Chapter 1350: Scapegoat
Translator: _Min_ Editor: Rainystars
As an amateur athlete, Jiang Chen was not joking.
Just a few months ago, he became a part of the Xin Olympic Committee and partic.i.p.ated in the Olympic Games as an athlete.
Not surprisingly, he might had been the first person in the history of the Olympics to appear in the opening ceremony as an invited guest and athlete at the same time.
Xin was only founded as a country a few years ago, and this Olympics was the first world-cla.s.s sporting event for Xin athletes. As a small country, the base number of athletes in Xin itself was very small, to the point where many events had no partic.i.p.ants.
Someone may ask, why not give all the athletes the genetic vaccine, or let Celestial Trade soldiers sign up. Sports with skill requirements such as football and basketball would be hard to guarantee a victory, but it would be no exaggeration to say that Xin could dominate all track and field events.
In addition, with their existing technology, it was absolutely impossible for the Olympic Committee to detect the genetic vaccine. Unless they compared the difference in DNA of germ cells and somatic cells, it was possible to detect a trace of difference.
But was this meaningful?
If he gave the vaccines to athletes, the game itself would lose its meaning.
To be honest, Jiang Chen did not care about how many gold medals Xin could win. On the premise that he could let all the legal citizens of Xin live in the envy of the people of the world, he did not think he or Zhang Yaping still needed to rely on gold medals to boost national self-confidence.
If the athletes won, they deserved to be cheered.
If the athletes lost, just work harder next time.
The process of competing in the Olympic games was something enjoyable, there was no need to make them into products on the a.s.sembly line.
With this mentality, when he saw that there was a category that no one registered in, Jiang Chen decided to sign himself up.
As for the category?
It was not track and field nor weightlifting, because competing in these two categories would serve no meaning at all. The genetic vaccine could allow him to run at a superhuman level, and there was no point in weightlifting at all. His various body stats had reached the limit of mankind in the 21st century a few years ago. Even if he did win, it would not bring him any sense of accomplishment…
…
Just as Jiang Chen was in the Xin Emba.s.sy office casually chatting with Gill about the next steps, an emergency meeting was taking place in the Capitol.
The meeting place was in the President Office.
The meeting was attended by the outgoing Hill, Secretary of State Kerry who had competed with her for the presidency, the summoned CIB Director Henry Wilmot, as well as Secretary of Defense Carter and Advanced Projects Agency Director Melvin Laird, who both were involved in this matter.
When Henry entered the room, he eyed Kerry. The former was a part of the latter’s presidential campaign, but the latter looked away subtly at the moment.
A slight disappointment appeared in Henry’s eyes. He lowered his head for a moment as if he had made some kind of decision then he raised his head again.
“Henry Wilmot.” With a sharp gaze locked on Henry’s face, Hill said harshly, “Do you know why you are standing here?”
What should come always comes.
Henry knew that he could not escape his fate.
It was the consensus of the international community to oppose the T-virus. After a scandal of this scale broke out, it was not enough to rely on sincere apologies. Someone had to take the blame for the scandal, and this person could not be the “righteous” Capitol, nor the Department of Defense that followed orders, so there seemed to be only one suitable candidate left.
It was time to settle everything together. In the Colombian Crisis, the CIB was certainly also responsible.
“Isn’t it because I’m the CIB director?” Henry, who had completely thought everything through, despite the different gazes that were focused on him, he shrugged and laughed out loud, “Besides this reason, I can’t think of anything else.”
The Director of CIB was directly appointed by the President, and the position also served as a senior intelligence advisor to the President and Congress. The position was often referred to as the “ear” of the President. Although the position required a nod from Senate, kicking him from this position only required a nod from the President.
“You have three minutes to defend yourself. If you can’t make a convincing explanation of what happened at the Yokosuka Military Base, you may have to go to the independent prosecutor to explain yourself.” Hill didn’t look Henry in the eyes, but instead, she flipped through the papers on the desk blankly.
“There is nothing to explain,” Henry stared into Hill’s eyes, and said emotionlessly, “I will be responsible for my mistakes.”
From the moment he stepped into this building, he had antic.i.p.ated what might happen today. No matter what kind of explanation he gave, the final outcome would not convince anyone, and he would be used as a scapegoat.
It was the only option to reduce the stain on the country.
“… Mike Pompeo will take your place,” Hill said.
“I have no objection,” Henry said softly.
The young man who had been standing in the corner of the office stepped forward, nodded slightly to Henry, and extended his right hand.
“Mike Pompeo, Senate. Thank you for your continued efforts in the nation’s interest.”
“Now it’s up to you.” Henry shook the extended hand and looked Mike in the eyes. His previously relieved voice now carried a tone of solemnity, “This position is far more dangerous than you think.”
“I’ll perform my duties as if I’m walking on thin ice,” Mike said politely, but the upturned corner of his lips still couldn’t hide the sense of pride.
Henry keenly noticed the upturned curve, but he just smiled and shook his head.
“First of all, congratulations. But before that, as your predecessor, I have to give you some advice.”
Mike did not reply, but slightly lifted his chin and motioned him to continue speaking with his eyes.
“Stay away from that man, you know who I am talking about. Including me, my predecessor, Mr. Naomi, and his predecessor,” Henry said as he shook his three fingers. His originally serious expression suddenly burst into laughter; he shook his head and laughed in self-mockery, “Since the establishment of the CIB, this is unprecedented. In less than five years, three directors have been forced to step down, and all because of the same man… ”
“Mr. Wilmot,” Hill coughed and said expressionlessly, “If this is your advice to your successor, then your speech is over.”
“Yes, Madam President.” Henry bowed gracefully, gave Kerry one last look, then left the room.
No one stopped him. They only watched the loser’s departure with coldness and indifference.
For some reason, Mike suddenly felt that the back of the man leaving the meeting room was so bleak…
A coolness gradually rose in his heart, and Mike nervously gulped .
The moment the door slammed shut, he suddenly understood why he felt this way when he should be enjoying this glorious moment in his life.
Because from Henry’s back, he vaguely saw the shadow of another person.
That person was no one else but himself…