American Tax Officer

"Understood."

That evening, for safety's sake, David didn't leave the office but chose to stay overnight. The office had a special rest room, so he got a decent night's sleep.

Early the next morning, he immediately summoned Simmons Bakinison and a few others and asked, "Is the manpower ready?"

"I've picked out 15 people. Is that enough?"

"That should be enough. Help me arrange the travel route, and keep the elites brought by the armed division low-key as they travel."

"Got it."

About twenty minutes after Nisen and the others left, a square-faced man wearing a dark green jacket came over to him and said, "Director David, the head office sent me to ensure your safety. It's not advisable for you to go out now."

This person was a lieutenant sent by the armed division named Nester. He didn't understand why David had to go to the California Institute of Technology at this critical moment, but if anything happened to David, he was sure to be in trouble, so he came to advise as soon as he got the news.

"Sorry, Lieutenant Nester, I have compelling reasons to go out."

"Director David, there's a twenty million dollar bounty on the line, and it's driving many people mad. If you insist on going out, I can't guarantee your safety."

"Lieutenant Nester, the head office sent you to protect me, not to restrict my freedom. You just need to follow orders, and I'll take responsibility for any consequences."

How could he have any bargaining chips to trade for Rodrigozki if he didn't go out to catch those spies?

Despite the risks of going out, he would be escorted by skilled operatives like Bakinison, and with the armed division's team discreetly trailing at a distance, there shouldn't be a problem.

Moreover, he wasn't planning on traveling openly but covertly and in disguise, and those on the street looking to claim the bounty and take his life were not professional agencies like the FBI or CIA, so it was unlikely they would so easily detect his whereabouts.

Nester furrowed his brows, but David was right; the head office had only assigned him to protect David, not to restrict David's freedom. Now that David was determined to go out, he had no reason to forcefully keep him there.

With this in mind, he had no choice but to turn around and leave.

Another twenty minutes passed, and Nisen and the others returned to David's side. By now, they had also undergone some simple disguises, while David as well had changed into casual clothes and put on a baseball cap.

"Ready, Chief. We'll go out through the small door of the west side storeroom."

"Let's go."

David and the others walked down to the lobby on the first floor and then headed to the westside storeroom, eventually leaving through a small door in the storeroom of the Western Suburbs Branch.

Several cars were already parked there, led by a Toyota Land Cruiser. David and his four companions got in and then drove off.

Once they were at a certain distance, several vehicles loaded with armed division personnel started to follow slowly behind them.

The California Institute of Technology is located in the Pasadena area, northeast of Los Angeles, within the Long Beach District. It took David and his team 40 minutes to reach the entrance.

Since it was seven o'clock in the morning, a steady stream of students, teachers, professors, and researchers were entering the campus.

David's gaze was intently scanning these newcomers.

[Name: Hausman Francis.]

[Occupation: Professor at the California Institute of Technology.]

[Monthly Income: 25,000 US dollars.]

[Income details: Earned through wages and bonuses...]

[More details:...]

[Tax payable: 0.]

...

[Name: Nick Bartley.] Explore more at empire

[Occupation: Researcher at the California Institute of Technology.]

[Monthly Income: 16,070 US dollars.]

[Income details: Earned through wages and bonuses...]

[More details:...]

[Tax payable: 0.]

...

[...]

Soon, half an hour had passed.

In that period, David had carefully examined dozens of professors, dozens of researchers, and even ordinary faculty and students, but all to no avail.

Just as he was beginning to feel a bit anxious, a middle-aged man with a nondescript face carrying a briefcase made him look up sharply.

[Name: Hamilton Isidore.]

[Occupation: Distinguished Researcher at the California Institute of Technology.]

[Income: Legal monthly income Fifteen Thousands US dollars, illegal income one hundred and seventy thousand US dollars.]

[Income Details: On December 11th, stole cell therapy research results from Professor Baumal, transmitted to Bear Country, received a reward of sixty thousand US dollars, on January 10th, stole biotechnology research results from Professor Gustav, transmitted to Bear Country, received a reward of thirty thousand US dollars, January 16th...]

[More Details:...]

[Tax Due: Forty-two thousand five hundred US dollars.]

"Finally, I've found you!"

The information that materialized about this man caused David's mouth to curl up in a smile.

According to the data, this man named Hamilton Isidore was indeed a spy trained by the Bear Country Federal Security Service, who had been implanted within the California Institute of Technology to steal their research results!

However, according to the data from the CIA, considering the research results obtained by Bear Country, there might be more than one spy at the California Institute of Technology.

Therefore, David decided to bide his time and not startle the snake, to see if he could unearth any other Bear Country spies.

In the following time, he screened hundreds more faculty, students, and researchers and after another hour had passed, the arrival of a short-haired female heightened his alertness again.

[Name: Elsie Filomina.]

[Occupation: Professor's Assistant at the California Institute of Technology.]

[Income: Legal monthly income six thousand US dollars, illegal monthly income one hundred and ten thousand US dollars.]

[Income Details: On December 19th, stole genetic technology from Professor Betasi and transmitted it to Bear Country, received a reward of thirty thousand US dollars, on December 28th, through a connection to Professor Betasi, acquired artificial intelligence technology from Professor Ted and transmitted it back to Bear Country, received a reward of sixty thousand US dollars...]

[More Details:...]

[Tax Due: Twenty-two thousand five hundred US dollars.]

"As I suspected, there's more than one..."

David's mouth revealed a smile again, this woman named Elsie was also a spy from the Bear Country Federal Security Service.

Catching two spies was a worthwhile trip!

Of course, to increase his bargaining chips for the exchange with Rodrigozki, two spies weren't safe enough; he needed to capture more.

In the time that followed, David still observed the personnel coming in and out of the California Institute of Technology from the shadows, but sadly, until it reached noon, he had no further luck.

But on reflection, this seemed reasonable.

Although the California Institute of Technology had many personnel, the CIA and FBI weren't pushovers; planting too many spies could easily lead to their exposure, and if one were to trace back from any exposed spy, the rest of the Bear Country spies might suffer as well.

Therefore, the Bear Country Federal Security Service had only implanted two spies, which was a relatively safe strategy.

Forget it.

Two would have to do, after all, apart from the California Institute of Technology, the data provided by the CIA listed other suspicious individuals elsewhere.

It's best just to catch them one by one.

Clearing his thoughts, David instructed the few people in the car with Nisen, "Hamilton Isidore, a specially appointed researcher at the university, Elsie Filomina, Professor Betasi's assistant—these two are spies. Have someone apprehend them, but be careful; I want them alive!"

Nisen Simmons Bucky wasted no words and immediately contacted the planted agents through the earpiece.

About half an hour later, the arranged personnel brought Hamilton and Elsie out from the front door of the Institute of Technology, but the two were in a state of unconsciousness at that moment.

Nisen immediately explained, "To prevent them from having cyanide in their mouths, our people used stun guns to knock them out straight away."

Hearing this, David was reassured and then ordered, "Search their homes, see what valuable things they have, also, bring back their computers and other electronic devices."

"Yes."