Spy Thriller Unfolds in Washington

Two days later.

The news was spreading like wildfire. This was Langley’s scandal, but in some ways, it had even surpassed the Watergate scandal.

It was simple.

This involved underage children.

Good grief.

Langley, you’ve always been up to no good, but this time you’ve actually trained child assassin agents? Are you insane? Do you really think this is still the era where you could control everything with a single hand?

The Washington Women and Children Protection Agency had issued a letter of inquiry to Langley regarding this matter.

In one sentence:

If you don’t give me an explanation, I’ll come find you myself to demand one.

Ten AM.

Before Langley, who was in a panic, could even brainstorm a countermeasure, the first wave of beautiful scenery appeared on Pennsylvania Avenue. This was because The Sun’s second series of reports by Rachel Amsterdam had been released.

In this report, Rachel used the sharpest language to criticize Washington, questioning Washington’s right to have the FBI arrest him. There was no summons, no arrest warrant. If she hadn’t been interviewing the Deputy Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s New York office at that very moment, Rachel stated she had no doubt she would have vanished into thin air.

Washington couldn’t solve the problem, but they seemed capable of solving the person raising the problem.

The media world exploded.

The women’s associations in Washington’s civil society also instantly erupted.

"Protest Washington’s cover-up."
"Washington’s abuse of power."
"Citizens’ privacy is completely unprotected."
"…"

In an office within the White House, Mr. President stared expressionlessly at the sea of agitated protestors outside his residence, then looked up at Director Langley standing before him.

Mr. President wanted to curse.

But…

In this matter, Langley was actually also a victim. Director Langley had no intention of taking the fall for S.H.I.E.L.D., but who told the White House to speak up?

"Has the leaker still not been found?"
"No."
"The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are jointly pursuing them. All major data systems show no record of this person, and the notice has already been sent to state police departments to help with the investigation."

After Director Langley finished speaking, he changed the subject. "Mr. President, this is no longer about tracking down the leaker; it’s about the public opinion outside. The Supreme Court has also called me, demanding an explanation for this report."

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the federal judiciary. The three branches of government are independent, and the nine lifetime justices have the power to rule any federal or state law unconstitutional and unenforceable.

The President tapped his desk, thought for a moment, and looked at Director Langley.

An hour later.

Langley held a press conference. He first expressed the illegality of leaking Langley agent’s secret identity, accusing The Sun of disregarding national security. Then, he stated that Megan Walsh had been under Langley’s supervision. Due to official duties, the case was transferred. Megan Walsh and the killer organization behind her were also among the cases Langley was investigating.

Arlington County.

Lake watched the report on television and smiled.

It was finally here.

He had been waiting for this statement.

Lake’s lips curved upwards. As a person, one needs to be honest, to speak frankly. Because speaking the truth is impeccable, but when you speak falsehoods, there will always be ways for others to know you are lying.

In the afternoon.

Rachel Amsterdam, who was tracking this story at the newspaper, received a phone call.

"Hello."
"Megan Walsh is no longer with Langley. I have proof."
"Professor X?"
"In half an hour, the usual place."
"Okay."

Rachel quickly hung up the phone and walked towards her newspaper supervisor Bonnie’s office. Soon after, Rachel brought Bonnie and their legal counsel with her.

Federal Building.

"Sir."

An agent, who had been monitoring Rachel’s calls around the clock, took off his earpiece and said to his supervisor, "Professor X has contacted this reporter."

Soon.

This message was sent out.

When Langley found out, Director Langley wished he could slap himself.

Evidence.

What evidence?

Is Langley a rat’s nest? That secret transfer was recorded as evidence?

Who?

Director Langley looked like a furious bull. He felt the agent who rushed in to report this news was also part of the spy ring.

Immediately after.

Director Langley ordered all Langley agents to cancel their leave and return. Everyone would be subjected to lie detector tests again.

Damn it.

Director Langley wanted to curse.

Department of Homeland Security.

Secretary Kelly hung up the phone with Karen and shook his head, then resumed writing the documents in front of him.

He had just called Karen to inquire about Langley’s location.

Langley was accompanying Karen as she learned how to pan-fry tuna. They were in Arlington, and it had started an hour ago. He hadn’t left or made any calls.

Half an hour later.

Lincoln Memorial.

Rachel Armstrong got out of the car. Bonnie and the legal advisor remained in the car; they were there to protect Rachel, lest she disappear without a trace.

Federal agents and Langley agents had also arrived at the scene early and were in hidden positions, waiting to arrest Professor X as soon as he appeared.

But…

Rachel sat on the bench at the usual spot for almost half an hour, but Professor X never showed up.

The federal agents and Langley agents in the shadows were somewhat confused.

The command center in the Federal Building was also discussing the next course of action.

Just then.

A little boy walked up to Rachel. The command center watched clearly.

Rachel spoke with the little boy, and then he handed her an earpiece.

"What’s going on?"

"The little boy gave her something."

"It’s an earpiece."

"Damn it."

"After the boy leaves, ask him who gave it to her."

"Understood."

Rachel put the earpiece in her ear.

The next second.

Professor X’s voice appeared in Rachel’s ear: "I’m sorry, but there are federal agents and Langley agents ambushing you, and your phone is also being tapped."

"What?"

Rachel quickly stood up and looked around, trying to find the Langley agents and federal agents hidden among the crowd.

Soon.

Rachel spotted a federal agent in the crowd whose disguise wasn’t very good and who was wearing the exclusive earpiece of federal agents.

Rachel’s eyes narrowed: "The Feds… can tap our phones?"

Langley chuckled: "Yes, but that’s another federal scandal. Never mind phones; they can even hack into your baby monitor. I’ll tell you about it when there’s a chance, but let’s deal with the current situation first."

Langley was, after all, a government official.

He knew the Feds’ methods inside and out.

Even though he had exposed Professor X from his end, given the Feds’ nature, if they couldn’t find Professor X, tapping Rachel’s phone was a sure thing.

"Are you and your colleagues here together?"

"Yes."

"Get in the car."

"What?"

"Get in the car. Have your colleagues drive. Follow my instructions. I’ve put the evidence in a safe place."

"Okay."

Rachel immediately stood up, grabbed her backpack, and hurried towards the park exit, calling Bonnie at the same time: "Bonnie, come pick me up quickly. Washington tapped my phone, and they’re ambushing here waiting to catch Professor X."

The people inside the Federal Building were stunned listening to Rachel’s public phone call.

This…

Doesn’t feel right.

"Bang!"

"Fuck!"

Prosecutor Patton, who was working on the case at the Federal Building, heard this and slammed the table. "Damn it, who the hell is this Professor X?"

The Prism Project, glorified as wiretapping on Earth Prime, began in ’07. But here, it was put on the agenda almost immediately after 9/11.

They didn’t know much, but it was definitely not a small amount.

But…

Those who knew were all high-ranking federal officials. The agents responsible had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Right now?

Was the target of suspicion going to expand from a few dozen people at the start to several hundred?

And also.

Could this Professor X’s exposé this time be about the wiretapping plan?

Prosecutor Patton thought so, then looked up and said in a deep voice, "Absolutely do not let them meet. Arrest Rachel now, quickly."

Unfortunately, his words were too late.

Along with Bonnie and the legal advisor who came to pick up Rachel, there was also a camera and a reporter.

They had arrived in a news van.

The Sun thought this was great material, very much like a spy thriller. So, they planned to film the entire process and then turn it into a video back at the office, starring real people in a real story, requiring no acting and having no flaws.

"You can’t touch her."

The federal supervisor, upon seeing the camera and reporter, immediately rejected Prosecutor Patton’s approach.

What a joke.

They could arrest Rachel, but on what charges? She had a legal advisor there, and there was a camera. If they arrested her now, it would truly be a disaster.

"Nail them for me."

The federal supervisor rubbed his temples, also speaking to his computer agent with extreme anger. "Haven’t you found the communication signal yet? Hurry up and find it."

Soon.

Rachel got back into the car, escorted by Bonnie and the legal advisor.

"Professor X."

Rachel, seated in the back, said, still shaken, "I’m in the car, where do we go next?"

Professor X’s voice chuckled, "Take a look in your trunk."

After saying that.

Lake’s clone directly hung up the phone and then committed suicide by shooting himself in a small alley.

"Ouch!"

"…What’s wrong?"

Lake, who was learning to cook in the kitchen, covered his mouth, wanting to cry but having no tears. "I bit my tongue."

Fuck.

Which bastard said biting your tongue was easier than blowing your head off? Come out, I promise I won’t beat you to death.

Lake felt his throat burning.

A single tear squeezed out.

In the car.

After failing to get a response from Professor X, Rachel got up and looked at her trunk. Her eyes lit up, and she reached in, taking out the clearly orange Langley file bag from the trunk.

She opened it.

Photos.

A photo of a woman being transferred, with a Langley operations supervisor shaking hands with a S.H.I.E.L.D. supervisor.

Also.

A photo of the vehicle leaving Langley.

This…

Ironclad evidence!