The north and south ends of Illiguo are two different worlds.
To the south is Basra, the regional center, an important transportation hub, and a port city. It's ho to the most crucial port in Illiguo, which is vital for oil exports and transportation, and thus the area is heavily guarded by coalition forces.
During the second Illiguo War, coalition forces first landed here.
After seizing the ports and airports, the US-led coalition forces unloaded their logistics and personnel, then, spearheaded by reconnaissance platoons, pushed towards the capital, Baghdad.
Initially planned for months, they unexpectedly captured all key cities in just 25 days and declared all military operations over after 42 days.
But there was a glitch.
Though the US Army announced the end of military operations, the security battle never ceased. Over the years, there were nurous attacks by ard organizations against coalition forces within the country.
These attacks were concentrated in the northwestern region, a vast area towards Mosul, bordering Turkey, Persia, and Siria.
Now, six years after the war, coalition forces still haven't fully controlled these regions, which remain a paradise for ard and extremist organizations.
Two modified bulletproof Nissan Lincoln SUVs were driving on the outskirts highway of Lavo Town.
Inside the car, Song Heping, fully ard, was sitting in the backseat checking the GPS device. He would imdiately correct any deviation from the route.
It used to be easy to find Samir.
A phone call, and he would show up in front of Song Heping.
But the Samir of today is vastly different.
The year he left the Musician Defense Company, with a sum of money given by Song Heping, he sent his family away and then disappeared without a trace of this subordinate.
Occasionally, Yusuf would ntion to Song Heping that Samir had gone to the northwest, joining a local militia called "People's Power," and then no more news of him followed.
Inside, Song Heping respected Samir.
At least the man was willing to give up a more comfortable life for his ideals. Had he been willing to stay at the Musician Defense Company, he'd surely be a high executive by now, with enough money to enjoy a better life, without having to face death's threat every day.
Through Yusuf, Song Heping knew that Samir's situation was not good.
Because they naturally had an anti-Arican political stance, Aricans did not favor such local militia organizations.
And because they opposed extremism, organizations like I5I5 would also attack them.
The militia's survival was because there were many sympathizers in Illiguo's provisional governnt, and so tribes were supporting them.
In Illiguo, there are many supporters of people with positions like Samir's since the promise was that the US Army brought freedom to the people of Illiguo when they arrived.
But in just a few years, the locals realized the "freedom" promised by Aricans was just lip service; the chaotic nation beca a stage for politicians to chase fa and profit, with no one caring for the common people's well-being, and as the US Army's behavior here beca increasingly questionable, resentnt towards these foreigners only grew stronger.
In the northwest, going out at night is a very unsafe affair.
Jiang Feng, staring out of the window into the near-total darkness with hardly any lights, was tense, with everyone in the car having their guns loaded, ready to respond to any sudden attacks.
"Old squad leader, can't we find Samir during the day? Why must it be at night?"
He complained to Song Heping, with his eyes never leaving the view outside the window.
"Go by day? Then how many eyes will be watching us?" Song Heping said, "Besides, we need to find soone to et us first, then have them take us there. In places like this, without soone familiar to guide us, trouble can start in minutes."
"I always feel it's dangerous..."
Jiang Feng seed sowhat uneasy.
"Even the US Army rarely cos to places like this; it's too remote..."
He was right.
Outside the window, illuminated by the headlights, all that could be seen was the dust kicked up by the preceding vehicle.
After so many years of war, the roads were ruined and nobody repaired them.
The newly established governnt is currently focused on reconstruction efforts in the directions of Baghdad and Basra.
There are ports there, as well as the Green Zone, the area where the rich and powerful start to congregate.
And then there's the northwest region, bordering the ambitious Turkey, Persia that always seeks to stretch its influence here, and an also unstable Siria.
To turn this place into a peaceful and prosperous era, relying on money alone simply won't suffice.
The convoy finally entered Hexiye Village following the contact thod provided by Yusuf, a village not even found on maps.
"Find a concealed spot to stop first; we're approaching Hexiye Village," said one of them.
Song Heping was in no hurry to enter the village.
The villages in the northwest area of Illigo currently have no governnt protection. Faced with the rise of various ard forces, they can only take up arms to protect themselves or seek refuge with an ard faction that shares their sect's ideology.
Entering the village rashly at night would most likely result in getting shot at.
Two bulletproof Lincolns stopped behind a dirt slope about 200 ters away from the village; Song Heping took out a satellite phone and dialed the contact person's number.
However, what Song Heping did not expect was that the call did not go through.
After several attempts, Song Heping's complexion slightly changed.
A bad premonition surged in his heart.
Before departure, Song Heping had spoken to this contact person, confirming the ti and place of their eting before setting off.
Why then couldn't the call get through here?
"Expand the periter of the guard line. I think sothing's wrong..."
Pop—
Pop, pop, pop—
Before he could finish speaking, several gunshots suddenly ca from the direction of the village.
"Fuck!"
Jiang Feng instinctively ducked his head.
Everyone quickly dispersed and occupied advantageous terrain.
"Bring the reconnaissance device."
Song Heping stretched out his hand, and Jiang Feng hurriedly handed the reconnaissance device to him.
The village lay as if asleep.
No lights.
No lights?
Song Heping's heart clenched suddenly.
Sothing was amiss!
Even if this place was backward, it was impossible to be without lights at night.
No lights at all ant sothing had happened.
Indeed, Song Heping soon saw several individuals appear in the direction of the village through the lens.
The night-vision device couldn't make out facial features at a long distance, but the figures and movents could vaguely be analyzed.
"They're ard personnel; it looks like they're killing people," he said.
Song Heping slowly moved the reconnaissance device, scanning the entire village bit by bit.
He saw around twenty or more individuals appear in the view, each ard with a weapon.
"Get ready, it's ti for action. There seems to be trouble in the village; we need to move quickly. Rember, none of the individuals you're seeing are from the village, eliminate any ard personnel on sight, but try to leave one alive if possible."
"Understood."
"Understood."
Responses from everyone soon ca through the radio channel.
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