"Sir, I'm afraid it's not possible."
The operations deputy beside him looked troubled, "Black Hawk Canyon and the surrounding areas are now under the de facto control of Organization 1515. Activity is frequent. Deploying our Special Forces into the area involves extrely high risks, requires higher-level approval, and could easily trigger unpredictable skirmishes. The fastest and safest way is to contact our local partners."
Vincent swore under his breath; he knew the deputy was stating the truth.
The CIA's direct operational capabilities in the northwest are limited, relying heavily on local informants and partners, like the Kurd Ard.
"Then contact them quickly! Get those Kurd people to imdiately send a reliable squad to Black Hawk Canyon with video equipnt; I want to see the situation there as soon as possible!"
Orders were swiftly issued, but coordination, communication, and getting the Kurds to assemble and depart would take ti.
By the ti a Kurd reconnaissance team, composed of pickup trucks, cautiously reached the devastated Black Hawk Canyon, it was already ten in the morning.
The sunlight illuminated the massive craters blasted into the canyon, the charred rocks, twisted tal debris scattered everywhere, and torn canvas.
A few Kurd soldiers, guns in hand, cautiously searched the area, the caras on their helts transmitting live images via satellite link to the CIA's integrated command center hundreds of kiloters away.
Vincent stared intently at the divided live feeds on the big screen, his heart racing. The shaky images swept through the devastation.
There were shattered remnants of a cal...
Burned fragnts of what appeared to be a camp tent...
The intentionally left, now deford, wreckage of a satellite beacon...
And even a few burnt Bedouin robes scattered around...
But no bodies.
Not a single one.
Neither full human nor cal bodies were found anywhere.
Only so indistinguishable, sporadic pieces of tissue and bloodstains were scattered around the blast center's periphery, but these more resembled bait equipnt rather than from any living body.
"Zoom in! Search every corner closely! See if there are any bodies! Or any significant bloodstains!"
Vincent shouted into the microphone, with a trace of tremor in his voice unbeknownst to himself.
The Kurd soldiers rummaged through the rubble more carefully.
The cara panned over the rock walls, showing so marks left by explosion shockwaves and white scratches from shrapnel.
Suddenly, one image froze at a relatively clean rock wall, where several intact-looking robes were scattered, alongside so compressed biscuit wrappers and a few empty mineral water bottles, arranged...
Sowhat deliberately, as if hastily abandoned, but not at the explosion center.
"There! Zoom in there!" Vincent suddenly stood up.
The image zood in. The style of those robes...
Very familiar.
The very ones provided to Keller Squad for disguise!
But the individuals ant to wear them were nowhere to be found.
A terrifying, chilling thought slithered into Vincent's mind like a poison snake.
A trap!
The airstrike only destroyed a pile of abandoned equipnt and deliberately left bait!
Song Heping had already seen through Keller Squad!
He not only used the beacon to mislead the airstrike, but he also...
Captured the entire squad!
But why...
Why would he take such a huge risk to capture an entire well-trained covert squad?
Just as hostages?
For revenge?
That doesn't align with Song Heping's usual efficient, direct manner...
Vincent's mind raced, trying to grasp Song Heping's true intentions.
Capturing hostages seed unnecessary and risky, while revenge appeared more emotional rather than the choice of a calm strategist.
He was montarily bewildered, unable to connect Song Heping's actions with a clear purpose.
Just as Vincent was caught in confusion and anger, a slight, nearly imperceptible twitch appeared at the corner of Simon's mouth, who had been silently observing not far behind, and a cold, knowing glint flashed in his eyes.
He understood almost imdiately.
In this command center, few understood Song Heping better than he did.
Song Heping's goal was never simply to escape or retaliate.
He wanted information!
The extensive intelligence network the CIA had cultivated for a long ti in Northwest Illinois!
Keller Squad, as the direct operational personnel in the northwest, surely held critical information about parts of the network, whether contact thods, safe house locations, or so informant identities!
Song Heping intended to strike straight at the heart, using Organization 1515's territory to borrow their strength to eradicate the CIA's eyes and ears!
Such a ruthless tactic!
Precision strikes with pinpoint accuracy!
Simon's mind was as clear as crystal.
But he said nothing.
He rely watched Vincent, who was overwheld and succumbing to cognitive bias, with a slight, secret satisfaction.
Vincent's recent series of blunders had already put quite a bit of pressure on him from the White House.
If Song Heping succeeded this ti, leading to a massive blow to the intelligence network in Northwest Illinois...
Then Vincent's position might truly beco untenable.
And by then, a seasoned individual who had always seed detached yet perceptive like himself would be the best candidate to replace the deputy director, or even vie for the director's post.
Seems like...
Song Heping was also assisting from the shadows.
He was helping him ascend.
This guy, though annoying, sotis one couldn't help but admit that he only seed detestable when opposing him.
Cooperating with him...
Well, occasionally it felt quite advantageous...
Simon took a light sip of coffee, masking the calculation and ambition deep in his eyes.
He decided to stay silent, perhaps even guide Vincent towards erroneous judgnts when necessary.
"Notify all Northwest Network nodes to imdiately raise alert levels, and attempt all possible ans to contact Keller Squad!"
Vincent issued an order he deed relatively prudent.
He was still hesitating and sensed sothing seed amiss.
But he wasn't sure how much Song Heping knew, and hastily retreating the entire network would an abandoning all previous efforts, carrying too much responsibility—he'd have to personally explain to the White House.
But to Simon, the order seed slow and foolish.
Yet he rely nodded slightly, as if agreeing with this "cautious" decision.
On the big screen in the integrated command center, the Kurd soldiers were still searching futilely for any trace of corpses in the ruins.
anwhile, far on the Persian Plateau, Song Heping was already planning his next deadly purge as he looked at the list on his tablet.
The dawn lit up two countries and also illuminated the increasingly fierce silent battle between the two hunters.
But one of them had not yet fully grasped the chessboard, still hesitating with a piece in hand.
While the other had quietly set up a new deadly trap.
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