The First Dream

Is national security above the truth?

Heh.

That’s just lip service.

Lake often said, "I am irreconcilable with evil," during his time in law enforcement. That statement is about as valuable as this one.

I don’t give a damn about national security.

What I’m pursuing is intellectual clarity.

Whoever messes with me, I’ll confront them.

This is also why Lake played both sides, feeding the story to the reporter to get it blown wide open.

Langley now has only two options.

Be a scapegoat.

Or…

Sell out S.H.I.E.L.D.

Beyond that, even if they tried to find a third path, Lake wouldn’t allow it.

As I said before.

I warned you, and you didn’t listen, so don’t blame me for being ruthless.

Right now.

When Lake said this, he wasn’t just reminding Rachel that she was in danger, but also speaking to the two FBI eavesdroppers behind her.

Seeing is believing.

Watch.

I am wholeheartedly dedicated to national security. Anyone who dares to endanger national security is my enemy.

So.

Lake took out a pair of handcuffs.

Rachel flinched, her eyes narrowing. "These are…"

Lake shrugged. "Ms. Armstrong, do you know your current situation?"

Rachel frowned. "I’m not an official."

Someone had informed her about the report first thing this morning. The Federal Department of Justice had urgently dispatched a prosecutor, who was in the process of being appointed as a Special Prosecutor to conduct a full investigation into the leak of the agent’s identity.

Lake said, "I don’t know who your informant is, but you’re in danger. It’s likely that after this meeting, federal agents will find you and ask you to come with them. So, why don’t you come with me?"

Involving the leak of a federal agent’s identity could be considered a threat to national security.

Lake asked Rachel to return for an investigation.

It was perfectly reasonable.

This was going to be bad.

The two federal investigators who had been following behind, eavesdropping on Rachel’s phone call, exchanged glances and quickened their pace, preparing to ask Rachel to return to assist with the investigation.

Lake chuckled. "Don’t believe me? Look behind you and see if it’s the FBI."

Rachel turned to look.

Indeed.

The two federal agents were already showing their badges. "Rachel Armstrong…"

Rachel quickly turned back, expertly grabbed the handcuffs from Lake, and cuffed herself.

Interesting.

Lake raised an eyebrow.

The two agents behind him looked somewhat stunned.

As they approached.

"Rachel…"

"Wait."

Lake interrupted them directly, flashing his Department of Homeland Security badge. He smiled and said, "You’re a bit late. Ms. Rachel Armstrong is suspected in a case that endangers national security, and I need to take her in for questioning. You can come another time."

One federal agent said, "Assistant Director Edwin, this isn’t…"

Lake interrupted again. "It’s not by the book. My name appearing in The Sun has probably spread all over Washington. I’m going to investigate who told her that I was involved in this case. Is that not by the book, or do you want me to recuse myself?"

Another federal agent cautiously asked, "Recuse yourself?"

Lake smiled.

This federal agent actually dared to play along.

Lake looked at the federal agent. "Just joined the force?"

The federal agent nodded.

Lake shook his head, a little speechless, and looked directly at the talkative federal agent. "We want the person. Have the Attorney General contact our Secretary Kelly."

After speaking.

Lake looked directly at Rachel beside him. "Let’s go, Ms. Armstrong. Shall we go to the Department of Homeland Security Building for a cup of coffee?"

An hour later.

Department of Homeland Security Building.

Lake and Rachel Armstrong got out of the car. After showing their IDs, Lake led Rachel Armstrong directly to an interrogation room.

The interrogation room was no different from other interrogation rooms.

Lake brought in two cups of coffee from outside, handed one to Rachel, and took a sip. "The coffee here is terrible, please excuse it."

Rachel forced a smile. "Can I call my lawyer?"

Lake spread his hands. "Of course. In fact, you can leave if you want, but the federal agents are probably waiting outside the building."

Rachel: "…"

Finally, I get to experience the ultimate mole scenario. I’ve wanted to investigate myself since my first day in law enforcement. Now, my wish has finally come true.

"Knock, knock!"

"Come in."

A Homeland Security agent pushed the door open and said to Lake, who was lounging in the chair, "Assistant Director Edwin, the Secretary wants to see you in his office."

Lake nodded, then looked at Rachel opposite him. "See? The Attorney General’s call has come through. You’ll be more comfortable here with me. You don’t want to go out there."

He stood up.

Lake said to the Homeland Security agent, "Watch her. Unless she walks out herself, stop anyone who comes. If you absolutely can’t, say the key to the door broke off inside. If the FBI takes her away, I can’t do anything to the FBI, but I can get you fired."

The Homeland Security agent’s mouth opened.

What does this have to do with me?

Secretary’s Office.

Lake knocked and entered, greeting Secretary Kelly. "Good morning, Secretary."

Secretary Kelly said irritably, "Why are you in Washington instead of New York?"

"On vacation. I requested leave. Karen wanted me back to celebrate Independence Day together. You can verify with Karen. I absolutely did not come back voluntarily. Karen said she would cut ties with me if I didn’t."

"…"

Secretary Kelly certainly wasn’t going to verify with Karen. He changed the subject. "What’s the situation with the female reporter in the interrogation room? Are you crazy, bringing her in?"

Lake said, "She’s suspected of leaking Langley agent’s identity, endangering national security. Langley has no domestic law enforcement authority, and the FBI’s authority to investigate national security is also subordinate to our Department of Homeland Security. This case, as long as we want it, it belongs to us, doesn’t it?"

This was all calculated. Otherwise… If I didn’t have this function, I would have gone off on that Langley female agent back in New York.

Secretary Kelly pointed at the phone. "The Attorney General just called me, hoping we would transfer her."

Lake shrugged. "If the Secretary believes that our Department of Homeland Security cannot handle a case that endangers national security, I can transfer the person to the FBI."

Secretary Kelly’s face darkened. "Don’t try to provoke me."

Lake raised his hands. "I wouldn’t dare."

Secretary Kelly took a deep breath. "The White House is very concerned about this matter. Langley agent’s identity was leaked, and the Department of Justice has appointed a Special Prosecutor to fully investigate this. I’m asking you, how long will it take you to get the name of this leaker from the female reporter downstairs?"

Lake looked at his wristwatch. "It’s 10:40 AM now, so… within 96 hours, how about that?"

Secretary Kelly: "…"

At least let the bullet fly for a while.

Secretary Kelly blinked, seemingly not reacting. When he came to his senses, his face darkened further. "You have 36 hours. If you don’t get the name, hand her over to the FBI. Langley is already suspecting you of leaking the information."

Lake said with a serious expression, "This is blatant slander. Only one copy of the transfer order was made. The copy for the Department of Homeland Security is safely stored in the New York archives. From copying to returning to the archives, the entire process was recorded on video and is verifiable."

Secretary Kelly didn’t want to say anything more and waved Lake away. "Remember, 36 hours."

Lake acknowledged this and turned to leave.

The corners of his mouth turned up.

See? This is the so-called broken window theory. Mr. Lu Xun said that people are very reasonable. For example, if you want to open a window in a room, the homeowner might not agree. But if you then say you might as well open the roof to let in light, he will agree to your request to open a window.

In the interrogation room.

Lake looked at the Homeland Security agent standing by the door like a statue. "How is it? Is the person still here?"

The Homeland Security agent nodded. "Her lawyer went in."

Lake grunted and pushed the door open, walking inside.

Rui, who had been talking to the newspaper’s lawyer, and her lawyer both looked up as Lake entered.

Lake glanced at his watch. "You can leave in an hour."

Rui and the newspaper’s lawyer were stunned. "What?"

Lake shrugged. "Homeland Security is taking on this national security leak case. As long as you tell me who the informant is, you can leave. I won’t cause you trouble, and neither will the FBI."

Rui shook her head. "But I don’t know my informant."

Professor X?

That name sounded made up.

Lake, however, smiled. "It’s fine, I know."

"What?"

"You don’t believe me?"

Lake put his hands in his pockets, his expression calm. "The Lincoln Memorial has surveillance footage, Ms. Armstrong. Furthermore, Homeland Security has lip-reading experts. Analyzing it isn’t difficult."

Besides, the clone had appeared on the surveillance footage.

As I said before.

Lake only wanted to get the report out through Rui. He didn’t intend to trap the reporter. Who knew if Rui would refuse to reveal the informant’s name due to professional ethics?

If the FBI questioned her and Rui refused to talk, well, it was likely Rui would be targeted and detained. In court, if Rui didn’t speak, she could be charged with contempt of court and held repeatedly. It wouldn’t be difficult to detain her for half a year or more.

If Lake’s actions caused a crisis in someone else’s family.

Lake couldn’t bear it.

So.

An hour later.

Rui and her lawyer left the Department of Homeland Security Building, looking somewhat bewildered.

"Pull up the surveillance footage from the Lincoln Memorial three days ago. Also, find a few lip-reading experts."

"Yes."

Lake walked into the headquarters’ combat command center. After he gave a few instructions, someone walked in, introducing himself as a Special Prosecutor.

As soon as he entered.

The Special Prosecutor Patton, who looked very self-important, immediately said to Lake, "Assistant Director Edwin, my people…"

Lake looked at Patton. "I haven’t caught the person yet. Once I do, that’s when you, the prosecutor, come in. For now, go cool off somewhere else."

Patton: "…"