Chapter 57 White House Meeting (Please read and vote)

"In 03, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Rorschach Butcher, as a scout with the 101st Airborne Division, infiltrated the suburbs of Baghdad and successfully located the hideout of a high-ranking official of Saddam Hussein's regime, directly facilitating the subsequent decapitation operation. For this, he was awarded the Cross."

"In 2004, during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan, he led his team to break through the enemy's encirclement, accurately guided AC-130 artillery fire to strike Taliban strongholds, and destroyed five enemy bunkers in one fell swoop. He was nominated for the Silver Star Medal."

"In 2005, during the hostage rescue operation on Jolo Island in the Philippines, he was the only member of the entire airborne team to successfully infiltrate the Abu Sayyaf militant camp, silently killing 45 terrorists and rescuing two American journalists. The then-president personally awarded him a second Cross of the Legion of Merit."

"That same year, during the Baghdad Surge, he planned and executed a 'Black Hawk Down'-style hostage rescue operation in Sadr City, successfully freeing 26 kidnapped UN personnel. Although he was recommended for the Special Warfare Medal, he was ultimately rejected due to political considerations."

"."

"In 09, last year, he solved the Chicago 'Bloodline Murders' and the Sears Tower Serial Killings, and successfully suppressed the Marina City Black Riots. He was awarded the Badge of Valor by the Governor."

After the Chief of Staff finished presenting Rorschach Butcher's dossier, there was a brief silence in the Oval Office.

After a moment, Underwood's chuckle broke the stagnant air.

The party whip in charge of mobilizing the House of Representatives and coordinating with the parliament tapped the table with his fingertips and his eyes fell on the man in the photo, with undisguised admiration in his eyes.

"What a good kid from a good family! If he wasn't so humble, this resume alone would have been enough to get him into the Pentagon in a few decades. Two crosses..."

He shook his head, with a hint of admiration in his tone: "It's really amazing."

But unlike him, Pelari stared at the photo with a dark look in his eyes.

"You overestimate him, Underwood," she said coldly. "This guy is nothing more than a bloodthirsty war machine. In peacetime, he's a ticking time bomb. After all, at heart, he's still a scum from the ghetto."

"hehe."

Underwood smiled and didn't respond, but deep down he was already feeling a little annoyed with the woman in front of him.

Slums? Didn’t he climb up from the slums step by step?

There is also the so-called warmongering soldier who has no ability to start a war.

"Boom boom boom——"

The black leader knocked on the table, interrupting the conversation between the two.

His face was gloomy, and he glanced at everyone present. "There are no outsiders here, so I'll be frank."

"Last night, this guy disguised himself and sneaked into P. Diddy's party. After sneaking into the cellar, he not only killed several guards but also shot and killed a distinguished senator from our party. He's a bloody criminal. In my opinion, the Secret Service should have dealt with him long ago. But the problem is..."

He paused, his tone changing slightly. "This criminal is holding a confidential document containing private information about high-ranking Party members. This must not be exposed."

Except for Underwood, the expressions of everyone present, including the Vice President and the Secretary of State, changed slightly.

Everyone here who has attended the "Dad Party" knows what that "confidential document" is.

Underwood shook his head helplessly. "How many times have I reminded you that if you want to relax and vacation, you should go to the island. Epstein has always been very measured and knows what to do and what not to do. But you insisted on attending a party hosted by an African-American rapper."

"Stop making sarcastic remarks!" Pelari retorted bluntly, "If you hadn't strongly recommended it, why would I have gone to a place like that? Who knows if those backups might contain any evidence against you?"

"I just mentioned it casually. I never thought you'd actually go." Underwood chuckled and shrugged. "As for me? Don't worry. While I have a wide range of interests, children are definitely not among them."

Pelari sneered, "See, I almost forgot that our respected Whip is only interested in men."

Underwood remained calm and said, "Madam Speaker, please be mindful of your words. If your supporters knew that the Speaker of the House of Representatives was homophobic, you wouldn't be in the next election."

"Okay, stop arguing."

An old voice interrupted their argument.

The two men immediately subsided.

The speaker was Secretary of State Joe, the silver-haired old man who was the real second-in-command of power in the country and a senior politician from the Cold War era.

Joe's sharp gaze swept over Underwood. "There's an old Eastern saying, 'Prosperity is shared, adversity is shared.' We're all in this together. Underwood, you're here to solve problems, not to dictate our actions." Underwood straightened his sleeves and spoke calmly, "Solving an issue before it becomes a problem isn't a problem. Let's make two assumptions: First, the backup was destroyed in the fire—let's leave that aside for now; second, Rorschach Butcher did obtain the backup."

"He has three main purposes for holding this hot potato: first, to find a buyer for a trade; second, to portray himself as a lone hero; and third, to use it as a bargaining chip. But honestly, none of these are cause for concern."

"What kind of trouble can a small police officer like him stir up? Even if we hand over the backup to the Elephant Party, it will at most be a check and balance. Do they dare to expose it? Don't forget that we have leverage over the Elephant Party as well."

"There's still a deal? Who could he turn to? The KB? The East? Moscow? Even if they exposed it, our people would just see it as a political smear."

"As for the last point."

Underwood slowly stood up, elegantly adjusting his tie, a confident smile on his face. "Give me 48 hours, and I'll send someone to talk to him personally and get the backup back to the Oval Office intact."

Seeing him so confident, the black commander couldn't help but frown. "Underwood, have you let your pride get the better of you? That Rorschach Butcher dared to charge into the cellar single-handedly and take away the backup. Do you think he'd be someone you'd sit down with?"

Underwood looked the president straight in the eye, his tone calm but undeniable: "With all due respect, Mr. President, I'm afraid you're being blinded by fear."

He turned to the people in the room, tapping his fingers on the table. "Do you know what I concluded after reading Rorschach's complete profile?"

"He was a man of strong moral principles, one might even say noble character. His pride, his sense of honor, and his cynicism about reality were both his strength and his fatal weakness."

"As long as we, the helmsmen, are willing to humble ourselves and show this unruly sailor a little respect, he will become the most loyal soldier."

After saying this, Underwood nodded slightly and left the Oval Office without looking back.

Pelari and Joe exchanged a meaningful look and then said goodbye to the president.

In a blink of an eye, the only people left in the huge office were the black president and the silent female Vice President Harry.

The black leader glanced at the female Vice President Harry who remained silent throughout the entire audience, and felt bitter in his heart.

Since he came to power last year, many people outside have claimed that the next eight years will be the most powerful era for the Donor Party.

But only he himself knows how frustrating it is to be president.

From him down, the Secretary of State, the Speaker of the House, and the Party Whip are all old foxes with deep roots, and the African-American female vice president in front of him, whom he personally promoted, is nothing more than a political vase.

"Underwood."

The president narrowed his eyes and repeated the name in a low voice.

Now, he can only hope that this dangerous ally can properly resolve the crisis.

At the same time, in the long corridor of the White House.

Pelari stopped Joe as he was about to leave and told him his request.

"CIA?"

Joe frowned: "Since it has been handed over to Underwood, we will intervene later."

"I don't trust that guy who is a ruffian at heart."

A ruthless look flashed in Pelari's eyes. "Apart from the President, you are the only one who has partial command of the CIA. I hope you can dispatch a team of elite agents to directly eliminate Rorschach Butcher."

Old Joe pondered, "But it's not wise to become enemies with Underwood over this. Don't forget, the position of Secretary of State should have been his. He's always been resentful about it."

Pelari sneered, "There's nothing in the backup file to prove him. Who knows what he'll do once he gets the evidence? Do you really want to bet everything on him?"

After a moment of silence, Qiao nodded heavily:

"Okay, I'll send agents ahead of Underwood!"

Does anyone know who the tasks that appear in this chapter refer to? Please read on and vote for me. It's the end of the month, so if you have tickets, please vote. Thank you.

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(End of this chapter)

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