The Palace That Cannot Fall

Lake didn’t give a second thought to the idea of someone attempting to invade 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

It was simple.

This was an attempt to invade the White House, not some random person’s home. Did they really think they could just invade if they wanted to?

Setting aside everything else, just consider Lake himself.

Lake wasn’t confident he could invade and occupy the White House without any super-magical skills or technological assistance.

Olympus Has Fallen.

Lake had seen this movie.

But after watching it, he had scoffed.

An AC130 gunship with no markings invading Washington’s airspace, and two F22s merely issuing warnings? That was a joke. Ever since 9/11, any plane that dared to fly into a no-fly zone was met with one response.

Shoot it down, then worry about everything else.

And also…

The White House bunker?

There was a very strict rule for bunkers: no one entering was allowed to carry weapons, not even the Secret Service agents responsible for security.

This was something Lake had learned from Thaddeus Ross.

At the time of 9/11, Thaddeus Ross was at the White House meeting the President. When 9/11 happened, Thaddeus Ross went to the bunker with Mr. President.

So…

Movies were just for entertainment.

What was even more outrageous was the so-called thirteen minutes to take down the White House.

Heh.

Wishful thinking. The National Guard, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies in the Special Administrative Region could mobilize the majority of their forces to the White House lawn within five minutes under any circumstances.

Therefore.

Those kinds of movies and plans about occupying the White House were best left as entertainment. Lake had no interest in what Seifer had said about terrorists infiltrating the Korean delegation and preparing to invade the White House.

Even if they could get into the White House, they thought they could control the federal government by holding the President hostage?

Wishful thinking.

The President was just a temporary worker. For a terrorist to think that by capturing a temporary worker they could command the real masters, Lake could only say, "Truly worthy of being Korean terrorists."

However…

Lake thought about it and still decided to call Secretary Kelly.

After all, he was the Deputy Director of Operations for the Department of Homeland Security. If he knew a terrorist planned to make a wild attempt to invade the White House tomorrow and pretended not to know, it wouldn’t look good.

Moreover.

Lake thought about that USB drive in the White House restroom. If he wanted to retrieve it, he first needed a very reasonable and appropriate reason to enter.

The call connected.

"Hello."

"Good evening, Minister."

"Lake? Jesus, do you know what time it is?"

"Three in the morning."

"…"

"Ding dong!"

Lake stood at Secretary Kelly’s doorstep, ringing the doorbell. "I’m at your doorstep. It’s an urgent matter."

Secretary Kelly: "…"

Five minutes later.

Lake accepted the coffee handed to him by Secretary Kelly’s young and beautiful third wife, offering a thank you.

Secretary Kelly rubbed his somewhat shiny forehead, suppressing his morning grumpiness. "What is it that has you so anxious that you’re dodging my guards and knocking on my door at three in the morning?"

Lake shrugged. "Minister, you seem to have forgotten, I’m ex-SEALs."

He couldn’t infiltrate the White House without a trace, but for other places, Lake felt he had some confidence.

"What is it?"

"Important intelligence."

Lake dropped his smile, looking sternly at Secretary Kelly. "I’ve received intel that the delegation from the Japanese President, whom Mr. President is scheduled to meet tomorrow, contains a terrorist group intending to launch an invasion of the White House."

After hearing this, Secretary Kelly let out a disbelieving laugh. "Invade the White House? That’s a damn joke."

Lake remained silent.

Seeing the expression on Lake’s face, Secretary Kelly, with a curse, also dropped his smile and said in a low voice, "Who? Is the intel reliable?"

"About ninety percent."

Lake then handed Secretary Kelly the information he had just printed at home, which his assistant Tiffany had faxed overnight to the Homeland Building, regarding this terrorist: "Kim Yeon-kang, also known as Kang, Okada Shikon. My intelligence indicates that Kang and his accomplices have now infiltrated the delegation."

Secretary Kelly put on his glasses, glanced at Lake, and then at the document: "The Secret Service completed background checks on the delegation a week ago, and Langley found nothing unusual."

Lake tilted his head in thought: "Minister, I heard that things have gotten chaotic again within Langley recently?"

Secretary Kelly looked up at Lake: "Your network is quite extensive, Lake."

Lake shrugged: "After all, I grew up in Washington."

Secretary Kelly nodded: "Yes, Langley has an intelligence system vulnerability. They are currently investigating what has leaked through this vulnerability. A month ago, there was a car accident on Pennsylvania Avenue, you know about it."

"I’ve heard something about it."

"The person who died in the car accident was a Langley intelligence analyst."

Secretary Kelly seemed to recall something amusing, and while looking at the document in his hand, he shook his head: "You don’t know the expression on Director Langley’s face when he told me about this over drinks. He said he was just about to have his analyst handle the intelligence analysis for the Ghost Island Country’s audience this time, and then, wouldn’t you know it, the analyst chose to jump out of the car."

After that.

No matter how incompetent Director Langley was, he knew that the analyst was guilty, so after returning, he ordered people to investigate the analyst’s recent activities and to find someone to decrypt his computer.

Lake blinked his eyes.

That analyst really had poor psychological resilience.

Lake said, "So there’s only one explanation."

"What."

"There’s a mole within the Secret Service."

"…Say that again?"

"It’s simple."

Lake shrugged: "Someone within the Secret Service has been compromised, so the Secret Service didn’t find any problems. Because the Secret Service was leading this, and coupled with Langley’s own vulnerability incident, Langley wasn’t thorough when re-examining things, as the information Langley received was filtered by the Secret Service."

This was the only logical explanation.

Secretary Kelly looked at the glowing deeds of Kang in his hand, took off his glasses, and rubbed his temples: "My poker game with Director Langley at the end of this month is going to be canceled again."

Saying that.

Secretary Kelly sighed, took out his phone, and dialed: "It’s me, connect me to Mr. President… I know what time it is, it’s an emergency."

Soon.

Secretary Kelly called out to Mr. President and walked towards the kitchen to make the call.

After a while.

Secretary Kelly hung up the phone, walked out of the kitchen, and headed upstairs: "Wait for me here for a moment, I’m going to change clothes."

Lake looked up: "Minister, I’m from New York State, I request not to participate."

"Don’t even think about it."

"…"

Lake heard the roar from upstairs, blinked his eyes, and then shrugged, letting out a laugh.

See.

Some things, if handled properly, can be a win-win situation.

Not only can it help Seifer frame the Federation, but it can also fulfill one’s duty to ensure homeland security.

A win-win!

At five in the morning, just as the sun began to peek out, Secretary Kelly of the Department of Homeland Security’s car passed through three security checkpoints at the entrance of the White House. Lake handed over his weapon before driving in.

See.

These three consecutive security measures alone were enough to prevent ninety-nine percent of terrorists from even getting close to the White House gates with weapons.

Therefore, those who want to attack the White House are basically brainless.

However…

That Kang, being from Korea and growing up in Japan.

Alright.

No wonder.

Subordination combined with being the strongest in the universe, no wonder he developed such inexplicable self-confidence.

Oval Office.

When Lake entered with Secretary Kelly, there were already three people in the office.

The Secretary of Defense.

The Director of the Secret Service.

The head of the President’s personal security detail.

Mr. President looked at Secretary Kelly as he entered. "John, what important matter requires me to hear it now?"

Secretary Kelly had only said it was urgent on the phone, not what the matter was.

Secretary Kelly glanced at Lake, then said to Mr. President, "Director Edwin received intelligence related to today’s meeting with the Ghost Island Country."

"Director?"

Lake blinked.

Mr. President looked at Lake, then turned to Secretary Kelly. "I know, General Ross’s son. I remember, he’s the Deputy Director of Operations for New York State, right?"

Secretary Kelly smiled. "At Christmas, the head of the Department of Homeland Security resigned."

I got promoted?

How come I didn’t know?

I didn’t say I wanted a promotion.

Mr. President nodded and looked at Lake. "What intelligence?"

Lake snapped back to attention. He first looked at Secretary Kelly, then his gaze fell on the Secretary of Defense and the Chief of the Secret Service. Finally, he looked at the head of Mr. President’s personal security detail and said, "Mr. President, before I reveal the intelligence, I’d like to ask the Chief of the Secret Service a question, if I may?"

Mr. President nodded.

Lake looked directly at the Chief of the Secret Service, who had also rushed to the White House from home. "Mr. Chief, I’d like to ask who was responsible for vetting the personnel of this Ghost Island Country delegation."

The Chief of the Secret Service replied without hesitation, "Of course, it was specifically handled by the White House’s Secret Service supervisor."

"Who."

"…Director Edwin seems to be accusing someone."

"It’s my duty."

"What duty?"

"Homeland security."

Lake ignored the rising anger between himself and the Chief of the Secret Service. He handed the file on Kang to Mr. President and then explained his intelligence: "Mr. President, I recommend canceling or postponing the meeting with the Ghost Island Country and re-vetting the delegation’s personnel. If possible, this task should be handled by our Department of Homeland Security."

The Chief of the Secret Service: "…"