Pushing Reesi, who was trying to crawl towards him, away, Luo An turned to Mona:

“What is it? Speak directly.”

“It’s related to the balloon case.”

Hearing Mona bring up the matter, Reesi immediately stopped what she was doing, and the others’ expressions turned serious. Mona continued:

“It’s been several days now, and there’s still no news from Deputy Group Leader Paul. Are we really going to just keep waiting and do nothing?”

The eyes of Winslow, Chenier, Reesi, and Michelle were full of confusion.

In past cases, the special investigation team agents always had clear roles: Mona and Michelle would conduct online investigations, Reesi and Chenier would conduct field visits and investigations, and Winslow would assist as needed.

In the current balloon case, after the initial busy days of investigation and capturing the murderer, Youen Readfan, and bringing him back to the special investigation team, it seemed like Luo An had handed everything over to Deputy Group Leader Paul, leaving them waiting for news every day.

“I was just about to mention this.”

Luo An smiled, walked into the group leader’s office to retrieve several files, and distributed them to everyone, saying:

“Ladies and gentlemen, the balloon case itself is a small case, but there’s much more to it beneath the surface.”

When they first took on the balloon case, Trick Kennedy approached Luo An, noting that FBI Washington Headquarters, due to an increase in the departmental budget this year, had some departments whispering unfavorably behind the scenes.

Some media in Washington D.C. picked up on this and started discussions. Many praised it, but some believed that the increase indicated FBI’s incompetence.

They argued that truly exceptional investigators should be able to uncover the truth of a case without needing so much funding.

Increasing the budget meant investigation personnel were inadequate, some even planning to take advantage of the situation, wasting and embezzling taxpayers’ money.

Trick Kennedy thus hoped Luo An could solve a major case to dispel these rumors.

Luo An was rather speechless about this, as major cases weren’t something that could be conjured at will, nor could he guarantee solving each one with certainty.

When uncovering the truth of the balloon case, Luo An didn’t think much of it, as it was merely a minor murder case.

After meeting Deputy Group Leader Paul, a sudden thought crossed Luo An’s mind, realizing that this case had great potential.

As Mona and Chenier examined the files, Luo An introduced:

“Based on the information from Deputy Group Leader Paul, in the Underworld of the Southern Washington D.C. region, there are three gangs dealing in ‘flour.’

The gangs are in constant conflict, harboring mutual animosity, each wanting to eliminate the others and seize their rival’s territories.

The leader of one of these gangs happens to be the boss of this Youen Readfan, White Cobra – O’Malley.”

After reading the file on the three gangs, Reesi looked up, slightly puzzled, and asked:

“So, Luo An, what do you mean?”

Luo An grinned, revealing his white teeth, and said:

“Taking this opportunity, let’s round up the three gangs in one fell swoop!”

Luo An’s plan wasn’t complicated. The first step was to investigate and identify the bases of the three gangs, their ‘flour’ storage locations, the routes and schedules of the gang leaders, their arrangements of followers, etc.

This task was best suited for Deputy Group Leader Paul, who was experienced and had a wide network.

The special investigation team agents were not very familiar with the Underworld, and as time went on, some might have managed to get their appearance information, potentially alarming the enemy if they investigated.

Once they pinpointed the movement routes of White Cobra – O’Malley, the special investigation team agents would apprehend and detain him specifically, albeit with this news being “accidentally leaked.”

Meanwhile, the experienced Deputy Group Leader Paul would use some methods to persuade the other two gang leaders to seize the opportunity to immediately annex White Cobra – O’Malley’s territory, given that if they didn’t, someone else would.

Once the two remaining leaders received the “accidentally leaked” information and set out to seize territory, Luo An, Deputy Group Leader Paul, and others would lead raids on these gangs’ headquarters and bases, seizing all their ‘flour’ stockpiles.

As for the two gang leaders themselves, it would be preferable to capture them alive, but if not, shooting them would suffice.

Their lives were not the priority; what mattered was their three gangs’ ‘flour’ inventory, which Deputy Group Leader Paul had estimated, through certain channels, to amount to an astonishing tonnage.

Displaying these ‘flour’ quantities on-site would undoubtedly have a strong visual impact.

Deputy Group Leader Paul’s fieldwork would surely come to an end with this operation, just in time for a much-deserved promotion to a desk job.

Some internal FBI departments would cease their private discussions, and external media would lavish praise.

Luo An would kill multiple birds with one stone, not only fulfilling Trick Kennedy’s task, assisting Deputy Group Leader Paul’s promotion, but also enhancing the special investigation team agents’ bonuses and earnings beyond merely solving a gutting murder case.

After summarizing, Luo An solemnly concluded:

“In the meantime, our special investigation team’s primary task is to maintain an appearance of normalcy, proceed as usual, and wait for news from Deputy Group Leader Paul.”

Given that not even FBI headquarters agents could guarantee such things without issues, this action plan was classified, known only to Luo An and Deputy Group Leader Paul prior to execution.

“Understood!”

“No problem!”

Mona and Michelle gazed at Luo An with bright eyes, responding in unison.

Winslow and Chenier’s eyes gleamed brightly. They loved such decisive actions that effectively dismantle criminal elements.

Reesi responded to the orders with the loudest voice and the most excitement, having mainly heard Luo An’s final words: post-case bonuses would be greater!

After a brief low voice discussion, the special investigation team agents smoothly returned to their usual routines, going about their tasks:

Michelle handled the written materials, Mona and Chenier assisted, Winslow and Reesi ordered meals for everyone, leaving Luo An to focus on eating and idling.

An entire day passed in the blink of an eye, with nothing occurring even on the second day, until the afternoon of the third day when Luo An’s phone suddenly rang. Pressing the answer key, Deputy Group Leader Paul’s voice came through.

After a brief discussion, Deputy Group Leader Paul quickly hung up. Luo An hurriedly left the group leader’s office, entering the workspace, clapped his hands to draw the agents’ attention, and said solemnly:

“Everyone, prepare for action!”

With the order given, the already prepared agents swiftly rose, efficiently but methodically organizing their equipment, while Luo An made a call to the SWAT team:

“This is the special investigation team, I’m Luo An Greenwood.”

At eight-thirty that evening, on a street in Southern Washington D.C., in a shadowed area unreachable by street lamps, Winslow and Chenier lay in ambush with a SWAT team.

In the distance, in two separate rooms east and west, one man with a face full of brutishness surrounded by jacketed men, the other with glasses and a sullen face, awaited incoming messages on their phones, each believing they would be the night’s ultimate victors.

Further away, inside a SWAT transport vehicle, Mona and Michelle were rapidly typing, as Luo An gazed at the dark night sky outside, a question flashing through his mind:

“What protection level are sparrows classified again?”

Before Luo An could find an answer, Mona’s voice suddenly rang out:

“Winslow, the target has entered the attack zone!”

“Begin the operation!”