"The water supply station has been very safe recently; no one has caused trouble there for half a month, and the engineering progress is also very smooth. It seems that this repair project can end early and start restoring the water supply," he said.
He stood up from his seat, walked around the table to Song Heping's side, and patted Song Heping on the elbow.
"Let's go et Vice Commander Peter, and talk as we walk," he suggested.
"Okay."
Song Heping didn't say much else and walked alongside him.
Curtis said, "After changing three PMC companies, yours is the best one we've had. I plan to continue having your company take over the long-term security contracts for the water station."
Song Heping nodded, unimpressed.
Yes.
A contract worth 50,000 US dollars.
Indeed, there's not much profit to be made.
He had to let Curtis know this.
So he said, "Colonel, you know that taking this contract doesn't bring our company much profit. If it wasn't for Yevgeny telling that you are his good friend, to be honest, I'd rather not take the contract."
Curtis burst into laughter, "Song, I know the water station contract isn't very lucrative. But relationships are built over ti. Currently, Illiguo has many security tasks, and out of the reconstruction funds, more than 30 billion is invested in security.
Many of these contracts have very high profits, such as VIP security, protecting important facilities, training city police forces, and managing everyday city defense. After all, our military forces are limited, and we need so contractors to take on so of the non-combat tasks for us, but—"
He stopped walking, raising a forefinger like a teacher lecturing students.
"To get these big contracts, to get your share, it depends on not just your capabilities but also on what? Do you know?"
Song Heping thought for a mont before saying, "Connections?"
"No, no, no, connections are only third."
Song Heping cursed inwardly, feeling set up by the question.
What's next? Do I have to guess them one by one?
Curtis looked cheerful; he seed to be in a good mood.
"The second thing is actually loyalty. Loyalty, understand?"
"Loyalty?"
Song Heping was speechless.
A China person, a rcenary.
You're talking to about loyalty?
He felt the urge to swear.
But on second thought.
Curtis wasn't crazy; there had to be a reason why a colonel would say such a thing.
So he could only nod along, "Hmm, loyalty."
After saying that, he kept his mouth shut, waiting for Curtis to continue and see what he would say next.
"Loyalty is very important. Especially for the US military, the PMC companies we hire must be loyal to us," explained Curtis while pointing upstairs.
"Now, I'll take you to prove your loyalty," Curtis proposed.
Now it was Song Heping's turn to be confused.
To the third floor?
Prove loyalty to Vice Commander Peter?
He vaguely felt this was getting complicated.
It was as if he was standing on the edge of an abyss, staring at the waters below, unfathomably deep and bottomless.
Soon.
They arrived at the third floor.
After knocking on Vice Commander Peter's door, Song Heping saw the vice commander, who was about fifty, bald, and dressed in camouflage.
"SIR!"
Curtis saluted.
Song Heping, not being one of their n, couldn't salute and instead said, "Vice Commander, hello."
Peter closed the file he was reading, surveyed Song Heping from head to toe a few tis, and then gestured to the chair, "Have a seat."
Song Heping sat down on the chair, and Curtis turned around to close the door.
Song Heping registered this detail.
He guessed that the upcoming conversation was not an ordinary one.
"Mr. Song, can I trust your loyalty?"
Damn!
Song Heping cursed inwardly again.
Loyalty again.
Loyalty my ass!
However, he still said, "I think you can trust , Vice Commander sir."
"Colonel Curtis recomnded you, saying that you handled the water station's issues very well, even going so far as to wipe out the Salafi Ard's stronghold on the first day."
As he said this, he interlocked his fingers and tapped the back of his hand repeatedly, apparently contemplating the upcoming conversation.
"Honestly, I've been in Illiguo for almost a year, and this is the first ti I've seen a PMC operate with such ferocity and precision, even Black Water...ah...those guys...they just like to mix with the CIA."
He curled his lip in disdain.
Song Heping sensed that the Deputy Commander seed to have issues with the CIA.
"Black Water is a big company, we're a small one; there's no comparison."
Song Heping still decided to be modest.
"The size of the company isn't the issue. It's all about capability," Peter said, "I have a job at hand, and I wonder if you're interested."
He asked directly if he was interested instead of just telling him what the mission was.
This job definitely had a catch.
To say he wasn't interested would offend Peter.
To say he was interested—well, he didn't know what kind of trap this guy was setting for him.
But at this point, having already stepped into the Deputy Commander's office and sat down across from him, it seed like there wasn't much room to choose.
Unless he no longer wanted to expand his business in Illiguo, he couldn't avoid the US Army hurdle.
"Of course, my company badly needs business."
Song Heping's words were not an exaggeration.
The company really needed business, unless he didn't want to develop and would always be content with just guarding that piece of oil field; he still needed military patronage.
"I have a mission in Mosul."
He picked up a docunt and slid it across to Song Heping.
"If you can take and complete this job, it will prove your loyalty and earn my trust."
Song Heping glanced at the docunt.
Standard military docunt format, with the US Army's emblem on the cover, and in the top right, a line in English that read—SECRET.
Peter tapped the docunt lightly with his hand.
"You can only look at this docunt if you accept the mission, and if you look at it, you have to accept the mission."
This statent was a clear warning.
Song Heping looked at Peter calmly, "Deputy Commander, from your tone, I guess this mission is very dangerous. Am I right?"
Peter nodded, "Correct."
Song Heping said, "Thanks for your honesty. But before looking, I'd like to know, how much is the reward?"
"It's not much compared to the difficulty, one million US dollars."
Peter tapped again on the docunt.
One million US dollars.
That was not a small sum.
But the issue was, Peter had said the reward wasn't high considering the difficulty.
That was akin to telling him that the mission was very dangerous.
Mosul.
Wasn't it still in the midst of battle?
Right in the war zone.
What exactly was the mission?
Seeing Song Heping hesitate, Peter continued, "However, after you complete this mission, our cooperation will be taken to the next level. That's an intangible reward."
There was a lot implied in his words.
It was as if he said a lot, yet nothing at all.
"It seems I'm not in a position to refuse."
Song Heping didn't dawdle any longer.
He was not willing to play charades with Peter in this place.
The implication was clear enough.
If he wanted to deepen military cooperation with the US forces in Illiguo, he had to take this job and execute it flawlessly.
Musician Defense's current foothold was in Illiguo; surviving here ant establishing a connection with the high-ranking US military was crucial.
Very crucial.
This was an obstacle that couldn't be bypassed.
Even if he had always been at odds with the CIA, that didn't an he could avoid these Aricans when it ca to making money.
Song Heping asked, "How many people do you need for this mission? My company has few people; we can't compare to the bigger ones."
Peter replied, "Not many, just a small action team, and a Seal Team squad will operate alongside you."
Seal Team?
Interesting.
ntioning this, Song Heping's interest was piqued.
"A small action team, is it? No problem." Song Heping placed his hand on the docunt, "I'll take it."
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