The Upcoming Monster Plot

"Yusuf Atta Mohammed…"

"Thirty-five years old, military personnel, the very professional kind, a career soldier in special forces."

"…He’s proficient in bomb disposal, specializing in nuclear weapons. In 1996, he participated in weapons verification work in Ukraine. He knows nuclear weapons very well…"

"A native-born American. When he was a teenager, his father moved to Kabul to work at the embassy there. He’s fluent in Persian and Arabic…"

"In ’01, his father died during an escort mission in a firefight with terrorists. This individual took leave to handle his father’s remains…"

"He returned last year and is currently conducting scientific research in a laboratory at Quantico Military Base."

"…"

As Director Langley sent the information electronically to the attendees, he laid out the individual’s entire background and stated, "This person has the ability and the motive, but Quantico has never screened him."

Quantico?

As Lake looked at the individual’s profile on his tablet, he glanced up at Director Langley, who was speaking.

This is quite pointed.

Secretary Kelly asked, "What did the Pentagon say?"

Director Langley chuckled, "He’s currently engaged in a highly classified research project."

The Attorney General said sternly, "That’s no excuse!"

If this guy is truly a terrorist, then he absolutely cannot be allowed any further access to classified information.

Director Langley stated directly, "It’s true, that’s not an excuse, but the military, citing jurisdiction, has refused our intervention. Even after Pennsylvania Avenue intervened, they only agreed to let us select one investigator to assist."

The military is the military, after all.

The military favors capital, and capital is the master of this country. Therefore, the military equals the master.

"Then select an investigator to cooperate."

"No."

"What?"

Director Langley gave a cold laugh, "The FBI selected nearly five investigators, but they were all directly rejected by the military on the grounds that civilians are not allowed to participate in the investigation."

As the words fell, Lake, who had been looking down at a mini-game on his tablet, felt several gazes fall upon him. He looked up and blinked.

The next second.

Lake’s face darkened.

Secretary Kelly began to speak.

Lake immediately interrupted, "Secretary, I’m the Deputy Director for New York State, and Quantico is in Washington D.C. Headquarters has its own investigators, and I have cases here that I can’t get away from."

What a joke.

The military was clearly telling Langley this time: you can investigate, but we’ll handle it ourselves. Don’t even think about sticking your nose into military affairs. If Lake gets involved, what then?

My file is still with the military. If Ross, in the name of justice, later declares me a traitor for betraying my own, and drags me before a military tribunal, I don’t believe Langley and the Department of Justice would protect me.

Don’t forget.

Lake is the only man who has offended Langley, the FBI, the Secret Service… and S.H.I.E.L.D. If they don’t kick him while he’s down, he’ll be grateful.

Secretary Kelly directly said, "You are the Deputy Director for New York State, but you also hold the position of Deputy Director of Operations at Headquarters."

Lake blinked.

Was I promoted again, inexplicably?

Four days later.

Mid-May.

Lake was reluctantly packing his luggage at home. He had already spoken to General Ross, asking him to help communicate with the Pentagon. He was completely passive; he had no intention of causing trouble for the military. He just wanted the military to find an excuse to reject his involvement.

But…

Last night, Secretary Kelly called directly. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, had approved Lake’s identity verification and agreed to let him join the investigation.

This left Lake speechless.

Regardless of whether this military scientist truly had issues, Lake felt he had already landed on the blacklist of some Pentagon generals. Helping outsiders attack their own?

Heh.

Lake felt he would eventually pay the price.

It’s the same old story.

Lake judges people, not matters, and the military also judges people, not matters. No matter if their people are wrong or not, even if they are wrong, it’s the military’s own business, and outsiders have no right to interfere.

An hour later.

Lake, carrying a bag with a few changes of clothes, waved goodbye to Skye, who had come to see him off, without looking back. He then walked directly into the dedicated aircraft of the New York State Department of Homeland Security.

Skye would be temporarily looked after by Cassel downstairs during these days, only returning home to sleep. Moreover, Lake had never worried about Skye.

After all, Skye, who could survive alone at the age of eight, had maxed out her survival skills.

Washington D.C.

Lake didn’t set the plane’s destination directly for Quantico. Instead, he flew straight to Washington International Airport. After exiting the airport, he shooed away Betty, who had come to pick him up, and took the driver’s seat.

Betty was speechless. "By the way, when you were with Rachel, did you also make her sit in the passenger seat?"

Lake glanced at Betty. "You drive, I’m worried."

If there was going to be a car accident, Lake wanted to be the one driving. Even if there was going to be an accident, it should be him.

Like Cassel?

In the first few years after meeting Cassel, Lake had also made him sit in the passenger seat. Now that Lake trusted Cassel’s driving skills, he didn’t often make Cassel sit in the passenger seat anymore.

Betty couldn’t find any excuse to refute Lake’s reasoning, especially since she had just scraped her car yesterday. After thinking for a moment, she changed the subject. "Brother, it’s all over the base."

"What’s all over?"

"That you’re coming to the base to investigate us."

"Just one person."

Lake said directly, "Yusuf Atta Mohammed. Do you know this person?"

Betty nodded. "I know him, but not well. But my boyfriend knows him…"

Lake had no opinion about Betty finding a boyfriend. It wasn’t like he was looking for a boyfriend; he was only interested in this suspect. "Didn’t the General send anyone to investigate?"

Betty replied, "Of course, they investigated. They even used a lie detector, but Langley and the Department of Justice insisted the suspect was within the military, setting a trap for the military."

Either the person isn’t outside and isn’t in the military, so the Department of Justice blames the military, saying, "Why don’t you open up your investigation?"

Or the person is outside, not in the military, and they still blame the military, saying, "Why don’t you open up your investigation?"

Or the person is in the military, not outside, and the military still takes the blame.

Simply put.

Blaming the military was a win-win situation for the Department of Justice. Either you take the blame, or you create a suspect, or you open up your investigation rights to the Department of Justice.

Lake shook his head. "I’ve picked up a hot potato."

Betty nodded and then looked at Lake sympathetically. "I really want to say no, but that’s the reality, Brother. Why don’t you just resign and go back to Quantico?"

Lake chuckled. "You just feel like you’re outside and I’m inside, and you want to drag me down with you, right?"

Betty quickly waved her hands.

Lake just chuckled, as if to say, Do you think I believe you?

The car drove into Arlington County.

Lake suddenly remembered and said to Betty, "Right, what’s your boyfriend’s name?"

He had almost forgotten about it.

Although the possibility was slim, it was better to ask just in case.

Betty immediately became vigilant. "What do you want to do?"

Lake shrugged, feigning nonchalance, and said with great concern, "Nothing, I just want to help you investigate and see if there are any problems with his background."

Betty immediately replied, "No need, thank you. There are no problems with his background."

"What did the General say?"

"He’s very good."

"…"

Lake glanced at Betty. "Really?"

Betty shrugged. "Why would I lie to you? So, you don’t need to worry about me. You should worry about yourself."

Lake stopped talking.

It probably wasn’t Bruce "Hulk" Banner.

If it really was Bruce "Hulk" Banner, then General Ross’s impression of him would be extremely poor. But Betty said that Ross had a very good impression of him.

That almost certainly ruled out Bruce "Hulk" Banner.

Let’s put it this way.

If General Ross had a very good first impression of Bruce Banner, he wouldn’t have directly wanted to capture him, chop him up, and study him.

The first impression between a father-in-law and a son-in-law is very important. If the first impression is good, then even if Bruce turns into the Hulk, General Ross would probably speak kindly to him.

But what if the first impression is very bad?

Heh.

That would be the same treatment the Hulk received in the original timeline.

The car arrived home.

Lake got out of the car and hugged Karen, who, as always, was waiting for him at the door after hearing him arrive.

Betty, standing behind him, helped Lake with his luggage with a speechless expression. "Brother, from now on, if you come over, don’t ask me to pick you up from the airport. I’m not your doorman, I’m your sister."

Karen sided with Lake. "Alright, it’s still your brother driving when he returns. According to you, is your brother also your driver?"

Betty opened her mouth. "Mom, you’re so biased."

As she spoke.

Betty, on the verge of tears, pretended to be angry and walked directly into the house.

Quantico Nuclear Physics Science Laboratory.

Yusuf Atta Mohammed, who was studying documents in his office, looked up as his colleague knocked and entered, then asked with a mysterious expression, "What’s up?"

The colleague turned, closed the office door, and then whispered mysteriously to Yusuf Atta Mohammed, "I just got word that the base has agreed to let an investigator from the Department of Homeland Security come and investigate you again."

Yusuf Atta Mohammed blinked, then took off his glasses, looking somewhat speechless. "There’s no need to pay attention to these rumors. They just want to find a scapegoat. Don’t worry."

The colleague nodded and patted Yusuf’s shoulder. "I just came to let you know. Don’t worry, everyone in our lab supports you."

Yusuf thanked him.

The colleague then turned and left.

But after the colleague left, Yusuf Atta Mohammed’s eyes flickered, and he picked up the phone.

He connected.

"Dr. Banner, the lab only has availability tomorrow morning. We might have to go a bit earlier… Okay… Then we’ll go together tomorrow morning."

"…"

Guess what plot point I’ve inserted myself into?