I was acting crazy in North America, and all the crazy people there took it seriously.

Chapter 150 Are you kidding me?! (Bonus chapter for 2100 monthly votes)

"But then again,"

The young, handsome detective waved for the recorder to leave, using a subtle shift in tone to abruptly cut off the chairman's impending outburst of anger.

"If your association is willing to generously sponsor our investigation bureau's increasingly strained case-handling funds, we would naturally be happy to invest more resources to conduct a more in-depth and objective investigation, in order to clarify the truth as soon as possible and clear yourselves of the unpleasant suspicions."

The president almost laughed in anger when he heard this!
Good heavens! First, they launched a grand-scale slander and frame-up, and then they naturally began to extort money from the victim!
This tactic is even more blatant and despicable than that of the mafia! At least the mafia doesn't wear the guise of law enforcement!
"Sponsorship? Investigation expenses?" The chairman spat out the words through gritted teeth, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Sir, are you trying to extort us?"

The pretty boy still had that sinister look on his face, and he waved his hand lightly.

"Mr. Chairman, you're being too serious."

"Everyone knows that your association wields immense power, simultaneously funding both Republican and Democratic campaigns, and backed by the esteemed Senator Frederick and Representative Miller..."

"How dare we, a small law enforcement agency, extort a large organization like your association?"

He said he "wouldn't dare to extort money," but he casually revealed the most important political backer of the vineyard owners' association, as if to say: Yes, I know all your secrets, I am extorting money from you, and you'd better cooperate!
The president fell silent, his face ashen. He was breathing heavily, seemingly engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

After a long pause, he took a deep breath and asked, "How much... 'sponsorship' do you want?"

A smile appeared on the pretty boy's face? It was probably a smile, as if he appreciated the chairman's "pragmatism":
“We understand that your association’s members have just paid their annual membership fees. I think the amount is quite reasonable.”

"Consider this your membership fee, a contribution to the federal law enforcement cause—or rather, a membership fee!"

The term "annual membership fee" felt like an icicle piercing the president's back, sending a chill down his spine.

This money, ostensibly a membership fee, is actually a "political donation" raised by the association to be distributed to various protectors!
The gigolo's seemingly slip of the tongue about "protection fees" was actually a deliberate warning!
This means that the investigation bureau not only knows who their backers are, but also has a clear understanding of the amount and procedures of their bribery!

Besides the Bureau of Investigation, which is backed by the Department of Justice, who else could have such a clear understanding of this intelligence?
"...I'll give it to you!"

After much deliberation and weighing all the pros and cons, especially considering the potential media storm and business impact if the other party continued to investigate him endlessly on the grounds of "suspected fraud," the chairman finally gritted his teeth and forced out those two words from the depths of his throat.

"Wise choice."

The pretty boy clapped his hands in praise.
"Since your association is so understanding and supportive of law enforcement, it must be that our previous investigation had some minor deviations and we obtained false information."

"Once we return, we will definitely conduct a thorough review, correct the accusations made by Roy Omdes and the Seattle police, and clear your association's name."

"..."

As the investigation team strode away with the membership fees still smelling of ink—their political backers also preferred cash—the president's expression of humiliation and anger vanished instantly, replaced by a sinister and calculating sneer.

He strode to the huge bookshelf, skillfully moved aside several heavy hardcover books, revealing a rather sophisticated-looking device with a mesh microphone behind it—a state-of-the-art wire recording system!

"Fuck, a bunch of thugs dressed in official uniforms! Do you think you can take me down like this?"

The chairman muttered ominously to himself, staring at the still slowly rotating recording device.
"They're trying to extort money from me! The Investigation Bureau? Hmph! Just you wait, I'll not only sue you until you're stripped of your jobs, I'll make you spit out everything you've been fed!"

He had already begun planning which top lawyer, renowned for challenging government power, to contact, and how to use the recording not only to get out of trouble but also to turn the tables and make the FBI pay a heavy price. However, before he could even finalize his lawyer selection, his "target of revenge," the FBI, was in trouble again!

The Bureau of Investigation's team in Chicago held an emergency press conference, where a spokesperson, looking indignant, announced to the media:
"A special team we sent to California for an investigation was kidnapped by unidentified individuals en route, but they have luckily escaped; only to find out that our agent sent to California was impersonated by the criminals..."

The news itself was shocking enough, but before the media could even process it, the "President's" statement followed, still in that cynical tone:
"Yes, again, again, again, it was me who did it, and I take responsibility for it."

"I happened to run into a team from the Bureau of Investigation, and I couldn't resist borrowing your gear to earn some extra cash. Same as always, I can..."

Before the media could react, the Bureau of Investigation seemed to be completely enraged by the "president's" unprecedented provocation!

The saying goes, "Once is acceptable, twice is acceptable, but three times is not." This is the third time!

This time, the Bureau of Investigation headquarters showed a furious and tough stance.

The spokesperson, his face grim, announced in Washington, "This arrogant fraudster who calls himself 'President' has repeatedly impersonated and desecrated the high reputation of the FBI. This time, he has gone even further, openly attacking and kidnapping our law enforcement officers!"

"This is a blatant challenge to American law and law enforcement authority! Our entire bureau can no longer tolerate this!"

"I hereby formally announce that, effective immediately, a nationwide maximum-level arrest warrant is being issued for the criminal using the alias 'President' and all his accomplices! Anyone who provides valid clues and assists our bureau in apprehending him will be..."

"A reward of ten thousand dollars!"

The media reporters, their minds already a jumbled mess of news, stood there with pens in hand, mouths agape, their expressions frozen, as if they had all been put on pause.

Although the full picture of the situation is still unclear, everyone knows one thing—

The President has killed three members of the Investigation Bureau!

Then, the furious investigation bureau went into a rage!

And then……

The reporters rubbed their eyes and silently counted the zeros on the screen.

That's right, still four zeros!

Ten thousand dollars!

Is this the Bureau of Investigation's "limited tolerance" and "most wanted" warrant?
What a grand gesture!

The media reporters, finally coming to their senses, displayed a variety of expressions.

Are you trying to put on an act with me?!

……

(End of this chapter)