The Iron Rice Bowl Got Away
The Wandering Girl was desperately trying to hold onto the last two ice cubes at the bottom of the cup with her straw.
Beichen pushed open the door and walked into the cafeteria. His eyelids twitched as he glanced at the mountain of bones and empty plates on the table, which looked like it had been robbed.
"Finish your meal and get going. The Guardian has reached an agreement with your Director Wang and wants you to go to his office."
Sing Sing grabbed a tissue and wiped his mouth haphazardly, then beckoned the group of old, weak, sick, disabled, and even cavemen to follow.
Back in the office.
Guardian Hudson, sitting in his swivel chair, first returned the phone to Sing Sing.
"Your Director Wang... is quite an extraordinary person."
His tone was complex, as if he had just gone through an intense workplace conversation.
"We've reached a preliminary agreement: Alpha Flight will take the blame for Silver Peak's actions on your behalf. But the condition is that you must leave Canada immediately, not even for a second longer."
"Thank you for your understanding, leader! I knew it! This is a win-win situation, a win-win-win situation twice over!" Sing Sing chuckled as he put his phone in his pocket.
Turning his head, he looked at the Blue Elf who was still slurping air through a straw. "Comrade Little Yi, Director Wang has given you instructions on how to deal with us?"
The Wandering Girl put down her empty cup and let out a burp. "The boss's exact words were, 'First, pack up Darwin and send him back to Alaska. Then, take you back to China with this big, black guy, and dump him at the station for a checkup. Finally, I have to work overtime to take you to see Luke Shaw.'"
Upon hearing this name, Sing Sing's smile faded slightly, "Luke? What happened to him? Wasn't that kid doing quite well at the Plant Protection Research Institute of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences? He'd gained weight from eating so many Korla pears, and those insect wings on his back were practically ready to take flight. What kind of trouble has he gotten into?"
"He... well, you'll have to see for yourself when you get back. I can't explain this in just a few words."
The Wandering Girl's gaze drifted towards the ceiling, focusing on reading random replies and resolutely avoiding eye contact with Sing Sing.
Sing Sing suppressed his temper and turned to Darwin: "Little Darwin, we've known each other for a while. What are your career plans for this trip back? Are you going to come with me to China for a stable job with paid weekends, or are you going back to your Alaska to continue being a wilderness hunter?"
Darwin scratched his bald head, glancing at the snowstorm outside the window. "Margaret is still waiting for me in the cabin in Alaska. I have to go back and help the old lady move tonight."
"Those bastards from Silver Peak suffered such a huge setback at the border, they'll definitely investigate my background and settle accounts with her later."
Sing Sing readily nodded, took out his phone and fiddled with it a couple of times. "I understand, filial piety is the most important virtue. Let's add each other as friends. Once you've settled the old lady in, if you ever really run out of options, or if you come to the realization that the end of the universe is still taking the civil service exam, just send me your location."
"No matter how far away, the bureau will charter a plane to pick you up for your new jobs."
Darwin reluctantly took out his phone, scanned the QR code, and added the China agent who was full of tall tales.
Edith stepped forward and grabbed Darwin's arm. "Hold on tight! I just ate, and my energy reserves are at their peak. You're lucky this time, kid; the landing point was absolutely precise to the centimeter!"
A flash of purple light, and the two vanished into thin air.
The Guardian watched this scene, a hint of assessment flashing in his eyes.
"Snowbird mentioned in the report that you've been searching for a giant red-skinned dinosaur along the way?"
"Alpha Flight will use low-altitude radar and satellite networks within Canada to keep an eye out for you. I will contact 749 Bureau immediately if there is any trace of that so-called 'Devil Dinosaur'."
The Moon-Boy, who had been silent all along, suddenly brightened up, raised the big bone, and let out two loud cries of thanks.
Sing Sing seized the opportunity, taking three steps forward in two, firmly grasping Hudson's hands and shaking them up and down. "If you ever have any business needs for technical exchange or talent swaps in the future, let's keep in touch! China's doors are always open to senior engineers!"
Before the pleasantries were even finished, a flash of purple light filled the office, Wandering Girl appeared precisely on time, like a stopwatch.
"The Alaska delivery is complete, now it's your turn." She grabbed Sing Sing and the Moon-Boy's wrists respectively.
Spatial ripples spread, a flash of light, and the three disappeared from Alpha Flight headquarters.
"Clatter!"
The Guardian and Beichen exchanged a glance after staring at the bones on the ground.
Was it intentionally dropped here or was it accidental?
The large office returned to silence.
Beichen's tone revealed a hint of confusion. "Just let them go like that? Those hyenas from the Silver Peak Consortium, once they've bitten someone, they won't let go. They'll definitely use this to cause us trouble later. Is this deal worth getting into trouble for a few outsiders?"
The Guardian picked up the wrench from the workbench again and twirled it between his fingers. "This isn't called causing trouble, this is called paying tuition. The way 749 Bureau treats Mutants has taught us guys who are always thinking about how to fight a lesson."
"Treat them like ordinary laborers and appease them with social welfare; that's far more effective than spending billions building those heavy mechs that can launch missiles. We can learn from the 749 Bureau's experience and try the same approach to pacify those troublemakers within our borders."
Beichen nodded thoughtfully.
Just as he was about to leave, a red and black bodysuit fell from the ceiling and landed at Beichen's feet.
The newcomer sprang to his feet with a somersault, revealing two samurai swords on his back, and the white goggles on his eye mask contracted dramatically.
"Damn this shoddy product! The landing accuracy of this broken teleportation belt is getting more and more outrageous!"
Deadpool muttered curses as he dusted himself off and looked around.
Not seeing the person he was looking for, he rushed to the desk, slammed his hands on the surface, and brought his face right up to the Guardian's.
"Huh? Where's my secure job? Where did my high-ranking, guaranteed-employment boss go?! The script outline clearly says Stephen Chow is in this room! I even stayed up all night memorizing his inaugural speech for the neighborhood committee director, all that was left was for him to pull out a contract for me to sign!"
Faced with this sudden appearance of a mentally ill patient, Beichen's eyes turned cold, and he entered battle mode.
A dazzling burst of photon energy emanated from his body, illuminating the office with a blinding white light.
Hands behind your head! State your identity and intentions!
Deadpool turned his head, looked at the glowing Beichen, and whistled excitedly. "Wow! What a blinding human spotlight! Dude, how much post-production budget did you burn per second for that all-encompassing, blind-spot-free lighting effect?"
He drew his twin swords from his back and yelled at the air, "Director! Author! There's a supporting actor here who brought his own funding to the production and is forcibly adding scenes, seriously affecting my progress in passing the civil service exam! Can I just chop him all the way back to his hometown?!"
After saying that, he let out a strange cry and pounced on Beichen.
"For my Five Insurances and One Housing Fund! Take this 'Residents' Committee Director Face-Breaking Slash!"