"Assassinate me? The CIA director?"
The presidential candidate, whose sparse golden hair contrasted with his energetic appearance despite being nearly eighty, paused in surprise. He was dressed in a sharp suit.
Assassinate him...
To be honest, he had heard threats like this countless times.
Even before he became President of the United States, back when he was still purely a businessman, he had encountered this sort of thing many times.
Even now, countless people online were still calling for his assassination.
The FBI had even tracked down some of the loudest people making such threats and visited them in person.
However, most of them had turned out to be nothing more than keyboard warriors. Even the occasional lunatic who genuinely wanted to assassinate him lacked any organization or plan. They were simply acting on their own madness.
This time, however, he had received intelligence claiming that the CIA director wanted him dead.
In the presidential candidate's eyes, that sounded even more ridiculous.
His head of security, however, would never dismiss important information as a joke.
With a serious expression, he said, "Yes, Mr. Donald. We found this letter in the mailbox outside the estate this morning."
"We checked the surrounding surveillance footage, but we couldn't identify whoever placed it there. That means the sender has exceptional counter-surveillance skills."
"If someone with that level of ability personally delivered a warning, we cannot afford to ignore it. I also have to justify the millions of dollars you pay my team every year."
Wealthy people always had their own security consultants and protection teams.
That was especially true for this presidential candidate. His family came from old money. Although his life had seen its share of ups and downs, and he had even faced bankruptcy, he had always taken the protection of himself and his family seriously.
He had never spared the millions of dollars spent on security each year.
The security consultant flipped through the schedule in his hand and frowned.
"Mr. Donald, you're scheduled to hold a campaign rally in Pennsylvania at around five in the afternoon the day after tomorrow."
"We inspected the venue in advance. Honestly, it's very exposed. Before receiving this letter, we didn't think there was anything especially suspicious about it."
"But after reading this warning, we now have serious concerns about the location."
The presidential candidate gestured dramatically with both hands, as though playing an accordion.
"John, that Pennsylvania rally is extremely important to me."
"Pennsylvania is a famous swing state, and it's Joe's home turf. I lost there in the last election."
His voice rose again.
"There's an old saying that you have to get back up where you fell. Pennsylvania's votes are crucial. If I win Pennsylvania, I win."
"The Democratic Party has been tearing itself apart lately. Yes, Joe was betrayed by his own party. Dropping out wasn't what he wanted, but the people in his party forced him."
"This is my opportunity, my best chance to take Pennsylvania. I don't want to lose to that woman who does nothing but laugh, and I certainly don't want to lose to the childless cat lady Vance keeps talking about!"
The security consultant shook his head.
"Of course, Mr. Donald. I'm not suggesting that you cancel the rally. We can't cancel an event because of an anonymous letter. That would only make you a laughingstock across America."
"What I'm saying is that we need to be far more careful this time and devote extra attention to security. Your safety has to come first."
"We need you to cooperate fully with our arrangements."
The presidential candidate nodded readily.
"Of course, John. I value my life very much. I still have to make America great again. I'll cooperate."
The security consultant breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, the presidential candidate was not stubborn about this. He was even quite protective of his own life, which meant he would not make the security operation more difficult.
That made John's work much easier.
At that moment, the candidate spoke again.
"There have been far too many threats like this online lately. I requested Secret Service protection, and they agreed to make an exception and assign agents to me."
"Even if the rally venue isn't ideal, John, you have to trust the Secret Service's abilities. Once I become president, would you like to return to the Secret Service? I have a great deal of confidence in your abilities."
For close protection, the presidential candidate naturally trusted the man who had worked beside him and protected him for many years.
John had once served in the Secret Service, but after offending someone, he had been forced out. Using his savings, he later established his own security firm.
When John heard this, his heart stirred.
Years ago, he had offended a superior and been driven out of the Secret Service. If he could return under the future president, it would be a triumphant comeback.
Some of the people who had pushed him out back then were still officials in the Secret Service. If he returned as their direct superior, their expressions would undoubtedly be priceless.
John grew excited. No one disliked the chance to make a grand comeback and show up the people who had once looked down on them.
More importantly, this presidential candidate was generous with promises and loyal to those who followed him. When he said he would give someone a position, he usually did.
Hadn't he gone to great lengths during his previous term to appoint the current federal judge?
John immediately said, "Mr. President, if you need my abilities, I am willing to give you everything I have!"
Donald was not president yet, but John was already addressing him that way, his eyes filled with excitement and admiration.
A man who did not disappoint those who followed him, who helped them rise with him, who never backed down from his path, and who kept his promises naturally possessed powerful charisma.
People would willingly follow someone like that.
...
Pennsylvania, the site of the presidential candidate's campaign rally.
By this point, the candidate's supporters had packed the entire venue, surrounding it on all sides.
Secret Service personnel occupied every advantageous position and cleared all possible sniper locations.
Only one extremely obvious position had been left unguarded.
Toru, dressed in full Secret Service gear, had disguised himself as an agent. Following his instructions, he moved into an excellent sniper position and set up his rifle.
"Killing the President of the United States really would be too easy. All I'd have to do is pull the trigger."
After completing his disguise, Toru could not help but sigh.
In a world with such advanced technology, this kind of disguise technique was almost impossible to counter.
No matter whom Toru wanted to kill, as long as he disguised himself as someone close to the target and approached them, his abilities would allow him to finish the job easily.
Even the President of the United States would be no exception.
"At close range, everyone is equally vulnerable. And right now, I can get that close to anyone."
"Of course, killing someone is easy. Escaping afterward is the difficult part. But as long as every contingency is prepared in advance, even getting away isn't a problem."
As long as he knew the target's true identity, anyone he wanted dead would inevitably die.
Through the sniper scope, he noticed a disturbance in one section of the venue.
He picked up his radio and said, "Acting Director Rowe, we've identified a suspicious individual at the scene. He's carrying an AR-15 rifle."
On the other end of the radio, Acting Director Rowe fell silent for a moment before replying, "Let him go. We have no legal grounds or evidence to prove that he has committed a crime."
"Let him go?"
Toru, still disguised as a Secret Service agent, responded in a surprised tone.
"Yes. Let him go. That's an order!"
Acting Director Rowe seemed to recall instructions someone else had given him, and his voice became resolute.
(To be continued.)