Chapter 1911 - 1412: Shady Schemes in the Inventory Process (Part 3)

Eighty-four Strikers, one hundred twenty-seven M-ATVs, and other support vehicles.

Such a vast fortune has become the cake for all sides within the system to feast upon.

"Why did you tell me this?" He asked Lieutenant Thompson.

The young lieutenant was silent for a long time. "I'm retiring next year."

He suddenly became unusually "sincere."

"Three years in Illiguo, two years in Afghanistan. I've seen too much... waste. These pieces of equipment could have originally strengthened the combat power of the Illiguo Government Army, helping to stabilize this country. But now, they're either rusting here, being dismantled for parts and sold off, or being shipped to other battlefields. And all of us pretend this is a system operating normally."

"You could testify before Congress," Song Heping mocked.

Thompson laughed: "I tried. Last year I wrote an anonymous letter to the General Audit Office, detailing the corruption I witnessed. The result? The letter was forwarded to my direct superior, and I was 'suggested' to keep silent. Three months later, I was transferred from my original post to this remote base. When I retire next year, my records will be annotated with 'unsuitable for command positions.'

He looked at Song Heping: "So, I don't testify, I just inform those who need to know. As for what you plan to do... that's your business."

After Thompson left, Jiang Feng came over: "Is this person trustworthy?"

"Trustworthy," Song Heping said: "He's a good man, but useless, he can't change anything."

"Then should we inspect the key components of all vehicles?" Jiang Feng asked.

Song Heping thought for a moment, then shook his head: "There's not enough time. And even if issues are found, they'll use excuses like 'maintenance replacement' or 'upgraded modification' to cover it up. Notify Samir, emphasize checking the weapons systems and electronic equipment when his people receive them. As for the missing parts... we might need to replenish from other sources."

They continued forward, entering the most sensitive area, the missile warehouse.

The security level here was noticeably heightened, requiring passage through three checks, all electronic devices must be deposited, even paper notebooks must be inspected.

Inside the warehouse, the temperature and humidity were controlled, and Javelin anti-tank missile systems were neatly placed on specially designed racks, each unit in an individual protective box.

Stinger anti-aircraft missiles were in another section, fewer in number, but well-preserved.

"These are active-duty equipment, theoretically shouldn't appear on the transfer list." Lieutenant Thompson appeared again, speaking in a low voice: "But orders are orders."

Song Heping opened a Javelin system protective box.

Inside was the CLU command launch unit and a missile. He gently stroked the cold shell, on which were etched the production batch and serial number: JT-2018-0477.

"Do you know who these equipments were originally planned for?" He asked.

Thompson hesitated for a second: "Some were for the Illiguo Special Forces, part of a 2018 order, but the delivery plan was canceled later on. Another part... I heard was destined for a certain armed group in Siria, but due to policy changes, stayed here."

"How is it handled on paper?"

"Listed as 'training wear and tear', 'battlefield loss', or simply deleted from the inventory system," Thompson said: "During audits, these equipment get flagged as 'disposed of,' and then vanish from the records. In reality, they might be here, in another base, or already sold on the black market."

Song Heping closed the box lid.

The box lock made a crisp clinking sound, echoing in the quiet warehouse.

The inventory work continued until seven in the evening. When the last set of data was cross-checked, there were already more than seven thousand records accumulated on Jiang Feng's tablet.

"Total weight is sixteen thousand tons, a thousand tons more than what's on the list," Jiang Feng reported: "The extra mainly consists of obsolete equipment, parts awaiting repair, and some... sensitive items that shouldn't be here."

"Shouldn't be here?"

"Twelve sets of 'Spring Blade' loitering munition systems, not on the list," Jiang Feng pulled up photos: "Also three 'Crow' small drones, also outside the list."

Song Heping studied the photos.

The Spring Blade is a small kamikaze drone, capable of carrying warheads to accurately strike targets.

The Crow is a reconnaissance drone, standard equipment for US Army company-level units.

These shouldn't appear on civilian company sales lists.

"Major Walker's 'gift' is working," Jiang Feng said softly: "The 'sensitive items' he mentioned last night might be referring to these."

"Could also be a trap," Song Heping pondered: "If this equipment is discovered, we could be charged with the illegal acquisition of military technology. At that point, all cargo could be seized, and our people might be arrested."

"So what do we do? Return it?"

Song Heping thought for a long time. "No, keep it."

He finally made up his mind: "But store separately, transport separately. Notify our overseas smugglers, prepare a special route. These equipment can't go to Mosul, direct shipment out of Illiguo."

Jiang Feng noted down the instructions, then asked: "What about the seven hundred fifty thousand, pay it?"

"Pay," Song Heping said: "But in three installments. First twenty-five thousand upon receiving the complete sensitive equipment list. Second twenty-five thousand when all cargo is loaded. Final twenty-five thousand upon arrival in Mosul."

"What if they don't agree?"

"They will," Song Heping looked at the sky outside the warehouse, gradually darkening: "Because in this game, trust is staged. They don't trust us, we don't trust them. So every transaction is a probe, a gamble."

Soon after, the base searchlights came on, illuminating the entire warehouse area like daylight.

In the distance, the drivers of their convoy were waiting for loading orders, but after today's inventory, it would still take at least two days before transport could begin.

Song Heping felt a deep exhaustion.

Not physical fatigue, but mental wear.

Every transaction, negotiation, decision requires finding balance between legal and illegal, moral and profit, risk and return.

And today, this balance increasingly tilts towards the dark side.