Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 858 Interests, it's all about interests!
Ms. M had just returned from the morning briefing and hadn't even had time to ask her secretary to bring her a cup of coffee when her secure phone started vibrating.

Seeing Song Heping's number, she already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

She's been sitting back and watching the fight unfold.

Song Heping was very happy to have gained an advantage. At least in the Sahel region, the momentum of American expansion had slowed down.

Without the key to Sudan and Darfur, it will be difficult for the United States to establish a foothold in the region.

The Sultan is still the same Sultan.

Britain has the final say.

At the morning briefing just now, the head of the intelligence department reported to her that Ferrari, a key figure in Song Heping's company, seems to have been captured by the CIA in Eastern Europe and is currently missing.

MI6 intelligence agents in Eastern Europe discovered that CIA Counterterrorism Center Director Wright was in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, and it was clear that something big was going to happen there.

Based on comprehensive intelligence analysis, the Ferrari's disappearance is definitely related to the CIA.

This time, Song Heping seemed to have been very careless, as one of his key lieutenants was captured.

Even more seriously, Ferrari currently serves as the financial director of "Musician" defense, and he is in charge of all the company's secret overseas accounts and money laundering.

If he can't withstand the CIA's interrogation and confesses everything, it will be a fatal blow to Song Heping.

"Song."

Ms. M had an idea in less than five seconds.

She decided to answer Song Heping's call.

Now is not the time to abandon Song Heping.

This person still has significant value to be exploited. It's not advisable to cut ties with him just yet.

"I just started my shift and you showed up at my door; it must be urgent."

As she spoke, Ms. M glanced at her phone screen.

The anti-recording software is already activated. This software can decompose the sound and then re-encode it.

If Song Heping recorded the audio, the recording will be compared with Ms. M's later and found to be inconsistent, indicating that it was edited later.

She always kept a secret when dealing with Song Heping.

"M, I need your intelligence support."

Song Heping's voice came through the encrypted line, sounding less composed and more tense than usual.

"I think you've heard that my good friend Ferrari had an accident in Romania."

Ms. M walked to the window and looked down at the London street scene in the early morning. A red double-decker bus was driving across Westminster Bridge.

“I’ve heard some rumors,” she said, deliberately making her voice sound casual. “The CIA is making a big move this time; even Wright went to Bucharest himself.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone for two seconds.

"You're spying on the CIA?"

“A professional habit,” Ms. M chuckled, “like how you mercenaries habitually hide an extra magazine in every gun.”

"I need to know where Ferrari is being held, how many guards are on him, and the CIA's evacuation route."

Song Heping was straightforward.

Ms. M gently tapped the windowpane with her finger.

“Song, you know our relationship with the Americans. Between allies, some intelligence cannot be shared.”

"Allies?" Song Heping suddenly laughed, his laughter filled with sarcasm. "M, stop pretending. You British call yourselves international troublemakers; allies are just empty words. You even betrayed the French during World War II, let alone the Americans."

Ms. M's lips twitched slightly.

Song Heping's bluntness always makes people uncomfortable, yet they can't refute it.

She turned and walked to her desk, pulling up an encrypted file.

"Even if I were willing to help, what could you give me in return? Intelligence exchange is always a two-way street."

“I can owe you a favor,” Song Heping said.

"Favors?" Ms. M sneered. "In the intelligence world, favors are the cheapest form of currency."

"Then what do you want?"

Ms. M opened a map in the document, which marked the location of the small African country of Nasser.

"After the events in Eastern Europe, I need you to go to Nasse. A coup is imminent there, and the French-backed puppet regime needs professional assistance to quell the unrest."

The person on the other end of the phone was clearly taken aback.

"French? Why French?"

"Because they are our friends too."

Ms. M said it casually.

"Furthermore, they conceded some benefits. There's too much more to explain to you; you're the owner of a defense company, your job is simply to fulfill the client's requests."

"When did you British start acting as protectors for the French? Can't the Gallic rooster protect itself?" Song Heping's voice was full of doubt.

Ms. M looked at the topographical map of Nasser on the screen.

This small West African country has abundant uranium resources, and recently, American mining companies have been frequently active there. She knew very well who was behind these companies.

"Cooperation? We're all Europeans, we should think about European interests," she said casually. "So, what do you think?"

Song Heping thought to himself, "You old woman, keep pretending! You're even thinking about the interests of Europe... For two hundred years, Great Britain has caused a lot of trouble in Europe. Isn't the fragmented Europe we see today thanks to you British?"

However, now is not a good time to mock Ms. M.

So he casually said, "I need more details."

“Someone will tell you in the future,” Ms. M said. “Right now, let’s get back to Ferrari. That’s your top priority. If he can’t withstand the CIA’s questioning, your company will suffer a major blow. What’s the point of helping me then?”

Song Heping thought for a moment and agreed with Ms. M, so he said, "Deal. But I need to see your intelligence support first."

“Of course.” Ms. M pulled up the latest report from MI6’s Eastern European station. “We have an informant in Bucharest. According to his intelligence, Ferrari is being held in a makeshift interrogation center converted from an abandoned factory on the northern outskirts of the city. There are twelve CIA agents and sixteen locally hired armed guards there. As for how many agents they have in Bucharest on standby to arrest you, even I don’t know; after all, this is their covert operation.”

"Specific coordinates?"

“Someone will send it to your encrypted email in a bit,” Ms. M typed. “But there’s bad news—Wright has ordered the Ferrari to be moved. In forty-eight hours, an unmarked plane will take him to a black site in Lithuania.”

Why Lithuania?

“That area is not under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights,” Ms. M replied succinctly. “And it’s close enough to Russia that it would be easy to frame someone if needed.”

Song Heping remained silent for a moment.

What concrete support can you provide?

"Aside from intelligence, we can't offer any substantial support, but we can release some disinformation for you when appropriate to distract the CIA."

Ms. M said, "For example, suddenly 'discovering' unusual movements of Russian GRU troops on the Polish border, etc. Aren't you on very good terms with the Russians? I believe Wright would definitely think you used your connections in Russia to rescue Ferrari."

“That’s not enough,” Song Heping said.

“Song,” Ms. M’s voice suddenly turned cold, “don’t forget who’s begging whom. This is all I can do. The rest is up to you.”

The sound of Song Heping taking a deep breath came from the other end of the phone.

“Alright. I agree to Nasser's request. But on one condition—I want sufficient compensation.”

Ms. M raised an eyebrow: "That's reasonable. But I also have some requirements."

Song Heping said, "Go ahead."

Ms. M emphasized, "You must handle the matter in Nasse yourself."

"make a deal."

Song Heping replied bluntly, "When will the intelligence you're giving me arrive?"

"It has been sent."

Ms. M clicked the send button and then said, "Good luck. But let me warn you, Wright is no pushover. He had a nickname in Iraq, 'The Iceman,' and was notoriously ruthless."

"I like this kind of opponent the most."

Song Heping didn't waste any words and hung up the phone after speaking.

Ms. M put down her phone and stared at the screen thoughtfully.

The Americans have long coveted Nasser's uranium mines.

The French, on the other hand, wanted to retain their uranium resources in West Africa.

Sending Song Heping to stir things up was the perfect idea—it would create trouble for the Americans without directly involving Britain.

Provoke the two beasts to interact, then reap the benefits.

For centuries, Great Britain has been most adept at this kind of disruptive behavior.

She pressed the internal communication button.

"Connect me to the Africa Division. We need to adjust some details regarding the Nasse plan. Have him come to my office immediately."

Meanwhile, in the Persian military camp, Song Heping stared at the encrypted file he had just received from Ms. M, his brow furrowed as he browsed its contents.

He understood Ms. M's scheme—the British wanted to use him to provoke a conflict between the US and France in Africa so they could reap the benefits.

The British Empire had used the classic "offshore balancing" strategy for centuries without fail.

She wanted to be used as a pawn.

But it doesn't matter to me anymore.

Killing one CIA agent is no different from killing ten.

The most important thing is to save Ferrari.

This operation requires me to devise a perfect plan and teach "Iceman" Wright a lesson in the tactic of "all's fair in war."

(End of this chapter)