Chapter 504


    The group made their way into the quest room.


    Johnny strode over to the bed where a man, still immersed in work, nat propped up against the pillows.


    With respectful concern in his voice, Johnny said, “Sir, you really need to take it easy”


    While speaking. Johnny tidied up the files that were spread over the man’s legs, cing them neatly,


    face down, on the nightstand


    Owen leaned against the headboard, his cheeks gaunt and hisplexion pallid. His whole frame was


    skeletal. His face, shoulders, neck, and hands resting atop theforter were rmingly thin.


    Bringing up the rear, Mirabe couldn’t help but startle slightly at the sight of Owen’s emaciated form.


    He couldn’t have been more than in his thirties, but he bore the withered look of a man in his twilight


    years.


    On the way here, Niki had briefed her about the man’s peculiar condition. An inexplicable wasting


    away. with no detectable medical reason–it was as if his vitality had been abruptly drained, propelling


    him into a state of exhaustion. Well, Owen’s current state seemed scarcely different from outright


    depletion.


    Owen sensed a scrutinizing gaze and looked up. By then, Mirabe had averted her eyes. He nced


    at her briefly before addressing Johnny, who was still fussing with the paperwork. “It’s fine. I’ll get


    through as much as I can while I still have the energy.”


    Johnny mustered a smile, plucked the pen from Owen’s fingers, and insisted, “Your health is what’s


    important. Everything else can wait.”N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    He paused and then gestured toward Dane, who had approached the bedside. “Mr. Dane is back.


    There’s hope for your illness now.”


    Despite his frailty, Owen exuded themanding presence of a man ustomed to authority. His


    gaze settled on Dane, and with a polite but weary motion of his dry lips, he murmured, “I appreciate


    this.”


    Dane was well aware of Owen’s stature as the top executive of Ashford, a man beyond the reach of


    ordinary citizens, soon to be a significant figure in Riverdale. Even a member of the Pharmacists‘ Guild


    like Dane had to show deference.


    With a subtle nod, Dane replied simply, “No trouble at all.”


    He then pulled a chair close to the bed, sat down, and said, “Let me take your pulse first.”


    Owen extended his arm. As Dane’s fingers rested on Owen’s wrist, his expression, initiallyposed,


    grew increasingly grave with each passing second. By the end, his brows were knitted tightly together.


    Johnny, watching Dane intently, felt a sinking feeling in his gut. Niki had worn the same troubled


    look. when he examined Owen the previous night.


    After a long five minutes, Dane finally withdrew his hand. Johnny immediately asked, “What’s the


    verdict? Can you help him?”


    Asher stood by, his face taut with concern, equally eager for any insight Dane might offer.


    Dane addressed Owen, “Mr. Owen, when did you start to lose weight like this?”


    “A week ago,” Owen replied slowly.


    “He has been shedding nearly twenty pounds a day,” Johnny interjected. “We’ve had thorough hospital


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    Chapter 504


    tests done, but they all came back normal. No issues at all.”


    After a moment’s thought, Johnny pulled out a medical report and handed it to Dane. “Take a look.”


    The report was extensive, spanning over a dozen pages, with every conceivable part of the body.


    scrutinized. And at the bottom of each page, the conclusion was the same word: normal.