Chapter 238: Get It Out!
A Clash at the Hoover Building
Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C.
The J. Edgar Hoover Building, headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is located here. The street is one of the most heavily secured areas in the world.
Just past nine o'clock, five black SUVs with sequential license plates drove onto the busy street. This unusual sight attracted a lot of attention. When the vehicles stopped in front of the Hoover Building, many passersby paused, looking on with curiosity.
The doors opened, and out stepped not FBI agents, but people wearing a badge with an eye symbol on their chests.
A.R.G.U.S.!
Someone recognized them. There was no mistake: that eye logo belonged to A.R.G.U.S., the agency that recently solved the alien kidnapping case.
Why would A.R.G.U.S. show up at the FBI's door?
Intelligence officers and reporters lurking in every corner seemed to smell blood, like sharks, and immediately began using their contacts to investigate the truth of the matter.
Not only were the people outside surprised by the arrival of A.R.G.U.S., but the receptionists at the Hoover Building were also confused. A female receptionist stepped forward.
"Hello, may I ask who you are?"
Amanda Waller took out her ID and said coldly,
"I am Amanda Waller. Where is Jack Harvey?"
Amanda Waller! The leader of A.R.G.U.S.! The receptionist's face shifted slightly, and she quickly said,
"I'm sorry, the Director is currently in a meeting. Please wait. I will call him now."
"I know where he is. Don't bother."
Amanda pushed past the receptionist and strode toward the elevator. Behind her, over a dozen A.R.G.U.S. operatives followed closely, the group exuding an undeniable presence.
The female receptionist couldn't stop them and could only call the assistant.
The Hoover Building is not very tall. Soon, Amanda and her group found the conference room. Without any ceremony, she pushed open the door, her eyes sweeping over the FBI executives in the room before settling on Jack Harvey in the main seat.
"Director Harvey, I need to talk to you. Send everyone else out."
Her words instantly enraged everyone in the room. A senior supervisor said coldly,
"This is the Hoover Building, the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, not your A.R.G.U.S."
Amanda raised her hand. Her subordinates stepped forward and placed two documents on the table.
"These two documents: one is a Special Investigation Order signed by the President, and the other is a Special Declaration from the Senate. They authorize me to investigate the Swamp Forest case. If any of you are dissatisfied, you can go to the White House and take it up with the President."
Someone picked up the documents and examined them. When they saw the contents, their faces darkened considerably.
As the highest intelligence agency in the U.S., the FBI had never been challenged right on its doorstep.
Amanda spoke again. "This is a confidential matter. Everyone, please step outside."
The executives' faces were ashen, and they stared coldly at Amanda, but no one made a move to leave.
Jack Harvey took out his pipe, lit it, and took a deep drag.
"Young lady, the Hoover Building is not a place just anyone can enter, and it's not a place just anyone can barge into. Considering your youthful ignorance, I'll give you one minute to retreat. Otherwise, none of you will be leaving."
Amanda was completely unfazed by the threat, pressing forward. "Director Harvey, our investigation shows that your actions in the Swamp Forest involved serious dereliction of duty. Your obstinacy led to the deaths of thirty elite FBI agents. Such a heavy loss cannot be brushed aside with a few words. You must provide an explanation to the White House, the Senate, and me."
Jack Harvey said indifferently, "Who sent you?"
"No one sent me. This is my responsibility."
"Responsibility?"
The old man laughed sarcastically. A.R.G.U.S. is going to talk about responsibility.
He didn't bother with further words. He pulled out his phone and pressed a button. A flurry of dense footsteps echoed in the hallway. Dozens of heavily armed FBI agents surrounded them from both sides, drawing their pistols and aiming them at the A.R.G.U.S. group.
The tension was palpable, a suffocating pressure filling the air.
Amanda gritted her teeth, roaring,
"Jack Harvey, I have a Special Investigation Order and a Senate Declaration! I am here on official business, and you dare point a gun at me? I formally warn you, your actions now are tantamount to treason."
The old man impatiently waved his hand. The FBI agents in the corridor stepped forward, restrained the A.R.G.U.S. operatives, and "escorted" them out. Amanda was not spared; she was pushed and shoved, looking utterly disheveled.
This scene was captured by several reporters and intelligence agents staking out the building. Soon, news of the confrontation between A.R.G.U.S. and the FBI appeared on the desks of executives across various departments.
In the conference room, Deputy Director Dean Cook said worriedly,
"Doing this will cause a rift with the President. There will also be trouble with the Senate."
Jack Harvey waved his hand, looking confident. "Don't worry about him. He won't be sitting in that seat for much longer."
Hearing this, the people in the room exchanged confused glances, not understanding his meaning.
News of Thompson's Alzheimer's diagnosis had been leaked by his private doctor and publicized by the media. Almost everyone knew.
Alzheimer's disease, or senile dementia, makes a person unfit for important office. People would never allow someone with cognitive impairment to serve as President.
Following this development, Joel Nash's support was surging. If nothing unexpected happened, he was guaranteed re-election. Facing this situation, why would anyone confront him? Wasn't it suicide?
Many people didn't understand, but those familiar with the inside story began to whisper. They heard the Director had obtained some strange items from the Swamp Forest that seemed to be related to Joel Nash. Did he finally find the evidence?
While everyone had their thoughts, the incident in the conference room was spread through various channels, giving some high-ranking officials in the Senate and the White House pause.
The President's Command
In the Oval Office, Joel Nash looked at Amanda with an expressionless face.
"I hear you were kicked out."
Amanda lowered her head. "I apologize, Mr. President. I never expected him to dare draw a gun."
Joel Nash closed his eyes, and after a long moment, he hissed,
"What are you going to do next?"
Amanda was silent for a while, then gritted her teeth and lowered her voice. "Intelligence suggests that Jack Harvey may have evidence that is detrimental to you." She looked up after saying this.
"I don't know the truth, but judging by the current situation, the intelligence is likely true. I'm concerned that if we push him too far..."
She didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Joel Nash slammed one hand on the desk, stood up, and walked to the window. The rage in his eyes was almost tangible.
He was sick of all of it. He wanted to be the King, not a puppet.
Amanda kept her head bowed, her voice filled with confusion.
"Mr. President, what should I do next? I'm at a loss."
Joel Nash quietly stared at the sky. After a long time, he finally spoke.
"Where is the stone jar?"
A trace of something unsettling flashed in Amanda's lowered eyes, but her tone remained unchanged. "It should be in the underground base of the Hoover Building."
"Get it out."
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