Colonel Kote's face turned visibly pale in an instant.
He opened his mouth, but couldn't say a single word.
No matter how he figured, he never thought that this matter he believed was flawlessly executed would be so clearly grasped by the CIA.
Actually, it was Brenan who privately instructed it, with a general from the Pentagon personally calling his encrypted phone.
But here, he couldn't say a word.
This black pot, it seems he has to carry it alone.
Simon didn't give him any chance to breathe, continuing, "According to our CIA's multiple sources cross-verified information, so people in the military might have seen Song Heping, leading the 'Musician' Defense Company, advancing too smoothly in the 'Furnace Operation' with excessively remarkable results. They're worried that upon successfully completing the operation, he might use his formidable combat power and local influence to occupy too much territory in Northwest Illiguo, forming a too-large-to-fail situation and becoming an uncontrolled erging local warlord, thus threatening our strategic layout and interests distribution in that region in the future."
"That's why they planned and executed this 'borrow a knife to kill' operation. The intention is clear—to use Song Heping's forces to consu 1515's important logistics and elite guards while weakening or even eliminating 'Musician's most core, experienced reconnaissance and assault forces. Killing two birds with one stone. Am I correct, Colonel?"
He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the Defense Minister and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who both looked equally grim, before fixing back on the face of the devastated Kote.
Then, changing his tone, he continued: "Although I also agree with weakening Song Heping's forces, this man isn't easy to deal with. Why didn't anyone communicate with us in the CIA before taking action against him? After all, our research on him is deeper than anyone present..."
"If rely such a Boy Scout level trick could handle Song Heping, I think our CIA would have eliminated him long ago."
Simon rcilessly tore open the bare, bloody truth with the calst tone, exposing it to the highest decision-makers present.
Kote felt cold sweat soaking his military shirt, sticking slimily to his back.
He was finished.
His career, all his prospects and glory, might completely end at this mont.
He was determined to shoulder this bla.
Brenan fiercely glared at the screen, his face ashen looking at Kote.
This stupid donkey!
Can't even handle a small matter!
Ended up creating a ssy situation!
Completely useless.
He turned to Simon, squeezing words out through clenched teeth: "Simon! Now's not the ti to bla these... these idiots! The problem is, how to resolve it?! Ozham and Agra could collapse anyti, and if these two strongholds fall, the entire defense line in Northwest Illiguo would domino down, ruining our layout, and more importantly, since this matter's already public, causing a widespread uproar, without a good outco, everyone here will pay a political price... Do you understand?!"
Brenan's last sentence underscored the point.
Others aren't the focus.
Simon is the focus.
Simon is the initiator of this collaboration.
If this alliance event fails, no one can escape at the end.
A national security advisor stooping to drag the CIA Director down, attempting to use such ans to coerce Simon.
This absurd blunder precisely reflects the seriousness and urgency of the issue.
On his tablet, the "Horizon" news page still shines, the report a thorn in everyone's heart here.
Public opinion's already ignited, and if the front line faces a disastrous defeat, it could trigger a political tsunami enough to engulf many present.
Simon seed long expected Brenan's question, his face still calm without any ripples.
"Whoever tied the bell must untie it."
He calmly answered, confidently saying, "This matter arose because our people disrupted the ga's rules first using those underhanded tactics, naturally needing us to clean up this ss. Colonel Kote's stupidity has lost us Song Heping's trust and placed us in a passive position."
He scanned over the attendees, finally landing his gaze on Brenan: "I will personally head to Dagula, to et Song Heping."
This proposal surprised so attendees.
A CIA Director personally going to et a rcenary leader in a war zone; this is almost unheard of in Arica's history.
Simon ignored the surprised glances and continued with calm analysis: "Song Heping isn't impulsive.
His inactivity isn't retreat nor actual 'betrayal,' but waiting, waiting for us to pay the price for Kote's foolish actions, waiting for us to co forward with conditions he can't refuse."
He paused, adding:
"However, based on my long-term observation and understanding of this China person, he's extrely smart, ticulous, and... holds grudges fiercely. His inactivity's deliberately delaying, waiting for us to pay a sufficient price, waiting for us to realize that without his cooperation, our actions in Northwest Illiguo would be arduous. So, this trip, we're perhaps going to face extortion."
Simon sighed.
Even he had to admit.
Song Heping is a tough opponent.
"After all, in his eyes... war has always been rely a business. And our people, just attempted to shirk his due rewards with the worst tricks, even trying to swallow his capital. Now, it's ti to repay principal with interest, altogether."
That last sentence revealed the key point—if Washington could "correct" Kote's "mistakes" and et Song Heping's "reasonable demands," public opinion could completely shift, framing it as the Arican system's self-correction ability and a firm commitnt to allies.
And all this is based on fulfilling Song Heping's conditions.
No one spoke.
The eting room fell silent.
After all, the mighty Great Arica bowing to the private boss of a defense company…
This is utterly absurd and laughable.
"Let's adjourn the eting!"
There's no point in continuing the eting at this stage.
Now the most crucial and urgent thing is to resolve the issue, and do it quietly, handling the current ss in Northwest Illiguo as discreetly as possible.
The video conference finally ended in an atmosphere mixed with awkwardness and pervasive failure.
"Director Simon, please stay."
Brenan waved his hand, signaling others to leave, only leaving Simon behind.
When only they two were left in the command room, Brenan looked at the screen's small point representing Dagula, bitterly saying: "This Song Heping… what does he really want? Doesn't he know forcing Arica to the corner isn't beneficial to him?"
Simon slowly stood up, picking up his briefcase placed aside.
"Of course, he knows. So, he hasn't gone to extre lengths. He is rely making us understand on this chessboard, he isn't a piece to be casually discarded, but a... player seated at the table participating in interest distribution."
"Now public opinion's already fernting, if we abandon him now, it's political suicide. Pressing him militarily is self-harm. SIR, we are cleverly entrapped by him. To shake him off? Short-term, it's not possible. At least, not before thoroughly resolving 1515."
"Alright..."
Brenan with a face locked in constipation, painfully waved his hand: "Then do as you said, you go solve this problem."
He seed suddenly reminded of sothing, asked: "Are you sure you have the confidence to solve it?"
Simon nodded: "Sure, this man is too well-known to , we've been in bouts not less than seven years, rely his background investigation and profile is a ter thick."
Brenan could only agree helplessly: "Then go to Daguge, first test his tone, see his demands and stay in touch with ."
"No problem, SIR."
Simon rose, saying: "I'll arrange a trip to Dagula now. Hope our prepared 'price' satisfies this 'businessman's appetite."
Watching Simon's departing figure, Brenan once again directed his gaze to Dagula on the map.
The silhouette of that distant Eastern man beca unprecedentedly clear and towering in his mind.
This man's trouble and potential threat now even surpass the craze of those 1515 mbers.
It poses an entirely different, more shrewd and daunting challenge.
"He's a latent threat..."
He muttered to himself.
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