" So, Did you find anything about his father?" Conan asked Yelena, they were both riding on the bike while Ben was running like the last day.
" I did, there are many things I got to know more about him and his father." Yelena said, " Is Ben the son of Mike Lupin?"
" You tell me, this is the first time I am even hearing his father's name."
" Mike Lupin was part of a scientist group under TGAE but three years ago he left the organisation and joined the hunter faction. Since then TGAE doesn't have any leads on him." She told Conan.
" You are connected to TGAE, the person who helped you must be very high up in the ladder to give you this information so quickly," Conan said. ' She can be useful in the future, should I agree to her request? No, it would be suspicious if I agree now, let's wait.'
Ben was running like yesterday but a little slower because of the fatigue but both Conan and Yelena didn't let him stop. But there was a great improvement in how far he ran, this time however instead of puking Ben just fainted right away.
" He is pushing himself too hard," Conan said and picked him up on his back. " Here, take this." He threw his keys to Yelena, and Yelena easily cached the keys.
" I feel guilty about this, It would have taken me five years to afford such a bike with my own money," Yelena said with a not so guilty face.
" Let me load him over the bike, let's take him to the nearby park," Conan said, " Widen the seat for him."
Yelena put the keys in the bike and the screen activated again, she browsed through the option and activated the wider seat option. It started to expand the width, and there was also an option to expand the length of the bike so Yelena also did that.
" Alright let's drive this on float mode as it would be more stable that way." She slowly drove the bike while Conan followed them running.
Ben had remained half-unconscious until they reached the park. Conan splashed water to wake him up and sit properly while Yelena fanned him with a big lead she got from a tree.
" Th- Uh-Ah hank! You," Ben thanked as he breathed and got up.
" Get up, we gotta tell you something?" Conan said.
" What is it?" Ben asked and then drank the water Yelena gave him.
" It's about your father, Yelena found something about him." Ben quickly gulped down all the water he had in his mouth.
" Really?" Ben looked toward Yelena in surprise, " Tell me, what do you know?"
" Your Father, Mike Lupin was one of the scientists in TGAE that worked on the project parasite, three years ago he left the organization and joined another, which is known as Hunter's faction. Since then there has been no news about him or any leads on him."
" There have been no leads, what does that mean? Why did he leave TGAE?" Ben asked, he was curious and even scared,
" I don't know more than this or the person I asked didn't tell me to know more than this on purpose."
There was a different kind of sweat on Ben's face this time, one that Conan recognised. Ben was afraid that his father may have died or something bad had happened for him to not be found anywhere.
" You should not make that face, have faith, Ben," Conan said, Ben didn't expect these words to come from Conan. " If your father truly is in danger then you have to go and help him."
Tears fell from Ben's eyes, " How am I supposed to do that? I am pathetic, I am weak, what if my father is already dead? I am scared, why didn't I do something earlier?"
Yelena didn't try to Console Ben for him there was never a moment that she cared about family. She didn't understand Ben so she tried to not get involved and let Conan do the consoling.
" You are weak and pathetic, but you are trying to change and I have seen that determination in your eyes. I will change you into someone who can face these challenges, all you have to do is just believe in me." Conan said, ' By saying I am making him depend on me, is it the right thing to do?'
" There are organisations like TGAE and some faction I have never even heard of, I didn't even know who my father worked for. He always hid things from me."
" Fathers are like that, They act as a shield to protect you from every danger."
Ben started to stabilize for real after being consoled by Conan. The words were effective on him, after crying a little a more he finally got up.
" I need to go home Conan, I will see you tomorrow."
" Yes, it is fine, you should rest Ben," Yelena said.
" Thank you, Ms Yelena."
But just as he was about to leave, Conan stood up and came in front of him and punched him in the abdomen.
" What are you doing Conan?" Yelena shouted in surprise.
Ben didn't even make any sound and was instinctively curled down.
" I am helping him," He said and added, " Get up Ben."
That punch was strong, to Ben, it felt like he would die if he got punched a second time.
For a moment he forgot everything about his father.
" Do you feel pain?" Conan asked but there was no response. " If you don't answer me then I am going to punch you."
" Argh!.Gh!..Yes!" Ben somehow said yes.
" If you can not withstand this pain then you can never face the cruelty of this world. Do not run from it, I am sure you want to save your father so do not give up. Withstand every kind of pain anything that you fear, stand brave against it, Be wise, be strong, be kind but most importantly be determined." Conan lectured making Ben realise what he was doing when he decided to go back home for today just after hearing about his father. He became frightened because of the dangers that he will have to face if he decides to look for his father, who may just be hiding from the world. If he would have returned home, then he would have slowly given up on the idea of going to find his father. Or if his father was dead then there was no meaning in finding him.
" What would I have to do Conan? To become as strong as you so I don't have to be afraid of anything ever."
" We will figure it out, you just need to be fearless."