Manhattan Reborn 1978

Houston, Texas.

The sun sets~

In front of 86 Pinewood Avenue, Piney Point Village, Memorial District, west of downtown.

David walked out of the house carrying a bag of food and soon saw short-haired Ada Pushke riding a bicycle on the roadside in the distance.

He waved to Ada and smiled, then turned back and gently hugged the maid, Chasida, and whispered a few words in her ear.

"Tsk!!" The duo Toby and Tianniu, who were waiting by the car, couldn't help but smack their lips and smile after seeing David's familiar and natural movements.

However, what they didn't expect was that

Little girl Ada, who had "armed" herself from inside to outside, took off her football helmet and the schoolbag on her back and hung them on the car when she saw David waving at her.

Then, she trotted over to David, took out a small handkerchief from her trouser pocket, and looked at him timidly, as if she was expecting something.

Emm. .

Both Longniu and Toby were very curious about what was in little girl Ada's handkerchief bag.

David saw the small package that Ada handed over, and he also felt curious and asked with a smile: "Do you want to give it to me?"

"..." Ada didn't say anything, just nodded slightly and forced a stiff smile at the corner of her mouth.

"OK~ Let me see." David felt from his previous interactions with Ada that the fact that she could actively let down her guard and laugh in such a semi-public occasion proved that she was beginning to try to break through the shackles in her heart.

So David showed a very happy smile, walked forward to take the handkerchief bag, opened it and took a look, then teased Ada.

"Did you do this?"

"..."

"So the impression you have of me is that I am so ugly?"

"..You are not ugly!" Ada twisted her hands together, her eyes fixed on the wooden figure in David's hand, her lips trembled a few times, as if she had mustered up all her courage, and answered in a very small voice.

"Hahaha~" When David heard that Ada finally dared to speak, he took half a step forward even more happily and laughed.

"It's ok!"

"I brought back a few of the latest cameras from my trip to the island country this time. We'll take a few group photos for you later."

As he spoke, David held the figurine that Ada had given him to his ears and teased her.

"..." Ada's face and neck flushed due to David's action. She twisted her fingers together tightly, but finally she couldn't help but blurted out.

“I can do better next time!”

"Hahaha~ I know you can do it!" David smiled and patted Ada's little head with his hand. He found that her hair seemed to have been trimmed recently, so he asked.

"Who did your hair?"

"Mother."

"Is she home? Does she know you're here to see my mom?"

"..." Ada lowered her head, looked to the side and said nothing.

"So...are you hungry?"

"I have some snacks here, would you like some?"

"..." Ada raised her head and looked at David, blinked, touched her belly unconsciously, and nodded slightly.

"OK~ I'm just going to No. 19, let's eat and talk." After David said this to Ada, he waved to Tianniu and Toby who were watching the fun on the side of the road, then turned around and took a camera from the maid Chashida and said with a smile.

"The weather is nice today, so I asked them to take a few photos of us together in the sunset."

"..Yeah!" Ada took the food bag handed to her by David, took out a small snack that looked delicious, nodded vigorously and smiled.

. . .

About half an hour later, in front of No. 19 Songlin Avenue.

Two cars with California license plates slowly stopped, and when Eisenhower's grandson Kent D. Eisenhower got out of the car in a casual suit, he saw two young men holding baseball bats, chasing and playing under several trees on the street.

Behind Kent, the businessman De Human who came with him saw that Kent seemed very interested in the two young men playing around, so he stepped forward and asked with curiosity.

"It's almost time, shall we go in first?"

"No hurry, just look~"

"The person we want to visit is the one being chased earlier..."

"He...? He's David Coleman?"

"Ah."

"The man chasing him is called Carnes Loyen Rothschild..."

"And the little girl riding a bicycle watching the fun nearby is Senator George Pushke's favorite little daughter. Her name is Ida."

"..." De Human nodded silently, his eyes moved around David and the other two for a few times, finally falling on the three people next to him, and asked again.

"Those four people over there are...?"

"I don't know him, and it's not important to us." Kent took a close look at the four people and waved to Mr. Heuman.

"After I go in, don't say anything yet. Observe them for a while and see what I say before we talk about cooperation."

"Okay," De Heumann responded, reaching into the briefcase he was carrying with his right hand, pulling out a box and placing it in his coat pocket.

Kent was a little annoyed by his little actions, but he said nothing. He just watched quietly as David and Carnes used baseball bats as laser swords and played the Jedi Knight Battle game.

. . .

Ten minutes later.

In the spacious living room of 19 Pinewood Avenue.

David handed a wet towel to the butler Ackley, sat down, smiled at Kent and Mr. Heuman, and said apologetically.

"We were so engrossed in the fun just now that we didn't realize you guys had arrived in time... Sorry!"

"It's okay." Kent waved to David to show that he didn't care. He glanced at the people present and asked curiously.

“Who are these people…?”

"Oh, let me introduce them." David raised his hand to Kent and the other two and introduced them one by one.

"This is Sam Rogers, who used to work at Goldman Sachs. He now helps me manage several investment fund companies. He is the investment expert I rely on the most!"

"The person next to Sam is Marg Ludwig, who used to work in Washington and is my only political and media advisor."

"This is Miss Toby Olga."

"She is responsible for collecting all kinds of intelligence at home and abroad by my side. Many of my important decisions rely on the latest first-hand intelligence she obtains."

After David introduced the four people, he deliberately paused for a few seconds to observe the expressions of Kent and Mr. Heuman, and continued his introduction.

"You all know Carnes and little Ida."

"So... gentlemen, shall we get to the point now?"

"Or shall we chat at the dining table after we get to know each other better?"

"Um... either is fine." Kent smiled and shrugged, indicating that the guest should follow the host's discretion.

De Human, who was sitting next to Kent, nodded in agreement with a smile, but his eyes fell on Ada and Toby, and his meaning was self-evident.

David tilted his head to glance at Ada who was sitting next to him, and found her like a timid cat very funny. He smiled and patted her forehead with his hand: "Relax, don't be nervous."

"..." Ada held the baseball bat tightly in both hands, feeling the warmth coming from her head, and tried her best to control herself not to dodge or escape.

David narrowed his eyes slightly when he saw her reaction, and turned to look at Carnes who was lazily slumped on the sofa and asked.

"Are you hungry? Shall we have dinner first?"

"Whatever, I'm fine with it." Carnes' eyes were fixed on the baseball bat held tightly in Ada's hand, as if he was expecting what would happen when it hit David's head.

"Aklad!?"

"Sir, dinner is ready and can be served any time..."

"OK, let's talk while we eat." David invited Kent and the other man, then stood up and walked towards the restaurant.

. . .

In the restaurant.

Kent and de Human, as guests who made an appointment to visit, would not make any comments on the arrangements made by their host David.

But David knew in his heart that the intention of the two of them coming to his house on their own initiative was definitely not that simple.

So after everyone sat down, David thanked the butler Ackleid and the maid Chasida, and was the first to raise his glass and speak.

"It's a rare opportunity for us all to gather here tonight. I usually like to be more casual at home. Please forgive me if I have neglected you~"

"Cheers, to you!"

"cheers!"

Mag, Sam and Toby spent more time with David and knew that he usually didn't say too many "too-watery" polite words.

It was the first time that Kent and the other man met David, and they didn't know his usual style of speaking and doing things. They smiled, raised their glasses, said a few polite words, and then began to observe them silently.

After a few minutes, all the polite words had been said.

David put down his wine glass and picked up the cutlery. He glanced casually at Carnes who was concentrating on eating, and asked De Human.

“Are you doing business in California?”

"What industry are you in?"

"I..." De Heumann glanced at Kent before answering and answered carefully.

"I own several companies, which are responsible for the research and development and production of corrosion-resistant coatings for ships, various fire-fighting equipment, various vulnerable electronic components and special metal components, etc."

"Oh?" David heard the answer and looked at Kent, wanting to hear what he would say.

Kent felt the gazes of the people at the table, stopped eating with a smile, and said, "Fort Hood."

"..." David nodded thoughtfully, glanced at Toby, tapped the steak on the plate with his fork, and fell into deep thought.

Toby Olga, without Mr. Tianniu's "guidance" by his side at this time, blinked slowly, and then suddenly "read" the "meaning" of David's eyes and spoke quickly.

"Fort Hood Army Base is located about 100 kilometers north of Austin, spread across Bell and Collier counties, covering an area of ​​more than 800 square kilometers."

“It is the largest domestic base of active armored forces in the country and the only base in the country that can support two full armored divisions.”

"The base was completed and put into use in September 1942, and was stationed with troops from the Third Army, two armored divisions and a cavalry regiment."

"There are currently about 5.5 serving soldiers stationed at the base, more than officers, more than civilian staff, as well as retired soldiers and their families, totaling more than people."

Toby's voice quickly brought David back from his contemplation. He looked at Kent and said, "The training base of my security company is also located at an abandoned small airport not far from Fort Hood Army Base."

"I know." Kent looked up at David's eyes and said with a subtle expression.

"About half of the detectives under the Texas Ranger Headquarters are retired soldiers from the Fort Hood Army Base Cavalry Regiment, and the rest are carefully selected elites from state police who have worked for more than ten years."

"You know Daniel Bourper?"

"No, I don't know him."

"I just told a few familiar elders about your original intention of establishing a security company..."