Mercenaries, I Will Be King Chapter 1122 - 1009: The Power of Money

On the night when Song Heping and his rcenary team dismantled the Sam-6, a tense and clandestine operation quietly comnced in distant Alexandria Port under the influence of money.

At midnight, the roar of a private jet engine tore through the silence of a private airstrip outside Cairo.

Toby Papadopoulos's Gulfstream G650 landed on the runway like a tired yet focused tallic giant bird.

The cabin door opened, and air carrying the dry heat unique to the desert edge rushed in.

Toby, not waiting for the gangway to be fully stabilized, stepped down swiftly, wearing a well-tailored dark suit that couldn't hide the fatigue of long-distance travel, yet his gaze was as sharp as a blade tempered by fire.

A black bulletproof Land Rover had been waiting for so ti, its engine humming quietly.

The driver, a local, was silent and taciturn, only nodding respectfully as he quickly took Toby's simple luggage.

"To the Nile Palace Hotel, quickly."

Toby climbed into the back seat, his voice hoarse yet indisputable.

He needed to complete the final preparations there.

Half an hour later, in the luxury suite on the top floor of the Nile River Hotel.

Thick curtains blocked out the distant yet brilliant lights of Cairo.

Toby, having just entered, didn't rest; he swiftly connected to the secure satellite phone, his fingers gliding quickly through a special contact list on his phone.

Behind each na was a relationship or "mutual benefit" Toby had built up over two decades in Egypt, either deep or shallow, but now crucially effective.

He first dialed the number labeled "A. Hakim – Guide."

The phone rang only once before it was picked up.

"Mr. Toby? Arrived earlier than scheduled."

A low, steady voice ca through, carrying a trace of barely detectable tension.

Abdul Hakim, seemingly an ordinary import-export consultant, was in fact the most critical node and "lubricant" in Toby's large network in Egypt.

"The plan has changed, Abdul. We need to proceed at full speed; the client is extrely urgent."

Toby was succinct, wasting no words.

"The 'Sea Eagle' must load the cargo and depart from berth X17 within 72 hours. I need a direct passage to the core, now, imdiately."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, with faint breathing audible.

"This… the ti is too tight, Mr. Toby. The levels involved are very high, the risk…"

"The risk is mine to bear, Abdul."

Toby interrupted, his voice cold, "The paynt will be at the highest ergency rate. You know my rules. I need to et with: Deputy Director of the Port Authority, Mostafa Eldin; the Customs Directorate's head of the Alexandria Port West District, Samir Abbas; Port Police Chief Jamil Abdullah Rahman; and… our Navy friend, Mr. 'Sea Eagle'. Arrange the first eting before dawn. The location must be absolutely safe."

Another pause, followed by the sound of quick pen-on-paper scribbling.

"Understood, Mr. Toby. Deputy Director Mostafa… likes to handle 'private matters' before dawn. I can arrange a eting in his… 'private collection room'. The address will be sent to you shortly, in one hour. Cash?"

"Cash."

Toby confird: "The first batch of 'gifts' is already prepared."

He glanced at the two heavy, inconspicuous black duffle bags by the bed.

These were stacks of cash, U.S. dollars, hastily gathered using his greatest connections.

Ti was of the essence; he was advancing the funds.

But he also knew that the man who promised him handso returns over the phone would never break his word.

Even if the Alps collapsed, the promise would be fulfilled.

Two hours later.

The deputy director's "private collection room" at the Port Authority.

4:30 AM.

The location was in the depths of a maze-like alley in Cairo's old town, in an unmarked courtyard.

The heavy wooden door opened silently after Toby knocked a specific code.

Toby was led into a room filled with the rich aroma of cigar smoke and the scent of old books.

Valuable Persian carpets and several seemingly authentic European oil paintings adorned the walls.

Mostafa Eldin, a middle-aged man with a heavy build and deep bags under his eyes, dressed in a silk robe, was playing with a small Egyptian gold artifact.

He did not rise but scrutinized the travel-weary Toby with a discerning gaze.

"Toby, we've dealt with each other many tis, but this is the first ti you visit personally at night."

Mostafa's voice carried the bureaucratic drawl typical of an official.

"Your Excellency Deputy Director, I am sorry to disturb you at night, but this is a matter of urgency, so I had no choice."

Toby wasted no ti, gently placing one of the duffle bags beside Mostafa on a velvet-covered low table, leaving the zipper open just enough.

Inside were neatly stacked hundred-dollar bills, exuding a tempting inky aroma, their thickness impressive.

"A small token of appreciation for your hard work towards the prosperity of Egypt's ports."

Mostafa's gaze swept over the reassuring green hue, his facial muscles relaxing slightly.

"Alexandria Port is the jewel of Egypt, but managing it is… complex, especially arranging special berths, which requires coordination among multiple parties, balancing various… interests. X17 berth? That position is quite remote and outdated…"

"Precisely because it is remote and outdated that it is most suitable for handling my 'special' large-scale mining machinery component shipnt."

Toby interjected, his tone sincere, "They are enormous in size, unloaded, requiring space, yet avoiding interference with the busy main channel operations. Moreover, to complete shipping as soon as possible and avoid impacting the port's normal operations, I am willing to pay a 'special entry fee' and 'express inspection fee', as well as an additional 'port facility usage fee'. The fees… can very 'flexibly' reflect the 'unique value' of port facilities."