Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 834 The Viper Behind the Scenes

The operations briefing room on the third basement floor of the U.S. Embassy in Egypt.

The twelve members of the "Watchmen" squad sat fully armed on the tiered seats. They were dressed in the latest tactical equipment and wore communication headsets. Each of them had a serious and focused expression.

Jasper stood in front of the 3D projected map of Yemen, the red dot of the laser pointer hovering over the port of Aden. He tapped the table lightly with his fingers, seemingly deep in thought.

“If I’m not mistaken, Song Heping has probably already landed in Yemen.” Jasper’s voice was firm: “However, the area is currently in the midst of large-scale riots. The wave of public protests has caused widespread chaos, and the conflict between the slippery armed groups and government forces in the north can provide cover for our operation. At this time, no one cares about a few foreigners dying in the chaos, so it’s a good opportunity for us. Let’s go for it.”

Morris raised his hand: "What are the rules of engagement?"

"The Yemeni government has secretly approved our small-scale counter-terrorism operation."

Jasper pulled up a blurry photo of Song Heping with several Arabs. Pointing to Song Heping in the photo, he said, "The target is suspected of providing arms technology support to terrorist organizations. The president signed the 'kill without mercy' authorization."

Simon, leaning against the wall, suddenly interjected, "What if he wants to surrender?"

The room fell silent, and all eyes were on Jasper.

Jasper's lips twitched slightly: "Song Heping won't surrender. But what if this situation arises?"

He glanced around at everyone, then said in a deep voice, "Prioritize ensuring that drone data doesn't fall into enemy hands. Understand?"

The team members nodded in unison, their eyes revealing a firm determination.

Jasper knew they all understood the true meaning of those words—leave no survivors.

“Operation codename ‘Bone Saw’.” Jasper turned to all the personnel and said, “The situation in Yemen is very chaotic right now. Nobody knows when their flights will be shut down. Pack your gear and get ready to depart immediately. Take your diplomatic documents. Meet me at Aden International Airport in six hours. Dismissed!”

After the team members left, Jasper remained alone in the briefing room. He walked to the window and gazed at the night outside.

He picked up the photo of the video screenshot from the table—a printed screenshot of Song Heping disguised as an engine operator—and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Jasper lit it with a lighter and watched the flames engulf Song Heping's face, as if venting his hatred for this enemy.

Just as the flames were about to burn his fingers, he released his grip, and the ashes drifted into the metal trash can.

"This time I won't let you get away," he murmured to himself, his voice filled with determination.

He didn't notice that a shadow quietly receded from under the door of the briefing room.

At the corner of the corridor, Carlson was walking towards us carrying a pile of documents, seemingly deep in thought about something important.

Simon stopped him: "I need to make a backup of the action plan."

Carlson frowned: "Jasper said it was top secret—"

“I just spoke to him,” Simon said with a smile, showing the deputy commander’s insignia on his security card.

The technician hesitated for a moment, then handed over the tablet: "Please return it within an hour. I need to upload the final task."

"of course."

Simon took the data panel, and after watching Carlson leave, his smile vanished.

He quickly manipulated the data panel, copied the entire operation route and plan to his phone, and then deleted the transmission record.

After doing all this, Simon walked to the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor.

In the elevator, he quickly dialed a number that wasn't saved in his contacts.

"The information is sent to you. Please check your inbox." He whispered into his phone, "There are two groups of hunters, one is the official team, and the other is Satan's people. Be careful and wait for my latest instructions. Do not act rashly."

Simon had already hung up the phone before the elevator doors opened.

He straightened his tie, strode through the embassy lobby, and headed toward the black SUV in the ground-level parking lot.

Inside the car, the "Watchmen" team's equipment bags were neatly arranged. Simon tossed his own bag onto the car, opened the door, and sat in the passenger seat.

He turned around and handed a USB drive to Maurice: "Maurice, here's the operation plan and emergency backup data. Take it."

This was standard operating procedure, so Morris, without a second thought, took the USB drive, put it in a waterproof bag, and then placed it in the pocket of his tactical vest.

At dusk, the cargo ship "Blue Agate" quietly sailed into the waters off the port of Aden. The distant city was shrouded in an eerie orange-red smoke, with occasional bursts of fire shooting into the sky.

Captain Hassan adjusted the focus of his binoculars and cursed, "God above, the whole city is on fire!"

Song Heping took the binoculars, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

The dock area of ​​Aden Port was packed with fleeing people, several fishing boats were burning fiercely, and in the streets further away, a dark mass of demonstrators surged like a tide, and riot police armored vehicles were overturned like toys.

There were ships on the dock, and crowds surged toward the cargo ships, seemingly wanting to board and evacuate.

There are many ships leaving the port now, but the channel leading into the port is deserted, with only the "Blue Agate" standing out.

“The Arab Spring,” Noura whispered. “It’s broken out in Yemen too.” Suddenly, the cargo ship’s radio blared a shrill Arabic broadcast, a passionate voice repeatedly proclaiming: “The people have awakened! The dictator will fall!”

"Should we go ashore again?" Hassan asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Song Heping's gaze swept across the harbor, his expression firm and resolute.

“We’re coming ashore. There’s no turning back now.” He made the decision. “Hassan, you leave port immediately after we leave.”

There were no dispatchers left at the port, so Hassan could only launch a lifeboat in the sea near the port area and use it to take Song Heping and the others to the dock.

"Song, are you sure you want to disembark here?"

Song Heping nodded; he didn't want to continue answering such a boring question.

After all, the worst thing for any commander is to be timid and hesitant. Once a decision is made, one must forge ahead without hesitation. Being afraid of everything will only lead to major mistakes.

Before nightfall, the port of Aden resembles a pot of boiling asphalt, chaotic and dangerous.

Song Heping, Nura, and Antonov went ashore with their pre-prepared independent investigative journalist ID cards.

Antonov carried a camera, Nura wore a hat with the CNN logo, and Song Heping carried a telephoto lens camera; the three of them blended perfectly into the chaotic media group.

Six hours later, at the cargo area of ​​Aden International Airport.

An unmarked Gulfstream III business jet slowly came to a stop, the engine noise gradually subsiding.

The members of the "Watchmen" team stepped out of the cabin, and Captain Morris walked toward the local informant who was already waiting there—a thin man wrapped in a traditional Arab robe.

"Target location?" Morris asked bluntly.

“I checked all the cargo ships that have entered the port since last night and found the ship you are looking for.”

The informant handed over a tablet: "The cargo ship 'Blue Agate' just docked half an hour ago, but..."

He pulled up the dock surveillance footage, slid the screen to a specific time period, and then pointed to the figures of Song Heping and his group walking out of the port area gate: "They left the port area less than thirty minutes ago."

On the screen, one can vaguely see Song Heping, Nura, and Antonov exiting the gate and encountering a protest group. The group quickly pulled up their Arab scarves to cover their heads and faces and soon blended into the crowd.

"damn it!"

Morris cursed.

Just a little bit closer!

Just a little bit!

If he had arrived here an hour earlier, he might have been able to intercept Song Heping near the port.

The coordinate data was uploaded to the team members' tactical tablets.

"Spin them into three groups to track them," he ordered. "Remember, the priority is Asian male targets; the other two can be let go if necessary..."

The order had just been given when Jasper's voice came from behind.

"Maurice, wait!"

"Sir, what is it?"

Morris turned to look at Jasper, who was holding his phone, frowning as he looked at the information on it.

A moment later, joy spread across Jasper's face, and he actually smiled: "I know where they're going! Let's go, get in the car right now, and drive towards the port as fast as we can!"

"Yes!"

Everyone immediately rushed to the SUVs that were already parked not far away, quickly boarded the vehicles, and drove away from the airport as fast as possible under the guidance of the contact person.

But no one noticed that the silver USB drive in Morris's tactical vest was sending encrypted pulse signals every five minutes.

Five kilometers away, on the roof of an abandoned warehouse in the port of Aden.

Several men dressed in Arab robes but fully armed stood in a circle, their eyes revealing coldness and determination.

"The signal has been locked, and those 'watchmen' will lead us to our target."

The team leader—a man with a black eyepatch over his left eye—grimaced as he stared at the tracker in his hand and the occasional flashing signal source on it: "Everyone remembers. Leave no one alive, except the boss."

"Understood, boss."

The men beside him readily repeated his order: "Leave no one alive, except the boss."

A few minutes later, they all left and disappeared under the warehouse's fire escape.

(End of this chapter)