Archie lowered his head and sighed, his face filled with guilt. "I... I lost the map while I was unconscious," he mumbled. His explanation, though simple, seemed plausible.

Mr. Stanley nodded, patting Archie reassuringly on the shoulder. "You did your best. Mr. Russell won't blame you."

"But..." Stanley's tone shifted. "How do you know there was a map inside that box?"

Archie's eyes flickered, but his head remained bowed, revealing nothing. He'd slipped up. His mind raced, searching for an excuse, but before he could formulate one, Stanley moved on. "Let's go see Mr. Russell."

Stanley pushed open the slightly ajar door and strode inside. Archie followed, expecting an empty room. Instead, a medical team monitored Stephan's condition, meticulously recording even the slightest vital changes.

Stanley went straight to the team leader, an elderly doctor. "When will Mr. Russell wake up?"

The doctor adjusted his glasses. "Soon. Once this round of medication is administered, it should be no more than two days."

Stanley breathed a sigh of relief, a genuine smile finally gracing his face. "Thank you all for your hard work."

"It's no trouble at all," the doctor replied dismissively. The team's compensation from the Russell family was astronomical—enough to fund their research for years. A billion dollars in a few days hardly felt like work.

Stanley turned to Archie. "We've seen what we needed. Let's go. When Mr. Russell wakes up, he'll definitely want to see you."

Unseen by Stanley, Archie clenched his fists. Two days at most? This was his last chance. Failure meant years of scheming—winning over Imogen, infiltrating the Russell family, fathering a child to solidify his position—would be in vain. He was so close to controlling the entire family.

Lowering his gaze, he said, "I'll stay here to look after Mr. Russell. I failed the mission, so this is my atonement. Stanley, you go. Leave this to me."

"Well... suit yourself," Stanley replied. He was busy, and with a full medical team present, and Archie being one of them, he had no concerns.

Stanley left. Throughout the day, subordinates checked on Stephan, exchanging pleasantries with Archie. He repeated his prepared story, seamlessly handling their questions. As a former comrade, he understood them; their brotherhood remained strong, even now. His return had surprised many, but their shared history ensured a warm welcome.

After dealing with his former comrades, Archie rubbed his face wearily. Noticing an assistant doctor preparing to take Stephan's temperature, he quickly stepped forward, smiling. "Here, let me do it."