Lynn Brouss got straight to the point, "Consultant Lee, this terrorist attack is more troubleso than imagined, the danger level of the terrorist faction has risen, and I need your assistance to quickly catch them."
"Deputy Director Brouss, I'm just a criminal investigation consultant for the FBI's New York office. I can help you as much as I can, but formally participating in the investigation of a terrorist attack with this identity seems a bit out of place, don't you think?"
"You're right, I've thought about this too, so I'm planning to recomnd you along with Anthony to beco a criminal investigation consultant for the FBI's Los Angeles office."
Luke shook his head, "Don't forget, I'm with LAPD, and this identity is already sufficient in Los Angeles. I don't see how another criminal investigation consultant identity would help ."
Lynn Brouss explained, "Firstly, the jurisdiction of the FBI's Los Angeles office covers the entire western region of Arica.
Secondly, this is a paid consultancy, and according to the standard, it should be equivalent to an assistant director's salary.
Consultant Lee, this is a long-term al ticket, you'll be able to receive double salaries, even I'm a bit envious."
Luke didn't agree imdiately and asked, "Are there any requirents for this consultant job?"
"You don't need to clock in every day, but when encountering so tricky cases, you'll need to provide so criminal investigation advice, which won't be much different from your current relationship with the FBI, just more closely connected."
Luke thought about it, in the FBI's New York office, he wasn't paid, so being called a consultant felt sowhat nominal.
If the FBI's Los Angeles office really offered him a salary, his consultant identity would be genuine, which would an having an additional stable job.
His salary at the Los Angeles Police Departnt was already over a ten thousand US dollars, and if combined with an FBI assistant director's salary, it would undoubtedly be high worldwide.
As for the success of her suggestion, in Luke's view, it was relatively high. A joint recomndation from two deputy directors of influential departnts carried substantial weight.
"Okay, I accept your proposal."
"Welco to the FBI's Los Angeles office, you're truly one of us now."
Luke joked, "Will I have my own office?"
Lynn Brouss spread her hands, "That's sothing you'll need to discuss with the director personally, but I think it's highly likely."
"Is the director easy to get along with?"
Lynn Brouss smiled, implying he'd have to experience it himself, "Okay, let's talk about the case then!"
Luke asked, "What's the situation on-site?"
Lynn Brouss shook her head, "I'm not sure either. Because it's a biochemical attack, we can't enter the site until the CDC confirms the danger level is clear."
Lynn Brouss continued, "We received a report from Steven Community College claiming that a classroom was filled with red smoke. A curious student looked through the door window and found everyone inside was slumped over with varying degrees of poisoning symptoms, so the school imdiately called the police.
Since the doors and windows aren't completely sealed, so red smoke had drifted out, so they didn't dare get too close.
As for the specific situation of the terrorist attack site, we'll have to wait until the CDC confirms it's safe to go in and inspect."
Luke pondered, "Do you know why the terrorist faction changed their attack thod?"
Lynn Brouss answered, "Initial judgnt suggests it's likely related to the death of Tapani Reagan, a veteran who served on the battlefield and had the capability to make improvised bombs, but now he's dead.
Moreover, his death may have enraged his associates, prompting them to adopt more extre attack thods."
During the conversation, a white woman in a white hazmat suit approached. She looked about forty-sothing, but faint white strands were visible on her head.
Reporters outside the caution tape stirred up again, snapping pictures furiously.
Lynn Brouss introduced, "This is the CDC head, Penny Schmidt.
This is FBI criminal investigation consultant Luke Lee."
Lynn Brouss said seriously, "Professor Schmidt, how's the situation inside?"
"If you're curious, you can go take a look yourself."
"Is there still a danger?"
"No, that biochemical virus only infects humans under specific conditions, and the red fog has dissipated, posing no harm to humans."
Luke confird, "Are you sure?"
Penny Schmidt replied confidently, "Of course, I can go with you. I'm also very interested in this pathogen virus."
"What virus?"
"The Yagola Virus, once infected, it causes Yagola Syndro.
This is a very rare terminal illness. As far as I know, there are fewer than ten cases in all of Arica, and currently, there's no effective treatnt."
Luke asked again, "Does this syndro cause death so quickly?"
"No, generally speaking, soone with this illness will progressively worsen, experiencing difficulty breathing, bulging veins, and reddening skin. Once the condition deteriorates, it'll lead to a full-body rigidity and suffocation within 2 to 4 years.
However, the virus used by the terror faction was modified and mutated, enhancing its transmissibility and disease onset speed, causing the human body to be unable to withstand such rapid changes. The immune system can't effectively respond, causing disease and death in a very short ti, reducing the whole process to 2 to 4 minutes. The person who made this biochemical weapon is definitely an expert."
Seeing is believing.
Luke and Lynn Brouss decided to go into the site to see for themselves.
For safety's sake, Luke decided to wear a hazmat suit and gas mask.
As a CDC expert, Penny Schmidt's words were credible, the site virus might not be contagious anymore, but one's life is their own, not the expert's.
Soon Luke, fully equipped, arrived at the terror-stricken classroom where over thirty victims lay scattered, each foaming at the mouth, with rigid faces, bulging veins, and reddened skin, dying horribly.
Looking at the various faces of young people, even Luke, who was accustod to seeing corpses, found it unsettling.
In the classroom aisle, Luke saw Jordan Reddy's body.
This adulterer who had slept with a friend's wife ultimately couldn't escape this ordeal.
Luke's gaze fell on the peculiar briefcase at Jordan Reddy's feet, which had a special material and a square hole at the top upon closer inspection.
Penny Schmidt said, "We just tested it; this briefcase is probably the biochemical weapon for the terrorist attack, containing a specially made container. Once the trigger is activated, the container opens, rapidly dispersing the virus under the internal and external pressure difference. Once class mbers inhale the virus, they beco sluggish and rigid with no chance of escape."
Hearing Penny Schmidt's description, Luke felt a little worried. His greatest reliance was the Bullet-Proof Card, but could that protect against a biochemical virus?
He wasn't sure, "Since it's a virus, is there a preventive vaccine?"
Penny Schmidt shook her head, "Though potent, the Yagola Virus spreads weakly under normal conditions, with little possibility of a large-scale infection, so no vaccine has been developed. Developing a vaccine through normal ans would take 3 to 5 months at least."
Luke countered, "From what you're saying, are there special ans?"
"Humans are peculiar creatures. So people are born immune to certain viruses. We can create a Yagola Virus vaccine from their blood by identifying an immune body."
Lynn Brouss asked, "What's the probability of finding an immune body?"
"One in a thousand."
Lynn Brouss frowned, thinking that waiting for so many deaths before finding a solution would get her dismissed, "I think it's more reliable to catch these bastards first."
Just then, there was a commotion outside, catching the attention of Luke and the others.
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