The next day at Marvel Comics was bustling with activity. Jin Muyan, known as Kaneki Ken, was introduced to the team. He stood on the stage, smiling gently, his unique hairstyle and attire catching everyone's eye. His hair was styled in a mushroom cut, black on top with white bangs and sideburns. He wore a black base shirt under a white mid-length trench coat.
Xu Mo, with a pleased expression, approached the stage and addressed the staff. "Jin Muyan is the youngest among you. Let's make sure we welcome him properly and don't give him a hard time."
The staff, a mix of curiosity and politeness, responded warmly. "Where is this young man? He seems so cute and fresh-faced."
"Don't worry, no one will bother him with me around," Uncle Andy assured, stepping forward.
Kaneki Ken, though a newcomer in the U.S., had a complex past. Thanks to Skynet's influence, his status had shifted dramatically from being a black household to one with an impeccable reputation. His background, marked by struggles, had touched many.
Kaneki Ken, feeling a bit disheartened, turned to Xu Mo. "Xu Mo…"
"It's alright. Just focus on doing your tasks well for the company," Xu Mo encouraged him with a pat on the shoulder, then quickly made his exit to avoid Kaneki Ken's tearful gaze.
"Haha, you might feel a bit out of place at first," Andy said cheerfully, introducing the next person. "Today, we also have someone new joining us."
Andy led Kaneki Ken to a striking woman with big red wavy hair, flaming red lips, and a devilishly attractive figure. Her scarlet short skirt highlighted her slender thighs, making her the center of attention as she entered the room.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically. Women lowered their heads, and men's gazes followed her with eager admiration.
"Ahem!" Andy cleared his throat loudly, drawing everyone's attention back to their tasks.
"Everyone, you've all joined on the same day. This is Jin Muyan," Andy said, pointing to Kaneki Ken. "And this is Natalie Rushman, who will be a new colleague."
After brief introductions and a few exchanges, Andy turned to leave.
"Just call me Jinmu," Natalie said with a sultry smile, twirling a strand of hair and extending her pink, slender hand. "It's nice to meet you, little brother."
Kaneki Ken, despite his internal complaints about the dangerous task he'd been given, managed a polite smile. He was aware that Natalie was not who she appeared to be. Beneath the glamorous facade was Natasha Romanoff, a highly skilled S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
Xu Mo had anticipated S.H.I.E.L.D. agents might infiltrate, so he had assigned Kaneki Ken to handle the situation. Since Kaneki Ken's true identity as a member of CCG remained hidden, the guise of Jin Muyan was crucial.
Kaneki Ken knew he was being pushed into a challenging situation. Xu Mo had reminded him of this morning, "You're a good friend. Now is the chance to prove yourself."
With a polite nod, Kaneki Ken decided to avoid unnecessary interaction and quietly said, "Well, I'll get to work now," and left without shaking hands.
"Was I too cold? Did I make no impression?" Natasha wondered, watching Kaneki Ken's retreating figure. It was unusual for someone to disregard her presence, especially given her carefully crafted persona.
Feeling slightly disheartened, Natasha considered applying for a different position if her cover was blown. Perhaps Kaneki Ken's youth made him less responsive, or maybe he was just not impressed.
"Interesting. Xu Mo recommended him, so there must be more to this," Natasha mused as she walked away, her confidence a little shaken but her curiosity piqued.
Lunchtime arrived quickly. The company had recently opened a new cafeteria to accommodate its growing staff. Kaneki Ken, however, chose to skip the cafeteria and headed out with his backpack. Natasha noticed his departure but wasn't particularly curious about his choice.
Kaneki Ken wandered the busy streets, lost in thoughts of his past. He sighed as he entered a nearby restaurant and ordered a simple cup of coffee.
While waiting for his coffee, Kaneki Ken noticed a man sitting across from him. The man, wearing black glasses, had dark skin and a strong, imposing presence. He seemed like a formidable character.
Kaneki Ken, trying to avoid interaction, focused on his phone. When the coffee arrived, he reached out to pick it up, but the man across the table spoke up.
"I can smell a strong scent of blood. What did you have for breakfast?"
Kaneki Ken's hand paused momentarily. He glanced at the man but didn't respond. He took a sip of his coffee, as though the comment had not bothered him.
The man, not touching his own coffee, leaned in slightly, his voice cold. "It smells like human flesh."
Kaneki Ken remained unfazed, sipping his coffee with a calm demeanor. His silence seemed to only add to the man's intensity.
Suddenly, two small hills began to form on Kaneki Ken's back, the red traces of his true nature becoming more visible beneath his clothes.
Just then, Natasha entered the restaurant, her presence immediately breaking the tense atmosphere. She had been surveying the area but hadn't expected to run into Kaneki Ken.
The man across from Kaneki Ken stood up abruptly, cast a long, assessing look at Kaneki Ken, and then left without another word.
"Who was that?" Natasha wondered, her curiosity piqued by the sudden departure of the mysterious man.
The encounter left Natasha with more questions than answers. As she sat down, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Kaneki Ken's story than met the eye.