The mysterious convoy sped toward the farm.
The Apache helicopter quickly flew above the convoy.
The pilot decreased altitude, allowing the Apache to skim over the convoy's heads.
He sensed sothing strange about this convoy.
Humvees were guarding the front and back, but in the middle were civilian vehicles, sedans, and SUVs.
This was not a military convoy, at least not purely so.
He switched on the Apache helicopter's friend or foe identifier and quickly received a response.
"Falcon 1 calling Scorpion, confirm they are friendlies."
Having said that, the pilot increased altitude and continued to circle the farm from above on alert.
"Friendlies?!"
Thomas was confused by the ssage.
He had never notified any friendly unit to assist here; the operation was purely a joint operation between Langley and ISA. How could "friendlies" suddenly appear?
The "friendly" convoy soon arrived at the farm.
The Humvees from the ISF leading the way, and the people exiting the middle vehicles, surprised Thomas greatly.
Watching through the cara mounted on his team's helts from inside the command center in the Green Zone, Colonel Brown cursed, "SHIT!"
Then he ordered, "Gray Fox, Gray Fox, all pull back! Imdiately!"
ISA agents received the orders, turned around, and re-boarded the Black Hawk Helicopters.
Without explaining anything to Thomas—even omitting a goodbye—the Black Hawks took off and soon vanished into the distance.
Only Thomas's GRS agents remained on the ground.
Everything had happened so suddenly.
Those who had gotten out of the vehicles were wearing bulletproof vests marked with the word 'journalist'. So carried photography equipnt, others held microphones emblazoned with their respective TV station logos, swarming over like hyenas on the African savannah catching the scent of rot.
BBC, CNN, IVT, FOX, Reuters, Associated Press...
Major global dia were all present...
There were also quite a few who were obviously freelance war correspondents.
These individuals are like accessories to the war, like flies in a restroom, unafraid of death. Often during gunfire, they would advance even further ahead than the soldiers...
And these people had venomous pens; they dared to write anything and expose any scoop, eliciting headaches for those in intelligence and military operations upon seeing them.
Thomas felt as if tens of thousands of "grass mud horses" were stampeding through his mind, trampling his emotions into disarray.
Journalists...
He abruptly turned his head and t Angel's smug gaze.
Then he looked at Song Heping.
The man was smiling at him.
Smiling with endless mockery.
It was despicable!
Only now did he realize why Song Heping had been stalling him with incessant and irrelevant chatter earlier, making him feel like a chatterbox villain from a movie.
Song Heping was just buying ti.
These journalists could have only been summoned by Angel with a snap of her fingers.
With her status, summoning these colleagues!
No wonder Song Heping seed so composed when Thomas arrived with his n earlier.
He had set a trap for them long ago!
The throng of journalists quickly enclosed everyone.
Thomas urgently whispered a command on the channel, "Cease operation, wait for my orders."
No sooner had he spoken than a microphone was thrust at him.
"Director Thomas, could you introduce us to the operation you are conducting here?" asked the journalist.
Thomas responded with a cold face, "Who authorized your interview here? And..."
He looked around.
People had already gathered around Sayif, snapping away at him with various lenses, the flashbulbs flickering constantly, making it impossible to keep one's eyes open.
"Are you executing a covert operation?"
"Isn't this man Sayif from the poker card warrant list?"
"He was one of Sadam's security advisors, said to be a close confidante. Is your covert operation because he knows so inside information about Illigo Freedom's operations?"
"There have been reports that Sayif knows so inside details about the Kelly Report. What are your thoughts on this news?"
"Was it your GRS guys who captured Sayif?"
Thomas's face turned whiter than the light from the flashes.
"Fellow colleagues!"
Miss Angel shouted at this mont, "The ones who captured Sayif are these rcenaries beside . They worked with Langley to track down Sayif and ultimately captured him, a very successful joint operation."
After speaking, she made a directing gesture toward Song Heping at her side.
"Angel, is this your security team?"
"That's right, they are employed by . I've been tracking Sayif for days, and my resources indicated he was linked to the Kelly Report. I've been fully involved in the operation."
Hearing Miss Angel say this, the reporters sward around her, snapping pictures furiously and bombarding her with interviews and questions.
Song Heping had to admit, Angel was naturally cut out to be a politician.
Now she was a totally different person, comfortable in front of caras and flashlights, responding smoothly.
Was this anything like the silly sweet girl who used to curl up at the sound of gunshots?
The cook leaned over to Thomas and said, "Thomas, didn't you want to take action? Co on then!"
This guy's temper was just so impulsive, completely disregarding the surroundings and situation.
His voice was a bit too loud, causing a journalist with sensitive hearing to imdiately turn his head to look at them.
Thomas's face imdiately turned green.
Murder.
Is that sothing to be spoken of openly in front of caras?
And it's about killing rcenaries who worked for Black Water, along with Angel, a journalist and Lighthouse Country citizen.
Is it sothing you can say?
After saying it, one would be stewing mushrooms upon return, and might even get sued.
"Stop talking…"
Thomas hissed a low warning through gritted teeth, "Do you want to make a big scene?"
"What did you say!? Louder, please?!" The cook was now thoroughly enjoying himself, making a cup with his hand around his ear and leaning into Thomas's face, taking his helt off with the other hand and knocking on his bald head.
"Shoot here, at this head."
"Enough, Cook!" Thomas finally panicked, "What do you want?!"
Song Heping nudged the Cook with his elbow, "I think that's enough."
Then he turned to Thomas, "Can we talk about our reward now?"
"Of course." Thomas felt a bitter taste in his throat, even more bitter than bile, "But this bounty was jointly announced in the na of the provisional governnt, the coalition command, and Langley, so we need to go back to the Green Zone and follow procedures. Don't worry, you won't be shortchanged!"
Song Heping said, "I don't trust you."
"So what do you want!" Thomas's eyes seed ready to spit fire.
Song Heping signaled to Miss Angel, "Miss Angel, may I borrow a mont of your ti?"
Miss Angel imdiately ran to Song Heping's side.
"What is it? You tell ."
Song Heping deliberately raised his voice, "I heard there's a five million dollars reward for capturing Sayif?"
Understanding, Miss Angel replied loudly, "That's right, it's a public bounty. Anyone who captures him can claim it."
Then she turned and asked Thomas standing beside her, "Mr. Thomas, would you like to explain to everyone if this is true?"
Under the scrutiny of the press caras, Thomas, grinding his molars in anger, had to act calm and respond, "Yes yes yes, that's true, but there's a process to follow."
Miss Angel pulled Song Heping closer and signaled for the other "Musicians" and Samir's group to co together, and finally tugged at Thomas, "Mr. Thomas, won't you join us for a group photo? It'll make the front page!"
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