87: Chapter 87 Talking to Me About Law? My Legal Team Has Three Hundred People

James's hands were shaking.

The specially encrypted phone almost slipped from his grip onto the ground.

The voice coming through the receiver, though separated by half the globe, still made him feel a bone-chilling cold.

"James, pull back. Now, immediately!"

The person on the other end of the line was roaring.

That was his superior at Langley, an old fox who was usually as steady as Mount Tai.

"Sir, I have an arrest warrant in my hand! The person is right in front of me, as long as I give the order..."

"You have nothing! That arrest warrant was ruled procedurally invalid by the Washington D.C. District Court three minutes ago, it has already expired!"

"What?"

James's mind buzzed.

The "imperial sword" he had spent three months preparing and exhausted countless connections to obtain—it had snapped before he even swung it?

"Not only that, The Pentagon just sent an official letter to headquarters."

His superior's voice was filled with a deep sense of powerlessness, "Umbrella Corporation officially signed the supplementary agreement to the 'Defense Production Act' two hours ago. They are now a top-tier defense contractor."

"If you touch him, you are touching the military's purse strings."

"Pull back. That is an order!"

The call cut off.

The busy signal sounded exceptionally harsh on the empty runway.

James froze in place.

He looked at Chen Yuan not far away, looking at that young oriental man who still wore a playful smile, feeling like a clown.

The surrounding FBI agents were still waiting for orders.

Their fingers were hooked on the triggers, their eyes fierce.

But James knew.

He dared not even disengage the safety.

"What's wrong? Agent James."

Chen Yuan tilted his head, his tone as relaxed as if he were greeting a neighbor, "What did the phone say? Did you forget to turn off the gas at home?"

Chen Yuan clapped his hands nonchalantly.

"Since you like talking about the law, let's talk about it properly."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Dense footsteps came from the cabin.

Not the sound of heavy tactical boots.

But.

The sound of leather shoes stepping on metal pedals.

Short, crisp, full of the arrogance of the elite class.

Under James's stunned gaze, dozens of men in dark blue suits, wearing Windsor knots, and carrying briefcases filed out.

They wore neat sunglasses.

Each of them had a golden badge pinned to their chest.

The man in the lead.

Slender build, pale skin.

He wore gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, his eyes as sharp as a scalpel.

Will Smith.

A top lawyer who was once a famous "liquidator" on Wall Street, known as the "Devil's Advocate."

He stepped down the gangway, his gait calm.

Behind him, the dozens of lawyers quickly spread out.

They didn't have guns, yet they had more presence than those who did.

"Boss."

Will walked to Chen Yuan's side and bowed slightly.

Then.

He turned his head and looked at James.

The corners of his mouth curled into a professional, icy smile.

"Agent James, I am Mr. Chen Yuan's chief legal counsel, Will Smith."

He pulled a document from his briefcase and waved it in front of James.

"According to the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and the Texas regulations on private property protection. Your current actions constitute illegal use of force and intimidation."

"You..."

James gritted his teeth.

"Don't be in such a hurry, Agent."

Will adjusted his glasses, his tone as flat as if he were reading a menu, "Regarding that expired arrest warrant in your hand, my team has already filed a defense brief with the Federal Circuit Court."

"At the same time, given Mr. Chen's special status as a defense contractor. Your unauthorized investigation has violated the 'National Security Information Act'."

The FBI legal representative behind James couldn't help but rush out.

"Don't talk nonsense! According to the 'Patriot Act', we have the right to detain any individual suspected of terrorism!"

Will didn't even lift his head.

Behind him, an elite lawyer immediately stepped forward.

"Section 202 of the 'Patriot Act' amendment clearly states that for non-citizens holding special diplomatic immunity, this act does not apply."

Another lawyer spoke up immediately after.

"Furthermore, San Verde Airport is the private asset of Umbrella Corporation."

"You have illegally trespassed without permission."

"According to the Texas 'Stand Your Ground' law, we even have the right to authorize security personnel to clear the area by force."

The legal team James brought also exploded.

"That applies to ordinary citizens! This involves transnational murder!"

"Where is the evidence?"

The third member of the Umbrella legal team sneered.

"Your so-called 'witness testimony' was obtained within Libya. According to international law standards, due to the lack of procedural transparency, those testimonies are not worth even waste paper in an American court."

"Also, regarding your freezing of Mr. Chen's assets, due to the lack of substantive financial connection, we have already filed an administrative claim for one billion U.S. dollars."

Right there in the middle of the runway, the two sides began a legal bombardment that sounded like rapid-fire pearls.

Statutes.

Precedents.

Judicial procedures.

These dry terms were transformed into the sharpest blades at this moment.

James's head felt like it was going to explode.

He looked at the group of lawyers on the opposite side who were as precise as machines.

Then he looked at his own legal team, who were clearly running out of steam.

He realized.

In this country where money is paramount.

Chen Yuan had already used money to weave a web he could not pierce.

"James."

Chen Yuan spoke again.

He walked up to James and reached out to straighten the collar of his trench coat.

"Talk law with me?"

"You might have forgotten."

"Umbrella Corporation's legal department has three hundred people."

"Their annual salaries combined could buy your entire office building."

"So."

Chen Yuan leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Don't play those useless tricks."

James was shaking with anger.

He looked at Chen Yuan's mocking eyes, wishing he could draw his gun and end it right there.

"Chen Yuan, don't get cocky."

James gritted his teeth, his voice squeezed from the depths of his throat, "Do you think you can win forever?"

"As long as I am in this country, I will always find an opportunity..."

Before he could finish speaking.

"Screech—!!!"

A piercing screech of brakes sounded on the perimeter of the runway.

Following that.

A luxury motorcade consisting entirely of bulletproof cadillac vehicles frantically broke through the FBI's cordon.

The dust kicked up by the motorcade.

Smothered James's face.

The car doors opened.

Two rows of uniformed Texas state troopers were the first to get out.

They rudely pushed aside the FBI agents who were still stunned.

Then, in the center of the motorcade, they formed a tight semicircle.

A pair of long legs wearing red high heels.

Stepped out from the back seat of the cadillac in the middle.

Ivanka Strange.

That quasi-senator who had just won a landslide victory in the election and was now in her prime, slowly stepped out of the car.

She took off her sunglasses.

Those deep blue eyes were filled with icy majesty.

She ignored everyone.

She walked straight to Chen Yuan's side.

Then, under James's almost desperate gaze, she took Chen Yuan's arm.

Ivanka turned her head.

Looking at James.

Her tone was as cold as if she were looking at a pile of trash:

"Agent James."

"Who gave you the nerve to touch my partner on my turf?"