Jamie Bornez was not his real uncle. The man was his father's best friend when he was still working at the pharmaceutical company with his mother many years ago, and the man had been caring toward him since his parents were still alive.
After his parents passed away, the middle-aged man became more caring towards him, and the man even reminded him to eat every day, knowing that he often skipped meals if he was too busy with something.
The two were quite close like father and son, and they often talked about many things, including issues related to the Dawn virus. However, it was usually Jamie who brought up the topic, while Luca just listened to him quietly as if he had no interest in the topic. That was why Jamie was quite stunned when the young man suddenly asked some questions related to the virus.
"What's the latest news that you want to tell me, Uncle?" Luca asked, sounding a little impatient to know what kind of information his uncle would tell him this time.
"The Dawn Virus Research Center will be holding a meeting after lunch today. It is said that one of the senior researchers at the research center has managed to find a cure for zombies," Jamie answered, and it was Luca's turn to look surprised by the answer.
"What do you mean a cure for zombies, Uncle?" Luca asked again immediately. "Shouldn't it be a vaccine that the research center needs to develop?"
"You're right. The research center should focus on developing the vaccine, and we've been focusing on it for the past few years," Jamie answered. "But it seems like the senior researcher is very confident in the cure, and that's why he requested a meeting today. I heard that the East Block leader will also be attending the meeting."
"That seems serious," Luca replied. "I know you won't be participating in the meeting, but can you tell me if you hear anything about it, Uncle?"
"I'll let you know if I know anything, Luc," Jamie answered right away. "I'm so glad to hear you sound enthusiastic when you talk about the virus. After your parents died eight years ago, you became very pessimistic about the world, and you even believed that all humans would end up like your parents sooner or later. I wonder what kind of thing suddenly changed your mind, Luc."
"..." Luca didn't answer, but his mind silently recalled his conversation with the delivery man named Finn a few minutes ago.
For some reason, he was shaken by the man's optimism. While he could only think of the worst, the man could see a glimmer of hope from his perspective, and he somehow wondered how the man could have such optimism.
"Ah, I have to get back to work now since lunch is over, Luc," Jamie spoke again when Luca remained silent. "I'll come over to your house tonight with some fried chicken and beer. You'll open your door for me, right?"
"What about your daughter and wife, Uncle? Will they be okay if you don't come home soon?" Luca replied immediately this time.
"They'll be fine," Jamie answered. "To be honest, it was actually my wife who asked me to come see you today. I've been busy the past few weeks, and the last time I visited your place was two weeks ago, right? I kind of miss my eldest child, you know?"
Luca smiled slightly at the older man's answer, but then he bid goodbye, letting the older man continue with his work. After the call ended, he put the phone on the coffee table, and his eyes fell back on the disposable lunch box. He considered whether or not he should eat it, but in the end, he reached out to grab it.
At the same time but in a different place, Jamie Bornez had just finished eating in the cafeteria, and he had also ended his call with Luca Weisman. He immediately walked to the elevator and used his employee card to get access to it. Once he was inside the elevator, he pressed the 7 button on the elevator wall, indicating that the 7th floor was his destination.
After reaching that floor, the elevator stopped, and the doors automatically opened. He stepped out of the elevator and was about to return to the laboratory where he worked, but then he saw a group of people walking toward another room on the floor. It was the meeting room they were heading to, and he quietly observed the people.
The tallest man in the group walked in front between a shorter man and a woman. It was the first time Jamie had seen that man in person. Usually, he had only seen that man on TV, and that was why he was quite stunned in front of the elevator.
'That's the leader of the East Block, Marc Bosche. He's from the military, so it's no wonder his figure is so perfect even though he's already fifty,' Jamie thought to himself as he quietly observed the leader from afar.
His gaze then shifted to the shorter man walking beside Marc Bosche, and it was a chubby man in his white lab coat. 'That must be Damian Horan, the senior researcher who used to be the director of HAZ Pharmaceutical. This research center was only established seven years ago, and all the pharmaceutical companies merged into one under the command of the East Block leader. However, Damian Horan is still a powerful figure in this research center even if he's not the leader here, and I heard that he even has his own laboratory, which is why he doesn't need to go to the research center every day,' he thought to himself once again.
Finally, his gaze fell on the figure of a woman walking on the other side of Marc Bosche, and he recognized her as the director of the research center, Shavia Normech. These three people were clearly the most important figures who would be present at today's meeting, and Jamie wondered what kind of things they would discuss.