Director, Don't Panic, I'm Not Claiming Armani on Expenses!

The smile had barely appeared on Director Wang's face before it vanished.

This kid was definitely going to ask for money!

Travel expenses.

Compensation for emotional distress.

A combat damage allowance.

Or some kind of "funeral expenses for a white suit that died in the line of duty."

"Ling Ling Qi."

"Present!"

"If you dare bring up..."

Before Director Wang could finish, Sing Sing's eyes widened.

"Director, how could you think that of me?"

"Do I have to pick a special day to think that of you?"

Grief-stricken, Sing Sing clutched his chest. "What happened to the basic trust between people?"

"Do you have any?"

"Of course I do!"

"I'm just a little frugal, a little particular about receipts, and a little protective of state property! But when a comrade's life and safety are at stake, I never talk about money!"

Director Wang's expression eased a little, but before he could speak, Sing Sing pulled a notebook out of his pocket and started up again.

"Why are you taking out an account book?"

"Don't panic, Director. I'm really not claiming expenses this time."

"I'm representing the first batch of overseas special recruits to return to the country, and applying to the organization for basic communications equipment."

Director Wang frowned. "Communications equipment?"

"Cell phones!"

Sing Sing spoke with absolute conviction. "What age are we living in? Information technology! Digitalization! Even the aunties selling scallions at the market need a QR code to take payments. Is it right that the 749 Bureau's special recruits don't even have cell phones when they go to work?"

Director Wang swallowed his mounting anger.

Toad scratched a bump on his face. "I've got a phone. The construction site gave me one of those phones for old folks. It's really loud. Lao Liu said I couldn't hear anyone calling once I'd jumped up the mountain, so he gave me one..."

Sing Sing gave a couple of awkward chuckles. "Lorna's going to Jiuquan, Xiao Ruan's going to the cold drinks window, Riptide's going on rescue missions, Blue Elf's staying at headquarters, and Anton's going into the archives. Lao Mo still has to go back to Guizhou to install anchor bolts."

"How's everyone supposed to keep in touch then?"

"Through brain waves?"

He pointed at Anton on the bed.

"He's a human signal booster now, but he's an archivist. We can't carry him over every time someone wants to make a call just to piggyback on his connection, can we?"

Anton said nothing.

Doctor Fan glanced instinctively at the test report in his hand.

In theory... that really would work!

"Besides, phones aren't just for calls. They're also attendance trackers, Chinese learning tools, and safety locators!" Sing Sing counted the uses off on his fingers.

"Install a translation app for Lorna, and she won't have to twist cafeteria trays into pretzels every time she hears 'quarantine and observation.'"

Polaris shot him a cold glance, which Sing Sing pretended not to see.

"Install a recipe app for Amy. She can develop more ice cream flavors."

"Install a drinking reminder for Blue Elf. Preferably one with a geofence. It should sound an alarm the moment she touches alcohol."

Wandering Girl's eyes widened. "That's discrimination!"

"It's looking out for you!"

Sing Sing put on a stern face. "Last time you got drunk, you sent us straight into a desert!"

Director Wang was a little surprised. Was this kid actually making sense today?

"That's all?"

"That's all."

Sing Sing spread his hands. "Director, you didn't really think I was going to claim my suit on expenses, did you? That's a dangerous way of thinking. You're stereotyping outstanding field agents."

The anger Director Wang had just suppressed flared up again.

He took two deep breaths, reminding himself to maintain his authority as a leader. Besides, Anton had just woken up, and it wasn't a good time for him to see blood.

"Xiao Zhang!"

His secretary, Xiao Zhang, poked his head through the doorway.

"Director."

"Get a few new phones from the logistics warehouse, and some encrypted SIM cards to go with them."

Xiao Zhang nodded. "Understood. What model?"

Director Wang looked at Sing Sing.

"Big batteries! Tough screens! Preferably waterproof, drop-proof, and Blue Elf-proof!"

"Why do they need to be proofed against me?" Wandering Girl protested.

"To stop you from teleporting a phone into a hot pot."

"I haven't done that!"

"Not yet."

Xiao Zhang stifled a laugh and nodded. "I'll pick out a few rugged phones, then."

"Wait." Sing Sing raised his hand.

Director Wang narrowed his eyes. "What else do you want?"

"Phone cases."

"..."

"If they break from a fall, who's responsible? Is it damage to public property or a workplace injury? Prevention comes first, Director. I'm doing this to save us from arguing over it later!"

Director Wang gritted his teeth.

"Get them!"

"Tempered glass screen protectors too."

"Get them!"

"Chargers."

"Obviously!"

"Never mind the earphones. Wearing them while working could cause a workplace injury."

"Get out!"

Sing Sing stood at attention and saluted.

"Wise decision, Director! Now that's modern management!"

Xiao Zhang turned and ran out, his shoulders shaking.

Director Wang looked at the doorway and felt as though he'd been demoted to head of logistics.

After the farce, Anton cheerfully pulled back his blanket.

Riptide quickly held him steady. "What are you doing?"

"I'm fine. I can go to work."

Doctor Fan hastily waved his hands. "No! You need at least another twenty-four hours of observation. It's too early to say whether your condition will fluctuate later."

Anton shook his head in refusal. "I've had enough of lying down."

"At the laboratory, I lay down every day. I lay down when I was awake, and I lay down when I was unconscious. I don't want to lie down anymore."

Anton looked at Sing Sing, then at Director Wang. "You said I'm an archivist, so I want to see my workstation."

His tone was serious.

"I used to work at a library. Organizing shelves, logging loans, repairing old books... I can do all of that! If you really need me here, I want to start working right away."

Nobody answered. Even Da Vinci didn't raise his toilet plunger to give a speech.

Sing Sing grinned. "Sure!"

"Comrade Zhou, in his condition..."

"Lao Fan, don't worry. It's not like we're sending him to a construction site to carry cement." Sing Sing waved a hand. "First, let him get familiar with the place, see his workstation, and have a feel of the filing cabinets. People aren't machines. Even after they're fixed, they need an eight-hour test run."

"Some illnesses can't be cured by lying in bed."

He walked over and patted Anton on the shoulder. "He's got to get moving. He wants to know that what's waiting for him tomorrow is a desk, not an operating table."

Doctor Fan opened his mouth, then sighed.

A higher rank could crush a man. What could a mere doctor like him say?

Director Wang himself hadn't even spoken yet!

"Xiao Liu!"

His secretary, Xiao Liu, poked his head in. "Director?"

"Arrange a room for him, preferably close to the medical room. Give him a call bell too."

Director Wang gave his orders. "Then show him around. The cafeteria, the dorms, the training area. Finally, take him to the underground archives and hand him over to Lao Qian."

"Understood."

Toad shot his hand up.

"I want to go too! I've never been to the archives! Are there any old Brotherhood files in there?"

"You don't have the clearance."

"Oh..."

Sing Sing patted his back in consolation.

"What's the rush, Lao Mo? You're an outstanding employee now. There must be a record of your glorious deeds in the archives."

Toad's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"'A Long Tongue Advances Major Infrastructure: Comrade Mortimer, Specially Appointed Technical Adviser to the Tiankeng Village Road Project in Guizhou.' How's that?"

Toad puffed out his chest as he listened.

Lorna watched the group fool around, her eyes curving in a smile.

She had never understood how this man surnamed Zhou could turn everything into a marketplace transaction.

Now she understood.

It wasn't that he didn't understand pain. He just didn't want that damned business to take up everything.

Xiao Liu led Anton and Riptide, who insisted on accompanying his younger brother, toward the door.

Anton stopped at the doorway and looked back.

"Stephen. Thank you."

Sing Sing waved him away.

"It was nothing. Just help me find things faster when I come looking for information! And... remember to buy me two cartons of cigarettes after you get paid!"