Chapter 1128: The Invincible Man (Patreon)

"Identify yourself." General Hammer clearly didn’t recognize Jim Womack.

The FBI Director cleared his throat and straightened his crooked bowtie. "I’m Jim Womack, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, General."

"That company is a joint Pentagon and CIA offshore front, used for conducting covert, illegal operations—arms trading, narcot—"

General Hammer’s sentence was abruptly cut off by General Al Clayman, who was rubbing his temples. At the same time, several uniformed generals in the room began coughing or covering their faces.

"For God’s sake, Frank, that’s top secret. Are you trying to drag everyone in this room straight to hell with you?"

Hammer didn’t press the issue further—his only concern was completing his mission. "Okay, then let me reiterate the rules of the game.

If the media gets wind of this, I launch the VX missiles.

If you refuse to pay, I launch the VX missiles.

You have 40 hours to decide. Just wire the money to this account before noon the day after tomorrow. Don’t try any countermeasures—that’ll only increase casualties. You and I both know that.

This is Hammer. Communication from Alcatraz complete."

The call ended, and the meeting room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. But most people present were seasoned veterans who quickly regained their composure.

"Evelyn, we must identify the 81 hostages and notify their families immediately. David, I need BAU to fabricate a plausible cover story—no leaks whatsoever.

This isn’t just because of Hammer’s threat. If word gets out that 15 VX missiles are aimed at the San Francisco area, it will trigger irreversible chaos.

Jack, I know you’ve handled terrorists using VX agents in Korea. You’ll coordinate with the military on this. The FBI will provide full support."

Now that was how a true leader spoke. Jack silently applauded his own director in his heart.

The military was the one who got them into this mess. That phrase “coordinate with the military, with the FBI providing support” basically meant: we’ll handle this case-by-case, but we’re staying out of any Pentagon–White House infighting.

More importantly, the language was flawless—firm yet neutral. Neither the military nor the President’s man, Director Sinclair, could find fault with it.

"Hold on." Before Jack could respond, General Al Clayman, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, removed his glasses and pointed a finger at Rossi.

"I’ve long heard of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. I’d like to hear what the famous David Rossi thinks—do we have any chance of resolving this through negotiation?"

Rossi cleared his throat and was about to answer when Jack spoke up instead. "Sorry, General, but criminal profiling is a science, not magic.

When dealing with an ‘invincible man,’ sending in a negotiator would likely just add another hostage—or another corpse."

Official title or not, Rossi was essentially Jack’s mentor. There was no way Jack would just stand by and watch him be sent off to Alcatraz as bait.

General Clayman’s hawk-like gaze immediately shifted from Rossi to Jack. The general’s blank expression carried a chilling weight.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff is the top military advisory body to the President and Secretary of Defense, and its members include the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. All bore gleaming four-star insignias on their shoulders.

The U.S. national military command system consists of four components: the President, the National Security Council, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The President and Secretary of Defense are the final decision-makers. The National Security Council provides policy and diplomatic guidance—should we go to war, what would be the consequences, how would it affect global perception, and so on.

The Joint Chiefs, meanwhile, offer military advice: Can we win the war? What will it cost? How many troops will be needed?

It might sound complex, but at its core it’s just a matter of checks and balances.

Typically, the President places greater trust in the National Security Council, since its members are appointed directly by the President without needing Senate confirmation.

The Joint Chiefs, however, are nominated by the President and must be confirmed by the Senate.

In Jack’s view, the Joint Chiefs was like a massive pot with each military branch—Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines—trying to ladle out their share.

To serve as Chairman of this body, General Al Clayman had to be the top of the top, if not the outright strongest force among the services.

That’s why earlier, when the presidential aide was mouthing off, a single sentence and a cold glance from Clayman had shut him up completely.

Now, however, that same piercing gaze was trained on Jack—and Jack remained utterly unfazed. He even returned a polite smile.

The FBI doesn’t fall under military command, and his own boss was sitting right beside him. Jack had nothing to feel guilty about and saw no reason to back down.

General Clayman’s cheek twitched. Just when everyone thought he’d explode over this junior agent’s boldness, he instead showed a hint of intrigue.

"What exactly is an ‘invincible man’?"

Jack blinked—he hadn’t expected that question. He waved the dossier in his hand and replied.

"It says here that General Hammer had no children, and his wife of over twenty years passed away two years ago. I believe it was from that point he began planning this operation."

"You’re suggesting her death was the trigger for his drastic actions?" the general interrupted with a slight sneer, as if lumping Jack in with that idiotic White House aide—just another attention-seeking young man.

"I’ve known Hammer for over thirty years. His wife died of cancer. Even without your so-called behavioral profiling, I know it had nothing to do with him suddenly going off the rails."

But Jack didn’t retreat in the face of ridicule. He pressed on.

"No, General Hammer isn’t insane. He’s simply consumed by despair.

The term ‘invincible man’ isn’t praise for his military feats. It’s a descriptor—a person who no longer cares about anything. Not money, not reputation, not status—nothing.

Such a person will stop at nothing to achieve their goal, even at the cost of their own life. Anything or anyone standing in their way becomes an obstacle to be eliminated.

And considering General Hammer is a career soldier who rose through sheer battlefield merit, his willpower is only that much stronger. So don’t count on reaching him through words. That will only provoke him—and result in catastrophic consequences."