Chiron's account of the Hundred-Headed Basilisk's strange properties had caught Alvin's interest...
The "immortality" he spoke of didn't mean the basilisk couldn't die. It meant it could regenerate.
Alvin wasn't unfamiliar with that kind of ability...
He glanced at little Ginny, who was excitedly circling Nick, and shook his head with a smile...
Looking at Richard, whose expression was serious, he said with a smile, "Don't be so serious!
After all, it's an option. It won't solve your problem completely, but if Chiron's right, it'll at least keep you from getting thinner and thinner..."
Richard was quiet for a moment, then said, "Even if we get the Hundred-Headed Basilisk's blood, it still won't solve my problem completely, right?"
Alvin picked up a few steaks from the grill and put them on a plate nearby, then called the kids over to eat...
Then he looked at Richard's serious expression and said with a smile, "That's right. Flesh and blood aren't suitable 'fuel' in the first place. The 'engine' inside you needs something far more advanced.
I still haven't figured out what that is, and even Stark and the others have exhausted every avenue without detecting anything unusual in the air...
But we all know it's real!"
Richard relaxed a little. "Then what is there to hesitate about?
I'm doing fine as I am. I'm not going to change my body just to become some kind of Demigod.
I'm going to be the Beast Knight!
Someday, I'll be able to protect everyone I want to protect!"
Richard's conviction earned an admiring look from Stark. He gave Richard's shoulder a firm pat to show his support...
Then Stark looked at Alvin and said with a smile, "How many times have we said Kingpin's one lucky bastard?"
Alvin smiled and nodded...
As he laid