The second dawn after the coup was particularly quiet.
Song Heping stood outside the tent, watching the eastern sky brighten. The morning was a bit chilly, but the air was incredibly refreshing, with a touch of invigoration.
He checked his watch.
It was already half past six in the morning.
The Ferrari should have crossed the border by now, he thought.
Those video tapes and audio materials sealed in waterproof bags were quietly lying in the Ferrari's tactical backpack, like a ticking ti bomb, ready to destroy Lumar and Du Er's political life at any mont.
Five minutes later, a cloud of dust appeared in the distance.
Several trucks and two Jeeps erged from afar.
"Very punctual..."
Song Heping had anticipated that Lumar and the others would make a move this morning.
He said nothing, turned around and went back into his tent, sat back at the campaign table, and filled three prepared cups with steaming coffee.
When Lumar led more than twenty fully ard soldiers to surround the tent, only Song Heping was left inside.
"Huh?"
Lumar was taken aback.
He quickly looked around, afraid that Song Heping's n might be lying in ambush near the tent.
He held reservations about this defense company's boss.
After all, soone who could sneak into the capital Butare with a few n and storm the President's Mansion to abduct forr President Noel couldn't be understood from an ordinary perspective.
He gestured to his subordinates, instructing them to imdiately surround the tent and search the surroundings to avoid any surprises.
Seeing an entire company disperse to tightly encircle the tent, Lumar finally felt slightly reassured and stepped into the tent.
"There's no ambush outside, don't worry, there's no need to act like it's a great enemy, it's just ."
Song Heping was sitting at the foldable table, in front of him was a satellite phone, a manila file folder, and a loaded Glock 17 pistol, while his AK74U assault rifle rested against the other end of the tent by the camp bed.
Lumar felt a bit embarrassed at these words. He was wearing a brand new uniform, with the newly designed badge of the opposition pinned to his chest, and his beard was ticulously trimd, an apparent victor's posture.
"Good morning, Mr. Song."
His smile seed a bit stiff.
"I heard your companions are all gone?"
Song Heping leisurely sipped the coffee on the table and then gestured to the chair opposite him, "Have a seat, Colonel... no, I should call you General now, the coffee's still hot."
Lumar's previous rank was Colonel.
However, after Noel announced his resignation yesterday, the opposition and governnt army ceased fire, the French retreated to Butare, and the coup was nearly successful.
Du Er rewarded Lumar, directly promoting him to Major General.
Lumar didn't dare to move.
Song Heping moved the coffee cup slightly towards him.
As his hand passed over the Glock 17 on the table, the soldiers behind Lumar nervously raised their guns.
"Don't be nervous."
Song Heping smiled and pushed a file folder across the table.
"I know what you're planning to do, but before you act, you'd better take a look at this."
Lumar suspiciously eyed the file folder and glanced around the interior of the tent once more.
Only after confirming there was no danger did he sit down opposite Song Heping.
"Go on, take a look, relax, it's not a bomb, and there's no trap mine inside."
Song Heping continued to watch the man before him, a self-proclaid clever person, with a disdainful smile.
Lumar reached for the file folder.
When he pulled out the photos inside, his face turned pale.
The photos clearly captured him secretly eting with British intelligence officers in a neighboring country, and there were even copies of bank transfer records.
"This is impossible..." Lumar's fingers trembled slightly, "how could you..."
"There's sothing even more interesting."
Song Heping picked up the satellite phone, quickly dialed a number, and pressed the speaker button.
The ringing was soon heard from the phone.
Song Heping pointed to the phone and said, "Why don't we ask Ms. M directly?"
The call was answered swiftly, as if the other side had been waiting for this call.
"Good morning, Mr. Song."
Ms. M's British accent ca through the speaker with a hint of barely perceptible tension.
"Ms. M, your partner General Lumar is currently pointing a gun at ." Song Heping's voice was calm, as if discussing the weather, "Do you have anything to say to Lumar? He's right in front of , with a company surrounding my tent."
There was a two-second silence on the other end.
"General Lumar."
Ms. M's voice suddenly beca cold and official.
"The British governnt has never authorized any actions against Mr. Song and his team. Any such actions are the unilateral decision of the opposition and have nothing to do with our country."
Lumar's face turned from white to red, a vein bulged on his forehead, "You clearly said—"
"General!"
Ms. M sternly interrupted, "Please watch your language. All our collaborations with you are based on legality and transparency."
Song Heping watched Lumar's changing expression with amusent, tily adding, "Ms. M, I also have a tape recording of General Lumar's conversation last night. They discussed in detail how to eliminate my team after the coup and how to divide up the northern mines."
The sound of paper rustling suggested that Ms. M was quickly referencing sothing.
"Mr. Song."
Her tone suddenly softened, "This is clearly a misunderstanding. I can assure you that the British governnt absolutely respects you and your team's legal rights in the Sen Republic."
"That's good." Song Heping replied with a smile, "In that case, I hope to participate in the diation eting between you and the French in Butare in a few days. After all, my forces have now controlled three mines in the north and the Semor Mountain Area, and I have the right to speak on behalf of the local... um... security contractors."
The tent was silent.
Lumar's eyes widened, his lips moved silently like a fish out of water.
"Your... forces?"
Ms. M's voice noticeably rose by an octave.
At this mont, an officer rushed into the tent and whispered a few words into Lumar's ear.
Lumar's complexion turned even worse.
"Reports say... over two thousand ard personnel have crossed the border from the direction of Darfur, occupying the mining area..."
His voice was dry, as if a handful of sand was sprinkled in his throat.
Song Heping comfortably leaned back in his chair, "Ah, it seems my colleagues are quite efficient."
He spoke into the phone again, "Ms. M, I suggest your country's Air Force not approach the Semor Mountain Area today. My n have just deployed two sets of SAM-6 air defense systems there, and the radar hasn't been calibrated yet; it would be unfortunate if a British plane were accidentally hit."
The sound of a cup tipping over and so urgent whispers could be heard from the other end of the line.
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