"General."
When Song Heping walked into Peter's office, led by his adjutant, the US Army deputy commander was sitting behind his spacious desk, reviewing docunts.
"Thom, make a cup of coffee for Mr. Song."
"Yes, Sir."
After the adjutant had left, Peter's gaze pierced through the lenses of his glasses and landed on Song Heping's face, as if searching for so secret.
"Song, I tried reaching you on your cell phone a while ago, but unfortunately, it was always turned off."
His inquiry seed to imply sothing.
Song Heping said, "I had been to Venezuela."
Such a matter would be easy for Peter to investigate.
So, Song Heping did not plan to hide it.
Counter-interrogation techniques included how to mix so real information into the conversation and hide important details at crucial points.
In Song Heping's view, this was an interrogation face to face.
"Went on a vacation? Or maybe to see so curvy beauties?"
Peter joked as he closed his docunts, "Turning off the phone is not a good habit, especially now that you're the owner of a Defense Company."
Song Heping said, "Actually, this ti in Venezuela, I was investigating the two million dollars worth of arms that were intercepted there. I had to figure out what exactly happened because I needed to et so key figures, and by rule, I had to turn off my phone."
Throwing out this half-true information, Song Heping aid to muddy the waters.
After all, Peter was not aware of the last raid on the AUC camp, and even if he held certain information and suspected him, this statent could help clear any involvent—I'm still investigating it!
"Oh? Found anything?" Peter continued to inquire.
Song Heping nodded, "Yes, I found out it was the AUC forces who intercepted my arms."
Peter was slightly startled.
He hadn't expected Song Heping to be so forthright.
He hadn't kept this hidden from him either.
"The arms market in South Arica is very murky," Peter said. "I advise you to not get involved lightly; it could bring you trouble."
Song Heping did not evade, "I know. This investigation revealed that the bulk transactions in the arms market there are controlled by CIA people. AUC's actions were actually authorized by the CIA."
Peter said, "What do you plan to do? Compete with the CIA?"
Song Heping smiled, "I also need to do business, don't I? General, you promised that as long as I cooperate with you, you would not interfere with my arms dealings."
This was, of course, a probing inquiry.
If Peter objected.
Then Song Heping would not insist on it openly, but what he would do covertly was another matter.
Anyway, he now had Seras, the frontman and shield, handling the business in that area.
As for the behind-the-scenes maneuvers, there was nothing much Peter could do about them.
Hearing a cicada and not planting crops?
No such thing!
Those who deal in arms, fearing the front and the back, better not to engage at all.
Peter's lips twisted into a strange smile and he adopted an indifferent deanor, "CIA matters don't concern us much, but I'm just reminding you, don't go against the United States."
Song Heping laughed, "Why would I? We are in a partnership. After this investigation, I made a tough decision. Since the intelligence agency of your country controls the arms market in South Arica, I won't muddy the waters. So, I plan to run a large Special Warfare School in Venezuela to earn money through training."
"Military school?" Peter furrowed his brows and looked at Song Heping skeptically, "Can that make money?"
"Of course, it can." Song Heping said, "You see, the Black Water Company has a similar military school in Venezuela. They offer various courses, including international courses aid at PMC companies or small countries, as well as international hunter training camps for publicity. If they can do it, why can't I? The training sector is a huge cake for PMC companies, and I want a piece of it too."
"You can do it here," Peter said, "Illiguo, I support you."
Song Heping burst into laughter, "General, you must be joking, right? Last ti I wanted to borrow the 82nd Airborne's range for training, I almost got into a conflict with the British. Set up a military school here? With Illiguo's current situation, it would probably be under shelling daily. Your ranges are surrounded by anti-aircraft defense systems. If a private military school like mine has to invest in such facilities, it's likely we'd go bankrupt."
Peter listened and also found it reasonable, so he chuckled along.
Song Heping continued, "Moreover, a place like Illiguo is essentially a battlefield. Is there a better training program than actual combat?"
Peter nodded and said, "That's true."
Seeing the conversation at this point, although Song Heping was unsure whether Peter knew about the incident in Colombia, one thing was absolutely clear—Peter wasn't planning to turn against him.
Whether he suspected or knew about the annihilation of the Green Berets squad in Colombia, at least for now, he was safe.
Otherwise, if he really wanted to harm him, now would be the best ti.
Realizing this, Song Heping felt it was ti to show so "sincerity."
"General, the first sum of money for this year's transport business has already co through, and I've transferred a portion of the profits into the account you specified as we previously discussed."
As he spoke, he took out a piece of paper from his pocket and placed it in front of Peter.
"This is a photocopy of the transfer procedure, you can check whether it has been credited."
Peter took the paper, and after looking it over, he casually fed it into a shredder beside him.
Seeing this, Song Heping knew his other goal had been achieved.
This was to remind Peter that they were in the sa boat.
And Song Heping had the transfer records in his hand.
Such hints did not need to be spoken aloud, but smart people understand each other, a kind of tacit understanding.
The shredder made a buzzing sound, and soon, the photocopy of the transfer procedure turned into thin noodle-like strips of paper.
Song Heping then took another piece of paper out of his pocket.
"General, this is a little token of my intention."
After saying that, he placed the paper in front of Peter.
Peter slightly confused, picked it up and as he read, the wrinkles between his brows unfolded.
"This..."
His expression seed to reject it, but his eyes betrayed him, showing a hint of greed.
The paper contained a transfer procedure for a deposit of one million dollars from an offshore investnt company to a U.S. charity organization dubbed "K&L," which claid to provide food for people and children displaced by warfare in war-torn regions.
Peter found it hard to refuse because his son was one of the founders of the K&L charity organization.
His constipated-like expression lasted a long ti before he suddenly grinned and extended his hand to Song Heping.
"Song, you are a compassionate person; God bless you. Thank you for your support of charitable causes!"
"It's only right," Song Heping responded, clasping Peter's hand as they both shook it firmly twice.
Those two shakes—Song Heping could feel the force behind them.
It was the force of shared complicity.
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