...
Lake couldn't ask for more. After all, the 10 billion dollars a year already accounted for one-seventh of the Department of Homeland Security's annual budget, and this was a department that didn't even have an established framework.
If this is more, other responsible persons will have opinions.
Besides.
At present, S.H.I.E.L.D. still has a certain role. Although Minister Kelly wants to use the Bureau of Special Investigation to replace S.H.I.E.L.D., it is not the right time now. There is not even a headquarters, so how can he find people?
As Lake left, Minister Kelly said, "I'll give you two years and $10 billion to get the headquarters in order. You can find a deputy."
Hearing this, Lake touched his chin and turned to look at Minister Kelly: "Can I dig into S.H.I.E.L.D."
"As long as you're sure this doesn't get out, I don't want to go before Parliament or be summoned to appear before the Supreme Court," said Minister Kelly.
Lake nodded: "I understand."
If you want to set up a new department, just create a new department.
The new department also has a lot of benefits. Of course, this benefit is of no significance to Lake now, but what if the upgraded system soars to 10 million US dollars per draw?
It is always better to plan ahead than to try to fix the problem after it has happened.
When Lake first heard Minister Kelly's words, the person who came to his mind was Maria Hill, the current deputy director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
but...
Lake thought about Maria Hill's character and Minister Kelly's warning, and decisively gave up.
Maria Hill is a woman of strong principles.
Lake appreciated this, but apart from not working together, now that Maria Hill had been poached, there was no doubt that if Hydra found out about this, no one knew whether it would do anything desperate.
never mind.
If there is a chance in the future, it's not too late to dig it up.
Now it's David Bass.
David has the ability, and in terms of principles, he understands what is necessary to choose. He is not like Maria Hill, who always follows the rules in everything.
After leaving the Department of Homeland Security, Lake returned to Rachel's apartment. After all, his boss had issued such a secret mission, and it was reasonable for him to take some time off with paid leave to plan this matter.
so...
Lake stayed there until 2006.
On Christmas Day in 2005, Lake flew to Paris with Rachel and Skye to spend the Christmas with Ambassador Karen Ross. After Christmas, Lake and Skye flew back to New York, while Rachel took Helen back to Washington.
Mia and Brian have also settled down in Washington, so Lake is not worried about Rachel having to work and take care of Helen at the same time. After all, the annual salary of $60,000 is not given to Mia for free.
It was still snowing in New York when Lake brought Skye back.
February 1st.
Lake returned to the New York Land Building.
Assistant Tiffany was eating French fries as she looked at Lake who came in and blinked cutely.
Lake smiled and said, "My dear assistant, did you miss me while I was away?"
Tiffany quickly put away the fries, and then nodded when she heard Lake's teasing: "Yes, sir, I thought you had forgotten me."
She counted on her fingers a few days ago and found that in the whole year of 2005, the New York State supervisor worked no more than 45 days in total, and this was the total of his occasional work. After all, there were times when he just showed up and then left work.
Deputy Director David Bass also came out of his office when he heard the noise outside.
Without a doubt.
Bass was also surprised to see Lake reappear after disappearing for almost a whole year.
In the office.
Bass looked at Lake, who walked towards the wine cabinet as soon as he entered the door, and said, "I'm beginning to wonder if there's no such thing as a supervisor in New York State."
Lake took out another year's worth of bourbon, turned around, looked at Bass, who had toiled tirelessly over the past year to keep the bureau clean and tidy without giving him any worries, and smiled. "Bass, are you interested in starting a business with me?"
Bass frowned, "What?"
He thought Lake was going to resign and join the Washington system. After all, the Ross family had the resources.
Lake walked to his desk and took out the documents about the Super Investigation Bureau from the bag he had just brought. He handed them to Bass: "This was proposed by the Minister when I went to Washington last year."
Bass took the document, sat aside and began to read it.
Lake sat aside, drinking his wine peacefully. It was time to start the task given by his boss. It could be said that 10 billion yuan was not enough for Lake last year. This year's 10 billion yuan allocation came in a few days ago and lay quietly in the account.
quite a while.
Bass finished reading the information and looked up at Lake: "This conflicts with the functions of certain departments."
Lake had known that Bass would say this because he had asked the same question at the time, so Lake answered Bass directly with the same words that Minister Kelly had answered him.
Bass nodded and said nothing.
Lake said, "How about it, are you interested in coming to this bigger stage?"
Right now they are only the Department of Homeland Security in New York State, but after the establishment of this new Super Investigation Bureau, there is no doubt that the jurisdiction can be expanded directly to the entire federal government.
Although it is still within the Department of Homeland Security system, in terms of position, it is of the same nature as the Secret Service, which is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security but is independent.
Bass looked at Lake speechlessly: "You want me to continue to help you work."
Lake didn't deny it: "But, I didn't take all the credit for your work, did I?"
Bass smiled helplessly.
This is true.
During last year's New York State Department of Homeland Security performance report, Lake was completely absent, and the entire report was about Deputy Director David Bass. This performance report was submitted by Lake himself.
To be honest.
If Lake was the type of person who didn't work but still took credit, David Bass would have quit a year ago.
After a while.
Bass nodded.
Seeing this, Lake shook hands with Bass and said, "Well, may we continue to have a happy cooperation?"
Bass stood up and shook hands: "Director Edwin."
Lake smiled and said, "Deputy Director Bass."
The joke is over.
Bass smoothly entered the work state of preparing for the Super Investigation Bureau: "So, where will we put our headquarters? New Jersey?"
Lake shook his head: "New Jersey is not under consideration, just New York!"
The same thing.
For a high-end law enforcement agency, the first step is to choose a location for its headquarters that is consistent with its high-end and atmospheric image. No high-end agency would place its headquarters in the countryside.
Bass frowned: "New York, don't tell me if there is a place, just say it is. Do you plan to use up the 20 billion budget directly?"
Lake smiled mysteriously.
After a while.
A map of New York was projected onto the wall.
Lake pointed to a spot on the map and said, "I plan to put it here."
Bass looked over. "Gardners Island?"
Gardners Island, located east of Long Island, New York, and north of East Hampton, is situated in the Long Island Sound, but is connected to East Hampton by a cross-sea bridge.
The island is not large, but it is definitely not small. It is more than enough to accommodate a headquarters, an airport and a port, and it can also accommodate a series of leisure and entertainment facilities such as a golf course.
Bass used his tablet to pull up information about Gardners Island. After taking a look, he said to Lake, "This island used to belong to the Franklin Mint, but it was bought by Stark Industries ten years ago. Now, ten years have passed, and I don't think our twenty billion is enough."
Lake nodded and looked at Bass: "I know, so I plan to talk to Tony Stark in a few days."
Even if the land is used as shares?
This Bureau of Special Investigation is used to compete with S.H.I.E.L.D. Anyway, it is unlikely that the Hulk will be poached by S.H.I.E.L.D., so why not just go all out and poach Tony Stark as well.
"Are you sure?"
"No."
Bass said, "I thought you were so sure."
Lake shrugged. "I was sure about that two years ago, but last year, I didn't contact Tony for the entire year."
After all, the great revenge has been taken.
Bucky Barnes couldn't be deader, and with so many dead, who knows which one of them is his real body. When Lake came back last year, he actually had a phone call with Tony Stark, but Tony Stark didn't pursue the matter and insisted on seeing him alive or dead.
He actually turned himself into a mass-produced model, and Tony also saw that scene.
But since then.
Lake never spoke to Tony again on the phone or in person.
Bass raised an eyebrow and said, "If you hadn't mentioned it, it's true. Last year, I basically didn't see any gossip about this super-rich man in any newspapers."
Lake laughed and said, "This super-rich man has acquired so many New York newspapers. He broke the news once, acquired one, and if they were to integrate them, the Stark Media Group would probably emerge."
"He acquires one and then bankrupts it, not acquires one and then runs it."
"Who lets him be rich?"
"…"
Lake and Bass looked at each other and then laughed out loud.
Just then.
Tiffany knocked on the door and came in.
Lake leaned his hands on the table and looked at the assistant who came in: "What's the matter?"
Tiffany looked down at the envelope in her hand, then handed it to Lake: "Sir, a bailiff from the Manhattan Family Court in New York just came and asked me to give this to you."
Lake took over and said with a smile: "Bailiff, I remember that I was exempted from jury duty, wasn't I?"
Tiffany hesitated and said, "Sir, this is not a jury notice, but a summons for you. You have been sued, and the bailiff said they hope you can attend the first closed-court mediation tomorrow."
Bass, who was sitting on the sofa next to him, couldn't help but look at Lake when he heard this.
Lake looked down at a subpoena he took out of the envelope, blinked, and was a little dumbfounded.
MMP.
What's going on?