A Second Chance at Forever

Chapter 1450

Bernard’s gaze was indifferent, his eyes a frosty blue as they locked onto Yates. “What’s this? Can’t find Xavier, so you’re thinking of messing with my chip to make me go looking for him?”

Evan had mentioned, Yates had been scouring the globe to no avail; Xavier had vanished without a trace, as if he’d been swallowed whole by the earth. Yates must have been desperate to come to him now.

Yates felt a pang of frustration under Bernard’s scrutiny. “You’ve got me all wrong, Bernard. I didn’t come here to talk shop about the chip just to manipulate you. I came to tell you I’ve destroyed the failsafe system. You’re not under its thumb anymore.”

Bernard was momentarily taken aback. Ever since he’d returned from his stint outside the Golden Sea District, he’d tried and failed to dismantle the chip’s self-destruct mechanism. Hearing that Yates, the chip’s creator, had personally disabled it, was a shock to his system.

“Though the explosive system is gone, the chip’s laced with a virus. Remove it, and you risk unleashing an infection. Looks like that piece of tech is a permanent tenant in your head now.”

Bernard knew this all too well and didn’t respond, but Yates continued. “This could shorten your lifespan, but I don’t know how.”

This chip was designed for control, never before tested on a human subject. Bernard was the first, so the final outcome was a mystery to Yates as well.

in conversation with Peterson. “She hasn’t come after

a testament to

any moment. She’s bound to find out sooner or later. If that day comes, could you do me a solid? Tell her it was

sure, but it wasn’t him who’d used Bernard as the guinea pig. And

to be used and controlled,

the matter entirely. If Eleanor found out, she’d likely want his head, but relations with Eleanor were strained enough. He didn’t want an enemy in her. He

a tall order, and Bernard’s disdain

actions a little, but

Peterson how could he stop running errands for Yates.

concern and said nothing, prompting an impatient shake of his arm.

Opaca disbanded, and no one left to stand by my grandfather’s side, I can’t