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

Stephen Chow clutched his chest and swayed twice.

"Impossible! How could this be?"

"I, Zhou, have done many good deeds and devoted myself wholeheartedly to the infrastructure construction of our 749th Regiment! How could those people in the finance department do such a thing?"

Zhang Tiehan leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Director Zhou, haven't you checked the intranet yet?"

"The finance department just issued an official document requiring all expense reports from the past three years to be retrieved, refiled, and reviewed."

"I heard that the person in charge of this review work is Anton, who is new to the archives."

Stephen Chow's vision went black, and he almost couldn't catch his breath.

Backstab!

This is a complete betrayal!

If Anton, that stubborn guy, were to check everything item by item, his entire secret would be exposed!

Stay calm.

Stay calm!

Stephen Chow coughed twice, straightened his tie, and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Ni'er."

"Could you take another look at my uncle? Besides this 'money-losing line,' is there nothing else in my life plan?"

"For example, a line indicating immense wealth and promotion?"

Nina stared at him for a long time with her heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one gold.

The little head kept shaking.

"There's no gold thread."

Stephen Chow's heart sank.

"But there are many thin white lines," Nina continued.

White line?

He became wary. "What's the significance of this white line? Is it a debt collection line? Or is some enemy coming for revenge?"

Nina tilted her head and thought for a moment, "Those threads are soft and don't constrict. Someone is pulling you from a distance."

The monitoring room fell silent as several burly security guards looked at each other in bewilderment.

Nina lowered her head, her voice soft and sweet.

"These white lines extend from Uncle Zhou's body to many, many places."

"There are deep underground areas, places full of sand, snow-capped mountains covered in white, and waters far, far away."

"Hmm... I also have a cord connected to you."

She blinked. "This is the first time I've ever seen white lines like this."

The way Zhang Tiehan and the others looked at Zhou Xingxing suddenly became more respectful.

This is the director of our Overseas Talent Introduction Office!

His students are all over the world, and his concern is felt throughout the land!

He pursed his lips and muttered something under his breath.

"Underground, desert, snow-capped mountains..."

"Depend on!"

"Ring ring—!"

The internal landline on the table rang.

Zhang Tiehan answered the phone, listened for a couple of minutes, and then handed the receiver to Zhou Xingxing with a strange expression.

"Director Zhou, the finance department is looking for you."

Zhou Xingxing took the phone, but before he could say anything, the finance director's emotionless, hoarse voice came from the other end.

"Comrade Zhou Xingxing, please come to the finance office on the third floor to submit the missing documents."

"Snapped!"

A busy tone came from the receiver, and Stephen Chow pressed his temples.

This Anton...

I risked my life to get you out of Stryker's basement, and this is how you repay your benefactor?!

After all, it was the wrong payment!

Ungrateful! Cold-hearted! Morally bankrupt!

Filled with grief and indignation, Zhou Xingxing stormed into the finance office on the third floor.

He pushed open the door and strode into the house. He was determined to see who dared touch the hard-earned money he'd saved!

As soon as he crossed the threshold, Stephen Chow's momentum faltered.

Director Wang sat upright on the sofa, with a stack of old expense reports on the coffee table in front of him.

"You're here? Explain what's going on with this pile of orders?"

"Chief! Let me explain... ugh, let me clarify!" Zhou Xingxing straightened his back, speaking with righteous indignation, "These are all necessary expenses for the overall development of Bureau 749!"

"Necessary expenses?" Director Wang sneered, pulling out a receipt and reading aloud, "Business entertainment expenses at a top-tier bathhouse in Manhattan, New York. Who did you entertain?"

"I...I went deep behind enemy lines! New York is such a dangerous place. How could I gather core intelligence about mutants if I didn't go to that kind of chaotic place?"

Don't give me that! I can let the expense report go.

Stephen Chow was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"Director is brilliant! Director is magnanimous! I knew you were the most considerate of your subordinates!"

Before the flattery could even finish, Director Wang leisurely dropped his trump card, "When do you plan to hand over those gold bars from the Black Shark?"

"What gold bars! I've never seen them before!"

"Still pretending? They already confessed! You hid all the cash and gold bars in the Black Shark safe!"

It’s over.

What happened to our revolutionary friendship?!

"Chief...that's...that's what I kept for the brothers' perks..."

"Giving out welfare? I bet you're just putting the money into your own slush fund!" Director Wang pulled out a document and threw it onto the coffee table.

Stephen Chow looked down and saw the headline in large characters.

Agreement Regarding the Offsetting of Comrade Zhou Xingxing's Historical Accounts and the Adjustment of Business Trip Limits

The content is very simple: all previous bad debts and false reimbursements are wiped clean.

The price was that Black Shark's entire batch of gold bars was turned over to cover up the bad debts. As compensation, Zhou Xingxing's travel expense reimbursement limit would be doubled in the future.

"What? You're not going to sign?" Director Wang raised an eyebrow.

"You don't have to sign it. The finance department will immediately transfer your form to the disciplinary inspection department. Not only will you have to make a refund, but your pork stall registered under the bureau's name will probably also be shut down and rectified."

"I'll sign!"

Stephen Chow picked up the pen and signed his name with trembling hands.

With the final stroke, he slumped into his chair.

"Chief, the gold bars are... in the kimchi jar under my bed in my dorm room." Zhou Xingxing's eyes were wide open.

Director Wang put the agreement away.

"Xiao Liu, go and bring the kimchi jar over."

Xiao Liu, who was outside the door, answered and then ran away.

"Alright, stop acting like you're about to die. I've increased your travel allowance, so be more flexible when you go out on business. Don't try to get away with those fake invoices again!"

"If you had come up with a legitimate reason, why wouldn't I reimburse you?"

Zhou Xingxing didn't say anything; he dragged his feet out of the finance office.

In the corridor, Stephen Chow leaned against the wall and looked at the ceiling.

"My gold bars... my foot massage fees... all gone..."

He covered his face, filled with grief and indignation, but quickly lowered his hand, his eyes regaining their resolve.

Do not!

We absolutely cannot give up like this!

The wool comes from the sheep!

If the bureau chief won't reimburse him, he'll go to America and eat at the expense of the wealthy!

Stryker, right? The Silver Peak Group, right?

You bunch of villains, wash your necks clean and wait!

You must return my compensation for emotional distress, with interest!

Stephen Chow slapped his cheeks twice, strode towards the stairwell, and continued his nationwide begging mission.

The next target is Genos Quest.

Rapids.

Currently serving as the deputy captain of the High-Risk Meteorological Intervention and Special Smoke Exhaust Brigade of the Special Service Fire and Rescue Detachment.

Stephen Chow rubbed his shrunken belly and said, "Oh, oh, oh, oh, I lost everything trying to save you."

"You'd better arrange a lavish meal for me today!"