The woman froze in shock, instinctively clutching her daughter and stepping back a few paces.
"Dad! What's wrong with you?"
"He's been parasitized by the worms in the seawater for a while now."
Mia walked forward slowly, her hand reaching back to grip the hilt of the blade strapped to her back. With a sharp shing, she unsheathed her tachi, making her intentions crystal clear.
The woman's eyes widened in disbelief, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. She couldn't accept what was happening.
"How… how could this happen?"
"He's known about his condition for a while," Mia explained, her voice steady but tinged with sadness. "He didn't want me to tell you. He said he just wanted to spend his last days with you and your daughter."