This Is Blatant Deception

Hydra, as expected of Hydra.

They’d already figured out how to create this cloned Black Technology?

Lake thought to himself.

However…

Other than that, Lake didn’t show any anger. Of course, Lake still felt like he’d been played, but if he wanted to get mad, he needed to understand one thing first.

After all, Hydra was now an important partner for Lake.

Since they were partners, the treatment they received was definitely different. Lake first needed to figure out if this cloned version of Bucky Barnes was switched before or after the tunnel incident.

If it was the former…

Lake stated that he could spend some money and settle this matter properly. After all, if it was before the tunnel battle, then the one who attacked him was the cloned Bucky Barnes. Since it was a clone, it naturally had nothing to do with the original. Lake wanted Bucky Barnes, and Hydra had given him Bucky Barnes, it was just the wrong product.

But if it was the latter?

Heh heh.

Lake would be very angry.

As everyone knew, Lake was generally a very easygoing person, but he detested two things: betrayal and deception.

If Hydra had found an opportunity after the tunnel battle to switch Bucky Barnes, then that would be a huge problem. If not handled carefully, it could brew a massive disaster.

After a long pause.

Lake snapped back to reality and looked at Tony Stark. "If this Bucky Barnes is a clone, do you know when the switch happened?"

"Switch?"

Tony Stark frowned. "What do you mean? Are you saying someone switched Bucky Barnes at Quantico base after we captured him?"

Lake nodded, then suddenly froze, and immediately shook his head.

Damn it.

This didn’t seem to be a question of when the switch happened. Whether it was before or after the tunnel, this was blatant deception and trickery.

As Tony Stark was speaking, Lake realized something. This wasn’t an issue of whether it was a clone or not. It was like asking for an orange, and the other party sending an orange disguised as an orange.

The Bucky Barnes he originally wanted was the one who killed Howard Stark’s couple, not some cloned version.

This was blatant mockery and deception.

And also…

Lake had previously asked Hydra if they could help with his friend Owen Strand’s situation, and List had finally replied with an apology.

He hadn’t paid much attention at first, after all, it was lung cancer, and finding a lung transplant match was the most difficult.

But now.

It wasn’t that Hydra had no way to help, it was clearly that they were afraid he would deduce from this matter that they had sent him the wrong product back then. They really hoped Lake or the Black King would continue to be clueless fools.

Fine.

Very fine.

MMP.

Lake originally thought that although he and Hydra weren’t friends, they were at least partners. But now, it seemed to be the same as with Maureen’s situation.

Was Lake just wishful thinking?

As expected.

Had it all been in vain?

Lake couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. He had been cooperating quite happily with Hydra, and their transactions had amounted to nearly 110 million.

Why bother?

Weren’t honest transactions good enough? Why play clever tricks?

Now look.

Lake felt that business was probably over.

It could actually continue, but as the saying goes, if he knew the truth and continued to cooperate, Lake felt he would be like someone kneeling to earn money.

That wouldn’t do.

In his previous life, he had knelt and still didn’t earn money. In this life, if he couldn’t earn money standing up, he could flip the table!

After a long pause.

Lake’s eyes flickered as he looked at Tony Stark. "It’s obvious, we’ve both been played."

Tony Stark’s anger was no less than Lake’s, after all, Bucky Barnes was the murderer of his father.

Tony felt a strong sense of agreement with Lake’s statement.

But…

Tony shook his head. "What should we do? Should we find that Agent Langley who handled the transaction?"

Lake shook his head. "Shot is already in the witness protection program. This matter shouldn’t have anything to do with the Deep Dive organization Shot was previously part of."

Tony looked at Lake. "Are you that sure?"

Lake didn’t explain, just nodded and looked at Tony. "Cloning technology isn’t some low-level tech. From a certain perspective, the advent of cloning technology is essentially stealing souls from hell."

Tony said, "After I received this investigation report, I also had Jarvis do some searching, but I didn’t find anything."

Lake chuckled. "The emergence of cloning technology couldn’t have been so quiet. If we restart the investigation with this autopsy report, it will be quite difficult."

Tony nodded. "I’ll have Jarvis keep an eye on it."

Lake said "good."

He didn’t plan to ask List why this time.

He knew without even thinking what List’s answer would be – he definitely wouldn’t know.

Furthermore, it would alert the enemy. Most importantly, setting aside Hydra, when it came to List, Lake actually had a lot of respect for him. Lake appreciated that and didn’t want to call him, potentially causing List to lose his life over a lie.

The banquet ended.

Lake and Rachel took Josie back to their vacation villa.

Over the next half month.

Lake and Rachel, along with Josie, once again entered vacation mode. After that banquet ended, Tony Stark had already returned to his base camp estate in Malibu.

However…

There still wasn’t much progress on this cloning case.

Half a month later.

Lake and Rachel ended their vacation, took Josie, and boarded a private jet, flying directly from Los Angeles to Washington D.C.

As Rachel was escorting Josie into the car, she turned to look at Lake. "Are you coming back tonight?"

Lake thought for a moment. "I probably can’t. I need to talk with the General."

Rachel nodded, not saying much else. She just told Lake to come back when he had time, and then she took Josie and got into the car, leaving the airport.

Lake, on the other hand, took another private car driven by a Homeland agent and headed directly to the Department of Homeland Security Building.

In half a month, Tony hadn’t found any leads. Lake had no choice but to lure the snake out of its hole.

He was going to restart the Howard Stark couple death case!

His biggest advantage was being in the open. Moreover, people thought Lake and the Black King were two different people, which was good, and Lake hoped to maintain that.

In Secretary Kelly’s office.

"What?"

Secretary Kelly frowned as he heard Lake’s first sentence. "What did you say? Restart the Howard Stark couple death case? I remember that case was already closed."

After all, the Howard Stark couple case had been reopened twice before.

Once for a scapegoat.

Once for the Winter Soldier, which had caused a sensation but had since been forgotten.

Again?

Lake directly placed the detailed autopsy report that Tony Stark had printed out when leaving Santa Barbara onto Secretary Kelly’s desk. "Based on the autopsy report, I have reason to suspect that the deceased Bucky Barnes was not the real person, but a clone scapegoat used to evade responsibility."

Secretary Kelly’s eyes widened. "A clone?"

Lake nodded.

"Are you kidding me, Lake? Clones? Last year, Dolly the sheep, who was cloned, also died. How long did it live? And a company capable of manufacturing clones – do you think such powerful technology would have absolutely no rumors?"

"…"

Secretary Kelly shook his head in disbelief, as if he had heard a huge joke. Not to mention the international ban on cloning agreements, even just one point: if cloning technology truly existed in this world, how could the federal government not know? Or rather, why would Secretary Kelly, as the Secretary of Homeland Security, not know?

Most importantly.

After Secretary Kelly finished laughing, he frowned at Lake. "Even if this corpse is a clone, fine, but that’s the FBI’s responsibility. We are the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security."

Lake said, "If we had a cloning base appear on our soil, or if, by chance, many people were cloned, then these clones would be enough to involve Homeland Security."

Secretary Kelly opened his mouth, then shook his head, tapping the evidence on the desk. "Alright, you are our Deputy Director of Operations, and you have the right to choose which cases to pursue. Fine, I agree to let you restart it."

Lake raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Kelly directly held up two fingers. "I have two conditions."

"You say them."

"First, the restart should not be publicized. At the very least, it shouldn’t be a big fanfare. At the very least, before you have conclusive evidence, I don’t want to see this news in any newspaper, especially The Sun, understand?"

"…Okay."

"Second…"

Secretary Kelly paused here. After a moment, he then said to Lake, "Second, tell me that this has nothing to do with any personal grudges of yours."

Lake was slightly taken aback, then said, "Minister, you know me. I am irreconcilable with evil. It’s entirely because this case has very peculiar aspects. Look…"

Secretary Kelly waved his hand dismissively, "Don’t show me. I don’t want to see it. I’ll let you investigate, but I’m warning you, don’t cause me any more trouble. The Mayor of Los Angeles used to be a good friend of mine, but now he’s cut off all contact with me."

Lake shrugged, "That just means he wasn’t your true friend."

Secretary Kelly stared at Lake expressionlessly.

Lake raised his hands, "Alright, I promise. If I find evidence, I’ll call you before taking any action. I guarantee you won’t be bombarded with calls anymore."

Secretary Kelly withdrew his gaze and simply waved Lake away, signaling for him to leave quickly.

After receiving permission to proceed, Lake turned and left.