American comic: From Beijing with Love, starting with a mutant.

"I'm not going in."

At the entrance of X Academy, Yan Shuangying and Zhou Xingxing stood together smoking.

As he spoke, Yan Shuangying flicked his cigarette ash, took out a recorder from the inside of his belt, connected it to his phone, and sent the file to Zhou Xingxing.

"I have a secret mission. Give the recording to Lao Wu and have him investigate something else."

Stephen Chow nodded and did not try to stop him.

If this person were willing to listen to advice, he wouldn't be standing here pretending to be a lone hero.

After watching the second brother leave, Stephen Chow dialed the bald man's number: "I'm busy right now, spit it out."

"The second brother has emerged from underground at Silver Peak."

"They came out alive?"

"What kind of talk is that? Your question carries a hint of personal expectation."

"Let me confirm, his way of showing off is a sure way to get shot."

Zhou Xingxing briefly recounted the process of the operation, and then began transmitting relevant information.

The bald man listened intently. "The person I found never attends board meetings; she only communicates through an agent. There's no signature on any of Yinfeng's top-secret documents from previous years."

"Okay, check what internal documents from Bureau 749 have been leaked. The second-in-command's code name isn't in the public files."

"clear."

Before hanging up the phone, Ling Lingwu took a bite of something, and the crisp sound was somewhat familiar to Zhou Xingxing.

What are you eating?

"The sugar cubes from the coffee shop."

"You've already investigated a multinational conglomerate, and you're still trying to take advantage of them?"

The call was disconnected, and Zhou Xingxing stared at his phone for two seconds.

The fact that Bureau 749 has managed to survive until today without going bankrupt shows that Fatty Wang is truly capable.

After putting away his phone, Stephen Chow took a side path and went around to the back of the mountain.

There was a half-empty bottle of whiskey in front of the tombstone; no one knows who put it there.

Stephen Chow squatted down in front of the monument, stuck a cigarette into the ground, and lit one for himself.

"You bastard, you stole funds while you were alive, and now that you're dead, you're occupying a piece of permanent land belonging to the academy. You're quite the shrewd operator."

Ash fell onto the toes of the shoes.

"Wang Pangzi approved the compensation, according to the highest level for those who died in the line of duty. Since you have no immediate family members, the money will be temporarily deposited into a special account."

"I've checked. You still owe three months' rent in New York, and you have a $1,300 bill from the bar. The strip club bill doesn't count. Your company doesn't cover your personal indecent spending."

"I will settle the score with the vanished Tuensley. It was my problem that Mueller was rescued by him, and it is my problem that you are lying here."

The cigarette butt burned down to the filter, the heat touching his fingertip, and then Stephen Chow pressed it into the damp soil.

About ten minutes later, Professor X's study door was pushed open.

Stephen Chow peeked inside first, then asked, "Where are they?"

"In the base below."

"That's perfect, let's whisper something we can't let her hear."

Professor X closed the file. "Stephen, every time you make that face, I miss my psychic abilities."

"Don't talk nonsense, my face is etched with honesty and integrity."

Zhou Xingxing dragged a chair over and moved it, chair and all, next to Professor X: "Old Cha, how's the ideological work I asked you to do going?"

Which one?

"That incident where Comrade Stormy went to China for an inspection tour! How could you forget something so important?"

"Auroro agreed, but only agreed to go and take a look."

"Looks good! Tourism, sightseeing, exchange... and onboarding while we're at it."

"Stephen."

"Fine, fine! Just take a look. No contract, no fingerprints, okay?"

Professor X, who was extremely suspicious of his character, scrutinized him for a moment. "If she can't adapt to life in China, you must send her back."

"Of course, talent mobility requires a two-way selection process. We are a legitimate organization, not an illegal brick kiln."

Stephen Chow answered readily, but in his heart...

Did you go there and want to come back?

When the Storm Woman appears before the weather bureau, experts from the meteorological bureau can hug her and call her chief engineer, and the simple and lovely villagers cry and shout as they offer incense to her.

We'll also arrange a permanent position for her, a dormitory, seven types of insurance and three types of funds, and paid annual leave.

With these few leaky walls, how can Brother Cha compete?

"There's one more thing," Professor X pointed at him, "Don't try to lure her with benefits."

"Your statement represents a serious misunderstanding of the labor protection system! How can paying social security contributions normally be considered inducement? It's called respecting professional talent!"

"We absolutely cannot let her sign a 20-year service agreement as soon as she arrives in the country."

"Don't worry! We only sign contracts for a maximum of five years; a twenty-year contract would violate the Labor Contract Law."

Professor X closed his eyes. He could now understand why the Beast always prepared two painkillers beforehand whenever he spoke with this man.

"Stephen, I believe in you this once."

"Don't worry, Lao Cha," Zhou Xingxing patted his chest, "If she doesn't want to, I won't force her... Or... why don't you come with us?"

"How about the position of Special Consultant to the China Disabled Persons' Federation? It retains the title of Dean of X Academy, offers flexible working hours, and reimburses all rehabilitation treatment costs."

"Want to see Magneto? I'll give you two family visit leave a year, along with an electric wheelchair with a heated seat. It's something new Vincent is researching; apparently, it can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour."

"Stephen, I've told you many times, I can't leave the academy right now."

Upon hearing this, Stephen Chow's eyes lit up.

Currently?

That means there's still a chance!

Once a large number of mutants are living happily in China, I don't believe you, as the leader of the mutant-friendly camp, won't be tempted!

"Alright then, I'll go get some people now and head back as soon as possible."

"So urgent?"

At this point, Stephen Chow's expression turned serious: "Professor, I suspect that the Silver Peak Consortium and Stryker have a deep collaboration; they've already developed a clone production line!"

"Did you know that there are dozens of clone Agent Zero and Wolverine clones in Silver Peak's base this time?"

Professor X turned his head away and looked elsewhere, without answering.

Seeing this, Stephen Chow didn't say anything, but took out his phone and dialed the number of the girl.

The first thing I heard when the call connected was the gurgling sound of a straw hitting the bottom of a glass. "You'd better give me a plausible excuse!"

"Of course, I plan to come back this time too."

"How many people?"

"Including me, there are six."

The sound of turning pages came from the other end of the phone; the Smurf was clearly checking a list of debts that had been outstanding for a long time.

"You still owe me three double-serving, full-sugar bubble teas, my night shift nutritious meals, a Michelin-starred dessert, and you need to give me extra money for my allowance!"

"I will return and fulfill all my obligations."

"Swear an oath."

"I swear on Anton's year-end bonus."

"That wasn't your money!"

"That's why it's highly credible."

A dozen seconds later, the carefree girl landed on the carpet. "Where did she go?"

"Assemble immediately."

The carefree girl said "Oh," and then continued, "Let's get this straight: if anyone lets go halfway through the teleportation and ends up in the Pacific Ocean, I'm not responsible."

Half an hour later, in the college lobby.

Storm carried an old travel bag, and Gegebu wore a cloak that Beast had altered for him.

Bailey stood between Ethan and Olivia, and the three of them were a little nervous.

Professor X stood on the stairs, his cane resting on the step. His gaze lingered on the faces of the young people for a long time, his eyes gentle: "Stephen, take good care of them."

"Leave it to me."

After finishing her milk tea, the carefree girl shoved the empty cup into Lao Zhou's arms and burped.

"Hold on tight! We're leaving in three seconds!"