What?"
"That's impossible!"
When the director of the Secret Service heard this, he slammed the table and stood up before Lake's voice even died down.
Good job.
This is to grab power.
Although the Secret Service system was incorporated into the Department of Homeland Security after its establishment, just like the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center it was incorporated into, they all belong to Homeland Security in name, but in reality, like Erlang Shen, they only obey orders and not announcements.
wrong.
The Secret Service is even worse.
Relying on the fact that his office is in the White Palace, he acts like he is in the Department of Homeland Security in name only, but in reality he is just a figurehead there.
now.
The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of Operations reported directly to the President in front of the Director of the Secret Service. The message was that there was something fishy going on in the mission and that the Secret Service had failed to oversee it. The Secret Service was no longer qualified to continue to perform this type of investigation.
Can this be tolerated?
After losing the function of screening, what function does the Secret Service have? Has it really become the president's bodyguard?
The Secret Service Director looked directly at the President and said, "Mr. President, this is Director Edwin's one-sided statement. We, along with Langley, have already conducted at least ten investigations into this mission."
Lake looked at the head of the Secret Service and said, "Ten times, you still haven't figured out the problem."
"That's because there are no ghosts in there."
The director of the Secret Service said to Lake in a deep voice, "Since Director Edwin said he got the tip, then may I ask where Director Edwin got the tip from?"
Lake said, "Are you questioning me?"
"yes."
"Are you qualified?"
"What?"
"I didn't hear you clearly. I say, do you have the qualifications to question me?"
"…"
Being timid has never been Lake's character.
Just do it if you're unhappy.
Besides.
If Secretary Kelly had not just been promoted, then, in terms of position, the Director of the Secret Service would indeed have the qualifications to question the informant of the Deputy Director of Operations for the Department of Homeland Security in New York State.
but...
Lake got a promotion.
In terms of the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary is undoubtedly the most senior, followed by two Deputy Secretaries, the Customs Commissioner, the Director of Immigration and Naturalization, the Director of the Secret Service, the Federal Training Master, the Commander of the Coast Guard...
All right.
Lake is still half a level below the head of the Secret Service.
but...
Lake is affiliated with the Department of Homeland Security headquarters, and the Secret Service is a franchise agency. It's the same for any agency. The headquarters will automatically be promoted half a level when meeting with the franchise agency.
so.
The current Director of the Secret Service is really not qualified to question who Lake's informant is.
estimate.
This is probably why Minister Kelly was promoted on the spur of the moment.
After all, Minister Kelly and Lake have known each other for many years, so he naturally knows that Lake is a mixed bag. People who know him well can turn a blind eye to him, but if others ask him about it, he will probably go to federal prison.
The head of the Secret Service looked incredulous: "I don't have the qualifications?"
Lake tilted his head and looked: "Do you have it?"
Minister Kelly's eyes follow his nose and his nose follows his heart.
The Minister of Defense is watching the show.
"Okay."
The President slammed the information about Kang on the table and said to Lake and the Director of the Secret Service, "Gentlemen, please be aware of your identities."
The Secret Service Director was like an angry bull: "Mr. President, Director Edwin is accusing the Secret Service of something fishy based on a piece of unidentified intelligence. I cannot accept that."
Lake said calmly, "I'm helping you, idiot."
"you..."
"That's enough."
The President once again stopped the Secret Service Director from rolling up his sleeves in anger and looked at Lake. "Director Edwin, this is the White Palace. I heard Thaddeus mention you when we were playing golf. You're very capable."
Lake smiled and said, "Thank you."
The President looked at the Secretary of Defense who was watching the show and said, "Corey, what's your opinion?"
The Minister of Defense raised his head from his chair and said, "I agree with Major Edwin's opinion. Since there are hidden dangers, even if it is possible, we should investigate."
The word "major" is enough to prove the attitude of the Minister of Defense.
Lake was from his military.
Although he is currently on secondment to the Department of Homeland Security, he is still from the military. Just like Captain America Steve Rogers, the military has a special Rogers office responsible for handling some of Rogers' commercial value.
The Secret Service Director glanced at the Secretary of Defense, who stood in line without hesitation, and then said to the President, "The media reporters and news organizations have been notified. Postponing or canceling the event at this time will create a negative impression."
The purpose of the President of Ghost Island's visit this time is to discuss matters concerning the garrison on the island.
Because of the continuous scandals involving the island base in recent years, the people of Guidao have been increasingly dissatisfied with this garrison base that is like an emperor. The purpose of this visit is just to put on an act.
What if the audience with Ghost Island Country is suddenly cancelled or delayed at this time?
The residents of Ghost Island thought this was a naked humiliation. No one could be sure or predict what the people of Ghost Island would do.
When Onigashima bombed Pearl Island, the then-federal president thought about it for more than ten days and still couldn't figure out what kind of thought process Onigashima used to think they had the strength to confront the federation.
Lake looked at the Secret Service Director again. "Even if the attack took place on Pennsylvania Avenue, the consequences would probably not be as simple as the Secret Service Director resigning."
The Secret Service Director gave Lake a deep look. "Director Edwin is so sure of his intelligence, so sure that he believes his sources are better than those of the Secret Service and Langley combined?"
Lake shrugged. "No, I'm just curious. If I received this information, why didn't your Secret Service receive it? I thought about it and there seems to be only one reason: there's something fishy going on with your Secret Service."
Said.
Lake looked directly at the president. "Mr. President, I suggest that the Director of the Secret Service be suspended from all duties. I suspect that the Director of the Secret Service has already betrayed the country."
Good job.
The Secret Service Director could only feel his blood pressure soar.
Minister Kelly coughed and said, "Mr. President, the Ghost Island delegation is about to depart in half an hour. My suggestion is to find a reason to postpone it and have Director Edwin lead the team to re-investigate the delegation."
The Secret Service director deadpanned, "The embassy is another country's territory."
The Department of Homeland Security has no responsibility for the territory of other countries.
Lake smiled and said, "But, it's not like that outside the iron gate."
It is true that the territory inside the embassy or consulate is another country's territory, but once you pass through that iron gate, it is federal land.
"Director Edwin, have you forgotten that the interior of the embassy's vehicle is also foreign territory?"
"That's easy to fix."
Minister Kelly suggested, "We can ask the President of Ghost Island. The White Palace will send a special car to pick up the President of Ghost Island."
This is a treatment that the country that is being paid an audience with has never received before.
Just then.
The Vice President and the Secretary of State also walked in from outside.
The President asked the two men what they had just said.
The Vice President and the Secretary of State glanced at Lake, who was promoted to Director of Operations. Although Lake had dealt with them before, the Secretary of State had dealt with the Coulson incident, and the Vice President had dealt with the Winter Soldier incident.
But that was mixed with personal feelings, while this matter is a public matter.
After thinking for a while, the two men sided with Minister Kelly, Lake, and the Secretary of Defense and agreed to postpone it.
but...
The delay should not be too long.
The President thought for a moment, looked at Lake and said, "You have an hour."
Lake nodded.
One hour is enough.
On the way here, Lake and Minister Kelly had discussed and decided on the most likely opinion to be accepted, so now there are two teams of homeland agents on standby near the embassy or consulate of the Ghost Island Country.
Out of the Oval Office.
Lake stopped, covered his stomach, and said to Minister Kelly, who had stopped and looked at him: "Sorry, my stomach hurts. I'll be back soon."
Said.
Lake slipped directly into the bathroom next to him.
close the door.
Exhale.
Lake shook his head.
I guess the restroom here is the most difficult to use in the entire federation.
wrong.
Lake went to Area 51 to use the restroom first, but unfortunately, General Ross directly rejected Lake's seventeen-year-old New Year's wish.
So the toilet in Area 51 is the most difficult to use.
The toilet in the White Palace is at most the second best.
Open the toilet's water reservoir lid.
Catch the eye.
There was a USB drive submerged under the water.
Grab it.
Following what Sefer said, I opened the USB drive's casing and verified its authenticity.
Income storage space.
Lake ran the water, pressed the flush button, walked out of the cubicle, washed his hands, and left.
The mission of betraying the Federation is completed.
Next task.
Start the Defend the Federation mission.
only...
Just as Lake walked out of the white palace, footsteps were heard behind him.
"Stop him."
"…"
Lake watched as the two guards at the door pointed their guns at him, narrowed his eyes, turned around, and stared expressionlessly at the Secret Service Director who came over with three Secret Service agents.
Minister Kelly, who was already sitting in the back seat, walked out of the car with some displeasure.
The Secret Service Director wore a mysterious smile. "Last month, a Langley intelligence analyst committed suicide by jumping out of a car after leaving the White Palace. Does Director Edwin know about this?"
Lake chuckled. "Of course. I even talked to Secretary Kelly about this after I knocked on his door at four o'clock. Perhaps it was because of this incident that Langley didn't realize there was something fishy going on in the Secret Service."
The Secret Service Director ignored Lake's taunting, "Director Edwin just went to the restroom because of a stomachache?"
Lake said, "Why, the Director of the Secret Service is concerned about whether my stomach hurts?"
The Secret Service Director shook his head, glanced at his three agents, and then smiled. "How could this be such a coincidence? Director Edwin just went to the restroom, and the USB drive he left there, specifically for fishing, disappeared. Director Edwin, can you explain this?"
Lake: "…"