Ever since Floyd introduced Malcolm to Leilani, the two had hit it off immediately. Their temperaments were compatible, and since both were genuinely talented young prodigies rather than superficial scholars, their collaboration was seamless.
Despite his young age, Malcolm was already a professor at Garrison University, managing a pile of national projects and running his own exclusive laboratory.
During their short time together, Malcolm had come to see that Leilani was reliable and possessed a sharp sense of professional propriety. Naturally, as their discussions deepened, he invited Leilani to his lab. Having a dedicated workspace nearby made it convenient for them to verify their theories and brainstorm.
Once inside Malcolm’s lab, Leilani and Malcolm had been burying themselves in research on Payton’s poison for days.
The laboratory lights burned bright through another night. Leilani stared blankly at the data reports she and Malcolm had generated recently, her fingers unconsciously tapping the desk, her brow furrowed in a tight knot.
It still wasn’t working. Payton’s poison was far too tricky.
She had originally thought that by obtaining Mr. Chilton’s detoxification report and improving upon it, she would make headway. The reality, however, was far more complex than she had imagined. Two days had passed, and Leilani was still at a dead end regarding the toxin.
This was a huge blow to her. Even with Mr. Chilton’s complicated condition previously, she and Floyd had only needed to research through two nights to find a direction. But with Payton, she had no leads at all.

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