Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 853 New Plan

Moradi was quickly placed in isolation for investigation.

His confession was like a sharp dagger, slicing through the surface of the Revolutionary Guard's intelligence system and revealing the rotting flesh inside.

When the list of suspects in the espionage case was released, Afanti gasped in shock after seeing his own name.

According to the list provided by Moradi, a total of 17 officers of various ranks within the Revolutionary Guard are suspected of providing internal intelligence to the Americans.

These 17 officers are scattered across various key departments, holding mid-level or higher positions. Some of them may not have high ranks, but their positions are very crucial.

He decided to entrust this cleanup task to Song Heping, with an investigation team composed of him and Nassin in charge of the operation, to arrest all those involved in the case in the shortest possible time.

After all, this was an internal investigation.

Nasreddin worried that if the task was entrusted to his own people, there might be a mole among those investigating.

Seeking help from the national counter-espionage department is tantamount to airing one's dirty laundry in public.

The Revolutionary Guard's identity is too special. If a large-scale espionage case occurs within this force, it means that the higher-ups will also have doubts about the force's loyalty and combat effectiveness.

Therefore, handling the matter discreetly is the only option that satisfies both sides.

Two nights later, Song Heping stood in the investigation team's office, the walls covered with photos and relationship diagrams.

Many of those photos have already been marked with a red cross.

They were all executed on Nasreddin's orders after being proven to be traitors.

"Of the seventeen people on the list, nine have already been dealt with."

Afanti crossed out several photos on the wall with a red pen, saying, "The remaining eight are under surveillance."

Song Heping walked to the wall and gently tapped a photograph with his fingers: "Why haven't they taken action against Hassan Rahimi yet?"

"He's the head of the border intelligence agency; his position is extremely important."

Afanti handed over a file.

“We need time to confirm whether he has truly betrayed us, or whether Moradi is deliberately framing us.”

Song Heping opened the file and quickly browsed through its contents.

Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows on his sharply defined face.

In his thirties, fine lines had already appeared at the corners of his eyes, marks left by his long journey on the edge of life and death.

“Look at this,” Song Heping said, pointing to a page in the file. “In the past six months, Rahimi made seven unreported cross-border trips, all to the Iligorod region. And according to Moradi’s testimony, the CIA had a liaison office in Erbil.”

Afanti's brow furrowed even more: "But northern Iligo is also a transit point for our contacts with the Pearl Party, and he has every reason to go there."

“Then let’s test it out.” Song Heping closed the file. “Let’s arrange some false intelligence and see if it leaks to the Americans.”

Afanti pondered for a moment, then nodded: "There's a high-level meeting tomorrow. I'll deliberately leak some false information—that we plan to transport a ship full of arms to Yemen and hand it over to the Houthi rebels. We'll then discuss the ship's name and route at the meeting. After all, the situation in Yemen is very chaotic lately, and the Americans believe we will definitely help the Houthis gain control of Yemen. They won't want to see that happen and will certainly intercept us in the Arabian Sea. If this really happens, it means..."

“That proves that Rahimi was indeed the mole,” Song Heping said.

Afanti patted Song Heping on the shoulder: "That's right, so your suggestion is excellent, Song. Sometimes I also feel very tired. Actually, if you're willing, I really hope you can stay and help me out."

"Don't joke around." Song Heping said very frankly, "I am an atheist."

This statement seems completely unrelated. But Afanti immediately realized that what he had just said was merely wishful thinking.

The reason for recruiting Song Heping was not about compensation or personal relationships, but rather because Song Heping revealed the core issue—he was an atheist.

As a theocratic state like Persia, Song Heping had no chance of staying, let alone taking a position in a key department like the Revolutionary Guard.

"You can stay as a consultant, or just serve as my personal advisor. The reason I want you in charge of this purge is because I don't trust many of the heads of our departments at all. Nobody knows who among them is an American mole."

Nasreddin had no selfish motives.

Song Heping is a talented person.

He desperately needs talented people.

Song Heping did not answer immediately.

He walked to the window and looked out at the training field.

Several Revolutionary Guard soldiers were conducting combat training, their sweat glistening in the sunlight.

Joining this purge means he will be more deeply involved in the intelligence war between Persia and the United States, but the conditions offered by Afanti—the full opening of Middle Eastern arms smuggling channels—are invaluable to Musician Defense.

“I can serve as an advisor, and I can be in charge of this operation, but I need complete freedom of action,” Song Heping finally said, “freedom from the constraints of your bureaucratic procedures.”

Afanti laughed: "Before you, I am the highest bureaucrat. But to get rid of these cockroaches, I'll grant you special privileges."

He took a document from the drawer. "This is a special authorization signed by the Supreme Leader, allowing you to participate in the operation as an advisor and enjoying corresponding immunity."

Song Heping took the document, quickly glanced at it, folded it, and put it in his pocket: "Let's begin. First, I need to make contact with the CIA assassin you recently captured."

At almost the same moment, in a conference room on the seventh floor of the CIA headquarters in Langley, Washington, D.C., the head of the counterterrorism division, Wright, was reporting to Director Vincent.

“Simon is still in the hospital and won’t be able to return to work for at least two months.” Wright pushed up his glasses. “Pence is dead, Jasper is dead, and our task force to hunt down Song Heping was almost completely wiped out.”

Director Vincent stood by the window, his back to Wright, his voice low and menacing: "This Chinese man has cost us too many excellent agents. Where is he now?"

"Latest intelligence indicates he has arrived in Persia and is currently at a secret base of the Revolutionary Guard." Wright opened the folder. "Avanti personally received him. We suspect he is assisting the Persians in purging a mole from their intelligence system."

Vincent turned around, a cold glint in his eyes: "So, our intelligence network in Persia is in danger of being completely exposed?"

“Yes, Director. Moradi has gone missing and is likely either arrested or executed.” Wright’s voice became cautious. “Directly pursuing Song Heping within Persia is almost impossible. I recommend implementing Plan B, which Jasper devised before his death.”

“Kidnapping the families of members of the ‘Musician’ defense company?” Vincent walked back to the table. “That’s risky. If it’s exposed, it could put our European allies in an embarrassing position.”

“But this is the most feasible solution at the moment,” Wright said quickly. “Song Heping’s core team is small, and among them, the company’s second-in-command, Ferrari’s sister Katerina, is a journalist in Eastern Europe, making her the easiest target.”

Vincent said, "What are you planning to do? Collaborate with the mob? Organize a kidnapping?"

“No need,” Wright said. “Katarina works as an investigative journalist for a traditional media organization called Eurowatch. She’s currently in Romania investigating a human trafficking case and has already started working for a modeling agency suspected of human trafficking. We don’t need to do anything; we just need to reveal her identity to the mafia, and they’ll complete the first step for us. Then we’ll leak the news of Katarina’s incident to Ferrari’s mother, who lives in Italy. I believe Ferrari will soon return to Europe and head straight to Romania…”

“This sounds like a good plan.” Vincent remained silent for a long time before finally nodding. “Approval. But it must be done cleanly and decisively, leaving no evidence pointing to us.”

“Understood, Chief.” Wright closed the folder. “We’ll make it look more like a regular kidnapping and extortion case. If Ferrari is missing, Song Heping will definitely show up in Europe to rescue his right-hand man.”

“Make sure we don’t fail again this time,” Vincent interrupted him coldly. “I don’t want to see that Chinese man’s name appear in any report again, ever.”

(End of this chapter)