From Beginning to End

"What’s going on?"

"I don’t know."

"Idiot!"

"This is a blatant humiliation of our great Empire of the Island Nation!"

"Huh?"

"What is it?"

"These aren’t Secret Service agents."

"What?"

Rachel Armstrong, a renowned reporter for The Sun and the most famous journalist in Washington D.C., was naturally paying attention to the major news of the President of the Island Nation visiting the White House to meet with the Federal President.

Just then.

"Huh, Rachel, look there, isn’t that…"

"Major Lake Edwin?"

"Wow, he looks even more handsome in a suit."

Rachel’s female assistant, watching Lake walk over from the White House lawn with several homeland agents, had stars sparkling in her eyes, immediately captivated by Lake, who was dressed in a sharp suit.

Rachel took her phone out of her pocket.

She dialed.

Lake, who was on the lawn with several homeland agents, took out his phone, glanced at the number, and then looked up towards the flashing camera lights beyond the cordon on the other side of the road.

He answered the call.

"Good morning, Lake."

"Good morning."

Lake’s gaze fell on the four embassy vehicles. "Are you outside the White House?"

"Yes," Rachel admitted. "Give me some inside scoop."

Lake smiled. "I can’t give you that right now, but if something happens later, I can only say it has something to do with the Secret Service."

Rachel blinked.

What did that mean?

What connection did it have to the Secret Service?

Just then.

There was movement at the White House’s three defense lines.

The homeland agent, who had walked up to Kang’s car, looked through the window at Kang, who sat motionless in the back seat, wearing glasses. "Sir, please cooperate and remove your glasses."

Kang remained still, his expression unchanged, likely lost in thought.

The homeland agent frowned and looked up, preparing to call his colleagues.

"Pfft!"

"Move, storm the building!"

Kang directly pulled out his silenced pistol, shot and killed the homeland agent outside the car, and then issued orders to his team through their secret channel.

The moment the gunshot rang out, the scene seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

Then…

Chaos erupted.

Reporters from less reputable news outlets or those with lower psychological resilience screamed the instant they saw a homeland agent fall to the ground, shot in the chest, and ran in the opposite direction.

Rachel from The Sun and reporters from other major newspapers were more disciplined, their eyes flashing with intense light, and their camera flashes blazed relentlessly, disregarding battery life.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft!"

"Stop!"

"Pull over!"

The four cars instantly began their attempt to break through the checkpoint, and the White House alarm blared. Agents at the entrance drew their weapons, called for backup, and immediately began firing at the four cars trying to break through.

Boom!

The first car ignored the roadblock ahead and crashed through it, attempting to clear a path for the vehicles behind it.

At this moment.

Retreat meant certain death; only by pushing forward, into the White House, could there be a sliver of hope.

"Where are our planes?"

"They’ve been blocked."

"Ah, shit!"

"Idiot!"

Kang ripped off his glasses and roared. Their plan had been perfect. Once they got inside, the planes circling outside Washington D.C.’s airspace would directly impact the White House, forcing the Federal President into the bunker. At that point, the bunker, where no one could leave but anyone could enter, would become his domain.

But…

How had they been exposed?

Seifer!

Seifer’s image flashed through Kang’s mind. Idiot, ah shit!

Over twenty homeland agents were engaging the four vehicles directly on the lawn.

Boom!

The first car to break through the checkpoint flipped over. The moment it crashed into the barrier, it spun into the air and landed on the lawn.

"Ah!"

"Quick, get out of the way."

Three garbage trucks appeared on Pennsylvania Avenue, barreling towards the White House walls at full speed. Some people from the Island Nation who couldn’t dodge in time and had come to support their president were instantly sent flying.

"Rat-tat-tat!"

"Ahhhhh!"

The driver of the garbage truck, blood spraying from his body, looked at the wall just within reach. He roared and pressed a button.

Boom!

The bomb hidden inside the garbage truck detonated instantly. The entire truck erupted into a fireball, soaring into the air before smashing into the White House wall with accelerated force. The massive explosion and shockwave allowed the truck to breach the wall.

Of course…

It only got halfway through.

"Quick, quick, quick!"

"Go, go, go!"

Countless federal agents from the Federal Building rushed towards the scene. The National Guard in the distance was quickly assembling, and tanks had already been activated.

"Pfft!"

"Boom!"

Lake shot and detonated a terrorist preparing to fire an RBG from the overturned vehicle. A PBG shot into the sky, creating a fireball.

"Fall back, form a defensive line at the entrance."

"Yes."

As Lake reloaded his magazine, he turned and retreated towards the White House. The dozen or so homeland agents and Secret Service agents around him followed closely, preparing to abandon the lawn and hold the White House.

The diplomatic motorcade cars were bulletproof. Lake’s handgun had been confiscated the moment he entered. He was using weapons obtained from the Secret Service office.

Mr. President, Secretary Kelly, and the Secretary of State were preparing to take temporary refuge in the bunker.

But…

Not a single member of the Secret Service went.

Now that Lake had proven his claims were true, that there were indeed terrorists among the delegation, it meant there was a traitor within the Secret Service. The agents from the Department of Homeland Security were naturally the ones carrying out this escort mission.

Inside and outside the White House had descended into chaos.

Three black sedans drove recklessly across the beautifully manicured green lawn, attempting to find a way to breach the White House amidst a hail of gunfire.

Gunfire also erupted from outside the White House.

After all, Kang’s plan was to capture the White House. Naturally, Kang had brought many companions. At this very moment, Kang’s companions were engaged in a fierce battle with the arriving federal agents, while simultaneously crossing the gap created by the two garbage trucks and entering the White House grounds.

"RBG!"

"Dodge!"

"Boom!"

"Bang!"

A rocket propelled grenade, trailing flames, struck a stone pillar of the White House. The massive explosion and the resulting blast wave sent two agents who couldn’t dodge in time flying.

"Rescue them, pull them inside."

Lake looked at the two fallen agents, issued the order, and activated his adrenaline.

Instantly.

Lake held a gun in each hand, stepped out from behind the stone wall, and focused his gaze on the vehicles to his left and right.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Four bullets hit the weakest points of the armored vehicles in rapid succession. With a clang, the rear axles of two black sedans, mid-drive, snapped.

The first bullet breached the defenses.

The second bullet was the true killing blow.

Boom!

The moment their rear axles broke, the two black sedans were sent airborne. After flipping once, they crashed heavily onto the lawn, their immense momentum turning them into earth-shredders, gouging trenches across the grass.

"Bang!"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Kang kicked open the car door and stepped out. Using the overturned vehicle as a shield, he took down several Secret Service agents who were closing in on him.

"Bang, bang!"

"Boom!"

The last black sedan followed suit, launching itself into the air before landing on the lawn, transforming into another earth-shredding machine.

But…

Rumble!

A heavy truck smashed through the garbage truck, which was half-stuck and burning, reappearing as heavy weaponry on the White House lawn.

"Sir, the heavy weapon’s arsenal can’t be opened."

"What?"

A senior agent of the Secret Service, listening to the call from the White House Secret Service office, was shocked. "How is that possible? Who changed the password?"

"It was changed last night. The records show… the Chief!"

"Shit!"

The senior agent cursed and said to Lake beside him, "Director Edwin…"

Lake interrupted directly, "I heard."

"What do we do now?"

"What do we do?"

Lake chuckled, glancing at his watch. "It’s been a few minutes. Hold this position and wait for the National Guard to arrive."

The senior agent: "…"

Did he really think this was a movie?

Lake had previously said that it was impossible for the White House to fall. He mentioned the White House’s defense and counter-attack time was thirteen minutes. Even in Manhattan, if someone called 9/11, the emergency center could arrive within two minutes.

Let alone the White House.

Thirteen minutes was pure wishful thinking. If the enemy couldn’t successfully infiltrate the White House within five minutes, they were basically done for.

There were no obstructions on the White House lawn.

Except for those overturned cars.

So many terrorists on an open lawn with no cover, what were they?

Target practice.

"Our people have all retreated inside, right?"

"Yes."

Lake took out his phone and said directly to the Pentagon, "The lawn is full of enemies. You can engage."

"Understood!"

The machines in the Pentagon instantly processed the information and relayed it to the National Guard, who were already en route with tanks clearing the way on Pennsylvania Avenue.

"Rat-tat-tat!"

"Ah!"

"Boss!"

"Rat-tat-tat!"

On the lawn, Kang, hiding behind the vehicles, had a ferocious expression.

They couldn’t get in.

The Secret Service agents and Homeland agents weren’t coming out to play; they were firmly guarding the palace entrance.

They couldn’t retreat.

The National Guard, already on-site, had set up a perimeter. Under the cover of the advancing tanks and troops, they began to clear out the terrorists on the lawn.

Lake breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then.

Bang!

A gunshot.

Not from outside, but from inside the palace.