Chapter 2016 - 1456: Arrangements

It rang only once before being picked up.

"Boss."

Grey Wolf's voice was always so steady.

"Where are you?"

"Downstairs. Room 3021."

Song Heping's lips curved slightly.

He was staying in 3025.

"Come up to my room."

"Right away."

The call ended.

Song Heping stood up, walked to the window, and pulled the curtain open slightly.

The Potomac River flowed quietly, and the spire of Georgetown University glimmered faintly under the moonlight in the distance.

Washington in the early morning was as quiet as an empty city, with only the occasional passing car breaking the silence.

Gazing at the night, he fell into deep thought.

Having founded this company over ten years ago, Musician Defense now had thousands of mercenaries with operations in more than twenty countries worldwide, and annual revenues exceeded one billion US Dollars.

The large companies that once treated him like a small fry, now competed to work with him.

And those who wanted him dead began surfacing one by one too.

Robbin was just one of them.

But after all these years, he was still alive, while many of his opponents were not.

Song Heping let out a cold laugh, released the curtain, and returned to sit down at the sofa.

Two minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

Three short taps, two long, then a pause, followed by two short ones.

This was a safety code known only to core members who knew the current version.

Song Heping walked over and opened the door.

Grey Wolf stood outside.

"Come in."

He stepped aside to let him in.

Grey Wolf entered the room, his gaze habitually sweeping every corner before sitting down on the sofa.

This was an instinct ingrained in his bones, impossible to change.

"How is it downstairs?"

Song Heping handed him a bottle of mineral water.

Grey Wolf took it, unscrewed the cap, but didn't drink.

"Everything is normal. Eight people, three shifts, monitoring twenty-four hours."

Song Heping nodded.

"Thanks for your efforts these days."

Grey Wolf shook his head.

"Not at all."

Song Heping didn't respond to that.

"Alright, enough of that." Song Heping sat opposite Grey Wolf, leaned back into the sofa, and seriously said, "I called you here so late for some serious business."

Grey Wolf's eyes immediately became focused: "Go ahead, Boss."

Song Heping didn't speak directly, instead picking up a tablet from the table, retrieving a file, and handing it over.

Grey Wolf took it and looked down at it.

The room was so quiet that only breathing could be heard.

About two minutes later, Grey Wolf looked up.

"The 'Accountant'?" He slightly furrowed his brow, a hint of puzzlement flashing in his eyes: "Sounds like a money launderer."

"He's an assassin broker." Song Heping pointed at the information on the screen: "Or one could call him an agent. He specializes in arranging jobs for assassins on the Dark Web, taking a cut, laundering money, and providing full-service operations. This guy is the contact for Viktor's attempt on my life this time, and he's been in this line of work for twenty years without any incidents."

Grey Wolf's gaze turned serious: "Tracked him down?"

Song Heping nodded: "Yes."

Grey Wolf asked again: "What do you need me to do?"

Song Heping stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Grey Wolf.

"I want the Accountant dead."

His voice was calm, as if discussing something trivial.

Grey Wolf didn't speak, waiting for him to continue.

"Once the Accountant is dead, Robbin's bounty is cut off." Song Heping turned around and leaned against the windowsill, crossing his arms: "But not just cut off simply, I want the entire assassin circle to know why the Accountant is dead, who killed him, and whose job he took."

Grey Wolf's eyes narrowed slightly.

He understood Song Heping's intention.

"Kill the chicken to scare the monkey."

Strength is what the assassin circle respects.

They only fear strength as well.

Demonstrating strength is the way to ensure one's safety.

"Exactly." Song Heping nodded: "Have someone kill the Accountant to warn all assassins considering this job—think twice if you have the life to spend that money."

Grey Wolf was silent for a few seconds, then spoke.

"The Accountant has been in this business for so many years, he must have quite a few enemies, and certainly a lot of precautions." He said: "Such a person is not easy to kill."

Song Heping smiled.

"That's why I'm looking for you."

Grey Wolf smiled back.

"Where is he?"

"Switzerland, in Zurich." Song Heping returned to the couch, picked up the tablet, and brought up a map: "Old Town Niederdorf Street in a business center, third floor, Room 316. Every morning at eight, Greenwich Time, he goes there to work, logs into an encrypted email, and checks the day's orders for five minutes. This has been his routine for many years, almost unbreakable."

Grey Wolf took the tablet and carefully examined the map.

"Business center... Old Town... A place with many tourists." He analyzed while looking: "Such a place wouldn't have tight security, but with high foot traffic, it's difficult to pinpoint the target, easy to escape."

"That's why it needs reconnaissance." Song Heping said: "Figure out his habits, entry and exit routes, habitual actions. Find the most reliable moment to strike."

Grey Wolf nodded, handing the tablet back to Song Heping.

"What kind of team do you want?"

"Elite, top-notch." Song Heping said: "Not too many people, three to four are enough. But they must be the best. Does your Hunter School in Venezuela have suitable candidates?"

Grey Wolf thought for a moment.

As the director of Musician Defense's Hunter School in Venezuela, Grey Wolf handled the training and selection of hundreds of trainees each year.

These trainees come from all over the world, including Poland's GROM, Estonia's Special Forces, France's Foreign Legion, the United States' Seal Team, and even a few veterans retired from Russia's GRU.

They come to the Hunter School not to gain superficial credentials, but to become truly stronger.