Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 1009 The Magic of Money

On the very night that Song Heping and his mercenary force dismantled the SAM-6, a tense and covert operation was quietly launched in the distant port of Alexandria, fueled by the allure of money.

At midnight, the roar of a private jet's engine shattered the silence of a private helipad on the outskirts of Cairo.

Toby Papadopoulos' Gulfstream G650 landed on the runway like a tired but purposeful giant metal bird.

The hatch opened, and air carrying the dry heat characteristic of the desert's edge rushed in.

Toby stepped down the gangway before it was fully in place. He was wearing a well-tailored dark suit that couldn't hide the fatigue of the long flight, but his eyes were sharp as a scorched blade.

A black bulletproof Land Rover had been waiting for some time, its engine humming softly.

The driver was a local, taciturn man who simply nodded respectfully and quickly took Toby's simple luggage.

"To the Nile Palace Hotel, quick."

Toby climbed into the back seat, his voice hoarse but undeniably authoritative.

He needs to be there to complete the final preparations.

Half an hour later, in a luxury suite on the top floor of the Nile River Hotel.

Thick curtains blocked out Cairo’s dazzling yet distant lights.

Toby didn't rest as soon as he entered the door. He quickly connected to the encrypted satellite phone and swiped his fingers rapidly through a special contact list on the phone.

Behind each name lies a "friendship" or "reciprocal relationship," whether deep or shallow, that he cultivated and accumulated over twenty years in Egypt, but which must be effective at this moment.

He first dialed a number labeled "A. Hakim – The Guide".

The phone was answered after only one ring.

"Mr. Toby? He's arrived earlier than scheduled."

A deep, steady voice came through, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension.

Abdel Hakim, seemingly an ordinary import and export consultant, is actually the most crucial node and "lubricant" in Toby's vast network of relationships in Egypt.

"The plan has changed, Abdul. We need to start at full speed. The client's request is very urgent."

Toby was concise and to the point, without beating around the bush.

“The ‘Seagull’ must be loaded with cargo and depart from berth X17 within 72 hours. I need a direct route to the core, now, immediately.”

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, after which you could hear soft breathing.

“This…time is too tight, Mr. Toby. It involves a very high level of sophistication, and the risks…”

“I will take the risk, Abdul.”

Toby interrupted him, his voice icy. “The payment will also be made at the highest ‘emergency’ standard. You know my rules. The people I need to see are: Mustafa Eldin, Deputy Director of the Port Authority; Samir Abbas, the head of the Customs Department in charge of the western district of Alexandria; Jamal Abdulrahman, the Port Police Chief; and… that friend from the Navy, Mr. ‘Seahawk.’ Arrange the first meeting before dawn. The location must be absolutely secure.”

Another silence followed, then the rustling sound of pen and paper being quickly scribbled down.

“Understood, Mr. Toby. Deputy Director Mustafa… he prefers to handle ‘private matters’ before dawn. I can arrange a meeting in his… ‘private collection room.’ The address will be sent to you later, an hour from now. Cash?”

"cash."

Toby confirmed, "The first batch of 'souvenirs' is ready."

He glanced at the two heavy, unassuming black sports bags beside the bed.

These were all US dollar cash that he had temporarily raised by using his greatest connections.

Time was of the essence, so he essentially made the payment in advance.

But he also knew that the man who had promised him generous rewards over the phone would never go back on his word.

Even if the Alps collapse, their promises will be kept.

Two hours later.

The Deputy Director of the Port Authority's "Private Collection Room".

4:30 AM
The location is a house deep in a maze of alleys in Cairo's Old City, without any signs.

The heavy wooden door opened silently after Toby knocked on a specific code.

Toby was led into a room filled with the strong smell of cigars and old books.

The walls are adorned with valuable Persian carpets and several European oil paintings that appear to be genuine.

Mustafa El-Din, a middle-aged man with a plump build and heavy eye bags, is wearing a silk robe and playing with a small Egyptian gold artifact.

He didn't get up, but instead scrutinized the travel-worn Toby with a critical look.

“Toby, we’ve dealt with each other so many times, but this is the first time you’ve personally visited me so late at night.”

Mustafa's voice had the drawn-out tone typical of bureaucrats.

"Your Excellency, I regret to disturb you so late at night, but I have some urgent business to attend to, so I apologize for bothering you."

Without a word, Toby gently placed one of the sports bags on a low table covered with velvet next to Mustafa, with the zipper slightly open.

Inside were neatly stacked hundred-dollar bills, exuding an enticing smell of ink, and an astonishing thickness.

“A small token of my appreciation for your hard work in contributing to the prosperity of Egyptian ports.” Mustafa’s gaze swept over the reassuring green, and the muscles on his face relaxed slightly.

"Alexandria is the jewel of Egypt, and managing it is... incredibly complex. Especially the allocation of special berths, which requires coordinating multiple parties and balancing various... interests. Berth X17? That location is quite remote, and the facilities are outdated..."

“It is precisely because it is remote and old that it is most suitable for handling my batch of ‘special’ large mining machinery parts.”

Toby replied earnestly, “They are huge, require space for loading and unloading, and might interfere with the busy operations of the main channel. Moreover, in order to complete the shipment as quickly as possible and avoid affecting the normal operation of the port, I am willing to pay a ‘special port entry fee’ and a ‘fast inspection fee’, as well as an additional ‘port facility usage fee’. The fees… can very ‘flexibly’ reflect the ‘unique value’ of the port facilities.”

Tobit deliberately emphasized the words "special," "urgent," "flexible," and "unique value."

Mustafa slowly picked up a piece of goldware beside him, examined it against the light, as if assessing its purity.

"Hmm... large equipment... does indeed require special arrangements. The 'special entry fee' and 'expedited inspection fee' are additional service costs outside the standard procedures, reflecting the value of efficiency... As for the 'facility usage fee,' although berth X17 is old, its... 'historical value' and the 'dedicated space' it provides certainly deserve a price that matches it. I will personally sign the special approval documents to ensure that the 'Seagull' gets priority access to berth X17 late the day after tomorrow... well, the night after tomorrow. In the port records, it will be because of... 'equipment commissioning needs' that it has been temporarily approved to use the backup berth."

Toby's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile: "Thank you for your efficiency and understanding, Deputy Director. The 'Seagull's' agent will soon submit a cost list that fully reflects the berth's 'historical value' and the 'efficiency' of this service."

……

Another two hours passed.

A breakfast meeting of a section chief at customs.

Time: 6:00 AM.

The location was changed to a private room in a high-end hotel in the Alexandria district.

Samir Abasco was younger and leaner than Tobi had imagined, with sharp, hawk-like eyes. He was dressed in a crisp uniform, with only a cup of black coffee in front of him.

He clearly doesn't like beating around the bush.

Mr. Papadopoulos, Hakim said you have an 'urgent compliance' need? Regarding a… 'Seagull'?

Samir got straight to the point.

"Yes, Chief Abasco."

Toby placed another gym bag under the table in the space between the two of them, the movement as natural as adjusting his posture.

"The 'Seagull' is carrying a batch of heavy mining crusher components and accessories for a key project in West Africa. Time is of the essence. I hope your agency can give it the highest priority for expedited inspection to ensure the process is smooth. Of course, I fully understand the 'special administrative costs' incurred by sending extra staff and working overtime."

Samir picked up his coffee cup, but his gaze fell on the bulging bag under the table.

"Expedited inspections require sufficient justification and complete documentation. Mining machinery? Specific model? Certificate of origin? Safety certification? Customs' responsibility is to ensure everything is legal, compliant, and the process is transparent."

Although he said that, there was no real questioning in his tone; it was more like he was confirming the "script."

Toby understood immediately and smiled slightly, “All the documents have been meticulously prepared by my team and fully comply with international standards and Egyptian regulations. The specific model of the crusher component is ‘Titan-7800,’ and the documents will clearly list all component numbers and specifications. The certificates of origin are from well-known manufacturers in Germany and Turkey, and all safety certifications are complete. My only request is that, provided the documents are compliant on the surface, the inspection process can be coordinated with the loading schedule as much as possible to avoid unnecessary delays. After all, time is money at the port.”

He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice, “To thank your department for your ‘efficient cooperation’ during this special period, I have prepared an ‘emergency handling fund’ specifically to cover all additional… well, ‘resource allocation’ costs that may arise from this expedited inspection. This fund will be directly deposited into a… more flexible account.”

He implied that the money would not go through official records, but would instead go directly into a slush fund controlled by Samir.

Samir took a sip of coffee, put down the cup, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table a few times.

"'Titan-7800'... large equipment. The documentation is complete... excellent. Expedited inspection requires mobilizing an elite team, working 24-hour shifts... the cost is indeed very high. The 'emergency handling fund'... is a reasonable solution. I will personally oversee the inspection process to ensure it is both 'thorough' and... 'efficient'. The cargo name will be registered as 'heavy mining crusher components and accessories' as you provided. As long as the documentation is in order, the container... will not be unnecessarily opened for random checks of core components."

He particularly emphasized the words "core components," implying that as long as the documents passed, they could turn a blind eye to what was inside.

“I am extremely grateful, Chief Abbasco. Your professionalism and efficiency are a model for Egyptian customs.”

Toby said sincerely.

"I have urgent business to attend to, please allow me to take my leave now. I will personally visit you to express my gratitude after I have finished my business."

……

7:30 PM
This was the last meeting between Toby and the Egyptian executive.

The venue was set on the terrace of a private clubhouse converted from an abandoned lighthouse in Alexandria, overlooking the bustling port and the Mediterranean Sea in the distance.

Jamal Abdulrahman, the port police chief, was a burly man with a police badge and an imposing presence, while "Sea Eagle," who came with him—Colonel Ahmed Rashid, a senior officer of the naval patrol—was dressed in civilian clothes, but stood tall and had eyes as cold as the sea breeze.

Instead of carrying a large bag, Toby pushed two thick, sealed banknote bags in front of the two men.

"Director Jamal, Colonel Rashid, thank you both for taking the time out of your busy schedules."

Toby got straight to the point: "'The Seagull' will dock at berth X17 late tomorrow night for loading operations. That place is remote, and security may require special attention. I don't want any...unexpected interference, such as unnecessary patrols or checks, or the approach of unauthorized personnel. At the same time, I also hope that the 'regular order' in the port and the surrounding waters will remain...stable during that time."

Chief Jamal weighed the money bag in his hand, a satisfied expression on his face.

"Berth X17... definitely needs increased security. I will assign the most reliable officers to establish a 'safety buffer zone' around the berth to ensure absolute quiet and no external disturbances during operations. Police patrol routes will be 'temporarily optimized' to avoid that area."

Colonel Rashid silently picked up the money bag, his sharp gaze fixed on Toby: "Late-night operations... require special attention to navigation safety. Berth X17 is near an unofficial channel for small vessels, where occasionally... 'lost fishing lights' appear. The naval patrol is responsible for ensuring the absolute safety of the main channel and the surrounding waters."

He paused for a moment, then said meaningfully, "Tomorrow night, I've arranged a surprise drill targeting 'specific illegal fishing activities' in the area... covering a fan-shaped area five nautical miles west of berth X17."

“During the exercise, all patrol vessels will focus their attention on the ‘exercise area,’ and radar monitoring will prioritize scanning that direction. Of course, the ‘safety’ of the port berths themselves will depend on Director Jamal.”

He meant that the Navy would deliberately divert patrol forces and “ignore” radar signals near berth X17, and as long as Toby ensured that there was no trouble at the port during loading, the sea lanes would be safe.

Toby raised his glass of whiskey: "To the safety of the port, to the glory of the navy, and to the efficiency and stability we all maintain. Cheers."

　Asking for a monthly ticket! Asking for a monthly ticket! Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　I'll say it three times because it's important!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)