When I Type "?", It Doesn't Mean I Have a Problem-It Means I Think You Do

While Brown was calling Darrell and talking about a whole bunch of completely useless things, Zhou Yi also received a message from Yinsen.

Tom: "We've got the item. We've safely withdrawn."

FBI agent: "Contact me after I leave. Don't forget our cooperation."

Tom: "I have a very good memory."

FBI agent: "Just in case."

After subtly warning Yinsen and receiving his assurance, Zhou Yi fiddled with his phone as he waited for Darrell to return.

Even if Yinsen took the item and ran, or even stabbed him in the back, Zhou Yi had countermeasures prepared. He had no need to worry about things developing into the worst possible situation for himself, but it would still be troublesome.

Zhou Yi was not afraid of trouble, but he did not like it either.

So, giving advance warning and snuffing out potential hidden dangers was necessary.

Since Yinsen had already obtained the item, it was time for Zhou Yi to make his exit as well.

Because Yinsen had succeeded so quickly, Zhou Yi had not even gotten to the main point, much less revealed his true purpose.

If he had already stated it, then he would really have had no choice but to continue along that line now. Otherwise, such an abrupt change would inevitably cause problems.

But Zhou Yi had been chatting with Darrell about this and that the whole time. Not a single word had been related to the main point!

In other words, Zhou Yi could say anything he wanted now, as long as it made sense!

So Zhou Yi directly described his purpose as—"friendly exchange."

There was no longer any need to stall for time. This "true purpose" could quickly wrap things up without harming either side's interests, so it was obviously more suitable than saying, "I'm here to investigate the CIA's tax problems."

However, this "true purpose" dealt Darrell a huge blow.

If this were a two-dimensional world, Darrell's head would probably be filled with "???" right now.

Those question marks did not mean there was a quest available. They meant—"When I type '?', it doesn't mean I have a problem. It means I think you have a problem."

Darrell now felt that Zhou Yi had a serious problem.

"Mr. Zhou... since your purpose was this... friendly exchange."

Darrell deliberately stressed the words "friendly" and "exchange," his professional smile nearly impossible to maintain. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I wanted to, but you never asked!" Zhou Yi said righteously.

"Besides, I didn't have a chance to say it. Haven't you been talking to me about the CIA's institutional reforms and building renovations the whole time, Mr. Darrell?"

"Hmm... although it was a little strange that you kept mixing in things about funding, I thought you were sharing your management experience with me! Wasn't that the case?"

Hearing Zhou Yi's explanation, Darrell was completely dumbfounded.

I talked to you about institutional reforms and building renovations to stall for time until the director arrived, so I wouldn't have to take the blame!

I talked about how much funding would be needed to explain some tax-related issues in advance, because I also embezzled... took just a tiny little bit!

Who was sharing experience with you? Was I that bored? A dignified administrative minister, here just to share experience with you?

Darrell nearly blurted out a curse and voiced his thoughts directly.

Fortunately, the skill he had cultivated over many years—"one thing on the surface, another inside"—allowed him to barely restrain himself.

"Aren't you here because of tax-related matters?" Darrell's smile had become somewhat twisted.

After all the twists and turns, everything had returned to the beginning. Yet their roles had reversed. Now, Darrell was doing his best to get Zhou Yi to bring up the CIA's tax problems.

Because Darrell knew that he was about to be in trouble.

As an administrative minister, he had talked with Zhou Yi for an hour and still failed to figure out Zhou Yi's true purpose.

First of all, that was negligence of duty.

Negligence would have been one thing if Zhou Yi's purpose were what Darrell and Brown had assumed.

But now, Zhou Yi's purpose was not "coming to collect a debt," but "friendly exchange."

That meant Darrell's stalling tactic had caused a massive misunderstanding and successfully dragged their director, Brown, into it.

Thinking of Brown's earlier behavior, when he had been so furious that he was nearly irrational... Darrell could already roughly imagine how Brown would treat him after arriving at headquarters and discovering that the whole thing had been one giant misunderstanding.

He was screwed!

Whether it was his negligence of duty, his attempt to make Brown take the blame being exposed, or simply the fact that he would be the person Brown could vent his anger on most easily, Darrell figured that his outcome would not be pleasant!

Therefore, Darrell even hoped that Zhou Yi had come to investigate the CIA's tax problems!

Because that way, everyone could share the blame, and Brown's anger would be focused on the IRS!

Although the CIA's losses would probably be considerable if that happened, at least after they were spread out, the loss Darrell might suffer would be far better than bearing the consequences of Brown's wrath alone!

Naturally, Zhou Yi understood Darrell's little scheme.

But how could he possibly let Darrell have his way?

The item was already in hand, and Zhou Yi's purpose had been achieved. Bringing up an investigation into the CIA's tax problems now... wouldn't that just be making trouble for no reason?

And what did Darrell's outcome have to do with him?

Darrell had brought the consequences upon himself, so naturally he had to bear them himself!

With that in mind, Zhou Yi furrowed his brows in confusion. "What? The CIA's tax problems?"

"Yes!" Darrell was already growing impatient, because he had no idea how long it would take Brown to reach CIA headquarters.

If he could successfully shift Zhou Yi's attention to the CIA's tax problems before then, he could minimize the losses he might face!

"I don't quite understand what you're talking about, Mr. Darrell." Zhou Yi tilted his head. "Does the CIA have tax-related problems?"

"I... this..." Darrell's eyes widened.

He had made it so obvious, yet this man still did not understand?

Did he really have to lay everything out himself?

But Zhou Yi bringing it up on his own and him exposing it himself were two completely different things!

There was a recording device in the meeting room. What he had said was already obvious enough. If he stated it outright and someone else heard the recording, he would be finished no matter what!

Darrell could not help falling into a dilemma.

Just then, Brown arrived at CIA headquarters.

After getting out of the car, Brown glanced at the departing fire truck convoy, paid it no mind, tossed it to the back of his mind, and strode toward the meeting room aggressively.

He was building up his momentum, intending to overwhelm them with sheer force and seize the upper hand!

However, just as he reached the meeting room and pushed open the door, he heard one sentence.

"Then, happy cooperation~"

PS: During the new book period, updates will be released at exactly midnight and five minutes past midnight, so all you dear readers can read the latest chapter first thing in the morning~

By the way, how many people are reading my book? Are there a hundred? Say something?