Let the Bullets Fly for a While

What does a prosecutor do?

After law enforcement apprehends a suspect, prosecutors step in to bring charges against the suspect for their crimes in court.

Let’s put it this way.

A prosecutor’s battlefield is the courtroom.

Not…

The scene of the arrest.

Lake knew this Patton, not because Patton was the special prosecutor for this case, but because Lake always judged people, not situations.

This Patton was, in a way, a rival to Karen within the Department of Justice.

Karen was also a prosecutor.

Lake knew of Patton because Karen had mentioned him this morning – a white person who clashed with her, arrogant and self-righteous.

Since Karen disliked Patton, it was natural for Lake to have no good feelings towards him either.

After saying this to Patton, Lake turned directly to the agent by the door and said, "Civilians, please leave. This is the operations center, not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can waltz in."

Patton frowned, "Assistant Director Edwin, I am the special prosecutor for this leak case, appointed by the Department of Justice."

Lake said expressionlessly, "I’m from the Department of Homeland Security."

They weren’t even from the same department.

Secretary Kelly might give face to the Attorney General, but that didn’t mean he would give face to Patton. Who did Patton think he was?

"Please leave."

"…Yes."

The Department of Homeland Security agents in the operations center felt like junior staff trembling as the big shots clashed. One agent closest to Patton, under Lake’s gaze, stood up and said to Patton, "Please leave."

Prosecutor Patton stared at the Homeland Security agent in front of him.

That look…

It was as if he wanted to devour him.

Lake let out a cold snort, "This is the Department of Homeland Security, not Langley, nor the Department of Justice. Get him out of here. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take the blame!"

He was just a prosecutor trying to use this case to make a name for himself.

"Yes!"

Another Homeland Security agent stood up in response. He then walked directly in front of Patton. After exchanging a look with the previous agent, the two of them grabbed Patton by one arm each and dragged him towards the exit.

You didn’t want the respect I offered, so don’t blame me for being rude.

Although Patton was the special prosecutor this time, he was essentially there to help the overwhelmed Langley find the leaker. Lake’s target was Langley, and therefore, Patton, who was helping Langley, was also his enemy.

An hour later.

Several lip-reading experts were brought into the operations center. Surveillance footage from in front of the Lincoln Memorial was being played frame by frame.

"I want to know every word, every syllable, even every punctuation mark this guy said."

"Understood, sir."

Lake sat in the center, imposing and authoritative. The lip-reading experts directed the agents controlling the video, and all eyes were focused on Lake in the surveillance footage.

The surveillance showed Lake.

From Lake’s perspective, he was watching himself, just with minor plastic surgery.

But to everyone else, the Lake in the surveillance seemed like a completely different person from the Lake here. It was unthinkable, let alone making any connection.

Secretary Kelly, the Attorney General, and Patton walked back in, witnessing this exact scene.

Lake, sitting in his chair with his chin resting on his hand, turned his head to look at Patton, who had just re-entered. He raised an eyebrow and said sarcastically, "Oh, were you bullied, so you went home and brought your mommy?"

Patton’s face turned ashen.

Secretary Kelly said, somewhat exasperated, "Lake…"

The Attorney General chuckled and shook his head, "Lake, Patton, like you, both want to find this leaker as quickly as possible."

Lake laughed, "Is that so? Patton didn’t seem like that when he came over earlier. The way he was acting, wow, I thought he was going to drag me to court and charge me with treason."

As he spoke.

Lake gestured to the Homeland Security agents in the operations center, "These people here can all testify."

Patton took a deep breath, "Assistant Director Edwin, do you dare to bring out the surveillance footage? Without evidence, this is defamation."

"Sorry, the surveillance system is broken."

"…"

Lake chuckled, "Evidence? I have so many witnesses. If you dare, sue me. Whoever flinches is a New Jerseyan. If you don’t dare, I’ll sue you for defaming me with that statement."

Did this guy think bringing his mommy would make me back down?

I’m military personnel.

Secretary Kelly cleared his throat and said directly, "Alright, stop arguing. Lake, how’s the investigation going?"

Lake chuckled lightly, then pointed to the surveillance video playing frame by frame on the big screen. "This leak suspect calls himself Professor X. He met with Ms. Rachel Armstrong at the Lincoln Memorial Park three days ago. Our technicians are deciphering Professor X’s speech. If nothing unexpected happens, this is the person we’re looking for."

"Have the facial recognition comparison results come in yet?"

"No."

Lake glanced at the Attorney General. "I’ve already dispatched a team to the monitored location to collect fingerprints, but it’s difficult. This Professor X was wearing gloves. Very clever."

"Not that clever."

Prosecutor Patton let out a cold laugh. "Has the bulletin been issued?"

Lake remained expressionless.

Prosecutor Patton was slightly taken aback. He then looked at Lake, who stood silently with a faint smile on his face, and his own expression darkened once more.

Secretary Kelly said, "Has the bulletin been issued?"

Lake nodded. "The Washington Police Department, the FBI, and the Washington airport have all been notified."

After speaking, Lake turned his gaze to Patton. "Prosecutor Patton, if you’re truly invested in this case, you should go to Federal Building and urge the FBI."

Lake’s gaze turned to Secretary Kelly. "Secretary, I propose that the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice handle this case jointly. After all, there’s an entity suspected of leaking information here, and I’m not in a good mood."

Prosecutor Patton couldn’t help himself. "This case…"

Lake interrupted directly, his expressionless.

Patton was startled.

Secretary Kelly and the Attorney General also felt their brows twitch.

Because.

Lake was holding a gun.

Lake directly drew his weapon and pointed it at Patton, his expressionless. "I enlisted at sixteen, participated in the Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm. I’m patriotic, I’m the professional. You? You’re nothing."

Cold sweat beaded on Patton’s forehead. "…"

Half an hour later.

In the Secretary’s office.

Secretary Kelly looked at Lake, who was sitting opposite him, feeling both angry and amused. He laughed in exasperation, "Do you know what your actions just now were called?"

Lake thought for a moment. "Telling the truth?"

"…"

What a load of "telling the truth."

Lake waved his hand. "Secretary, the Attorney General and I are old friends. I won’t be angry over such a small matter."

Although the Attorney General was a friend of Karen’s.

But…

If he dared to get angry, the Black King would take on Lake’s job for free.

Lake said, "Secretary, I’ve found the leak suspect. Now, our Department of Homeland Security is cleared of suspicion, right?"

Secretary Kelly frowned. "What?"

"I came back for a vacation, not to handle cases. And I’m from New York State."

Lake said this, stood up, and stretched. "I request to continue my vacation. Otherwise, I request triple salary compensation for handling cases on vacation."

"…No, get going."

"Okay, goodbye."

"…"

Lake nodded and turned directly.

Without even triple salary, if it weren’t for the fact that the Department of Homeland Security’s salary was quite high, Lake would have dismantled the whole operation due to this exploitation of labor.

Evening.

Arlington County.

After a day of news coverage, almost everyone in Washington D.C. knew about the freshly brewed Langley scandal.

At the dinner table.

Karen covered her forehead and directly turned off her phone, shaking her head speechlessly. "Even friends from Texas called me to ask if something like this happened."

Gossip always spread quickly.

Especially when it was gossip about Langley. No, it was a scandal about Langley.

Karen looked up at Lake as she spoke. "Have you found that ‘Professor X’?"

Lake raised an eyebrow. "Wow, you’re very well-informed."

As expected.

The more beautiful a woman is, the more deceitful she is.

Lake remembered that Karen had just told a junior member of some family in Texas that she knew nothing about this matter. Yet, after hanging up the phone, she already knew the latest investigation progress.

Betty, standing beside them, listened to their conversation and blinked her eyes. "Professor X? Hmm, I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before."

Lake glanced sideways at Betty, who was frowning as if deep in thought.

Good grief.

Did you really remember those three words I jokingly said when you were three years old so clearly?

Are you cheating?

While considering whether to give Betty a dose of discipline with a baseball bat, Lake spread his hands towards Karen. "Sorry, I’m out of this case."

He really wasn’t suited to be involved in this case.

It wasn’t because of avoiding suspicion, but because this was Washington D.C. Washington D.C. had its own Director of Operations. Lake was the Deputy Director of Operations for New York State. Secretary Kelly wouldn’t have any objections to him leading this case, but the Director of Operations for the Special Administrative Region would definitely have issues.

However…

Lake thought for a moment, then shook his head at Karen. "The chances of finding him are slim. We have a description of this guy. With the resources of Langley and the FBI, if they could find this Professor X, they probably would have by now. The fact that there’s still no news suggests that Professor X has likely already left Washington D.C."

Karen asked, "How did he get your private number? Did you figure it out?"

Lake shrugged. "Who knows? My private number isn’t exactly top secret. Maybe the bank’s information department sold my details."

His mobile number wasn’t exactly a secret.

Lake still received two or three calls a day from real estate agents and loan officers.

The last time he applied for a bank loan, he casually filled in his mobile number.

And then…

His number was definitely leaked.

Damn Stark Bank, even though they’re so wealthy, they still sell citizens’ phone numbers.

Give me a kiss… Pfft, give me a full subscription! Can you or can’t you!!