Chapter 623: The Child of Those Years
Natalie had once been an undercover agent inside GTO. Although she never reached the core, she had access to internal documents. The experiments conducted within GTO were numerous and exceedingly cruel.
For children like Jasper, who had been sold into this environment from a young age, the experiments they endured were more horrific than one could imagine. His survival, let alone his role as Jasmine's substitute, was as much a testament to his intelligence as it was to his luck. Otherwise, with those experiments, he would have met an untimely death.
"Did you just say a woman told you that your physique wasn't suitable for drug trials? Was that woman Five Poisons?" Natalie asked.
Jasper smiled. "How could that be? Although my memories from that time are sparse, I remember that the leader of GTO, Five Poisons, was a man, and an older one at that, not much different in age from Muff at that time. He disappeared later, and I have no recollection of him."
"Did he disappear after you were rescued by Asher Vance?"
Jasper thought carefully, "It seems so. I remember following Asher Vance from the X Bureau back, and then I was taken to what became the new base. After that, I never saw him again. If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have even remembered."
For Jasper at that time, merely being alive was enough. He hardly cared whether the people tormenting him daily were the same or not.
Natalie then realized that Five Poisons must have taken the opportunity to disappear during the rescue, assuming a new identity as a victim and escaping, leaving GTO in the hands of the current female Five Poisons. But then she thought, the current female Five Poisons also seemed not very old. Even if she was in exceptional physical condition, she should be in her fifties or sixties by now.
Could it be that Five Poisons had already moved on to a third generation? Was the woman Jasper saw back then the same person Jasmine calls mother?
"Do you remember what that woman looked like?" Natalie asked.
"I don't know," Jasper replied. "She always wore a mask. I have no idea what she really looks like. I don't even know who Jasmine really is. The control among GTO's high ranks is very strict, and I couldn't reach that level."
Natalie knew this well; she had exerted much effort to gain trust during her time undercover. It was only because Asher Vance knew she was an undercover agent that her cover was blown, which later led Jasper to consider setting up his own demise.
"I understand," Natalie said, then got ready to leave.
Having learned all she needed to know, there was no reason for her to stay any longer.
Jasper watched Natalie's departing figure, the same way she had left the Reed family. Both times, her departure was decisive, without any hint of reluctance.
"Natalie."
Jasper suddenly called out to her.
Natalie paused, half-turning to look at Jasper.
Jasper approached, his hands gripping the electrified rail, his expression filled with deep affection, reluctance, and pleading.
"If there's a next time, could we just sit together, just to reminisce?" he asked.
Natalie's lips moved slightly as she looked deeply into Jasper's eyes-eyes that, like moonlight invading, held no emotion.
"No, because there might be nothing left between us."
With that, Natalie got up and left, her exit as graceful and nonchalant as ever.
Natalie had always admitted to herself that she admired Jasper-for his resilience and cunning, and for his deeply ingrained yet exquisitely displayed sophistication.
Such a person, if seen as a peer, would be respected for their mutual understanding.
If Natalie considered him an enemy, she would choose his death first.
Tina watched Natalie emerge and clicked her tongue, "You two used to be close, and yet you give him no face at all."
Natalie blinked, "I just remembered, your master and I arranged a marriage between you and James once."
"Then your daughter might elope with Uncle," Tina retorted, unfazed by Natalie's provocation.
Just then, Jared entered and caught the mention of eloping with Uncle. His eyes lit up involuntarily.
In that brief moment, Jared had already imagined a dozen places where they could elope to.
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Natalie, smiling, pointed at Tina, "She says you won't give her a title, so she has to elope!"
Jared snapped back to reality, "Master, do you realize how old you are?"
"You're the old one!"
Tina and Natalie retorted in unison, then hand in hand, the mother and daughter happily walked out.
Jared opened his mouth to speak but resigned himself; having chosen his wife and mother-in-law, he had to endure.
But who could blame him for finding joy in this?
After leaving the secret prison, Jared handed all the information about the people in the photograph to Tina.
"Except for that baby from years ago, I've got details on everyone here. Except for Asher Vance's wife, the rest, including their families, are staying at hotels owned by the Farrell Group. And the oldest one from back then now has cancer and is in the ICU."
There were twelve people in total, excluding Jasper, Natalie, the baby, Asher Vance's wife, and the ICU patient, leaving seven.
Tina took a deep breath, "Looks like we have seven home visits to make."
Jared, smiling, ruffled Tina's hair, "No worries, I'll come with you."
"Ah, Uncle is the best." Tina kissed Jared on the cheek.
Nathan, who was driving, glanced at Natalie, who was watching the affectionate couple in the backseat with a contented face.
She showed no sign of mother-in-law awareness at all!
Nathan sighed deeply, recognizing who Tina took after.
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Of course, Jared was also Natalie's disciple.
After all, they were all family!
Tina and Jared visited six families within a week, thankfully, Linden had gathered these individuals in Ashbury for a supposed reunion to honor the past lifesaving grace.
The first six families showed no anomalies; everyone was accounted for, and DNA tests matched the internal records from GTO.
Now, only one was left.
This family's child had been abducted in high school and was now not young anymore.
And he was a boy.
His match with the historical Five Poisons was remarkably high.
However, when Jared knocked on the door, an elderly couple greeted them.
"Hello, you must be Mr. Farrell we've been waiting for," the woman said, inviting Jared and Tina inside.
Tina glanced at the photo in her hand and then at the man in front of her.
It wasn't the same person!
The man chuckled, instructing his wife to serve tea, "Young lady, you're not mistaken. The person who was abducted wasn't me; it was my son." "Your son?"
"Yes, my son disappeared while he was in high school, almost costing our whole family our lives. Thankfully, he was later found." The man sighed, the old fear still evident in his voice.