Chapter 355: Chapter 353 Let’s do something big_1
Was Sam exposed?
This thought flashed through Bruno’s mind. He quickly exited the group chat and privately messaged another KGB agent. For Operation Blaze, they had mobilized practically all their assets in the United States.
Bruno was the KGB’s highest commander on the front lines, assigning missions to all agents. Only when he was unavailable did Leonin direct KGB operations. If neither of them was free, a third-ranking individual would take command.
This time, Operation Blaze could not afford any mistakes. They had to gather all of Dio’s intelligence and present it to that certain individual.
He sent a coded message to the KGB agent: "Is there any risk of Sam being exposed?"
The reply came swiftly in code: "Sam is still trustworthy."
Reassured, he returned to the group chat and asked, "Who is this person?"
"Vincent Hancock. You should be familiar with him—General Jida’s good friend. General Jida strongly recommended Vincent for the plan, saying he would be of help."
Reading Sam’s message, Bruno’s mind quickly processed the relevant information gathered from investigating General Jida’s connections. Vincent and Jida were classmates from the same year at West Point Military Academy. Vincent excelled, holding the rank of Brigadier General at the Pentagon Building. He was responsible for inspecting aircraft maintenance, was 32 years old, and unmarried.
Even at the Pentagon Building, he maintained a disciplined lifestyle. He didn’t smoke, use drugs, have tattoos, or any other such bad habits. He ranked first in evaluations every year. An outstanding talent, he was a beneficiary of the Pentagon Building’s streamlining program.
Therefore, Bruno had never considered recruiting Vincent into his own camp.
Did he suddenly approach us because of his friendship with Jida?
Bruno mulled it over. He didn’t dismiss the possibility. According to his investigations, Vincent had no special connections or background and had repeatedly refused offers from others. Inside the Pentagon Building, he was a peculiar type. People uninterested in money and power often valued emotional ties greatly. While perhaps not easy to control, Bruno’s goal was to escalate the situation, not to let Operation Blaze achieve its overt objectives.
After a moment’s hesitation, Bruno typed his reply: "Then let him join."
"Good, I thought so too. With someone of his caliber, their chances of success will be greater."
Seeing Sam’s reply, Bruno smiled coldly. He never intended to create a governing platform for Sam and the others. His claims of worrying about frontline pressure, wanting to support the Republican Party’s rise to power to stop aid to Ukraine—these were just an elaborate lie he had crafted, all to obtain Dio’s intelligence.
When the plan was executed, it would be time for them to go their separate ways.
Bruno ended the conversation. It was best not to contact each other excessively without reason, to reduce the risk of exposure. He then instructed his KGB personnel to inquire about the preparations for the kidnapping.
「 」
The Pentagon Building in Arlington County was like a self-contained city, with comprehensive entertainment and living facilities. The main difference for military personnel and civilian staff working here, compared to those in the city, was that cellphone use was constantly monitored, and all information was strictly controlled. This place was a military stronghold. No internal intelligence could ever be leaked to the outside—unless extra money was involved. In a free-market country like the United States, even the internal layout of the Pentagon Building could be sold, provided one wasn’t caught by the Department of Defense.
Vincent finished his work for the day. He had a gathering of military officers to attend that evening. He usually disdained such tedious gatherings, but some bizarre recent events had made him change his mind.
"Brigadier General Vincent, do you think the rumors about staff downsizing inside the Pentagon Building are true?" his young female assistant quietly inquired.
Vincent replied coldly, "Those are things you don’t need to inquire too much about."
"Okay."
The female assistant sighed faintly. She knew her superior’s personality, yet she couldn’t help asking, assuming he was the type who was stoic on the outside but warm on the inside.
It proved that scenarios from TV dramas never happened in real life. Or perhaps, she wasn’t the heroine of this story, just a supporting character meant to make the actual heroine shine.
The assistant felt utterly desolate, sensing she couldn’t escape this round’s downsizing list.
No background, no connections—all her competence was futile.
Vincent strode out of the office and went straight to Jida. Unlike his own cold demeanor, Jida was very cheerful and approachable, able to strike up a conversation with anyone.
"Yo, Vincent~" Jida slung an arm over his shoulder, grinning. "I have some good news for you. It’s been approved up top."
"I know."
Vincent’s response surprised Jida. "How did you know it would be approved?"
"The people at the top aren’t fools. The ones who contacted you likely investigated my background beforehand. It’s only normal they agreed," Vincent stated calmly, voicing his speculation.
"Alright, alright, you’re impressive," Jida said with a curl of his lip.
He was a thorough wastrel who had used his connections to get into the Pentagon Building and ascend to the rank of General. Yet, even as a wastrel, he possessed a certain worldly wisdom. Aware of his own shortcomings, he liked to befriend capable people, hoping they could help him.
Among those he knew, Vincent was definitely the strangest yet most capable. Someone like him, in uneventful times, might be seen as an oddball to avoid. But in dire situations, such a person becomes a savior. Unwavering will, exceptional abilities, and long-term vision—these were the reasons Jida wanted to bring him into the plan.
For Jida, Operation Blaze was never just a transition; he truly wanted to realize it. Jida didn’t want to relinquish the power in his hands; a life of debauchery was nothing compared to commanding tens of thousands. Especially military exercises. Although Jida always lost miserably, he had a lot of fun.
The people in The White House had apparently lost their minds, and even the generals at the Pentagon Building seemed to follow suit, agreeing to personnel cuts. He was unclear about the external factors that made the military-industrial complex decide to change its ways. But he was resolute: he would not step down. If they wanted to strip him of his power, they would face his gun.
Jida led Vincent to the officers’ gathering place.
He pushed the door open.
Many people were inside. Judging by their ranks, there were lieutenant generals, major generals, brigadier generals, and colonels, among others. They were all gathered, vociferously complaining about the decisions from above, all adamant about teaching the higher-ups a lesson.
Vincent listened briefly and understood that it was impossible for these people to succeed. They were treating mutiny like a child’s parade.
"Jida, is this the newcomer you brought?"
"Yes, this is Vincent Hancock," Jida introduced with a smile.
Vincent glanced around. "Who is leading this plan?" he asked.
"It’s General Isam," Jida replied.
Vincent’s gaze fell on the only four-star general present. He had a large head and prominent ears; his face and build made him look entirely like a businessman. No wonder he was the only four-star general slated for downsizing by the Pentagon Building. His uniform could barely contain his corpulence.
Vincent stepped forward. "General Isam," he said, "please hand over command of the operation to me."
As soon as he spoke, silence rippled outwards from the two of them, dissipating the room’s noisy atmosphere.
Isam glanced at him, swirled the champagne in his glass, and chuckled. "Jida, you really found someone with a sense of humor."
"Haha, yes!" Jida hastily chimed in, hoping to elicit laughter.
Vincent’s expression was serious. "I’m not joking. If you continue to lead, this plan will definitely fail. Only I can lead everyone to Victory."
Isam’s expression began to sour.
The only four-star general chosen for downsizing by the Pentagon Building and The White House—did it mean his abilities were insufficient? Wrong! In his view, this was all political maneuvering, persecution directed at him, not a reflection of his capabilities.
"Young man, don’t be too arrogant."
Vincent drew his gun.
Startled, Isam quickly drew his own, as did the surrounding officers. "Vincent, what are you trying to do?"
"Don’t be nervous. It’s a revolver. Let’s make a bet. I’ll load four bullets. If I fire twice and I’m still alive, you let me take command. How about it?"
Vincent opened the revolver, showed it around, inserted four bullets, and gave the cylinder a hard spin. The sharp clicks of the cylinder spinning made the officers draw a sharp breath.
Isam stared at him.
Vincent aimed the gun at his own temple. "Well? Do we bet?"
Isam paused briefly. "Bet."
CLICK. The first shot was an empty chamber.
Those who witnessed it exhaled in unison, wiping sweat from their brows, their hearts pounding as if they themselves were gambling with death. Four bullets, and the first shot was harmless.
"You’re insane! Don’t shoot again! I acknowledge your courage," Isam said, stopping him. "Do you have a plan?"
BANG! Vincent shot a bottle of champagne on the table to pieces. Champagne immediately poured out. "Not letting me fire the second shot," Vincent said. "It seems fate is on my side."
This was, of course, a bluff. The force with which he spun the cylinder and the position of the bullets had ensured the first chamber would be empty. He had also counted on his audacity to cow Isam into preventing a second shot.
Fate does not favor the purely reckless.
"General Isam, I learned of your plan from Jida. Causing a disturbance at the Pentagon Building won’t force those above to compromise. If we’re going to do this, let’s go big."
"Within half an hour, let’s take Washington D.C.!"
As a child, when Vincent watched so-called anti-war films, the tragic scenes of death caused by war had always filled him with a profound excitement. This feeling hadn’t diminished with age; instead, it had grown stronger, more certain. He wanted to ignite a war on a scale even larger than World War II. Until that day arrived, he had been quietly honing his abilities.
Now, it’s time to actualize my boyhood dream and drag the entire world into war.
The first step was to take Washington D.C.