Long Island Estate in the morning is filled with a rich aroma of butter and blueberries.
Lynn stood in the large kitchen, skillfully turning the batter in the pan.
With a soft squeaking sound, attractive heat emerged from the edges of the golden waffles, and the blueberry pulp exploded under the high temperature, exuding a sweet and sour taste.
Before half past seven, there was a rush of footsteps in the corridor.
Reggie, wearing his blue one-piece pajamas, rushed into the restaurant like a gust of wind, skillfully pulled up a chair and sat down.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, with an exaggerated expression of intoxication on his face.
"Lynn Director, I bet I can't find a better breakfast in all of New York than the blueberry muffins you made. Can I have eight of them!"
"If you can guarantee that you won't spit it out on Physical Training later, you can eat ten pieces."
Lynn smiled and brought the plate filled with waffles to the island table, then pushed a jar of honey in front of Reggie.
Immediately afterwards, several other children also entered the restaurant one after another.
Annie rubbed his sleepy eyes, said good morning to Lynn obediently, and then helped distribute the glasses filled with hot milk to everyone.
Tommy still looked cool as if he hadn't woken up, but he used Telekinesis to put the fork into his hand steadily. This was considered a kind of morning training.
Kevin held his kettle and carefully fed Goldfish a few grains of fish food inside, then sat down and started eating his share.
The last person to walk in was John.
The boy put on a clean white T-shirt today, and his blond hair was a little messy.
He walked to the bar and naturally took the plate of waffles handed to him by Lynn. Instead of adding honey, he poured a thin layer of maple syrup on them.
That's his favorite flavor.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Lynn asked casually as he watched John take the first bite.
John nodded vigorously, Azure's eyes flashed brightly, he raised his head and looked at Lynn and said with a smile, "I slept well, I didn't even dream."
Seeing the children gathering around the dining table and feasting, a gentle smile appeared on the corner of Lynn's mouth.
He took off his apron, picked up his cup of black coffee and took a sip.
It was as if the silent killing last night didn't exist at all. There was no smell of blood on his body, only the reassuring smell of fireworks.
At this moment, the mobile phone placed in the corner of the bar suddenly vibrated.
Lynn glanced at the screen. The caller ID on it was an internally encrypted number without any remarks.
He put down the coffee cup, made a silent gesture to the children, then walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room with his mobile phone and pressed the answer button.
The voice of Stan·Edgar came from the other end of the phone, as calm and without any fluctuations as ever.
"Good morning, Lynn. I hope I didn't disturb you and the children's breakfast time."
"Good morning, CEO. The waffles have just come out of the pan and everyone is eating them. Do you have any urgent instructions?"
The sound of Lynn is also smooth, without any flaws.
There was silence on the other end of the phone for two seconds, with only the rustling sound of Edgar flipping through paper documents.
"Jonah·Vogelbaum Doctor is dead."
Edgar said calmly, "At around three o'clock this morning, Security Department found his body in his office on the fifth floor underground. The forensic doctor initially determined that it was acute heart failure caused by long-term fatigue at work. Although it is regrettable, for an old man of his age, this sudden situation is very medically reasonable."
Lynn looked at the neatly trimmed Lawn outside the window, with a hint of surprise in his tone at the right time.
"This is really unfortunate news. Doctor is the veteran of Vought International. Losing him is definitely a big loss for the company in the scientific field."
"It is indeed a loss, but times have changed, Lynn."
Edgar's voice sounded a bit cold on the phone, "For an old guy who can't keep up with the company's strategic transformation, is still immersed in the crude experiments of the past, and even tries to destroy the company's core assets, it may be the best place for him to die at his desk. This will save Board of Directors from having to argue endlessly about his pension and confidentiality agreement."
"One more thing."
Edgar The conversation changed and it was hard to tell whether it was a sigh of relief or a mockery.
"Barbara committed suicide and died beside her daughter's hospital bed. She only held her daughter's hand before she died... However, it was a good death. After all, she once treated our lovely Little John so cruelly."
Lynn did not answer the call.
Barbara's death is inevitable. From anyone's point of view, there is no reason for her to live... or rather, not to be dealt with.
Vogelbaum, no matter whether his plan succeeds or not, no matter whether Barbara agrees or not, he will definitely kill people and silence them.
Edgar, all security incidents that occur in the botanical garden will be reported to him truthfully. Capital will never allow people who try to destroy core assets to exist.
As for Lynn, demoting her to the Logistics Department is, in a sense, no different from killing her.
As for Barbara herself, as a researcher who has worked hard at Vought for many years, how could she not understand her situation, but still seek a chance for Emma?
As long as my daughter can survive, that's enough.
Therefore, from the moment Vogelbaum finds Barbara, Barbara's ending must be death.
Lynn knew that Edgar was definitely not just making this call just for the obituary.
The person at the helm of the Vought Empire is truly unfathomable, and he should be the wise man.
The sudden highest authority on the fifth underground floor a few days ago was a bloodless knife that Edgar personally handed to Lynn.
This old fox knows everything.
In President’s Office's office the day before yesterday, Edgar even talked to Lynn like a normal chatter about things that happened when John was younger, including the story of Barbara...
Sure enough, Edgar changed the subject and his tone became full of business negotiations.
"Lynn, you helped the company solve a hidden danger in your own way. As a company, I appreciate this vigorous efficiency, but Vought International never does business at a loss. My indulgence to you needs to be repaid."
Lynn narrowed his eyes slightly, looked back at John who was sitting at the bar and eating waffles, and his voice became deeper. "What do you want in return?"
"Japan Market."
Edgar calmly spat out four words on the other end of the phone.
"The Onmyōji family named Genji brought their ridiculous Shikigami and ninjas to New York to make noise, but was frightened by John and rolled back to his hometown in despair, but this does not mean that Compound V can successfully enter Japan."
There was a trace of mockery in Edgar's voice, "There are still many ancient Old Familiess in that land. The failure of the Genji Clan is not enough for them to completely give up on preventing Compound V from entering the market, which is a blasphemy against their traditions."
Lynn frowned.
"So, you want John to go to Japan?"
Lynn said with a hint of resistance in his tone, "I can take him there and keep the trip as short as possible."
"No, Lynn, you misunderstood, you are all going."
Edgar said without any doubt, "Bring Annie and Reggie with you. When the children grow up, it's time to see the world."
Lynn's face instantly darkened. "President, I don't think it is a good idea to take a group of underage children to face those weird monsters. John alone is enough to deter them. There is no need to involve other children."
"John is used to intimidate those stubborn Onmyōji families, so that their proud Great Yokais can feel what true despair is."
Edgar sighed, as if teaching a subordinate who didn't understand marketing, "But you have to understand that conquering a country's market cannot rely solely on violence."
"Annie's smile, Reggie's liveliness, and Tommy's friendliness like ordinary children are the best weapons used to promote Japan civilians.
I want the entire Japan public to see that Superheroes of Vought International is not only powerful, but also as warm and cute as the kid next door."
Lynn clutched the phone tightly and frowned more and more.
He worked hard to apply for the children to live together in Long Island Estate and build Long Island Estate into a carefree greenhouse. He just didn't want them to be exposed to the spotlight of capital so early and be used as a show tool.
But Edgar put them all on the bargaining table in business negotiations in an understatement.
"I know you are worried about safety, Lynn."
Edgar seemed to feel the silence and resistance on the other end of the phone, and his tone softened slightly, "Not only will there be a special plane for this trip, I will also send Black Noir to accompany you. He will be responsible for protecting the absolute safety of the children."
Hearing the name Black Noir, Lynn's eyes turned completely cold.
Black Noir is Vought International's top and most taciturn Superheroes, and is the sharpest knife in Edgar's hand.
Edgar sent Black Noir to follow. It was for protection in name, but in fact it was a kind of silent surveillance and warning.
If Lynn does not cooperate with the publicity in Japan, or if John makes any extraordinary move, Black Noir will intervene at any time.
Lynn took a deep breath and suppressed the depression in his chest.
This is the rule of the adult world, equivalent exchange, cruel and true.
"I understand, President. Let me know when the visa is processed."
Lynn hung up the phone directly.
"The children are still too young..."
"But... Black Noir is a breakthrough."
Lynn has actually always wanted to win over Black Noir, but contacting him blatantly is still too sensitive.
It happened that Edgar gave him this opportunity.
He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window for a while, looking at the sunny Lawn outside, and tried hard to adjust the expression on his face.
When he turned around and walked back to the restaurant, his face had returned to that gentle and relaxed smile.
"Lynn, who called?" Annie bit his fork and poked his head out curiously.
John also stopped eating waffles. Azure looked at Lynn without blinking, seemingly aware of the subtle tension in the air just now.
Lynn walked up to John, rubbed the boy's soft blond hair, and then looked around at the little guys around the dining table.
"Everyone, eat quickly and pack your suitcases after eating. We are going on a long journey."
Reggie's mouth was full of waffles and he asked vaguely, "Where are you going? Are you going to Central Park again?"
"No, it's a little further this time."
Lynn smiled, picked up the rag and wiped the table, "Let's go Japan to see the cherry blossoms, eat some authentic sushi, and by the way, experience the customs and customs there."
[Japan The plot is just a transition, about ten chapters]