Several minutes later, as the delicate, soft sand glistened, Song Heping ran alongside Samir and asked, "It's very quiet here, Samir, you can tell me what's on your mind now."

The sea breeze swept across the beach, and the morning sunlight brought a warm feeling.

Samir said, "Boss, actually..."

He gritted his teeth.

Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he said, "I'm here to resign."

"Resign?!"

This response surprised Song Heping quite a bit.

He stopped in his tracks and looked at Samir.

"Why? Do you feel that the salary and benefits aren't good enough?"

"No, no, no!"

Samir hastily denied.

"The company benefits are excellent! The treatment is good too! Boss, you've never discriminated against us from Illigo, you are a good boss."

Song Heping wiped his sweat with the towel around his neck and said, "I don't need a pat on the back, I just want to know why you want to resign."

Samir hesitated for a few seconds before speaking his mind, "I want to go it alone."

"Go it alone!?"

Song Heping thought a few words flashed through his mind—He's grown wings!

"Yes, but it's not about becoming a mercenary, I plan to go to places like Mosul to organize my own armed force."

Samir seemed very candid.

"Armed force?"

Song Heping was somewhat confused.

"You're setting up this kind of armed organization, do you plan to confront the Americans?"

"No!"

Samir shook his head.

"I've thought it through. The Americans will leave sooner or later. Now it's not about whether we drive the Americans out but what we should do after they leave."

Song Heping was stunned.

He looked at Samir and suddenly remembered that this was a man from Illigo who had been educated in Britain.

Originally, he joined the special forces organized by the Illigo Interim Government to support his family but switched to Song Heping's company because he disliked the style of the interim government's army.

Perhaps, over time, he had forgotten about his ambitions.

Samir fundamentally hadn't changed over the years.

"Tell me, where do you plan to go after leaving the company?" Song Heping asked.

Samir said, "I'm not going anywhere. I will stay in Illigo and plan to organize my own militia near Saidid."

"Militia?"

Song Heping frowned, "Would the interim government allow you to independently establish such an armed organization? Moreover, will the Americans turn a blind eye?"

"Boss, you should know the current domestic political landscape of Illigo. This time I am organizing the militia under the name of one of the Shiye Sect families; we have supporters in the interim government. It's legal, and they need us now..."

As Samir spoke at length and elaborated on the entire situation, Song Heping finally understood what was happening.

In a nutshell—Samir hadn't betrayed him, nor did he want to fly solo because his wings had grown strong.

His newly established armed organization was actually a local militia, and it was related to the current domestic situation in Illigo.

The Shiye Sect had the largest population in Illigo, followed by the Sunni Sect, with other various sects making up a very small percentage.

During Sadam's regime, due to the defense against and fear of Persia, Sadam severely suppressed the Shiye sect domestically, with mostly Sunnis in the high ranks.

However, Old America's intervention and elimination of Sadam resulted in a consequence—the Shiye Sect was freed from Sadam's suppression and gained more seats and power in the interim government, and each sect would establish their own militia according to their territorial influence to consolidate their power.

In times of war, those with soldiers and guns were the strong ones.

Whoever had more soldiers and more guns had a louder voice.

Whether it was the Shiye or Sunni, or factions like the Kurds, they were all actively recruiting and expanding their territories.

After "Illigo Freedom," those former government military personnel who had been loyal to him, being denied participation in politics and the military, all joined the Resistance Organization.

After the death of Sadam, these Resistance Organizations lost their guiding spirit and were initially disoriented, as any organization needs a leader.

At that time, a guy named Zakavi emerged within the Resistance Organization. He led a resistance force, shouting "Strike the infidels, expel the invaders," quickly assembling a group of people, and pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda, becoming its branch in Illigo.

The growth rate of this armed force surprised everyone. Many who had lost their will to fight after Sadam was hanged joined his command, and the ranks expanded wildly.

This development caught the attention of the interim government and the US Army stationed in Illigo, but combating Zakavi's Al-Qaeda branch was not as simple as expected.

First, the organization mainly operated in the west. Although the US Army had taken control of Mosul, the stronghold there, many other small cities and desert areas, even near the Siria border, were out of reach for the Americans and the Illigo Interim Government forces.

Second, if relying solely on the US Army or coalition forces to dispatch ground troops to strike these armed groups, it would be like using a cannon to hit a mosquito. The advanced equipment of the coalition could not be utilized effectively. If they depended on infantry for peacekeeping operations, the casualties would be too heavy.

What the US Army currently feared most was their own domestic public opinion. If the war lasted too long and the death toll was too high, domestic public opinion could not be suppressed, and anti-war voices would grow.

Thus, General Peter came up with a good strategy—fight the enemy using their own tactics.

Using local Illigo armed forces to combat Zakavi's extremist forces, while the US Army provided air support, financial, and weapons assistance.

This way, they could strike Zakavi's Al-Qaeda branch and make the US Army casualty reports look much better—a win-win situation.

Samir seized an opportunity this time.

He was a devoted Shiye Sect believer, his family had its influence in the northwest, and in the past two years, he had worked in the interim government Special Forces and "Musician" defense, gaining rich command experience, so he was recommended to take charge of a newly formed Shiye Sect local armed organization called "Illigo Liberation Force."

"Boss, do you know who recommended me?"

"Who?" Song Heping was curious, "Do I know them?"

"Of course, very well," Samir replied mysteriously.

Song Heping frowned, then suddenly a light flashed in his eyes, "Don't tell me it was Yusuf who recommended you?"

"Exactly, my chubby cousin," sighed Samir. "I never thought I'd accept his recommendation one day."

Song Heping asked, "Have you two reconciled?"

Samir had always looked down on Yusuf.

In his view, Yusuf was an Illigo traitor.

"How did you forgive him?" Song Heping asked.

Samir explained, "My cousin was right. My thinking was too naive. Even if I really want to drive out the Americans, I need my own armed forces. If I don't even qualify to sit at the same table as the Americans, how can I negotiate with them or talk about driving them away?"

Song Heping was surprised by the change in Samir's heart.

He had been worried that someone as passionate as Samir might end up taking an extreme path.

But now, it seemed he had matured a lot and figured out what he wanted to do.

"Exactly, authority comes from the barrel of a gun. If you don't have your own armed forces, mere passion is useless."

"It's not just about armed struggle. I want to develop political power too," Samir declared ambitiously. "Boss, Yusuf plans to get a seat in the interim government parliament. He wants to formally get involved in politics."

Upon hearing this, Song Heping was slightly shocked again.

He hadn't expected so many events to unfold in Illigo during the half-year he was away.

It seemed he really needed to go back and visit to understand the situation better.

Watching international news is no substitute for visiting Illigo and meeting old friends.

"That's great!"

After this comment slipped out, Song Heping suddenly had another bold idea.

"Samir, I support you leaving the company to work independently. I can even provide standardized military training for your armed organization, develop your command backbone, and this is free. As for Yusuf, I'll use my military connections to strongly support his candidacy. Money is not a problem. If you need funds, you can also ask me."

"No, no, no," Samir waved his hands. "Boss, you've already given too much money. That money is enough for my family for generations. I'm also putting my life on the line this time. You know those people with Zakavi are not kind-hearted. Many locals didn't dare oppose him before, as anyone who did was killed by their organization as infidels, using very brutal methods, including assassinations and kidnappings. I've already sent my family to Britain, and I'm staying here to fight them."

Song Heping patted his shoulder, "Good! That's courageous. When you joined the company, I saw your potential. This small company can't confine you, a dragon among men. Remember, if you need anything, come to me. The company's door is always open to you!"

"Thanks so much, boss. You will always be my boss!"

Samir didn't expect Song Heping to be so generous.

Had it been anyone else resigning, the boss might not have been too happy, at least not very enthusiastic.

A boss like Song Heping is hard to find.

Of course, Song Heping also had his own considerations.

That's right.

Americans can't stay in Illigo for decades. From what he had seen in Illigo, he deeply understood that a large-scale deployment of coalition forces there wouldn't last long.

First, the deployment required military expenses, with billions invested daily in Illigo, and this plus the reconstruction funds wouldn't last long.

Second, the local Illigonians' perception of the blond, blue-eyed, dark-skinned US soldiers was gradually sharpening.

Actually, Old America had trapped itself. Coming under the banner of delivering "democratic oil," they couldn't just deliver and then not leave once it's all done; that would be problematic.

Once Old America left, to continue making money in Illigo, one would need their own strong backing, and maybe Samir or Yusuf could be that future support.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com