Chapter 660: Red Sea Fury (Part Ten) (Patreon)

In DC World With Marvel Chat Group : Table of Content/Chapter List

XXX-----XXX-----XXX-----XXX

Metropolis CIA Headquarters, Kayla rushed down the staircase with a brisk pace, clearly displeased. She exclaimed, "What's going on with the recent rise of the labor movement among Mexican farmers? This is such an important matter, and you guys can't keep an eye on it? Do you have any idea how much heat I'm going to take for this?"

One of her subordinates wiped the sweat from their forehead and replied, "Our agent was closely monitoring it, but the leader on the other side keeps evading us. We have no idea where he came from."

"According to the news, he's collaborating with drug traffickers... My goodness, now we have to rely on news reports for our intelligence!" Kayla rolled her eyes and continued, "Mobilize our resources immediately to stop them. Do I really need to emphasize this?"

"But... all our people in South America are deeply embedded in drug cartels. It's not easy to divert them. We've already pulled some local agents to track their movements," the subordinate replied.

"The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the West Coast will cooperate with our efforts. We need to ease off on the drug-related operations for now and focus entirely on this. The pressure from higher-ups is immense," Kayla sighed. "We all know how crucial Mexico is. It must remain inconspicuous, or rather, it can only remain inconspicuous. We absolutely cannot let chaos erupt."

"By the way, when you find that group, don't make any rash moves. I've heard their leader is not to be underestimated. If we spook them, they might vanish, and by year-end, we'll both be resigning in disgrace."

Kayla concluded and briskly entered her office. She tossed her keychain onto the desk, sat down, and exhaled with a hint of worry, rubbing her temples.

Her respite was short-lived, as another subordinate knocked on the door and asked, "Boss, there's a call from above. Do you want to take it?"

Kayla stood up again, walked into the opposite office, and picked up the phone. "Hello?... Yes, we've been monitoring continuously. Is it really necessary to activate so early? He hasn't... Alright, I understand. I'll give it a try."

After hanging up the phone, she turned to the people in her office and said, "Now, gather all the materials on that person named Clark Kent. They want to activate him."

"Activate? But he hasn't even joined us yet!" The subordinate who had just walked in expressed surprise. Kayla rubbed her temples and replied, "Yes, Congress seems to think that everyone is naturally one of us. They believe brainwashing a naive young student shouldn't be that difficult."

Soon, a bearded agent entered, saying loudly, "What's going on? Activate Clark? Whose ridiculous idea is this?"

"A few days ago, it seems Clark noticed our surveillance team. We were planning to lay low for a few days, and now they want us to initiate direct contact with him?" The bearded agent placed his hands on his hips. "Leaving aside whether we can persuade him, what about the security of Metropolis if he goes rogue? What about the safety of my agents?"

"Owen, calm down." Kayla walked over and patted the big man's shoulder. "You must understand that the head of the CIA is under immense pressure right now. Nobody predicted the situation in Mexico, and we haven't obtained any useful intelligence."

"But it was clearly a mistake on the part of the people in Moscow, who are responsible for that region. They even apprehended the top leaders there. How could they not know who organized this movement in Mexico?"

"Latest update, boss," another female agent walked in holding documents. "Our contacts in Moscow's CIA office have informed us that this might be a rogue operation by the KGB. Even their leaders were unaware of this, and they had no foreknowledge of this movement."

"How is that possible? Which intelligence institution would dare to act without orders... Well, maybe they would, a bunch of desperate daydreamers. Can we find out which branch of the KGB was involved?"

"It's difficult to ascertain. While some of our agents have infiltrated the KGB, the personnel operations of this organization have always been a challenging puzzle for intelligence. We have very little to go on."

Kayla took the documents and examined them closely. In essence, Moscow's leaders also had no knowledge of how this movement had unfolded. So, it was reasonable to assume that it might be a rogue operation by a particular branch of the KGB. However, the specific branch remained elusive, and no concrete information had been uncovered.

"The initiation of such a movement doesn't happen overnight. They need a ideological guide, an effective executor, preferably someone with guerrilla experience who can adapt to the local environment. And throughout the process, they need specialists to relay information to help them evade capture," Kayla analyzed, and everyone in the room was well aware of these facts.

After years of sparring with the KGB, the CIA's expertise was not lacking. They understood the reasons behind the KGB's repeated successful movements, even though the results always surprised them. This time was no different.

"What's even more important is that they must seize the right moment. The massacre provided them with that opportunity. I suggest we form a team to investigate this massacre. If we can obtain evidence of their involvement in planning it, Moscow's reputation will be tarnished completely," Kayla squinted her eyes.

"But if we can't get evidence, can we fake it? Well, the KGB is not to be trifled with, and if they catch wind of it, the consequences will be even more severe," the bearded agent muttered, rubbing his beard, and then left the room.

After everyone else had left, Kayla headed for the exit of the headquarters. Just before leaving, she told her subordinate who was following her, "I need to contact the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) again. Stay on high alert. If there's another call from above, tell them I'm too busy to take it."

"Don't worry, boss, we've got it covered," the subordinate reassured her with a reassuring gesture, standing by the door as he watched Kayla depart.

Kayla drove to the hospital and met with the female doctor she had seen before. Following their usual routine, the doctor locked the doors and windows, drew the curtains, and then both of them simultaneously asked, "What's really going on with the Mexico movement?"

After sharing their concerns, both of them wore surprised expressions and said in unison, "You didn't do this, did you?"

"Of course not!" Kayla responded. "Considering my current position, I would never take such a risk. I confirmed with Lila, and it's not our comrades from the West Coast either."

"That's strange; there's no information from the East Coast either," the female doctor said, taking a deep breath. "You should know that leading such a movement requires extensive experience in struggle. Even in the KGB, there are only a few suitable individuals. So, who could it be?"

"The information I have suggests that even Moscow is in the dark about who's behind this. The CIA suspects it might be the work of a rogue faction within the KGB," Kayla speculated, furrowing her brows.

"Who would dare to do something so bold? Doesn't he know that the congress is just a few days away?" The female doctor expressed her astonishment.

"That's exactly what worries me. I'm concerned that this might be a trap, an attempt to create chaos on the day of the inauguration. But the problem is, I can't figure out what they're planning," Kayla said with a troubled expression.

"Now, the most important thing is to counter-infiltrate. If Moscow calls to inquire about what's happening, how should we respond?" the female doctor asked.

"The person asking is likely a CIA spy. Just tell them the truth – we don't know who's behind it. I'm more interested in knowing which branch these talented individuals are from," Kayla said, rubbing her temples. "In times of internal and external difficulties, they've managed to orchestrate such a movement. I really want to know which department these people come from."

"Alright, don't worry too much. Your anxiety is acting up again," the female doctor said, glancing at her watch. "Five minutes are up; you should go get your medication. We'll meet again next time."

Kayla sighed, then left. Afterwards, she went to the Metropolis Police Department's narcotics unit, and also had a phone call with Lila from the West Coast Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It wasn't until she returned to her own apartment that Kayla felt the exhaustion creeping in.

But she knew she couldn't stop yet. There was still too much to investigate. She began to piece together all the clues, trying to figure out what was really going on. However, the various threads were too complex, like countless stars in the sky, seemingly unrelated and impossible to connect.

Thinking about this, Kayla suddenly remembered a familiar person. Whenever she was puzzled by various matters, this person always used his extensive experience to provide answers to her questions.

Kayla picked up the phone and called Alfred.

It was still relatively early, so Alfred hadn't started telling bedtime stories to Aisha yet. He answered the phone and, after hearing Kayla's account, asked with some confusion, "So, you're saying you don't know who's behind all of this?"

"Correct. I suspect it's a trap. But if it is, I don't believe there are professionals within the CIA capable of launching such a movement. Or if there were, they'd be our comrades," Kayla replied.

"That's quite unusual," Alfred spoke slowly, without a hint of nervousness, effectively calming Kayla's anxiety. He continued, "But don't you think this might be a good thing?"

"If even you don't know who's behind this, then the CIA and our spies in Moscow are even less informed. This unknown individual, could he not be the best guide?"…

"As for your worry that it might be a trap, it's not unreasonable. After all, the CIA is always cunning and adept at deception. But if you think about it carefully, setting up such a movement as a trap would come at a high cost."

"They've actually launched a movement in Mexico, and no matter what their purpose is, it's like setting fire to their own backyard. Even if Congress is foolish, they can't be that foolish. Now, the attitudes of Congress and the CIA's top brass speak volumes. They must be in a state of panic, right?"

As Kayla's thoughts gradually settled, she began to find Alfred's reasoning sound. Regardless of the true nature of this movement, it was already in motion. If it was indeed orchestrated by the CIA itself, it would be like shooting themselves in the foot.

"Whatever kind of trap they want to set, regardless of who it harms, setting their own backyard on fire is too high a price to pay," Kayla concluded. "Mexico is crucial for the U.S., and they won't allow even a hint of leftist influence there. Setting a trap this way is simply unthinkable for them. As Alfred said, they are in a hurry, which means things have gone beyond their control."

"Correct. They are already so anxious that they want to send Clark Kent to handle this matter. We haven't even had direct contact with Clark yet, and they want to activate him. They are getting a bit disorganized," Kayla said over the phone.

"Clark?" Alfred was puzzled by the name. He continued, "So, what do you plan to do?"

"Of course, we need to approach him, but we'll say we couldn't persuade him, or that he has strong reservations, and we don't want to pressure him," Kayla replied smoothly. After all, as a KGB agent embedded within the CIA, one of the most important skills to learn was how to manipulate situations.

"Do you understand Clark?" Alfred asked.

"We've been monitoring him 24/7, learned all about his daily habits and routines…"

"No, I mean his personality," Alfred clarified.

"His personality? He's just an ordinary college student, from a small town it seems. Quite innocent, kind-hearted, and likes helping others."

"Have you ever considered that, after witnessing the essence of labor and farmer movements, this so-called innocent small-town youth might not be inclined to help the CIA?" Alfred asked, posing a deadly question, one that Kayla found hard to answer.

Compared to Kayla, Alfred had a better understanding of Clark's personality. He knew that this seemingly innocent small-town youth had a very intelligent mind and a heart full of compassion, like a saint. He wasn't gullible and wouldn't easily be deceived by appearances. And now, he was just beginning to experience and understand the world.

"Kayla, I remember I told you a long time ago that if you haven't seen it with your own eyes, haven't personally experienced it, and haven't empathized with the struggles of the common, poor people, then no matter how much theory you study, it's useless…" Alfred reminded her.

"I hope that more kind-hearted people can see the suffering that truly exists in this world. Even if these people don't align with our cause, they can at least become good people who are willing to help others, don't you think?" he added.

Kayla took a deep breath and said, "Perhaps you're right, Alfred. I'm heading down a path where I've almost forgotten about these things. My work has become my whole world, dealing with one problem after another, accomplishing one goal after another. It's eroded my initial ideals…"

"It's only human. If everyone could remember their initial ideals forever, things wouldn't have ended up like they are today," Alfred said, his tone devoid of disappointment. Perhaps he had long become disillusioned.

His ability to view this issue so objectively and calmly stemmed from no longer being deeply involved, from becoming an observer.

Kayla remained silent for a while, but eventually, she made up her mind. "Alright, we will try to guide Clark to see for himself. Hopefully, his kindness will enable him to understand this suffering. Even if he doesn't become one of us, at least he can be a good person."

But soon, Kayla felt another headache coming on. She said, "We haven't had any direct contact with Clark, so it's difficult to gain his trust. And he has such tremendous power; if he were to go rogue, the people of Metropolis…"

"I think you can start by approaching the people he knows and trusts. Persuading them might have a good effect," Alfred suggested.

"People Clark trusts... Last time, Lex Luthor went out of his way to defend Clark when I visited his Manor. Their relationship should be good. Lex is a very typical American. Maybe I can persuade him…"

As Kayla outlined her plan, she gradually drifted into sleep.

The next afternoon, when Kayla left Luthor Manor, she felt a sense of optimism. While Lex hadn't given her a definite answer, his attitude was ambiguous, indicating that there might be room for negotiation.

In the bedroom of Luthor Manor, watching Kayla's departing figure, Lex picked up the phone, dialed a number, and said to the person on the other end, "Hello, Professor, have you heard about the sudden outbreak of the farmer and worker movement in Mexico?... Yes, the CIA has approached me now, asking me to persuade Clark to deal with this issue. What should I do?"

"Let him go, you say? Very well, I will persuade him… Thank you, and have a pleasant holiday, Professor."

[Read at www.patreon.com/shanefreak, without ads and support the work.]

XXX-----XXX-----XXX-----XXX

Next Chapter>>Chapter 661: Red Sea Fury (Complete)