"Very well. Keep in touch." Song Heping had no extra words and directly ended the call.

After putting down the phone, Hunter raised an eyebrow: "Sounds like he's thrilled to madness."

"Just a revelry of interests." Song Heping snorted coldly, "He takes the top seat, we get the urgently needed crude oil sales, it's just mutual benefit. As for how much blood flows in the White Elephant Country's underworld, what does that have to do with us?"

Hunter was about to say something when Song Heping's other phone rang again.

This time it was Avanti.

Song Heping picked up the phone again and pressed the call button.

Avanti's voice, always with a hint of concern for the nation and its people, came through the earpiece.

Song Heping always felt that Avanti seemed to carry a heavy burden.

So every time they met, the other party's face was expressionless, and there was a kind of hard melancholy in his eyes.

"Song, there's a situation I think I must share with you immediately."

"Go ahead." Song Heping was succinct.

"The news is about the Kurd people." Avanti's speech sped up, "Our people cross-verified through several channels, the faction you contacted before, Abu You, is not doing well recently, the Kurd internally is disappointed with him for not securing the 'external strong support' he hoped for..."

Avanti paused subtly here.

Song Heping understood that he was implying that this "external support" was Song Heping himself.

Previously Abu You came to negotiate seeking cooperation, but Song Heping did not agree.

"The result now is that his influence on the Kurd Armed internal committee has significantly declined. More troublesome is that the Americans seem to have caught a whiff of something. CIA agents at the Elbil site and US Army advisors have strengthened their so-called 'oversight' of some Kurd frontline units, which is actually increased control and surveillance, they are already questioning Abu You's loyalty. If Abu You had some limited independent action space before, it's now almost entirely squeezed out."

Song Heping listened quietly, his finger unconsciously tapping lightly on the table.

Persians have their intelligence network, infiltrating all areas of the Middle East, and there are certainly their eyes within the Kurds.

It's just that Avanti shared this with him...

It is probably not as simple as just sharing intelligence.

Avanti continued: "Moreover, there are signs that they've adjusted the orbit of a reconnaissance satellite, focusing particularly on the northwestern area, especially the border zone between us and Illiguo, probably targeting you."

"Mr. Song, you must be cautious recently, avoid being exposed in open areas for long periods unless necessary, to avoid being caught on their satellite's clear image, unnecessarily causing trouble."

Avanti reminded, sincerely.

"Understood. Is there anything else?"

Song Heping asked, his face showing no expression.

"There's one more thing, possibly... an opportunity as well."

Avanti's tone became somewhat hesitant and probing.

Song Heping thought that perhaps they were finally getting to the real business, earlier things were just smoke bombs and idle talk.

"A informant we implanted in the 1515 Organization risked transmitting a message—1515 has also noticed the unrest within the Kurds and the US advisory group's recent adjustments causing chaos. They are secretly gathering troops, vehicles, and suicide bomb vests, very likely planning to launch a large-scale raid on the oil field areas controlled by the Kurds during a sandstorm soon."

He paused, cautiously asking: "Do you think... we should do something? For instance, give the Kurds an advance notice? Or, at a critical moment... give them a hand? This might tremendously improve our relationship with the Kurd Armed, even..."

Song Heping immediately understood Avanti's little scheme.

This Persian official has never given up on the idea of wooing the Kurd Armed to expand Persia's influence in Illiguo, hoping to use Song Heping as a surprise weapon to achieve this.

"My friend." Song Heping interrupted him, his voice calm and decisive, "I think doing so is meaningless, it might even backfire."

"Why?" Avanti seemed puzzled, "This is a perfect opportunity to help them in need..."

"I have repeatedly emphasized, Kurds are firstly the dogs of the Americans."

Song Heping pointed out sharply: "If we intervene now, even if we help them repel the 1515, what will the Americans think? Will they be grateful to us? Or will they think we have ulterior motives, trying to expand our influence in the Kurd Region? The result might be that under American pressure, the Kurds will not only not appreciate it, but may even turn their guns on us to show loyalty to their master."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, Avanti evidently felt that Song Heping's words made sense.

"So we just watch 1515 grow? If those oil fields fall into their hands..."

Avanti was still somewhat reluctant.

"Rest assured! Someone is more anxious than we are! The 1515 Armed is a minor ailment, the Americans won't tolerate them for long. And the Kurds are the Americans' core interest tool."

Song Heping analyzed, "Watch, if the 1515 really launches an attack and succeeds, the most anxious will be the Americans. Once the Kurds collapse, they will lose everything."

As he said this, a subtle gleam flashed in his eyes: "I feel instead of us enthusiastically sticking to cold shoulders, it would be better to wait until the Americans can't take it anymore and come to us for cooperation. After all, in this area, who but us knows more about the 1515 or has more capability to find their hideouts?"

Avanti on the other end of the phone gasped: "The Americans... come to us for cooperation? Song, is that... possible? Don't forget, you and your team... are on the CIA and JSOC's blacklist. Between you... there's a blood feud."

Avanti's concerns were not without reason.

The number of CIA agents and US Special Forces who have died at the hands of Song Heping and his subordinates is uncountable.

Such deep hatred, can it be easily resolved?

"Americans are realists, they aren't stupid."

Song Heping paused for a moment, then slowly said: "There are no eternal friends, nor eternal enemies, only eternal interests. In the quagmire of Illiguo, to preserve strategic interests, sometimes Americans have to deal with people they don't like. I'm not sure they'll definitely come but..."

He paused, his tone firm: "It's worth a gamble. Anyway, not helping the Kurds won't lose us anything. Helping might cause trouble instead. Maintain our position, observe the changes quietly."

"...Alright, Song, I respect your judgment."

Avanti's voice sounded somewhat disappointed, but he also knew that Song Heping's decisions were usually most aligned with reality's interests, "I will continue to closely monitor all developments and share any new situations with you at any time."

"Thank you."

Ending the call with Avanti, a brief silence fell within the safe house.

Hunter looked at Song Heping and slowly spoke: "Boss, do you really think the Americans will lower themselves to come to us?"

Song Heping gazed out the window, seemingly able to penetrate the curtains to see that tumultuous land: "Hunter, both we and they know that in Illiguo this land, war is never just a simple military issue but the dirtiest politics and business. When the cost becomes unbearable to them, face is the cheapest thing. Just wait and see, the storm is coming."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com