Hamra is located north of the Atuila Desert and is the name of a small village. Its terrain is relatively elevated, and from here, one can gaze southward to admire the boundless expanse of the desert.
Song Heping was on his first visit to Mali; he had heard a lot about it before he even arrived.
For the ten countries in the Sahel Region, even though so many years had passed since World War II, the flames of war here had yet to be quelled.
Terrorism, political upheaval, conflicts between farmers and herders, ethnic tensions, separatist movements, the struggle for natural resources, and illegal trade were factors that tore the people here into bitterly opposing sides.
Especially after Western countries launched what they called a global counter-terrorism operation in the Middle East and Afghanistan, a large number of local armed forces began to migrate to the Sahel Region of Africa, joining the armed groups here or establishing branches to cultivate their own influence.
Many of the armed forces that came here were veterans from the Middle East or the Afghan Region. A significant number of them had fought in wars in Illiguo and Persia, experienced the first Gulf War, and waged guerrilla warfare in the Afghan Region for many years, and could be called battle-hardened soldiers.
The arrival of these men completely changed the geopolitical status of the Sahel Region. Originally, the local African forces were engaged in skirmishes among themselves and occasionally clashed with the colonial powers in the area, and the intensity of the conflicts had always been comparatively low.
Now, with foreign support, and all of them being tough and seasoned fighters, the veterans were able to quickly train new recruits. The combat capabilities of the rebels and various local armed forces improved substantially. Previously, battles were just head-on collisions and gunfire exchanges, but now they knew how to engage in guerrilla warfare, raiding attacks, and terror attacks.
The increase in the intensity and level of warfare made the Gauls, who once considered this their backyard, very troubled.
In West Africa, the French influence had penetrated deep into the roots. Even after the post-World War II wave of colonial independence movements, the French returned governing power to the locals on the surface.
In reality, after a century of colonial rule, the French had cultivated a class of elites here, and these elites were more capable of governing and managing the country than the ordinary citizens who were mostly illiterate.
Thus, puppet governments quickly came online as if by a sleight of hand.
France established a complete banking system here, backed by national power, issuing the West African Franc for these countries, and fully controlled their finance.
They also controlled governance by dominating the elite class, allowing French companies to obtain priority mining rights in this area. Be it gold mines, uranium mines, or oil fields, French enterprises made their presence known in every industry.
Under the influence of these factors, the issues of security and stability in the Sahel Zone became increasingly prominent. Disruptions occurred periodically, either in the form of rebellions or attacks; there was never a day of peace.
Take the Salafi Armed as an example.
This armed group was actually established in the Middle East. After the coalition forces entered Illiguo, members of the organization began to disperse. Some stayed within Illiguo to deal with the coalition forces, some moved to neighboring countries, and others came directly to Africa, where they took root and steadied themselves with the convenience of religion.
However, although these dispersed organizations were nominally under the same umbrella, their ideologies and characteristics varied greatly.
The Salafi Organization within Illiguo flew the banner of driving out the invaders, while the Salafi Organization in Africa merged with members running away from the Agaida Organization in Afghan and declared allegiance to it, becoming even more radical.
This was also the reason why Song Heping had certain concerns about dealing with these guys, as the Salafi Organization in Africa was more extreme.
"Who would have thought, who could know that the Salafi Armed here had connections with the US military?"
While waiting for the rendezvous, Jiang Feng and Song Heping expressed deep emotions when they discussed the situation in the Sahel Region and the current state of the Salafi Organization.
"Soldiers turn into thieves, and thieves turn into soldiers, why do I get this feeling?"
"You're right to feel that way," Song Heping replied. "Who nurtured the Agaida Organization? Isn't it traced back to the Americans? In the end, didn't they receive a 9/11? Some things are like raising venomous creatures that turn on you, there's nothing new under the sun."
Jiang Feng laughed, "The French must have never expected the Americans to stab them in the back."
"You're wrong," said Song Heping. "Based on my observations and past experience of interrogating DGSE agents, I dare say the French are well aware deep down that the Americans are no good. They probably guessed like seventy to eighty percent of it, knowing that the US military is up to no good."
Jiang Feng said, "They know and still don't turn against them?"
Song Heping laughed and said, "Dare to flip? Didn't you see they're even sending troops to Illiguo and Afghan to fight shoulder to shoulder with the Americans?"
Jiang Feng scratched his head and said, "This whole thing sounds so bizarre."
Song Heping replied, "It's not bizarre, it all comes down to interests. If the French don't go to Illiguo or Afghan, they won't have a share in the future interests there. By sending troops, they can have some bargaining chips to fight for a slice of the leftovers when the time comes to divide the cake."
Gazing at the distant desert, which under the moonlight looked like a sinister and abstract oil painting, he couldn't help but lament, "The reach of a country's interests extends where its military is stationed. Isn't it the strategy the Americans are always thinking about, finding excuses to send troops here?"
While the two were talking, they suddenly saw a small cloud of dust rising in the distance.
Song Heping picked up the binoculars to look over there.
Indeed, he saw several vehicles lined up and heading this way.
"I guess our clients have arrived."
Song Heping turned around and said to the others, "Everybody get ready, we might be leaving at any moment."
Then he said to Jiang Feng, "Be careful, and take action when necessary."
Jiang Feng took a deep breath and nodded vigorously, "Okay!"
Soon, the vehicles approaching from afar drew near and finally arrived in front of the group.
From the vehicles poured out a dozen fully armed militants in various attire, encircling Song Heping and his companions.
Some of these men looked very young, about fourteen or fifteen years old.
Song Heping couldn't help but frown.
"Boss Song!"
A tall, lanky individual emerged last from an off-road vehicle, flashed a mouthful of white teeth in the darkness, and with exaggerated gestures opened his arms and approached Song Heping.
"Mr. Dunbar?"
Song Heping asked tentatively.
"That's me!"
The tall, lanky Dunbar took off his sunglasses.
Song Heping thought this guy was simply...
Wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night.
What was that about?
But he knew one couldn't measure the militants here by ordinary standards.
Just the attire of these dozen or so people alone varied greatly; some had hair dyed pure yellow, others were dressed in flashy, colorful clothes.
These ensembles, completely unsuitable for the battlefield and even taboo, seemed to have no fault in their eyes.
Africa truly is a magical place.
That's why it's also known as the corner forgotten by God.
"Welcome to Mali."
Dunbar had arrived in front of him, and Song Heping had no choice but to embrace him, after all, with such enthusiasm from the other party, he could hardly reject someone from a thousand miles away.
However, Song Heping quickly regretted it; Dunbar had a strange smell about him, not just body odor, but something nauseatingly pungent.
"The goods?"
The embrace over, Dunbar cut to the chase.
Song Heping also wanted to quickly conclude the deal and head back to the Middle East; he enjoyed doing business with straightforward folks.
"Over here, please come and take a look."
Song Heping led Dunbar to a truck, asked the driver to open the cargo doors, then took a flashlight, turned it on, and handed it to Dunbar.
"You can inspect them yourself."
Dunbar climbed onto the truck with the flashlight and surveyed the SA-9 missile launch systems from top to bottom, making sure everything was clear.
These launch systems had been maintained by Mohammed and others before shipment, with many parts well-oiled, including the platform, the armored vehicle, and the launch system itself, from the engine to the launch control system, all undergone very careful inspection, ensuring there were no issues whatsoever.
So from the outside, Dunbar was quite satisfied.
"Can it be operated right now?"
"Of course, but I wouldn't recommend you drive it back now," said Song Heping. "It's better to start it up on your own turf."
Dunbar indicated his understanding and proceeded to inspect the other two systems.
From his expression, he seemed very satisfied.
"Now that the goods have arrived, then..." Song Heping also got straight to the point: "Can we settle the remaining payment?"
Dunbar revealed his white teeth again: "No, no, no, not yet. We are not familiar with this stuff, and you need to teach us how to use it. Come back with us, and once you've trained my men, we will pay."
Song Heping, though reluctant, had no grounds for argument.
"All right, we'll go with you."
"Stay close to our convoy; some areas around here are not safe."
Dunbar smiled, then waved his hand, and along with his henchmen, got into their vehicles and started driving in the southeast direction.
The convoy followed the Salafi Armed convoy, driving southeast for over three hours.
It was deep into the night, around three in the morning, when the silhouette of mountains appeared in the distance.
Song Heping recalled the map, estimated the distance they had traveled before, and guessed they had entered the highland area of the Iforas Plateau in northeastern Mali.
This place bordered Niger, where the French had a significant presence and had deployed over a thousand troops.
He faintly sensed that this purchase of the SA-9 missiles might be intended to target the French forces stationed near the Niger border.
The convoy stopped at a village at the foot of the mountains.
Under the direction of the Salafi Armed henchmen, the three trucks were driven to an open area for unloading, and during the process, Dunbar came over and said to Song Heping, "Boss Song, our chieftain wants to see you."
Song Heping's heart stirred slightly: "Your chieftain is here?"
Dunbar replied, "Yes, he's been staying here recently."
Song Heping instructed Jiang Feng, "You watch the unloading here, I'll go inside and meet their boss."
Jiang Feng whispered, "Could there be any tricks?"
Song Heping shook his head: "That's unlikely. Just keep an eye on the unloading, don't let them damage the equipment. As long as there's nothing wrong with the gear, we won't have any problems."
Jiang Feng nodded: "Okay."
After giving the instructions, Song Heping followed Dunbar through the small paths in the village, turning this way and that, heading deeper into the village.
Villages in Africa were not as densely packed with buildings as those in the Middle East; the villages here were very primitive, with many made from stone and mud, and quite spread out, each settlement covering a large area of land.
Song Heping silently noted these roads and the surrounding environment, a habit of his, because one never knew when it might come in handy.
In front of a single-storey stone house that covered a large area, Dunbar stopped.
"I'll go in and inform them."
"Sure."
Song Heping stood waiting in place.
He observed the surroundings of the house, noting four guards standing at the entrance and what seemed to be armed militants patrolling nearby. There was a sizeable courtyard in front of the house, this setup clearly belonging to the wealthiest person in the village.
Song Heping had heard that the leaders of such villages weren't called village heads, but rather chieftains, and each village was like a small tribe.
He had heard from Dominic before that the leader of the Salafi branch in Africa was named Aisade and that the French intelligence office currently had a $5 million bounty on his head, payable upon provision of his exact location.
If what Dunbar said was true and his boss really was inside this house, it meant there was a walking $5 million inside.
As for Aisade, Song Heping had already resolved to kill him.
The reason was simple—he had promised Dominic.
Of course, it would be foolish to take action here and now, not just a question of whether he could kill the target and escape but also if he could get away, Peter would likely have trouble explaining on his end.
In view of this, Song Heping had a cunning plan: to kill Aisade, claim the bounty, and also fulfill his promise to Dominic.
It wasn't long before Dunbar returned.
"Mr. Song, our chieftain invites you inside to talk with him."