As the car engine started, Alexander remembered something and made a call. Receiving no answer after several attempts, he frowned, then reclined in his seat.

Mike retched violently, squatting on the ground. He'd been vomiting for some time; despite an empty stomach, the urge persisted. The gruesome sight wasn't the only culprit; the stench was equally unbearable.

He began to speak, but nausea overwhelmed him. He scrambled away, gagging and vomiting stomach acid.

"You're such a loser!" Rhea sneered, glancing at the corpse on the floor. This was unexpected. She knelt, gently touching the body with a gloved hand, her head cocked in examination.

Mike finally ceased vomiting, only to resume when he saw Rhea calmly handling the corpse. This time, nothing came up.

Unsurprised by his reaction, Rhea continued her examination. "I wonder why. It shouldn't have happened so soon."

Confused, Mike turned away from the body. "What do you mean? Are you saying he was going to die anyway?"

"Of course!" Rhea replied casually. "He'd been bossing me around for so long. He deserved this!"

Mike was speechless.

"Anyway," she continued, "it shouldn't have happened so soon, given the drug's potency and dosage. The effects haven't even reached the fourth stage. Couldn't he take it?" Mike didn't understand, but his time in the laboratory suggested a connection to viral invasion or mutation. In short, Rhea had intended to torture her "boss" slowly, but he'd died prematurely.

"What are you going to do now that he's dead?" Mike asked, upset. "Didn't you want to use him as a bargaining chip?"

Rhea rolled her eyes, patting her gloved hands. "Stop pretending. You knew my real bargaining chip wasn't him. Since he's dead, we can't keep him here. Go bury him." She stood, issuing the order.

"Me?" Mike was shocked.

"Who else?" Rhea snorted. "Honestly, I'm starting to regret choosing you as my partner. You're useless. You still haven't contacted the organization? Any news on Rick?"

"Well..." Mike began, intending to explain his confinement at the research facility, when the corpse twitched. Horrified, he yelped and stumbled back.

Rhea, however, remained calm, though her expression changed as she kicked the body.

Mike stared in disbelief.