Starting from South America, speeding through the world

Chapter 333 Drawing Sword, Looking Around, Heart Filled with Confusion

early morning.

Two olive-green pickup trucks were parked in the courtyard.

In the distance, the observer was chewing gum listlessly.

This is a temporary camp.

Hard ground, barbed wire, and fences pieced together a makeshift defensive line.

The door to the command center was wide open, with a simple sign hanging outside bearing the company name and the message "Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from entering."

The fan inside was creaking.

Several plastic tables were put together to form a rectangle, which was piled high with maps and folders.

Several rifles leaned against the corner, magazines full, safety off.

Richard Harlow stood by the window, looking at Zhou Yi apologetically.

"Don't worry, the company will handle everything," he said.

"The earliest flight is tomorrow. You can come with us."

Zhou Yi nodded, silently staring at the ashtray beside him.

Richard studied his expression and quickly added:
“Listen, Colin is a universally acknowledged good guy.”

"We all regret this."

After a long pause, Zhou Yi finally spoke.

"Who provided you with the intelligence?"

He spoke slowly, as if he was thinking as he spoke.

"Who told you that there are no signs of your goals becoming radicalized?"

Who set the rules of engagement?

Richard's expression froze upon hearing this.

"We obtained Kasonga's exact location three days before the operation."

“There is no evidence to suggest that he has any connection with extremist groups, whether it is the ADF or al-Shabaab.”

"Subsequent investigations also proved that he was actually connected with a disbanded local organization, and that absurd rituals involving sacrifice, tribes, and mysticism."

"So, although we are very sorry, Colin—"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Yi interrupted him.

"Thank you for providing the details, but what I need is the name."

"Who gave you the intelligence? Where did you get the information from?"

"That's all."

Richard, however, seemed not to hear him and continued speaking to himself:
"—Colin's death is completely different from what you imagine."

“Before the incident, no one, believe me, knew about his relationship with the voodoo sect worshipped by those jungle people.”

Zhou Yi sighed.

“Richard, if you were still in the army, would this be the sentence you would write in an AAR?”

"Even though the intelligence was wrong, leading to incorrect rules of engagement and consequently casualties, none of this has anything to do with the S2, J2, or even the entire chain of command?"

Richard shook his head, turned around, and sat back down on the stool.

"I'm sorry, I cannot provide the information you requested."

He spread his palms out. "This is no ordinary ledger."

"And it's not something that some freelancers in jackets could possibly know."

The room immediately tensed up upon hearing this.

Mark instinctively took two steps forward, trying to get closer to his boss.

But Jim was faster.

He quickly stood up and instantly blocked the man's path.

Then, he raised his right hand and extended his index finger.

"Quiet down, let them continue talking."

Zhou Yi took out a cigarette from his pocket, picked up the lighter on the table, and lit it.

“Tell me the names of all those responsible—treat it as a polite request.”

He took a deep breath and then exhaled.

"So please, don't make a big deal out of this."

Richard remained unmoved.

“John, I understand you’re angry.”

He looked thoughtfully at the dust floating in the air.

"That's how intelligence works; we get the information."

"A general, if he can help the war, that's all."

Silence filled the air.

The fan became even louder, as if it were about to fall apart.

Zhou Yi suddenly stubbed out his cigarette and stood up.

The next second, he stepped over the table and grabbed the man by the collar. Then, with a sudden burst of strength, he yanked Richard up and slammed him against the wall.

Boom-!
After the loud bang, powder fell in a flurry, landing on the two men's shoulders.

The documents on the table were all overturned.

Zhou Yi didn't give the other party time to react; with a flick of his wrist, a pistol appeared.

With a "click", the bullet was loaded.

Then, without hesitation, he shoved the gun into Richard's mouth.

"This is your last chance."

"Richard, give me a name."

"Africa Command? Langley? Or fucking—"

Mark was already terrified and grabbed the gun handle, but it was held firmly in his hand.

Jim pressed close to his back, bent slightly, and drew out the spare gun he was carrying concealed.

“Relax, big boy,” he said.

"Don't embarrass yourself. Give adults space to talk."

Richard's face turned bright red.

He stared at Zhou Yi in disbelief, the suffocation in his chest growing stronger.

The next moment, his gaze fell on the trigger.

His fingertips tightened, as if he were truly about to fire.

At this moment, Richard finally panicked.

He reached out and struggled desperately, managing to squeeze out broken words.

"You're fucking insane—I'll talk! I—"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Yi suddenly drew his pistol.

You have three seconds to convince me.

"You fucking insane! They're dead! They're all dead, okay?"

"All dead?"

"They died in the airstrikes! This is the fucking war! War!"

Two seconds later, Zhou Yi suddenly withdrew his hand.

Richard collapsed to the ground, coughing violently.

He scrambled back to his chair, his hands trembling so badly he could barely hold the cup.

But Zhou Yi did not stop there.

He remained standing in the same spot, his gun steadily pointed at Richard.

"Then give me another name."

"Whoever should be held responsible for this failure, no matter who it is."

Richard hadn't fully recovered from the fear of almost being blown out of the head.

My chest heaved, adrenaline surged, and my emotions became heightened.

He stared at Zhou Yi, his eyes filled with fear and anger.

"You want a name? Okay—listen carefully."

“Africa, your dear Colin died in fucking Africa.”

"A goddamn land, endless wars, black guys in flip-flops murdering each other—it's fucking never-ending."

"Are you satisfied now? Judging from your expression, it doesn't seem like it's enough."

"Okay, I'll give you another name: Africa Command."

“I swear to you, they’re behind everything here, logistics, consultants, partnerships.”

"Then there's the Ministry of Defense, Langley, those shell companies, offshore accounts, Dubai, Luxembourg, and agents registered in Brussels."

Is this list enough?

"I can give you the contract number and payment records. But do you really want to ring the doorbell, knock on the office door, and drag out a bunch of men in suits?"

"Can you bear the consequences? Are you prepared to accept death?"

"You think I'm wrong, you think we're wrong."

"We get paid to do things, and you get paid to do things, so what's the difference?"

“You point your guns at others, but when it’s your turn to fall, you shout ‘It’s not fair!’ Isn’t that ridiculous?”

"You want a name? Sure, let's start from three months ago."

“A bunch of damn lunatics blew Karabi into the sky.”

"Go find them, go ask them why the rules of war changed back then?"

Richard vented his anger and finally calmed down a bit.

He was stunned for a moment before belatedly looking up.

Unexpectedly, the two figures had already disappeared outside the door.

(End of this chapter)