A New Grudge and Old Scores

"Kamar-Taj. That's all I can tell you. You could try looking in Nepal..."

Sitting in a wheelchair, Stephen was now so frail and gaunt that he looked far worse than he had when only his hands were crippled.

Though he had once callously rejected this patient to ensure the success of his own surgery,

when Namikaze Minato pushed Stephen's wheelchair over to him, he still managed to get the answer he wanted.

"Kamar-Taj..."

Stephen murmured to himself.

At the same time, broken images involuntarily flashed through his mind.

While he'd been in a daze, Mr. Jack had worn the Iron Man suit, held fire in his hand, and pressed it against Stephen's shoulder, leaving a black mark there.

He'd also used some unknown method to keep Stephen alive...

"Mr. Minato."

"I'm here. I told you, just call me Minato."

Namikaze Minato was still as sunny and gentle as ever. The time he'd spent with Stephen had brought some warmth to his cold heart.

Actually, Stephen had another close friend, a female doctor. Unfortunately, his male pride made it impossible for him to face her.

With Minato, though, he could open his heart.

"Minato, what do you think Mr. Jack used to suppress the virus? Was it some kind of superpower?"

Stephen had once been an atheist. He believed in science and thought faith was simply a form of spiritual comfort. He wasn't opposed to it, but he didn't believe that genuine supernatural forces existed in the world.

But what he'd seen from Mr. Jack, along with this quadriplegic who could actually play basketball, had stirred something inside him.

This was his last lifeline.

"Minato, could you come with me to Nepal..."

Stephen looked up at Namikaze Minato, his eyes carrying a faint plea. Minato only smiled and said,

"Even if