Inside the toxicology laboratory in the East District Medical Center, the air smelled faintly of disinfectant and cold metal. Rows of instruments hummed quietly.Elijah Langston stood off to the side, hands clasped behind his back, watching Director Rosalie Smith discuss matters with the lab attendants and Tedrick DiLaurentis.Just then, the laboratory doors slid open with a hiss, and two field officers from the district health bureau hurried in, each carrying sealed containers of water samples. Their expressions were tense.One of them bowed slightly and spoke. “Director Smith, we heard you had arrived, so we hurried here. These are the latest samples from our East River District’s water line. The situation outside is worsening. More than thirty residents have shown symptoms of acute poisoning since dawn.”Ms. Smith accepted the insulated case, and her calm eyes scanned the labels. “All from the same supply route?”“Yes, Director,” the other officer replied. “The entire district is

The expression on Ms. Smith's face dropped in an instant as she asked keenly, "He's an apprentice, not a lab attendant yet."Tedrick raised his chin and said boldly, "Of course, he's not capable of running analyses like you, Ms. Smith. What I'm saying is that he'll agree to become our test subject."He rushed to Elijah's side quickly and said in a hushed tone, "You useless thing, hurry up and make yourself useful to Ms. Smith. If you drink those samples, I'll forget about your disrespect earlier."Elijah couldn't believe his ears and just shook his head."Weren't the samples brought for toxins testing? Why should I take them?""You!" His expression turned vicious. "Didn't you hear that the samples might have been mixed up? Hurry up and take them so we'll know which one is the real one."Hearing this, Elijah couldn't help but smile distantly and ask, "Uncle Ted, are you asking me to become your guinea pig?" This was absolutely funny to him."How dare you laugh? Do you think this is fu

Even the other lab attendants couldn't help but join Tedrick in laughing at the apprentice's words, which were nonsense to their ears.“Cold-root binder? Hidden toxins? This apprentice—have you finally lost your mind?"“Yeah, he's talking pure nonsense. I've seen shameless people pursue Ms. Smith, but this is the worst of all.”“Don’t pretend to be an expert. If Director Smith couldn’t detect anything, what can you possibly see? You can only come up with things that don't exist.”“Stop making things up. Traditional mixtures? What does that have to do with our modern lab?”“You’re overreaching, Little Apprentice. Don’t drag us down with ridiculous guesses. If people outside hear of this nonsense, they'll laugh at our toxicology lab.”Elijah didn't argue with them and simply remained calm. "I've said what I want to say. It's your choice to believe me or not. If you continue to use your modern methods, you won't get results.""Quiet your trap!" Tedrick pointed a finger at him. "Just beca

Rosalie moved without hesitation but was careful with her handling.She first raised one of the samples over the flame until it reached the warmth of thirty-nine degrees, as Elijah had described.The lab attendants followed suit with what she was doing using the other samples, and soon started to stir them lightly with her to break the concealed binder. To them this was all nonsense, but they had to respect and obey their Director.Then it was time to apply the strange substance from the vial which Elijah called the Dragon-root breaking catalyst, drop by drop.When the old vials were opened to begin, Tedrick, who was standing close to Elijah, couldn't help but gloat."Just pray this lab doesn't explode; if not, I'll beat you to death today. Now that you have made Ms. Smith go through with this nonsense, don't you fear that she will be ridiculed by this health bureau behind her back?"Elijah simply watched and said, "We'll know about that soon enough, Uncle Ted. Don't forget about you

Tedrick DiLaurentis was no longer calm and was sweating profusely.He was glaring furiously at Elijah with the intent to force him to back down, but the latter didn't bat an eye.He even said, "If you can't keep your word, are you a man?""You! Don't forget what I know." He gave Elijah a knowing look and clenched his fist.How could he not play his last card—threatening to expose his name and his marriage to Serena DiLaurentis? Now this useless man would really have no choice but to back away.Elijah frowned.This DiLaurentis was really shameless to this extent and would resort to such threats even now."So you are backing out?""That's enough." Rosalie stepped forward, and this made Tedrick start laughing inwardly.'Ms. Smith is finally standing up for me. You really think you can make me kneel? Dream on!'"Thank you for talking sense into this matter, Ms. Smith," he said with a cunning smile, but no one expected that she would slap the back of his head in return."Hurry up and craw