"Did we agree too easily just now?"
On the way back, the chef couldn't help expressing his concerns.
"We had no choice," Song Heping said. "Sotis, making a choice is like facing a decision on the battlefield, where if both paths are terrible, all you can do is choose the one that seems relatively less terrible to take."
The chef curled his lip, saying, "Sounds quite reasonable."
Then, wiping his mouth, he added, "The liquor and cigars tonight were really good. One of these days, I've also got to get myself a box of those Habanos 30th Anniversary editions."
Song Heping teased, "What, feeling like enjoying life now?"
The chef replied, "Of course, why else would I be risking my neck to make money?"
He patted the side of the car door, filled with emotion, and said, "Today I'm buying an armored vehicle, and in a few years, I'll be buying a private jet!"
Watching the chef's contented expression, Song Heping joked, "Got any model in mind? Gulfstream?"
"I wouldn't buy a Gulfstream; that's an Arican thing," the chef declared.
Song Heping asked in surprise, "But you bought a Lincoln, and that's Arican too."
The chef replied, "I'm talking about things that fly. I don't trust the Aricans. I've been eyeing a new private jet recently, and if I have the money, I'll buy it."
Song Heping asked, "Which one?"
"The Legacy 600 executive jet," the chef answered. "I like this jet, it's made in Brazil, seats more than a dozen people, and it isn't too expensive. When I get one, I'll definitely take you for a ride."
Song Heping couldn't help but burst into laughter.
After he finished laughing, he asked the chef, "How much does it cost?"
The chef replied, "With all the paperwork done, it's more than twenty million US dollars. But it's quite expensive to operate, costing over two million US dollars a year."
Song Heping said, "Then you'd better earn well."
The chef suddenly asked out of curiosity, "Heping, you're quite wealthy now too; why don't we see you spending?"
"I spend money," Song Heping said. "Tomorrow, I'm going to Harvey's store to see if there's anything good, buy sothing for myself."
The chef was taken aback, "Buying weapons?"
Song Heping admitted, "Yes, I have a particular interest in weapons."
The chef said, "That's all you want?"
Song Heping thought for a mont and then said, "Right, you just reminded , I nearly forgot, I plan to take advantage of these days off to visit my holand."
"Going back to China?" said the chef. "Do you want to co with you?"
Song Heping said with distaste, "Forget it. This ti I'll probably have to use a fake identity to return, and even I'm not sure about it. Wouldn't your presence draw even more attention?"
Finally, he added, "I'll probably stay for about half a month. In the anti, keep an eye on the business here for . It doesn't seem like there will be any trouble for now, right?"
"You go back without worries; I've got things covered here," the chef said.
"That's all I need to hear," said Song Heping.
The two n chatted on and off, quickly making it back to the company.
The following two days were indeed as uneventful as Song Heping had predicted, with nothing major occurring within the company.
During this period, Song Heping took a trip to the oil field to inspect the operations there.
Due to the relationship with Avanti, and the fact that the Kurdish Ard were currently focused on seizing power in the Temporary Managent Committee at the Northern Border.
Although the Kurdish's subordinate group, the Freedom Alliance Ard, had been annihilated by Song Heping, they lacked the strength to deal with him, nor did they want to provoke a star of misfortune by tangling with soone capable of infiltrating and wiping out an ard organization headquarters overnight. A defense company like that must be made of tough stuff.
The Kurdish Ard might talk tough most of the ti, but they also knew how to act according to the person they were dealing with.
Right now, both the CIA and the Temporary Managent Committee were attempting to win them over to form a coalition governnt, and the Kurds' own aim to achieve autonomous governance would be equivalent to having their own territory, a dream they had harbored for many years, and nothing could be more important than that.
The affairs with the "Musician" Defense Company, on the other hand, were trickier to address openly, as Song Heping's company worked for the Arican energy magnates, and offending them would be tantamount to offending the United States itself, bringing no benefits whatsoever.
Song Heping also visited the water supply station and took the opportunity to et Haymour in Yijibai Village.
Having received a considerable amount of gold, along with being a local bigwig, he was currently the most powerful tribal leader in the western region, second to none in influence.
While having tea with the old man, he also said that his tribe planned to use their newfound wealth to support so of their own clan mbers in running for office in the temporary governnt, to secure positions and continue to grow their influence.
Song Heping couldn't help but marvel at the old man's foresight.
Haymour was the wealth of the Yijibai Tribe, and as long as the old man was around, the tribe would not decline.
With the Yijibai Tribe's support for the water station, there naturally was no danger. The militants who used to attack the water pipes and the water station seed to have disappeared. Whether it was Song Heping's extermination of the Salafi Ard that had served as a warning or the old Haymour's prestige that kept things in check was unclear. After all, these things were hard to count.
Even Song Heping once entertained the thought that not all of the militants who had been attacking the water station might have been from the Salafi Ard. It's possible that so from the Yijibai Tribe had also been involved.
Song Heping didn't want to dwell on these matters.
Because they were aningless.
He didn't do things without aning.
The current state of Illiguo was that of a war-torn land, just like the chaotic tis of ancient China. In such a place, power ruled, winners were kings and losers were bandits. Whoever could secure a position in the aftermath of Sadam's fall and gain the attention of the Aricans and the Temporary Managent Committee would be able to ascend to the political stage of the interim governnt.
The cards had been reshuffled, and deals had to be redealt. Only the dealer had changed, nothing else was different.
It had nothing to do with democracy, nor with freedom.
That day at noon, the cook rushed back from outside and, upon entering the company, asked Ferrari who was looking at tenders in front of the computer, "Where's Song He?!"
Ferrari turned his head and glanced at him saying, "He hasn't been back since he went out this morning. I heard he was going to Harvey's to buy guns, wanted to get a sniper rifle, and after buying it, he planned to go to the shooting range to zero it. Cook, why do you look as red as a cooked crab? What's the rush?"
"Of course, there's a rush!"
The cook replied irritably, "Damn, news from South Arica, my brother has gone missing!"
"What brother of yours?" Ferrari frowned.
The cook said, "My Russian brother, Ivan!"
Ferrari then recalled, "Oh, the one who's a friend from the underworld, right?"
The cook took out his phone and started dialing, muttering, "Who else but him! He went to Colombia for us to collect a paynt for arms, and he's gone missing!"
Ferrari rembered now.
Ivan was the one who had suddenly burst into the restaurant during their vacation in Mada, wasn't he?
And then he left in a hurry.
Ferrari didn't like Ivan's style.
To be precise, Ferrari didn't like people who were all brawn and no brains.
For instance, between the cook and Song Heping, he had more respect for Song Heping.
After all, dealing with the intelligent was always more effortless.
So, he coldly said, "Disappeared in Colombia? He was probably killed. It's all drug traffickers and anti-governnt armies there. Even if your friend is a Mafia mber, in front of those rebel armies, he wouldn't be substantial enough to stick between their teeth."
The cook glared at him and sat down on a couch nearby with his phone.
A few seconds later, the call connected.
"Song He! Where are you?"
"At the 82nd Airborne Division's shooting range."
"Hurry back, stop playing with guns. Sothing ca up, and I need to discuss it with you."
"What's up?!"
"News from South Arica, Ivan has gone missing in Colombia."
"Ivan? Your Mafia brother?"
"Yes! Him. I told him to stay out of the arms business last ti. Two million in arms, I'd cover the loss and pay the company myself, but that kid was too loyal. He took so guys to Colombia to negotiate with the AUC rebels who intercepted our arms. He was kidnapped just after arriving in Sogamoso, and there's been no word for three days."
"Cook, your brother really is quite rash. That's Colombia, not Russia..."
"No matter what, I have to save my own brother. Ivan and I grew up together; I can't just watch him die in Colombia. He has a wife and children!"
The more the cook spoke, the more agitated he beca.
Song Heping could only offer consolation, "Alright, I'll talk about it when I get back."
After hanging up, Song Heping climbed up from the shooting position and looked at the blazing sun high in the sky. He sighed and muttered to himself, "Looks like I won't be going ho again..."
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