[Chapter 280: Compensation]
The FBI, as the largest law enforcement agency in the United States, was no pushover. They quickly identified the true identities of the armed attackers who had assaulted the farm, including their specific travel times to Montana and their means of transportation. They even discovered that the gang had close dealings with Gesler Architectural Design Firm in the past.
Combining this with previous purchases of the lightning protection array blueprints from former employees of Gesler Architectural Design Firm by the FBI and other forces, FBI Director Lawrence pretty much drew his conclusions.
On February 8, the Anderson Farm witnessed the Winter Thunder miracle. Following this, various factions sent intelligence personnel to investigate and saw the unusual iron tower and lightning protection array at the farm. They all sought to purchase the construction blueprints for the array from Gesler Architect Company.
This drew the attention of senior executives at Gesler Architectural Firm. It was possible that the leadership's greed pushed them to dispatch members of the Black Tigers Gang to kidnap and rob Anderson Farm, or maybe they inadvertently leaked information to the gang, sparking the gang's greed and prompting them to travel thousands of miles to commit the crime. Unfortunately, they were outmatched and wiped out completely.
According to investigator reports, Gesler's chairman and CEO Migras had substantially increased his security since the armed attack. Lawrence himself couldn't believe Migras was completely innocent regarding the incident.
However, since all Black Tigers Gang members involved in the operation were killed, it was impossible to trace the exact reasons. Moreover, Gesler, as the world's largest architectural company with considerable power and connections, was not so easy to investigate.
Still, the FBI never figured out why two intelligence agents from the Douglas family showed up at the attack scene. Regardless, since they were present, the Douglas family had to bear all the responsibility.
Though the case was mostly clear, Lawrence suppressed the investigation results due to pressure from the National Weather Service and other forces, demanding strict confidentiality to help pressure the Douglas family.
...
After five days of complex negotiations and compromises, the Douglas family reached an understanding with the National Weather Service and other ten influential parties.
The Douglas family agreed to sponsor the National Weather Service with $20 million for scientific research, donated $6 million to the FBI for case handling, and compensated the other nine factions $2 million each for lost work time. Of course, compensation to Anderson Farm was essential as well, with many eager to restart the Winter Thunder research project.
This attack made everyone realize Linton's power wasn't weak -- it was something even top-tier factions respected and wouldn't easily violate or suppress outside the rules.
The agreement stipulated the National Weather Service would lead negotiations with Linton, and the Douglas family would compensate the farm $20 million for damages, seeking Linton's forgiveness and restarting on-site Winter Thunder research.
This meant the Douglas family had to pay a total of $64 million in compensation, a hefty sum even for an elite family. The Douglas family wasn't even top-tier nobility, just a rising media dynasty representing Jewish Americans acknowledged by the country's elite.
Being forced to cough up $64 million in cash stung deeply, even if it wasn't fatal. Yet, this was just the cost to settle the case; no other faction would let them participate in the ongoing research.
...
Once the deal was reached, the FBI promptly released their findings. National Weather Service researcher Ajax Smith was conducting on-site studies of the Winter Thunder phenomenon at Anderson Farm when he noticed Linton along with four famous Hollywood stars -- Jennifer, Winona, and Catherine -- vacationing there.
Greed took over, and Ajax colluded with San Francisco's Black Tigers Gang to kidnap the stars for huge ransom demands. But they underestimated the farm's protection; when the gang launched their nighttime attack, they were decisively defeated and all killed by the defenses.
That was the whole truth behind the armed gang's attack on Anderson Farm.
Soon after, the National Weather Service spokesperson admitted mistakes in media interviews, acknowledging lapses in routine mental education for researchers that let the serious attack happen.
With Ajax Smith dead in the incident, the National Weather Service accepted responsibility, issued a sincere public apology to Anderson Farm victims, and promised economic compensation for their losses.
The National Weather Service finally bowed before the media, causing an uproar of media excitement -- a victory for public opinion and free democracy.
Though blamed, the agency received a $20 million scientific research grant, bringing hope for continued studies, much to their relief.
Even more surprising, the agency's public acceptance of responsibility reversed its image in the eyes of media and the public, becoming a symbol of accountability and reform.
Director Buddy Hux was stunned by this turn of events, unexpectedly gaining fame and fortune, emerging as a big winner.
...
That afternoon, Buddy Hux and Lawrence sent capable aides to form a negotiation team flying to Montana to meet at Anderson Farm to discuss compensation and restarting the Winter Thunder research.
The team was completely honest with Linton, revealing the FBI investigation results except speculations about Gesler's involvement. Linton actually knew the case's ins and outs better than the FBI but publicly accepted the findings and expressed gratitude.
The negotiation team proposed the National Weather Service compensate Anderson Farm $20 million to restart the on-site Winter Thunder miracle research, informing Linton the money would come from the Douglas family as their due price.
This pleasantly surprised Linton, who never expected such a large sum -- it more than covered overseas base expenses that year.
With everyone's sincerity, Linton accepted without hesitation.
He thought, with the spiritual array already established and there were no issues with the tower anymore, there was no problem.
He understood well that since the official investigation blamed Douglas family but held the National Weather Service responsible, the Douglas family had paid dearly. The National Weather Service, FBI, and other powers certainly gained substantial benefits.
But what did it have to do with Linton? Receiving $20 million was an unexpected bonus; one shouldn't be too greedy.
Not wanting to trouble the negotiation team, Linton readily agreed to restart Winter Thunder's on-site research anytime, only requesting, as the landowner, to have the right to know all research results once available.
Naturally, the negotiation team agreed wholeheartedly, and both sides left satisfied.
*****
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