Glancing at the caller ID, he saw it was his brother, Fred.

“What's happening, Fred?" Kent inquired, his voice deep and serious.

“Did the airport pickup go smoothly? I asked you to handle it well."

“Actually. Fred started, then paused.

"The airport staff mentioned some infectious disease patients requiring isolation. They've restricted access, not allowing anyone in or out. So, I couldn't get in to pick them up." Fred's voice conveyed a touch of embarrassment and helplessness.

Kent was puzzled. Wasn't it odd? The flight was supposed to have landed by now. Why on earth was the airport still closed?

After mulling it over, Kent realized that it was, after all, an international flight. There could be a risk of infection from illegally transported goods on the cargo planes. This would justify the airport's closure as a reasonable precaution.

"You can hang around outside the airport," Kent suggested.

“Once it reopens, be ready to collect them at once. And don't even think about bringing them to the Barnes residence. Escort them directly to the five-star hotel I've organized. Should they require any services, don't hesitate to open the wallet. You must accommodate their every need."

Fred balked at the instructions.

“What? I'm supposed to just wait there? Can't you assign this to someone else? There's plenty I need to be doing at the Pill Alchemist Association..."

Fred's mood soured. As Kent's biological brother, he couldn't fathom why he was always on the receiving end of orders.

"What work of such importance do you have?" Kent had challenged.

"You're merely a fifth-grade pill alchemist. What pressing tasks could the association possibly have for you? Stay vigilant at the airport. And if you botch this, I'll have no choice but to expel you and your sons from the family."

Shocked by the threat, Fred assured Kent he would avoid any errors, then ended the call with a heavy heart.

"What wretched luck," he muttered. With a sigh, he stowed his phone and casually spat out to the side of the road.

Being barred from the airport, Fred had no choice but to wait in the parking area for any update. It was then that he noticed a sleek black car gliding toward the airport. The staff at the checkpoint merely verified the occupants' identities before waving them through.

“Who could be in that car?" Fred wondered aloud, baffled.

"How can they get into the airport at a time like this? Could they be professional doctors?"

At that moment, the window of the black car descended, and Fred caught a glimpse of an elderly man with silver hair in the back seat.

Octavian found solitude in a room and had no attempt to contact Joelle in another room. He deemed it unnecessary.

To him, Joelle was now basically of no use. Besides, the security where Joelle was staying was only marginally better than other rooms.

There was still a chance she could be discovered.

The room he now stayed in remained a well-guarded secret.