Chapter 1919 - 1415: The Long Wait

"Phase one is complete." Walker breathed a sigh of relief, retrieved a bottle of whiskey and two glasses from the drawer: "Now, they need to cross the government army's control zone before dawn. After that, they'll enter the Amadiye Mountain Area, which is a no-man's land."

He poured two glasses of whiskey, handing one to Swift: "Have a drink, you need to relax."

Swift took the glass but didn't drink: "Amadiye... the terrain is complex. The remnants of 1515, tribal armed forces, smuggling groups, and..."

"And the people we've arranged." Walker took a sip of whiskey, revealing a smug smile, "Do you really think I would let six billion dollars' worth of goods take risks? I hired people from Black Water Consulting, who scouted and cleared the route a week in advance. Now the Amadiye Mountain Area is very 'clean', at least it will be clean when we pass through."

"Desert Scorpion" is Illiguo's famous mercenary group, composed of former Republican Guard officers, ruthless and charging high fees.

Swift felt slightly relieved: "How much did you spend?"

"One million dollars." Walker said, "But it's worth it. They killed dozens of 'suspicious individuals', burned down three tribal checkpoints, now that road is unobstructed. Plus, they'll set up secret sentries along the way, and if they notice anything unusual, they'll give an early warning."

He swirled the whiskey glass, the amber liquid rippling under the light: "This is professionalism, Swift. Every detail is taken into consideration, every risk is controlled. Do you think I'm just a greedy officer? No, I'm a project manager, managing a six-billion-dollar project."

Swift finally took a sip of whiskey, the strong liquor scorching his throat, bringing a brief numbing feeling.

Maybe Walker is right.

Maybe he really worried too much.

Maybe that two hundred thousand dollars from Song Heping really is just a normal bribe.

He just wants more convenience during the transfer, that's all.

"About the buyers..." Swift asked, "Are they reliable?"

"Representatives of the Libyan National Army, contacted through intermediaries in the United Arab Emirates." Walker brought up another document: "Thirty percent prepaid, already credited to the account. Forty percent paid at the Turkey border, full settlement upon entering Libya. Payment is made in encrypted currency and gold."

He clicked on a photo, showing several men in robes standing in the desert, with pickup trucks in the background: "These people have the support of the Camel princes behind them. They need equipment for the civil war, they can't acquire them through regular channels, so they have to go through the black market. The price is thirty percent higher than market rate, and they don't bargain."

"Why choose us? They should have other channels."

"Because we have the stock." Walker pointed at the screen showing the departing convoy, "Fifty trucks of equipment, from armored vehicles to missiles, from night vision goggles to drones, it's a complete, systematic set of nearly new US Army gear. You can't find this scale and quality anywhere else in the world. Russians sell old goods, our country's regular exports sell stripped-down versions, only from us do they get the genuine article."

He turned off the screen, stood up: "Now, we just need to wait. The convoy is expected to cross the Amadiye Mountain Area by six tomorrow morning, reaching the Kurd Autonomous Region border by ten in the morning. There, we'll have our reception, transferring goods to Turkey's convoy, swapping documents, swapping license plates, and then... the money is credited."

Swift stared at the empty surveillance screen, suddenly asked: "What if Song Heping finds out? What if he discovers we're smuggling equipment supposed to be handed over to him?"

Walker's smile turned icy: "Then he has to accept reality. The contract states 'Buckda Base inventory equipment', but the inventory is dynamic. Here today, could be redeployed tomorrow. We can provide a hundred reasons: urgent combat readiness needs, gear malfunction, audit adjustments... what can he do about it? Sue the US military?"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but laugh smugly, then got up and walked to the door, glancing back at Swift once more: "Remember, Swift, power doesn't come from rank, it comes from the system you're in. In this system, we represent the United States. On this land, the United States is the law. Song Heping can get angry, can curse, can even threaten. But he will ultimately have to bow, because he wants to keep doing business in this industry."

The door closed.

Only Swift was left in the surveillance room, along with the screen frozen on the empty road scene.

He pulled out his phone, flipped to the encrypted album.

Inside there was a photo taken last night.

Twenty stacks of hundred-dollar bills, neatly piled on the dorm bed.

Ten thousand dollars per stack, in total two hundred thousand.

When Song Heping's assistant Jiang Feng brought the money, he only said one sentence: "Mr. Song appreciates your cooperation, hoping for a pleasant future."

At that time Swift thought this was just a regular bribe.

But now, he increasingly feels, there's something else hidden in that stack of money.

Is it a warning?

Or...

An insurance fee?

The phone suddenly vibrated, it was an encrypted message.

The sender was an unknown number, the content only one sentence:

"The fog is thick in Amadiye, drive carefully."

Swift's breath stopped.

He rushed to the console, puling up weather data.

Amadiye Mountain Area, from tonight until tomorrow morning, visibility below 50 meters.

Heavy fog.

His trembling hand wanted to call Walker, wanted to tell him this information, wanted to suggest postponing the transfer.

But his finger stopped on the dial button, hesitating to press it.