"My dear old friend."

In a military camp at the Persian Border, Song Heping met Avanti again, nearly two years since their last meeting.

The other's head had acquired more white hair, but those eyes remained as sharp as an eagle's; his beard was meticulously trimmed, displaying his strict attention to detail.

"Avanti, I'm glad to see you again."

"You've not been here for a long time." Avanti made way and gestured invitingly, "I hope you didn't have a full dinner, I've prepared some desserts and snacks, as well as some fine Persian black tea, I hope you will enjoy."

It was a simple arrangement as always, Persian woolen carpets on the ground, with Arabian water pipes, black tea, cookies, dates, and some mutton.

Avanti was very polite.

The two sat cross-legged on the carpet, with Avanti taking the initiative to pour steaming tea for Song Heping.

"When you called me today, I knew you must have run into trouble, my friend. So, tell me, what's the matter?"

Song Heping was in no hurry to respond.

He glanced at the Avanti sitting across from him.

From his expression, Song Heping guessed something.

This man, known as the king of Persian intelligence and special operations, Illiguo and the matters at the Persian Border could not be hidden from him.

His company had encountered trouble, and he estimated that Avanti's informants in Illiguo had already provided him with this news.

Even if he didn't know before, he would have gotten his homework done after receiving his call.

A person like Avanti would not enter a battle unprepared.

Even though they could be considered old friends, Song Heping was well aware that the man sitting across from him was a patriot through and through.

He would do anything for the interests of his country, and if ever there came a day when their interests clashed, the other party would not hesitate to add him to the list of enemies.

"I guess you already know what I've come to do, you're just pretending to ask, my old friend, right?"

Song Heping returned the favor with a smile.

Avanti chuckled: "You understand me. I've been very busy these two years. Indeed, after receiving your call today I did have someone investigate, and just as I thought, you've gotten into big trouble, my friend."

"Yes, all the security businesses my company is responsible for have been challenged and attacked. In the past two days, I've lost all defense contracts in Illiguo, which means I might not be able to stay in Illiguo much longer."

Song Heping was very candid.

When talking to a smart person, honesty is a very good option.

Feigning intelligence and concealing facts would be self-defeating.

"Hmm, I've heard about it." Avanti nodded, continuing to pour tea, and placed another cookie in the bowl in front of Song Heping, without expressing any opinion on the incident.

Song Heping knew he was waiting for him to ask for help.

Proactive help and passive assistance meant two different outcomes.

"In the northwest border area, you have significant influence. Before I leave Illiguo, you've already eliminated the Free Army forces controlled by the Kurd people. Logically, that border area should be under your people's control. So why was the oil field I am responsible for still attacked? I need some intelligence on this."

The words contained a sting hidden within them.

We are friends, and in this border area, the Kurd supported armed forces have been annihilated, so it's unlikely they would make a move against the American oil fields.

Therefore, it couldn't have been them who acted.

The remaining possibility is the Madheh Army.

This organization is an armed force in Illiguo supported by Avanti.

How can this be explained?

The question was tossed to Avanti.

Avanti nodded slightly and said, "Yes, currently, the Madheh Army indeed controls the situation in the northwest border area, but my friend, that's not the only armed group there. Including local tribal forces in Illiguo and armed organizations, just in the area from Mosul to the Persian Border, there are over a dozen armed forces active. The attackers might not be my men."

Song Heping pressed on: "But you must know who did it, right?"

Avanti didn't respond, took a sip of tea, and then suddenly asked, "Before you leave Illiguo, I remember you mentioned that the dispute with the CIA branch in Illiguo had settled down, didn't you?"

Song Heping thought of Simon.

Currently, Simon had a vulnerability that was firmly in his grasp.

Indeed. But… you mean this is related to the CIA?"

After going around in circles, it still comes back to the CIA meddling.

This Simon chap had really dared…

He wasn't afraid of him starting an all-out conflict?

"No, no, no, I'm not referring to the CIA branch in Illiguo. I'm talking about the CIA headquarters."

Avanti said, "Before we go on, I must tell you a story, would you like to hear it?"

"Of course."

Song Heping knew that some things could only be understood with context.

He chose to listen, of course.

Isn't the reason I came here today to trace the origins?

"Please go on, my old friend."

Avanti sipped his tea, pondered for a moment, then said, "In recent years, thanks to the Americans, our influence in Illiguo and the surrounding countries has been growing. They have disrupted the balance. If Sadam were still around, I wouldn't have been able to foster pro-Persian forces within Illiguo's borders. But of course, the Americans have also noticed. Therefore, the CIA initiated a plan to prevent our infiltration in this region and to form a Shiye Sect defense arc. To this end, they released a devil from Guantanamo Prison, and this person is currently active on the border between Illiguo and Siria. He has established an armed organization called I5I5, sworn to Al-Qaeda, and represents a rising militant force. In fact, you had dealings with them two years ago. Now they are led by Baghdadi."

"Had dealings with?" Song Heping was puzzled: "Who?"

"Salafi Brigade."

"Salafi Brigade?!"

Song Heping suddenly realized.

Wasn't that the armed organization whose headquarters he wiped out while providing security for the water supply station under the first contract from the US Army?

Years had passed, and he had not heard of them since.

He thought they had dwindled away, only to be resurrected.

"I remember now, I even took down one of their headquarters that year. Those guys attacked the water supply station I was in charge of."

"Remembered, have you?" Avanti chuckled as he popped a biscuit into his mouth: "The Salafi Brigade is the forerunner of the I5I5 organization. You could say that eighty percent of the main force of I5I5 comes from the Salafi Brigade. They are sworn to Al-Qaeda now, a very radical organization."

"Something's not right..." Song Heping frowned: "The Americans are at odds with Al-Qaeda. How could they release someone loyal to Al-Qaeda? Isn't that just asking for trouble?"

The leader of Al-Qaeda is Brother Deng.

Brother Deng is still the most wanted man on the Americans' bounty list.

Could the Americans really release someone loyal to Brother Deng to go against themselves?

This is unthinkable.

Too unthinkable.

"You don't believe it?" Avanti leisurely tore open a date, placed a slice in his mouth, and while chewing, tilted his head slightly to look at Song Heping.

"It's too unthinkable," said Song Heping. "It's like making trouble for themselves."

"Isn't it?" Avanti laughed: "9/11 was a disaster, yes, for the American people, but who saw it as an opportunity? The military-industrial complex, the various financial and energy conglomerates. Just like the Pearl Harbor incident, it was a disaster, of course. But it was also an opportunity, the beginning of America's rise to global dominance."

"Compared to containing our influence, the United States would rather deal with the devil. Of course, this is also why I despise the Americans. They are always so confident, believing they can control everything, that the world can operate according to their rules and plans. Just like when they used Alta to fight the Soviets, they never thought they would end up nurturing Laden, right? Our fundamental position is opposed to people like Baghdadi. So, since he is our enemy, and the Americans are our enemy, what's wrong with supporting our enemy?"

Avanti's words reminded Song Heping.

Nothing is impossible.

It's all a matter of perspective.

"You mean the ones who attacked my company's convoy and oil fields are I5I5?"

Avanti said, "From the information I've gathered, it indeed seems they are responsible. But why they did so, I don't know. Maybe to avenge an old grudge from years ago?"

Song Heping shook his head: "No, I think someone is directing them behind the scenes."

"Who?" Avanti seemed very interested. "Can you tell?"

"Of course, I can," said Song Heping. "Since you've been so open with me, I won't hide it from you. Recently, I've been in big trouble with a secret society in America, very powerful. I suspect they have their people in Congress, the military, and the political circles. They seem to want me dead, starting with my company's operations."

"Ah... I see..." Avanti suddenly realized: "So, what do you plan to do?"

Song Heping said, "I won't just sit around waiting to die. See, that's why I've come to see you. First, I need to know who's stabbing me in the back so I can strike back."

"You plan on taking action against I5I5?" Avanti said. "They're operating in the border regions of Siria and Illiguo, but they're highly elusive and hard to find."

Song Heping looked at Avanti, feeling that the man knew something, even suspecting that he was using him.

But that was all right.

After all, he wanted intel. If it really was I5I5, he didn't have a problem dealing with them.

"I guess you have a list in your pocket right now, intel about I5I5."

Avanti's eyebrows twitched, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

The acuity of the young man before him exceeded his expectations.

"You're quite smart indeed," he said.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.

"On it are contact details, and the passphrase is also written inside. Look for him, he's my informant over there. He'll provide you with the information you need."

Song Heping took the paper, glanced to memorize its contents, and lit it aflame with the oil lamp in front of him, holding the burning paper in his hand.

Finally, he released the burned paper, watching it flutter in the air and turn into ashes.

A new sense of respect flickered in Avanti's eyes.

"Alright, now that business is done, we can catch up. Song, I have had much to do these past years and need talented people. If you would consider joining me, I think the price I offer won't be lower than what the Americans are paying."

"Avanti, do you know the proverb about friendship?" Song Heping countered.

Avanti thought for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "Don't become superiors and subordinates with friends."

Song Heping picked up his teacup: "A toast to your wisdom."

Avanti smiled and raised his teacup too: "To your honesty, I believe we will have many more collaborations in the future."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com