Seeing that it was impossible to conceal the truth, Basini said, "Mr. Orwell, I'll tell you everything I know—but please spare the Basini Family."
A short while later, George stepped out of the room. Basini had already been taken into his space.
According to Basini's confession, he had met a middle-aged man a week prior who offered him $200,000 to rob Wells Fargo Bank. Basini never learned the man's identity.
Moreover, harboring resentment toward George, Basini had agreed without hesitation.
The timing was quite coincidental. It was the same period when the gold mine had been announced, suspicions were arising about the oil field, and shortly before that, Penicillin had been patented.
Many assets were being coveted, and George's holdings were no exception. Since it was unclear who exactly was behind the robbery, George decided to compile a list of all potential suspects. The first step was to cut off the outstretched hand, then retaliate when the opportunity arose.
With this in mind, George arrived at Wells Fargo Bank the following morning. Harry personally escorted him inside.
Once in the office, George asked, "Harry, after we reported the robbery, has there been any update from the Police Department?"
"No, Boss. A few officers came to take statements, then told us to wait for further news."
"Hmph. As expected—just going through the motions. Later, contact our newspaper and announce to the public that approximately five million dollars was stolen from the bank. State that Wells Fargo Bank has entrusted Blackshield Security with the investigation. Blackshield personnel will arrive in three days. Take them to coordinate with the Police Department. I'll also notify SilverLine Studios to send a crew to document the entire process. We can turn it into a movie later."
"Understood, Boss."
"You handle it—I'll manage from here."
George had never expected the local police to solve the case. He suspected corruption and possible collusion.
The first time he took down the Jewish Gang, it had been done quietly. Now that he had more power, he saw this as the perfect moment to play the Blackshield Security card. It would serve as a warning to anyone thinking of targeting him again.
Additionally, Blackshield Security had yet to achieve any notable accomplishments since its founding. This was the perfect opportunity to build its reputation.
The following day, the San Francisco Times published a report on the Wells Fargo Bank robbery, including an exclusive interview with Harry, who revealed that Blackshield Security had been hired.
In this era, tens of thousands of dollars were considered a substantial amount. News of a five-million-dollar heist sent shockwaves through the public. Interest in the incident spiked instantly.
With Harry applying constant pressure on the San Francisco mayor, the robbery quickly became the city's most talked-about scandal. A bank being robbed severely damages public confidence. Banks are entrusted with safeguarding people's money, and security is paramount.
If a bank couldn't protect itself, how could it protect its clients' assets?
Wells Fargo Bank's handling of the incident diverged from typical practices. Rather than downplaying it, they took a high-profile approach, drawing even more attention.
The public struggled to understand the motives behind the bank's unorthodox actions.
Meanwhile, at the Basini Family Manor, the head of the family remained smug about the secrecy of their operation—unaware that their leader had already been replaced, and all members were now targets George would use to make a name for Blackshield Security.
Three days later, Ryan led more than fifty security personnel to San Francisco.
The next day, escorted by Harry, Ryan arrived at the San Francisco Police Headquarters.
Upon meeting Director Aider, the police chief immediately asked, "Do you have information about the robbers?"
"Of course."
"Then please tell me right away."
Director Aider had been under immense pressure. The mayor had ordered the case solved within two weeks—or he'd be fired. The sub-bureau chief responsible for the district had already been dismissed for accepting a bribe, which had delayed the police response by nearly ten minutes during the robbery.
Taking hush money might have gone unnoticed under normal circumstances, but this was Wells Fargo Bank: a key taxpayer, and this was a serious misstep.
"Let's discuss the robbers later. I'd like to talk about cooperation first," Ryan said with a smile.
"Cooperation? What kind of cooperation?" Director Aider asked, surprised.
"Blackshield Security is a legitimate security firm, backed by several arms companies. We have robust capabilities and could launch multiple collaborative projects with the Police Department."
"For example, in a robbery case like this, Blackshield's intelligence division can supply valuable leads."
Director Aider had to admit—Blackshield did seem capable. Aside from knowing about the bribe, the police had few leads.
"All our personnel are veterans from the Great War who have seen real combat. After undergoing advanced tactical training, they possess formidable field abilities. We can provide the Police Department with firepower and support for arrests."
Director Aider knew firsthand the difference between battle-hardened veterans and his own mostly desk-bound officers.
"But the Police Department lacks the budget for this," he said with a frown.
"You could request government funding. The mayor did promise to increase public safety investment. This is an excellent opportunity."
After some thought, Director Aider asked, "Is your intel solid? Can you catch them?"
"Absolutely," Ryan answered firmly.
After a long pause, Director Aider said, "Alright. I'll report to the mayor. If he agrees, we'll cooperate."
The mayor approved the proposal almost immediately.
He, too, was feeling the pressure from the bank, from public outrage, and the constant media frenzy orchestrated by George's newspaper.
When Aider mentioned a security firm had located the robbers and wanted to assist, the mayor agreed without hesitation. He needed results—fast. His reelection depended on it.
Whether the funds went to the Police or a private security firm didn't matter. What mattered was solving the case.
If resolved successfully, the mayor would earn public praise and the trust of influential institutions like Wells Fargo, boosting his reelection chances.
While Ryan finalized details with the police, George met with the cameramen from SilverLine Studios.
The two had been recruited from Hollywood based on George's specifications. Both were former war correspondents.
After George briefed them, they confidently assured him of their capability.
George requested that the footage capture an intense and thrilling atmosphere. One of the cameramen, Randal, consulted briefly with his partner before saying, "We'll need eight cameramen, the latest camera tech, and sixteen brave carriers for our gear."
"No problem. I'll have them ready this afternoon. They'll follow your orders."
Since cameras still required tripods, handheld versions hadn't been invented yet. This limitation stuck with George. He made a mental note to design handheld models based on human ergonomics—something he believed was achievable.
Wells Fargo Bank Headquarters
In the conference room, the bank's senior executives were in a meeting.
As president, Harry declared, "Our foremost principle is safeguarding client assets. We will not tolerate any breach of security. This incident must be thoroughly investigated."
Filming concluded.
They had just reenacted scenes from George's script, portraying the bank's leadership actively seeking justice and entrusting Blackshield Security.
There were also positive scenes for the Police Department and the mayor. Knowing the film was a documentary, both officials cooperated eagerly—on the condition that they could preview the final cut. George agreed without issue.
He intended to screen the documentary in major U.S. theaters, promoting both Wells Fargo and Blackshield Security.
Basini Family Manor – The Next Day
George's clone arrived early in the study, watching over the only working telephone. The rest had been quietly sabotaged. This one had been left intact to see who might try contacting the Basini Family.
Wells Fargo Bank Headquarters – That Afternoon
A fifty-man team stood assembled in the square.
They wore matching black training uniforms, bulletproof vests (designed by George), with the Blackshield Security logo on their chests. Weapon belts held dual pistols; their backs bore grenades and extra magazines. Most carried M1 rifles; a few had light machine guns. Submachine guns didn't yet exist, so these were the next best option.
Every team member wore a mask. The uniforms resembled those of modern special forces, based on George's memories. Although lacking the advanced materials of future body armor, the outfits looked highly professional.
With George's Deadshot-inspired training methods, their presence exuded elite-level competence.
Cameraman Randal, awed by the sight, ordered multiple angles to be filmed, capturing the team's impressive appearance. He also coordinated with Ryan to stage training exercises for added footage.
In the square, Ryan, representing Blackshield Security, gave an exclusive interview to his company's reporter. Other journalists were not permitted access.
"Blackshield Security is a licensed firm. All our personnel are veterans who fought for national interests and peace. After joining us, they undergo rigorous special security training to protect the public."
"Following the Wells Fargo robbery, we were hired to investigate. We've already located the robbers."
"We've coordinated with the San Francisco Police Department, and a joint arrest operation is underway. We believe Blackshield Security will soon become a trusted force safeguarding San Francisco."
"Our investigation shows that while only eight robbers were involved, the criminal network behind them is extensive. To ensure success, we'll deploy five full teams."
"Move out!"