"How is this a coincidence?"
Niki quickly walked over to the computer, retrieved the data collected by the electronic reconnaissance aircraft during its mission along the western border of Afghanistan, and compared it with the insider intelligence they had just received.
After reviewing it, she seed to understand sothing.
"It was not the skirmish caused by the trio; it was the Persian Army and the Revolutionary Brigade engaging in combat..."
She walked around the command center holding the two pieces of intelligence, circling a few tis before suddenly stopping.
"Thom, issue the order for the quick reaction squad to suspend the evacuation mission, and remain on standby in the Hanix region!"
"Yes, Major."
Thom put down his coffee in front of Niki and imdiately returned to his computer to put on his headset, then began to relay the orders to the ISA quick reaction squad.
The operation had already been nearing its end.
Most people in the command center believed that the trio had no hope of surviving, and the quick response squads, responsible for rendezvous and support, were ready to evacuate the Hanix region and return to Kandahar before nightfall.
Now, Niki saw hope in the new intelligence.
Perhaps there really was a miracle.
Reality did not disappoint her.
Ten minutes later, Niki's satellite phone rang. When she saw the number light up on the screen, even the tough Major couldn't help but exclaim, "They're still alive!"
The call was from Mist.
The first thing he said was—
"Major, have you missed these past few days?"
Niki looked around, quietly relieved that she wasn't using the radio channel, or else everyone would have heard.
"Mist, how are you guys doing? Where are you now?"
"We're in good shape, no casualties. Song's Defense Company sent a combat squad to rescue us from the Persian Plateau..."
Mist said, "Let see here... we are in the Peishan Zhan region of Afghanistan. I will send you our coordinates, get the quick reaction team moving, I can't wait to get back to Kandahar for a hot shower."
"Stay there, be careful, I'm sending a helicopter to pick you up, it will arrive within an hour!"
"Great, by the way, you still haven't answered my question, did you miss these past few days..."
Beep, beep, beep—
A busy tone sounded.
Mist moved the satellite phone away from his ear and glanced at the screen.
"Heartless woman..."
Song Heping took the phone back from the cook and then teased, "You need feelings to accuse soone of being heartless. Do you have them?"
Mist replied, "Brother, have you ever been in love?"
Song Heping shook his head, "No."
Wearing an inscrutable expression, Mist said, "You'll understand soday, for people like us, love is a luxury. So don't expect your future love to be an oath of eternal devotion. All we have is fast-food love, you know?"
...
When they returned to Kandahar, it was already 8:40 p.m.
The sky had completely darkened.
Niki at the command center prepared a hearty dinner for Song Heping and the others and also had soone co over to treat their wounds.
Surviving on naan, water, and a limited amount of dried at over the past few days, the three-man team was famished.
At the dinner table, Niki asked them how they had survived the last four days on the Persian Plateau.
Song Heping's account was as always plain and simple. He briefly ntioned so details, deliberately omitting the relationship with the Persians, and attributed the key point of their rescue to the cooks and their team.
On the other hand, Mist talked non-stop, embellishing the narrative, turning their four days of escape into a Hollywood-style Arican blockbuster of individual heroism.
Song Heping couldn't be bothered to correct him; after all, it was all minor details, so he let him weave his tale.
Essentially, even Mist didn't notice the affair between himself and the Persians, which was the most crucial aspect.
As for how to write the operation report and such, he left that up to Mist; it had nothing to do with him.
What Song Heping cared about most now was the agreent with Deputy Commander Peter after returning to the Green Zone in Illiguo.
As long as he secured the logistics transport contract, the financial and operational strength of "Musician" Defense would leap remarkably.
What is called opportunity?
This is opportunity.
Seizing the opportunity allows the strong to grow stronger.
It is said that those who do great things are more or less obsessive.
Song Heping was no exception to this rule.
Either don't do it, or do it the best.
During dinner, Song Heping received a call from Peter.
He imdiately excused himself to go outside to answer it.
"Song, I wasn't wrong about you. Two days ago, many people were saying you were dead, but I still had a hunch you weren't. My intuition proved right,"
Peter laughed triumphantly on the other end of the phone.
Song Heping always felt there was so unspeakable secret behind Peter's laughter.
But he didn't want to dig deeper; it wasn't his place to ask.
During this trip to New Crescent Moon, Song Heping had picked up a few clues.
Especially since he had just returned to Kandahar and learned from Niki that New Crescent Moon was currently in chaos; the Revolutionary Brigade had sustained severe blows and was now leaderless, fragnted, and other ard organizations were fiercely competing for the territory and resources that had once belonged to the Revolutionary Brigade.
Especially regarding Adrian's identity, he turned out to be a CIA Black Group agent, yet ISA eliminated him without hesitation, which made Song Heping sowhat worried about becoming the scapegoat.
But upon reflection, that would not happen.
His intelligence ca from Avanti, and the operation was arranged by the military; no way could the bla be shifted onto him.
"Lucky , I didn't die," Song Heping feigned ignorance and said, "General, I fulfilled what I promised, now about what you promised ..."
He deliberately made it seem as if he only cared about money and knew nothing about any confidential information regarding the operation.
"No problem, after returning to the Green Zone, co see . I have prepared the contract. After signing, there will be a cooling-off period, after all, the business was previously contracted by the AAFES Company, and they will need so ti to hand it over," said Peter, changing the topic and then adding, "By the way, are you sure you killed Adrian?"
This question imdiately made Song Heping vigilant.
How could a Brigadier General not know whether the deceased was the real Adrian?
A single phone call would provide accurate information from ISA since both Mist and he had briefly reported at the dinner table, and there were also photographs for proof.
Clearly, Peter's question was not simply inquiring about identity.
"I suppose so…"
Song Heping deliberately showed so hesitation.
"We took pictures of the corpse and took so of his personal docunts, all of which are now with ISA. The docunts were checked, and it was indeed Adrian. Whether he was the real Adrian, I wouldn't know, General. After all, I had no ti to interrogate him through torture. As you know, he knew the real Han Fei. I shot him less than a second after eting him, so I had no ti for that. Whether he was the real Adrian is for you to verify," he said.
He purposely emphasized that he acted less than a second after he saw Adrian,
aning the latter had no chance even to utter a word.
As expected, upon hearing that Song Heping had killed Adrian upon sight, Peter smiled very happily: "Great! I knew I didn't misjudge you. Rumors have it that you are talented, and it seems they are well-founded. I feel reassured handing over the transportation business to you."
Song Heping responded, "It's also because you, General, gave the opportunity."
Peter's laughter suddenly disappeared, and after a cough, he said, "Song, do you have any beef with the CIA?"
Beef?
Bringing up the CIA?
Song Heping sensed another probe coming.
Thus, he honestly said, "Yes, during a previous escort mission, we had so misunderstandings, so they concocted a charge against and tortured all night."
"Oh!" In a seemingly concerned tone, Peter advised, "Those people at the CIA are no good; better be careful."
Song Heping countered, "General, you bringing up this issue all of a sudden, is there so problem?"
He asked because Peter was clearly probing him just now.
The incident where he was captured and tortured had been a major issue; Peter definitely knew about it.
So, he was knowingly asking.
Peter explained, "Because the military plans to outsource the transportation business, soone from the CIA heard about it and submitted a report claiming your company is unreliable, urging us not to choose you when selecting the contractor. But you rest assured, it's not for the CIA to decide on military matters; we make our own decisions."
Song Heping thought to himself, just as suspected.
The old man was indeed probing.
It appears the military does not get along with the CIA.
Even Peter's choice of him seed intentional, rely to avoid soone associated with the CIA.
He vaguely felt that the $240 million annual deal falling into his lap was not because his company had solid capabilities, nor because he was particularly combative.
Instead, the military was specifically looking for a new company with a certain combat capability and crucially, no ties to the CIA.
And Black Water, AAFES, Sparta, and many other contractors that were mixing in Illiguo simply did not et this criterion.
Musician Defense was an exception.
A team established by the Russians and then a Chinese bringing it into prominence.
Clean, no background.
Perfect!
Two days later, after finishing the mission debrief and recuperating in Kandahar, Song Heping and his small team boarded a C-17 transport plane back to Illiguo.
However, Mist stayed in Afghan.
Of course, he didn't state his reasons.
Song Heping didn't ask either.
But he roughly guessed it had sothing to do with New Moon.
Because during idle chatter, Mist had revealed so information.
New Moon was in chaos, and the military planned to intervene and launch a drug prohibition mission, which would inevitably involve the Delta Force.
Mist was reportedly joining a secret squad ford by the Delta Force to carry out a mission in New Moon.
He was a professional soldier; that's what he did.
Song Heping could only wish him to take care.
Suddenly, he felt quite content being a contractor, not having to risk his life like Mist.
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