Cassel’s New Book

Lake had guessed wrong.

Rachel Armstrong’s report didn’t appear in The Sun the next day. Instead, it was featured on the front page of The Sun Evening Edition after dinner.

The headline was also quite shocking.

But…

Lake couldn’t quite place it.

The Great River-Crab God was watching.

In any case.

Along with the sale of the newspaper, the article was also updated simultaneously on The Sun’s official website. Compared to the flimsy paper newspaper, the online report was more vivid.

Rachel had the exclusive scoop, directly covering the Quantico mission.

As soon as the video was released, it instantly blew up the internet.

Killer base.

Orphans.

Child assassins.

Madam M.

Compared to the so-called written reports, nothing could incite the outrage of the masses more than this video with its commentary.

On the White House network.

Within three hours, the petition to apprehend Madam M and have her humanely destroyed was directly pushed to the homepage. By the latter half of the night, it had even surpassed the threshold for the White House to accept and issue a statement.

The next day.

A beautiful parade scene once again appeared on Pennsylvania Avenue, but this time it wasn’t directed at Washington, but at Madam M.

Some members of Congress, when interviewed, stated that they would closely monitor the more than eighty children rescued from Samoa.

The Children’s Protection Association and the Women’s Protection Agency also announced that they had contacted the White House.

An emergency public relations spectacle was thus launched.

The White House issued no response that day. However, after another day passed, the Director of the White House Press Office held a press conference, where it was stated.

Following a joint multinational operation between Washington and China, Madam M and her base were dismantled in Myanmar around eleven o’clock last night, Washington time. More than a hundred underage girls and several infant girls were also rescued from Madam M’s base.

Soon.

China also responded to the matter.

Reporters asked the White House about the handling of the children rescued from Samoa. The Director of the Press Office stated that they were urgently consulting and would communicate promptly with the Children’s Protection Agency and the Women’s Protection Agency.

This single operation instantly made Rachel Armstrong Washington’s most prominent reporter. That evening, she accepted an invitation to a well-known federal political talk show.

In the evening.

Betty, who was watching the talk show, suddenly’s eyes lit up, and she called upstairs, "Brother, brother, come down quickly."

Lake, who was packing clothes on the second floor, heard Betty’s call and walked downstairs. "What is it?"

Betty waved at Lake and then pointed at the television. "Brother, they’re talking about you."

Lake scoffed, "What a fuss."

He was a federal agent, not some Langley operative. His battlefield was domestic, so while being on television wasn’t an everyday occurrence for Lake, he was used to it.

Let alone being on TV, he had even been on the front page.

He had made the front page of a New York newspaper last year.

Right.

He wondered if those newspapers had discovered that several of their reporters had gone missing for no apparent reason.

Lake thought to himself as he walked over and sat beside Betty, looking at the television.

Karen, who was reading a book in the living room not far away, also shifted her gaze to Lake and Betty.

On the television.

The talk show host said, "Alright, so, what’s your evaluation of Major Lake Edwin?"

"This…"

Rachel Armstrong, who seemed to have dressed up, tucked her long hair behind her ear and laughed. "Major Edwin is a very approachable person. It was also at Major Edwin’s invitation that I was able to directly cover the entire operation. I remember, when Major Edwin and I first met, he told me something."

"Oh, what was that?"

"Major Edwin said that I pursue the supremacy of truth, while he pursues what is above truth!"

"Above truth?"

"Yes."

Rachel Armstrong said, as if recalling, "When I asked him then, Major Edwin told me in a very relaxed but firm tone, ‘National security.’"

The host seemed shocked.

Betty, sitting on the sofa, turned her head to look at her brother, her eyes twinkling. "Wow, that sounds so manly! Say it again."

Lake chuckled and glanced at Betty. "Scram."

"…" Betty turned to look at Karen. "Mom!"

On the television.

The host said, "Ms. Armstrong, you haven’t given us your evaluation of Major Edwin yet."

Rachel Armstrong thought for a moment and shrugged. "If I weren’t already married, he would be my ideal man."

Ray Armstrong: "…"

Host: "…"

Lake: "…"

Upon hearing this, Betty nodded thoughtfully and then looked at Lake. "I think she’s very beautiful. Brother, aren’t you considering it…"

Lake snapped back to attention and directly interrupted, "Get lost."

Consider it? Ridiculous.

I never mess with lolis or married women.

Karen, who heard this, frowned. "Is she married?"

Betty turned to look at Karen.

Lake looked at Karen with a helpless expression, feeling a bit speechless. Seriously? Betty’s being silly, and you’re joining in?

This Rachel is an older woman.

Lake likes older women too.

But…

Lake doesn’t like older women who are already married with husbands and children.

Even if the child is adopted.

Betty blinked. "What if she’s divorced?"

"Then that could…"

Lake snapped back to attention and glanced at Betty. "I’m going upstairs to pack. You can watch by yourself."

What if she’s divorced?

As Lake walked up the stairs, he touched his chin, recalling Rachel’s appearance.

Beautiful.

Older woman.

Divorced.

If, maybe, possibly, consider, yes!

Lake didn’t have any particular hang-ups about virginity. Maybe he would if he were born in China, but here? He was overthinking it. At thirteen, children were already considering safety products as Christmas gifts from their parents.

Frankly, apart from childhood sweethearts who ended up together, almost no one here is monogamous for life.

Oh.

Their lives only contain each other.

That statement might be enviable in China.

But here?

Heh.

That statement would be said with great pity for the other person.

In this life, Lake received safety products discreetly from Thaddeus Ross when he was fourteen, because he had a back-to-school event that day.

Betty received hers from Karen when she was fifteen.

Given the environment, even if Lake had issues with virginity, he wouldn’t have them in this context.

The next day.

Lake inexplicably found a photo of himself in casual military uniform appearing in the newspaper, and it was with Rachel.

And it was in The Sun, no less.

Lake felt a bit speechless.

There were plenty of gossipy and spectacle-seeking media outlets here too.

Fortunately.

Lake was already at the airport, preparing to fly back to New York.

There was nothing left for him here.

Even if there was, Lake was too lazy to get involved in the remaining cleanup work. After all, he was getting the meat; he couldn’t leave the federal agents from the Washington Department of Homeland Security with nothing to gain.

Lake wasn’t that blind.

As for the so-called Professor X?

Secretary Kelly wasn’t demanding his capture anymore. After all, the subsequent attention this case garnered had already shifted public focus. Langley and Professor X could no longer appear in newspapers.

They were only occasionally mentioned in some corner of the internet.

But…

S.H.I.E.L.D., lurking in the shadows, was in control. If Professor X appeared, or if someone deliberately steered the conversation back to attacking Washington, they would be deleted. Simultaneously, their IP coordinates would be traced and sent to the FBI. Within twenty-four hours, the FBI would be at their doorstep, kicking down the door to deliver a warning.

After all, this was a country where even searching for how to buy chemical weapons online would lead to the FBI tracking you down and investigating you at home.

As for wiretapping phones?

With repeated denials from the White House, Langley, and the FBI, and the fabricated excuse that they were already waiting at The Sun, people had forgotten about it.

As for what Professor X said?

Megan Walsh was handed over by her Langley agent, whose identity had been exposed, under Rachel’s watchful gaze. Ironclad facts proved one thing: Professor X’s photo was a forgery.

In summary.

This time, Madam M and Nick Fury were the scapegoats. Everyone else, including Lake, was quite pleased.

So…

Lake could also retire with honor.

Lake figured he wouldn’t be back in Washington until Christmas.

An hour and a half later.

Lake’s flight landed at New York’s Kennedy Airport.

Carrying his backpack, as soon as he exited the airport, he saw the renowned New York suspense novelist Richard Cassel, striking a pose and taking photos with a few fans.

Lake walked past Cassel expressionlessly, then directly opened Cassel’s car door and got into the driver’s seat.

"Hey, hey, hey."

Cassel opened the passenger door, got in, and gave Lake a big hug. With a flash of his hand, he produced a copy of The Sun. "Wow, handsome, you’re almost as handsome as me."

Lake’s lips twitched. He started the car, not intending to engage with Cassel’s topic. "Congratulations, your new book is selling well."

Seeing that Lake wasn’t going to play along, Cassel took a brand new copy of his book, signed with his name, from the glove compartment and patted it. "Here, for you."

While Lake was working in Washington.

Cassel’s new book, the first in the Nicky Hit series, "Heatwave," which was based on the famous NYPD female detective inspector Carter Beckett, was officially released.

In the past half-month, "Heatwave" had topped the New York crime fiction charts at NO.1. Once again, the media reporters who had previously thought Cassel’s talent had dried up were now praising him.

The media were creatures of hype.

Beckett…

Lake looked at Cassel with some sympathy. "Speaking of which, aren’t you afraid Beckett will see what’s in the book and shoot you? I won’t put in a good word for you."

Cassel: "…"