Song Heping lay on the hospital bed, staring blankly at his foot wrapped up like a zongzi.

He was used to focusing on a spot to think through issues.

Doing so helped him concentrate better, to harness his mental energy and thought to find answers.

About the operation a few days ago in Ba Country, who was trying to assasinate him from behind, he is now waiting for some materials to get answers.

A bounty of 10 million US Dollars.

This sum was even higher than what the US Army offered for many of the key members of base organizations or the bounties on the "deck of cards" wanted list from the Illiguo war.

There's a saying that a hefty reward will always tempt the brave.

On the Dark Web, there's no lack of intelligence agents already working for spy agencies who would certainly provide the information he needed for such a huge bounty.

Money is indeed a powerful thing.

Regarding the US troops in Iraq, Song Heping could roughly judge that they indeed had nothing to do with the chase in Ba Country.

The military did not order a hit on him.

Neither did ISA.

After returning, both General Miles and Niki came to visit him in the hospital.

General Miles expressed shock at the ordeal of the two-man team in Ba Country, saying he would definitely investigate the matter.

Niki also assured Song Heping that she would find out who leaked the operation route of the two-man team, causing him and Willie to be cornered in Ba Country and nearly losing their lives trying to get back.

Song Heping believed both were sincere.

After much contemplation, he concluded that they had no reason to silence him and Willie.

After all, there was already a Curtis; if the silencing failed, the effort would be in vain.

Besides, he and Willie were the executors. From a certain point of view, they were in the same boat as the military; the operation went very smoothly without exposure, so silencing them was completely unnecessary.

The most credible information came from Mist.

Elder Council.

Satan Organization.

It sounded as if it represented some sort of power.

Why did he attract the attention of these people?

After thinking it over, Song Heping determined it must be related to Little Curtis.

After all, the Curtis family was wealthy and influential in both political and economic circles in the United States, perhaps their family was involved with the Elder Council.

The Satan Organization, which was after him, sounded like some sort of secret military unit or an underground assassination organization.

As for its nature, there were no specific intelligence reports to analyze for now.

"Song, what are you thinking about?"

Willie from the next bed interrupted Song Heping's thoughts.

"Nothing much."

Song Heping spread his hands and said, "I'm just feeling bored, thinking about some things."

"You're bored? Then what am I?"

Willie protested indignantly, then sighed deeply, "Ugh, the doctor said I have to lie down for at least another two days before I can recover normally."

Song Heping turned to look at Willie, who was lying face down on the bed.

Because his buttocks had been embedded with a large fragment of shrapnel during the combat, the surgery was carried out here to remove it, and naturally, he could not sit or stand properly, so he had been lying on the hospital bed for the past three days, staring at the floor every day.

"Willie, are you planning to leave ISA after discharge? Which department will you go to?"

"To the logistics support forces, I've already talked to General Miles about it. I have two years left in my service, and it's good to be a supply officer in the logistics department. I'll go back to the United States when my contract is up."

"Becoming a supply officer?"

"Yes, what's wrong with being a supply officer?"

At this point, Willie paused, his expression turning somewhat complex.

"This isn't a war worth fighting."

This statement surprised Song Heping.

It's known that, in the eyes of many ordinary officers and soldiers in the US Army, the Illigo war was a war to liberate the people of Illigos, and the Afghan struggle was seen as a just anti-terrorism war, a war of vengeance.

After all, the collapse of the Twin Towers years ago delivered a huge shock to every American, and it stirred up righteous indignation among the soldiers and officers in their military.

Killing here, they had no sense of guilt.

Unexpectedly, in just a few years, an old timer in the military like Willie, a stereotypical patriotic American redneck, would say such a thing.

Song Heping suddenly felt that maybe Little Curtis had the same idea.

Only, he chose defection.

While Willie chose to leave the front-line combat troops and be a supply officer until retirement.

While reflecting, Niki suddenly appeared at the door.

"You're here?"

Song Heping took a glance at her.

"I hope you bring good news this time."

Niki's face turned somewhat ugly.

Song Heping touched upon the very issue she wished to avoid.

He was well aware of Niki's abilities.

After Mist got into trouble, she helped look into it, but ultimately she did not get the level of access required.

It seems the matter was not that simple.

Indeed, everything was just as Song Heping had expected.

Niki spoke with a hint of helplessness, "Song, I can't find any useful information on my end..."

"The photos I gave you, you mean nothing could be found from them?"

Although her response was anticipated, Song Heping wasn't about to let her off that easily.

"Those people..."

Before Niki could finish, Willie from the next bed interrupted her.

"Lieutenant Colonel, those people are from the Seal Team, not necessarily still active, but they definitely served there. I saw the unique tattoos on them, they were involved in operations during the Illiguo War."

Niki was speechless.

Seeing her expression, Willie immediately guessed a few things.

"Is it a secret military unit? Our army? Or an intelligence agency? Or perhaps a private force of some agency?"

Seeing that she could no longer hide it, Niki could only admit, "It's Level Five Classified, I'm not authorized."

Willie said, "Then apply for authorization! You're the head of the ISA Afghan operational division, if you don't have the authority, you can request it from your superiors."

Niki looked troubled, her expression as if she were constipated.

Song Heping was observing from the side and already had a rough idea.

Mist wasn't boasting.

Not only were those people's origins dubious, but they also had strong backing behind them.

A soldier or officer from the US Special Forces, even if retired, would still have a traceable record.

Even if killed in action, it could be found.

But the fact that it couldn't be directly traced.

Indicated that they were part of some project.

And that project was associated with the highest level of secrecy.

To achieve this, one must not be just any small organization.

Song Heping knew he had encountered a tough nut this time.

It seems he's been marked by someone.

And it's no ordinary person, or organization.

He didn't like this feeling.

But he had to confront it.

Meet force with force, and counter water with earth.

Don't be afraid of trouble when it comes.

"I've already applied, but the superiors didn't respond," Niki said.

Willie couldn't hold back any longer, propping himself up in bed and raising his voice, "No response means you don't know how to make a phone call to ask personally? Do you want me to go and ask?"

"Willie, don't cause trouble," Niki warned, "You know the rules, silence is the answer."

Willie still wanted to say something, his lips moved a few times, but in the end, he didn't speak, snorted, and continued to lie on the bed, ignoring Niki.

"What rule?"

Song Heping was very curious.

Niki said, "No response means they're telling you—don't ask, don't touch, don't deal with it."

Song Heping laughed, "So, you mean the people hunting us down are pretty significant?"

Niki fell silent again.

After a long while, she said, "Can you get up?"

"I'm alright." Song Heping looked at his foot wrapped like a rice dumpling, lifted it to give it a try, "I can walk a few steps no problem."

"Let's talk outside," Niki said.

Willie in the next bed snorted once more.

But in the end, he did not explode.

It was obvious that Niki was avoiding something.

She was with the ISA, and also one of the chased.

Yet she was even avoiding her own.

This woman!

Willie felt anger inside, but soon comforted himself.

After all, he would be going to the logistic department, so what did he care!

He didn't want anything to do with those damned intelligence or military special forces issues anymore.

To retire early and return home was what he wished for.

To hell with the counter-terrorism war!

Let those damned Congress Hill bastards and the White House master go to hell!

Song Heping, leaning on a cane, followed Niki out of the ward and came to a quiet corner.

Niki checked to make sure nobody was around, and then began to speak, "Song, do you remember me telling you about Mist's incident?"

Eventually, it had to come down to this.

Seeing her demeanor, Song Heping felt certain in his heart.

It seemed this woman was still reasonably good to him.

Her bringing him out here obviously meant she was ready to come clean.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com