
Soon.
George, lying on the hospital bed, still intubated and unconscious, was wheeled out of the operating room and taken to a VIP room in cooperation with the New York Police Department and the hospital.
George was, after all, the captain of the 21st Precinct. Although his annual salary wasn't much, he still held some influence in New York City.
Let's put it this way.
Under the capital, George could be considered a prominent figure in New York City.
The VIP room was filled with various medical equipment.
George lay quietly on the bed, still unconscious.
Helen sat beside him, holding George's left hand with both hands, gazing intently at George on the hospital bed.
Hale had just left.
She went to assist Detective Mahoney. After communication between the deputy captain of the 21st Precinct and the 12th Precinct, Detective Kate Beckett of the 12th Precinct at the scene and Detective Mahoney at the scene formed a joint investigation.
Detective Beckett of the 12th Precinct was responsible for on-site clues.
Detective Mahoney was summoning personnel, intending to start with surveillance to see if there were any traces of the gunman.
Hawk and Gwen walked in from outside, carrying the lunch they had just bought.
Gwen walked to Helen's side.
"Mom, eat something. Dad will be fine. The Doctor also said the surgery was very normal."
"Hmm, I know."
Helen had gradually recovered from her initial panic. Looking at the still unconscious George, she forced a faint smile, nodded, and then looked at Hawk, who was standing beside her: "Hawk, thank you."
Hawk smiled and said, "Mom, this is what I should do."
Helen heard this, glanced at Hawk: "Didn't you say you wouldn't dare say it in front of George?"
Hawk shrugged: "If George could hear it and wake up, that would be even better."
Helen pursed her lips when she heard this, said nothing more, but glanced at Hawk and nodded slightly.
Hawk smiled slightly, also saying nothing more, his gaze falling on George, who was lying unconscious in bed but breathing evenly.
Under the cover of his six senses, he could clearly feel that George's various bodily functions, though slow, were recovering steadily. At the current rate, after one night, George would probably be able to open his eyes and return to the land of the living.
Hmm.
Just as the chief Doctor had just said.
Helen, with Gwen's help, sat on a nearby dining chair, opened the packed meal Gwen handed her, then suddenly paused and looked at Gwen.
"Oh, right, Gwen, Howard and Simon."
"Don't worry, Mom."
Gwen smiled slightly, opening the packed soup container for Helen while saying, "Hawk has already thought of it. Riders have already delivered food to the restaurant."
Helen breathed a sigh of relief when she heard this, then shook her head: "Those two still need someone to watch them. If you and Hawk are free this afternoon, go back and help me take care of Howard and Simon."
Gwen and Hawk, who was standing by the hospital bed, exchanged glances.
Hawk nodded and said, "No problem."
Gwen also looked at Helen: "Then we'll come to relieve you tonight, Mom."
Helen shook her head.
"No need, I'll just stay here with George."
"But..."
"No problem."
Just as Gwen was about to say something, Hawk had already walked behind Gwen and interjected: "Then we'll cook dinner tonight and pack a portion to bring over for you."
Helen looked at Hawk, smiled, and then looked at Gwen: "See, Hawk understands me better."
Hawk had a slight smile on his face.
Understands what?
Of course, that parents are true love, and children are just an accident!
In a word.
If Helen and George weren't truly in love, Helen wouldn't have chosen to have Howard and Simon eight years after having Gwen.
So—
Helen and George are true love!
...
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