Russia, Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics.

Alexei, who was no longer young, gasped and stood at the forefront of the group of researchers who rushed to hear the news, clenched his fists hard, and glared angrily at the officials and Americans who were blocking the gate of the institute, like an angry brown bear.

"Sukabule! This is an important research base! A top-secret place where foreigners are absolutely not allowed to enter! This is treason! If you bastards had been put decades ago, you would have all been hung up and shot! All of them would have been shot!"

"Mr. Alexei, please calm down...... The Cold War has ended, the world is no longer shrouded in the clouds of war, and there is no need to keep these redundant research sites, and human society will enter a new era of science and technology sharing......"

The Russian finance officer, who was surrounded by several police officers, wiped the spit from his face, frowned heavily, looked around at the staff members gathered at the entrance of the institute, raised his arms, and waved the document with the fresh seal.

"Look, look! You know, this area should have been demolished directly, but Citibank of the United States, considering the friendship between the two peoples, specially chose to buy the research institute at a high price and redecorate it into a bank branch.

"Okay! Even if the government agrees to dismantle and merge the institute, you have to give us at least half a month, no, a week! It takes time to transfer and store valuable data, documents, and equipment in the institute, not to mention ......."

Alexei glanced at the police cars parked at the front door of the institute and the vigilant police officers on their faces, took a deep breath, tried to suppress the anger in his chest, and pointed his arm at the researchers behind him, his face full of resentment.

"Directly dismiss so many researchers, what should everyone in the institute do next?!Last month's salary has not yet been paid, do you think that just a vague severance pay can solve the problem?!"

"Regarding this, it has been explained before, there is still a little bit of a problem with the financial process, please be patient......"

In the face of the angry staff of the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, the Russian finance official who took the job showed a look of embarrassment on his face, shrank back nervously, and raised his hands in an effort to calm everyone's emotions.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's finances have been on the verge of collapse, and the economic aid promised by Western countries has not yet arrived for various reasons, so that the government has to open the market and take the initiative to admit foreign companies and banks to enter, so as to earn high foreign exchange to subsidize the finances.

In fact, according to the original idea of the Russian government, a place like the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics was originally not within the scope of land for sale, but the Americans gave too much money, so they agreed half-way.

"Ahem, please don't get excited, we understand your difficulties. ”

Seeing that the scene was about to get out of control, several Americans standing in the back watching the excitement glanced at each other, walked to the gate, patted the Russian finance official on the shoulder, coughed lightly, and piled up a professional smile on his face.

"Actually, we are here today to solve these problems. ”

With the voice of the American representative, several heavy suitcases were placed in front of the crowd.

Each large suitcase was filled with stacks of neatly stacked rubles, and the unique smell and dazzling color of the coins instantly silenced the whole venue, and people looked at the group of Americans in disbelief, not knowing what they wanted to say.

"First of all, please rest assured that Citibank is a global bank with good reputation, and as a banking industry, we have no interest in what you are studying - according to the agreement with the Russian government, all the materials in the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics will be destroyed without worrying about leakage. ”

"Secondly, taking into account the current financial difficulties in Russia and what we have learned in previous communications, the board of directors of the bank has decided that we will temporarily pay a part of the severance expenses of the institute's personnel to ensure that this transaction will not have too much impact on your lives. ”

"Finally, for some senior researchers, we have prepared a special letter of recommendation, with which you can go to the United States for free to work in major research institutes and universities - but the specific position and work content will be determined according to the actual situation of each place, but it will definitely be enough to solve your daily life problems......"

Originally, these words should have been spoken by a Russian finance official, but from an official point of view, this kind of thing similar to encouraging people to defect out of the country was really difficult for him to speak, and seeing that the Americans took the initiative to take over the conversation, the official from the Russian Ministry of Finance was also relieved, and his face gradually returned to his previous composure.

"That's right, that's it in general...... We will distribute severance expenses and letters of introduction according to your position and salary, and then please pack up your personal belongings and complete the data cleaning work of the institute today and tomorrow......"

"Deputy Director Alexey, what do we do now?"

"Yes, the institute can't last long like this, so it's good to have severance pay......"

"I heard that the Mendeleev Institute is also laying off staff, so why don't we try to teach at a foreign university? ”

Looking at the colleagues around him, as well as the police and government officials who had become extremely unfamiliar, Alexei opened his mouth, and finally waved his hand in a happy manner, and said weakly.

"Let's get in line, let's go...... What else, life still has to go on......"

"Hey, what about you? aren't you going to get severance pay......"

"No, I still have something to do at home, so I'll go back first - anyway, I'll go to the office on time tomorrow to preside over the data destruction work, stand on the last shift, go to the queue to register, it's the last bit of welfare." ”

Alexei shook his head, bent down to pick up the bread bag that had fallen on the ground due to a physical altercation, patted the dust and snow stuck to the breadsticks, sighed, turned around and walked in the direction he left.

Not far away, the American tourists who had been standing at the edge of the crowd and paying attention to the development of the situation took out a small notebook in their shirt pockets, opened it and looked at it carefully, exchanged glances with each other, gathered up their gray high-necked trench coats, and quickly followed Alexei.

[Alexei, Budekel Institute of Nuclear Physics, Deputy Director, Senior Researcher, Stalin Prize, Medal of Merit, Medal of the Golden Star of the Hero of Labor, Order of the Red Star, Order of the Red Banner of Labor...... Recipient, Danger Level: Very High. 】

[Suggestion: Intelligence personnel try to contact for recruitment, and transfer to domestic research institutes, universities and other institutions for close control, or in the case of communication failure, clean up the threat in advance to prevent the threat from spreading to neighboring countries.] 】

Behind several intelligence officers disguised as American tourists, Frank thoughtfully stroked the wand hidden in his coat pocket, placed it a little farther away, cast a phantom charm, and quietly followed.

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Chapter 1~