Chapter 9

The group returned to the SHIELD Gotham City branch, and Gordon contacted the upper echelons through an emergency line (military hotline) to request a [policy].

Gordon: "Damn it..." —— Irritated

Kent: "As expected, it didn't work? Also, the policy you requested is quite unusual, even the Ministry of Defense and the Military Committee..."

Gordon: "The Ministry of Defense and the Military Committee support me and agree to give me this policy."

Kent: "...Then what are you worried about?"

Gordon: "Although the Ministry of Defense and the Military Committee support me, this matter ultimately falls under the jurisdiction of the civil administration. They told me to go directly to the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and the State Council, and they won't back me up. This is just passing the buck, or they want to use me as a pawn."

Jonathan: "Director, our official name is the [Disaster Reduction Committee] under the State Council, and the State Council controls our budget..." —— Reminder

I (Voiceover): "No wonder, they have your weakness, it's hard to threaten them."

@

Gordon: "I regret hanging the [Disaster Reduction Committee] sign for the sake of face. Who would have thought we'd end up in this situation, with our budget controlled. It would be better to be like those departments that don't hang any signs and live off the [black budget] of the defense budget. Although they don't have official positions, they never worry about their budget."

Jonathan: "Should we still go to the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and the State Council to request the [policy]? Will they agree?"

Gordon: "We must go, many experiments and research projects are at a critical stage, and we need to ensure sufficient funding. Preventing super natural disasters concerns national security, and the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and the State Council will consider this. At most, there will be some bureaucratic delays... It's fine, don't look so worried. Everything will fall into place. That's it for today, now it's personal time." —— Gave Jonathan a meaningful look

I (Voiceover): "Personal time? What's the deeper meaning?"

@

Jonathan: "Yes, everything is arranged. They are all waiting for you at your suburban villa."

Gordon: "Mm, you can go home and rest now. We'll deal with the cast selection tomorrow." —— Got up and left

Kent: "...How many did he find this time? Where are they from?"

Jonathan: "I can't reveal where they are from, but they were air-lifted in. There are seven of them."

Kent: "The number is increasing. This old lecher (grinding teeth)... Just indulging himself, he hasn't considered his family's feelings for three years, and at over sixty, he doesn't fear the consequences." —— Anger showing

I (Voiceover): "Is it really that serious... Young man, are you jealous? And Gordon, are you Dong Zhuo? This is too debauched."

@

Jonathan: "Although the director's only daughter left home because of this, it's certain that the director, who has been a widower for many years, has those needs. You shouldn't be too harsh on him, and you will also benefit from it."

Kent: "What do you mean?" —— Confused

Jonathan: "The director's only daughter now lives in Seaside City. The director feels that it's unsafe for a girl to live alone in an unfamiliar place, so he had his subordinates bring her back. However, the estrangement between father and daughter hasn't been resolved, so he wants her to stay with you temporarily to ensure her safety and make it convenient to take care of her."

Kent: "Lara is going to live with me? Is this some kind of trap?" —— Unbelievable

Jonathan: "Hahaha, you're overthinking it. After giving you so many [whips], it's time to give you some [sugar]. Don't overreact."

Kent: "[Sugar]? How is Lara [sugar]?" —— Stubborn

Jonathan: "Don't be stubborn. The director has long noticed your feelings for her, but he's been pretending not to know. And don't forget my abilities. One of the reasons you didn't run away was because of her, you know that deep down."

I (Voiceover): "I see, no wonder Gordon could keep you so tightly. It's not just the kryptonite ring, but also because you have a capable sister."

@

Three days later, at Professor Lei Xiaogu's residence, Lei Xiaogu's daughter, Lei Liya, reported to Lei Xiaogu about the formation of the [Gordon's Money-Making Crew].

Lei Liya: "This is the draft of the crew structure that Jonathan submitted to Gordon yesterday, and this is the official version that Gordon revised today. I've marked the differences." —— Handed the two crew structure documents to Lei Xiaogu

Lei Xiaogu: "..." —— Watching, silent

Lei Liya: "The overall structure of the crew hasn't changed much. Gordon didn't add new positions, just replaced a few people, which is quite rare. Although the draft was made by Jonathan, the Martian Manhunter (m.m) with telepathic abilities, Gordon is the most famous unpredictable person in the organization, with new ideas popping up almost every second—good or bad, no one can figure him out." —— Explanation

Lei Xiaogu: "The word [mediocre] doesn't apply to Gordon. Such a conventional crew structure must have a problem... Is there anything special about the people he replaced? Are they superhumans?"

Lei Liya: "No, they are all ordinary humans, though they are organization members."

Lei Xiaogu: "Next year, his department's budget will be reduced, and research funds will become tight. Do these people have any connection to his department?"

Lei Liya: "No, I've investigated their backgrounds. Although they are children of martyrs, none of their relatives, friends, or elders hold key positions in the organization's powerful departments. Their sources of income are also clean, and they have no connection to Gordon's family." —— Handed the background investigation report to Lei Xiaogu

Lei Xiaogu: "Mm, the investigation is thorough. They are not [red envelopes] or [favor packages]. Have you considered the possibility of [meat packages]?" —— Smiling

I (Voiceover): "What, [meat packages]? Gordon, you're not an expert in the film or entertainment industry, how did you learn these unwritten rules so quickly?"

@

Lei Liya: "[Meat packages]? Father, don't joke with me. These people are men and women, old and young, fat and thin, ugly and beautiful. Although I've heard that Gordon is an old lecher who hosts 'group' parties two or three times a week, his hunting range can't be that broad."

Lei Xiaogu: "You don't know, the seven people air-lifted to his suburban villa for the party yesterday included beautiful women, ugly women, gay men, straight men, lesbians, bisexuals, and authentic Thai transgenders."

Lei Liya: "...Really? The organization doesn't regulate this?" —— Unbelievable

Lei Xiaogu: "I once asked him informally, and he told me, [Those who come to my parties, whether they are beautiful women, ugly women, homosexuals, straight men, or transgenders, are just labels imposed by others. I don't care. To me, once the lights are off, there's no difference.] I later confirmed that he was telling the truth." —— Confidently

I (Voiceover): "Gordon, you old man, do you have any principles left?"

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