Song Heping was not wrong.
His judgnt had always been accurate.
Just as he led all his teammates to destroy any potential evidence, in the CIA intelligence station in Baghdad's Green Zone, Asnar rushed toward Simon's office with Lars.
Although it was late at night, the intelligence station operated 24 hours a day.
Knock, knock, knock—
The knocking startled Simon, who had been napping inside.
The first thing he did upon waking was to check his watch.
The ti was 11:25 PM.
"Co in."
"Simon."
Asnar, entering, imdiately gave Simon a very enthusiastic hug.
"Oh, my brother."
Asnar was not exaggerating.
He had once been a Ranger, and he had cooperated with Simon on an operation in South Arica.
"Asnar, it's so late, what brings you here?"
"Of course."
Asnar pulled over a chair and, without being shy, seated himself in front of Simon.
"About the incident at the Northern Border two days ago, you must already know so of the related information, right?"
"Oh, the matter concerning the Kurds?"
Simon walked to the coffee machine and began brewing coffee for himself and Asnar.
"You didn't handle it neatly. Such matters should be done covertly. After all, you know it's not your place to get involved. Even if you intended to, you should have inford us first and acted only after receiving our approval."
"We were too anxious and didn't consider everything thoroughly."
Asnar's expression grew somber.
Simon's coffee was ready.
He carried the coffee over to Asnar.
However, he did not serve coffee to Lars, who stood by.
"Your company even wanted to bypass us and engage in arms trading with the Kurds, right?"
Simon's gaze was sharp, piercing Asnar's face.
Asnar clearly beca uncomfortable.
Simon had sohow gotten hold of this information.
Lars's eting with the Kurd people was conducted without the CIA's knowledge.
It was Black Water Company that used its own channels to make contact with the Kurd Ard Forces, arranging this eting.
The goal was to negotiate security assurances, but the condition was that Black Water Company would supply weapons to the Kurd Ard Forces.
Although the Kurd Ard Forces had always been supported by the Aricans, their weapons were not unlimited.
These transactions were conducted through secret channels of the CIA, but the Aricans were not fools; they also knew that behind the Kurdish Ard Forces in Illigo there was still the Country T.
Country T had always been ambitious in the Middle East, regarding the Kurd people as a delicate presence—they resented the Kurd people within their borders and those in Siria, but they didn't mind the Kurd people in Illigo.
For them, Kurd people who were beneficial were friends, and those who were detrintal were enemies.
This was the flexible policy of Country T.
So, the CIA obviously knew this situation.
Thus, regarding the Kurd people, they pulled them closer while keeping them at bay.
The pulling closer was because if the Kurdish Organization could be brought into the council of the interim governnt, they could at least secure three seats.
According to the regulations of the Illigo Council, any resolution cannot be passed if there are three dissenting votes.
That ans, by controlling the Kurdish Organization and successfully integrating them into the Illigo Council, it would signify that the United States could completely control all the critical decisions of the Illigo Interim Governnt.
This council system was designed by the Aricans for Illigo. The efforts to draw the Kurd people into the council are still ongoing, thus, there must be no slip-ups between the two parties.
Otherwise, the plan would fall through, affecting the future control of the Illigo Interim Governnt by the US Army.
The reason for caution is also not hard to understand.
Country T has always been an unreliable ally in the Middle East, often creating headaches for the Aricans.
Thus, the Kurdish Organization should neither be too weak nor too strong.
If it is too weak, it cannot influence the political situation in Illigo.
If it is too strong, they might end up benefiting Country T instead.
That's where the Aricans' dilemma lies.
Black Water International daring to deal arms with the Kurds privately could clearly sabotage the CIA's plans.
That's why Simon, leaving no room for old friendships, ironically confronted Asnar to his face.
"Our company made a misstep in this affair," Asnar admitted his defeat, "the lapse of not reporting beforehand is our oversight. About this matter, the executives of our company will communicate with your superiors, but I am here tonight to clarify that negotiating with the Kurd people was not ant to undermine your operations but rather to ensure the safety of the northern oil fields.
After all, the Kurd Ard forces have long coveted the Cook and Hassan Oil Fields, and Black Water Company does not wish to be their enemy. This precisely respects your plans. About this matter... Simon, I sincerely apologize and would also like to clarify our true intentions... "
Simon sipped his coffee.
He remained silent for a long ti.
Only after finishing his coffee did Simon finally place the cup on the table, crossed his legs, and looked at his old friend Asnar, saying, "Asnar, speak honestly. You didn't co this late just to explain your stance and intentions on this matter, right? Let's be direct, what do you want from ?"
Asnar knew the character of his old friend well.
After the explanation, the matter should have been resolved.
After all, the CIA did not want this incident to escalate.
They hoped to keep the news under wraps; otherwise, if it blew up, it would be well known, which would also be detrintal to their plans to ally with the Kurd people.
"Thank you for your magnanimity."
Asnar expressed his thanks, glanced at Lars beside him, and then extended his hand.
Lars handed over the bag he had been holding.
Asnar took it and handed it to Simon.
"Take a look at this."
Simon took the sealed plastic bag.
Inside was a warhead.
It had clearly been fired, not simply removed from the projectile body.
The warhead was sowhat deford, and its copper casing was severely damaged, but it was largely intact, especially at the tail end.
"A warhead?"
Simon, an expert, held the warhead up to the light and examined it closely.
"This is a boat-tail bullet, 7.62 caliber, perhaps 51 milliters in length, looks like it was fired from a sniper rifle..."
As he spoke, he already had a rough judgnt.
This was definitely a match-grade bullet, also known as competition-grade ammunition, with high precision. The warhead weighed 111.34 grams and had a hollow-boat-tail design.
This type of bullet is generally used more by US Special Forces snipers. Under standard atmospheric conditions, the bullet can travel supersonically up to 878 ters and maintain 0.98 minute of angle even at 1000 ters, making it an excellent specialized sniper bullet.
"Simon, you really are an expert!"
Asnar's flattery was imdiate.
"Indeed, I suspect this bullet was fired from an M24 sniper rifle.
"Oh?"
Simon handed the plastic bag with the warhead back.
Then, folding his arms, he asked, "7.62 caliber sniper rifles are quite common, why do you say it was fired from an M24?"
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