The tent of the field hospital cast long shadows in the sunset.

Song Heping watched Jiang Feng push Hunter into the operating room, the blood-stained curtain making a "clatter" sound as it fell.

His right hand unconsciously rubbed the anti-slip pattern on the gun handle.

This was the base of Lumar's 3rd Brigade.

Currently, the Rebel Alliance had retreated back into Usseda territory.

Defeated like a landslide, the entire campaign concluded with the victory of the Sen Republic.

But the cost was truly too heavy.

He turned his head to glance beside him.

Only Ferrari and Collins were still intact.

Of course, there was also Jiang Feng, who was in charge of penetrating raids and escaped unscathed for not returning with him to the government army camp.

"Song."

Lumar's voice came from behind.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear!

This rebel leader had somehow appeared in the medical area, dressed no differently than the soldiers in combat uniform, with a fresh bandage wrapped around his left arm.

"We need to talk."

As Song Heping turned around, he drew his Glock 17.

When the muzzle pressed against Lumar's forehead, the sounds of bolts being pulled echoed around them.

Over a dozen guards beside Lumar raised their guns, all aiming at Song Heping, their eyes filled with tension.

"Stand down."

Lumar raised his hand to halt his subordinates, fine beads of sweat appearing on his nose.

"Mr. Song is our friend."

He glanced around, adding, "He won't kill me."

"Friend?"

Song Heping's finger rested on the first notch of the trigger.

"Is this how you treat friends? My men are on the brink of death, a whole special operations platoon left with only four men, my core members reduced to three barely able to stand and walk! Is this your idea of a friend?"

He lowered the gun to press against Lumar's abdomen suddenly.

"The evidence Wula accused me of is from the photos you took with me in the tent that day, you knew long ago there was a French spy around you."

Lumar let out a muffled grunt but showed a bitter smile: "Let's talk in my tent. Unless you want all soldiers to hear..."

Song Heping's breath was somewhat rapid.

He feared he might not help but exert more force with his finger, sending this guy before him away.

"Put the gun down! Did you hear? This is an order!"

Lumar issued the order to his hesitant subordinates once again.

Over a dozen guards finally lowered their guns.

"Song, I'm sorry it ended up this way, but... I hope you understand I didn't mean to set you up, I truly didn't know about the spy placed around me beforehand..."

"Then what about that call?!" Song Heping recalled the call that pushed the situation beyond the point of no return.

"My friend."

Lumar's Adam's apple shifted, swallowing a mouthful of saliva, sweat beading more densely on his nose.

"I swear to God, at the time I only wanted to quickly warn you not to go to the government army camp..."

Song Heping watched Lumar in front of him raise his hands with no intention of resisting, his mind racing.

At this moment, arguing about these things seemed to have no meaning already.

Does it matter even if I speak the truth?

As long as Lumar didn't admit, feigned innocence, I could only kill him to vent my anger.

However, killing him would be a very foolish choice.

It wouldn't help change the situation or salvage the losses in any way.

The casualties already existed, these were facts that no effort could change.

What could be done was subsequent compensations.

For the family members of those deceased special ops platoon soldiers, getting more generous compensation and pensions would be the most practical.

"Alright, let's talk."

Song Heping reholstered the handgun.

A few minutes later.

On the combat map inside the tent, the capital symbol was already covered in a red circle.

Song Heping noticed that the blue arrows representing the government army all pointed westward — exactly the direction where his and Lumar's troops were stationed.

It seemed that the Sen Republic had already entered a state of civil war.

Which means, any extra excuses and explanations are pointless.

President Noel had already issued an emergency order, the government army had entered a wartime state, military and police had taken over all cities.

The entire country had entered a wartime state.

"You used me to divert Noel's attention."

He ripped his tactical vest open, revealing the bandaged wound on his shoulder.

"Using my brothers' blood to cover for you?"

"A coup requires sacrifice."

Lumar suddenly tore open his shirt, his chest covered in bullet marks and scars.

"I learned a lesson when I was fifteen and joined the domestic resistance movement —"

His gaze fell upon Song Heping's handgun.

"Either trust your comrades, or shoot me in the forehead now."

The satellite phone's vibration broke the stalemate.

The photo from Jiang Feng showed Hunter giving the middle finger while wearing an oxygen mask.

The other photos were of White Bear and his wife.

Evidently, at least his brothers wouldn't die.

Song Heping's heart settled slightly, his gaze then turned to Lumar: "Why choose me?"

"Perhaps you don't yet know your own reputation in Africa?"

Lumar smiled: "Want to know your own nickname? Eagle of Africa. Now many coup factions want to find you, they say finding you greatly increases the success chance of the coup, since you took the initiative to come to Sen, it means God favors us, sending you to help us."

"It's money that sent me here."

Song Heping recalled Gabri's eyes wide open before dying.

Now, it was time to name the price...

"I can assist in your coup, but upon success, I want the ten-year mining rights to two northern mines."

"Plus, the use permission for the southern military base."

Lumar generously added richer stakes: "As long as by dawn I need you to lead a raid on the national broadcasting center, then broadcast opposition leader Mr. Du Er's speech and recorded statements."

The rumble of armored vehicles assembling was heard outside the tent.

Song Heping asked: "What if the coup fails?"

Lumar slapped an Aluminum Thermite Hand Grenade on the table: "Then it's a dead end for me, of course, I'll deal with myself first, definitely won't fall into Noel's hands."

With that, he walked to the entrance, lifted the tent flap, the sunset stretched their shadows long, like two unsheathed sabers.

Song Heping walked beside him, watching the sunset gradually setting in the distance.

A moment later, he extended his hand.

Lumar grasped Song Heping's hand.

Song Heping said: "Deal, it's a promise!"

Lumar said: "Rest assured, I will give you everything I promised, the British have their perks, the benefits for you will not be any less."

Song Heping said: "If you dare play games this time, I promise you won't live to see the sun of the second day."

Lumar said: "Rest assured, I won't, this coup is for the people of our country."

Song Heping laughed coldly in his heart.

Every single one claims it's for the people.

From the independence movements after World War II, so many regime changes in African countries, which initially didn't claim to be for the people?

That was nothing more than a pretext.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com