Chapter 1930 - 1419: Overwhelming with the First Move (Part 2)

Because what Song Heping pulled out was not a weapon, but a brown kraft paper document bag.

Song Heping gently placed the document bag on the table, untied the cotton string wrapped around it, and pulled out a stack of eight-inch color photographs from inside.

His movements were slow and leisurely, as if he were showcasing a work of art.

Then, he pushed the photo at the top of the stack in front of Walker.

"Last night, Amadiye Canyon."

Song Heping's voice was calm, as if narrating a story heard by the roadside.

"According to the planned operations, the Tenth Division of the Iliko Government Army was conducting a counter-terrorism exercise in the area. At 11:47 PM, the reconnaissance team of the exercise forces discovered something unusual in the canyon. A convoy, consisting of eight armored vehicles, more than ten armed pickups, and fifty heavy transport trucks, was ambushed by a group of 1515 armed participants in the Amadiye Mountain Area at night."

He pushed forward the second photo.

In the photograph, the wreckage of burning armored vehicles presented a weird green outline under the night vision lens.

"After the reconnaissance team reported, Major General Samir, commander of the Tenth Division, ordered the forces to attack the 1515 militants."

The third photograph showed scattered "Stinger" missile launch tubes, the green tubes reflecting a cold light under the flash.

"The battle lasted about twenty-five minutes. By 12:20 AM the next day, all 1515 armed militants were eliminated, and the transport convoy was seized."

Song Heping spoke as if reading a dry battlefield report.

"After initial tallying, about more than three hundred 1515 personnel were killed, with thirty-seven casualties on our side."

He paused, looking at Walker.

Walker's face had turned from red to white, then from white to blue.

His eyes were locked on the photos on the table, his pupils narrowing to pinpoints.

His breathing became rapid, his chest heaving violently.

"But the most intriguing part is not the skirmish itself," Song Heping continued, tapping the fourth photo with his finger: "It's what the Tenth Division discovered on those transport trucks."

He pushed the photo in front of Walker.

A high-definition color photograph, clearly taken with professional equipment.

The center of the frame was an open military standard transport box, containing six black rectangular objects about a meter long, each with folding wings on the sides and an optical guided head at the front.

"Spring Blade" 300 type loitering munition.

The asset label on the side of the box was presented in minute detail under the macro lens:

NSN: 1440-01-678-9042

Serial Number: AW-3477-89B

Batch: SL-229-21

Custodian: US Central Command - Iligo War Zone Logistics Department

Status: Combat Ready

Walker's lips began to tremble.

He wanted to speak, but only hoarse sounds came from his throat.

His gaze moved from the photos to Song Heping's face, filled with incredulous shock and fear.

"And there are these."

Song Heping gave him no chance to catch his breath, pushing forward a few more photos.

The fifth was a scattered "Stinger" Block II missile system, the white letters on the tube body clearly visible—serial number ST-5561-22C, the very batch Walker had refused to deliver citing "damage in transit due to attack" as the reason.

The sixth was an open "Crow" small drone packaging box, containing twelve complete unmanned systems, the serial number range perfectly matched the contract list.

The seventh...

Full boxes of AN/PEQ-15 laser pointers, AN/PVS-14 night vision goggles, Peltor tactical headsets...

All were top current US military equipment, and all had complete asset tags.

The last photo, Song Heping pushed especially slowly.

It was a close-up of a corpse.

The body was clad in a Crye Precision AVS tactical vest, filled with M4 magazines and hand grenades, holding a satellite phone in its right hand.

The phone screen was still on, and in night shooting mode, its content was clearly recorded:

Recent call records:

00:14:32 +1-202-555-XXXXX

00:12:18 +1-703-XXX-XXXX

00:10:05 local number (encrypted)

Walker's body swayed, he had to reach out to the table to steady himself.

His face was already pale as paper, with fine cold sweat seeping through his forehead.

The number starting with +1-202-555 was his emergency contact line in Washington, known only to three people.

And 00:14:32 was precisely the time Carlson made his last call before being ambushed in Amadiye Canyon last night.

"Do I need to dial this number in front of you?" Song Heping asked softly: "Or, we could contact the Ministry of Defense Investigation Bureau and have them verify it."

"Forged..." Walker murmured: "These photos... can be completely forged... with today's digital technology..."

"Of course, they can be forged," Song Heping nodded, surprisingly agreeing: "But Major Walker, forging one or two photos is easy, what about forging a complete chain of evidence?"

He took out a few sheets of paper from the document bag: "This is the official report of battlefield seizures from the Tenth Division, with Major General Samir's signature and division seal. Here is the site inventory list, with every piece of equipment's serial number registered."

He placed the documents gently next to the photos.

"And this."

Song Heping finally took out a black USB flash drive.

"Complete surveillance footage of the combat area last night, from the Tenth Division's reconnaissance drones and battlefield recorders. From the convoy entering the canyon, to the battle's start, to the last transport truck being seized, a forty-seven-minute high-definition video, including infrared and low-light modes. Do you need me to play it now? Want to see who was guarding the transport convoy?"

Walker was completely broken.

His shoulders began to quiver slightly.

His carefully devised plan was torn to shreds overnight by the man before him.