The old man's back was a bit stooped and his steps were slow. Behind him were two young researchers holding tablet computers and wearing white coats.
Seeing these people appear, the atmosphere on Lawn unconsciously changed in a subtle and suffocating way.
Reggie, who was covering his head just now, closed his mouth instantly and subconsciously leaned back behind Lynn's beach chair.
Annie also stopped drinking juice, holding the cup tightly with his little hands, and his face turned slightly pale.
Kevin was even more exaggerated. He hugged the small kettle containing the fish tightly to his chest, as if he was afraid that others would snatch it away.
In this closed base, people wearing white coats has never been a good memory for them.
That usually means a cold laboratory table, dazzling shadowless lamps, endless blood draws and scary needles.
The old man who came out was the chief scientist of Vought International, and the core figure who led the injection of Compound V to these children, Jonah·Vogelbaum.
Vogelbaum ignored those evasive and fearful glances. He walked straight towards Lynn's parasol, but his eyes were always fixed on John.
However, there was no kindness in that look like an elder looking at a child.
The scrutiny and enthusiasm that can only be seen when looking at a peerless weapon or priceless treasure.
"The speed of running on flat ground is comparable to the speed of sound, the cardiopulmonary function is perfect, and the development of muscles and bones is simply a masterpiece of God."
Vogelbaum stopped and evaluated to himself, as if John was just an experimental sample placed on the booth.
Then, he turned his head and looked at Lynn sitting on the beach chair, frowning slightly, and his tone was full of dissatisfaction.
"Lynn, what do you think these expensive assets are? Boy Scouts at summer camp?"
Vogelbaum tapped the ground lightly with his crutch, "I give you Vought International's most perfect work, not to let him waste his precious time playing house with these Defective Products."
Hearing the three words Defective Products, the shoulders of Reggie, Tommy and others trembled slightly.
Although they are young, they are sensitive and can clearly feel this condescending objectification and belittling.
The confidence and happiness that was finally built up here at Lynn were like a ball that was pricked by a needle and deflated instantly.
John's originally peaceful eyes turned cold the moment he heard these words.
A biting chill flashed in the boy Azure's eyes.
He recalled the bad days in the laboratory, but he didn't yell or go crazy like a wild animal.
He just silently took half a step forward, using his not-so-broad shoulders to firmly block Annie and Reggie in front of them.
This silent movement completely blocked Vogelbaum's extremely uncomfortable line of sight.
Lynn slowly stood up from the beach chair. He put the lemonade in his hand on the round table, and the smile on his face faded away.
"He has a name, Vogelbaum Doctor, his name is John."
Lynn's voice was not loud, but there was an undoubted toughness. His eyes swept over the old scientist's face,
"And these children behind me are not Defective Products, they are indispensable members of this family."
Vogelbaum sighed, seeming to find Lynn's sentimental words very ridiculous and stupid.
"The name is just a deceptive code name, used to satisfy ordinary people's ridiculous sense of morality.
Lynn, you don't understand its biological significance. He should be testing the maximum temperature of Heat Vision in Basement. He should be learning how to crush everything in the most efficient way, not here..."
Vogelbaum pointed to the grass not far away, with cold eyes:
"Waste your sweat like a mortal."
"If he doesn't live like a mortal and feel the company of his family, he will grow up to become a cold-blooded weapon without empathy, a bomb that only follows instructions or may lose control of his emotions at any time."
Lynn looked directly at the big shot in the scientific community without giving in. He walked up to John and gently put a hand on the boy's tense shoulder.
The warmth from the palm of his hand made John's clenched fist slowly loosen.
The boy turned his head and looked at Lynn beside him, the coldness in his eyes gradually dissipated.
"I am responsible for teaching them how to become a person with a complete personality, rather than a tool in human skin. If you have any objections to my teaching methods, you can go directly to the top floor to complain to President Edgar."
Lynn looked at Vogelbaum, his tone calm but not giving in.
The atmosphere suddenly dropped to freezing point, the old scientist's face became ugly, and the two young researchers behind him also nervously clenched the tablets in their hands, not even daring to breathe.
The wind on Lawn seems to have stopped flowing.