He paused slightly, allowing the weight of his words to fully settle.
"It is quite clear that he wants to convey a very simple and clear ssage through to everyone present here, and to the Pentagon—he never intended to be an enemy of the mighty US Army. However, he and his people are even more unwilling to sit and wait for death in Hulmatu. I think he won't just send this ssage to alone; I guess this is just the appetizer, and who knows if the next move will involve sending it to the Russians or the Persians..."
Simon's gaze swept over Kote's ashen face, and across the room of generals whose expressions were ever-changing and eyes complex.
"He is warning those who planned and executed all this that if they continue to oppose him, it will co at a political, diplomatic, and strategic cost!"
Upon saying this, his tone relaxed a bit.
"I think we can temporarily set aside that controversial and highly risky order for a decapitation strike, and calmly reassess whether it is still necessary, and whether it's worth continuing the implentation of your previously intended plans."
"Even if... even if there are so operational-level... communication misunderstandings... or certain aspects have... deviated..."
Colonel Kote's forehead veins bulged like wriggling earthworms, his voice almost squeezed through his teeth.
"It also... also cannot change the fact that Song Heping is now wielding military power for his own purposes, with a tail that cannot be cut off, posing a severe threat to our entire regional strategic layout! This person is a cancer that must be removed! This... this is for greater, overall interests! It's for the national security of the United States of Arica!!"
"Remove him? For greater interests? For national security?"
Simon chuckled, a sneer and contempt in his laughter.
"Then, my dear Colonel Kote, please tell , then what will fill the massive power vacuum that will imdiately appear in Hulmatu after Song Heping is 'removed'?"
Simon's voice suddenly rose, carrying a questioning aggressiveness.
"Will it be those tribal forces, already thoroughly bought and ard by Song Heping with real money, weapons, and massive contracts for future reconstruction, who have centuries-old blood feuds amongst themselves, start to slaughter each other for territory and smuggling routes, with rivers of blood flowing?! Or perhaps... will 1515 return to the Northwest after Song Heping's death, is it you who will pay the military expenses out of your pocket to let Congress send troops back to Illigo?"
He continued to stare intently at Kote:
"Or will you let that 'passage' from Illigo to Siria remain wide open, allowing the Revolutionary Guard's Holy City Brigade and their agents to swagger into the heartland of Illigo?!"
His tone quickened, the montum grew stronger:
"Or..."
Simon continued to manipulate the tablet in his hand.
"...or will it be letting the breaking scandal, destined to ignite global public opinion, dominate the front pages of all major television stations, newspapers, and online dia worldwide, like a plague later today,—oh no, considering the ti difference and news organization efficiency, it's very likely later today—'US Army breaks faith, slaughters anti-terrorism hero'?!"
The screen switched again in an instant!
It switched to a real-ti news broadcast interface.
The background was prominently the war-torn small town of Hulmatu.
Jas Miller—Horizon News' renowned lead reporter, famous for his profound reporting and unique perspective, appeared in front of the cara with his highly recognizable face.
Behind him were soldiers dressed in the distinctive combat uniforms of "Musician" defense, along with so local children who gathered curiously around, peering at the cara.
On screen—
[Miller (facing the cara, his tone filled with an imrsive shock and strong infectiousness):
"...Ladies and gentlen, I am Jas Miller. I am currently standing in Northern Illigo, on the land nad Hulmatu, which has just undergone a brutal baptism of blood and fire! Just a few days ago, this was an important nest occupied by the terrorist group 1515, synonymous with hell on earth. But today, please turn your attention to what's behind ! What do you see?"]
The cara switched with his speech, showing ticulously captured yet vividly realistic scenes:
The solemn, but ticulously acting "Musician" soldiers distributing international aid food and clean drinking water to the queuing local people.
In front of a temporary dical point set up with tents, dical staff with red cross armbands patiently examined a mother holding her child for injuries.
In a clearing carved out among the ruins, a small marketplace surprisingly reopened, with a few stalls displaying a sparse selection of goods, still attracting many local residents to stop by.
Miller's magnetic voiceover ca in at the right ti:
["...Here, in this corner of the world, almost forgotten, I witnessed an amazing sight with my own eyes—a private military company maintaining nearly stringent military discipline, presenting a seemingly indescribable, almost symbiotic intimate relationship with the people they claim to protect.
And the driving force behind all this, Mr. Song Heping, the commander of 'Musician' defense, during my brief exchange with him, sumd up his goal in one simple, unpretentious sentence—he only wants to guard that faint, yet incredibly precious light of 'peace' for this land rcilessly torn apart by war."]
The scene shifted again, this ti to the edge of a district that just experienced intense fighting, the air seemingly still filled with the sll of gunpowder.
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