Chapter 273: The Chapter of the Adam Era!
Plans Derailed
The disappearance of Jason Lowe essentially terminated Sam Lane's plan. He had intended to force a confession from Lowe to gain criminal evidence against the President, allowing him to use Congress and the Supreme Court to remove Joel Nash from office.
He never expected such a stunning reversal at the final step.
Who was this mysterious figure operating in the shadows that could rescue Jason Lowe right under the noses of A.R.G.U.S. and the military? Who possessed such terrifying power?
When the news reached the Pentagon, the atmosphere in the conference room became extremely oppressive. Everyone was deeply troubled. Some even used the incident to directly accuse Sam Lane, calling him two-faced—claiming to be on their side while secretly being the President's dog.
Sam Lane offered no defense against the slander, answering only with silence.
Norman Gant sighed. "Based on the current situation, it is nearly impossible to capture Jason Lowe in a short period. This line of inquiry is effectively dead. Does anyone have any other ideas? If not, this meeting is adjourned."
Someone angrily retorted, "What other options are there? The President's chief confidant vanished right under our noses! Who knows what happened? I strongly suspect there's an insider within the Department of Defense and the CIA."
Sam Lane frowned but ultimately remained silent.
Some matters defy explanation, and a forced explanation would only lead to further baseless suspicion.
Norman Gant interjected, "I have people investigating the root cause of this incident, and if there is an insider, I will find him. But the most urgent matter is how to deal with Joel Nash. Jason Lowe was the key. With his disappearance, we cannot persuade the Supreme Court and Congress to remove Joel Nash from the presidency. This means we must face the fact that he will continue to serve."
After hearing this, everyone felt like they had swallowed a fly. They pulled long faces, their expressions grim.
"I absolutely refuse to accept him as President!" one person roared.
A nearby general suggested, "Can we use his physical condition as leverage?"
Norman Gant gestured to his assistant, who provided an update.
"Latest news from the White House this morning: Joel Nash is now able to communicate normally. Parts of his subconscious memory are also waking up. His learning ability, memory capacity, and cognitive function are rapidly recovering. At the current rate, doctors estimate he will return to a normal state in two weeks at most. Although he has lost many memories, his intelligence and logical thinking have not been significantly impacted."
"Which is to say," the assistant concluded, "he is fully capable of serving as President."
That last sentence landed like a depth charge, stunning everyone.
"How could it be that fast? Is he faking it?"
The assistant shook his head bitterly. "Over a dozen brain specialists conducted a detailed examination of Joel Nash. They concluded that his brain is structurally undamaged and his memory cells are completely normal. The reason he can't recall the past is due to his brainwave frequency. They can't explain the cause and have had to attribute it to the soul."
The word "soul" was too esoteric and was practically meaningless.
Confused and without a consensus, the generals could only quickly end the meeting.
The President's Confession
Time quietly slipped away amid the chaotic political maneuvering. Unconsciously, Voting Day arrived.
The day before the vote, a bombshell news story exploded online: the long-absent President had decided to hold a press conference to explain the attack and his current physical condition.
The news immediately drew all media attention. Reporters swarmed the White House, and Joel Nash's supporters came to the White House plaza, expressing their support for the President with various slogans and banners.
Amid the expectant gaze of the crowd, Joel Nash (Adam), dressed in a black suit and a brown tie, walked onto the podium accompanied by his wife, Kate Nash, and his daughter, Vanessa Nash.
The reporters below immediately raised their cameras. In an instant, countless lights flashed, taking 360-degree photos of the presidential family.
The First Lady held her husband's arm, smiling and waving to the crowd. Her exquisite makeup concealed any sign of distress; she was as refined and elegant as ever.
Although Vanessa was the President's only daughter, she rarely appeared in public. This was her first time standing next to her father in the spotlight.
They say suffering promotes growth. Overnight, Vanessa seemed to have matured, shedding her youthful immaturity to become intellectual, beautiful, and alluring. A fitted red suit dress accentuated her slender waist and rounded hips. Standing there, she looked like a blossoming Flame Rose.
People suddenly realized how stunning the President's daughter was.
Of course, despite the beauty of the mother and daughter, the focus remained on the President. This was a White House press conference, not an entertainment event.
As Joel Nash took out his prepared speech, reporters who knew him realized he had changed dramatically in his absence. He usually greeted everyone with a friendly smile, showing great affinity. Today, however, he was silent, cold, and utterly devoid of emotion.
The President truly has a problem!
The same thought occurred to many people. The atmosphere in the venue gradually calmed.
Joel Nash did not interact with the reporters. He glanced at the speech manuscript, set it aside, and immediately began his statement.
"There is something I must tell all Americans, including the voters who support me and plan to vote for me. Due to the recent attack, my mind suffered trauma and was in a state of confusion until four days ago, when I regained consciousness. Unfortunately, I suffer from severe amnesia. I have forgotten my family, my friends, and I don't even know who I am. When I learned from my wife that the heavy burden of the presidency rests on my shoulders, I realized I must make this public rather than conceal it."
"I deeply apologize to those who have supported me. I may have to disappoint you."
Boom!
Before he had even finished speaking, the venue erupted.
Although many reporters had learned of the President's illness through internal channels, they never expected him to personally admit the truth in front of so many people. Did he not know the devastating impact this would have?
Voting Day was tomorrow! Revealing such an inside story today—what would the voters think? Who would support you now? Support a disabled man with a damaged mind and memory loss?
The reporters swarmed forward like sharks smelling blood, thrusting microphones forward. Dozens of different questions exploded simultaneously. The surging crowd nearly overwhelmed the platform.
Secret Service agents desperately struggled to hold the crowd back, but the people continued to push forward.
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