No One Understands Patriotism Better Than I Do

A senior intelligence analyst from Langley suddenly jumped out of a moving vehicle and committed suicide for no apparent reason?

This…

Anyone with a brain could tell something was seriously wrong.

From that afternoon, Langley’s systems began to churn, investigating everything from the moment he jumped to a year prior.

Everyone he had met, every place he had visited, who he had met and what he had said there, all fell within the scope of the investigation.

This naturally included the White House, which he had visited before his suicide.

However…

Since the interior of the White House was Secret Service territory, the investigation in this regard was entrusted to them. But at the time, Langley didn’t think anyone would be foolish enough to leave anything in the White House.

He was an intelligence analyst, not someone from the White House; visiting once every year or so was already quite frequent.

But…

The Secret Service did have an unexpected gain: a USB drive hidden in a water dispenser in a restroom.

At the time, a Secret Service agent wanted to retrieve it, but the Chief of the Secret Service wanted to play a bigger game, to see what could be discovered by following this lead.

Clearly, the Chief of the Secret Service was ambitious. He believed that within the White House, no one could pull off any schemes without his knowledge, so he didn’t touch the USB drive. He didn’t even inform Langley, to avoid anyone trying to steal his thunder.

And so it happened.

Just now, as the Chief of the Secret Service was about to send someone to inform Ghost Island Country to postpone their decision by an hour, his subordinate reported that Director Edwin Lake had suddenly developed a stomachache and gone to the restroom.

The Chief of the Secret Service’s eyes lit up. He rushed to the restroom and opened the water dispenser.

As expected.

"I caught you," he thought.

Secretary Kelly watched the Chief of the Secret Service’s actions and said sternly, "Chief of the Secret Service, what are you doing?"

The Chief of the Secret Service looked at Lake and said, "Instead of me telling you, why don’t we let Director Edwin tell us himself?"

Lake replied calmly, "Chief of the Secret Service, what USB drive are you talking about? I have no idea what you’re saying. Are you trying so hard to obstruct me from doing my work at the embassy because you’re worried about your Ghost identity being exposed?"

Lake suddenly understood why terrorists had the opportunity to bring weapons into the White House.

This was also something the Chief of the Secret Service had hinted at.

Vehicles from embassies were considered foreign territory. Moreover, when the President of Ghost Island Country drove onto Pennsylvania Avenue, a large crowd of reporters had already gathered. If a thorough search was conducted upon entry, the news coverage wouldn’t be very favorable.

The most crucial point.

If the "Great Ghost" was this Chief of the Secret Service, then he would naturally be able to arrange for a "little ghost" at the entrance to be in charge of checking for dangerous items.

With both factors combined, the triple security line at the White House entrance truly had a chance of being breached without any obstacles.

The Chief of the Secret Service was confident of success: "Since Director Edwin is so sure, you don’t mind us searching you, do you?"

Lake’s expression remained blank: "I do mind."

Just because you say so, I should let you search me?

Who do you think you are?

The commotion at the entrance naturally attracted the attention of those inside.

Soon.

Lake and Secretary Kelly returned to the Oval Office.

After hearing the Chief of the Secret Service’s report, the President was stunned for a moment before looking at Lake.

Lake’s expression was calm and composed.

Secretary Kelly, upon hearing the Chief of the Secret Service accuse his subordinate of stealing Langley’s intelligence, became enraged. He looked at the Chief of the Secret Service with great confusion: "If the Chief of the Secret Service knew where Langley’s stolen intelligence was, why didn’t he retrieve it immediately? And why didn’t he contact Langley?"

Damn it.

The Secret Service was a franchisee of the Department of Homeland Security. Just like any franchisee making a mistake, people wouldn’t go after the franchisee; they would go after the source, the Department of Homeland Security.

What was the implication here?

If they profited, the gains all went to the Secret Service. If they lost, the Department of Homeland Security would take all the blame?

The Chief of the Secret Service directly addressed the President: "Mr. President, before Director Edwin entered the restroom, the USB drive was still there. But after Director Edwin went in, the USB drive was gone. I can confidently say that the USB drive containing Langley’s stolen intelligence is now on Director Edwin."

Mr. President looked at Lake.

Lake’s expression was calm: "Mr. President, I have never had any USB drive on me. Furthermore, I have reason to suspect that there is more than one mole within the Secret Service, and the biggest mole is this Chief of the Secret Service. Ever since I obtained intelligence about the terrorist operation, the Chief of the Secret Service has been trying every means to stop me. This time, he’s directly slandering me?"

Saying this.

Lake looked at the Chief of the Secret Service with a blank expression: "I went to war at sixteen, led desert operations, received the Medal of Valor and the Medal of Courage. In ’95, I even received the Purple Heart Medal personally awarded by the President. Anyone could be a traitor, including you, but I, Lake Edwin, would never betray my country."

These words were earth-shattering.

Accusing a Purple Heart Medal recipient of colluding with the enemy and treason without any concrete evidence?

This action was no different from telling the federal public that Captain America, Steve Rogers, was a member of Hydra.

Lake’s face was full of righteousness. If he had been wearing his military uniform instead of a suit when he arrived today, his righteousness would have been even more pronounced.

The Secretary of Defense was also looking at the Chief of the Secret Service with a displeased expression.

The Chief of the Secret Service looked directly at the President and said, "Whether Director Edwin is a traitor will be known with a body search."

He was very sure the USB drive was on Lake.

Because he had specifically checked it this morning; the item was still there, but after Lake went to the restroom once, it disappeared. Now, with Lake saying this, it only made the Chief of the Secret Service more certain that Lake was bluffing.

Mr. President looked at Lake and asked, "Director Edwin, do you mind?"

Lake didn’t speak; he used his actions to respond. He spread his hands towards the Chief of the Secret Service, a cold sneer on his lips, "Come on, search me."

The Chief of the Secret Service’s eyes flickered, and he immediately ordered two agents to conduct the search.

The items in Lake’s pockets were taken out one by one.

Identification.

Homeland security badge.

A pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

A set of car keys.

That was it.

The Chief of the Secret Service was dumbfounded. His gaze fell on the leather shoes on Lake’s feet and his belt.

Lake let out a scoff, "What, Chief of the Secret Service, did you forget to instruct your agents to sneak a USB drive into my pocket during the search?"

After speaking.

Lake directly unbuckled his belt and took off his leather shoes.

A clear conscience fears no accusation.

Lake was doing the right thing, acting uprightly. He dared to pat his chest and say that among everyone present, no one loved their country more than him.

The Chief of the Secret Service was completely stunned.

"What else does the Chief of the Secret Service want to search, my underwear?"

"This is impossible."

"Heh."

Seeing this, Secretary Kelly said directly to Mr. President, "Mr. President, I suggest we cancel this meeting immediately, conduct a new security assessment, and have all Secret Service members undergo loyalty evaluations."

The Secretary of Defense glanced at the Chief of the Secret Service and then looked at the President, "Mr. President, my opinion is the same as Secretary Kelly’s. Chief of the Secret Service, I suspect there’s a problem."

The Chief of the Secret Service said in a deep voice, "Mr. President, the USB drive was in the restroom before. After Edwin went out, the USB drive disappeared. He must have transferred it elsewhere."

Secretary Kelly looked at the Chief of the Secret Service and said sternly, "What, does the Chief of the Secret Service want to search me now?"

You must be truly insane.

Just then.

The Secretary of State hurried in from outside, "Mr. President, the vehicles from Ghost Island Country are almost on Pennsylvania Avenue."

Mr. President frowned, "Didn’t we notify them to delay by an hour?"

The Chief of the Secret Service’s expression changed drastically.

Damn it.

He had forgotten to relay this message to his subordinates.

As expected.

Mr. President’s gaze fell directly on the Chief of the Secret Service, "What’s going on?"

The Chief of the Secret Service said, "Mr. President, after I received the news of the USB drive’s disappearance, I was worried that Edwin might flee and did not pass on the information."

Lake sat on the nearby sofa, fastening his belt, "Speaking of the USB drive, Chief of the Secret Service, you’ve just exposed yourself."

It was fortunate that he had gotten a storage space from the last lucky draw.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

The Secretary of Defense looked directly at the Secretary of State, "Cancel this meeting."

The Secretary of State shook his head, "No, they are almost on Pennsylvania Avenue, and there are already reporters at the entrance."

After Lake fastened his belt, he stood up and said to the President, "Mr. President, since that’s the case, let’s replace the Secret Service at the three checkpoints with Homeland Security agents for inspection."

The shootout that occurred outside the White House was one thing.

A shootout inside the White House was another matter entirely.

The former was an attempted invasion.

The latter…

Would be a sensational international news story.

Mr. President glanced at the Chief of the Secret Service, nodded directly, and then turned to his personal bodyguard agent, "Send the Chief of the Secret Service to the adjacent office to rest for a while."

Forbes, the President’s personal bodyguard agent, nodded expressionlessly.

Five minutes later.

The three layers of Secret Service agents at the White House entrance had all been replaced by a team of Homeland Security agents who had been waiting for orders, along with several federal agents who rushed over from the adjacent federal building.

Not far away.

The Ghost Island Country vehicles had already entered Pennsylvania Avenue.

Four vehicles.

Soon.

The four vehicles drove past the White House’s first defensive line and were immediately stopped. Detectors, police dogs, Homeland Security agents, and federal agents were ready to approach and search them.

Inside one of the vehicles.

Ding dong.

Kang, wearing glasses and posing as the accompanying secretary, took out his phone from his pocket and glanced at it.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

A text message.

One sentence.

"Leave quickly!"

Kang immediately looked up. On the side of the first vehicle, several agents were holding a photo of him and comparing it with the people inside the car.

At this moment.

Several Homeland Security agents and federal agents walked over and knocked on the car window.