Mercenaries, I Will Be King Chapter 1217 - 1064: I'm Done With This!

"What?! A wanted criminal?!"

"He's number three on the Arican bounty list?!"

"A KB mber?!"

"Samir! How could you bring soone like him here?!"

"Collaborate with soone like him? What will the Aricans think of us? Won't they just lump us with the KB organization and attack us?!"

"Yeah! What's the use of having good equipnt and lots of money if we're dead?!"

The leaders were in an uproar, their initial desire for equipnt instantly replaced by overwhelming fear and rejection.

They looked at Song Heping with dread and hostility, as if he were a bomb that could explode at any mont.

Collaborate with a globally wanted 'KB mber'?

This is simply courting disaster!

The Aricans' ambiguous attitude already had them on edge, and now involving Song Heping—if the Aricans perceived them as accomplices, they would truly be without a place of burial!

Song Heping coldly regarded these spineless tribal militia leaders, feeling as disgusted as if he had swallowed sothing foul.

Spineless cowards.

Heh heh.

A bunch of guys who wet their pants at the ntion of Aricans.

This kind of people, these kinds of soldiers they lead.

No wonder they were routed by 1515 so miserably.

Samir's expression changed drastically, and he hastily explained, "No! Listen to ! The boss he..."

"Enough!"

Song Heping's icy voice sliced through the noise like a drawn blade, instantly silencing all the clamor.

His face was full of deep-rooted indifference and mockery.

Scanning the panicked, suspicious, and selfish faces with a sharp gaze, he sneered coldly.

Every leader caught by his gaze instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to et his eyes.

Cowards!

Song Heping couldn't help but curse silently in his heart.

He straightforwardly announced, "It seems your interest in equipnt and US dollars is far less important than your concern about the Aricans' opinion."

"Since you're so afraid of being implicated, and so cherished of your own feathers, then fine."

He stood up crisply and decisively, as if brushing dust off himself.

"Haddid's fight, I have no interest in it. You fight it yourself. Equipnt, you find your own way. Money, you earn it yourself. I'm not involved."

With that, Song Heping didn't even glance at the dumbfounded leaders and the stunned Samir.

He turned around decisively, striding away from the bonfire circle as if distancing himself from a cesspool, walking straight back towards his tent.

"Boss!"

Samir called out anxiously, wanting to catch up.

Naxin was also dumbstruck on the spot.

He never expected Song Heping to leave so decisively.

He looked at Song Heping's departing figure, then at the chaotic and bewildered leaders at the scene, frowning tightly.

The purpose of coming here had already been clearly instructed by General Afanti.

To make every effort to contact and win over all the anti-1515 ard groups here, nurturing them into a pro-Persian militia organization for future use in the Shia arc.

Logically, Song Heping wasn't the type to lose his cool and storm off just from hearing a few idle words.

Previously, he had admired Song Heping to the point of being in awe.

Why this ti...

By the bonfire, there was an eerie silence.

Only the crackling of the burning wood seed to mock the unresolved and fruitless eting.

The leaders looked at each other with complex expressions, feeling embarrassed, annoyed, but mostly relieved—as if though they lost the hope for equipnt, at least they wouldn't be entangled with that 'jinx.'

Haddid?

Let's listen to the boss's arrangents!

Samir stood frozen in place, watching the direction in which Song Heping disappeared, overwheld by a great sense of defeat, but more so by deep helplessness.

Song Heping returned to his relatively tidy tent, leisurely sat down, and then picked up the still-hot teapot, pouring himself a cup of tea and sipping it slowly.

Not getting involved ans not getting involved.

Let's see how these militia leaders manage on their own.

Suddenly, the tent flap was lifted, and Naxin hurriedly ca in, wearing a puzzled and slightly dissatisfied expression.

"Song, you just now..."

Naxin hesitated, "The General sent us here to support the resistance forces. If you just walk away like this and Haddid is really lost, we..."

"Naxin."

Song Heping interrupted him, his voice leaving no room for doubt, "Imdiately contact General Avanti using the satellite phone."

"Now?" Naxin was taken aback.

"Yes, now."

Song Heping walked to the makeshift map, his finger pointing at the long border between Illiguo and Persia.

"Tell the General, the situation has changed, Haddid is under heavy attack from the main force of 1515, and the situation is critical. But the local resistance forces are scattered and unable to form a united support. I need him to imdiately arrange personnel to find and establish at least three absolutely concealed evacuation points (A, B, C) on the side close to the border! Requirents: Located within our actual control or influence range, no more than ten kiloters from the border, terrain complex enough to aid hiding and defense, and quick access routes into Persian territory. Each point must stockpile basic supplies, fuel, and first aid dicine sufficient for at least a week. The action needs to be fast and covert! Upon completion, send the coordinates and contact thod directly to , and do not leak it!"

Listening to Song Heping's clear and cold orders, the confusion on Naxin's face deepened: "Evacuation points? Song, aren't we supposed to fight here? Establishing evacuation points... are you planning to give up on this place?"

This was completely contrary to the mission he received and Song Heping's previous bold words.

"Execute the order, Naxin."

Song Heping's gaze was as sharp as a knife, "This is not abandoning, it's tactical withdrawal. Do as I say, imdiately!"

Seeing Song Heping's undeniable expression, Naxin knew arguing was useless, so he suppressed his doubts and stood at attention to reply, "Yes! I'll contact him right away!"

With that, he turned and quickly left.

As soon as Naxin left, Samir stord in with anger, his face flushed with excitent: "Boss! What did you an just now?! You don't care now?! What about Haddid?! What about Haddid?! What about Baghdad?! You obviously have a way! You have equipnt! You have money! You have the elite of the Persians! Why watch us die without saving us?! Did you forget what you told last night?!"

Faced with Samir's machine-gun-like questioning and eyes almost spewing fire, Song Heping appeared unusually calm.

He pointed to the camp bed, "Sit down, Samir."

"I can't sit!" Samir growled.

Song Heping didn't force him, but moved to the map pointing at the position representing Haddid, his voice calm to the point of cruelty:

"Samir, calm down. Think with your brain, not with hotblood ant to be cannon fodder. War isn't a ga, you can't restart once you're dead."

He jabbed the map forcefully.

"First, look at those who ca today. A motley crew, each with their own agenda, fear outweighing courage, selfishness over the bigger picture. Are you counting on them to break Haddid's siege with you? Even if they agreed today under pressure, when the real fight starts and 1515's artillery fires a bit harder, they'll run faster than rabbits! Such an alliance, even if established, is just tofu dregs, it would collapse at the first blow! Not only would it fail to rescue Haddid, but it would also throw away the remaining few n you have!"

"Second."

Song Heping continued to tap the map, "Equipnt and funds won't arrive for at least five days for the first batch! And the amount is limited! What do you have now? Eight hundred n, a thousand? A few hundred broken guns, and not enough ammo! You expect to take this small stash and assault over ten thousand well-equipped 1515 troops who treat their lives as expendable? To relieve Haddid's siege? What's the difference between driving a flock of sheep into a wolf's den? Do you wish your brothers to die even faster? A wise man knows not to suffer imdiate losses, preserving strength is the way!"

"Third."

Song Heping's gaze turned to Samir: "From now on, listen to my orders: You and your n imdiately cease all proactive combat operations against 1515! Contract the defense line! Abandon those scattered outposts that are difficult to defend outside! Transfer all remaining combat-capable soldiers of the 'Liberation Army' towards the Persian border! Seek new, more hidden camps closer to the border, where we can provide support more easily! Act quickly, discreetly! Let 1515 temporarily forget our existence!"

"What?!"

Samir could hardly believe his ears.

"Retreat?! Contract?! Abandon resistance?! Boss! If Haddid is lost, Haddid can't be defended at all! If Haddid is lost, 1515's forces will directly target Baghdad! There is no defense there! At most, half a month! The capital will fall! By then, everything is over! What's the point of preserving strength then?! As bandits in a conquered land?!"

"To preserve people and lose land is to preserve both. To preserve land and lose people is to lose both."

Song Heping asked in a deep voice, "Have you heard this saying before?"

"Preserve people and lose land..." Samir shook his head, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Song Heping sighed, "I really should give you a collection of a leader's selections."

"I don't want any selections right now, I only know my country is going to perish! I can't bear to see those Levant black flags covering this land! I know, this isn't your country, and this isn't your war, you can be indifferent! But I! Can't remain indifferent!"

"Calm down! You fool!"

Facing Samir's near-desperate roar, Song Heping was surprisingly certain as he shook his head: "No, Samir, Baghdad will not fall."

Samir was stunned, "What makes you so sure?! Now Haddid is under attack, at this rate, it won't hold for five days! Then it's Tikrit! Then Baghdad! As per the current 1515's progress, not even a month needed!"

"Because of this."

Song Heping pulled out an encrypted tablet from under the camp bed, opened a file, and handed it to Samir.

The screen displayed the latest intelligence summary sent by Henry, all in English.

"Look at this. My intelligence director Henry just sent it last night. He used quite a few connections to intercept so... interesting information."

Samir suspiciously took the tablet and quickly browsed it. The content of the file was shocking:

Intercepted encrypted communication fragnts (source unknown, high reliability): United States Central Command's General Lloyd and White House's National Security Advisor Susan have conducted three high-level encrypted video conferences in the past 72 hours.

Core topic: Assessing the impact of the rapidly worsening situation in Northwest Illinois on US strategic interests, and... whether to authorize direct military strikes against 1515 targets (including airstrikes and special operations).

Summary of ergency consultations within North Atlantic Treaty Organization: Diplomatic and Ministry of Defense level officials from Britain, France, Germany, Canada have frequently called in the past week. Discussion focus: coordinating responses to the 1515 threat, sharing intelligence, and... the possibility of forming a joint military intervention force led by the US Army.

The file specially notes: France's attitude is the most active, followed closely by Britain.

Satellite image analysis: Shows unusual frequent activity at the US Army's Camp Arifjan in Kuwait recently. Multiple KC-135 refuelers and E-3 AWACS aircraft frequently take off and land.

So F-15E, F-16CJ fighter squadrons originally deployed at Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base have been observed conducting intensive remote ground attack drills, carrying precision-guided bombs (JDAM) and anti-radiation missiles (HARM).

More crucially, a company of the 75th Ranger Regint and helicopters from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regint (SOAR) have been confird to be transferred from Afghanistan to Kuwait.

Anonymous intelligence source: A squadron of British SAS Special Air Service Regint is on high alert, ready for deploynt to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus as a possible rapid reaction force.

"This... this..."

Samir's eyes widened more and more, his breathing becoming rapid, "The Aricans... they... they're really going to make a move?!"