Chapter 10
"Mr. Hubbard, it's me, Xiao Scott."
While Xiao was messaging Hubbard, Anzhe was practicing planting eyebrows on a severed head, using a thermal needle to insert synthetic human hair fibers into tiny holes made in the silicone rubber skin. Once cooled, the eyebrows would be firmly rooted. Anzhe guessed the tediousness and Xiao's failing eyesight were reasons he urgently needed an apprentice.
After putting the communicator aside, Xiao Scott removed the mannequin from the display case and positioned it on a chair in the center of the room. He manipulated its joints easily, crossing its legs and folding its arms, finally adjusting its head for a somber, contemplative pose. Mingled with the faint light, the mannequin resembled a living person in silence.
The peculiar silence was disrupted when the door opened, inviting white light that brightened half of the mannequin's body. Anzhe squinted towards the doorway to see a tall man, with mid-length curly hair and piercing brown eyes, carrying a forbidding air.
The man stood at the doorway, his gaze fixated on the mannequin until Xiao's cough prompted him to enter. Approaching slowly, he reached out to touch the mannequin's face, hesitating as if worried about disturbing a resting butterfly.
Retracting his hand, he thanked Xiao, who responded, "Thank Mr. Hubbard for the precise data."
Hubbard, though smiling, kept his gaze downcast.
Xiao pointed to a life-sized crate, proposing help, "Should I?"
"I'll do it myself," Hubbard responded, carefully placing the mannequin inside.
"I never knew Captain Hubbard was so sentimental," Xiao remarked as Hubbard sealed the crate, his knuckles whitening from the grip.
Xiao continued, "Just bring it for maintenance every two months. Whatever new skills I acquire, I'll apply them."
"Xiao Scott never makes a loss," Hubbard concluded, pleased with Xiao's laughter.
Hubbard inquired, "What's needed?"
"A big order recently, difficult to find data. I hope you can help," Xiao offered.
Hubbard quipped, "Is there data Xiao cannot acquire?"
Xiao grinned, gesturing a mock shooting toward Hubbard, who smiled and took the crate handle, moving towards the door.
"Wait, please," Anzhe suddenly called out, stepping towards Hubbard to show a brass shell from his necklace.
"Sir, do you know where this comes from?"
Hubbard examined the shell in silence, then, after a minute, released it, stating, "Military."
As he departed, Anzhe clutched the shell, lost in thought.
"In the military then," Xiao chuckled, closing the door, "What, you've been with military men? Dusai's business is vast."
Anzhe slowly shook his head, pondering his next move if it was indeed military-related.
"You lost too?" Xiao teased.
"I seek its owner," Anzhe corrected.
Xiao enlightened, "If it's military, they'll recognize the model. Here's an idea."
Anzhe learned, Xiao suggested mingling in military areas by night, hinting at corruption within the strict ranks.
Anzhe questioned, "Which military personnel venture outside?"
"Who do you think maps the wilderness?" Xiao flicked Anzhe's forehead, "All from the military."
Silenced, Anzhe resumed his delicate task, realizing his prolonged stay at the base might be inevitable.
After a day of meticulous work, satisfied, Xiao let Anzhe off. Craving potato soup from the black market's entrance, Anzhe, now on his third day of work and with an advance salary, descended to the ground level, but the usual bustle was gone, replaced by haste and scarce figures.
Drawn by the soup, he nearly reached it when suddenly freezing in his tracks and turning back.
"Come back," a cold voice commanded.
Facing the Judges and their young presence, Anzhe realized he had stumbled into the heart of an inspection.
"Rigid movements, dodging actions, mark one," directed Lu Xun, as a junior noted down, scrutinizing Anzhe.
Avoiding Lu Xun's gaze cost him another mark.
Despite the harsh instruction, Lu Xun rigorously assessed, "Result?"
"Human," concluded the junior.
"And the reason for anomalies?"
"Fear of you."
Lu Xun's lips curved slightly, marking the end of their exchange.