Chapter 549 - 493: All Thousand-Year-Old Foxes

After ending the call with Kelly, Song Heping looked towards Barrett who hadn't uttered a word and had been silent for a long time.

He had stopped speaking after discussing the details with him that morning.

Always in a thoughtful pose, silent like a philosopher.

"Barrett."

He couldn't help asking his operation advisor.

"You haven't said a word since the meeting this morning, do you think the plan has flaws? If it does, we need to make arrangements; this is a critical moment. Once there's a slip-up, our play is over."

Barrett stroked his beard and thought for a long time before he said, "Your plan is perfect. Honestly, over the years, the CIA or our DEA have placed many undercover agents, but I've never seen anyone play such a big hand as you."

He paused and then added, "Moreover, you have organizations like the ELN militants covering for you, something even the US drug enforcement departments or the CIA can't manage. I think Balrot must have thoroughly investigated your identity. If there were any flaws at all, he wouldn't have taken the job. That is to say, by accepting, he assumes you have no connection with Americans."

Upon hearing this, Song Heping laughed and said, "Then what are you worried about? You look now as if you're an undercover who's worried his wife might run away with someone else after many years."

"I'm not married; I'm a bachelor."

Barrett couldn't help but chuckle.

Soon, the smile disappeared.

He raised his hand and started gesturing in the air with one finger, as though trying to pinpoint something crucial.

After gesturing like that more than a dozen times, he suddenly stopped.

"Song, have you ever considered that the transport route and delivery location Balrot gave you could be false?"

Song Heping's expression stiffened immediately.

"That does seem somewhat plausible."

Barrett said, "If that's the case, then informing the CIA beforehand will be pointless."

Song Heping suddenly realized that his plan wasn't perfect.

And there existed a significant fatal flaw.

A cunning old fox, who had not made mistakes for many years.

How could he so easily reveal the delivery location and spill everything, additionally informing him in advance?

Thinking this, everything seemed so suspicious.

Barrett's consulting fee was indeed well spent.

If it weren't for him, he might have fallen into Balrot's trap this time.

"That's a good reminder..."

Song Heping scratched his head.

"However, if they change the location last minute, we can also change our location last minute, and even hide tracking chips on us to let CIA and DEA track us."

"No..."

Barrett shook his head.

"I was undercover in Mexico for six years, and I've seen numerous drug traffickers and smugglers, but I can responsibly tell you, I have never seen anyone as cautious as Balrot. He took over the smuggling empire eight years ago and became the emperor of the underground network in just a few years, not by luck, but because of his cunning mind—"

He pointed to his head.

"When my team and I couldn't wait for reinforcements and wanted to retreat, it was his men, directed by him, who intercepted us. After returning to the United States, I stayed with the DEA for another year, gathering information related to him all that time hoping to take him down, only to frustratingly discover that I couldn't even find a single photo of him. A man who has been cautious his entire career from the moment he started thinking he'd be the boss one day, keeps a life-long caution. We can think of hiding chips, do you think he wouldn't anticipate that? Giving us that kind of opening?"

Barret's words forced Song Heping to reconsider his opponent for this operation again.

Countless strategies and possibilities surged in his mind.

But in the end, Song Heping had to admit one thing—he was on the defensive.

And the initiative was entirely in Balrot's hands.

He could change the location any time he wanted.

And he could only react passively, unable to seize the initiative.

"I need to think this through," Song Heping simulated countless scenarios in his mind, only to find that no matter how he responded, the opponent could potentially counter with new tactics.

"You better come up with a solution fast, I estimate it won't take more than five days for the shipment from Geno Port to the US-Mexico border, and smuggle Coca into the United States through various routes."

Barrett said, "Especially the sea routes, you need to know, Balrot even has stealth submarines for smuggling. Unless you can pin down the delivery location, even sonar deployed near the coastline will have a hard time detecting those small submarines."

"Alright, I'll reconsider…" Song Heping said, "Give me a day."

...

Barrett's suspicion wasn't wrong.

While Song Heping was brainstorming countermeasures, Balrot had already learned from Brody that the goods were in hand.

"Brody, this batch of goods is large and valuable; we need to be extra careful, follow the highest standard for handling Mr. Song's arrangement."

"The highest standard" is a phrase.

Having been with Balrot for many years, Brody naturally knew what this standard implied.

Depending on the volume of the goods, the smuggling group would arrange different packages.

Like going to a restaurant, there's a ten-dollar boxed meal and a lavish feast for a hundred thousand.

It's all about the money.

Song Heping had offered 20 million US dollars for the transportation, which naturally warranted extra caution from Balrot.

Especially since the goods were forward by ELN militants, Balrot had to be extra careful.

Although ELN militants are a force within Colombia, they are a bona fide paramilitary organization. Losing the goods, not to mention underworld ethics, them sending assassins after him wasn't out of the realm of possibility.

Even if they couldn't find him, with ELN's influence, it could affect the drug trafficking groups within Mexico, making his life difficult going forward.

Moreover, as there is a rule in the industry, losing so many goods meant compensating for the losses was inevitable.

Coca has a different market value worldwide; this batch alone would be worth at least three hundred million US dollars in the United States, and in Europe, the price would triple or even quintuple.

That kind of money was not a small sum; if he truly had to compensate, it would literally break his bank.

"Don't worry, boss. Even Mr. Song doesn't know the real delivery location. I will make necessary arrangements when the time comes. Rest assured, the real delivery location is known only to me and Opalini."

"Hmm… Alright, proceed as you see fit. Don't disturb me unless necessary, be careful not to let the CIA listen in, and be cautious about the people involved this time, don't let the CIA's eyes infiltrate."

"Don't worry, boss. I'll handle it well. I've memorized all the tricks you've taught us over the years."

Brody seemed sure of himself.