After meeting with Avanti in the military camp within Persian territory, Song Heping woke everyone up for a meeting that very night.

Currently, all the local mercenary camps have gone on holiday, so their leaders don't need to attend this meeting.

Moreover, the meeting involves sensitive matters, so those Illiguo locals from the Mercenary Corps only need to be briefed on the mission and understand their responsibilities before taking action.

Those attending the meeting are core company members.

People like Ferrari, Jiang Feng, Hunter, Disaster Star, and so on.

As for the couple, Queen and White Bear, according to Song Heping's previous arrangements, they took an extended leave and have already returned to Russia.

The opponents we're facing are powerful, capable of mobilizing many of the United States' authorities and intelligence agencies, and can even influence the military.

Keeping everyone in Illiguo is unwise, akin to putting all your eggs in one basket.

White Bear and Queen have taken some of the company's confidential documents back to Russia.

The documents include data on years of Song Heping bribing high-ranking US Army officers and the direction of financial flows to certain foundations, who is related to whom, and family connections.

Every transaction and item, Song Heping has been recording since he first got involved in this world of fame and gain.

As the company's financial officer and day-to-day affairs manager, Ferrari, of course, is very clear about this too.

But now that a major battle is imminent, Ferrari can't leave. If Song Heping takes people to the frontline, he must stay behind to manage logistics support.

No one can outdo Ferrari in logistics; he is Song Heping's right-hand man, his Xiao He.

Actually, many of the founding members are no longer around.

Like the Chef, who left the company a long time ago and went back to his homeland, Russia.

And Grey Wolf, who after being injured has been suffering from some after-effects; his leg still affects his walking, so he stays in Venezuela handling the Special Warfare School's business for the company and overseeing the arms trade there.

The meeting started at 1 am, and Song Heping had already come to an agreement with Ferrari upon returning from the oilfield.

Since it seems like we can no longer retain oilfield contracts and military contracts, the only interests left in Illiguo are the security contracts for those few pumping stations and the arms trade with Yusuf.

But this isn't due to the opponent's mercy; it's simply because these are minor sources of income for "Musician" Defense, and they haven't caught their attention yet.

Since there's nothing else to do, why not gather forces and deal with the I5I5 organization that has taken the hit for the "Elder Council."

We must not only confront them but also make a big scene out of it.

We need to let everyone in the Middle East know the consequences of provoking "Musician" Defense.

Song Heping is confident in fighting this battle.

The arms trade in South America has been preliminarily established and has begun to profit; the Cartel Group from Mexico consolidates the market and brings Song Heping more than two billion US dollars in income each year.

Money is a man's courage.

With money, actions are bold.

"We have now identified the armed organization that attacked our company's convoy and the oilfields."

Song Heping wrote four letters on the meeting room's blackboard — I5I5.

"This is an emerging armed organization. We have had dealings with its predecessor, which you should all remember — the Salafi Brigade. They are now led by a man named Baghdadi who has pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda, that is, allegiance to Laden. But I don't care about their ranks; if they want war, we'll give them war. Now, let me talk about my tactical arrangements; we'll employ all local Mercenary Corps and a special forces battalion from Venezuela. The operation will roughly span four days, targeting Baghdadi..."

That night, the lights in the "Musician" Defense Company's conference room in the Green Zone were on from 1 am until past 4 am before they were finally extinguished.

Starting the next day, Ferrari began the detailed work of handing over tasks to the military and Wood Energy, while Song Heping went to find Yusuf.

Yusuf, who hadn't seen Song Heping for a long time, was very happy to see his old friend, but his chubby face soon drooped again, with several strands of worry creeping onto it.

"Brother, I heard you've been having some trouble lately?"

"Yes, big trouble. I've lost all of my most important military defense contracts in Illiguo."

"That serious?"

Yusuf was greatly surprised.

His interests were tied with Song Heping.

"Do you need my help? I still have some influence with the government, we have our people in every department."

"Not for now," Song Heping politely declined Yusuf's offer, but left an opening: "When I need your help, I'll let you know. It's best for you to stay out of this for now."

"Alright, I'll listen to you, brother."

Yusuf has a big advantage - he does not push himself to the forefront.

When you need his help, he is unequivocal.

When you don't need his help, he absolutely won't poke his nose in.

"So, what brings you to me today? Is there anything you need?"

"I'm looking for Samir."

Song Heping said, "He's been out of touch since leaving my company, the old contact methods seem to be unusable now, I need to find him for something."

"Samir?!"

Yusuf's expression changed slightly when he mentioned his cousin.

"What happened to him?" Song Heping asked quickly.

Yusuf said, "Well, he..."

Struggling to find the right words, after a long pause, he finally shook his head and said, "It's complicated with him..."

Song Heping knew that there had always been discord between Yusuf and Samir.

Despite their familial ties, their political standpoints and interests were completely conflicting.

Samir was an idealist patriot with a hint of idealism.

Yusuf, on the other hand, was a thorough pragmatist who valued interests above all.

In the case of Illiguo, Samir was pursuing strength, autonomy, and independence.

For Yusuf, it didn't matter who ruled the country; what mattered to him was his own purse.

Before Sadam was overthrown, people like Samir were part of the most vehement opposition.

After Sadam was overthrown and the US Army arrived, it was still people like Samir who resisted the most fiercely.

Song Heping asked, "Where is he now?"

"Him? He's just short of being on the coalition forces' wanted list..." Yusuf said, "I just can't understand my cousin. If he had sought just a bit of stability, it wouldn't have come to this. He was doing well in your company, earning a great sum in less than two years. In a place like Illiguo, given his income, he was top-notch, a cut above the rest! Yet, he wasn't content, haha, not only did he leave your company, but he also joined a group of so-called freedom fighters and organized an armed group called 'People's Power' in Gaiala. He's mixed in with the tribal leaders there, often clashing with the government army, causing several shootouts, nearly dragging me down with him."

"What side is he on now? An anti-American organization?" Song Heping asked.

Yusuf shook his head: "Not exactly, current Illiguo is very chaotic, lots of factions; the government army, the coalition forces, the Kurds, and then there are hundreds of shambolic militia groups, each with its own stance, demanding to govern the country with their ideology, nobody backs down..."

He paused and then suddenly let out a sigh, "Truly, after one Sadam falls, a thousand little Sadams stand up - this world is fuckin' screwed up!"

Yusuf rarely swears.

But he did this time.

It shows how much he despises this chaotic situation.

"Which faction does he belong to?" Song Heping asked.

"Him?! The Independents," Yusuf laughed, "They're against both America and extremist organizations."

This time, it was Song Heping's turn to laugh: "Well, that's good, I admire that kind of stance."

Yusuf said, "Brother, the ideal isn't bad, sometimes I wonder, is he wrong? Am I right? It's hard to say. Other things I may not know, but my cousin, he's too much of an idealist. Take me, for instance, do you think I don't wish for our nation's independence? Do you think I like those foreigners with golden hair and blue eyes in the Green Zone? It's just that we don't have the conditions yet! When we have enough strength, then we can seek autonomy! Right now, the reality is without the Americans, we would probably end up in complete disarray."

"Hahaha!" Song Heping burst into laughter.

When it comes to being sly, Yusuf takes the cake.

"By the way, have you heard of an organization called I5I5?" Song Heping asked.

At this, Yusuf's expression subtly changed: "Why do you ask about this organization?"

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com