Chapter 739 - 679: Questioning

Northwest Illiguo, Badi Town.

"That's a smoke bomb!"

Rod put down the satellite phone, his face suddenly darker than the bottom of a pot.

"We've all been played! Samir's forces never intended to attack here, now I understand…"

He seemed to have discovered a major secret.

"The 'People's Power' was just a feint before—they led us here! Damn it! That guy surnamed Song is too cunning!"

After saying this, Rod turned and waved his hand: "Withdraw! Emergency retreat to Siria!"

Ten minutes later, Ahmair stood in the command post staring at the empty table in amazement.

The Americans left as soon as they said they would, not showing him even the slightest respect.

"Damn American pigs! They just left like that!"

The subordinates standing on both sides exchanged uneasy glances, unsure how to respond.

From Badi Town to the border didn't actually take much time.

After all, it was less than thirty kilometers away.

Rod received a call saying Baghdadi's hidden location in Siria had been discovered, and Song Heping was leading the attack, attempting to capture Baghdadi.

For the CIA, collaboration with Baghdadi was something that absolutely couldn't be exposed.

Song Heping's combat capabilities were well-known to the people at the Secret Action Department, to the members of the "Watcher" unit, and to Rod.

He had no doubt Song Heping could capture Baghdadi—or at least, he didn't yet know that there was another secret tactical unit sent by the "Satan" organization already deployed there, engaging in a fierce fight with Song Heping.

What Rod didn't know was that Song Heping had initially suffered significant losses.

The black-clad unit from the "Satan" organization was actually a clever maneuver by Deputy Director Pence, who secretly connected with Campbell to issue the orders.

The goal was to protect Baghdadi.

It was meant to be a contingency strategy, and there was nothing wrong with it in conception.

Unfortunately, Pence did not coordinate with Kelly or communicate effectively, instead privately striking a deal with Campbell.

People who worked in intelligence and secret operations often had this habit—they liked making things airtight and foolproof.

But Pence never anticipated that his mistake would bring disaster to the "Watchers."

At the Urmia Base on the Persian Border, two Mi-17 helicopters descended slowly onto the training grounds, their navigation lights gleaming in the night.

Song Heping stepped out of the helicopter, personally greeted by Avanti.

However, Song Heping had no time to acknowledge him. Instead, he turned and commanded the people inside the helicopter: "Quick, carry the wounded down!"

The severely injured were carried out one by one from inside the helicopter.

Medical personnel who had been waiting on scene pushed stretchers forward to take the wounded away. Standing at the edge of the helicopter cabin, Song Heping watched as each injured person was carried out, until the bodies of the dead began to be brought down.

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

Five…

"Wait."

He suddenly stopped two special operations soldiers.

Then walked over to one of the body bags.

Everyone froze in place, as if the world had paused.

Song Heping unzipped the body bag, revealing a familiar face: Gabri.

The special operations commander Song Heping had high hopes for was now just a lifeless corpse—his face pale, eyes closed, a bullet hole visible below his throat.

"Sigh…"

At the end of the day, Song Heping could only let out a long sigh.

Such an outcome for a mercenary seemed all too normal.

Yet the losses tonight were truly staggering.

Since departing from Venezuela, Song Heping had taken two special operations platoons with him.

These two platoons were meticulously trained over the course of a whole year, the earliest established and most mature units.

They were the backbone of "Musician" Defense's future combat capabilities and the pool from which future key personnel would be cultivated.

Tonight, nearly half were lost.

Especially losing someone as valuable as Gabri—Song Heping's anger burned silently alongside his deep self-recrimination.

"Avanti, I need a word with you."

He zipped up the body bag and stepped aside.

Avanti followed Song Heping to a corner of the helipad.

Only then did Song Heping speak: "What the hell is wrong with your intelligence team?!"

Avanti knew Song Heping would confront him sooner or later.

The errors tonight were truly inexcusable.

The specialist team he had deployed to watch Baghdadi had been stationed in Siria for three full days.

Throughout those three days, they consistently reported their surveillance results, but never mentioned anyone entering Gelashuk Town.

These were supposed to be elite field operatives, yet they remained unaware of being targeted and even failed to notice a trap being set inside the town on the night of the operation.

Their level of professional expertise was embarrassingly poor.

"Song, I'm very sorry…"

"Sorry my ass! Do you know how many of my men died?"

Song Heping sneered coldly.

For the first time, he showed no courtesy to Avanti.

Avanti was a wise man, full of ambition and vision.

Song Heping had held him in high regard before, thinking him capable of great things.

But tonight's events left Song Heping deeply disappointed.

What kind of garbage subordinates was this?!

And they were supposedly the top intelligence agency in Persia—what a joke!

With a grim expression, Avanti responded, "I will deal with those operatives according to military law and give you an account…"

"I don't need your account," Song Heping said. "Look, we're partners. Before the operation, I discussed this with you and you promised to monitor Baghdadi's movements, saying you'd send your best surveillance team. And yet—"

He pointed to the other end of the helipad.

"That's your so-called elite force?"

Avanti wanted to say something; his lips moved briefly, but ultimately he said nothing.

What could he say?

The fault was clearly his.

Song Heping continued, "Avanti, you've talked to me before about building some 'Arc of Resistance.' I admired your strategic vision, but with subordinates like these? Ha."

He couldn't help but laugh sarcastically.

"Do you really think you can accomplish that strategy?"

"I never question my ideas and I have absolute confidence," Avanti said, unable to suppress his displeasure as Song Heping criticized his strategy.

"Don't doubt my determination, and I will train and control my subordinates. This was an accident; the enemy was exceptionally skilled, not your typical Special Forces."

After a moment of contemplation, Song Heping said, "Fine. At this point, assigning blame doesn't help anyone. I only have two requests: first, do everything possible to save my men; second, I'll provide you with photos of the black-clad individuals captured on the scene, and you must investigate their identities."

"I'll do that without hesitation," Avanti nodded. "My friend, my heart is filled with apologies to you tonight. Please believe me; I am your most sincere friend."

Song Heping dismissed these words as mere placation.

Avanti wasn't an overly emotional person.

If he were, he wouldn't have reached his current position.

Throughout history, those who achieved greatness were ruthless and unwavering in their principles.

Discussing sincerity seemed redundant.

If a close cooperation meant sincerity, then he and Kelly were also sincere a few months ago.

In the end, it was all about interests and positions.

"Fine, I won't pursue this further, but let me remind you, my old friend—your subordinates' incompetence will drag you down eventually."

"I understand, I understand…"

As Avanti nodded repeatedly, endorsing Song Heping's words, a Persian agent suddenly approached briskly.

Avanti glanced at this person before walking over.

The agent whispered quietly in Avanti's ear for a few moments before turning and leaving.

Returning to Song Heping, Avanti said, "Your maneuver succeeded—the CIA team has left Badi Town. Judging by their direction, they must be heading for Siria. I bet they have no clue that the battle there is already over and they're still trying to rescue Baghdadi."

As the topic of Baghdadi came up again, Song Heping felt another pang of frustration.

He rarely made mistakes.

Tonight counted as one.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

"Avanti, you just said the CIA is heading to Siria?"

"I think so—heading toward the border, likely planning to cross over. Tonight the border's chaotic, so they're probably taking a detour."

Song Heping understood that Avanti was referring to the Illiguo government forces intercepting the reinforcement troops from the I5I5 organization.

"I suddenly need your help with something right away."

He had a new idea.

A bold one.