Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 861 A sudden call
"A two-pronged approach."

Wright muttered to himself, the puzzle in his mind beginning to reassemble.

Song Heping deliberately spread the news that he would be taking Turkish Airlines to lure them into monitoring the airport, while simultaneously sneaking into Romania via another route.

Once this idea took shape, other doubts were also resolved—those GRU squads that happened to start moving towards the Black Sea must have entered Bulgaria by waterway, then crossed the Romanian border to meet up with Song Heping in Croatia!
That's right!

That's exactly the intention!

All those suspicious but ultimately ineffective alerts that came from various channels were just smokescreens.

"Notify the team at the airport to relocate immediately. All arrest teams, except for the one escorting the Ferrari, are coming with me to Croatia!"

Wright gave the order, his voice trembling slightly from the surge of adrenaline.

"Notify the Romanian Special Operations Bureau to increase checks on all major traffic routes from Croatia to Bucharest!"

He paused, then suddenly realized the most dangerous possibility.

"Prepare to transfer the prisoner. Have the escort team leave early to take Ferrari to Lithuania. We can't risk leaving him here."

As the agents hurriedly carried out orders, Wright stood in front of the map, his finger moving along the route from Athens to Bucharest.

He felt as if he were playing chess against an invisible opponent, who had just made a move he hadn't anticipated.

But one thing he was certain of was that no matter which direction Song Heping came from, his ultimate goal was the same: the abandoned factory where Ferrari was imprisoned.

Since this is where Ferrari is being held, and to rescue him, we must come to Bucharest, evacuating Ferrari immediately is the right choice.

However, at that moment, an agent suddenly reported to him: "Sir, there is a call request online."

Wright stared at the video request that suddenly popped up on the screen, his brow furrowed.

"The video call from Langley headquarters was with the director."

The agent's voice sounded from behind, tinged with tension.

Wright took a deep breath, straightened his shirt, and then clicked to answer the call.

The screen flickered, and Director Vincent's face appeared on the screen. His expression was as cold as ever, and his gray sideburns looked particularly sharp under the cold light of the screen.

However, what made Wright's pupils shrink was that Simon was standing right next to the director, arms crossed, staring sharply at the camera.

"Simon?"

Wright's voice held a hint of undisguised surprise.

Shouldn't this guy be under review?

Although there was no direct evidence pointing to his mistakes in the failed operation in Yemen, according to CIA procedures, he should be suspended for at least three months.

And now, he's actually standing next to the bureau chief, and even participating in this operation?
“Wright,” Director Vincent’s voice was low and steady, “Simon offered to help, believing his knowledge of Song Heping could be of assistance.”

Wright's fingertips tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.

He tried to keep his expression calm, but a wave of distrust was surging within him.

Simon?

help?

He was completely outmaneuvered by Song Heping in Yemen, yet he dares to come here and give orders?
“Tell me about your progress,” Director Vincent ordered.

Wright took a deep breath in exasperation, then quickly reported the current situation—the Turkish aviation intelligence intercepted by MI6, the suspicious individuals on the Athens flight, and the unusual activities of the GRU team.

He deliberately avoided mentioning Ferrari's relocation plan, since Simon was present and he didn't want this information to be leaked.

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than Simon gave a cold laugh.

"Wright, you've been tricked."

Wright's eyes instantly turned cold.

"What's the meaning?"

“Song Heping won’t go to Croatia,” Simon said firmly. “He will definitely take that Turkish Airlines flight and arrive in Bucharest on time.”

Wright almost burst out laughing.

"What makes you so sure?" "Because I know him too well." Simon's voice was deep and resolute. "Song Heping's favorite thing to do is to do the opposite of what's expected. He knows we'll suspect MI6's intelligence is a smokescreen, so he's deliberately acting according to plan."

Wright tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his inner turmoil growing stronger.

"So you mean we should continue waiting at the airport?"

“That’s right,” Simon nodded. “Furthermore, I suggest you don’t send all your troops to Croatia, otherwise Bucharest will become a ghost town, and once Song Heping really comes, you won’t be able to stop him at all.”

Seeing Simon giving him all sorts of orders and instructions as if he were an operations manager, Wright finally couldn't take it anymore.

“Simon, you’re still under investigation.” His voice was icy. “Your judgment has already been proven questionable in Yemen, and now you’re interfering with my operations?”

Simon's face instantly darkened.

"Things in Yemen aren't that simple, Wright."

“Enough,” Chief Vincent interrupted the two, but his gaze lingered on Wright. “Wright, Simon’s suggestion is worth considering.”

Wright's heart skipped a beat.

The bureau chief is actually biased towards Simon?
“Chief, if I may be so blunt,” Wright said, struggling to control his tone, “there’s no way Song Heping would be foolish enough to leak his flight information to MI6. Based on our past experience, anyone with even a little training wouldn’t do that, let alone a cunning fox like Song Heping! This is clearly a smokescreen!”

"Or, that's exactly what he wants you to think."

Simon added coldly.

"He's betting that you won't believe him!"

Wright slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly.

"Simon! You are not qualified to participate in the operation!"

The agents in the safe house fell silent instantly, as if the air had frozen.

Director Vincent's eyes sharpened.

“Wright, calm down.”

Wright took a deep breath and forced himself to sit back down.

But he had already developed complete hostility towards Simon.

What does this guy want to do?
His mind raced.

What if Song Heping really does come as originally planned?
If he were to withdraw all his troops now, Bucharest would become an empty city, and Song Heping could easily break through the defenses.

But what if Song Heping really went to Croatia?
If he remains inactive, he will miss the best opportunity to arrest him. Once Song Heping leaves Colorado Airport, finding him again will be extremely difficult.

Damn!

He hates this kind of psychological warfare.

What made him even more uneasy was—which side was Simon on?
“Wright,” Director Vincent’s voice pulled him back to reality, “I suggest you split your forces. One group will stay in Bucharest, and the other will go to Croatia.”

Wright glared at Simon on the screen, gritted his teeth, and said, "Understood, Director. I will make the necessary adjustments, but I still maintain my opinion: Song Heping could not possibly have arrived in Bucharest on a Turkish Airlines flight! Unless he's an idiot!"

Now, he had made up his mind—he would never act entirely according to Simon's advice.

After the video call ended, Wright immediately issued new orders.

"Four members of Group A will remain to monitor the airport, the rest will be assigned to Group B and head to Croatia, and Group C will escort the Ferrari to its early relocation."

The agents acted swiftly, but Wright's heart pounded.

He took a gamble.

If Song Heping is really at the airport, then Group A is enough to hold him off.

If he's in Croxit, Group B will give him a "surprise".

But what troubled him most was whether Simon's suggestion was genuinely helpful or had ulterior motives.
He looked out the window; it was already daylight in Bucharest.

But this game has only just begun.

(End of this chapter)