The chef still left.
That night, White Bear and his wife returned to the company dormitory with their arms full of packages, feeling completely satisfied. Grey Wolf lingered until late into the night at Harvey's, studying the matching and selection of gun accessories. Hunter, along with Disaster Star, went from one restaurant to another in the Green Zone, and after that, they had a blast at the Forbidden Land Bar, where Disaster Star fought in the ring and won 2000 US Dollars. He treated everyone to a round of Whiskey, and by the time the two of them returned, they were both staggering and reeking of alcohol.
The contract was taken care of, and Ferrari sat there making phone calls all evening, sweet-talking numerous ladies with whom he had ambiguous relationships, telling someone he planned to go to romantic Turkey to see the sea of flowers and ride in a hot air balloon...
In the entire company, only Song Heping knew that the chef was leaving.
But the chef had said not to tell anyone else, he would send a message to inform them.
On this matter, Song Heping chose to respect his wishes.
The chef wasn't really someone who was greedy for money. Song Heping felt that the chef's choice to leave wasn't for money, but for power.
Power is a man's aphrodisiac.
For those ambitious men, money is just a number; power is what they chase for their entire life.
The chef's return to Russia, Song Heping felt, wasn't simply about opening a restaurant.
Clearly, the man had his own unspeakable secrets.
Sometimes, there are things between men that can only be understood and not expressed.
Song Heping didn't plan to ask more.
The next morning, the chef had disappeared.
At four in the morning, Song Heping heard faint footsteps in the hallway, guessing that was when the chef had left.
After hesitating for a few seconds, in the end, he didn't get up, nor did he go to see the chef off.
Letting the chef leave quietly was also a form of respect.
The chef really just left Illigio like that.
It wasn't until lunchtime that everyone else received the message the chef had sent them.
White Bear started cursing and wanted to call the chef, but couldn't get through.
Grey Wolf didn't say anything, just silently ate his food.
Hunter was surprised, and Disaster Star was still only concerned about the quality of the food on the table.
Ferrari didn't say anything, he just secretly observed Song Heping's expression, as if trying to find the final answer to everything on his face.
The newcomer Dominic had no idea what had happened; he was just curious why, at a time when the company was about to expand greatly, a vice president of the company would choose to leave, and to do so without any noise or fuss.
After the chef left, everything continued as usual.
Just as he had said himself, "Musician" Defense didn't need him.
Three days later, "Musician" Defense officially signed a transport security contract with the Iraqi Army. This news exploded in the Illigio mercenary circles—a new star in the defense industry was rising.
Song Heping got even busier.
He suddenly found that his life had completely changed.
In just half a month, he had been to the Tulip Hotel three times, in the same private setting, with the same Robbin and several big players from the Illigio Defense Circle, as well as having breakfast twice with General Peter, discussing future cooperation matters, and the pool parties in front of the Republic Palace, which Song Heping was invited to three times.
Because he was too busy, he had to leave the oil field business to White Bear and his wife, letting them go there to take charge.
Of course, because of the gentlemen's agreement with Avanti, no matter what troubles arose in the northern oil fields, no one dared to make trouble at the Cook Oil Field, which "Musician" Defense was responsible for, including Hassan.
During a breakfast meeting with General Peter, Song Heping also received some information: the security business in the northern oil fields could only last for a few years at most. Word from above was that in the future, these oil fields would be handed over to the Kurd Armed to establish their autonomous region, to serve as their main source of financial income.
So Song Heping asked General Peter, "Such a large oil field, all given away?"
He knew very well that the oil fields near the Kurd Armed in the northern region of Illigio were rich oil districts. The oil drilled there was of high quality and low cost; it was practically a golden spring gushing money.
How could the Americans bear to part with it?
General Peter confirmed to Song Heping with certainty, "Yes, the United Security Council and the interim government have had meetings and made decisions. In the future, that region's oil fields will belong to the Kurd people."
"Your government is truly generous."
Amid his doubts, Song Heping had to admit that the Americans were indeed quite generous when it came to concessions.
For a moment, Song Heping even had the illusion that the Americans really did come here to do good deeds and bring democracy.
But upon closer consideration, it felt off.
If it really was for the sake of Illigio's people, the oil fields should have been returned directly to the provisional government. Why hand them over to the Kurds?
Song Heping knew of the Kurds' ambition. Now that they had these oil fields, with financial support, they would be even less likely to submit to the Illigo government in the future, indicating that they would grow stronger. Calling it an autonomous region was one thing, but in reality, it had become a separate, independent kingdom.
Disintegration.
This word surfaced in Song Heping's mind.
For the Americans, as an isolated superpower overseas, the fragmentation of the Eurasian continent, the fragmentation of the Middle East, was definitely advantageous.
The Kesa Country they supported after World War II and the Kurds they are now supporting—Song Heping saw more and more similarities as if they were two nails hammered into the Middle East.
As long as these two forces existed, this land would probably never find peace.
"Do you think we care about that oil? Is our country poor in oil?" General Peter looked at Song Heping with a smile, like an old fox watching a naïve young wolf cub, "You will gradually understand the true purpose of this war."
This conversation gave Song Heping a new perspective on the world's geopolitical landscape.
He couldn't help feeling like a part of the "big picture" had been revealed to him.
From joining a small team formed by the cook over a year ago just to make some money to get by, to now being one of the noteworthy defense companies within the Illigio defense circle—as the boss of this company, whether Song Heping liked it or not, he was now on the peak of the mountain. Even if there were higher peaks to climb, he was still at the summit.
The view from different heights was completely different.
Song Heping now saw his peers, those independent mercenary squads and groups, in a different light than before.
Position determines perspective, altitude determines vision.
Whether Song Heping liked it or not, he had to adapt to his current lifestyle.
He suddenly realized that General Peter wasn't speaking idly. Such a high-ranking military figure would not speak without purpose.
"General, our company will then rely on your continued patronage going forward."
Song Heping was a very intelligent man.
It seemed that General Peter was hinting that relying on Aunt Nancy's connections for the "Musician" defense business wouldn't last forever.
He seemed to be reminding him to make a choice and not to have second thoughts.
"No problem,"
Peter replied surprisingly readily.
"The last mission you carried out in the Afghan Region was very successful. Miles called me, and he is very satisfied with your performance. They will have plenty of business in the future, and he said that if needed, he would take good care of you."
"Then thank you very much, General, and to Major General Miles too."
He thought of Mist and Major General Miles, who served as the deputy commander in charge of intelligence and special operations within the US forces in Afghanistan.
Peter's intention seemed to become clearer—drawing him into the fold.
"You don't need to thank me, but since you are now a core contractor for military business and I'm the deputy commander, we can be considered friends. Friends, you get it?" Peter suddenly threw out a statement to bring their relationship even closer, out of the blue.
Friends?
I don't trust you for a second!
Song Heping's mind was clear; he wouldn't believe such nonsense.
Right now, cooperation meant they could call each other friends.
If one day he were of no use, Peter probably wouldn't blink an eye before pulling the trigger with a gun to his head.
"Understood, of course, I understand."
Song Heping nodded with a seemingly naive smile.
"If we are friends, we should be open with each other." Peter looked at Song Heping intently, as if conveying a deeper meaning.
A jolt went through Song Heping's mind.
Open?
Had he discovered something?