Chapter 8 Similarities Between Uncle Jasper and Zombie King

"Money!" Summer exclaimed, her face lighting up with delight as she looked up at Liam. She recognized the large denomination bills from the memories stored in her young mind. Yet, instead of immediately reaching for them, she turned to look at Helena for approval. Helena gently patted Summer's head, her expression filled with curiosity as she turned to her son. Jasper, just as puzzled, raised his eyebrows at Liam, silently urging him to provide an explanation. "The man we apprehended earlier was involved in human trafficking," Liam began, his voice tinged with anger. "He confessed to specifically targeting the hospital to abduct children from wealthy families, claiming it would bring them good fortune. Our team is still interrogating him, trying to uncover any leads on other children he might have taken." Reflecting on the trafficker's admissions, Liam sighed heavily. "It's horrifying to think how many families this man has destroyed." Realizing the somber mood his story had cast, especially considering Summer's own history, Liam quickly shifted gears. "This is a reward from the organization," he said as he handed the money to Summer. "It's for helping to catch the criminal. Keep this money safe, little one. There are many thieves on the train, and if you lose these, you won't get them back." Summer hesitated, still looking up at Helena. Once Helena nodded, she took the money, carefully counting it. She managed to count three banknotes, which seemed to her like a fortune. After counting, Summer handed the money to Helena, declaring in a sweet, childlike voice, "For Grandma!" Liam laughed, impressed by her sense of responsibility. "So young, yet already thinking about supporting the family. That's admirable!" Jasper watched as Summer confidently handed over the money, her eyes gleaming with pride that seemed to tease him for his lack of contribution, almost making him laugh. Despite having more money in his bag, he wondered if he should really be competing with his little lifesaver over such matters. Jasper, who had lifted Summer into his arms once again, looked back at Liam and announced, "Liam, Captain Bailey has everything arranged on the military side, so there's no need for long goodbyes." Liam nodded, handing Jasper the train tickets. "Be careful on your journey!" With a friendly pat on Liam's shoulder, Jasper turned to leave with his family, ready to start a new chapter. As dawn broke, the group left the hospital, their spirits a mix of exhaustion and relief. Helena and Summer, having stayed up through the night, were particularly weary. Jasper, on the other hand, remained unexpectedly energetic. Once they managed to secure their places on the train, Helena could barely keep her eyes open. The stress of her youngest son's near-death experience and his pending retirement had taken a toll on her sleep. Now, with the crisis averted, she allowed herself to relax. "I'll take a nap first, you watch over Summer," Helena said to Jasper, arranging the valuable bag under her as she settled down to sleep. Summer, though also sleepy, felt a sense of duty to protect Helena. She kept her eyes wide open, vigilant of their surroundings. She understood the importance of the money Helena carried and the distress losing it would cause. Jasper chuckled softly at Summer's serious demeanor, pinching her nose affectionately. "I am strong now, thanks to your potion! I can take on ten now, so if you're tired, you can rest too." Summer eyed him with a mix of suspicion and scrutiny. She was unsure about the other effects of the so-called Zombie King Potion and was aware of Helena's low regard for Jasper, making it hard for her to fully trust him. Her gaze briefly met that of a chubby boy near the door of the carriage, sparking a moment of doubt, but she quickly dismissed it and continued her vigil. "Protect!" she declared, pointing first at herself and then at Jasper. "You sleep!" She lit up with the realization that she could now articulate three words comfortably, a small victory that brought her joy. Jasper watched her with a smile, touched by her determination and cheerfulness. Yet, a nagging sensation tugged at him—an unsettling feeling of being watched since they boarded the carriage. He glanced around nonchalantly. Besides the chubby child who was still by the door and an elderly woman intently watching him, everyone else seemed absorbed in their own weariness or sleep. No one else appeared to be paying them any mind. Was it just paranoia, or was something really off? Jasper questioned himself, half-jokingly wondering if the persistent unease might be a side effect of his improved condition—or perhaps it was a deeper, instinctual alertness triggered by potential threats around them. Unaware of Jasper's internal musings, Summer remained focused on her role as protector, not realizing that her heightened awareness might be echoing Jasper's concerns, hinting at an innate sense of danger possibly linked to her unique origins. As Summer processed the situation, her instinctual sniffing from earlier came to mind. She had caught a familiar scent in the hospital, but before she could dwell on it, Jasper's gentle inquiry interrupted her thoughts. "Are you hungry?" he asked, offering her a half-cold bread. "I'll ask for some hot water to warm this up for you when the stewardess comes by." Summer touched her still-full stomach and shook her head to show him that she was not hungry. As Jasper was about to put the bread away, the chubby boy who had been fiddling with his fingers at the doorway suddenly started making a scene. "What right does a girl have to eat such fine breads? Give it to me! I want it!" The chubby boy exclaimed as he attempted to dash towards her. His grandmother immediately intervened, pulling him back with an apologetic glance toward Jasper and Summer. She scolded the boy gently but firmly, pulling out a hard, black object with a faint scent from her pocket. "Grandma has this for you, no fuss," she consoled, her voice tinged with sadness. "If your father were still here, he'd provide well for you. He passed too soon. Though I lack means, I still manage to feed you. Don't pick up bad habits or tarnish your father's name." The people in the carriage, momentarily awakened by the altercation, turned their attention to the unfolding drama. A man with glasses, noticing their predicament, offhandedly inquired, "What happened to his father?" "His dad was a warehouse keeper. The warehouse caught fire, and he died trying to save the inventory," the boy's grandmother explained. Hearing this, everyone looked at the well-fed chubby child and suddenly understood. These days, factory workers often came from stable families, which explained why the child was so well-nourished. However, with his father gone, their future might not be as secure, which explained why the boy craved someone else's cold bread and even tried to snatch it. This quickly put the grandmother and grandson's behavior into context. A middle-aged woman sitting nearby immediately reached out to Jasper. "You're a big man. You look so respectable, so how can you show no sympathy? Seeing the grandmother and grandson so distressed, why not give your bun to the boy?" Summer observed the hand reaching towards her. Then, she tilted her head to look at the woman wearing a large red coat with a green cloth around her neck while blinking in confusion. As the woman's impatient gaze intensified, Summer slowly extended her finger and hesitantly said, "You have!" After a pause, she added, "Hot one!" As the woman looked on, startled, Summer asked in a childlike tone, "Why?" She then pointed to the chubby boy who was still trying to make his way towards her.