"Assassination?"
Song Heping was somewhat displeased.
Things seemed to get complicated.
"We are a PMC, not an assassin company. We can talk about compensation, but if you ask us to kill people all the time..."
He could only shake his head.
Dominic appeared somewhat disappointed, "I've fallen to this point purely due to my enemy. If you can't help me solve my problem, even if I'm willing to help you, what could I gain?"
"Money!"
The cook said, "The reward for you is very generous, and you can use it to hire others to take out your adversary."
Dominic shook his head: "No one dares to take my business?"
By saying this, he inadvertently piqued Song Heping's interest.
No one dares to take it?
How troublesome is it?
Thus, he probed, "Who is it?"
"Aisade, nicknamed 'Priest', the leader of the Salafi Armed in the Sahel Region," Dominic revealed the name of his nemesis.
"Salafi Armed?"
Song Heping suddenly felt the name sounded familiar.
He asked the cook, "Why does this name feel familiar to me?"
The cook scratched his head, thought for a bit, and shook his head, indicating he couldn't remember, "I can't recall."
It was Grey Wolf who chimed in from the side, "The ones who attacked the water station, remember? The time we took down one of their local hideouts."
"Ah... those guys!?"
It was then that Song Heping remembered.
Since the opposition was too weak, and the fight that night was not too intense, Song Heping had no real recollection of it.
As soon as he heard that it was this organization, Song Heping laughed.
"You're sure it's the Salafi Armed?"
"Yes," Dominic saw everyone around him smiling and was suddenly puzzled, "Why? Have you crossed paths with them?"
Grey Wolf chuckled, "Of course, but I'm curious. Aren't they one of Illiguo's armed forces? How come they have forces in the Sahel Region as well? By the way, what's your grudge with them?"
Dominic said, "A year ago, I was still serving in the military and was deployed in the Sahel Region on a mission. One day, my squad was on an aerial patrol when we were hit by a man-portable surface-to-air missile. Actually, I had flown that route many, many times before, and it had always been safe. I don't know how on that day there were armed individuals with man-portable air-defense systems lurking there. Although I attempted evasive maneuvers and tried my best to save the helicopter, the engine was hit, and we had a hard landing. Apart from me, the other six crew members… all perished..."
Song Heping asked, "Are you sure it was the work of the Salafi Armed?"
Dominic nodded, "Yes, afterwards our French military intelligence also obtained concrete evidence and intelligence. There's absolutely no mistake about it."
Song Heping, curious, asked, "Aren't you from the French Special Forces? If you have evidence, why don't you pursue them? Why request us mercenaries to do this job for you?"
"Hmph!" Dominic scoffed, "You are too naive, Song. Politics is filthy. If you ask whether my unit wants to retaliate against the Salafi Armed, to annihilate them, I can tell you—yes! Very much so!"
He said this, and his eyes reddened.
The cook said, "Just speak, don't cry. I hate it when men get all teary in front of me."
Dominic took a deep breath to compose himself before continuing, "Until I recovered from the hospital, the French military hadn't taken any corresponding retaliatory action. I asked my superior, and his response was to let it go. Later, I found out through other channels that the Americans had intervened, no, precisely the CIA had, and things became extremely complicated. Due to CIA protection, 'Priest' has disappeared. No one knows his whereabouts, no one knows where he went, only the CIA knows."
He paused, then added, "There's an old friend of mine in the French Military Intelligence Bureau who advised me not to get involved because it's more complicated than I imagined. Africa has always been our French backyard, but in recent years, a large number of oil and gas resources have been discovered in the Sahel Region, so the Americans want to get involved and get a slice of the pie."
"The French intelligence agencies have some vague evidence that many of the armed organizations there have fled from the Middle East and Afghanistan and evolved locally. Many are actually fostered in secret by the CIA through proxies, with the aim of allowing the Americans to station troops in the Sahel Region under the pretext of counter-terrorism operations. Therefore, the Salafi Armed's attack on our plane is very likely just a show directed by the CIA. The weapon used to down our plane was a shoulder-fired 'Stinger', which is American-made. However, the Americans claim it might be some leftover stock from their support of Afghan local armed forces in the fight against Soviets."
At this point, he sneered, "Do you believe such nonsense? After so many years, that stockpile is still there, and it hasn't been used up."
Upon hearing this, the cook scorned, "Your French army is really wimpy. Whatever the Americans tell you to do, you do it? You're not their sons..."
At this, noticing a drastic change in Dominic's complexion, Song Heping gestured wildly to the cook to shut up.
Finally, the cook held his tongue.
"Is this why you chose to retire?" Song Heping asked.
Dominic nodded, "Yes, I can't stand it. They say we're Special Forces, but we can't fight back when attacked. It doesn't matter whether or not you serve as such a soldier."
Song Heping finally understood the gist of it.
But if Dominic was telling the truth, it meant he was up against the CIA again.
He already had a clash with the CIA; if he really helped Dominic kill Aisade, wouldn't the CIA's people come after him again?
This matter...
Was somewhat tricky.
However, the current problem was that if he didn't agree to Dominic's terms, he would have to find another way to get out of the upcoming action unscathed.
From his experience, without a helicopter, evacuating after the rescue would be as difficult as reaching the heavens. Taking familiar routes across the border into Ecuador also posed great risks, not to mention the likelihood of being overtaken by the AUC armed forces, and there was also the potential to encounter the border patrol on this side.
But with a helicopter, it was different. Because there's only a river between Ecuador and Colombia, flying at low altitude through the jungle and over the mountains would likely go undetected given the air defense capabilities on the Ecuadorian military side.
That was the safest route for retreat.
He turned to the cook and asked, "Cook, this involves the CIA and our old enemies. Do we take the job or not?"
The cook replied, "I think we should take it. The Salafi Armed have a grudge against us anyway. I've heard that ever since we took out one of their branches at the water supply station, they've been plotting revenge. But because the area where the water supply station is located is Haymour and his controlled armed forces' territory, the Salafi people can't find an opportunity. Sooner or later, they're going to come for us anyway."
"As for the CIA..."
The cook chuckled twice and said, "Do you think Simon's people don't want to kill us? Even if we don't take this job, they'll probably cause trouble for us sooner or later. It's just that we're not familiar with that side of Africa, so it's difficult to make a move."
"It's not difficult. If you dare to do it, I know some people over there, in both the French military and intelligence agencies. I can introduce you; although they can't help openly, they can offer covert assistance!"
Hearing that Song Heping and his team had already clashed with the Salafi Armed and had taken out one of their branches, Dominica seemed to see hope.
Over the past year, he had sought assassins and mercenaries.
But they all shook their heads at the mention of the Sahel Region.
That place was full of madmen, with a complex interweaving of various forces. It was very easy to get trapped inside.
Hearing the cook say this, Song Heping weighed his options inwardly.
Dominic had old connections in the French military and the intelligence agencies, and he was an Elite pilot. His company was in need of such talent.
The deaths of those French soldiers had not only outraged Dominic but had also likely affected some individuals within the French Special Forces and intelligence agencies, who might have their own views but were suppressed by their superiors.
If he truly eliminated the "Priest", those French folks might even feel indebted to him.
His company couldn't just stay in Illiguo. If he wanted to carry out significant business, especially in the arms trade, Africa was also a lucrative market.
All things considered, it seemed like a good deal.
"Alright. I accept your terms, Dominic," Song Heping finally decided. "I'll take the job."
"That's great!" Dominic sprang up from the sofa, "Then I guarantee that as soon as your action is over and you're aboard my plane, you'll be safe and able to escape!"