Legendary FBI Detective

"The nuclear warhead has a problem!"

Ophelia's expression showed urgency. Luo An waved his hand to interrupt and asked with a focused voice while holding his phone:

"Mona, what exactly happened?"

Mona spoke rapidly, quickly explaining the situation.

Mona's mission was to stay at headquarters, in charge of investigating information, handling surveillance and coordinating all parties.

Half an hour ago, Luo An's operation concluded, successfully locating the nuclear warhead, and after Mona became aware of it, she immediately sent this information to Winslow, Michelle, as well as Chenier and Reesi, the two teams.

Since the nuclear warhead was found, the missions of these two teams were naturally terminated, and the four of them started packing up to return.

"Five minutes ago, Reesi suddenly called me, asking for assistance in retrieving surveillance footage from a certain area and time."

Mona added with a heavy tone:

"I helped to check, but a few minutes later, I found that the footage had been erased by someone unknown and couldn't be found at all.

I picked up my phone intending to inform Reesi and to alert her to be careful, but then I couldn't get through."

Luo An's eyes narrowed slightly:

"Did Reesi tell you why she wanted you to check that surveillance footage?"

"She did."

Mona quickly responded:

"Reesi said that during the process of preparing to return, she and Chenier accidentally discovered signs of Matteo being abducted, so she wanted to investigate the specifics."

Luo An pondered briefly before asking:

"What about Chenier? Did she leave any clues?"

"I can locate her cell phone."

Mona said gravely:

"The location shows Chenier's phone hasn't moved, it should mean that she hid or threw it away immediately after realizing something was wrong."

Upon hearing this, Luo An didn't hesitate and promptly commanded:

"Have Winslow and Michelle immediately rush to the phone's located position, I'm heading to that area right away.

Before we converge, tell Winslow and Michelle to be extremely cautious and prioritize their own safety above all else!"

"OK."

Mona responded gravely, and after the call ended, Luo An turned his attention to Ophelia and asked:

"You said there's an issue with the nuclear warhead, what's the problem? Is the fissile material inside missing?"

"No."

Ophelia shook her head repeatedly and replied solemnly:

"This is a fake nuclear warhead at all!

It's filled not with nuclear charges or detonation devices, but with high-weight trash like blocks of iron and sand!"

Luo An remained calm, his facial expression unchanged, while Ophelia spoke urgently:

"Group Leader Luo An, we need to interrogate Wilfredo immediately! Find out where the real nuclear warhead is!

Only then can we..."

"Don't rush, Ophelia."

Luo An gestured with his hand to interrupt her, causing Ophelia to become even more agitated as she exclaimed loudly:

"How can we not rush?! Group Leader Luo An, it's a nuclear warhead! Do you realize..."

"I said, don't rush!"

Luo An abruptly stood, towering over Ophelia with an expressionless face, and said coldly:

"Don't make me repeat myself, OK?"

"..."

As Ophelia saw the cold gleam flickering in Luo An's eyes, her previously heightened emotions instantly cooled down, she swallowed silently and asked:

"Group Leader Luo An, do you have a plan?"

"Before that, I need you to do me a favor first."

Luo An unflusteredly pulled out a Glock 18 from behind his waist and spoke faintly:

"Agent Chenier and Agent Reesi from my investigation team lost contact five minutes ago.

"I need you to make a call to your people in the military and have them released."

Mona had mentioned on the phone just now that Agents Reesi and her partner had contacted her for help in investigating surveillance footage after discovering that Matteo had been kidnapped.

Recalling the conversation with Ophelia during the flight, where she claimed that the military hadn't sent anyone to look for the nuclear warhead—a statement that was a lie—Luo An immediately deduced that the kidnappers of Chenier and Reesi were likely from the military.

Watching the way Luo An was brandishing his gun, Ophelia's eyelids twitched, then she took a deep breath and said in a firm voice:

"I'm sorry, Group Leader Luo An, as I've said before, our military really hasn't deployed anyone to search for the nuclear warhead.

Moreover, Group Leader Luo An, you don't need to threaten me with your gun. I know you're an excellent shot, but you should consider the consequences of firing it.

I am a person from the military; killing me over your two subordinates...think about the impact that would have..."

Luo An's lips twisted into a smile:

"Are you sure your military hasn't sent anyone out to look for the nuclear warhead?"

"I'm sure."

"OK."

Seeing that she was still not telling the truth, refusing him and doubting his willingness to shoot, Luo An's smile grew brighter as he asked rhetorically:

"Miss Ophelia, do you know why I assigned you to my team for this operation instead of having you group up with others?"

Ophelia was taken aback. Before she could respond, Luo An suddenly lifted the gun and smashed it towards her.

Thump—

A muffled sound, Ophelia's eyes rolled back as she collapsed to the ground.

Luo An took out handcuffs, cuffing Ophelia's hands and feet, then moved her legs back and used a third pair of handcuffs to lock the cuffed hands and feet together.

He poured a bottle of sleep-inducing drug down her throat and stuffed the body, now bent into a bow-shape, into the SUV's trunk. Luo An found a piece of rag to stuff into her mouth and then forcefully shut the trunk door.

Afterward, Luo An took out his phone and called Vireness, briefing her on the situation. Once Vireness began contacting the military, Luo An hung up, started the SUV, and sped toward Ensinor City.

Halfway there, Luo An intercepted an ambulance transporting Wilfredo to the hospital. After shooing away the medical staff, Luo An sat beside Wilfredo and spoke in a calm tone:

"Your nuclear warhead is fake. Where's the real one?"

"What?!"

Hearing this news, Wilfredo's eyes widened, and his face was filled with shock:

"Are you lying to me?!"

Luo An remained silent, just quietly watching him. Seeing this, Wilfredo gradually fell silent. After pondering for a few seconds, he suddenly burst out in anger, shouting:

"Matteo-Jacques! You son of a bitch..."

Luo An nodded knowingly:

"So, you got this nuclear warhead from Matteo?"

"Yes."

Seeing that the wounds on his body were bleeding more profusely, Wilfredo hurriedly stopped cursing to calm down and explained:

"I stole it from that bastard."

The news of the nuclear warhead being unearthed from an underground missile had been known to Matteo first, and he was the first to rush to the scene.

When Wilfredo arrived there in a helicopter, he happened upon Matteo fleeing in a car. Wilfredo, who habitually favored firepower over reason, immediately decided to rob him.

After a gunfight, the helicopter's fuel tank was hit and could not take off, while Matteo was forced to abandon his off-road vehicle and the nuclear warhead and flee on foot.

Wilfredo had intended to kill Matteo to silence him, but Matteo was too fast to catch, and because Matteo also managed to call for help, Wilfredo eventually had to give up the pursuit and hurriedly drove away with the nuclear warhead.

Luo An silently nodded, understanding the sequence of events.

After being the first to arrive at the scene, Matteo realized the matter was too significant to handle alone, so he decided to find someone else to take the blame.

He prepared a fake nuclear warhead, hid the real one, and let himself be seen escaping with the fake one.

He was bound to be pursued and caught, and when that moment came, he would appear overwhelmed and forced to escape, letting everyone believe the nuclear warhead had been stolen.

Though Matteo would indeed be mocked for the news spreading, he could quietly disappear, taking the real nuclear warhead with him to make a fortune in silence.

The ruse was not particularly novel, but as long as the disguise was convincing, the likelihood of being discovered in the short term was low because everyone's attention would be on the fool taking the fall.

Some fool: "..."

Pattings Wilfredo's shoulder, Luo An asked:

"Anything else you want to say?"

"Yes!"

Enraged to the point of his wounds bleeding again, Wilfredo ignored them:

"I know two of Matteo's secret bases. He most likely hid the real nuclear warhead there!"