The person who suddenly appeared was none other than the deputy commander of Seal Team, who was also acting as the team leader, Lieutenant Mist.
"Song, what are you spacing out about here all alone?"
On the evening of the fourth day, as Song Heping sat at the entrance of the tent looking at the horizon and pondering how to turn the situation around, Mist suddenly appeared behind him.
"Have a seat."
Song Heping had a good impression of Mist, who at least wasn't as arrogant as Vincent, so he politely invited him to sit down.
It was clear that Mist was also in a foul mood.
The entire Mosul operation was scheduled to last seven days.
Five days had already passed.
But the Seal Team seed to have made no further progress.
The top-ranking sniper they called the "Mosul Reaper" hadn't shown up in the past few days.
The advancents of both Sword Camp and Warrior Camp were routine at best. The setbacks from the first two days had demoralized the troops, and their resistance had not been as fierce as on the first day, which actually slowed down their pace.
So far, the clearance mission of Warrior Camp had not t expectations at all; although Song Heping didn't have the combat reports, he estimated it vaguely and guessed they had probably achieved less than half their goal.
The soldiers seed to be rely clocking in and out, starting in the morning, pulling back on ti, and withdrawing completely from Mosul by evening.
In the past few days, Major Lonnie had been as cautious as an old tortoise, never taking command up front without confirming safety first, and never stepping out of his vehicle, as if daring anyone to pierce the armor with a sniper rifle and take him down.
Of course, not everyone had the sa mindset as Major Lonnie.
With just one look at Mist, Song Heping guessed right away—he was probably here to discuss a collaboration.
"Want one?"
Song Heping picked up a Coke from the bucket beside his foot and handed it over.
Mist thought about it, but accepted it anyway.
He opened the can, took a couple of sips, but hesitated before speaking.
Song Heping did not break the silence either; after all, if you don't speak, I won't ask—we'll just enjoy our Cokes together.
"Ah..."
Mist nodded with a smile.
"There are only two days left until the operation ends."
"Yeah," Song Heping chuckled silently in response, then shut his mouth again.
Mist quickly finished one can of Coke.
Song Heping handed him another.
He opened it and continued drinking.
Song Heping thought to himself, just hold it in, let's see how many Cokes you can drink without speaking.
The two continued drinking Coke in silence.
As the second can of Coke was consud, Mist couldn't hold back any longer.
"Song, I heard that you've been devising tactics to deal with the 'Hunter' recently?"
"Oh really?" Song Heping glanced sidewards at Mist and asked with a smile, "How did you know about that?"
Mist said, "My people said you've been drawing sothing there every day, looks like it's a map of Mosul."
Song Heping responded, "I was just doodling."
Mist, not expecting Song Heping to say that, didn't imdiately know how to continue.
Seeing his awkwardness, Song Heping added, "I'm just teasing you, yes, I was drawing a map of Mosul."
Mist said, "I've heard that you're a strategic mastermind."
With a hint of sarcasm, Song Heping said, "That's just rumor. If I really were that impressive, why would your Seal Team look down on us?"
Mist knew this was Song Heping holding a grudge over past events,
especially Vincent's deliberate naming of Song's team as the "Nanny" Squad instead of the "Musician" Squad.
It was a blatant humiliation.
"Alright..." Mist knew he won't be able to change anything today without showing so sincerity. With only two days left, he needed to find a breakthrough, or else this mission would disgrace the Seal Team.
If they couldn't handle a sniper from a Resistance Organization, they couldn't call themselves a top-tier Special Forces unit.
"I apologize for the past incident."
Seeing Mist's sincere attitude, Song Heping decided not to make it tough for him, frankly saying, "I did want to help you guys out, but Captain Vincent seems to have a bias against us. Since that's the case, I'd rather not interfere."
He paused slightly then continued, "But you're right, I have indeed been planning an operation against the 'Hunter', but I need a lot of intelligence, which I've tried to get from Major Lonnie without success. So, I had to let it go. You guys think you're so great, well, let's see you handle it. I won't ddle. Even if we don't complete the mission and lose out on the money, it's just one million dollars. Right now, I have contracts with two large oil fields in Illiguo that will keep us going, so I'm not waiting on this one million to pay my people."
He deliberately downplayed the importance of this contract to "Musician" Defense, to ensure Mist and his team's full cooperation, he had to display the right attitude—it's you who care, not us.
"What intelligence do you need?"
Mist was quite moved; for days he'd been racking his brain without any clever plan, and with only two days left before the operation ended, that ant his small unit had paid a price of one dead and one injured, yet achieved nothing.
He couldn't accept such an outco.
"I'm not in a hurry anymore, go ask Lonnie about it; you'll understand if you ask him. I've tried asking him already, but he didn't give it to ," Song Heping said. "Now, if you want it, he'll have to deliver it personally, otherwise I don't mind. In two days, I'll be back in Baghdad enjoying myself."
"Let him personally deliver it to you?"
Mist was also troubled.
He was just a Lieutenant himself.
Although he was from the Seal Team, it seed to carry a higher status.
However, the Warrior Camp was affiliated with the Army.
Being part of the Special Operations Command, he had no right to order Major Lonnie.
"Hmm," Song Heping was unequivocal, "If he doesn't bring it personally, I won't reveal my plan."
"Is your plan that miraculous?"
Lieutenant Mist was probing Song Heping's intentions.
He was actually quite conflicted.
He had indeed inquired about Song Heping's background.
Recently, this newly erging Defense Company had been very eye-catching, especially its boss, Song Heping himself, who had gained so fa in Baghdad's rcenary circle as a tactical expert, especially adept at flushing out enemies from their dens.
Since its establishnt, all the contracts the company had undertaken had achieved stunning results under unfavorable conditions.
And now, the situation in Mosul was exactly about not being able to locate the enemy, although the coalition forces participating in the Mosul operation were strong and had a technological advantage, it was like fighting a ghost, seldom even seeing the enemy's face, their heavy punches hitting only air.
"A Divination Master can deceive you for ten or eight years, but I can't deceive you for even a few days. Whether it's effective or not, you will understand once you see the intelligence and my plan."
Song Heping still maintained his nonchalant deanor, firmly grasping the anxious Lieutenant Mist like ants on a hot pan.
"Alright!"
Lieutenant Mist gritted his teeth and said, "I'll take responsibility for reporting to the superiors, requesting their orders to pressure the operations command to give you the data you need!"
He seed very serious, and Song Heping felt it too.
"Deal, once you get the report, I will solve your problem."
Although Lieutenant Mist was from the Special Operations Command, after all, the purpose of this Mosul operation was to deal with the problem of the sniper organization in the city.
Over the past few days, the various coalition forces besieging Mosul had encountered the sa problems as the Warrior Camp. They were unable to locate the enemy, often facing blockades from the Suicide Squad during their advances. Although they managed to repel the attackers most of the ti, quite a few had fallen to the cold shots of the snipers.
The situation of one killed and one injured in Captain Vincent's Seal Team was not an isolated incident; Mist learned from colleagues in other teams that they too had been attacked by mysterious snipers from over a thousand ters away, resulting in casualties.
So not just Mist was anxious, the Special Operations Command was also very worried.
A failure in the Mosul operation was unacceptable to them.
After Mist had left, Song Heping continued sitting outside his tent drinking his Coke, counting his stars.
This matter was bound to be resolved sooner or later.
If Mist couldn't get the summary of the recent operations, then he might as well give up. So things can't be accomplished simply because one wants to. Sotis, it depends on luck.
But soon Song Heping found that his luck was not bad.
Because he saw Lonnie and Mist walking toward the tent together.
"Song, the intelligence you need has been approved by the operations command,"
Mist excitedly relayed the good news to Song Heping.
However, Lonnie, standing nearby with a grim look, unwillingly said, "You wanted the operation summary, right? You can see it, but you must do so at the camp headquarters, you cannot take it away from there."
Song Heping saw Lonnie's slightly arrogant deanor and couldn't help but sneer internally.
Still putting on airs at this point?
"Major Lonnie, one must look the part when asking for help. If you had another way, you wouldn't be asking for my help, right? I'm just a rcenary, I don't care. But you've just taken command of the Warrior Camp and are still acting as interim camp commander. Don't you want to make it permanent?"
Lonnie's face changed slightly.
Song Heping had indeed touched a sore spot.
As a temporary warti commander, if he handled this battle well, his promotion to permanent status was guaranteed.
If this Mosul operation was botched, the higher-ups would certainly be furious, and not only would Lonnie's hope of becoming permanent be dashed, but even his position as deputy camp commander might be in jeopardy.
Lonnie had just been scolded over the phone by Brigadier General Yue Ke, and with the spittle from the reprimand still fresh on his face, maintaining his dignity seed like sabotaging his own future.
Fortunately, Lonnie wasn't foolish. Having been an officer for many years, he knew when to bow his head, so he switched to a courteous tone and explained, "Song, the operation summary involves classified information, there are rules about this, I'm not intentionally making things difficult for you..."
Lieutenant Mist also chid in, "Song, this is true, Major Lonnie isn't lying."
Song Heping felt that he had postured enough.
Continuing the confrontation would benefit no one.
The reason he had disparaged Lonnie was rely to vent his frustration.
Since the dignified major was respectfully standing in front of him, explaining himself like a humble grandson, it was ti for Song to back down as well.
"Alright then."
Song Heping finally stood up.
He stepped forward to Lonnie, saying solemnly, "What I need is not just the Warrior Camp's recent operation summary. I need the summaries of all units involved in this operation. Are you sure you've got them?"
"Don't worry," Lonnie said confidently. "Lieutenant Mist just made it very clear to . I've requested all the information you need, and it's being printed now. We should be able to see it once we get back to the headquarters."
"That's good, I'll go grab so stuff."
Song Heping said as he turned and walked back into the tent. Soon, he ca out with his laptop and handwritten notes.
"Let's go, let's head to the headquarters to review the information. Tonight, I will finalize a combat plan that I guarantee will work!"
Having said that, he left Mist and the others behind and strode towards the headquarters.
Major Lonnie furrowed his brow tightly, watching Song Heping's retreating figure, and asked Mist with a puzzled face, "Do you think this guy can be trusted?"
Mist recalled what Song Heping had said earlier and relayed it to Major Lonnie verbatim: "A Divination Master can deceive you for ten or eight years, but whether he has deceived you, we will find out in an hour or two."
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