"I..." Ethan was stunned for a moment, then thought about it and said, "I wouldn't do anything. I'd probably... choose to ignore it?"
"That's the right choice. My current director does the same thing. In the past year, we've come to an understanding on these matters. So, he went from department head to director, and I'm free to do whatever I want, as long as I don't violate the fundamental principles." Morin said, nodding.
"But that's not right, is it?" Ethan frowned.
"It's not right, which is why even if everyone does it, or most people do it, they don't do it out in the open."
"Everyone, including me, is like this," Morin said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"As long as it's not discovered, the income is 'legitimate.' But if it is discovered, then, of course, you'll receive the appropriate punishment."
"Is that why you didn't just arrest us?" Ethan asked.
"What else?" Morin asked back. "Why would I waste so much manpower and resources just to help you get irrefutable evidence of the mole?"
"If I had just arrested you, it would have meant that I would no longer be able to get involved. That would have basically made it impossible for me to get involved."
"This is an internal CIA matter. If the IRS gets involved openly... it wouldn't look good. After all, the IRS and the CIA have a friendly and cooperative relationship."
"And, regardless of anything else, our goals don't conflict," Morin said, finishing his coffee and extending his hand.
"You want evidence to catch the mole, and I want the ten million dollars. We can work together."
"..." Ethan hesitated for a moment, then reached out and shook Morin's hand. "I need the best support."
"I guarantee, it will be the best," Morin said, tapping the table with his finger. "In addition to equipment and information, I myself will be at CIA headquarters to help with your mission!"
"How are you going to get in?" Ethan asked in surprise.
"Over the years, the IRS and the CIA have had some minor conflicts," Morin said, pulling out a CD from his inner jacket and showing it to Ethan.
"This is enough for me to get in legitimately. As for you and your teammates... I'm sure you've already figured out a way, haven't you?"
"Of course," Ethan said, looking at the CD in Morin's hand and instantly understanding Morin's plan. "Didn't you just say that the IRS and the CIA have a friendly and cooperative relationship?"
"Friendly and cooperative means there's a certain level of mutual benefit, and where there's mutual benefit, there are bound to be some friction." Morin laughed.
"Friction means you can go and cause trouble, and at most, you'll just have to make another exchange of benefits later?" Ethan's mind was working quickly.
"Yes. 'Friendly cooperation' is just a different way of putting it." Morin nodded. "You're learning fast."
"I have to," Ethan said with a bitter smile.
"It's an experience you have to go through," Morin said in a condescending tone, patting Ethan on the shoulder before getting up and leaving.
In reality, he was indeed a man of experience. After all, counting his previous life, he was almost thirty years old now.
However, the system's bonus to [Physical] also included longevity, so Morin's appearance hadn't changed much. He still looked the same.
After Morin left, Ethan looked out the window and let out a sigh of relief.
Morin's honesty about his purpose made Ethan feel much more at ease.
As a secret agent, Ethan was naturally not naive, especially after personally experiencing a betrayal by a mole and the deaths of his teammates.
If someone wanted to help him for no reason, how could he possibly believe them?
Before, when Morin said his purpose was to investigate tax evasion, Ethan didn't really believe it. Only after this conversation did he confirm that Morin's real purpose was the ten million dollars.
This purpose was much more realistic and trustworthy.
But Ethan didn't have any problem with this. After all, the ten million dollars came from his enemy, and his original goal wasn't the money, but the mole, "Job," who had caused the deaths of his teammates!
As long as their ultimate goals didn't conflict, they could cooperate. This was why Ethan had shaken Morin's hand, establishing a partnership where they both got what they wanted.
...
A few days later.
After receiving a message from Ethan, Morin quickly got in his car and drove to CIA headquarters in Langley.
There were a few checkpoints along the way, but they were no match for Morin. After showing his IRS ID and the action permit signed by Director Chris, Morin was quickly let through.
Driving the new company car that Chris had just gotten, Morin drove to the front gate of CIA headquarters without any trouble.
If there was one thing Morin liked, it was the feeling of legitimately and brazenly going to cause trouble, with no one being able to stop him.
Compared to a stealthy infiltration like Ethan's, this kind of bold and direct approach was much more exhilarating!
As soon as Morin got out of the car, a man in a suit who was even balder than Chris came over to greet him.
"Mr. Morin, I'm the head of the CIA's administration department, Dal M. Starr..." Dal started his introduction, which, with just his name, took more than a dozen words before he finally got to the point.
"May I ask what brings you to our agency?"
"I'm here to investigate some things," Morin said. "About the CIA in recent years..."
"Mr. Morin, I think some things are not very convenient to talk about out here. Why don't we go inside first?"
Dal's back was already starting to sweat. He quickly interrupted Morin.
The director wasn't at headquarters and was on his way back after receiving the news. For now, Dal was in charge of entertaining Morin.
But Dal, of course, wanted to stall for as much time as possible until the director arrived so he could hand over the responsibility to him!
Even though Morin was just an IRS employee, he was driving Chris's company car and had an active action permit personally signed by Chris.
This meant that Morin wasn't just representing himself; he was also representing the IRS director, Chris!
Anything involving a director was, without a doubt, a big deal. How could a mere head of the administration department handle a big deal like this?
Of course, they would have to send their own director!
Dal couldn't handle it, and he didn't want to. He didn't want to be sacrificed as a pawn!
So, without even daring to listen to what Morin had to say, Dal quickly changed the subject, trying to stall for time and prevent Morin from revealing the purpose of his mission before the CIA director arrived!
Morin didn't insist and naturally walked into CIA headquarters with Dal.
His purpose for coming here was to stir the pot, provide cover for Ethan and his team, and prevent any unexpected circumstances that could cause the mission to fail.
What Dal was doing was perfectly in line with his wishes.
Of course, if Dal hadn't tried to stall, Morin would have just gone ahead and investigated the things on the CD that Chris had given him.
At most, the exchange of benefits between the CIA and the IRS would just have to be a little bigger afterward.
*****
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