First, Let's Sort Out Our Workers' Compensation Claim
Sing Sing rubbed his face a couple of times, trying to process the overwhelming information he had just received.
Those two had already entered the elevator. Trying to pry into their family relocation policies through the crack in the door would be incredibly impolite and could easily get you posted online as a warning.
We can have a couple of bites of the melon, but we still need to keep doing the serious business of attracting investment.
He turned and waved to the two guys behind him who were looking around suspiciously.
"Xiao Da, stop eyeing the fire escape like that. This is a legitimate government facility; nobody's thinking about tearing you apart and selling you as meat every day."
Darwin reluctantly looked away. The sensors hidden in the corners of the walls and the cracks in the ceiling made his scalp tingle; he felt as if countless eyes were watching him.
"I just want to know in advance which way to run if something happens."
"Young people, don't always think about running away when you encounter problems! No wonder you'll never find a stable job with Five Insurances and One Housing Fund in your life."
After finishing his rant, Sing Sing looked to the other side, "And that guy gnawing on the bone, you've practically polished that deer leg bone to a patina."
"This is their headquarters. Carrying bones into the leader's office will make people think we haven't had a proper meal."
The Moon-Boy looked down and examined it again, but still couldn't bear to throw it away.
The three walked down the long corridor to the end; the door was open.
The room didn't have the thick carpets or huge desks typical of a leader's office; instead, the walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling metal tool racks and electronic circuit boards.
A set of red and white power armor is fixed to the right-side bracket.
The helmet covers the entire head of the doll, the mask has a scanning component embedded in it, and a striking maple leaf is printed on the chest.
The armor plates are quite thick and solid, and complex vector propulsion modules are clearly installed on the thighs and back.
This set of equipment isn't exactly lightweight, but its practicality is obvious.
Power amplification, flight, including life support, electromagnetic control, and protection systems, are all crammed into this alloy shell.
Sing Sing glanced at it for a few seconds and quickly estimated the price in his mind.
The research and development budget for this equipment is enough to buy at least two large Siheyuan with rear-facing rooms within Beijing's Second Ring Road, and maybe even get a Beijing A license plate.
A middle-aged man was standing behind the workbench.
The man was wearing a slightly faded plaid shirt and was holding a hydraulic wrench stained with engine oil.
With goggles casually pushed up on his forehead, a ring of bluish-gray stubble on his chin, and his hairline having made indelible sacrifices in years of scientific research, he exuded an air of exceptional intelligence.
James Hudson.
A founding member of the Alpha Flight, codenamed Guardian.
Guardian
They are also the manufacturers of this pile of high-tech scrap metal in front of us.
After tightening the last fixing bolt, the Guardian put the wrench back on the workbench.
The monitor on the table was showing footage of an accident in the border region.
The wreckage of a motorhome was scattered in the snow, a Nighthawk Helicopter had crashed into a snow slope, and another helicopter had dropped its weapon racks and half of its landing gear.
"You've caused quite a stir at the border."
He picked up a rag to wipe his hands, his gaze sweeping over the three men in turn.
"A fugitive capable of mutating according to his environment, a humanoid creature for which no match can even be found in the modern human gene pool."
The Guardian pulled over a swivel chair, sat down, and looked at Sing Sing with his fingers interlaced.
"The United States has sent several notices requesting assistance in the investigation."
"They accuse you of sabotaging military facilities, relocating high-risk test subjects, and stealing core data that threatens national security."
"I need a reasonable explanation. What exactly are you from China planning to take away after sending you all the way to North America?"
"People, technology, or the weapons Silver Peak mentioned?"
"Stop! Stop!"
Sing Sing pulled over a chair and sat down, then casually took out a cigarette from his pack and handed it to him.
"Boss, would you like one?"
"Smoking is prohibited here as there is sophisticated equipment."
"Sophisticated."
Sing Sing Chow held the cigarette in his mouth, indulging his craving, without touching the lighter.
"Boss, aren't you going too far with that accusation? Just Silver Peak wrote a few pages of documents, does that make him a living experimental asset?"
"As for collecting weapons, which executive fabricated that charge for me?"
He pointed behind him.
"Look at these two unlucky brothers behind me. One of them is so skinny he's practically skin and bones; a gale could send him flying two miles."
"Another one is so poor he can't even afford a pair of work boots, carrying a skeleton in the freezing cold to make a living. What kind of asset is that? Western capitalists are really indiscriminate these days, squeezing every last drop of surplus value from even the poorest of the poor?"
The Guardian was somewhat surprised. Since he put on this armor and formed the Alpha Flight, he had never encountered such an unpredictable and ruthless individual.
He remained silent for a few seconds, then raised his hand and waved it, revealing detailed information about Darwin in the center of the room.
"Armando Eddie Muñoz, nicknamed Darwin, can adjust his physical state according to external threats. Low temperatures, gunshot wounds, impacts, and falls from great heights can all prompt his body to adapt."
"You know better than I what the consequences would be if this ability were deployed on the battlefield."
Sing Sing raised his hand to stop the other person from continuing, "The battlefield use comes from your documents; Darwin never signed off on it."
"He hasn't officially joined 749 Bureau yet, I won't lie to you. Xiao Da only agreed to drive us to Los Angeles, but we were chased by Silver Peak on the way, so he ended up coming to Canada with me."
"However, we've already reserved a position for him as an extreme environment emergency response assessor. Conventional rescue teams are not suitable to enter the area rashly during avalanches, mining accidents, or major geological disasters."
"If he's willing to sign the contract, he can go in first to check the passageways and danger zones, and then the personnel behind can formulate a rescue plan."
As Sing Sing spoke louder and louder, even Darwin, who was watching nearby, almost believed that he was a glorious rescue pioneer.
The Guardian looked at the Moon-Boy, "Where is he?"
"The long-haired guy behind me is the mechanical engineering maintenance consultant I just signed. Room and board are all included, and tools are provided by the company."
"The additional details are also clearly stated: 749 Bureau will help him find his lost companions."
"These are legitimate, officially employed workers! Your border defenses can't control those armed men from Silver Peak, allowing them to cross the border and bomb our RV. This is disrupting the international employment environment!"
"Not only that, it also caused severe psychological trauma and physical injuries to our employees."
He pointed to the almost healed gash on the Moon-Boy's shoulder.
"See that? A work injury! This only happens here. If this happened back home, I'd sue them at the labor bureau until they're bankrupt!"
"I haven't even asked you for medical expenses or compensation for emotional distress, and you're already starting to argue with me?"
The Guardian stood frozen in his chair, opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
What's wrong with this person?
How did a transnational Mutants conflict turn into a local dispute where a contractor is demanding an explanation?