America: Starting from collecting corpses, leveling up to godhood

She initially thought it was just an academic scandal about trafficking in human organs or defrauding research funding, something that would at most get her on the front page of the second section for a week...

But Chen Ming's reaction triggered her news sense.

"Wow, relax."

"You're making this sound like a Bourne movie script... You can't even trust the police, this is no ordinary problem."

"If you want me to use resources of this level to protect you, you'd better give me something concrete first. Otherwise, how can I believe you're not just having a delusional episode?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming carefully took out an envelope from the inside pocket of his suit and pulled out a corner of a photograph from it.

The image is blurry, but it would be very impressive to someone in the know—it looks like a photo of the interior of a biological laboratory, with obvious military control markings.

Of course, this picture was photoshopped by someone at Sean's request.

With just one glance, Michelle's breathing became heavy, and she leaned forward, wanting to see more clearly, but Chen Ming had already put the photo away.

"What exactly is this thing, and why does it have the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) logo on it?"

Michelle looked at Chen Ming with a curious and greedy gaze.

If this is true...

It's not just the Pulitzer Prize; it's a nuclear bomb that could bring down some bigwigs in the White House!

Chen Ming observed Michelle discreetly and quickly came to a conclusion.

The fish has taken the bait.

He quickly stuffed the envelope back into his suit pocket, crossed his arms tightly over his chest, displaying a defensive posture of extreme insecurity.

"Now you've seen the photos..." Chen Ming said in a low voice.

"But I can't tell you more until you get real asylum."

"Are you kidding me?" Michelle exclaimed anxiously, leaning closer as if she wanted to pin Chen Ming down.

"Keeping this kind of explosive news to yourself will only backfire. Getting it published as soon as possible is the safest option. I can contact the editor-in-chief immediately..."

"And then tomorrow morning our bodies will appear on Santa Monica beach?"

Chen Ming interrupted her coldly.

"As far as I know, you're just a news reporter. What makes you think you can guarantee my safety? With your recording device?"

Michelle squinted.

Being questioned about her professional abilities in person made her very unhappy, but the temptation of the juicy revelation made her suppress her temper.

"Listen, boy, I've been working at the Los Angeles Times since I graduated, for six years now, and I've been involved in more cases than you've ever seen a cop... If you hand over all the evidence, I can hide you somewhere even God can't find you."

"Words are no proof." Chen Ming kept his arms crossed over his chest.

"Do you have your own safe house? Where do you usually live? If an agent breaks into your house in the middle of the night and points a gun at your head, how will you fight back?"

"You've watched too many Mission: Impossible movies."

Michelle chuckled.

"I live in a gated middle-class community in Pasadena with 24-hour armed security, and I have a habit—if I don't send a specific email to my lawyer friend by 8:30 p.m. every Friday, he will immediately call the police and release all my cloud backups to the media..."

Chen Ming silently recited this information to himself.

Living in Pasadena, having lawyer friends, cloud backup...

This is very useful intelligence for him and Sean on how to proceed.

But on the surface, Chen Ming remained unmoved.

"This only proves that when you are murdered in your home, your lawyer can help you publish the news, but it can't save my life."

Michelle paused for a few seconds after hearing this, then took a deep breath and lowered her voice even further.

"Chen... what makes you think I'm so young that I can act like a tyrant at the Los Angeles Times, with even the editor-in-chief giving me a wide berth?"

"Because you are exceptionally capable?"

"Haha, you have such a sweet tongue..."

Michelle laughed heartily, then cleared her throat.

"My father's last name is White, but my mother's last name was Cabot before she got married. She came from the Cabot family in Boston."

"My maternal grandfather served two terms as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, and my uncle is now a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee... Our family has been funding campaigns for both parties since before World War II."

"In Los Angeles, I'm really just a reporter. But if anyone wants to mess with me or my guests, they'd better think twice about the consequences."

"Is it safe enough now?"

Chen Ming gasped after hearing this.

No wonder this guy dares to work as a journalist in America, a place where everyone carries a gun and gangs are everywhere. It turns out his ancestors were from the United States, and maybe his great-great-grandfather was involved in dumping tea leaves into the sea...

The two tricks Sean mentioned earlier can no longer be used casually.

"This is a lot of information." Chen Ming picked up his glass of ice water and took a big gulp.

"Could you give me some time to think about it?"

"You're wasting your time, Chen."

Michelle frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.

"I can give you a maximum of forty-eight hours, but after that time, even if you kneel in front of the newspaper office with a recording, I won't care about you anymore."

She stood up and picked up her handbag.

Don't do anything stupid.

After watching Michelle leave the coffee shop, Chen Ming turned into a graffiti-covered back alley. After confirming that no one was around, he took out his phone and dialed Sean's number.

"How did the talks go?"

"One good news, one bad news."

"I want to hear this first."

Sean's voice sounded relaxed, with the roar of sports car engines in the background.

"Our first impression was perfect, and she took the bait without any problems." Chen Ming leaned against the red brick wall.

"They have complete faith in me."

"Ha, I knew you were born to deal with women!"

Sean burst out laughing on the phone.

"Honestly, if I had your figure and face, I could sleep with several female reporters, let alone Oscar-winning actresses..."

Stop joking.

Chen Ming coldly interrupted Sean's rambling.

"The bad news is, those two public relations tactics you mentioned before can now be thrown straight into the shredder."

"What?" Sean's laughter stopped abruptly.

"Is she an unyielding nun? Or are our fabricated stories not compelling enough?"

"No, it's much more difficult than that." Chen Ming kicked a soda can off the roadside.

"Her maternal grandfather served two terms as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, and her maternal uncle is now sitting in the Senate Judiciary Committee office—a real old money."

The other end of the phone went silent instantly.

If Michelle Obama has a senior senator on the Senate Judiciary Committee backing her, then feeding her fake news or suing her for defamation is tantamount to suicide...

The opposing family's legal team could probably expose the plaintiff's dirty laundry before the trial even begins, and conveniently fabricate a charge to send him straight to federal prison.

In a country where a president can openly show favoritism and use his power of pardon to save the son of a criminal, judicial fairness is a joke.