"I..." Yinsen froze for a moment, thought it over, then answered, "I wouldn't do anything. I'd probably... choose to ignore it?"
"A very correct choice. That's exactly what my current director did. Over the past year, he and I reached an understanding on matters like this. That's why he rose from department head to director, while I can do whatever I please as long as I don't violate the most fundamental principles." Zhou Yi nodded.
"But that's wrong, isn't it?" Yinsen frowned deeply.
"It is indeed wrong. So even if everyone does it—or rather, even if most people do it—they won't do it openly."
"Everyone is like this, myself included." Zhou Yi folded his hands across his chest. "As long as you aren't discovered, that income can be considered 'legitimate.' But if you are discovered, then naturally, you receive the punishment you deserve."
"Is that why you didn't arrest us directly?" Yinsen asked.
"What else?" Zhou Yi countered. "Did I waste so much manpower and resources just to help you find conclusive evidence against the mole?"
"If I arrested you directly, then it would basically become impossible for me to intervene any further."
"This concerns a mole within the CIA. If the IRS became openly involved... it wouldn't be appropriate. After all, the IRS and CIA are two departments with a friendly cooperative relationship."
"Besides, no matter what, our goals don't conflict." Zhou Yi drained his coffee and held out his hand. "You want evidence to catch the mole. I want that ten million dollars. We can cooperate completely."
"..." Yinsen hesitated for a while before reaching out and shaking Zhou Yi's hand. "I need the highest-level support."
"I guarantee it will be the best." Zhou Yi lightly tapped the table with his fingers. "Other than equipment and intelligence, I'll personally be at CIA headquarters to cooperate with your operation!"
"How are you getting in?" Yinsen asked in surprise.
"Over the years, there have always been a few minor conflicts between the IRS and CIA." Zhou Yi pulled a disc from inside his jacket and waved it before Yinsen's eyes.
"This is enough to get me in legitimately. As for you and your teammates... I'm sure you've already figured out a way, haven't you?"
"Of course." Yinsen looked at the disc in Zhou Yi's hand and instantly understood his plan. "Didn't you just say the IRS and CIA were friendly cooperating departments?"
"Friendly cooperation means there's a certain degree of exchange of interests. And where there's an exchange of interests, there are bound to be some frictions." Zhou Yi smiled.
"Friction means you can come knocking to make trouble, and at most, carry out another exchange of interests afterward?" Yinsen caught on quickly.
"That's right. So-called friendly cooperation is merely a different way of putting it." Zhou Yi nodded. "You learn quickly."
"I have to." Yinsen shook his head with a bitter smile.
"You have to go through it eventually." Zhou Yi spoke in the tone of someone who had been there, patted Yinsen on the shoulder, then stood and left without hesitation.
In truth, he did count as someone who had been there. After all, counting his age from his previous life, he was nearly thirty by now.
However, the system's enhancement to his body also included his lifespan. As a result, Zhou Yi's appearance had barely changed up to this point; he still looked the same as before.
After Zhou Yi left, Yinsen gazed out the window and let out a sigh of relief.
Zhou Yi's honesty about his objective put Yinsen much more at ease.
As an agent, Yinsen was naturally not so naive-minded, especially after personally experiencing betrayal by a mole and the deaths of his teammates.
Someone wanting to help him for no reason at all... how could he possibly believe that?
Earlier, Zhou Yi had said his purpose was to investigate tax evaders. Yinsen had not really believed that. Only after this conversation did he confirm Zhou Yi's true goal: the ten million dollars.
That goal was obviously much more real and trustworthy.
However, Yinsen had no objections to that. The ten million dollars came from his enemy anyway, and his own goal had never been the money. It was simply Job, the mole who had caused his teammates' deaths!
As long as their ultimate goals did not conflict in terms of interests, they could cooperate. That was precisely why Yinsen had shaken Zhou Yi's hand and confirmed their partnership: each taking what he needed.
A few days later.
After receiving a message from Yinsen, Zhou Yi quickly drove out toward CIA headquarters in Langley City.
There were indeed several checkpoints along the way, but naturally, they could not stop Zhou Yi. After showing his IRS identification and the operation authorization issued to him by IRS Director Chris, he was swiftly allowed through.
Driving the new assigned car Chris had recently acquired, Zhou Yi arrived at the entrance of CIA headquarters without obstruction.
If nothing else, Zhou Yi loved this proper, aboveboard feeling of coming to cause trouble while no one could stop him.
Compared with disguising himself and sneaking in like Yinsen, barging straight in so openly was simply exhilarating!
The moment Zhou Yi stepped out of the car, a suited man even balder than Chris came up to greet him.
"Mr. Zhou, I'm Dar Mista, head of the Administrative Department at CIA headquarters..." Dar began introducing himself. After spending more than a dozen words just on his name, he finally got to the point. "May I ask what business brings you to our agency?"
"I'm here to investigate certain matters," Zhou Yi said. "Regarding the CIA in recent years..."
"Mr. Zhou, I don't think it's convenient to discuss certain matters outside. Why don't we go inside first and talk there?"
Cold sweat instantly broke out across Dar's back, and he hurriedly interrupted.
The CIA Director was not at headquarters. After receiving the news, he was currently on his way over, leaving Dar to receive Zhou Yi for the time being.
But naturally, Dar wanted to stall for as long as possible—until the director arrived, so he could dump this mess directly onto him!
Though Zhou Yi was merely an IRS Employee, he was driving Chris's assigned car and carried an active operation authorization personally signed by Chris.
That meant Zhou Yi did not merely represent himself; he also represented IRS Director Chris!
Anything involving figures at the director level was undoubtedly a major matter. How could a mere Administrative Department head like him possibly handle such a major issue?
Naturally, his side needed to send out a director as well!
Dar could not handle it, and he did not want to. He had no intention of being sacrificed as the inferior horse!
So, without even daring to hear what Zhou Yi had come to discuss, Dar directly changed the subject with practiced ease, intending to stall as much as possible and prevent Zhou Yi from revealing the purpose of this operation before the CIA Director arrived!
Zhou Yi did not insist. He simply went along with it and entered CIA headquarters under Dar's lead.
His purpose in coming here had been to muddy the waters, provide cover for Yinsen and the others, and prevent unexpected circumstances from causing the operation to fail completely.
Dar's actions suited him perfectly.
Of course, if Dar had not intended to muddle through things like this, Zhou Yi would have taken the opportunity to investigate what was on the disc Chris had given him.
At most, it would simply mean the CIA and IRS would need to conduct a greater exchange of interests afterward.
PS: A thousand more bookmarks, but fewer than a hundred more votes.
I really flopped. Σ(°△°|||)︴
Exams are finally over, time to start writing! ヾ()~
What? There are more exams next week???
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
Before you continue