"I..." Ethan froze for a moment. After thinking it over, he said slowly, "I wouldn't do anything. I'd probably... pretend I didn't see it."
"That's the correct answer," Morin said, nodding. "My current director does the same. Over the past year, we've reached an understanding on these things. That's how he went from department head to director."
"And I get to do whatever I want, as long as I don't cross the bottom line."
"But that's not right," Ethan frowned.
"It isn't," Morin agreed. "Which is why even if everyone does it-or most people do-it's never done openly."
"Everyone's like this," Morin said, crossing his arms. "Me included."
"As long as it isn't discovered, the income is 'legal.' If it is discovered, then you accept the punishment. Simple."
"Is that why you didn't arrest us directly?" Ethan asked.
"What else would it be?" Morin replied. "Why would I waste manpower and resources just to help you collect airtight evidence on the mole?"
"If I arrested you outright, I'd be forced out of the matter entirely. That would've made it impossible for me to intervene later."
"This is an internal CIA issue. If the IRS got openly involved, it wouldn't look good," Morin continued. "After all, the IRS and the CIA have a friendly, cooperative relationship."
"And most importantly," he said, finishing his coffee and extending his hand, "our goals don't conflict."
"You want evidence to catch the mole. I want ten million dollars."
"We can cooperate."
"...," Ethan hesitated briefly. Then he reached out and shook Morin's hand. "I need the best support possible."
"You'll get it," Morin said, tapping the table. "Equipment. Intelligence. And I'll personally be at CIA headquarters to support your operation."
"You?" Ethan looked surprised. "How are you getting in?"
"Over the years, the IRS and the CIA have had... minor friction," Morin said, pulling a CD from his inner pocket and holding it up.
"This is enough for me to enter legally."
"As for you and your team," he added calmly, "I'm sure you've already figured something out."
"Of course," Ethan said, glancing at the CD and immediately understanding. "Didn't you just say the IRS and CIA are friendly partners?"
"Friendly cooperation means mutual benefit," Morin replied with a laugh. "And where there's benefit, there's always friction."
"So friction just means you can stir up trouble," Ethan said, thinking quickly, "and settle it later with another exchange?"
"Exactly," Morin nodded. "'Friendly cooperation' is just a nicer way of saying it."
"You learn fast."
"I don't have a choice," Ethan said with a bitter smile.
"It's something you have to experience," Morin replied casually. He patted Ethan on the shoulder, then stood up and left.
In truth, Morin really did have experience.
Counting his previous life, he was nearly thirty.
And thanks to the system's [Physical] bonus-including longevity-his appearance hadn't changed much at all.
After Morin left, Ethan stared out the window and let out a long breath.
Morin's blunt honesty had put him at ease.
As a field agent, Ethan wasn't naive-especially after experiencing betrayal from a mole and watching teammates die.
If someone offered help without motive, how could he trust them?
When Morin had first claimed his goal was tax investigation, Ethan hadn't fully believed it.
Only now did he understand.
Morin's real objective was the ten million dollars.
That motive was concrete. Reasonable. Trustworthy.
And Ethan didn't object.
That money belonged to the enemy anyway.
His real target had always been Job-the mole responsible for his teammates' deaths.
As long as their final objectives didn't clash, cooperation was possible.
That was why he had shaken Morin's hand.
A partnership where both sides got what they wanted.
...
A few days later.
After receiving Ethan's message, Morin immediately got into his car and drove toward CIA headquarters in Langley.
Several checkpoints lay along the route, but none posed a problem.
He showed his IRS identification and the action permit personally signed by Director Chris.
He was waved through without delay.
Driving the new company car Chris had just arranged, Morin arrived smoothly at the main entrance of CIA headquarters.
If there was one thing Morin genuinely enjoyed, it was this.
Legitimately.
Openly.
Showing up to cause trouble-and no one could stop him.
Compared to Ethan's covert infiltration, this kind of frontal approach was far more satisfying.
The moment Morin stepped out of the car, a man in a suit-bald enough to make Chris look modest-approached him.
"Mr. Morin," the man said, "I'm Dal M. Starr, head of the CIA's administrative department-"
His introduction alone took more than ten words.
"...May I ask what brings you to our agency today?"
"I'm here to investigate certain matters," Morin replied calmly. "Concerning the CIA's activities over the past few years-"
"Mr. Morin," Dal interrupted quickly, wiping sweat from his back, "this isn't the best place to discuss such topics. Why don't we go inside first?"
The director was not currently at headquarters.
He was already on his way back.
Until then, Dal was responsible for handling Morin.
And Dal wanted nothing more than to delay.
Morin wasn't just an IRS employee.
He was driving Chris's car.
And he held an active action permit personally signed by the IRS director.
That meant Morin represented more than himself.
He represented Chris.
Anything involving a director was serious.
Far beyond what an administrative head like Dal wanted to deal with.
Naturally, the CIA director had to take over.
Dal didn't want to touch this.
He didn't want to be the one sacrificed.
So before Morin could even explain his purpose, Dal changed the subject, doing everything possible to stall until the director arrived.
Morin didn't resist.
He followed Dal inside without comment.
After all, his goal was to stir things up, draw attention, and provide cover for Ethan's team.
Dal's behavior aligned perfectly with that.
If Dal hadn't stalled, Morin would have simply proceeded with investigating the contents of the CD Chris had given him.
At worst, the exchange of benefits between the IRS and the CIA would just have to be a little larger afterward.