"They put Beatrice in that state... and you still want to help them?"

"Yes."

The doctor who told Adam and Katherine their findings went quiet after that. He took a step back, subtly bowing to Adam before going back inside the tent.

"I... will check on Ms. Beatrice and make sure she is as comfortable as she can be, Endless."

And even with Harvey clearly pissed, Adam still glanced back at the doctor.

"Thank you," he said. "Please, take care of her."

The doctor bowed once more, hurriedly leaving them as he felt the tension getting worse—the last thing anyone would want in this world was to be stuck between two Heroes. The only thing worse than that would be stuck between two Heroes who were pissed.

Adam didn’t seem to be worried at all, however. He looked Harvey straight in the eyes.

"You should stay here with her. Make sure at least one of us is here once she wakes—"

Harvey stepped forward. "This is your fault, man. You know?"

"Harv!" Sabrina grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back, but Harvey yanked his arm away from her. "What’re you going to do? This isn’t the right place and time for this. It’s not the time to turn against each other—Adam’s right, Beatrice needs us right now. And you heard the doctor, she’ll be fine with enough rest." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

And while Sabrina talked in her usual fast-paced tone, Mira was also quiet on the side, her arms crossed as she didn’t seem to care about the altercation that was about to happen. She was more focused on Beatrice, her animal ears twitching on top of her head as she listened to Beatrice’s heartbeat.

"She’ll be fine, yes. But this shouldn’t have happened in the first place. You were here, man. You’re the strongest fucking man in the RLRD." Harvey rubbed his bald head, sniffling as he looked around as if trying to find answers in the air. "You could’ve shut this shit down and still be home for dinner. Do you know what the people in the IBAA are calling you? The fucking terminator. Arnold fucking Schwarzenegger. Because you don’t fucking rest, and you just clear and clear Leaks, dragging people with you."

Harvey stood in front of Adam, their faces only a foot away from each other.

"And you couldn’t fucking close this one? What? Just because they fucking look like us?!" Harvey suddenly screamed, causing the people around them to stop what they were doing and stare. Harvey moved to the side, swinging his arm and shattering a table in half.

"Maybe you forgot because you’ve only been in two Games, man..." Harvey shook his head. "...But people who fucking look like us kill fucking children. You’ve killed children. I’ve killed children. Fuck! Why do you have to be like this?! You could have just killed all of them! You’ve seen Bangkok! You think those people felt anything when the fucking explosion happened instantly? It would be mercy for them!"

And without any warning, Harvey rushed at Adam and punched him in the face.

"Harvey!" Sabrina tried to rush at Harvey, but Mira stopped her. As for Katherine, she just stepped back on her own, letting the situation unfold by itself—she understood his frustration, after all. Adam also didn’t budge, his head just slightly tilting to the side as Harvey’s fist hit him.

"You think we’re a fucking joke? Is that it?" Harvey backed away, sniffling as he pointed at Adam before trailing his fingers to Beatrice’s tent.

"She’s your friend, man. We’re your friends, not them. We fucking share tables. What? Because you’re fucking immortal, we’re just a fucking speck of dust in your life? Is that it? Is that why you’re always thinking of the greater good? Fuck, man. We’re your friends! Us! Say something!"

Adam briefly looked down, then once again looked Harvey in the eyes.

"Innocent people there will die a very slow and gruesome death if we let them be," he said.

"Then let them! Fuck!" Harvey got on Adam’s face, his hands stangling the air between them. "Or go back inside, and then close the Leak!"

"I will not do that."

"Then let me fucking do it! You’re not the leader of the IBAA. You can’t order us to do shit! You fucking cow—"

"Okay."

"—ard...huh?"

Adam walked several steps, moving in the direction of the Leak before glancing back at him.

"I’m not ordering anyone to do anything. Why do people always think that?" Adam sighed, shaking his head. "I just want people to stop hurting each other. If they can’t do that, then... that’s up to them. I’m not going to stop you, Harvey. Nor the two of you."

He looked at Sabrina and Mira before stepping to the side.

"Get the revenge you want, you have that right."

Harvey looked at him for a moment, his eyebrows furrowing. He opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it. It wasn’t until he glanced at Beatrice again that he growled in frustration.

"You’re god damn fucking right I want revenge!" Harvey pushed Adam on the chest and rushed at the Leak.

"Harv!" Sabrina flew to follow him, but Harvey’s limbs allowed him to just slingshot from his spot and go straight into the Leak. As for Mira, she looked at Adam and Katherine for a moment before running to follow the two.

The people who were getting ready to barricade the Leak didn’t expect this at all, and some of them fell to their butts from the sudden rush of people. They looked around before all turning their heads to Adam.

Adam didn’t respond to them and instead just calmly approached them with Katherine behind him. The people wanted to ask him what was going on, but with the way he held no expression on his face at all and only stared at the Leak, they just refrained from talking altogether and just made way for him.

President Ronald also saw the entire situation unfold and decided to just let it unfold further without him.

And not even a minute after Adam stood in front of the Leak, Harvey and the others stepped out. Harvey didn’t say anything. He just looked at Adam before lowering his head and sighing in frustration.

"Fuck, man..." he whispered, roughly rubbing his bald head. "They’re just... fucking people."

"They are." Adam nodded, placing his hand on Harvey’s shoulder as he walked past him. "RLRD’s main mission is to help people. That’s the reason we close the Leaks as fast as possible. I know that we can’t help everyone, and that I have to choose a side sooner or later. But I don’t think today’s that day," he said. "Go be with Beatrice, Harvey."

And with that, Adam nodded to Katherine as they stepped back inside the Leak. And of course, Chief Sikatuna, Bagani, and the rest of the people there were confused—Adam already expressed his feelings not to want to do anything with them anymore, and yet not only was he back, but there were also new people who rushed in.

In truth, they were ready to fight to the death when they saw Harvey barge in with a wrathful expression on his face. But now... Adam was back?

Adam looked around and then started approaching Chief Sikatuna and Bagani as soon as they stopped them. They watched him wear his earpiece back, and Chief Sikatuna quickly did the same as he walked to meet him.

<Emperor Adam!> Sikatuna held his breath for a moment. <What is the matter? What—>

Before Sikatuna could finish, several more figures emerged from the Leak again. Familiar figures—the three who just entered the Leak before Adam and left.

Harvey didn’t say anything and only approached them. Bagani and his men all tensed, ready to fight at any moment—but seeing as Harvey just stood behind Adam and didn’t do anything, they all quickly relaxed.

"Your people might be sick," Adam said. "We... brought it here."

Sikatuna seemed confused at first, but his eyes widened.

<You are threatening us?> Sikatuna’s breath turned heavier. <You will kill us?>

"No. We will help. One of my companions was sick; there is a chance that some of you may have caught it."

<What sickness?> Sikatuna glanced at Bagani, who subtly shook his head. Adam really didn’t know how to explain it to them—fortunately for him, they had a doctor within their midst.

Katherine stepped forward and pulled out her phone, and she seemed to have already had photos ready to show them.

<It is that artifact again...> Bagani whispered when he saw the phone. He and his men quietly walked forward, wanting to look closer. But as soon as they saw the photo Katherine wanted them to see, they all took a step back. Even the chief, who tried his best to stay composed, gulped.

<That...> Sikatuna pointed at the phone, his hand trembling violently. <...That is the Red Bloom.>

"Red bloom..." Katherine whispered. "In our world, we call them the measles. And we have a vaccine for it."

<...What is vaccine?>

"A... shield from the sickness." Katherine softly said.

<Cure?!>

"Not a cure," Adam joined in. "I think we’ll have to test your people first, and if your people are compatible, Dr. Katherine will explain what it does, what the side effects are. After that...

...it would be your people’s choice if they want to take it or not."