The Wolf of Los Angeles.

Venice, Flower Butterfly Security Company.

In the small meeting room, Campos reported to Hawke on the latest developments from Arlington: "As we expected, the media continues to focus on the Houston Joseph family scandal, which has somewhat diminished public attention to the seal incident."

The best way to cover up one scandal is to expose another. Hawke always understood this, saying, "Joseph Jr. is decisive and quick."

“Yes,” Campos continued, “The Joseph family must have reached an agreement with Hailey. About twenty minutes ago, Hailey gave an interview to reporters in Houston, announcing her divorce from Robinette Joseph and taking full responsibility, claiming that she was the one who seduced Hunter Joseph.”

Hawke didn't need to guess to understand: "It seems the Joseph family gave her a satisfactory price for the divorce."

Edward interjected, "Marriage is a very profitable business."

"I've heard that in some places, the groom has to pay for all the expenses of the wedding." Campos has met people from all over the world and has heard a lot about the so-called customs and habits of some places: "But when they get divorced, they can only get a small share of the property. I think it's unfair. Compared to that, Cthulhu in America is much more merciful."

Edward added, "I've heard about this. Last month, the Los Angeles Times reported that the LAPD received a report of a blackmail fraud case involving a couple in a transnational relationship who had a falling out..."

Hawke returned to the main topic and said to Campos, "Keep an eye on Hailey's movements and see where she goes. Make sure we can find her quickly if we need to."

Campos nodded.

Hawke asked, "What's the situation in Arlington?"

Campos explained in detail: "The FBI has launched an investigation into the Chester Foundation and has exerted a lot of pressure from the government and the law. Adam Smith no longer goes to the foundation's office building, but he is still in Arlington, seemingly waiting to meet with someone."

Hawke had previously suspected that the attack on Eric's crew was related to Joseph and had been trying to use the Chester Foundation to find out who Joseph was hiding in the shadows.

He said, "Adam Smith is the key to opening the gap."

Campos nodded: "We'll keep a close eye on him."

Just then, there was a knock on the conference room door. Edward went to open it, and Bosque, who had just arrived in Los Angeles from Costa Rica, strode in.

Edward went and got him some mineral water.

Hawke asked, "What happened that made you come all this way?"

Bosque smiled and said, "It's not that far, it only takes a few hours by plane."

He took a small private plane from San Jose to the private airport on Catalina Island, and then arrived here on a private yacht belonging to Butterfly Security.

Hawke, having already reviewed the video battle report sent by Butterfly Company, asked, "Any new developments?"

Bosque gestured to the door, and two security personnel carried a box into the conference room. After opening the box and placing the drone inside on the conference table, they quickly left.

Hawke took a look and found that it was a drone sold by West Coast Technology, a very ordinary civilian model.

However, the serial number stamp on the aluminum alloy frame of the fuselage has been ground off.

"It was found in a piranha mercenary camp," Boske said.

Hawke knew what he was worried about and understood why Bosque had personally made the trip to Los Angeles.

He said to Edward, "Check the serial number."

Edward removed a composite material cover from one part of the drone, took a special ultraviolet light, shone it on the drone, found the hidden serial number, and entered it into the computer system.

The drone's data immediately appeared on the screen.

Edward said, "According to database records, this is one of the first batch of drones purchased by Argentine tycoon Lopez from West Coast Technology."

Campos leaned over for a look and said, "It really is Lopez behind this group of mercenaries."

Bosque looked at Hawke.

Hawke nodded slightly to him and said simply, "Don't worry, the drone is fine."

Bosque then unscrewed the water bottle, took a sip, and said, "We captured a survivor in the piranha mercenary camp. According to his confession, a few days ago they received a notice from the mastermind behind the scenes to prepare to go to Buenos Aires to carry out a mission, but for some reason, after they packed their equipment, the mission was temporarily canceled, and the Argentine side told them to be on standby at any time."

He put down his water bottle and added, "By the way, the boss behind the scenes has already paid them a million-dollar deposit."

Hawke said, "The mastermind behind this is Argentine billionaire Lopez."

Bosque asked, "What's our next task?"

Hawke was very direct: "I've always been a fair person. Since he wants me dead, then..."

Without any hesitation, Bosque said, "Once I return to Costa Rica, I will immediately organize an elite hunting team. Taking him down will not be difficult."

Hawke's goal wasn't just that, he said, "Don't rush into action, I have other plans, and you'll need to cooperate."

“No problem,” Boske replied. “I’ll organize an elite hunting team and await your orders, boss.”

Hawke looked at Campos: "Give a copy of the information you've gathered on Lopez to Bosque."

Campos, already prepared, took out a USB drive and handed it to Bosque, saying, "This contains detailed information about Lopez's conglomerate and his family members. We need to find a suitable opportunity..."

After hearing this, Bosque knew what to do and said, "We have informants in Lopez's chairman's assistant team who can keep track of Lopez's movements at any time. He can't escape our sight."

He thought for a moment and then said, "From the captured prisoners, we also obtained the satellite phone and code words that Piranha used to contact the Argentine side. He served as a liaison for a period of time when James, who was in charge of Piranha's communications, was away. He can temporarily deal with the Argentine side."

Edward said, "We're going to throw these damn Argentinians into the Pacific Ocean to feed the fish."

Campos smiled and said, "We'll find an opportunity soon." Hawke nodded and said softly, "Let's proceed according to plan."

…………

Buenos Aires, Presidential Palace.

Christina Kirchner hung up her private call with Twitter’s operations director, Carolyn Jones, and told her daughter, Florencia, who was her secretary, “Tell your brother Maximo to come over.”

Florence quickly called her brother's cell phone.

A dozen minutes later, Maximo arrived at Christina's office.

The latter asked, "How is the investigation I asked for progressing?"

Maximo said, "It's almost certain that Lopez will run in the next election. Our inside sources have also received some less certain information, but he has the support of the Americans."

“This news is confirmed.” Christina had just received the news from Caroline, who had successfully convinced her of its accuracy: “I have definite intelligence that Lopez has joined forces with the Democratic Party and is preparing to use the power of the Americans to remove us from office in the next election.”

The Kirchners held the presidency for years, during which time they propelled the Kirchner family into the ranks of South America’s top political and wealthy families. How could they be willing to have their position usurped?

Maximo suddenly recalled a recent news report and said, "It's not just the Democratic Party; Lopez has also established a partnership with Twitter's founder, American billionaire Hawke Osment."

He then realized something was amiss: "Hawk Osment belongs to the Elephant Party..."

Christina said, "That's the problem. Hawk Osmond must not have known that Lopez was working with the Donald Party, otherwise he wouldn't have let West Coast Tech work with Lopez."

Maximo pondered for a moment and said, "I've looked at West Coast Tech's products. They have a considerable market in Argentina. I've been considering whether to make a move to snatch them away and get West Coast Tech to cooperate with us instead."

Christina has more to consider: "Drones are becoming stars on the Middle Eastern battlefield. Armies of powerful countries such as the US are equipping themselves with them in large numbers. Armies loyal to us should also prioritize equipping themselves with drones to improve their combat effectiveness and, crucially, their reconnaissance capabilities."

“And there are also individual soldier vehicles.” Like many people around the world, Maximo has a kind of mysterious admiration for the United States: “The world’s strongest military has equipped itself with these in large quantities, so we can follow suit.”

Christina said, "I've already contacted Hawke Osment and reached an agreement with them. Tonight, you'll quietly go out and meet with their agent who's sent here."

Maximo couldn't help but admire his mother more and more, saying, "You've thought things through so much. We haven't even come up with a solution yet, but you've already cleared away the fog and found a way."

Christina presents a mysterious and inscrutable demeanor in front of her children.

In reality, she knows her own family's situation.

These were all initiated by the other party contacting her.

Maximo nodded: "I'll have a good talk with them."

Christina patted her son on the shoulder: "This position will be yours in the future, not someone like Lopez."

As darkness fell, Maximo, disguised, deliberately took a bodyguard's car and quietly left the presidential palace, arriving in the Palermo district and entering a villa.

Henderson, who entered Argentina from Brazil under a different identity, is waiting here.

Maximo scrutinized him, confirming that this was the West Coast tech CEO he had seen online, and said with a smile, "Welcome to Argentina. My mother and I should have welcomed you in a much grander way, but unfortunately, a bad guy has stood between us, causing this situation."

“Once this obstacle is gone, nothing else matters.” Henderson knew very well that the person in front of him was the president’s son, who wielded considerable power in Argentina, and thus subtly expressed his stance beforehand.

He added, "When I come to Argentina again, it will definitely not be like this."

Having grown up in political and business circles, Maximo naturally understood what he meant and said emphatically, "I guarantee there will be a grand welcoming ceremony."

Henderson laughed along, saying, "I felt the Argentinians' boldness and enthusiasm."

After a few simple pleasantries, Maximo got straight to the point: "In recent years, many West Coast technology products have flowed into Argentina, with drones being the most popular. They are not only production tools, but also fashionable luxury items for young people, and are widely used in various industries such as photography, film and television production, and football broadcasting. I can guarantee that both drones and single-person transport vehicles have broad market prospects in Argentina."

Both sides have almost the same goal. Henderson continued, “West Coast Technology conducted a detailed investigation of the Argentine market, which is why we decided to enter Argentina. However, we don’t know much about the companies here. We happened to meet Lopez from the United Group. We were planning to cooperate with Lopez, but recently we discovered that he is on the opposite side of the Argentine authorities.”

He certainly wouldn't tell the whole truth: "When Twitter was being promoted in Argentina in the past, it received strong support from the authorities. Twitter's operations director, Ms. Caroline Jones, also established a deep personal friendship with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. After Hawke received this information, he immediately instructed us to suspend our cooperation with López Obrador and had Ms. Jones contact the president."

After confirming the meeting tonight, Maximo did a lot of research, especially on West Coast technology and Twitter, as well as its real owner, Hawke Osment.

He was not just a super-rich man, but a truly powerful figure who could influence the change of power in the United States.

Maximo said, “My mother kept emphasizing to me this afternoon that Hawke and Caroline are our true friends! And of course, West Coast Tech.”

He seemed to be extremely sincere: "Actually, we were preparing to contact you last year to cooperate on high-tech products such as drones, but my father suddenly passed away, which caused this business plan, which should have been implemented long ago, to be delayed until now. However, it's not too late to cooperate now."

Henderson nodded slowly: "We prefer to work with old friends."

Regardless of other factors, having the support of the current president in Argentina would undoubtedly bring many advantages.

Maximo thought that taking down Lopez's backers in the United States would require the Americans to do it, and immediately said: "Old friends are more trustworthy. Since my mother took office, in addition to vigorously developing the Argentine economy and rectifying the social order of Argentina, she has also been committed to the modernization of the Argentine army. Drones are now a weapon that is impressive, and we are prepared to purchase them in large quantities to equip the army."

Henderson immediately followed up: "West Coast Technologies' drones are no worse than those currently in service with the U.S. military. The Pentagon has even signed a drone procurement contract with West Coast Technologies since last year."

The two talked very smoothly, since cooperation would benefit both sides.

Maximo turned the conversation to Lopez: "I heard that the United States is behind the Coalition, and they are on the opposite side of you?"

“That’s right, that’s why we’re extremely angry about Lopez’s fraudulent behavior!” Henderson said with a sneer. “Perhaps we can forge a new collaboration with Lopez…”

Hearing Henderson's words, Maximo's eyes lit up. (End of Chapter)