"What’s this, Uncle Meng, would you like some liquor? I can bring you some another day?"
Brian had never been this attentive even to his own father.
Drinking, whoring... he just stopped short of arranging gambling for this 67-year-old man.
But he wasn’t trying to poison the old man to death; he had already smelled the cheap cigarettes and the scent of a prostitute’s perfume on Uncle Meng, typical of a Mutant whose body was active. They don’t hesitate to indulge in drugs or shy away from such things.
Brian was simply noticing that Uncle Meng’s life seemed a bit strained, and he wanted to establish a good relationship.
Uncle Meng decisively shook his head, "Forget the liquor. You should drink less too. Drinking harms the body and brain. If you face danger, you won’t be able to react in time; you might not even be able to run."
Listening to the old man’s caring words,
Brian felt a bit ashamed.
Damn, to build a relationship, he actually tried to corrupt such an old man with drinks and whores. That was truly low.
His conscience spoke, "Uncle Meng, those foreign prostitutes will drain you dry, be careful."
Uncle Meng exhaled a puff of smoke, chuckled, and said, "Let them drain. I am old already. Don’t you think I wanted to enjoy my life before? It was just that I had no money. Living a good life for a shorter period is not a loss."
he took out his business card, "Here, save my number in your phone, note it under ’Mutant’. If you encounter danger, your phone will likely end up in someone else’s hands, and I will sense the danger. Then, I’ll call to notify you."
Brian stared in amazement.
Holy shit, this uncle wasn’t a bad connection to make!
"It’s possible, but not allowed.
There are some old immortals who know about me.
They don’t know what I look like or my race; they can only keep chanting my name, making me shudder occasionally.
But if you plan to do something dangerous, you can tell me in advance.
If I sense it, I can give you a reference."
Mutations had been many years.
He had long toyed with his abilities.
Brian gave a thumbs up, "Awesome, Uncle Meng!"
This time, he meant it.
However, Uncle Meng wasn’t very happy:
"Actually, I had arranged the same for your uncle. Before he disappeared, I warned him of the danger. But he didn’t listen; said you were unreliable and wanted to prepare something for you.
I’d say, he’s more paranoid than me.
Afterward, since he was anyway going to lose control, I didn’t try to dissuade him."
After a moment of silence, Brian spoke, "So, my uncle hoped you’d look after me?"
He didn’t ask Uncle Meng about the unknown person his uncle mentioned would come looking for him.
There might be a trap there.
Brian wasn’t sure how much Uncle Meng knew about his uncle Billy and his relationship.
Better to speak less.
Uncle Meng didn’t mention it, so neither did he.
Hearing Brian’s question, Uncle Meng shook his head:
"No, Billy once saved my life, so I promised to help him with one thing.
He asked me to vouch for you and bring you into our background organization if he disappeared or something happened."
"An organization full of lunatics, always dreaming.
Since you’re not a Mutant, better not to know too much.
Your uncle was also nuts!
I asked him, what if you didn’t turn into a Mutant; he told me not to worry, said we’d know when the time comes. Know what, my ass, I don’t know where he got that confidence from."
This made Brian breathe a sigh of relief.
It seemed Uncle Meng didn’t know his uncle’s arrangements; otherwise, he would surely have known that if he didn’t become a Mutant, his uncle wouldn’t have told him about what was to come, not revealing... the high-explosive bomb hidden in his apartment that would get rid of him, seen as defective by Billy.
Uncle Meng was right, Billy was indeed a paranoid lunatic.
"Alright, don’t overthink it. It’s good that your uncle is dead, Brian, you’re young, a good kid. Just live your life well. Contact me if you need anything; I’ll help if I can."
Uncle Meng comforted him.
He knew what Billy had done to this boy.
This sudden reach-out was also thinking he could help if possible.
He could foresee the good and bad related to himself.
If Brian harbored malice, his sensing would be extremely strong, intense enough to make him flee without looking back.
Before, Brian did have a bit of malice but was more prepared to see what would happen before deciding his attitude. It was Schrodinger’s malice.
This was why Uncle Meng hadn’t detected the malicious source as Brian, mistaking it as another old immortal worrying about him.
Brian actually wanted to know what the organization Uncle Meng mentioned was, but to avoid arousing suspicion, he decided against asking.
He suddenly remembered his own limit-breaking state and what old Hardenn had mentioned about the twisted Mutant known as ’Long’.
Uncle Meng had lived to such an old age and was part of the same mysterious organization as his uncle; perhaps he knew something.
Brian feigned a sigh, "I also want to live a good life, but my uncle asked me to join the current NW organization. I initially thought it was a police organization, but later I found out about the dangers..."
he recounted the incident of encountering the Mutant Beast at Forest Park.
Of course, in his version, he was just a loiterer while his team leader Susan was the main force.
Brian wanted to try and pry some deeper secrets and truths of the world from Uncle Meng’s lips!
He was actually very curious; what exactly was the Blood Moon?