America 1982-Chapter 596 - 130: Do Black Lives Matter?_2

"Activists like these, outstanding members of the black community, are actually akin to black slave traders, helping KeyBank ensnare eight hundred thousand or more underprivileged black individuals with loans."

"To put it simply, KeyBank is like the slave masters of old, and the business centers act as their overseers, with black people being the endlessly exploited slaves. It’s hard to imagine that even in the highly civilized year of 1989, a system was designed to subjugate the American black underclass by circumventing the law, creating a new-era mechanism for slavery."

Tommy sat in front of the television, watching intently as several financial investigative journalists, now employed by The Washington Post, and undercover investigators hired by the paper chatted away on the guest panel of a Fox News commentary show, recounting their legendary experience investigating the KeyBank scandal over the past months.

A white FBI agent sat beside him, while his housekeeper Dorothy was not far behind Tommy, trimming the cat’s nails; the little creature had just accidentally pulled a thread from Tommy’s shirt. Page sat in a corner chair in the living room, inconspicuous yet perfectly positioned to observe the entire space.

Not long ago, KeyBank stirred a major uproar due to the numerous crimes listed in the investigation report, prompting black Congressman Mike Bradley to announce the establishment of an investigative oversight committee to lead the Federal Government’s inquiry into KeyBank. Reportedly, the congressman was shocked by KeyBank’s blatant exploitation of the black underclass as if they were slaves and vowed that if everything proved true, he would ensure this evil organization would disappear from America.

In the eyes of these people, KeyBank was a great sinner, coercing black people into crime to complete high-profit investments for KeyBank, then laundering the dirty money and returning it to KeyBank with interest, pinning all the crimes on the black clients while KeyBank appeared as innocent as angels.

The plainclothes white agent turned his gaze from the television screen to Tommy’s face and spoke politely and gently, "Mr. Hawk, what do you think about the turmoil surrounding KeyBank and their lending practices, I mean, from your perspective as an investor in KeyBank?"

The FBI’s visit was not for investigating or gathering evidence against Tommy Hawk, or at least not yet; the current visit was mainly to understand the general situation of KeyBank through Tommy Hawk, then to compile a report of the visit to inform the investigating committee, aiding in their decision on whether to intensify or quietly scale back their efforts.

"If all of this is true, I mean, the system KeyBank has designed, how much hatred must the designers have had for the black community? It’s simply impossible." Tommy shifted his gaze back to the young FBI agent, then glanced at the recording device on the table. He intentionally leaned in closer to the recorder to ensure his words were clearly captured:

"I have indeed invested in KeyBank, but I don’t participate in everyday management. Like with my other investments, I believe in leaving professional matters to the professionals. Jim Manzi is the administrative officer at KeyBank, and I am quite familiar with him. My investment in KeyBank was also due to our friendship. From my casual conversations with him, I learned that the system was actually designed by an economist named Mohammed from Bangladesh or some other country. Jim discovered this economic model while traveling. At the time, it was very popular with the people in Bangladesh, and after understanding it, he felt it could also help the underprivileged in America. I was moved by his kindness, so I invested and supported his KeyBank. If what those people on TV claim is to be believed, why would Mohammed from Bangladesh harbor any hostility or persecution towards black people, enslaving them? It’s completely unrealistic."

"You know Mr. Jim Manzi quite well?" the agent nodded slightly all through Tommy’s response and promptly, without hurry, proceeded with the next question after Tommy finished speaking.

Tommy nodded, "Well, we’ve known each other for a long time. He is a good man, passionate about this country. Did you know he once risked being discovered and executed with a firing squad to live in the Soviet Union area for a while to help America complete an investigation report on the ordinary people of the Soviet Union? Compared to those journalists investigating KeyBank, he should be the one placed on a pedestal. I’ve never encountered anyone who loves this country more than he does. If you want to know about him, you could directly ask him in New York, and I could help you get in touch with him."

"We understand that your girlfriend, Ms. Odelia Farrell, also worked at KeyBank previously," the agent continued to inquire. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Without any hesitation, Tommy replied openly, "Yes, but she didn’t receive any compensation; it was purely altruistic work. When people in Africa were short of water, she helped drill wells; when people in Eastern Europe lacked food, she helped deliver it. She is a kind angel. However, she later realized that providing just material aid was not enough, as people needed to awaken and learn to change themselves. Hence, she began trying to offer legal aid in those African countries. She has left KeyBank and currently focuses more on theoretical legal studies, hoping to educate those people."

"Thank you for your cooperation and candor. I know that you could have arranged for a lawyer to be present and have them answer my questions," the agent said, straightening his suit and sitting up formally, adding somewhat tentatively: "So, those were the basic questions. If the FBI has further inquiries, we will schedule an appointment with you in advance."