I’ll Take It All

Half an hour later.

Lake said goodbye to Secretary Kelly and left the Department of Homeland Security Building.

He got into his car.

"Hello."

Lake called the number that had just sent him a text message and said directly, "Are you sure a copy of the USB drive was made?"

"Yes."

"Then be careful yourself, Langley has dispatched their ace agent."

"I know, and that person isn’t from Langley either."

"Hmm?"

"IMF, ever heard of it?"

Lake frowned, "Impossible Mission Intelligence Agency?"

Seifer, on the other end of the phone, chuckled, "I knew you knew quite a bit."

Lake let out a laugh.

He knew much more than that. In this universe, besides the overpowered Ancient One, he was the only one with such spoiler abilities.

IMF.

Like S.H.I.E.L.D., which didn’t even deserve a name, this was also a non-existent organization. However, IMF enjoyed even higher treatment than S.H.I.E.L.D.

Let’s put it this way.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was jointly founded by the five major powers, while IMF was contracted by the Federation. The President knew, Congress knew, and even the Federal Supreme Court knew about IMF’s existence.

"Then be careful yourself."

"Don’t worry, IMF isn’t here for me. They’re just putting on a show."

The Chief of the Secret Service had indeed copied a file from the USB drive and had indeed sold it to an executive at Langley. Moreover, this operation was managed by that executive.

As for what they wanted to do, Lake wasn’t interested. He was only interested in one thing.

"How did you know?"

"You have informants, and so do I, my love."

"…Alright, be careful yourself."

"Okay."

Lake hung up the phone, shook his head, and drove back to Arlington County.

In the following days.

Various major news broke out.

First, under a joint statement from Washington and Ghost Island Country, the terrorist attack in Washington this time would be fully investigated by Island Nation’s stationed military base, which would also dispatch federal agents for a complete investigation.

The federal father was very angry, and the Island Nation son naturally had to be disciplined.

Within Island Nation, there was a sharp division of opinion regarding their president’s decision. patriotic Island Nation citizens who admired the Federation applauded and welcomed the federal investigation team, while extremists considered it a humiliation and loss of national dignity.

Unfortunately.

Under the iron fist of the federal father, these extremists in Island Nation directly ushered in their doom. One after another, they were taken back to the military base by the stationed federal troops for investigation and questioning.

As for whether they could walk out alive, that remained an unknown.

Oh, right.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was once again made the scapegoat.

Uh.

This time, S.H.I.E.L.D. truly felt wronged. Alexander Pierce personally found the President, but the President’s single sentence left Alexander with no room for argument.

One sentence.

What is S.H.I.E.L.D.’s responsibility?

To prevent terrorist attacks, to prevent them before they happen. This time, did S.H.I.E.L.D. prevent it? No. Therefore, it was not wrong to blame S.H.I.E.L.D.

After all, the person in the White House was very angry. If it weren’t for that report in The Sun, the President might not have been so angry and could have kept the situation under control. But with the report out, how could it be controlled?

However, the leaker, Lake Edwin, had already been dealt with internally by the Department of Homeland Security. He was removed from his position as head of headquarters operations, but his position as Deputy Director of Operations for New York State remained unchanged.

Hmm.

He was even promoted.

It had to be said that Secretary Kelly was quite capable. Previously, Lake was the Deputy Director of Operations for New York State, and now he was the Deputy Director for New York State. The word "Operations" was removed, but his responsibilities were greatly increased.

Of course.

The President had no idea about the details. A temporary worker didn’t need to know these things. In short, Lake had already been dealt with internally, so without a doubt, S.H.I.E.L.D. also needed to take some of the blame.

As for what kind of accountability S.H.I.E.L.D. received this time, Lake was not very clear.

And over in Langley.

It’s said the traitor who stole the intel has been found.

It was Ethan Hunt, a senior agent from Langley assigned to assist the IMF. They set a trap, successfully identifying the mole, and during the interrogation, Ethan Hunt fled. Now, Langley is searching the entire world for Ethan Hunt.

However, none of this has anything to do with Lake.

He’s preparing to head back to New York with Skye.

Midtown High School is about to start, and Lake also needs to prepare for his annual European trip from February to June.

It’s a tradition.

Although Lake has learned many federal habits, he still hasn’t quite grasped the federal concept of unreliable family ties. Since the first year, Lake has made time every year to visit Europe and spend time with his two children. Four months of companionship a year might not mean much, but at least he can ensure his vampire children don’t go astray or have no impression of him.

One day.

Lake woke up in Rachel’s apartment. Just like yesterday or the day before, after some morning intimacy and getting ready, Lake said, "I’m heading back to New York today."

Rachel, who was making pancakes in the kitchen, looked up at Lake. "So soon."

Lake adjusted his cuffs, sat on a high stool, and nodded. "Can’t be helped, the boss wants me back at work immediately."

Rachel had her own informants in Washington, so she naturally knew what her reporting had brought Lake. Although she’d already said it several times yesterday and the day before, she still apologized. "I’m really sorry."

Lake smiled. "It’s fine, I’ve always thought New York is better than Washington."

It’s the same old story.

In New York, he’s in charge. In Washington, he’s offended too many institutions; staying there would just be asking for trouble.

Rachel tilted her head and looked at Lake. "So, will we be able to see each other again?"

Lake walked into the kitchen and kissed Rachel. "Of course, unless you don’t want to see me."

No promises, no worries.

Lake had finally figured it out.

Just dating is much better than defining the relationship. Just dating, without a defined relationship, means fewer troublesome things, and it’s easier to leave cleanly.

Speaking of which…

Why am I only realizing this now?

Lake felt a bit puzzled.

At noon.

Lake and Skye took a plane from Washington Dulles International Airport to New York JFK Airport.

On the plane.

Skye kept glancing at Lake.

Lake, with his eyes closed, resting, didn’t even bother to open his eyelids. "What?"

"Nothing."

"…"

Skye first shook her head, then frowned. "I was thinking, since you’ve found a girlfriend, does that mean you’ll be moving back to Washington?"

Lake opened his eyes and looked at Skye, a little curious. "Who said I have a girlfriend?"

Skye’s eyes widened slightly. "Haven’t you been sleeping at your girlfriend’s place these past few days? Betty told me, she said it’s a beautiful reporter."

Lake nodded. "I was sleeping at Rachel’s place, but why would I move back to Washington?"

Skye frowned. "Are you planning to have a long-distance relationship?"

That shouldn’t be very conducive to nurturing feelings.

"Bang!"

"Ouch, that hurt."

"It hurts, good. What are you always thinking about in that little head of yours?"

"…"

Lake looked at Skye, who was rubbing her forehead, and rolled his eyes. "You’re only thirteen, stop acting like you’re my age. Besides, I’m not as sentimental as you are."

Seize the day.

Tomorrow…

That’s tomorrow Lake’s problem to worry about. What does it have to do with me? How future Lake cleans up his mess has nothing to do with present Lake. Present Lake has a lot of confidence in future Lake.

After all, he has a cheat system.

Future Lake will definitely be stronger than present Lake.

Can’t have your cake and eat it too?

Heh.

Only elementary school students make choices.

Lake?

At worst, I’ll take them all. When the future Lake draws out the core needed to form a god-nation, heh, he alone can create a divine race.

That’s how the Isar gods came to be.

That’s also how the Olympian gods came to be.

There’s no reason Lake’s divine race can’t come about this way.

The plane landed.

"Skye."

"Alexis."

After Lake and Skye got off the plane, Alexis, who had come to pick them up with her father, immediately hugged Skye, and they chattered away, sharing fun holiday stories.

After getting in the car.

The two young girls in the back seat continued to chatter non-stop.

Lake, in the passenger seat, and Cassel, driving, exchanged glances. Then, both of them wore expressions of doting and helpless indulgence, like proud fathers towards their daughters.

Starlight Tower.

When Lake and Cassel drove to the entrance, they saw a crowd of people of African descent gathered at Starlight Tower, protesting again.

Cassel said to Lake, "They won the lawsuit last month, and now these people are acting up again."

Lake shook his head. "There are so many apartments in New York, why do they have to fixate on just this one?"

This group of people of African descent is truly bothersome.

There are so many apartment buildings in New York, yet this group of people of African descent stubbornly fixates on Starlight Tower, gnawing away at it. They’ve fought so many lawsuits; if they can’t win, they protest and then find someone else to sue.

It’s absurd.

The residents of Starlight Tower do not discriminate against Black people. Every year, the Starlight Tower committee allocates a portion of its funds to support the educational dreams of some individuals of African descent, so Starlight Tower is not discriminatory.

As long as this group of people of African descent doesn’t live under the same roof as them.

Furthermore, to claim Starlight Tower practices racial discrimination is simply preposterous. The Mexican-American resident on the fifth floor, the Asian resident on the sixth floor, and the French resident on the eighth floor can all attest that there is no racial discrimination.

As for why there are no residents of African descent?

Who knows.

The apartments were already sold. If people of African descent couldn’t afford the higher price, naturally, the residents would choose those who offered more.

These are some of the real reasons why the building owners have never lost a lawsuit.

Next preview: Underworld!