The Wolf of Los Angeles.

FBI branch in downtown Los Angeles.

A business car was stopped at the door, and the guard informed Larry Fink and Robert Capito in the car that no outside vehicles were allowed to enter and they had to walk to the office building.

Fink and Capito glared at each other, and when the FBI Los Angeles branch determined that this was an espionage case, it clearly stood against BlackRock.

The two had no choice but to get off the car.

Just at the door, a cameraman carrying a camera was filming. A female reporter wearing a Fox TV vest rushed forward, held the microphone in front of Fink and Capito, and asked loudly: "You two, what do you think about the case of several BlackRock executives being involved in Russian espionage? Is this a common phenomenon within the BlackRock Investment Group?"

Capito turned and glared.

Fink gave a look and the bodyguard quickly separated the female reporter.

Not far away, the Fox TV broadcast vehicle immediately transmitted the live signal back to the TV center, and the news was inserted into the hourly news on Channel 11.

At the same time, Twitter held a press conference, where Operations Director Carolyn Jones, Legal Director and legal advisors announced the relevant content of the lawsuit against BlackRock.

Because BlackRock's spies leaked part of the AI ​​Manhattan Project to Russia, causing Twitter to give up its best option and adjust its plan, Twitter filed a civil compensation claim totaling US$33.2 billion.

As soon as the news came out, BlackRock's stock price on the New York Stock Exchange ushered in a new round of turbulence, and its stock price continued to fall.

…………

Palm Beach, Florida.

Here is a sea-lake manor covering an area of ​​nearly 10 square meters. It was once used as the winter recuperation palace of the president. It was acquired by Dong Zong in 1985 and became a club under his family.

Investment manager Weisel walked quickly into the study and said, "Boss, you'd better take a look at Twitter. Twitter's legal team has announced some of the terms of the civil lawsuit against BlackRock."

After Dong Zong’s last contact with Brian on behalf of the Donkey Party, it has become a loyal user of Twitter.

He couldn't explain why, but he felt that this social media was particularly suited to his taste.

At this moment, President Dong opened Twitter and logged into his account. He saw the relevant news at a glance, browsed it carefully, and exclaimed: "33.2 billion US dollars, Twitter is really bold to ask for it."

Weisel said: "The lawyer also announced the relevant compensation details, which were carefully calculated."

Dong Zong may look a bit funny at ordinary times, but he has been in business for decades, jumping back and forth between the three parties and getting more and more happy with it, so his ability is self-evident.

His face was extremely serious. "Even if BlackRock settles this espionage incident, it will still be a tough sell. A compensation of $33 billion is unrealistic. The compensation will not be low."

Weisel continued, "It is too risky to invest in BlackRock now. I suggest suspending investment negotiations with BlackRock Group."

Mr. Dong originally wanted to take advantage of the situation, but seeing the current situation, he might end up in trouble. He immediately said, "Please notify BlackRock."

Weisel went to make a phone call.

On another sofa, the group consultant Bessant suddenly spoke up and said, "The political landscape in California is changing dramatically, especially in Southern California. In 2001, the Donkey Party just overthrew the Elephant Party and took over the mayor of Los Angeles. However, it only lasted less than three years before the Elephant Party took it back, and Southern California, which had already turned blue, turned back to red."

Dong Zong said seriously: “I have studied it carefully. All these are the drastic changes that occurred after Hawke Osmond and the Ferguson family formed an alliance.”

He exclaimed: "Paul Ferguson, this old fellow, has a really sharp vision, and the Ferguson family motto has been put into practice."

"It doesn't matter where a person comes from, what matters is what he has done, where he stands, and how strong his abilities are." Bateson remembered this sentence.

Mr. Dong suddenly thought of his eldest daughter, who was obsessed with modeling and spent all day hanging out with some models and so-called socialites. She was far inferior to the eldest princess of the Ferguson family.

Bateson added: "I think we should distance ourselves from BlackRock and the forces behind BlackRock."

"I think so too." Dong Zong actually considered more: "At this time, how about I leave the Donkey Party and return to the Elephant Party?"

Bateson was so surprised by these words that he could not hide it. He had already jumped twice, from the Elephant Party to the Reform Party, and then from the Reform Party to the Donkey Party. Now he wanted to be transferred back?

Although there is no such thing as a three-surnamed slave here, Bateson has already had a similar idea.

Politicians always put their own interests first. Bateson quickly recovered and said, "It is not impossible to return to the Elephant Party, but we have to find the right time."

Dong Zong nodded: "Let's wait and see how the specific situation changes."

…………

Hubbard Mountain Park, next to the quiet artificial lake.

Russell walked quickly into the corridor, came to Alexander, and said, "You shouldn't contact me again."

"I also know that this is against the regulations, but the higher-ups keep urging me and I need to know the specific progress." Alexander was also helpless. Even though he worked in the intelligence department, he still had the upper hand over the lower-ranking officials.

Especially the masters in Moscow, in order to achieve their own political goals, they don’t care how outrageous the orders they issue are.

He said, "How long will it take you to finish this?"

Russell spread his hands and said, "I've just started. If everything goes well, it will take about a month. This is the fastest speed."

Alexander shook his head. “A big shot from Moscow is going to Brussels to meet with the EU and demand results within three days.”

Russell didn't know what to say. Even though he had never been in government, he knew that everything he did was for the country, but it was also an extension of politics.

Alexander had already made a plan when he arrived: "The situation is special. The higher-ups don't want to wait. Let's just throw money at it. I've mobilized a batch of funds and transferred them to your account at UBS. If $50 isn't enough, throw in $100 million!"

Russell punched the pillar in front of him: "Time is limited, this is the only way." Alexander pressed his shoulder: "Hurry up and do it."

Russell had already realized that he was being used as a pawn, and said, "You leave Los Angeles today, abandon all the contact points and contact methods I know, find a way to go back, and don't stay in the United States."

Both men knew that the order from Moscow was absurd, but an order was an order and must be carried out.

Alexander put on a baseball cap: "Take care of yourself."

Russell nodded slightly, turned and walked out of the corridor.

Alexander looked at his back and turned away resolutely.

He was going to leave North America and return to Moscow to report the situation to his superiors. If possible, he hoped that the supreme leader could know what was happening here.

Although no major changes can be made to the overall situation, those politicians and oligarchs can at least consider the situation of the front-line workers when they are making political shows.

Perhaps in the eyes of these newly emerging political oligarchs, those of them who are left over from the former Soviet era are just pawns on the chessboard who can be abandoned at will.

Russell left Hobel Mountain Park, took the tram to the parking lot, got on the tram and called Laura: "Are you free tonight?"

The person on the other end responded: "I was just about to call you and ask you to go out for drinks tonight."

Russell responded, "Okay, where to?"

"I heard that the Avalon Bar on Sunset Boulevard is good." Lola has wanted to go and see it for a long time.

Russell said, "See you tonight."

He hung up the phone, drove back to his rented apartment, tidied up, washed and dried all the accumulated clothes, and sprayed air freshener.

…………

FBI branch in downtown Los Angeles.

A lawyer presented the documents and followed the FBI agent into the detention center. After waiting for a while in the visiting room, the client was brought in.

"Boyle, sit down!" the guard shouted.

The man named Boyle sat obediently in the restraint chair, and the guard locked him in the chair.

The lawyer said: "I request for recusation."

The guard turned around and left the meeting room, locking the iron door.

Boyle felt uncomfortable all over. He lowered his head and touched his itchy nose on his bound hands. On the back of one of his hands, there was an inverted pentagram tattooed.

He was one of three journalists from Weekly World News who participated in the Twitter hack.

Boyle asked, "When can I be bailed out?"

The lawyer said softly, "Your case is very troublesome, and you may stay in prison for a while."

Boyle's face darkened.

"The newspaper society will give you cash compensation according to your sentence." The lawyer reminded: "This money is much higher than your salary."

Boyle's expression suddenly brightened up and he said, "No problem. It's just a few years in there. I'll just take it as a long vacation."

The lawyer glanced at the door, took out a piece of paper, unfolded it and placed it on the table in front of him.

Boyle saw the words immediately: "Shut up."

The signature is a black goat head.

Boyle immediately understood what was going on. He said nothing, but just nodded slightly.

"Wait for the court session." The lawyer stood up and left the meeting room.

In another building of the branch, Jennifer Huey stood in front of the monitoring room, listening to the questions being asked of Larry Fink and Robert Capito in two different interrogation rooms.

Both of them brought lawyers, but they couldn't get any useful information from them. They all said that all matters related to the espionage case were Eugene Kropov's personal actions and had nothing to do with BlackRock.

This was expected, Jennifer asked, "According to the regulations, we can only keep them in Los Angeles for a maximum of a few days."

The person next to him said, "According to the Anti-Espionage Regulations, in their case, they can only be kept for 72 hours at most. If they are kept for more than that, they will need to find a new reason."

Jennifer said without hesitation: "Inform them that they are not allowed to leave Los Angeles within 72 hours. We will have more questions."

The other person responded, “Yes.”

Fink and Capito came out of the interrogation room, exchanged glances, and walked outside together.

The two have been notified and cannot leave Los Angeles for the time being.

Fink got in the car and said to Capito, "I want to visit Hawk Osment." (End of this chapter)