The Wolf of Los Angeles.

After being questioned by the FBI, Larry Fink and Robert Capito walked into the Marriott Hotel exhausted.

Even with his lawyer by his side, after hours of questioning, Capito was seething with anger: "These bastards are still using the Cold War-era Counterintelligence Act. Now it's the 21st century!"

Fink consoled him: "Just bear with it. It will be over tomorrow. I will return to Washington and lobby the Federal Trade Commission myself."

The two returned to the room, and the assistant sitting behind the laptop stood up and said, "Boss, come and take a look. Twitter just released an official announcement that they assisted the FBI in capturing another Russian spy inside the company."

"What?" Fink was incredulous and quickly came behind the notebook: "Russian spies are doing wholesale?"

Capito angrily cursed: "Twitter has used these clumsy tricks again and again. I will file a complaint with the Department of Justice against Twitter and Hawke Osment!"

Fink looked carefully at the tweets on the screen. In addition to the title, there were more than a dozen pictures. Judging from the style of the pictures, they were all surveillance screenshots.

Capito also saw it: "Is this a real thing? Are the Russians crazy? It's not enough that the FBI arrested one, but they sent a second one over. Are those people in the Moscow authorities full of cow dung?"

Fink thought carefully: "If this is true, and if they frame Blackrock for the spy, we will be in even bigger trouble."

Capito sat down on the sofa, feeling like his head was about to explode: "Could it be that Twitter is colluding with the Russians? Colluding with Russian intelligence agencies to frame us?"

The assistant suggested: "Why not contact the Russian media and ask them to publish an article saying that BlackRock was framed and that it was linked to Russia..."

"No, absolutely not!" Fink still has some basic political literacy: "Whether the Russians say it or not, as long as BlackRock is involved, we can't clear ourselves of the charges."

Capito puts the matter to rest: "If Johnny Kerry had won last year's election, we wouldn't be in these troubles."

Fink nodded. “It was precisely because George Walker was re-elected that Hawke Osmond had the confidence to launch all this. Ultimately, this matter is not a business problem, but a political failure.”

The room was silent for a moment. This practical problem could not be solved in the short term.

Capito asked, "What about those people in the back? Are they just standing by and watching?"

"We two are the largest shareholders of BlackRock," Fink said coldly. "Those bastards are now treating us as a dish and want to eat everything we have."

Capito said to his assistant, "Book a business jet, and we'll go directly to Washington tomorrow after we get out of the FBI."

Fink agreed: "Los Angeles is someone else's home court. We can't beat Twitter and Hawk Osment here. We have to find a way from Washington."

The assistant quickly contacted the business jet company.

…………

The next morning, FBI Los Angeles office.

The Public Relations Office prepared for the case briefing early in the morning. Although the evidence found in Russell's home and office was not much, the multiple Russian records were enough for this kind of thing.

One of them is a classic song from the former Soviet era, "Katyusha".

In addition, a video of Russell's interrogation was prepared.

As the time gradually approached half past nine, Jennifer did not rush to the nearby press room, but waited in front of the office building.

The assistant next to him answered a phone call and said, "The representative of the Ministry of Justice will be here soon."

Jennifer nodded slightly and looked towards the door.

In a moment, several black Chevrolets turned from the street into the gate and drove all the way to the front of the office building.

Jennifer walked quickly down the steps and stepped forward to greet them.

A middle-aged man got out of the car and shook hands with Jennifer: "Jane, long time no see."

Jennifer complimented, "John, you are getting younger and younger."

John glanced at the office building and said, "I came here mainly to attend the announcement meeting. It's getting late, so I'll go to the site first."

Jennifer said, "Let's go to the scene first."

She followed John into the Chevrolet.

The assistant called for an FBI vehicle to come over.

The long convoy drove towards the nearby press hall.

In the car, Jennifer asked directly: "What was the result?"

"The deputy minister sent me here. Isn't it obvious?" John patted the briefcase beside him. "This company has been involved in espionage cases twice in a row. There are obviously problems. An investigation order has been issued."

Jennifer said, “It makes my job easier.”

They soon arrived at the press room and the two entered one after another.

The Fox Channel 11 broadcast vehicle was parked outside the news room.

Inside the hall, an outsourced team from Twitter set up cameras for live video streaming.

Hundreds of reporters gathered in the press room.

At ten o'clock sharp, the case briefing will begin.

The FBI first explained what happened in the case, and naturally revised its statement to match that of Twitter.

The spy Russell was discovered and secretly investigated by the FBI, and Twitter and Lola assisted in the arrest, and then captured him in one fell swoop. A number of physical evidences were released at the scene, as well as a video of the interrogation.

Russell said very seriously: "The mission I accepted this time is to target Twitter. It is a continuation of the last Twitter espionage case. The main content is to get close to Twitter executives and get what we want from them."

The video is short, concise, but very instructive.

The reporters present were in an uproar, all thinking that big news was coming again.

A continuation of the last Twitter spy case, wanting to obtain important things, what do these refer to?
It is very obvious that this is the key technology of the AI ​​Manhattan Project!

A radical young reporter couldn't help but say: "Russia's desire to destroy America will never die!"

The older man nearby echoed: "They have always been America's biggest rival! When I was young, they threatened to use nuclear bombs against America more than once."

A more peaceful person said: "Twitter's AI Manhattan Project is amazing. The Russians have stolen it again and again."

"There must be something remarkable about it. The Russians are not stupid." Another reporter added: "The Washington authorities' words cannot be trusted, but the Russians... are much more trustworthy than them."

One person agreed: "The one who knows us best is certainly our enemy."

In the office on the 16th floor of Coast Building, Hawke sat in front of the computer, watching the live video broadcast on Twitter.

In addition to videos, there is also live text and picture broadcasting.

Edward exclaimed: "Is that spy so cooperative? Much more obedient than Eugene."

Hawke had heard from Jennifer: "Russell went to the extreme and chose to completely betray Russia and join the FBI."

Edward couldn't help but curse: "Traitor!"

There is no doubt that people who betray their country and nation are extremely disgusting anywhere.

During the live video broadcast, John Stone, a representative from the Ministry of Justice, came in front of the camera.

This elegant middle-aged man announced on behalf of the Department of Justice that in view of the wide scope of the espionage case and its great impact on public opinion, the Department of Justice has issued a federal investigation order and will launch a joint investigation with the FBI.

In the subsequent question-and-answer session, the first question the reporter asked was: "Does the investigation warrant include BlackRock Investment Group?"

John Stone gave a direct answer: "Including BlackRock. The first Russian spy captured by the Los Angeles branch was from BlackRock."

The case briefing in Los Angeles had just ended, and BlackRock's stock price on the New York Stock Exchange plummeted.

Investors' confidence in BlackRock has almost reached freezing point.

On this day, the judicial investigation against BlackRock was officially launched.

The outcome of the investigation doesn’t matter; as long as the Justice Department drags its feet, investors won’t regain confidence in BlackRock.

At the same time, in accordance with normal judicial procedures, the Los Angeles District Court held the first hearing in the civil lawsuit filed by Twitter against BlackRock.

The two sides also conducted their first mediation.

Twitter rejected BlackRock's $5 million civil compensation claim without hesitation.

BlackRock wants to end this turmoil as soon as possible, but Hawke wants to drag it out for a long time.

Unless BlackRock gives a one-time compensation of US$33 billion.

This is impossible. BlackRock has only been listed for six years and has not yet experienced the rapid and exaggerated growth of the Obama-era. Faced with the current quagmire, it simply cannot come up with so much cash.

After the first hearing, Hawke spoke again by phone with Elizabeth of Peterson Strategic Consulting.

He said directly: "You can start over there."

…………

The Prancing Pony Club, Washington, DC.

Tom Daschle, one of the leading figures of the Senate Donkey Party and chairman of one of the twelve subcommittees of the Appropriations Committee, along with two female assistants, looked at the cold female lobbyist opposite them.

Daschle put down his glass and said, "Elizabeth, we are old acquaintances and have dealt with each other many times. There is no need to beat around the bush. You came to me this time because of Twitter's AI Manhattan Project, right?"

Elizabeth's cold and pale face broke into a bright smile: "Yes, I want you to support this proposal."

Daschle leaned back on the sofa, legs crossed: "From what I understand, Twitter has taken a clear position and is on the red side."

"That's because George Walker promised Twitter significant benefits, and he's fulfilling them step by step!" Elizabeth turned black into white. "Kerry and Edwards never talked to Twitter, nor did they send representatives to contact Twitter. On the other hand, George Walker quietly contacted Twitter early last year and promised a series of benefits."

She asked in return: "If it were you or me, which one would we choose to support?"

Daschle shook his head: "That makes sense, but I don't look at the cause, I only look at the result."

Elizabeth nodded. "Okay, let me tell you the result. Businessmen value profits. The mainstream media in North America, such as the three major newspapers, do not support you all the time. Sometimes they will also stand on the red side. And News Corporation, do they always stand on the same side? Twitter is now the number one media platform on the Internet. It can push the policies, opinions and ideas of any party to the audience in the first place."

Daschle is considering this matter seriously, because in the end, it's all about profit.

Elizabeth continued, "I don't know if you've seen the news, but the Russians have sent spies twice in a row to steal Twitter's AI Manhattan Project! Tom, twice! What does this mean? As an anti-Russian advocate, you understand the meaning and significance of this better than I do, right?"

She also pointed out the key point: "Your family has significant interests in Germany, and the business is expanding to Eastern Europe. If Russia gains the upper hand, how will the situation in Eastern Europe change?" (End of this chapter)