National Security Advisor

At a small private airport in New York, Church stood beside a black Chevrolet SUV as a private jet opened its cabin door.

Erik Bell and his team stepped off the plane.

A year ago, Erik Bell had been one of the CIA's senior officials. Now he was the United States' national security advisor.

Seeing Church waiting for him, Erik Bell pressed his lips together, his expression stern, and got straight into Church's car.

Church glanced at the aides trailing behind Erik Bell, who looked a little lost. He ignored the middle-aged aide who seemed ready to get in with them, climbed into the back seat, and shut the door. Then he tapped the back of the driver's seat and said, "Drive..."

Erik Bell watched the scenery passing outside the window and murmured, "In three days, the CIA has lost 246 people, and that number is still rising."

Church gave a cold laugh and folded his arms, glancing at his former colleague. "You know why. Any CIA agent who shows up in New York right now deserves to die. I don't have time to figure out which of them is 'innocent.'

"When those bastards issued their orders, they'd already dragged plenty of people down to Hell."

Erik Bell didn't question Church's methods any further. He gave a slight nod, then said, "The president will arrive in New York around four this afternoon. The standoff between the two major groups has caused a lot of discontent.

"We need to make preparations to put an end to their conflict if necessary.

"But before that, I need to speak with Principal Alvin!"

Church nodded slightly, pretending to forget that he was one of the chief instigators of this conflict. He glanced at Erik Bell's cold expression and said, "That's your business. I'm only