The car was warm, but Baki now felt very cold. He squeezed his legs tightly, thinking about how to get the two of them out of this situation.
"Perhaps I can escape, but Steve..."
Baki showed a sad expression. He couldn't leave his friend behind. It seemed like the only option was to sacrifice himself to save Steve, hoping it wouldn't hurt too much.
For his best friend, the young Baki's gaze became resolute.
As for Steve, his mind wasn't cluttered with messy thoughts, so he was enthusiastically examining the decorations inside the car.
There were many things he had never seen before. Besides, there was actually a table in the car, a bar, and the sofa was big enough to look like a bed.
"You said you knew our fathers, but..." Steve was curious for a moment, but in the end, he still hesitantly asked.
"Why do I have money, but they don't?"
Su Ming smiled as he poured himself a glass of wine, swirling and lightly sniffing the aroma of the liquor. He hadn't expected Steve to be troubled by such matters.
"No, I mean... their boss used to never look people in the eye."
Steve shook his head; being a child made him more sensitive. Their father's boss looked at them as if they were dead people, filled with disdain and discrimination.
Su Ming nodded slightly. Such self-proclaimed aristocratic capitalists indeed existed, but by now, they were likely already finished.
Being openly discriminatory because of wealth often represents extreme arrogance. Surviving a stock market crash or the Great Depression requires extreme calm and rationality, which are the exact opposite.
When extremely arrogant people encounter great setbacks, they often take extreme actions as a stress response to the outside world. In these times, what else could it be? Jumping off a building, of course...
"People and life are inherently unequal, but ordinary life makes everyone equal."
Even though Steve didn't understand, Su Ming didn't plan to explain. When they became extraordinary in the future, they would naturally understand.
He hoped there would be more people like Captain America, who selflessly benefit others. A future world without heroes would be too dull.
Speaking of his little cousin... shouldn't he consider making him a great person in the future? Why be a mercenary? Isn't one mercenary like himself enough in the world?
Imagining Deadpool dressed in a sharp suit, wearing a red and black hood, speaking in front of the White House lawn, Su Ming shivered...
Can't think about it, it's practically mental pollution.
Better not mess around too much, or it would become difficult to deal with when the storyline becomes unrecognizable.
"So, sir, what should we call you?" Steve looked at Su Ming and asked a question.
"My name is Slade Wilson. Wilson Enterprises is my business, and we will have many more opportunities to interact in the future," Su Ming said meaningfully to them.
Of course, more so with his other identity, Deathstroke, whose return to the Jianghu was approaching.
But his expression, filled with 'kindness,' made Baki hide his rear even better, as priests often smiled like this.
"So, Mr. Wilson, what is our task today?"
Steve looked at Baki with some confusion. Since getting in the car, Baki had been keeping his head down, not knowing what he was doing. It seemed impolite, so Steve took the initiative to talk to Su Ming.
"Well, today you will accompany me. I bought a piece of land on Long Island to build the company headquarters, and I'm planning to check out the construction site."
"Alright, if there's anything to do, let us handle it. We're quite capable, right? Baki?"
"Uh, yes, right." Baki snapped back to reality, still appearing timid.
However, this interrupted his wild thoughts. He noticed that although the car had left the dock, it was still driving on the spacious coastal road, with no intention of heading to a church.
Looks like he was overthinking. After all, this boss wasn't a priest; he just needed to keep a distance from clergy in the future, especially those involving strange religious cults.
Especially ones with two-headed dragons and three-headed dogs...
The atmosphere relaxed considerably, and Baki gradually became lively. Su Ming entertained them with soda and cookies in the car, taking them on the way to the construction site.
When they passed a street corner, Su Ming called for a stop. He rolled down the window, and the cold wind outside made Steve and Baki shiver.
"Do you see over there?"
"Yes." Steve and Baki both nodded.
"What do you see?" Su Ming lit a cigar and asked them an obvious question.
It was a group of numb-looking individuals clustered around a barrel, burning something for warmth. Each of them seemed like a soul emerging, as if they had lost everything.
Steve and Baki exchanged a glance, showing signs of sadness on their faces.
"They're the 'Living Corpses,' that's what Baki and I call them."
"Yes, Mr. Wilson, these people appear alive, but they have no souls." Baki added, crossing himself as if praying for their peace.
Captain America, however, gave Su Ming a pleasant surprise. He hadn't expected the term "Walking Dead" to have originated from these two in this world.
Hollywood wasn't as flourishing as it would be in the future. Chaplin had just started making films a few years ago, and most of the films being released now came from France and other European countries.
"What they've lost isn't their soul, but their hope and faith. Retaining faith is what truly allows one to live." Su Ming rolled up the window and shared words of encouragement: "Gin, note down the concept of the living corpse, arrange for people to prepare a script in Hollywood and buy out a film company as a backup."
"Yes, boss."
Su Ming turned back to look at the two, expressing his appreciation for them, as they pondered over the soul and hope aspect.
"You've used that term well. I'm pleased. After we're done, I'll treat you to something nice."
Steve and Baki high-fived, their faces filled with joy: "Yay! Thank you, Mr. Wilson."
The car continued to drive quietly, and Su Ming casually inquired about their families, learning that Captain America's mother was ill. He generously offered to advance some salary to Joseph, at least allowing Steve's mother some time to rest.
This only deepened Steve's gratitude, and he and Baki grew even closer to Su Ming.
The car finally arrived on Long Island, reaching the location Su Ming had chosen.
He had picked this spot for a reason, primarily because of its remoteness.
With future Manhattan constantly undergoing repairs, and with Stark's company headquarters and the Avengers Tower nearby being hotspots, Su Ming decided to locate the headquarters on the very remote Long Island, avoiding getting caught up in anything.
They didn't get out immediately; instead, they had Gin handle issues at the construction site, while Su Ming lowered the window again, letting them observe the differences between the people at the site and those they saw earlier.
Clearly, there was a difference. Although it was nearing December, and this temperature wasn't ideal for construction — as the cement and concrete would freeze — groundwork and other preparations were still possible.
Despite the cold weather, these workers were full of energy. Like the people they saw by the pier earlier, they were alive. Although their expressions were mostly serious or solemn, at least these were human expressions.
"I understand, Mr. Wilson. You mean that working sincerely can help people have hope and faith, which are crucial for truly living."
Steve understood. This new boss was indeed a good man, teaching them the principles of life, much like his own father did.
Su Ming simply smiled without speaking. He intended for them to guess, but he enjoyed such a positive and noble interpretation.