A motorcade rumbled over aggressively, the cars stopping stably downstairs. A team of uniformed, efficient, stern-faced CIA members with earbuds got out of the vehicles.
Leading them was none other than the giant hand of the CIA rushing over from Los Angeles, Judith.
"Who are you, this place..."
The security guard had just stepped forward when Judith already pulled out her credentials: "CIA business, step aside."
"CIA? Do you have the authority to..."
The guard was about to speak when he suddenly felt something pressed against his waist.
His body stiffened, there was no need to look, he knew it was a gun pressed against him.
The other guards received the same treatment. The team Judith brought were elite operatives from the CIA's field operations, tasked with executing assassination and sabotage missions against political leaders. These guards were no match for them.
Judith led the charge, directly breaking into the administrative building.
Many of the Los Angeles officials working there were stunned. Some recognized Judith's identity, their faces changing quickly, and immediately and stealthily made phone calls to notify others.
But Judith was faster. He split his men into two groups: one took the elevator straight to the seventh floor, the other went up the stairs. The seventh floor was where Los Angeles Mayor Franco's office was located.
However, halfway up, the elevator suddenly stopped, and the entire administrative building lost power.
Fortunately, Judith had prepared for this. He personally led the team up the stairs. Several staff members attempting to set up roadblocks didn't have time to completely block the way before Judith's team kicked them away.
On the seventh floor, Judith had just arrived and briskly walked toward the Los Angeles Mayor's office.
A man in a suit hurriedly ran over, blocking the door: "What are you doing? I am Mayor Franco's secretary. If you have business, talk to me. The Mayor is not feeling well today, there's no one in the office."
"Whether someone's there or not, we'll check ourselves."
Judith said coldly. A field operative stepped forward and instantly twisted the secretary's arm behind his back, making him cry out in pain with tears and snot.
The door was kicked open, and Judith led his team straight inside.
They caught Mayor Franco of Los Angeles and California Governor Kurt red-handed, both disguised with large sunglasses and baseball caps, intending to flee.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward; as their eyes met, Judith stepped forward.
"Where are you two planning to go? I just arrived, and you're leaving? Am I that unwelcome?"
Franco coughed dryly and said, "We were just about to conduct an inspection downstairs. It's urgent. Director Judith, please wait here. We'll come back to talk to you in a bit."
Governor Kurt also spoke up, "With such a big incident happening in Los Angeles, we have to handle it. Director Judith, we'll be right back."
As they spoke, the two tried to leave the office.
But Judith was not giving them face, even if they held high positions in California.
"Gentlemen, I'm afraid you can't leave at the moment. We need you to assist in our investigation. Come with us to New York."
Upon hearing this, Franco and Kurt's faces turned ugly.
Franco pointed at Judith and said, "Judith, does the CIA dare to intervene domestically? What right do you have to do this? If someone should intervene, it should be the FBI."
"If you leave now, I can pretend nothing happened. Otherwise, think about the consequences."
Kurt's tone was equally threatening, his face dark.
Judith's smile faded, and she snorted coldly: "The chaos you have caused in Los Angeles, if left unchecked, who knows what kind of havoc you would wreak. Today, you are coming with me to CIA headquarters, and no one can stop it."
Just as she finished speaking, the CIA field agents behind her stepped forward and handcuffed Franco and Kurt without expression.
Judith waved her hand, and the group quickly left without any delay.
"Judith, you're dead. Your position as Director is over," Kurt shouted while struggling, only to receive two punches from a field agent, Bang Bang, calming him down but not silencing his curses.
"You don't decide whether I stay as Director."
Judith lit a cigarette and said coldly.
The CIA directly answers to the President. The funds are requested by the President from Congress and do not need reporting to other departments. There is no higher authority, and the Director is directly appointed by the President.
Her status is equivalent to an ancient Emperor's close eunuch, truly one of their own. As long as the President remains in power, helping him withstand the pressure, her power would not be affected.
Of course, there is also a possibility that she would be abandoned later, thrown out as a scapegoat.
But Judith had to do this because if she didn't, she might not even last until later, facing the possibility of the President dismissing her at any time.
At the entrance of the administrative building, Judith had just stepped out when sirens were heard.
A number of police officers drove their police cars over with sirens blaring; they were the State Police, clearly belonging to the State Government.
And that wasn't all. Judith also saw her old adversary, the FBI, driving over.
The CIA and FBI often clashed because their functions frequently overlapped. For example, in many transnational crimes, the FBI recruited many overseas federal officers to investigate in order to obtain more information about the criminals. The CIA, seeking recognition from the President, was not content with merely gathering intelligence and often competed for jurisdiction.