After all, how could he expect to get into an accident and then meet someone who would be generous enough to not only provide him treatment but also his mother?
From birth, Leo's luck was completely opposite to his favor. His father died, his mother worked herself to exhaustion, he was mediocre in studies, not even able to pass high school, and ultimately dropped out, deciding to do manual labor.
For someone as unlucky as him, having a chance to meet an average person, or as if all the luck saved in his life was concentrated into a single day, was not something he could digest, causing him to mutter beneath the oxygen mask, "W...hhy?"
The simple question escaping his mouth was a plea to know why someone like that person would help a man like him. Though of course he understood everything was a coincidence, and he was just being pitied by a generous and kind man, he still expected to be of some use to that person.
Born into a poor family and growing up with a body that wasn't talented, he always bore the burden of responsibilities on his shoulders, and naturally, he couldn't now bear another burden of being helped by someone without returning something in exchange.
"I am Marquess Avendial Croceaus," Avendial said without hesitation, coming closer to the bed with his eyes cold and unrelenting, looking down at Leo as if a predator looking at an ant. He watched Leo with a clear hint of pressure emanating from his very presence.
This was not some superpower Avendial had, but an effect of his name and cold demeanor, which was enough to send a chill down Leo's spine.
'M-marquess?!' Leo's eyes widened, his pupils contracting. They trembled rapidly as he heard the name of the man who saved him, despair and helplessness surrounding his mind as he realized how much of a joke his thought of being useful to this man had been.
The man gazing down at him like a mountain was not simply a random rich person but one holding enough strength to influence the economy of several countries, someone whose mere name was enough to control the share market.
Leo, a mere construction worker, how could he possibly be of any help to this man, who could afford millions of Leos for himself?
A joke.
Once again, Leo's life seemed to play a cruel joke on him, burdening him with the help of someone whose assistance he could never repay, even if he sacrificed his life.
Another burden for him to bear for a lifetime.
"You want to be of some help to me?" Avendial, having seen too many individuals to at least be able to read their facial expressions, noted Leo's clenched jaw and haggard breath, as his heartbeat raced. He could clearly understand that this particular man was someone who would be suitable for his first experiment.
"....y..es..," Leo murmured hoarsely, unaware of how he could be of any help, while controlling his breath. He was fighting for his life; the pain from the surgical wounds, though subdued by painkillers, was still overwhelming.
He was emotionally shattered, feeling like a useless man who couldn't help his mother, who, if not for him, would have never contracted an incurable disease despite all the technological advancements.
.net
His chest rose and fell with desperate, ragged breaths, but the oxygen mask felt like a cage, suffocating him further; every inhale was a war against the fire scorching his lungs.
Thump thump thump.
His heart pounded wildly, the rhythm thundering in his ears, almost as if it was trying to escape his chest.
The monitors beside him beeped in frantic chaos, echoing the rapid, out-of-control beating of his heart, which was now pushing 280, threatening to break.
'Will he survive this?' Avendial, well aware that this room was soundproofed—given that Dr. Wen could not hear anything a few moments ago—was assured that no one would disturb them, but the issue was whether Leo would be able to survive this.
"AaaaRRrrrGgggHHHH!!!"
The horrifying sound of his own bones breaking under the pressure of the unknown fluid made his body jerk violently on the bed.
Crack.
His spine arched unnaturally, his back lifting off the bed as the sound of bones grinding against one another filled the room.
The unbearable sensation of his bones bending and stretching, as though they were being torn apart from within, made him scream again.
"Arrghhh! Make it stop!" His voice was shredded, raw from the relentless cries of agony.
drip drip
Blood gushed from his ears, trickling down his face, pooling around his head as blood flowed from his facial orifices.
His eyes watered with crimson tears, rolling down his face and dripping onto the pillow as they mixed with the blood oozing from his nose.
His head slammed back against the bed, his jaw clenched so hard his teeth felt like they were grinding into dust.