Zayed is so fearless in extorting because he thinks he has monopolized the channel, leaving with no choice, right?
That smug, slippery face of his, that relentless greed, are all built on information asymtry—he thinks he's the only lifeline, yet he doesn't know there's a raging fire already burning in his backyard.
If...
If he knew that his arch-enemy Narendra is planning to strike, with a knife already at his throat, and that the person providing this information, who can even help solve this problem and save him from disaster, is actually the client he's trying to extort?
The situation, amidst the salty sea breeze of this abandoned fishing port, suddenly took a dramatic turn.
Control, the bargaining chip, is no longer in Zayed's hands alone.
A bullet originally aid at Zayed now seems to be suspended over Song Heping's negotiation table, becoming a tool that can be used to advantage.
Song Heping stared at the trembling informant on the ground, his gaze shifting, his mind quickly calculating various possibilities.
If he lets him go, the risk is that the information might leak, and Narendra might realize he has been exposed, thereby altering his plan or becoming more vigilant.
But the greater likelihood is that this cowardly guy, to avoid his employer's punishnt—after all, failing to track the target and getting captured is a major blunder—will choose to hide everything that happened tonight and continue to feed Narendra information on Zayed's whereabouts, so that Narendra's killer can act as planned.
A few minutes later, the pros and cons were clear.
Risk is controllable, and the gains are significant.
Song Heping made his decision.
He put away the folding knife glinting with cold light, a gesture that made the informant on the ground visibly breathe a sigh of relief, although the fear did not dissipate.
Then, Song Heping took out the cheap phone he confiscated from the guy and tossed it onto the sand in front of him.
After that, he took out his tactical dagger, which with a flash of cold light, precisely cut the shoelace binding the other's fingers, demonstrating both control and a "temporarily lifting the threat" signal.
The informant looked at Song Heping with suspicion and uncertainty, rubbing the deep marks on his fingers, completely unable to grasp what this icy and ruthless Asian intended to do.
Let him go?
A plot?
"Listen."
Song Heping's voice was still cold, devoid of much emotion, but no longer carried the previous murderous intent, "I'm just a business client of Zayed, unrelated to the ss between you guys. I don't want trouble, nor do I want to get involved in your local vendettas."
He gestured to the phone on the ground and the darkness leading to the highway: "You can go now. Forget you saw tonight, forget everything that happened here, carry on with what you're supposed to do as if nothing happened. If Narendra asks who Zayed t tonight..."
Song Heping deliberately intensified his tone, "Just say everything was normal, that Zayed t an ordinary Asian businessman discussing sothing like legal investnts, nothing significant. Understand? If you say one wrong word and let know Narendra gets an undue alert..."
Song Heping didn't finish his sentence, but the unspoken threat weighed more than any explicit warning.
He needed this informant to go back, continue his work, ensure that Narendra's assassination plan proceeds as scheduled, only then would his own "rescue" have value.
The informant stared at Song Heping in disbelief, utterly stunned.
Just like that?
Let him go?
He thought for sure he was a goner, at least subjected to torture until he spilled everything he knew, then drowned in this black sea.
"Rea... really let go? You... you won't shoot in the back?"
He quivered as he asked, body trembling with fear and uncertainty, not daring to move imdiately.
"Get lost."
Song Heping impatiently waved his hand, a contemptuous tone of reluctance to talk any further, "Before I change my mind. Rember what I said, watch your mouth."
The informant, as if granted amnesty, driven by a survival instinct, surpassed everything else.
He scrambled to his feet, ignoring the pain and disgrace of his body, grabbed the phone off the ground as if afraid Song Heping might retract his words, stumbled desperately towards the direction of the highway, tripping over his feet in panic, looking back in fear, until his figure was completely swallowed by the distant darkness.
Until the guy's figure and footsteps completely disappeared, Song Heping slightly relaxed his tightly-strung nerves.
He returned to the car, without leaving imdiately, he took out a stick of gum, tossed it into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully, the minty taste hitting his brain, clearing his thoughts a bit.
Under the moonlight, the abandoned fishing port was silent, only the tireless waves slapping against the dilapidated dock emitted rhythmic sounds, covering all that had happened earlier.
The corner of Song Heping's mouth slowly curved into a cold yet confident smile.
"Mr. Zayed, it looks like we need to renegotiate."
He murmured to himself.
He drove back to the safe house in the urban area of Panaji, Goa's capital—a nondescript room in a mid-range hotel, booked under a false identity, yet sleep was elusive. The plan was set, but execution required tools.
On soone else's turf, facing potential ard conflict, being unard would be suicide.
He needed weapons, and he needed them imdiately.
He took out another encrypted satellite phone and dialed a number in Africa.
The call was answered by Henry.
It rang five tis before being picked up, the background filled with lazy jazz music.
"Boss, what do you need?"
Henry was always so professional.
"Henry, cutting to the chase, I'm in Goa, need so gear, now."
Song Heping didn't bother with pleasantries, diving straight into the topic.
"I need you to find a reliable local arms dealer."
"Goa?"
Henry's previously lazy tone instantly vanished, becoming serious, "What do you need weapons for? Encounter any danger?"
"Business. Don't ask too much. I need a local reliable arms supplier, quickly and cleanly." Song Heping's tone was firm.
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, only the sound of subtle breathing was heard.
"Alright... I know a guy, has so connections in the Goa area. Na's Vijay, one of the more 'business-credible' guys among the local kingpins, as long as the money's right, the goods and quality are guaranteed. If he has any drawback, it's that his prices are on the high side."
Henry quickly provided the answer Song Heping sought.
"Costly is fine, just give his contact."
Song Heping replied decisively.
Right now, money-solvable problems weren't problems.
A set of personal military hardware?
How much could it cost?
It was just ironic that he, an arms dealer himself, had to resort to purchasing weapons from others.
Sigh...
His business wasn't large enough.
The White Elephant Country didn't even have his own arms sales channels.
Looks like a chat with the guys at Ferrari about expanding the business range is needed upon return...
Henry dictated a series of local phone numbers: "Contact him, say I referred you. Boss, be careful. It's murky waters there, full of all kinds of scum."
"Thanks, Henry."
Song Heping jotted down the number and hung up.
After obtaining the number, Song Heping wasted no ti, imdiately using an anonymous pre-paid phone bought outside the airport to dial Vijay's number.
It rang for a long ti before being picked up, a cautious and deep voice ca through: "Who is this?"
"Mr. Vijay? Henry referred . My surna is Lee, need to buy so 'tools'." Song Heping used the surna from his fake passport, and employed a euphemism for black market trade.
Hearing Henry's na, the other party's tone slightly softened, although still laced with caution: "Henry? The British? What do you need?"
"Need so self-defense gear. Both pistols and rifles, need them quiet, and also need so 'cans' (referring to hand grenades or smoke bombs) and 'vests' (bulletproof vests). Preferably need to see the goods now." Song Heping listed his requirents.
Vijay contemplated briefly: "Now is too late. Tomorrow morning, ten o'clock. I'll provide you with an address. Only you can co."
He gave a coordinate located in the outskirts of Panaji, near an old mining area.
"Alright." Song Heping agreed readily, "See you tomorrow."
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