World Occult Usage Guide

Chapter 70 All the Way to New York

Starlight shone in the night sky as airplanes streaked across the horizon.

Barry pushed a luggage cart through the sliding glass doors of Dietrich International Airport, while a gentle, calm female voice continuously broadcasted updates on the airport's situation.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boarding has now begun for the flight to Torrento... Please prepare your belongings and boarding pass and proceed to gate... Have a pleasant journey."

"We regret to inform you that due to air traffic control, ... your flight will be delayed..."

"Please note that a flight from Bucharest is about to arrive at Dietrich International Airport."

Barry looked away from his phone screen and joined the bustling crowd in holding up a "Welcome" sign with Adria Hughes' name written in bold marker.

About ten minutes later, a cool breeze swept over us.

As arriving passengers passed through security and walked out from the main gate, people were constantly reuniting with their families. The sounds of chattering reached Barry's ears, a mixture of excitement, anxiety, joy, and unease.

What kind of person is Lin's mother?

Barry repeatedly compared the women he met with the photos Lin An had sent him, shaking his head in disbelief.

Until he heard a collective gasp from the crowd.

A tall, slender woman walked out of the arrival hall. She was wearing a long black trench coat, with only one button fastened, revealing a men's shirt and tie underneath. A velvet hemispherical beret was elegantly tilted on her black curls.

Despite not dressing up, her natural air of nobility stood out from the disheveled British people around her, making her look like a duchess inspecting farmers.

That's probably why people around them were surprised.

Although she looked so beautiful and charming, the woman carried a heavy handbag in one hand and dragged a huge suitcase half her height with the other, her knee-high boots clattering on the floor.

Before he knew it, Barry found the woman had walked up to him.

“Hello, sir.” She looked him up and down with interest through her deep blue eyes. “I am Adria Hughes.”

The overwhelming sense of pressure made Barry feel awkward under the woman's gaze.

“My name is Barry Fenton. Lin sent me to pick you up… Madam, let me help you with your luggage.” He said hesitantly, and offered to put the suitcase and handbag on the trolley.

“Really? Thank you so much. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Fenton.” The woman watched his gesture. “Come here and let me shake your hand.”

Barry didn't even dare to look her in the eye. A gloved hand grabbed his hand, squeezed it briefly, and then easily pulled away.

He realized he had to say something, and stammered, "It's a pleasure to meet you too, madam."

“Call me Professor Hughes.” Adria adjusted her loosely drooping beret, then smiled tactfully. “I’ve never seen this face before. Are you also a student at the University of Ann Arbor?”

"No, I'm Lin's colleague."

"How is my child doing lately? I heard he's taking a part-time job at a chain hotel?"

"He's alright, just quite busy with work." Barry, momentarily flustered and afraid of an awkward silence, asked, "Professor, what are your plans for the future?"

“Travel, giving speeches, academic exchanges, collecting research materials…” Adria’s voice was like a gentle breeze. “Oh, and I also have to attend a reunion with old classmates. I spent three whole years in this city.”

"Are you a student at the University of Ann Arbor?" Barry asked in surprise.

“I earned my bachelor’s degree from this university and met my husband there. Actually, I also have a gift to give back to my alma mater.” Adria’s gaze fell on her suitcase. “My archaeology professor will definitely love it.”

…………

At nine o'clock in the morning on January 31, 2038, Lin An picked up a baguette that had just come out of the oven in the kitchen and turned around to bump into the Minister of Civil Service who was walking in a hurry.

"Hey, Minister, good morning!" Lin An called out to him.

"Hehe, Mr. Lin, you're in high spirits." The minister said with a forced smile, "Good morning, have a safe trip, and take care."

"Are you in such a hurry to send me away?" Lin An feigned a heartbroken expression. "We've been colleagues for a month, don't you have any real feelings for me at all?"

"First of all, thank you for your outstanding contributions to the St. Anilov Foundation; secondly, I really have something to attend to. I have meetings every morning recently, and the new logistics manager and staff are waiting for me on the third floor."

"Alas, a new generation surpasses the old..."

"Have you seen the new disciplinary squad?" The minister completely ignored his words.

"A similar team composition to ours, with a captain sent from headquarters and three new recruits selected from Michigan." Lin An paused, then couldn't help but ask, "Minister, have you been to the foundation's headquarters?"

“Of course, because I… was sent from headquarters.” The Minister of Civil Affairs hesitated for a moment, “All the department heads and team leaders of the Foundation have undergone training from headquarters.”

"What kind of place is the headquarters? Is it similar to this branch office?"

"Go and see for yourself. I have to go to work now, goodbye." The minister waved his hand and walked past Lin An, muttering to himself in a barely audible voice, "Perhaps, you will become a squad leader someday."

Watching his figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, Lin An took a bite of bread expressionlessly, then turned and left.

The sun rose like a golden canopy, and the morning light fell on a rectangular black RV. Lin An finished the last piece of baguette and walked toward his companions gathered around the vehicle.

“You’ve come at the right time, Lin,” Mishi greeted him first. “Come help me move this thing into the carriage! It’s too heavy!”

Barry, speechless, steadied the coffee machine. "I didn't say I wouldn't help you carry this. But aren't you going a bit too far? A kettle, instant noodles, instant drinks, snacks—you might as well put in a stereo and turn this place into a karaoke room." "Oh, you reminded me," Mishi slapped her forehead. "We don't have any music equipment!"

Lin An put the suitcase into the trunk, next to the other three suitcases. The interior of the RV was very large. Apart from the driver's room, the vehicle body adopted a double-layer design. There were four spacious seats below, and a rectangular isolation room above.

This is clearly a special area prepared for imprisoning the Thunderbird.

It was their first time riding in a motorhome. After putting their luggage away, they couldn't wait to climb into the cabin. Before the team leader arrived, Mi Xi was as excited as a primary school student on a school trip, reaching out to tap on the double-layered glass made of a special material.

"Dong dong."

The dull sound drew Barry's frequent peeks out, and before he could say anything discouraging, Mishi sighed.

"If there weren't so many restrictions on transporting the Thunderbird... we could definitely ride in that helicopter. The RV is nice, but it's not cool enough."

Her words reminded Lin An of the content mentioned in the president's appendix.

As Michigan's only Alpha-level Mystic, Thunderbird's power far exceeds expectations, and the Foundation has not truly gained control over Thunderbird.

However, the New York control team discovered it near Niagara Falls, where it had become increasingly polluted and turned into a wooden totem. They approached it cautiously, and after confirming that there was no danger, they "picked it up" and brought it back to the facility.

Preliminary tests by the New York City research department indicate that the Thunderbirds are over 80% contaminated, have virtually no human consciousness, and are almost motionless, having lost their former threat.

At the time, the New York branch did not contact the Michigan branch, but instead loaded it directly into a helicopter and transported it back to headquarters immediately.

Unexpectedly, the moment the plane broke through the clouds, the Thunderbird suddenly opened its eyes, and lightning descended from the sky.

The helicopter crashed on the spot, killing all four members of the control team and two pilots. The crash site happened to be in the city center, causing considerable panic among the citizens. The foundation spent a lot of manpower and resources to finally calm the situation down.

To prevent a similar situation from occurring, headquarters sent several mysterious individuals to New York to conduct more in-depth research on the Thunderbird.

Through several tests, they discovered that as long as the Thunderbird was kept below an altitude of 1500 meters, it could not regain its mobility.

In other words, it is best to use cars or underground transportation for transport.

After some discussion, the higher-ups assigned Lin An's team the job of "deliverymen".

"Click."

The driver's side door was opened, and Mishi quickly climbed down the stairs to the second floor, fastened her seatbelt in the back seat, and pretended that she hadn't done anything.

Simon climbed into the carriage, and the aroma of junk food wafted on the wind, causing Mishi to take a deep breath.

"Captain, I didn't expect you to be the last one to arrive today."

“I’m tired of the food the foundation provides, and I was just waiting for Burger King delivery.” Simon handed over a few plastic bags filled with cardboard boxes. “Here, this is for you. All three of you can drive, right?”

Mishi and Barry nodded, but Lin An said, "Reporting, Captain, I don't have a driver's license. But I can be your car stereo."

"Really? Come on, sing a song for your sister." Mi Xi rubbed her hands together.

"I travel north, leaving behind the season that held you..."

"Hmm, it's not really to my taste." Mishi pouted. "Change it!"

"Running with the wind, freedom is the direction; chasing the power of thunder and lightning..."

"I feel like something's missing. Is there anything that gets my emotions pumping?"

Lin An cleared his throat and sang loudly:

The Wumeng Mountains connect to mountains beyond mountains.
Moonlight shone on Xiangshui Beach.

Can anyone tell me,

But Heaven is calling out to you.

A mountain crosses a river,

Having traversed countless mountains and rivers, I will never be lonely.

You came into the past and became a legend.

The azaleas never fade.

"Woo——"

Simon started the engine, and the car sped through the biting east wind of Michigan, leaving the bustling city of Dietrich behind, and drove onto the wide highway, with mountains rushing past the car windows.

The group headed towards New York.

This concludes the first part of Volume One, "First Encounter with Comers." Thank you to the readers who have made it this far.

Next, the protagonist will embark on a road trip, experiencing firsthand the vibrant Times Square, the dazzling Las Vegas, the dream-chasing San Francisco, and listening to the whispers of Native Americans, gradually confronting his own inner self...

The people and landscapes of the various states of Eagle Nation will be the theme of the second chapter of the first volume, "Thunderbird".

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(End of this chapter)