Outside the elevator was a huge office occupying the whole floor. When Maria walked into the office, she found that it was completely empty except for an old man with silver hair, wearing a white Lab coat.

"Oh, you're here." At the sight of Maria, a smile Lit up the old man's wrinkled face. Maria nodded, took out a folder from her bag, and handed it to him.

“Mr. Newman, this is the recent data collected from me using the hibernation pod."

Gary Newman was a well-known name in the world of biological science.

There were many titles, posts, and glories attributed to this eminent man.

He was the father of the Life Pause Technique, the vice president of the Life Code Association, the winner of the International Neurobiology Award, and the president of the No. 1 Research Institute of Broome University... among many other things.

But despite all his titles, Maria didn't address him as President Newman or even as Professor Newman... and she had a good reason for that.

It was true that Gary was the pioneer in the field of the hibernation technique.

But at the same time, he was Sophie's grandfather, and someone that Maria knew personally.

"Aww." Gary took the folder with a smile. Although he was excited to take a look at the results, he suppressed the urge to do it immediately, since it was not every day that Maria paid him a visit.

“I just received another report from Broome. It's from the head of the Smith family," Gary said, setting the folder aside.

Maria nodded at this.

So far, Sophie's institute had produced two hibernation pods. One of them was installed in Anthony's house and being used by her, while the other was installed in the Smith family's residence in Broome, where it was being used by Mathias.

The data reports from these two hibernation pods were important reference points that would drive the subsequent progress of the technique of hibernation for the treatment of patients.

With a frown, Gary continued, "I don't know whether your data report will be positive or not, but the data report we received from Mathias doesn't spell good news. Using the hibernation pod surely can prolong his life, but it won't be able to cure his condition. Sooner or later, he will succumb to it and die."

Maria and Mathias were two completely different cases. When it came to Maria, other than her narcolepsy, she was as healthy as the next person.

Mathias, however, was an old man with one foot in the grave. Thanks to the hibernation pod, his lifespan had been extended for a few more months.

But as time went by, his physical condition was still getting worse and worse, just at a slower rate.

“I understand. We just need to do what we can. My mother gets to spend more time with her father. That's enough," Maria said calmly and firmly.

Seeing the way Maria didn't even blink an eye at the news of her grandfather's looming demise, Gary was stunned.

In fact, there was one thing about Sophie's research institute that the Smith family might not know.

The research institute was responsible for the maintenance of two hibernation pods at the same time. Even though the Smith family had paid for it, the maintenance of the hibernation pods still put a strain on the research department of the institute, slowing down the progress of the research.

For example, Ian, the deputy president of the research institute, was one of the top researchers here, but since they were short on qualified staff, he had to personally perform maintenance work on one of the hibernation pod.

He spent so much time at the Smith family's house that he could almost be called Mathias' private health expert.