Aisade's death was actually his own fault.
The SA-9 anti-aircraft missile launch vehicles are usually spaced 150-200 meters apart, to avoid being destroyed all at once.
But for a warlord like Aisade, such tactical deployment was beyond his comprehension.
He actually just wanted to get closer to see a big fireworks display.
As a result, he blew himself up too.
Two days later, at dusk, inside the CIA station office building in Illiguo's Green Zone.
Simon's door was knocked open by his subordinate.
"SIR, Song Heping has returned…"
"What?!"
It had been a long time since Simon had heard from Song Heping.
The last time he'd received any news, Song Heping had been stabbed by a hitman hired by the DGSE in a hotel; but since that day, he had vanished from the world.
Realizing he couldn't stop Song Heping, Simon began damage control and sent an assassination squad to Algiers, hoping to seal JK's lips for good.
Unexpectedly, this squad also disappeared.
Investigations concluded there had definitely been an attack, but by whom was completely unknown; there were no bodies found, nor any survivors returned.
Most mysteriously, according to intelligence, the Salafi Armed in the Sahel Region had acquired three SA-9 missile launch systems. Simon thought this was Song Heping playing him once again, pulling off a surreptitious switch to complete the deal.
Unbelievably, the night before last there was news that the French Air Force had conducted a military operation on the outskirts of Affines, a major town in northeastern Mali, and a Mirage 2000D had bombed Colonel Aisade, the leader of the Salafi Armed, to death.
Successive intelligence sent Simon into confusion.
Just as Simon was trying to make sense of the various reports, his subordinate handed him several photos.
"JK has come back with Song Heping, too."
JK...
This codename was like a bomb tossed into Simon's head, blowing his mind.
"What?!"
Simon grabbed the photos on the desk and began looking through them.
It was indeed Henry, also known as JK.
The photos were clear, taken by a CIA agent in the Green Zone.
The person standing next to Song Heping was the intelligence broker, codenamed JK, Henry.
"How could he have come back with Song Heping?!"
Upon uttering that, Simon suddenly wanted to slap himself.
Such a statement was too revealing of his intelligence.
For a CIA station chief, to say something like that was totally below standard.
Why would he come back with Song Heping?
It was obvious, wasn't it?
It was meant for him to see!
Simon soon thought of another terrifying possibility.
The assassination squad he had sent to Algiers mysteriously disappeared, and there had been no leads.
Now JK was back in Illiguo's Green Zone with Song Heping—didn't that mean there was an unclear relationship between the disappearance of his squad and Song Heping?
Previously he had wondered who was helping JK escape, and now did he even need to ask?
Of course, it was Song Heping!
Building on this base assumption, Simon soon broke out in a cold sweat.
He had relayed through JK to the French that Song Heping was transporting SA-9 missiles to the Sahel for a deal. Now that JK had sided with Song Heping, he must have disclosed everything to Song Heping; otherwise, Song Heping would not have afforded him protection, brought him back to Illiguo, and brazenly brought him into the Green Zone...
It was clearly a show of defiance to him!
"FUCK!"
He lost control in an instant.
He swept everything off the desk onto the floor.
Simon realized that he was facing a crisis.
If Song Heping turned these matters into materials and submitted them to the military...
The consequences would be disastrous.
It wasn't unprecedented for the CIA to clash with the military.
After all, it counted as America's dirty laundry, not to be aired publicly.
But for those involved, the best outcome was to resign if they carried the can, or be demoted.
The worst was to simply disappear, with official statements declaring it an accident or death during an operation.
Someone always had to take the blame.
Don't expect the high-ups at Langley to take responsibility; this was all his own unauthorized initiative.
After a while, he calmed down, raised his head, and looked at his subordinate: "I'll handle this matter. Continue to keep an eye on Song Heping for me, moreover, destroy all the material related to this operation, rewrite everything about the pick sent to Algiers and the operation details, and have them listed as personnel sacrificed in a confidential counter-terrorism operation."
"Yes…"
The subordinate, seeing Simon's reddened eyes, couldn't help but feel afraid.
His superior appeared to have lost his rationality, like a wild beast ready to attack at any moment.
"I will handle it properly."
"Hmm, this matter is only to be known between you, me, and those involved in the operation, no new insiders, or you know the rules!"
"I understand."
The agent felt as if a block of ice had been stuffed into his heart, chilling.
"If there's nothing else... I'll go take care of this."
"Go, and remember my words!"
"I will remember."
After a stern briefing, Simon watched his subordinate leave, then slumped back into his chair.
Now, his mind was a mess.
A mess that could strangle him.
All he had to do was find a thread amid the mess and slowly unravel the whole mass, so it would no longer trouble him.
He was as still as a zombie, thinking for a full half hour before he finally understood something—the person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it.
The only person who could resolve this trouble for him was Song Heping; no one else could help.
If using force or some secret operation could have resolved it, Simon would have spared no expense to eliminate Song Heping.
The problem was that now, in the Green Zone, he really had no way to handle Song Heping.
Even if he fabricated charges to arrest him and throw him into Guantanamo Prison, he would need evidence, especially since Song Heping's actions were all in service of the military.
The words of warning Major General Peter had given him during the last attempt to arrest Song Heping and intercept his cargo still echoed in his ears.
Force was not an option.
Moreover, the combat skills of Song Heping...
Thinking about this, Simon felt somewhat disheartened.
His agents and GRS team members seemed no match for that guy.
If he couldn't kill his adversary, then the only path left was compromise.
At last, he picked up the cellphone on the desk.
He hesitated for a moment, then put it down.
Then he picked it up again.
After repeating this three times, Simon finally made up his mind and dialed Song Heping's mobile number.
After three rings, the call connected.
宋和平's voice came through, "Simon, the station chief? Why, it's you? You're well-informed; I just got back to the Green Zone. Did you have someone follow me?"
The words were tinged with scorn, jest, and a warning.
In the past, Simon would definitely have assumed the posture of a station chief to handle Song Heping.
But times had changed.
Now, he was the one asking for help.
Asking for help required the right attitude.
"Of course not, I just heard someone say they saw you in the Green Zone by chance. Why would I have someone follow you? Aren't we friends? Everything in the past was a misunderstanding. Now that you are with General Peter, we're practically comrades. I wouldn't do such a thing..."
"Well, this is the first time I've heard you say we are friends, and the first time you've treated me as one of your own! Honestly, I'm flattered!"
Song Heping still spoke in a half-joking tone, "Station chief, you didn't call to invite me to dinner and welcome me back, did you?!"
"Yes! Ah... yes, yes, yes!"
Simon was taken aback for a moment, then quickly agreed.
"I indeed called specifically to invite you to dinner. As you know... before your last trip to Africa, we had a bit of a misunderstanding, which fortunately, General Peter helped clear up. I wanted to invite you to a meal to apologize, but you were on a mission then, and I couldn't hold you up from official business. Now that you're back, it's perfect timing; I just don't know if you're available."
"I'm available! Of course, I'm available!"
Song Heping readily replied, "But you know, I'm quite picky when it comes to food. Being Chinese, dining can be quite critical for me. Without good wine and good dishes, I won't come."
"Chinese restaurant, Happy Reunion!"
Simon mentioned Happy Reunion, the highest-end Chinese restaurant in the Green Zone.
Chinese food has always been expensive.
From this, it was clear he was truly sincere.
"You can also rest assured about the drinks, I have fine wine here! It will definitely satisfy you!"
Song Heping said, "What about the time?"
"An hour later, at five-thirty, we'll meet at the Happy Reunion restaurant," Simon said eagerly.
However, Song Heping seemed slightly hesitant, "Ah, that's unfortunate. I was planning to report to General Peter about this mission. As you know, I've had a near-death experience, encountering pirates in the Red Sea and being surrounded by the military in Eritrea for an inspection. It's strange, it seems like wherever I go, someone knows what I'm about to do... This isn't normal; I need to have a serious chat with the general. I have a bold guess."
"What guess?" Simon asked hurriedly.
"Station chief, I'm telling you this because I consider you one of us," Song Heping said coldly. "I suspect there's a mole!"
"A mole?!"
Simon felt a twitching in the muscles of his face; he tried to force a laugh to hide his panic but couldn't muster it.
"Yes, a mole! Not many people know about this. Look, the general is one, but he wouldn't be the mole, right?" Song Heping asked knowingly.
Simon dryly replied, "Um, of course not..."
Song Heping continued, "You also know what I was transporting, but..."
At this, he deliberately paused, leaving Simon hanging.
Simon felt his mouth go dry and swallowed hard before saying, "But what? You think I'm the mole?!"
Song Heping laughed, "No, no, no, I can't just blurt out anything. You're one of us, how could you be the mole? But it's really strange. I've decided to let General Peter's team investigate, especially since their ISA department would definitely be interested, especially after I just left Africa, and Colonel Aisade, with whom I was dealing, was killed by the French military. It's bizarre..."
Simon screamed, "What does his death have to do with me!"
He sounded quite defensive.
Indeed, Aisade's death had nothing to do with Simon.
"Station chief, did I say it had anything to do with you?"
Song Heping's counter-question caught Simon off guard.
Right.
Song Heping hadn't said it was related to him. Why was he getting nervous over nothing?!
"No... I just fear misunderstandings between us, that's all," Simon quickly changed the subject. "Let's talk about the meeting later. I think you should skip reporting to General Peter today and go tomorrow morning instead. The military side has been quite busy lately, and it seems General Peter has a cocktail party to attend tonight. It's better not to bother him. Come over to my place, and let's sit down first."
Song Heping said, "Okay, but I'll bring a new friend along for dinner. Speaking of which, it's quite a coincidence, he's also in intelligence, like half a colleague of yours! I wonder if you know him!"
This new friend was obviously JK.
Simon appeared a bit hesitant.
To admit knowing him would be walking into a trap.
To deny knowing him—what about when they met? Could he hide it?
Both options were damning.
"I know... just not very well..."
Simon could only vaguely answer, "He seems to be working as an intelligence broker in North Africa."
Song Heping declared matter-of-factly, "Knowing him will make things easier. You haven't seen each other for a long time, right? I'll arrange for you two to meet tonight. I'll take your advice and cancel the report to General Peter. We'll meet tonight to catch up. Actually, I have a lot of things I'd like to discuss with you, the station chief. So, let's do that, see you in an hour!"