Xiang Qian Was Restricted from Leaving the Country

What power could Xiang Qian rely on? The answer to this question was far too simple. After hanging up the phone, Xiang Qian pondered his burgeoning plan from start to finish before rising to head toward the Spear Bureau.

Yes, what Xiang Qian could rely on was the power of the state. Xiang Qian was not Tony Stark—though they were good friends; he never believed he could save the world all by himself. Having the will was one thing, but having the ability was quite another.

Resolving the fallout from the mutant gene serum would likely mean going up against Professor X, Magneto, and the United States Armed Forces all at once. Xiang Qian felt his head wasn't big enough to wear such a heavy hat; he needed a power that could back him up.

However, Xiang Qian soon discovered that things were a bit different from what he had anticipated.

"What do you mean by a travel ban?" Xiang Qian sat across from Zheng Xian's desk, his expression blank.

Zheng Xian rubbed his throbbing temples, feeling utterly exhausted. The threat from the Ten Rings against Xiang Qian hadn't been fully dealt with, and Xiang Tian hadn't even had a chance to depart yet, when this kid Xiang Qian suddenly pulled this stunt.

"It means exactly what it says. Without approval, you are not allowed to leave the country."

"Approval? Whose approval?" Xiang Qian grew anxious. "No, I haven't evaded taxes, I haven't defaulted on debts, and I haven't engaged in illegal fundraising. Why am I being restricted from leaving? If word of this gets out, won't things go haywire?"

"Your Wude Group isn't even publicly listed, so what would go haywire? How far could it possibly go?"

Xiang Qian was unhappy. "At least give me a reason. Who gets a travel ban unless they've committed a crime? If you're going to say I bribed someone or engaged in power-for-money deals, you'd be the first one investigated, seeing as you're the Spear Bureau director closest to me."

"Get lost!" Zheng Xian's head felt like it was about to explode. "You caused this mess yourself, and you have the nerve to ask me for a reason? What did you say before you went to Tajikistan? You swore up and down that you'd only deliver drones and operate radar, and that you wouldn't do anything out of line. And what happened? You were the one hogging all the spotlight on the entire battlefield. Do you think you're Zhao Zilong at Changban Slope?"

The Spear Bureau director, who usually presented himself with scholarly grace, was red-faced and shouting, causing Xiang Qian to shrink his neck.

"I gave you a warning when you first got back, but you didn't understand a damn thing. You call yourself a genius? I think you're a fool!" Zheng Xian grew angrier as he spoke. "You went out there and showed off, and now the old men at the Science and Technology Commission are furious. They almost came to block my office door. I haven't even dared to answer my phone in my own office."

Xiang Qian chuckled sheepishly. "It's not that serious, is it..."

"It's far more serious than you think!" Zheng Xian glared at Xiang Qian. "Those old men have a combined age of six or seven hundred years. Every single one of them is a national treasure. If they come to block my door and point fingers at me, I still have to smile and apologize. You hogged all the glory out there, and I'm the one taking the heat for you back here."

Xiang Qian felt too guilty to speak.

Zheng Xian, rarely losing his temper so thoroughly, had no intention of letting this brat off easily. "Do you even know how important your responsibilities are? Do you really think of yourself as just some playboy billionaire?"

"There are plenty of people out there richer than you. So what if your stock market net worth is in the hundreds of billions? How many of them are irreplaceable? People who play games or run loan sharks—if it's not a Ma, it'll be a Niu; there are plenty of people who can do that. But if something happens to you, when will there ever be a second Five Elements Laboratory?"

"Project Kuafu, Project Houyi, the breakthroughs in new materials for national defense—you calculate it yourself! How many projects is the Five Elements Laboratory shouldering, and how much is at stake!"

Zheng Xian's roar could have nearly blown the roof off. It was fortunate that the director's office used the most advanced soundproofing materials, or his image in the eyes of his subordinates would have been shattered in an instant.

Xiang Qian stole a glance at Zheng Xian, judging that the scolding had reached its end, and took the liberty of testing the waters. "But the mutant gene serum is also very important!"

Zheng Xian glared sharply, and Xiang Qian feigned guilt by looking away. However, Zheng Xian knew that his tirade had no effect on the kid; his skin was likely thick enough to withstand a nuclear warhead.

Thinking of this, the usually composed director couldn't help but feel discouraged.

He had watched them grow up, so why were the brother and sister so completely different? If only Xiang Qian could learn a thing or two from Xiang Tian, it would save him so much trouble.

Xiang Qian acted like a well-behaved child, though he wasn't worried about his plan at all.

As the world's most populous nation, it was naturally also a major nation for mutants. Following the conservative estimate that mutants made up one percent of the population, this was a major issue involving tens of millions of people, and Zheng Xian would certainly consider it calmly.

Sure enough, once Zheng Xian had vented his anger and his fury began to subside, he quickly regained the demeanor befitting a Spear Bureau director.

"The mutant gene serum—it is best if it remains entirely in our own hands."

Xiang Qian smiled. "That is why I must go personally."

"Are there no other viable candidates?" Zheng Xian asked, frowning.

Xiang Qian thought for a moment. "If it were just about communicating with the U.S. government, my sister might suffice, but she could only act as the Vice President of Wude Group and could not reveal her identity as the Weather Witch. If she did that, she wouldn't be able to gain Professor Xavier's trust, and it would be very difficult to complete the most critical step of the plan."

Zheng Xian's brows were locked in a deep furrow, and he remained silent for a long time. His gaze fell upon the documents on his desk that Xiang Qian had brought. Analyzing the content, Zheng Xian could easily reach the same conclusion as Xiang Qian.

As a veteran agent with thirty years of experience, Zheng Xian felt that from a purely professional standpoint, the plan Xiang Qian had initially drafted was already approaching perfection. It indeed had a high chance of success and would minimize any negative fallout.

However, the biggest problem with this plan was the person executing it.

Xiang Qian could not afford to have any issues, as there was currently no one who could replace him. But at the moment, there was also no one who could replace him in executing this plan.

"I cannot make this decision alone; I must report it upward." Zheng Xian rubbed his temples again, feeling his head begin to throb with pain.

Xiang Qian grew anxious. "Uncle Xian, you are the primary person in charge of non-natural affairs in the country. Mutant issues are within your jurisdiction; why do you need to report it upward?"

"What I need to report isn't just this plan, but you as well." Zheng Xian tapped the documents in his hand. "You were placed under a travel ban because your security clearance has been raised. If you want to leave the country, it must be reported and approved."

Xiang Qian rolled his eyes, a hint of craftiness in his gaze. "Then if they ask for your opinion, Uncle Xian, what will you say?"

Although Zheng Xian said he had to report it, the higher-ups would certainly seek the professional opinion of the official in charge of such matters. Therefore, whether Zheng Xian agreed or not was crucial to Xiang Qian's plan.

"What opinion could I possibly have? Time is so tight, and I can't come up with a better way." The Spear Bureau director sighed in frustration. "The two of us are like grasshoppers on the same string. If this is botched, I'll be the one taking the fall for you."

Xiang Qian grinned cheekily. "We're family, Uncle. If you have to take the fall, I'll be sure to find you the sturdiest bag to carry it in."

"Get out of here!"