Dobajager Ridge Mountain Area, early morning.
"You look unhappy."
Song Heping started chatting with Willie, who had been silent throughout the journey.
This place is within Ba Country's territory.
According to the original plan, they must walk across the border and then call for a helicopter to bring them back to Kandahar.
Although Ba Country's air defense radar system does not cover much of this mountainous area, low-flying United States helicopters can easily cross the border into these mountains. However, to avoid risks, they could only walk across the border.
Marching in the highland area at night is a very depressing affair.
The night temperature was low, and both of them wore soft sailor winter hats.
Although these hats weren't bulletproof, they were good for keeping warm.
Plus, with the altitude here being around 3000 ters, it consus more physical energy than on flat ground; an ordinary person simply couldn't continue marching while carrying weights here.
Chatting could relax each other's nerves, which was better than rushing along without talking.
But since the firefight ended, Willie had stopped talking, except for routine reporting to ISA command in Kandahar, he no longer spoke with Song Heping.
It was apparent that his mood was low.
Song Heping thought it was the beheading of Curtis that had caused so psychological pressure, but then he realized that was not the case.
Willie had not hesitated at all when he chopped off the traitor's head just now; Song Heping could even tell Willie was very willing to do it, having a sort of emotional relief and pleasure while cutting.
"I'm not unhappy." Willie's beard was covered with droplets, and he spoke while exhaling white breath, "Song, actually I was really happy just now."
Song Heping said, "But you haven't spoken a word."
Willie, in a lackadaisical tone, said, "I just don't want to talk, I'm thinking about so things."
"What things?" Song Heping was curious.
Willie thought for a while before answering, "I'm just reflecting on my imminent end of my career in the Special Forces."
Song Heping rembered this guy had ntioned wanting to apply for the logistics departnt after returning, then stay there until his contract ended, and then return to the United States to retire.
"Because you're reluctant to leave?"
"I enlisted at 19, joined the Ranger Battalion at 21, then Delta Force, and later, I entered ISA's operations division. It's been sixteen years, I spent most of my ti in Special Forces. If you ask if I'm reluctant, I can definitely tell you, yes..."
"If you're reluctant, you could choose not to leave; people should do what makes them happy."
"No. I've grown tired and disillusioned with these things," Willie suddenly beca serious, "Before, I believed joining the Special Forces was serving my country. Here, I worked alongside comrades who shared my beliefs, facing life and death, deployed all over the world, and I was once very proud to be one of them."
Willie sighed here, turning his head to look at Song Heping, "I had also questioned the nature, purpose, and significance of so operations before, but I comforted myself, hey! Willie! Those are problems considered by the big shots from a higher perspective, so things must be done by soone! Well, that's how I convinced myself..."
He paused there, and continued marching in silence.
Song Heping did not pursue further questions.
He felt that it was a ti to give Willie so peace.
He needed ti to think about so things related to his own life and career.
Shortly after, Willie picked up the conversation again, "But this operation has really made see through it all. Yes, our military leaders all know Curtis is a traitor, but those people in the White House and those old n on Congress Hill don't think so. They know he's a traitor, but they still choose to protect him, wanting us to clean up the ss, to mold a traitor into a hero!"
"Look how ridiculous this is! Just because the traitor's father is a congressman? Just because their family is rich and a major donor to the president? They can distort the facts to deceive the public? They even dare to deceive God! How ludicrous!"
As he spoke, he laughed, shaking his head at Song Heping.
Song Heping said, "Is the Curtis family very wealthy?"
"Of course!" Willie said, "Otherwise, how do you think his father beca a congressman? It's his uncle's corporation that pushed him forward. I looked up Curtis's performance in the military; if I may put it bluntly, he was an idiot who didn't even know what war is, a useless person cultivated in a greenhouse!"
"At least your military high command still did the right thing, if it were , I would also have ordered to execute the traitor," Song Heping said.
Willie snorted, "Humph! Useless. From the military high command agreeing to send the first ODA team to rescue that idiot Curtis, I beca hopeless about them. They can't change anything, sotis they even compromise with those old n in Congress for their own benefits, and then we frontline soldiers' lives are less worth than nothing to them; a dal and so compensation money is all it takes to settle it."
Song Heping also felt there was nothing to refute.
That's the ga of politics and money in Arica.
The wealthy love Arica.
Because in the United States, having money really allows you to do whatever you want.
Seeing Song Heping kept silent, Willie said again: "You did an excellent job on this mission, honestly, it's the first ti I've seen such an impressive PMC. You've really broadened my horizon."
Song Heping smiled and asked: "Have you co across many PMCs?"
Willie nodded: "A lot, mainly in Afghan, Illiguo and even in Africa, I've dealt with them."
After pausing, he asked again: "Was it really true that you used to raise pigs while serving in the Chinese Army?"
"My unit was called the breeding base, what do you think?" Song Heping said with a smile.
The training base for Unit 203 was indeed branded as a logistics breeding base.
He wasn't exaggerating this point, it wasn't a lie.
Willie was struck silent by this information.
After a long ti, he then said: "No wonder General MacArthur said, whoever wages war against the Chinese Army must be a madman!"
Song Heping inquired: "Did he say that?"
Willie nodded: "Yes, he did. That's why I hope we are never on opposite sides."
Song Heping just smiled and said nothing.
While the two were staggering forward on a mountain path, suddenly, Willie grunted, then stopped his steps.
Song Heping asked: "What's wrong?"
Willie didn't speak, he slowly squatted down and picked up a roundish object from the ground.
Curiously, Song Heping picked up one as well.
After inspecting, he crouched down and began to carefully observe the ground.
Willie was doing the sa thing.
A minute later, the two exchanged glances, quickly understanding each other.
They imdiately hid behind the rocks by the mountainside.
After confirming there was no one around, they started to talk.
"There's a problem." Willie said.
Song Heping nodded: "Yes, there is a problem."
Willie purposely posed a challenging question to Song Heping: "Tell , what's the problem?"
Song Heping said: "That's donkey dung, and it's very fresh, not even one hour old."
Willie said: "Exactly, in this godforsaken place, how could there be donkey dung at night? And did you see those hoof prints left by the donkeys? At least ten donkeys. Even local farrs wouldn't drive ten donkeys around this place late at night."
Song Heping asked: "I also found footprints next to the donkey hooves just now. I initially thought they were smugglers, but then I decided they probably weren't."
Due to the ongoing war in Afghan, both civilians and ard organizations need to smuggle.
In places of war, no matter how poor, there are profits to be made.
"Footprints?" Willie said: "What kind of footprints?"
"Salomon XA Forces series footprints." Song Heping said.
Willie asked: "How do you know that so clearly?"
Song Heping smiled and stretched out his foot: "I'm wearing them, too."
It was then Willie clearly saw the brand of boots Song Heping was wearing - they were also Salomon's.
"Could it be Special Forces?" Willie furrowed his eyebrows: "But it shouldn't be, we agreed to only call for helicopters after entering Afghan territory, and I haven't been inford by Niki about anyone eting us."
"Stop guessing." Song Heping checked his gun: "The best way is to verify it ourselves, a simple task."
Willie said: "It's better not to complicate things unnecessarily, we go our way, and let them go theirs."
Song Heping said: "I'm telling you, they are likely coming for us. Otherwise, do you think border smugglers would wear combat boots ant for battlefields? Do you really think military enthusiasts co here just for hiking?"
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