Chapter 2002 - 1448: Strength Speaks

Song Heping followed the officer into the building.

After passing through two security doors and a bustling open office area, they reached a heavy wooden door.

The officer knocked on the door.

"Come in."

A low voice came from inside.

The officer pushed open the door and stepped aside to let Song Heping in.

There were two people in the office, one was Rashim, and the other was a middle-aged man Song Heping had never met.

Rashim stood up from behind his desk, a smile plastered across his face.

This somewhat surprised Song Heping.

The last time they met, the Defense Minister wasn't so enthusiastic, invariably sitting behind his desk with a ministerial air, waiting for him to approach and speak first.

"Mr. Song."

Rashim stepped around the desk quickly and extended his hand.

"Welcome, welcome, it must have been a tiring journey."

Song Heping shook his hand, feeling the enthusiasm.

"Minister Rashim, you're too kind," said Song Heping.

Rashim released his hand and turned to the middle-aged man: "This is our newly appointed Deputy Minister, General Adil Hussein."

Song Heping shook hands with Hussein.

He was slightly moved inside, a new Deputy Minister?

What happened to the former Deputy Minister Hashimi?

As if sensing Song Heping's doubt, Rashim pointed to the sofa with a smile: "Come, have a seat, and we'll talk slowly."

After the three of them sat down, an orderly brought in tea.

When the orderly exited, the smile on Rashim's face dimmed a bit, but he maintained a friendly expression.

"Mr. Song," he said, "the main reason I invited you here is to thank you in person and discuss the issues of arms inventory and transfer."

Song Heping picked up the black tea, took a polite sip, and said nothing.

Rashim continued: "I've already assigned someone to liaise with your team on the arms lot, and currently the verification and registration are proceeding in an orderly manner. It should take about five days to complete all the transfers, and by then, you will receive the money you're due."

Song Heping nodded: "Thank you very much, Minister, for your help. Rest assured, I will personally oversee the process on site tomorrow to ensure there are no mistakes."

He said this while thinking to himself, did Rashim take the wrong medicine today?

He seemed to be trying to please him.

Did the sun rise from the west?

Rashim waved his hand: "No rush with the procedures, the people below will handle it. I brought you in to tell you something."

He paused, his expression turning somewhat complicated.

"Deputy Minister Hashimi has been suspended and is under investigation."

Song Heping was slightly taken aback.

This news truly surprised him.

Hashimi was the Deputy Minister of Defense, ranking second in Iligo's defense system, a real power player.

For someone like that to be suspended and investigated, it must not be a small matter.

Rashim looked at Song Heping's expression and smiled slightly.

"You must be wondering why," he said, "To put it simply, Hashimi is a mole."

Song Heping listened quietly.

"After this arms deal was planned," Rashim continued, "there was always someone trying to sabotage it. Information was leaked, contract details were disclosed to certain malicious hidden elements. I had someone investigate it secretly for a long time, and finally, all evidence pointed towards Hashimi."

He took a gentlemanly sip from his teacup, looking very pleased.

Song Heping nodded.

He had anticipated this matter long ago.

Otherwise, his transport route wouldn't have been leaked word for word to those tribal armed and 1515 remnants.

Rashim watched Song Heping.

"I really have to thank you this time," he said.

Song Heping paused slightly, then understood.

He had indirectly helped Rashim eliminate Hashimi, his political adversary.

No wonder Rashim was so enthusiastic today.

Ah, people...

But he still feigned ignorance and asked, "Oh? Thank me?"

"Exactly!" Rashim laughed, "You've done a lot."

Rashim gave Song Heping a meaningful look.

"Mr. Song, doing business in Iligo is not just about business," he said, "There are complex politics here, tribal feuds, and power struggles between major countries. You've steadied your footing in such a short time, that's no small feat."

Song Heping smiled modestly: "It was just luck."

"Luck?" Rashim shook his head: "Clearing the 1515 Armed from the northwest, that's not just luck. Having over a dozen tribes voluntarily submit to you is not luck. Completing a fifteen billion dollars arms deal, again, is not luck."

He looked at Song Heping, his eyes carrying something additional.

"You're a smart man, Mr. Song," he said, "Smart people know when to advance, when to retreat, and when to play dumb. I hope we can cooperate long-term."

Song Heping set down the teacup, meeting his gaze.

He understood.

Rashim wanted to ally with him.

Being a Defense Minister in Iligo also required local power support.

After this round of power play, it was evident Rashim had tacitly acknowledged Song Heping as a warlord in Iligo.

In other words, at Iligo's dining table, Song Heping had a seat and was sitting as a guest.

"That is also my wish."

He smiled, giving a response that greatly pleased the minister.

Rashim nodded contentedly, then stood up, walked to his desk, took out a folder from a drawer, and handed it to Song Heping.

"This is the acceptance report," he said, "All equipment has been qualified and is currently being inventoried for storage. The final payment will be credited to your account within seven days."

Song Heping took the folder and flipped through it.

The report was detailed, each piece of equipment was numbered, with photos and verification by officers including their signatures and stamps.

The final page was a payment confirmation letter from the finance department, stamped with the red seal of Iligo Ministry of Finance.

He closed the folder and placed it in the briefcase he carried.

"Thank you, Minister."

Rashim patted him on the shoulder: "No thanks necessary, this is what you deserve."

They shook hands in farewell. As he reached the door, Rashim suddenly called him.

"Mr. Song."

Song Heping turned around.

Rashim had a somewhat complex expression on his face, and after a few seconds of silence, he said, "I heard you're going to the United States next week?"

Song Heping was slightly taken aback.

This information he hadn't told anyone, except a few within his company, and just the United States Embassy in Iligo.

Rashim, observing his expression, smiled: "Don't be nervous, I meant nothing else. I just wanted to remind you, the United States might not be entirely safe."

Song Heping looked at him without speaking.

Rashim stepped closer and lowered his voice: "Someone wants to make a move on you there. I don't know who specifically, but the source is reliable."

Song Heping felt a chill in his heart, but there was no expression on his face.

"Thank you for the warning, Minister," he said.

Rashim nodded: "Be careful."

Song Heping turned and left. Walking through the corridors of the Ministry of Defense Building, his mind was racing.

Someone wants to make a move on him in the United States?

Who could it be?

CIA?

Mossad?

Or some other force?

But he soon calmed down.

He had seen such threats many times, in the Middle East, in Africa, in any war-torn region.

Threats always existed, the key is how to respond.

Leaving the building, the afternoon sun was still glaring.

Song Heping squinted, looking up at the clear, cloudless blue sky.

The summer in Baghdad was very hot, but he felt even hotter inside.

Someone wants to play with fire; he'll play along.