Amanda was not a rash or unprepared person; she had thoroughly investigated Luke's life story. A five-thousand-word document contained all of Luke's social experiences over the past seventeen years. Her apparent impulsiveness was to prevent Waller from detecting her true intentions, but she hadn't expected that Luke seemed to know quite a bit about her as well.
Amanda took out her phone and tossed it onto the table.
"My phone has the number for Steven Martin, the FBI's head in Coast City. You can call him right now and tell him I'm impersonating the FBI."
Luke smiled and shook his head, "Only a man with no taste would stoop to tattling behind someone's back."
"Angie, take these two gentlemen out for coffee."
Secretary Angie walked up to Amanda's two subordinates and gestured for them to leave. The two men looked at their boss, and after receiving her nod, they left with Angie.
Once they were gone, the conference room felt much emptier. Luke took out a cigar, but didn't light it, instead bringing it to his nose and inhaling its scent.
"I don't like dealing with government personnel, especially those whose origins are unclear. Let's get straight to the point, what do you want from me?"
Amanda pulled out a photo and placed it on the table.
"Who is the person in this photo?"
Luke glanced at it and chuckled, "Such a sexy and beautiful woman is rare. If you find out who she is, you can introduce me."
Amanda leaned forward, her stern face exuding a subtle sense of pressure.
"Luke Shaw, I represent not only the FBI but also the U.S. government. This is an official inquiry. If you don't provide an answer, next time, your girlfriend, Carol Ferris, will receive a special arrest warrant issued by the White House. She will answer this question in prison."
"Am I to understand your words as a threat?"
"What if they are?"
Luke chuckled, shaking his head as he laughed, "Ever since I founded the Young Master Gang, I've received threats regularly. But someone as direct as you is a first."
"In principle, I would make anyone who dares to threaten me disappear from the face of the earth. However, considering you're a woman, I've decided to give you one chance."
Luke changed his posture and spoke unhurriedly, "Ferris Aircraft has had a twenty-year partnership with the Department of Defense. Carol's father, Carl Ferris, has close ties with politicians from both parties and has even funded the current president…"
"America is a place that values interests. Do you really think that with those ill-gotten powers you possess, you can put the daughter of the Ferris family in prison without any evidence?"
"I'm very curious, where does your blind confidence come from?"
Luke picked up the photo and slipped it into his pocket.
"Nice photo, I'll keep it. Anything else?"
Amanda pressed her hands on the table and stood up, her cold eyes fixed on Luke.
"You're right, with the power I have, I can't put Carol Ferris in prison. But don't forget, I'm not alone. I have many powerful supporters. Carol Ferris is Star Sapphire, a cruel and ruthless criminal. Whether she admits it or not, the higher-ups will think so. For a terrorist who threatens national security, no matter who her father is or how strong her background, she cannot escape punishment. This… is the rule."
"Starting today, Ferris Aircraft will no longer have a partnership with the Department of Defense. All orders will be canceled."
"As for Carl Ferris, an old man in his sixties, how much longer can he live?"
Amanda finished her speech of nearly a hundred words in one breath, without any pause. Combined with her cold tone and stern face, it gave an invisible sense of powerful oppression. If an ordinary person were here, they would surely be terrified and shaken. Unfortunately, she was not facing a common citizen, but a gang leader who controlled the lives and deaths of thousands.
Luke lit his cigar and took a deep puff.
"I see. You didn't come here to negotiate today, but to declare war. To declare war on me."
"Madam, I'm asking you one last time, do you really want to declare war on me?"
His calm words echoed in the room, devoid of any emotional fluctuation. Amanda scoffed, about to speak, when she suddenly remembered the fate of the Coast City gang leader. A chill inexplicably crept up her spine, and the words on the tip of her tongue couldn't be uttered. She could only clear her throat.
"I represent the White House. If you don't cooperate with my work, certain things are bound to happen."
"The White House!"
Luke couldn't help but laugh out loud, "There are too many people in the White House. Which one are you referring to?"
"That's classified. You don't need to know."
Luke held up a finger and wagged it twice with a tut-tut sound.
"Dick Cheney, the Vice President. He's the one behind you."
Amanda's pupils constricted into pinpricks. This was the highest secret of ARGUS, how could he know?
Luke leaned forward, like a fox relentlessly cornering its prey, "Are you surprised? Actually, I know even more, such as the relationship between ARGUS and the President, and how you're using the President's name while privately collecting criminal evidence against His Excellency the President. I have to say, well done!"
Amanda was utterly horrified, instinctively reaching for her lower back.
Luke raised his hand and pressed it down, "Don't get agitated, Madam. Everything I said just now was pure speculation. Without evidence, how can one take things seriously, wouldn't you agree?"
With the conversation at this point, no matter how terrified Amanda was internally, she could only force herself to calm down.
"Luke Shaw, what do you want?"
Luke pointed to the floor.
"Apologize to me for your actions just now."
"…"
After a few seconds of silence, Amanda stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Shaw. I offer you my sincerest apologies for my inappropriate remarks just now."
"I accept your apology."
Luke smiled, "Go back. We can talk again."
Amanda gritted her teeth, her right hand clenched tightly, fingertips digging deeply into her flesh. Despite this, her expression remained unchanged, still composed and calm.
Seeing her like this, Luke couldn't help but give a thumbs-up: As expected of the famous Demon King Waller from the DC universe, to endure such humiliation without a change in expression, truly patient.
Everything returned to square one, but the relationship between them had fundamentally changed. Amanda knew very well that at this point, there was nothing to hide.
"Mr. Shaw, I came to you for cooperation."
"Cooperation?"
"Yes, to cooperate with ARGUS. If you and Ms. Ferris are interested, you can join ARGUS and become one of the elders."
"I, His Excellency the Vice President, and other key officials sincerely welcome you."
"I hope you seriously consider my proposal."
Amanda's tone was very sincere, but Luke was uncharacteristically silent. He exhaled a smoke ring and fell into contemplation. Seeing this, Amanda didn't rush him. She believed that a person as intelligent and cunning as Luke Shaw would surely make the most correct choice.
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