That evening, in a temporarily set up studio, Noel faced the cara and delivered his resignation statent.
His complexion was ashen, his voice trembling, but his words were clear: "I, Claude Noel, President of Sen Republic, hereby declare my resignation from the presidency... I urge all governnt army soldiers to lay down their weapons and avoid unnecessary bloodshed..."
Song Heping glanced at the BBC reporter in the corner.
These guys were sent by Britain, genuine BBC reporters.
The British really spared no expense to gain benefits from Sena.
As long as BBC finishes shooting tonight, soon after, they will broadcast Noel's speech on their station, triggering a chain reaction where stations from all over the world, even Africa, will report this speech.
By then, it will be the French who find themselves in an awkward position.
The president they supported resigned voluntarily, rather than being killed.
If Noel were killed, they could easily groom another.
But resignation is different.
The French have only one option—deny Noel's resignation as valid, arguing that it was under duress from the opposition.
But no matter how they argue, it's just lip service.
After all, Noel appearing on cara himself, using the noble cause of avoiding civil war and bloodshed to persuade the governnt army to lay down arms, would absolutely gain majority public support. Moreover, the public had long endured the decadent rule of this president and couldn't bear the French's greed and resource grab any longer.
However, at this mont, everything seed unrelated to him.
The coup was complete.
His task was ended.
Earlier at the banquet, Du Er agreed to all the conditions Song Heping proposed, and the negotiations went very smoothly.
The ease of it all was hard for Song Heping to believe.
Although his contribution to the success of the coup was imnse, the three major mineral districts in the north were treasure troves, a money tree, and according to his conditions, they only had to pay Sena Governnt 10% in taxes each year, with rent as symbolic—100 US Dollars for a 99-year lease...
He had originally intended to negotiate with Du Er like "asking sky-high prices and settling for reasonable", thinking they'd bargain, but unexpectedly, Du Er accepted all terms without hesitation or a single frown.
Du Er didn't frown, but Song Heping's eyebrows jumped wildly.
He couldn't help touching his eyebrows.
"Old leader, what's wrong?"
Jiang Feng, nearby, noticed sothing was amiss and quietly asked, "Feeling unwell?"
"No, it's nothing..."
Song Heping's gaze shifted to the other end of the tent, where Lumar and several opposition leaders stood by the monitor, whispering intermittently.
When Noel ntioned "peaceful power transfer", a well-dressed middle-aged man quietly entered and whispered sothing in Lumar's ear.
Lumar's expression imdiately turned serious, and then the two left the room together.
Song Heping's intuition told him that sothing was wrong.
"Stay here and watch, I'm going to the bathroom."
He signaled Jiang Feng to keep an eye on Noel, while he used the restroom as an excuse to follow.
The tent area was dimly lit, and Song Heping moved silently like a shadow.
He stopped outside the largest command tent, hearing intense discussions inside.
"...He must be removed!"
Soone unfamiliar spoke, determinedly.
"As long as Noel is alive, the governnt army still has a core to rally around."
That was Du Er speaking.
"But we promised Song that as long as Noel cooperated, we wouldn't kill him..."
That was Lumar's voice.
"Song?" Du Er snorted dismissively, "Once the French and the British reach an agreent, they'll be superfluous. I've co to a consensus with Mada M; Sena doesn't need excess players."
Excess players?
What the hell!
Weren't they talking about him?
Song Heping's blood ran cold instantly.
He discreetly backed away a few steps, then deliberately made footsteps, pretending he'd just arrived. As he pulled back the tent curtain, the conversation inside imdiately ceased.
"Song!"
Seeing Song Heping, Lumar greeted with forced composure, "Just in ti, we were discussing the next step of the plan."
Song Heping's eyes swept over the three people in the tent—Lumar, the suit-clad man just now, and a senior military officer.
"Oh really?" he calmly asked, "Is there anything that needs my assistance?"
"So you're Song?" The man in the suit stood up, extending his hand: "I'm George from Britain. Thank you for your contributions to Sena's democratic cause."
Song Heping shook hands with him, feeling the damp and cold of his palm, like holding a cobra.
"No problem," he played it cool: "We are simply fulfilling the contract, for the sake of money."
"Since you have matters to discuss, I won't interrupt. I ca over mainly to inform you that Noel has recorded his resignation video, I've promised him that as long as he cooperates and follows our instructions, he won't die, so..."
"Oh..."
Du Er said with a grin not reaching his eyes: "Don't worry, we're not maniacs, he can live, but he must leave Sena."
"That's your dostic affair." Song Heping chuckled: "I'm just offering a suggestion, not ddling. You continue, I'll take my leave."
He bade farewell to the group, turned, and left the tent.
The smile on his face froze instantly like solid ice upon leaving the tent.
Looks like this isn't over!
Upon returning to his own tent, Song Heping imdiately gathered Ferrari and Jiang Feng.
He told them what he'd heard, and the expressions on both their faces shifted from shock to anger.
"Those treacherous bastards!"
Jiang Feng punched the makeshift table, "We risked our lives helping them capture people, and this is how they repay us?"
Ferrari remained relatively calm but his eyes were equally cold: "Song, I bet you have a plan, right?"
Song Heping took out a satellite phone and spread a map on the table: "Firstly, Ferrari, tonight you will take all operation videos and recordings and return imdiately to Darfur. Especially Noel's capture and the entire recording process, these are insurance. Understand what I an?"
Ferrari nodded: "Understood. And then?"
"Then..."
Song Heping's finger traced across the map, stopping at three marked locations in northern Sena.
"I will contact the troops at Akent Oasis, have them deploy the newly recruited 2000 n across the border to seize these three mineral districts. You'll et them at the border and lead them to execute my orders. Now that Sena is a ss, the border must be understaffed, so you're likely to face no resistance in taking over the three mineral districts."
His finger moved slightly southward, stopping at a mountain location.
"Here, south of the mineral districts, is a natural mountain range. You'll organize personnel here to establish defenses, and also bring the two SAM-6 units to set them up nearby. If anyone dares attack us, take them down lethally! Whether British or French, show no rcy! Strike hard!"
Jiang Feng's eyes widened: "Isn't this starting a war with the British, French, and opposition army?"
"It's not waging war; it's insurance." Song Heping calmly explained: "The British don't want to be stuck in a prolonged civil war, nor do the French. Once negotiations comnce, we rcenaries will be the first expendable pawns. We must have our own leverage; besides, these are rightfully ours!"
Ferrari contemplated: "Are two thousand n enough?"
"More than enough." Song Heping said: "These three mineral districts near the Northern Border are terrain advantageous for defense. More importantly, they are rich in rare earths and uranium, desired by both British and French."
"Alright! I'm with you!"
Ferrari nodded in agreent, suddenly recalling sothing.
"Why aren't you leaving too?!"
Song Heping sneered: "I'm staying to watch these politicians and hypocrites perform, don't worry, as long as you leave with the material, I won't die."
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